Author: Ben Walton Page 5
Bowling For Soup - Fishin' for Woos
Through my early teen years, Bowling for Soup were almost a permanent fixture on my stereo, although in recent years they fell off my radar. Fishin' for Woos is their first album after being dropped...
Review posted on 1st June 2011
Slaves to Gravity - Underwaterouterspac
You could make the case that Slaves to Gravity are the UK's best kept secret at the moment. Forming from the ashes of the impressive Ariel-X and the sheer rock'n'roll force that was The*Ga*Ga*s, Slaves...
Review posted on 17th May 2011
Mojo Fury - Visiting Hours of a Travelling Circus
Mojo Fury's debut album Visiting Hours of a Travelling Circus has been a long time in the making, but finally this incredible band from Ireland are ready to make their impact on the current rock...
Review posted on 11th May 2011
The Americans - The White
The Americans are a band who wear their influences proudly and readily on their sleeves. The White EP references everything from Prince, Stevie Wonder and Elton John to The Beatles. (Especially The Beatles. Certainly having...
Review posted on 9th May 2011
Alain Johannes - Spark
For those not in the know, Alain Johannes has been in the background of some fantastic albums and bands, most significantly Queens of the Stone Age. Johannes' impressive CV also boasts production credits in the...
Review posted on 3rd May 2011
Mini Mansions - Mini Mansions
Over the past decade, very few bands have been able to incorporate psychedelic elements into their music with the arguable exception of perhaps The Flaming Lips. Mini Mansions, who count Michael Shuman (or Mikey Shoes...
Review posted on 26th April 2011
Kunk - Destroy the Weapon
Kunk call to mind the British post-hardcore movement that passed a few years ago with bands like Hell is for Heroes, Hundred Reasons and especially Reuben. As an album, Destroy the Weapon is perfectly enjoyable,...
Review posted on 19th April 2011
Rival Sons - Rival Sons
In the minds of Rival Sons, it's still the 1970s. Their music is heavily indebted to the blues rock of the era, such as Led Zeppelin, and the sound is enough to transport you into...
Review posted on 12th April 2011
Dance To The Radio - Split 10"
Who'd have thought, that out of everywhere in the world, Yorkshire would be such a hotbed for great new music? As this limited EP release shows us, somebody must be putting something in the water...
Review posted on 11th April 2011
Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
Over the last decade, Foo Fighters have produced some fine singles, but when it came to albums, their efforts have been somewhat lacklustre. One by One was filled halfway with great tunes, and halfway with...
Review posted on 4th April 2011
Mojo Fury - Colour of the Bear
Colour of the Bear is the second single from Mojo Fury's upcoming debut album, Visiting Hours of a Traveling Circus, and just like its predecessor, The Mann, it is a face-melting two and a half...
Review posted on 31st March 2011
Eureka Machines - Champion the Underdog
If you haven't yet heard of Eureka Machines, all I can say is that you simply have to check them out. Since the 2008 release of their debut dose of pop-rock perfection Do or Die,...
Review posted on 29th March 2011
Gay For Johnny Depp - What Doesn't Kill You, Eventually Kills You
Every now and then, a band comes along who leave you speechless and completely clueless as to how you should go about reviewing them. Gay for Johnny Depp are such a band.A part of me...
Review posted on 23rd March 2011
J Mascis - Several Shades of Why
Whether fronting alternative rock legends and pioneers Dinosaur Jr. or branching out in his own solo work, J Mascis always seems to deliver something well worth a living. With this new solo album, Several Shades...
Review posted on 14th March 2011
Queens Of The Stone Age - Queens of the Stone Age
All has been quiet in the land of QOTSA lately. While Josh Homme has been out touring with his buddies John Paul Jones and Dave Grohl in Them Crooked Vultures and Troy Van Leeuwen has...
Review posted on 7th March 2011
Mostly Autumn - Go Well Diamond Heart
Mostly Autumn have been doing the rounds for about 13 years now and in that time have built up something of a cult following in certain circles. I suppose that their brand of symphonic rock...
Review posted on 28th February 2011
The New Up - Gold
Gold, the title track of The New Up's third mini-album entices you with a strong drum beat and dense guitar chords. Structurally, it gets straight to the point cutting away all the fat, and opens...
Review posted on 21st February 2011
Various Artists - Leader of the Starry Skies: A Tribute to Tim Smith (Songbook 1)
For those of you unaware of the criminally underrated genius of Tim Smith, he has been the lunatic mastermind behind The Cardiacs for 30 years now, influencing countless scores of musicians along the way, From...
Review posted on 14th February 2011
Dive Dive - Potential
Let's get this out of the way early: Dive Dive are perhaps one of the most underrated British rock bands around at the moment. Potential, their third album is once more a prime example of...
Review posted on 14th February 2011
Milky Wimpshake - My Funny Social Crime
Putting the word 'Funny' in your album title is always risky business, as it opens you right up for a whole bunch of criticism if it turns out that your album isn't funny in the...
Review posted on 17th January 2011
Ghostlight - Somersaults
If Ghostlight were half as good as they seem to think they are, Somersaults would be an amazing album. Unfortunately, this lacklustre showing cracks under the weight of its own pretentions and pompousness.The songs are...
Review posted on 17th January 2011
Zeus - Say Us
Making a fairly late dash across the line with their effort at making one of the best albums of 2010 are Zeus, with their fantastic debut full length album Say Us. 2009 saw their EP...
Review posted on 10th January 2011
David Rotheray - The Life of Birds
David Rotheray is best known for playing guitar and being a co-songwriter with radio 2 favourites The Beautiful South. The Life of Birds is not a solo album per se, as Rotheray has enlisted the...
Review posted on 6th December 2010
Weezer - Death to False Metal
Having only just released their latest album Hurley earlier this year, it is an odd decision on Weezer's part to then put out the Deluxe Edition of Pinkerton and this, Death to False Metal -...
Review posted on 26th November 2010
Soundgarden - Telephantasm
When Chris Cornell tweeted about 'The Knights of the Sound Table' riding again last new year's eve, a palpable air of excitement arose from the fan base of one of the most overlooked, but arguably...
Review posted on 26th November 2010
Middle Class Rut - No Name No Colour
Political rock music is a dangerous path to follow. At its best it can inspire thought and action on a mass level while delivering some kick ass tunes as well (for example Rage Against the...
Review posted on 26th November 2010
Holy State - Medicine Hat
Holy State have recently been announced as the opening band for Biffy Clyro's forthcoming UK arena tour, a prestigious honour indeed. If this, their first single proper is anything to go by, their unique brand...
Review posted on 18th November 2010
Wild Party - Take My Advice
Wild Party, the first new signings on the fast rising Friends vs. Records roster for quite some time hail from Texas and deal in a pretty unique sound which takes in disco synths with more...
Review posted on 4th November 2010
Weezer - Pinkerton Deluxe Edition
Upon release, Weezer's second album Pinkerton was met with much less favourable reviews than its predecessor, the classic Blue album. Over the years since its 1996 release however, Pinkerton has become something of a cult...
Review posted on 2nd November 2010
Robert Plant - Band of Joy
Thirty years since his Led Zeppelin glory days came to an end; Robert Plant now seems hell bent on establishing himself as a solo artist of sorts. Band of Joy (named after his pre-Zeppelin band)...
Review posted on 25th October 2010
Suggested
Leisure Festival - Dreamland in Margate
On the same day that Glastonbury welcomed back Margate's adopted sons, The Libertines, Margate itself put on it's very own Leisure Festival as it...
Pretty Fierce talk to us about collaborating with Doja Cat, emetophobia, arena tours and staying "true to yourself" [EXCLUSIVE]
Sheffield's very own all girl group Pretty Fierce are still on a high after the recent release of their debut single - 'Ready For Me'.
Will Varley & Jack Valero - The Astor Theatre Deal Live Review
Three nights before the end of his current tour Will Varley returned to his home town of Deal to delight a sold out crowd in The Astor Theatre.
WYSE talks to us about her "form of synaesthesia", collaborating with Radiohead's Thom York and the prospect of touring with a band [EXCLUSIVE]
With only a few days to go before Portsmouth based songstress and producer WYSE releases her new single, 'Belladonna', we caught up with her to find...
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Bay Bryan talks to us about being a "wee queer ginger", singing with Laura Marling and being inspired by Matilda [EXCLUSIVE]
Colorado raised, Glasgow educated and Manchester based Bay Bryan is nothing if not a multi-talented, multi-faceted artist performing as both...
Keelan X talks to us about staying true to "your creative vision", collaborating with Giorgio Moroder and being "a yoga nut" [EXCLUSIVE]
Former Marigolds band member Keelan Cunningham has rediscovered his love of music with his new solo project Keelan X.
![Luke De-Sciscio talks to us about having the courage to be yourself, forgiving that which is outside of one's control and following whims [EXCLUSIVE]](https://images.contactmusic.com/images/home/homepage/luke-de-sciscio-abof-a.jpg "Luke De-Sciscio talks to us about having the courage to be yourself, forgiving that which is outside of one's control and following whims [EXCLUSIVE]")
Luke De-Sciscio talks to us about having the courage to be yourself, forgiving that which is outside of one's control and following whims [EXCLUSIVE]
Wiltshire singer-songwriter Luke De Sciscio, formally known as Folk Boy, is set to release is latest album - 'The Banquet' via AntiFragile Music on...
Annie Elise talks to us about the challenges a female producer has to face and "going through a year of grief and sickness" [EXCLUSIVE]
Electronic music pioneer and producer Annie Elise says that the release of her first EP - 'Breathe In, Breathe Out' feels "both vulnerable and...
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