The Gaslight Anthem - Get Hurt

New Jersey's The Gaslight Anthem return with their fifth studio album 'Get Hurt'. The album begins with Stay Vicious, which brings a heavier sound for The Gaslight Anthem. This distorted sound is certainly a different direction to The Gaslight Anthem's previous but fans were told that that's what to expect from Get Hurt. 1,000 Years is next and moves to a more familiar style, with Fallon's vocals clearer and the guitars lighter and more melodic.

The album drifts between this style of track, with distorted guitars and gruff vocals, to softer songs. The album is certainly much darker and heavier and overall a slower tempo than previous by The Gaslight Anthem, but at the same time it seems to lack as much heart when compared to albums such as Handwritten or The '59 Sound. The change in sound may be to give them a more mature edge, or that is simply where the band are now, but it carries less songs to really sing along to and more with deeper meanings in the lyrics, that just seem to get lost in the production. All that said, it is not a bad album by any means, it's easy to get into and enjoyable to listen to, but won't go down as one of The Gaslight Anthem's best.

La Roux - Trouble in Paradise

Five years after the release of the self-titled debut, La Roux is back. After the departure of producer Ben Langmaid, singer Elly Jackson has gone ahead on her own to create an album that smacks of classic 1980s synth-pop.

The album is easy to get into, La Roux's sound has matured over the five years away and Trouble in Paradise is better for it. The opener Uptight Downtown is sure to get the party started, with the opening sounding like something straight out of a club in 1985. Kiss and Not Tell is an ideal summer track, easy to listen to and definitely funky!

The latter half of the album contains Silent Parter, the 7-minute long track that could easily have been an anthem for any 1980s synth-pop outfit. The overall tracklist is strong, and well put together, mixing the fast paced songs with the slower ones to create an album that flows together well and makes for fantastic summer listening.

Trouble in Paradise shows that La Roux is definitely back!

New Music: Years & Years - Take Shelter

I heard this about two days ago and I haven't stopped listening to it. I haven't heard much by Years & Years before, but I have to say this is very catchy, moody hit for summer has got me excited for their music in future!

Artist of the Month - Lissie

This month I've picked Lissie as my Artist of the Month. I first heard her in 2010/2011 after she released the single When I'm Alone, and although I really liked the song I never explored her further until late last year, when Further Away (Romance Police) played in the Hard Rock Cafe Munich while I was there, upon returning from my trip one of the first things was going and getting her latest album Back to Forever, and I instantly fell in love.

Lissie is a folk rock singer from Illinois, to date she has produced two studio albums, a live album, and five EPs. Her songs are catchy, honest, and easy to listen to. They suit any mood too, so even at my most indecisive about what to listen to, I can always rely on one of her albums!

My Top 5

1) Further Away (Romance Police) [album - Back To Forever]

2) The Habit [album - Back To Forever]

3) Hold On We're Going Home (Drake Cover) [album - Cryin' To You EP]

4) Worried About [album - Catching A Tiger]

5) When I'm Alone [album - Catching A Tiger]

Review: Foxes - Glorious

Louisa Rose Allen, known more commonly by her stage name, Foxes, has been around for about 3 years. She gained notoriety after lending her vocals to Zedd's 'Clarity' and worked with Fall Out Boy on their latest album.

She has been releasing singles from her debut, Glorious, since September 2013, and many people in the UK will recognise her track 'Youth' from Debenham's 2013 Christmas advert. Earlier this year she also released Let Go For Tonight and Holding Onto Heaven. Foxes' Glorious opens with Talking to Ghosts, it's a strong opener, and features elements from dubstep to synthpop. Foxes' sound is definitely of the time, but there's an 80s influence creeping in as well. The album's first five tracks include the three already released singles, so it is a big opening.

The album slows with Night Glo, and there's no denying Foxes has a lovely voice, it suits her upbeat songs as much as her slow songs, but it is nice to hear it clearly on the slower songs. Night Owls Early Birds follows, and it is one of the best tracks on the album, a definite summer hit. The album's title track is a beautiful one, big bass drums and slow piano. Echo, to me, is definite of the time with artists such as Sam Smith rising in popularity, I could see this song doing well. The album ends on another slower song, Count The Saints which is a wonderful track.

Clarity features on the deluxe version of the album, and you can tell why it wasn't featured on the standard album. Foxes solo style is very different and while it is a good track for having a dance to, it's not as melodic as Foxes' other tracks.

I would give Glorious a 6/10, she's made a good album, it's easy to get into, and Foxes' certainly has a bright future ahead of her, but there are areas it does fall a little short.

New Music: Foxes - Holding Onto Heaven

Foxes' newest release is her single Holding Onto Heaven. If you liked her previous single Let Go For Tonight then you will probably like this too. Though not as upbeat, it's a lovely little song. She's building up anticipation for her debut album well!

Alkaline Trio - 19/04/2014 & 22/04/2014

So this week I did something I've not done before which is go to more than one date of a tour. The band was Alkaline Trio, who are my favourite bands, so if it had to be any band they seemed to be fitting! It was interesting though for me to see how the two compared.

Leeds Met - 19/04/2014

The last time I saw Alkaline Trio in 2012 was at Leeds Met, it isn't my favourite venue by a long shot, and with the (much bigger) Leeds Academy a stones throw away I don't know why they didn't go there! Anyway, the openers for the night were The Murderburgers, who are a punk three-piece from Scotland. They're a funny bunch, they don't speak much, in fact they barely stopped between songs to allow for applause!

Next up were Bayside, who as a support slot were a pretty big band. I admit to not having listened to much of their stuff, in my mind I had them pinned down as nothing like they actually are, and I really quite enjoyed them! They were fun, and you could tell a few crowd members had gone along really to see them which was nice.

Then came Alkaline Trio. Having seen them twice before I had an idea of what to expect from the show, and having peaked at the setlist I was pretty excited! They opened with This Could Be Love and moved into Hell Yes, two older songs which were bound to get the crowd going, but Leeds seemed to be lacking energy. I was on the barrier on the far right hand side but there was barely any crowd movement at all! Perhaps this was the beginning of their bad mood. By the time they got onto the fourth song, Every Thug Needs A Lady (one of my favourites), Dan Andriano was having trouble with his bass, he didn't stop the song and he sorted it out but you could tell that it had annoyed him, as it would any musician who was handed their instrument on stage and it wasn't properly tuned.

You could tell they weren't in a great mood, barely talking to the crowd, but they played on and they were great too. Leeds Met sound quality isn't anything special either. Then came "thumbs down guy", during Balanced On A Shelf, and Dine, Dine My Darling, (two newer songs) some guy kept putting his hand in the air with his thumb down. Matt Skiba noticed this, and was less than impressed. The guy did get thrown out, but after that, the mood was sour. I felt really bad for them, and couldn't get my head round why someone would pay £20 to see a band to then thumbs down them! So stupid.

They ended on Radio, as they always do, and everyone sang along. So while I left the gig on a high, I couldn't help but feel that it was a real shame those things had put them in a bad mood, and I was intrigued to see how Manchester would turn out.

Manchester Ritz - 22/04/2014

As a venue, I liked the Ritz, it's bigger but more built for purpose than Leeds Met. For this, my brother and I were situated on the balcony which was a good move really. A good view, less people and after Leeds really hurt our ears being directly in front of a speaker stack, we decided it would be better to keep our distance.

The Murderburgers and Bayside gave similar performances to Leeds, I think I enjoyed them more because I was more familiar with the songs this time. Then Alkaline Trio came on. It was plain to see they were in a much better mood! The crowd in Manchester were also full of energy, with mosh pits and crowd surfers aplenty. The setlist was exactly the same, but with more energy, so it made for a better show overall.

While I normally could never afford to go to multiple gigs of a tour, this has made me realise that sometimes it's worth it, and it's not something I would rule out doing again!

New Music: Lana Del Rey - West Coast

I quite like Lana Del Rey, and her new single is pretty good. I much prefer the style of the verses to the chorus, mainly because I can barely understand what she's saying in the chorus!

Music Monday

This week, I'm trying to have a fairly relaxed week, not sure if it'll happen with uni work though!

Here's my playlist for this week -

Only One Who Knows My Name - Northcote

The Girl - City and Colour

The Draw - Bastille

Buried - Alkaline Trio

National Anthem - The Gaslight Anthem

Artist of the Month - This Ground Moves

I first heard This Ground Moves at a comedy night, I know, a strange place to hear a band. The lead singer was a guest at Steffan Peddie's Chat Show Thing in December last year. They played a few songs acoustically and I quite liked them. So when their album came out I bought it and I am very glad I did.

The North East has produced some pretty amazing indie bands over the past few years and I really hope that big things happen for This Ground Moves. They're album is really catchy, the kind of songs you don't get bored of hearing a lot of. It would be really great to see them gain the same sort of accolade as a band like The Futureheads because I think they have a whole lot of potential. Definitely the kind of band that are going to sound amazing in the summer, I think they would be the ideal band for a slot at a small festival like Y Not or 2000 Trees.

Favourite songs - Feed Me To The Dogs
                              Turned On

Music Monday

This Monday I'm full of cold, so I'm going for some chilled out slower songs this week! 

Books From Boxes - Maximo Park

October Trees - Ron Pope

Lady Killer - The Horrible Crowes

The Boat - Chuck Ragan

I Remember A Rooftop - Alkaline Trio

Music Monday

These weeks seem to be coming round FAR too quickly! This week I'm quite enjoying some more lively music, so here's my Monday playlist for this week-

Running Away - Friendly Fires

My Number - Foals

Of The Night - Bastille

Zimbabwe - New Navy

Alone Together - Fall Out Boy

Review - Too Much Information - Maxïmo Park

Those, like me, who have been with Maximo Park since the beginning, will notice a bit of a change in direction with some songs on Too Much Information. That being said, it's not a bad change. Every band's sound matures and listening to Too Much Information's predecessor The National Health, you can see that it was a very natural path to take.

The album opens with Give, Get, Take. It's a toe-tapping number, and instantly the presence of the synths are there, and this carries the album all the way through it's opening tracks. This leads through to Brain Cells, and Leave This Island, this is where that change in direction really comes into play. Two purely synth driven songs. It took a couple of listens to get used to the sound, but both carry what Maximo Park's strengths have always been, good lyrics and catchy tunes. I've found myself with both in my head on more than once occasion.

Lydia, The Ink Will Never Dry moves to more familiar sounds, certainly reminiscent of songs from earlier works such as Our Earthly Pleasures, just more mature. Maximo Park are now on their fifth studio album, so the changes in sound are not radical nor too surprising, simply the sounds of an established band who know what they like to play.
My Bloody Mind is a personal favourite of mine, it starts off punchy, fast-paced but halfway through slows down and becomes more melodic, the change on paper seems like it wouldn't work, but it blends so seamlessly you don't even notice.

Of the last few tracks on Too Much Information, Is It True?, Drinking Martinis, and Midnight On The Hill are of a similar vein to Lydia, in that they are in-keeping with Maximo Park's well established sound. I Recognise This Light is another of my favourites, fast-paced, one to sing along and have a bit of a dance to. Her Name Was Audre is an energetic song and definitely a track for the live shows, it does lead nicely, however, into the final track of the album, Where We're Going, which is a slower but very good song. It's a nice ending to the album.

Fans of Maximo Park are sure to enjoy this latest offering, and for any new fans it's a very easy album to listen to.

Music Monday

Well, it's Monday again. A busy week looms, this week on the blog I'm going to be reviewing Maximo Park's new album Too Much Information, and doing a new What I'm Watching post, because there's been some good bits of telly recently!

So, here's my Monday playlist to get us going.

 My Bloody Mind - Maximo Park

Would You Still Be There? - Of Mice & Men

Mainline - Hot Water Music

Rewind - AFI

The Shine - Dave Hause

Review - Inside Llewyn Davis

Set in 1960s New York, Inside Llewyn Davis follows a young, struggling folk musician trying to make a living, before the days of Bob Dylan. Davis (played tremendously by Oscar Isaac) bounces from sofa to sofa in Greenwhich Village, playing gigs at the Gaslight when he can, and tying to make money from his first solo album. Along the way we meet some of the people in Davis' life, including musicians Jim (Justin Timberlake) and Jean (Carey Mulligan), and even though we only see a brief snippet of their lives, you can already see the beginnings of their various layers unravelling, especially Jean's.

The Coen brothers have delivered another fantastic piece of cinema. Llewyn Davis' story grabs you, and sends you on a journey where your opinions of the film's lead are constantly challenged. You get drawn into Davis' struggles, and you find yourself questioning if he really wants it enough to warrant the things he goes through and the things he does. I don't want to reveal too much of the plot, but the plot isn't what carries the film as much as the characters. Seeing brief snippets of other people's worlds while following Davis around is a nice touch, we meet characters such as Roland Turner (John Goodman) and Johnny Five (Garrett Hedlund), who clearly have a lot more going on with them than we ever really get to find out. We meet these people, but our relationship with them only goes as far as Davis' interaction, we never follow them on their own journeys, so there's always more to wonder about. 

While really, not a lot happens, so lovers of action may not be so enthralled, the film is so well acted and so beautifully dark to look at, you get entirely drawn in and always wonder what will happen to Llweyn Davis. It's certainly not surprising the film has been nominated for the 'best cinematography' Academy Award. If you get the chance, you should definitely see Inside Llweyn Davis.

Music Monday

So, as it's a new month, I thought how about a new little feature! Every Monday I'll be posting a mini playlist of 5 songs I'm loving at the moment, and everyone can see my (possibly questionable) taste in music...

And the first ever Music Monday is... -

Unconditional Love - Against Me!

Non Typical - Chuck Ragan

Car Crash - This Ground Moves

One For The Road - Arctic Monkeys

Open Eyed - Skindred

Artist of the Month - Radkey

Radkey are a punky trio of brothers from America, I first heard them earlier this month and quickly went to iTunes to download everything they had. I will say that they're not going to be for everyone, if you have a penchant for pop then they probably won't be for you, but if punk or hardcore is up your street then you just might like them.

The band is made up of Dee Radke (guitar, vocals), Isaiah Radke (bass, vocals) and Solomon Radke (drums). They are very young, aged between 16 and 20, which makes their music and achievements (playing Download Festival and just about to embark on a headline UK tour) even more impressive! Their sound isn't clean or perfect, but that's the point. They're punchy, the sort of band you would want to see in a tiny, dark, sweaty basement venue somewhere but sometimes they are the best gigs.

They certainly don't sound as young as they are, I've read Dee's vocals be compared to Dave Vanian of The Damned, and Glenn Danzig of Misfits, which I bet they'd be pretty pleased to hear!

My favourite song: Start Freaking Out

Review - Transgender Dysphoria Blues - Against Me!

If you are up to speed on the world of punk rock, or rock in general, then you should know about Laura Jane Grace. If, however, you don't, let me very quickly fill you in. In 2012, the lead singer of Against Me! came out publicly as being transgender (male to female transition), she has been given a huge amount of support since and rightly so.

That little bit of background is needed when listening to Against Me!'s latest, Transgender Dysphoria Blues. The record is a frank and open look at being transgender, lyrics such as "You want them to notice the ragged ends of your summer dress, you want them to see you like they see any other girl. They just see a faggot." from the album's title track open the record as in your face as it gets, and that is exactly what Grace set out to do. Fans of Against Me! will recognise those classic punchy beats and catchy hooks, the opening tracks Transgender Dysphoria Blues, True Trans Soul Rebel and Unconditional Love are definitely ones to be sung at the top of your lungs with your friends.

The fourth track on the album, Drinking With The Jocks, is the song I imagine Grace may have meant when she said "However fierce our band was in the past, imagine me, six-foot-two, in heels, fucking screaming into someone's face", it might be under 2 minutes long but it really does pack one helluva punch.

The album isn't all so in your face though, the almost ironically titled FUCKMYLIFE666 brings the album to a calmer pace, and it contains some of the most powerful lyrics on the album, "No more troubled sleep, there's a brave new world that's raging inside of me". The last few songs on the album take this slower pace, particularly Two Coffins, but the frank lyrics never cease. Apart from being a solid record of catchy lyrics and some very in-your-face songs, it is also a very honest and incredibly personal record, and at the same time it is so empowering not just for the transgender community, but for everyone regardless of their orientation. 

If Against Me!'s new album teaches us anything, it's that you have to be honest with who you are and love yourself, regardless of what anyone else thinks, and let's face it, that's probably the most punk thing you can do.