6 September 2006
Lisa Holmes
Department of Eagles, Eagles Of Death Metal, New Young Pony Club, Culprit 1, Liam Frost & The Slowdown Family, Johnny Panic, Enter Shikari, Keith, Pearl Jam, The Tides, Less Than Jake, Audioslave, Astrid Williamson
"Beautifully, effortlessly, chaotically melodic, and at times histrionic. D of E deserve the hype. "
Department of Eagles – Romo Goth/Sailing By NightBeautifully, effortlessly, chaotically melodic, and at times histrionic. DoE deserve the hype. They come across like a curious mix of Tapes ‘n’ Tapes and TV on The Radio. Romo Goth could be more aptly named Robo Goth or alternatively Roaming Goth as it veers from folk to electronica walking a gossamer thin tightrope woven from strands of piano wire fused with a melted kazoo. This is modern day eclecticism at its best and most impossible to pigeonhole.
Eagles of Death Metal – I Want You So Hard (Boy’s Bad News)
The soundtrack to a summer spent racing pick ups through the centre of your one horse town, swilling bud and partying hard. This is slice of pure 50’s style rock n’ roll designed to get your ass down and dirty from the get go.This does exactly what it says on the tin (apart from the death metal part). All hail the magic of the Homme.
New Young Pony Club – Ice Cream
Whatever the NYPC are on should be dished out to ice cream sellers across the land – let’s ditch the 99’ and sex up the British summertime baby! Their mix of dirty funky disco is “wicked as a joyride” and sexier than the Bee Gees chest wigs. This is the future sound of a young Debbie Harry in hot pants and roller skates winking at the boys on the corner. Whilst deciding that it would be ‘neat’ to go home and play with some keyboards instead of dying her hair.
Culprit 1 – Sway EP
It’s funny that they should choose to name this the Sway EP because that’s just the kind of movement it induces. A kind of catatonic leaning coupled with much appreciative ‘oh yah’ head nodding. This puppy is one hi-Tec and high brow mix of classically influenced electronic music.
Liam Frost and the Slowdown Family – The City Is At A Standstill
Let’s just say that even putting this on at rush hour in central London wouldn’t bring the city to a standstill – not even close. This is perfect late 90’s indie pop, and it feels uninspired and over familiar as a result.
Johnny Panic – Happy Together
As random rock covers go this isn’t up there with Muse’s ‘Summertime’. JP have produced the musical equivalent of an over enthusiastic boxer dog dribbling over your favourite vinyl and making the cardboard all soggy– annoying but you can’t blame the dog ‘cos it doesn’t know better right? Still any band that reference Sylvia Plath can’t be all bad let’s just hope they find their Bible of Dreams.
Enter Shikari – Mothership
The rising stars of the UK screamo scene bring to us their first release proper. We begin with harsh electronic beeps (think the beginning of ‘Free’ by Ultra Nate) then launch into great semi-melodic hardcore – awesome stuff.
Keith – Mona Lisa’s Child
Keith are ‘avin it laarge’ with their eclectic funky Mancunian/ Latino rhythms. Although the intro is the spit of Jose Gonzalez’s ‘Heartbeats’ their debt to the Smiths looms large in the lyrical dexterity on display. Despite the bland name this is a band that is anything but.
Pearl Jam – Life Wasted
Pearl Jam might just be one of those bands who’ve travelled full circle. Grunge has long since been stripped of it’s plaid shirt and ‘Life Wasted’ could be a transparent reference to the fans who lost their life at Roskilde but on the surface at least it’s classic PJ; hard driven guitars coupled with Vedder’s anguished vocals, not a stand out track but sure footed enough to put them back on course.
The Tides - You’ll Never Change
This is Starsailor under a different name – they even reference the sea for chrissakes.
Less Than Jake – The Rest Of My Life / Don’t Fall Asleep On The Subway
Certainly these tracks contain less of the ‘Jakes’ traditional ska tinge – in fact they are more of a punk lite deal. An effort to remain relevant, or a nod to vocalist Vinnie’s Svengali - like role in the rise of emo?
Audioslave – Original Fire
This has guitars that cackle like a hoard of crazed babies – this does not happen enough, ergo Tom Morello is a genius. A proper funk rock barnstormer from the grand old men, bearers of the original rock ‘n’ roll fire.
Astrid Williamson – Shhh… / True Romance
As blandly inoffensive as the titles themselves, this is slightly folky MOR from a girl with a good voice but no discernable character.
I’m From Barcelona – We’re From Barcelona
Some would say catchy – others irritating of this debut single from a 30 strong Swedish pop ‘troupe’. It’s like a grown up nursery rhyme that even the most hardened cynic will find floating in their brain for days ready to ambush them when they least expect it. All together now; “I’m going to sing a song with all of my friends / And we’re all from Barcelona” .
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