jwestfox has written the following articles:
So dear old Haven, a ‘proper‘ indie band, are re-releasing their debut single and finest moment in a futile bid for chart supremacy. Of course it's a sad reflection of record company politics, but 'Til The End' is probably the best of Haven's five good songs, and deserves to have them shaking their »
It's angry. It's vitriolic. It's gagging for more. It's frantic. It's the best punk thrash of the year. It's... Oh, it's finished. The Vines 2nd single is a rare thing. A genuinely exciting record. A record so frenetic you feel almost tired after listening to it. This is the musical equivalent of a passion»
2002 is turning out to be the year of the landmark record. While Electric Soft Parade are making indie records that excite, Hundred Reasons are re-defining British Rock. And then, of course, there's The Streets. For as landmark records go, this is up there with the best of them. Mike Skinner »
Of course, some people will have you believe that Rock 'n' Roll is dead. That the guitar as a creative instrument finished around 1978. That the current music scene is like the 70's before punk. Well, on the evidence of tonight, it's like the 70's during punk. I really can't tell you how much I loved this »
It seems certian that the new Oasis album will not be released until the summer. NME.com carried a report earlier this week that it would be released in the USA on May 6th, and in Britian the following day. Oasis' official site has flatly denied this, and states that the album may not be out until l»
Funny blokes, Death Cab For Cutie. Not only are they named after a song by legendary comedy popsters The Bonzo Dog Doodah Band, but their songs are full of quirky, weird and bizarre characters in woefully unrealistic and comic situations. But, all the same, they're utterly fantastic. Death Cab For Cutie»
Doves have pulled their planned NME Carling show at the London Astoria, due for February 21, and will now play the same venue on April 5. Doves have apologised to fans for the frankly annoying change, and blame studio commitments for the move. They are close to completing their second album, the fo»
Despite the slightly grandiose, self-indulgent and frankly quite silly name, British Sea Power are actually quite fantastic. This, their first single proper, emphatically proves this point. "Remember Me" has possibly the most urgent, compelling and darn right exciting opening to a record for ages. A»
It all comes down to what you want from your bands in the end. They are out there, those misanthropic four-pieces, rehearsing in the Utility rooms of Daddy's carpet ladened mansion, making utterly original music. Smashing wine bottles, setting fire to violins, and chanting "Death, Death" into a feedback drenched»
The Music have confirmed four gigs in the UK for February 2002.
Dates are as follows:
February
18th - York Fibbers
19th - Ashton Under Lyme Witchwood
20th - Colchester Arts Centre
21st - London Astoria (With Doves)
Tickets for all shows are £6 in adv»
Indie Hopes for 2002, The Electric Soft Parade have announced a short New Year tour.
The tour calls at
21st Jan - Midem, France
29th Jan - Chinnerys, Southend - Headlining
30th Jan - Esquires, Bedford - Headlining
They follow that with a date supporting Elbow»
I saw Haven play live back in the summer. I stood there, bored out of my mind for a lot of the gig. Until they started this song. It's like finding a Reservoir Dogs Director’s Cut video for £3.99 buried amongst the Teletubbies section of WH Smith. Surrounded by utter bilge, comes a gem. "Say Something"<»
Oasis. You remember them, don't you? Remember how they sounded exactly like The Beatles at times? But that didn't matter did it? Cos the songs were so jaw-droppingly good. A similar thing happens when you listen to this release from Lorien. Not that they wish to ape The Beatles, or even Oasis. They »
Paul McCartney, so they tell me, used to be in The Beatles. This is a good thing, as it means he was an integral part of the greatest band the planet has ever seen. However this is also a bad thing, as it means he has to try be as good as he was 35 years ago whenever he wants to release an album. Bugger. W»
Legendary Pop five piece Steps have ended months of speculation regarding their future by announcing they are to split Lee, Faye, H, Claire and my favourite Lisa, have been together since 1997 and have sold 12 million records. They scored two Number One's "Stomp" and "Tragedy, and had 3 chart»
Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs, former guitarist with the little-known Oasis, is back with a new band called 'Moondog One'. The band consists of a number of other Manchester 'musicians': Paul Arthurs (ex-Oasis) Guitar Johnny Evans (ex-Buffalo 66) Vocals Mike Joyce (ex-The Smith»
Of course, it'd be easy for me to destroy this record. To many, David Gray represents all that is wrong with British guitar music. Dull, uninspiring, safe, pointless, sales driven. And he's got dyed blonde hair. But the weird thing is, I kinda like him. "White Ladder", the massive selling dinner par»
Ha. Well. What can I say. The Diff'rent Strokes for those souls lucky enough not to know, are a 'hilarious' 'tribute' band to.....wait for it.....The Strokes! You guessed correct?! Have a Sigur Ros album on me! The Diff'rent Strokes take exisiting Strokes tunes, and re-do them in a muzak styl»
I'm the only person I know who likes Belle And Sebastian. And I kinda like it that way. Many a winter night I’ve sat in my cold, dark, lonely little bedroom with this album piping out of my crusty old stereo. Some albums are built to be listened to with a beery group of friends, to be sung along to at the top of»
I have a friend at school called Chris. He is just the most fantastic person. He's really funny, he always has my best interests at heart, and he makes me feel considerably happier when I'm down. A lot like this record. A squillion times better than the yawnathon that was: "Fat Lip", this charming piece of»
If one thing that is certain to happen over the festive period, it's that people will release musical songs that they hope will turn out to be, as they say in the industry, "hits". Sadly, as this article will prove, the quality of these aforementioned songs are, well, piss-poor. We'll start with the favourite.... »
The Cooper Temple Clause have confirmed details of their debut album. The group, tipped by many as one of the most promising bands for 2002, release 'See This Through And Leave' on February 4 via BMG. As previously reported, the album will be preceded by the double A-side singl»
There's something fucking horrible about Seafood. Despite my Indie "roots" dictating that I should worship at their church of the fringe infested Sonic Youth tribute band, I utterly despise them. The fact they make terrible records, the fact their live shows are self-indulgent messes, the fact they've got stupid»
There’s nothing like a pop music mystery. It intrigues, it induces wonder, it confuses. Mysteries, in these days of production line pap, faux-angry American noise bands and NAM moaners, is hard to find. Everything seems so formulaic, so predictable, so staid. Although new bands are finally starting to emerge, they seem»
It was all going so well. After gracing 2000 with one of the finest pop songs in ages, that's "Groovejet" for the chart ignorers, it was written by those who know that Sophie would become the biggest pop star in Britain. Labels fought over her, men competed to write for her. It was all going so well. Then,»
George Harrison, the Beatles' quiet lead guitarist and spiritual explorer who added both rock 'n' roll flash and a touch of the mystic to the band's timeless magic, has died, a longtime family friend told The Associated Press. He was 58. Harrison died at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at a friend's Los Angeles home f»
Hyped to fuck New Yorkers The Strokes have confirmed final details of a UK tour for the spring.
The shows take place in late February and March, and are the their largest UK headline performances to date.
The tour calls at:
Leeds University (February 23)
Birmingham Academy (24)
It can't be easy being in Ocean Colour Scene. Everywhere you go you get abuse for being a backward-looking, dated, embarrassing, tired, old band. And these days, what with this new fangled Dance music stuff, your records don't sell so well. And by 'so well', I mean: number 75. But do they deserve the hate they g»
Garage newcomer Daniel Bedingfield looks set to topple S Club 7 at the top of the UK singles chart this week. Midweek sales indicate that Bedingfield's 'Gotta Get Thru This' could topple the mighty S Club from the top spot and prevent pop stars Hear'Say from scoring their third consecutive Nu»
Ricky, one of 2002 brightest hopes, release thier debut mini-album early next year. After a stunning London gig at the Lil' Backyard club on Nov 13, Ricky have become one of the hottest of many hot new bands around this year. They release "You Set The Scene" on 14th January 2002 on Bod the Mo»
