Articles
alcxxk has written the following articles:
The Selector 5th Birthday at London Islington Academy, Wed 13 Sep
Guillemots are a freakish pop group, with a million elements that you could turn your nose up at. But have a little faith and they will astound you...»
GoodBooks - Turn It Back
I like to think of GoodBooks as the current indie scene's answer to Fleetwood Mac. Not that they're all doing each other, at least not to my knowledge, but in their unashamedly soft pop sound, thankfully unmarred by any slavish imitation of elders and/or betters...»
I'm From Barcelona - We're From Barcelona
Imagine Archetecture In Helsinki if they really sucked, or Belle and Sebastian committing creative suicide. Or don't. Go and listen to Forever Changes, the only positive thing that could come of this...»
The Rapture - Get Myself Into It
Upon the announcement that Paul Epworth was to produce the new material from The Rapture, all those months ago, tongues (such as mine) did wag at the thought. A man responsible for records by so many bands who had followed The Rapture's example of plundering the sounds of the post-punk era for a modern update (co-)taking the reigns of that selfsame band did suggest a certain level of selfparody, at least to my cynical mind...»
390Minutemen
Chronicalling the 'career' one of the greatest DIY bands of the 80s, We Jam Econo - The Story of The Minutemen is to be released on DVD. As well as the original documentary, made up of interviews with the band and the likes of Ian Mackaye, Thurston Moore, Henry Rollins and blistering live performances, the double-DVD will contain 5 hours of extra live footage, interviews and the band's promo videos...»
The Evens at London Regent Hall, Fri 07 Apr
At a time when even Radiohead are choosing to play V, Mackaye tutoring a church full of punks and indie kids through a mass sing along is both inspired and inspirational.»
Various, The Birthday Party, Radio Birdman, The Saints, *** *** - Inner City Sound
With its island setting leading to combination of an imported culture and an artist alienation, it's hardly surprising that, during the late '70s and early '80s, Australia produced a number of intriguing bands in the wake of Punk. This explosion was documented in Clinton Walker's book, Inner City Sound (something like the Antipodean equivalent of Michael Azerrad's Our Band Could Be Your Life), the reprint of which this double CD is a companion to.»
Youthmovies, Dozen Beats 11 at Soho Curzon Cinema, Fri 24 Feb
Following Million Dead's saddening departure from the scene that is sometimes known as "Rock", ex-singer (well, he's still a singer, just not in Million Dead) Frank Turner has been touring incessantly wherever anybody is so kind as to have him, from toilet venues to fan's kitchens. Dozen Beats 11, featuring bassist Julia Ruzicka and latter day MD guitarist Tom Fowler (along with ex-Cars As Weapons drummer Rich Harwood) have taken their time to return, in rather more grandiose style, here at the Curzon cinema, with re-edited clips from Texas Chainsaw Massacre providing narrative in place of a vocalist.»
Tim KinSellOut Tour? *Update*
Tim Kinsella(s) - of Make Believe/ caP'n Jazz/ Owls/ Joan of Arc/ Sky Corvair/ Everyoned/ Friend/Enemy/ more bands than you've had hot dinners - DOESN'T tour the UK in February.»
Montana Pete, The Rebel at London Islington Hope and Anchor, Thu 22 Dec
Giving away your music for free on the internet seems to be paying dividends for various acts. A half empty Hope and Anchor hardly seems apt reward for this band's longstanding dedication to the cause. Maybe people will only take your free music when it comes with a simple comparison. The Libertines, but like, Northern, or whatever. No such tagline for la Pete. »
Part Chimp, Pelican, Rainy Day Fuck Parade at King's Cross Scala, Islington, Tue 20 Dec
Part Chimp, pull off the difficult task of marrying FACE battering heaviness with a predisposition towards major tonalities, lending their music a redemptive, celebratory feel whilst still making you nod your head like an idiot watching Sky One.»
Charles Hayward, Trencher, Hella at London LSE, Tue 06 Dec
This is the spazzrock equivalent of Dylan going electric. Where once they were an arty oddity, a fantastic exercise in restraint, here it feels like Hella could stand toe to toe with any rock band on the planet. Cedric Bixler and Omar Rodriguez stand at the back, suitably impressed.»
Shooting At Unarmed Men - Soon There Will Be...
Shooting At Unarmed Men have all the influences in place – a bit of Dischord Records, chirpy major chord post punk à la the Futureheads, Pixies. All darn well and good, but imagine if you were to take one of those sounds and just loop one of their scratchy riffs and plug it into a versechorusversechorus structure. Not a lot of fun.»