little_milton has written the following articles:
On their recent trip to the UK, Aaron Dessner of New York (via Cincinnati) indie quintet The National sits down with DiS in a London boozer to provide a behind the scenes glimpse into the making of one of the year's finest albums, Boxer»
As if emerging like Balboa from the meat freezer, Ryan Adams stands before us having ditched the suit and tie. Looking scruffy and messed-up, sporting a fetching green bobble tea cosy as headgear – this is more like the man we know and love»
The National take to the stage with ‘Start A War’, exhibiting a cool sense of assuredness. It’s like a slow pressure release of an opener rather than the pop of a champagne cork we’re expecting»
When Sam Beam arrives onstage, ever the polite talkative chap, he quickly bypasses the awkward phatic pleasantries. Tonight it’s the interesting enquiry "Where are your costumes?" - because it’s Halloween, see»
Our US readers might not think of Scanners as a new name, but the Brits are yet to make an impact in their homeland. DiS meets the four-piece to DiScover how they linked up with the influential Dim Mak label»
With a layered U2-like chorus, this is another radio-friendly slice of The National, firmly rooted lyrically in the subject of a close loving relationship»
Is that Captain Birdseye, wearing his late grandmother’s nightdress, I spot on the horizon... or just an anthropomorphous Humpty Dumpty dressed as a character from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes»
Mr Samuel Beam, a.k.a. ‘indie-folk’ act Iron & Wine, started writing songs purely as a hobby whilst working as a cinematography lecturer. Tom Milway was able to speak to Beam - whose new LP The Shepherd's Dog is out now - all the way from Boston, Massachusetts...»
How often is it that a British band comes along (and an exciting one at that) who’ve yet to release a debut album, or even issue a widely available EP, and completely sell out a venue the size of the King’s Cross Scala? Sometimes when bands get together it just works, instantly...»
While the trademark reverb is still laced like the bourbon in a Wild Turkey 'n' Coke, the reverb pedals have been consciously decreased on Cease To Begin unveiling a dynamic and clearer rock sound. Phil Ek (The Shins, Modest Mouse) has created a less grandiose and more straightforwardly powerful Band of Horses sound...»
There seems to be a divergence of opinion over tonight’s show before we've even reached the door. Is this Broken Social Scene? Is this Kevin Drew? Or… is this Broken Social Scene presents... Kevin Drew? (And if it is, what the hell does that mean anyway?)»
The third installment from the running series of Youthmovies free live downloads has been made available to you special, special people.»
Whilst we’ve lost a real trace of the intimate folk beauty of the first two albums, the lavish musical changes Beam has made alongside further songwriting developments see Iron & Wine, once again, make a step-up to another level...»
Sadly postponed in June due to flooding, Truck returns over the weekend of September 22 and 23.»
Following cancellation back in April, a rescheduled Insomniacs Ball will now take place on September 29 at London’s SeOne club.»
Spilling off the small makeshift Rough Trade in-store stage and into the audience, I swear Yannis is going to knock the thirtysomething gentleman wearing slacks in the front row square in the face»
You may well recall that last month we offered you, beloved reader, an exclusive free Youthmovies download? Well here's another.»
Witnessing Samuel Beam (aka Iron & Wine) play this one-off unaccompanied acoustic showcase in aid of new album The Shepherd’s Dog provides us an early-evening bedtime storybook...»
It’s rammed in here tonight. We should have been here 45 minutes ago. Still, we’ve had a few drinks beforehand and cheekily slip, like letter through envelope, into the crowd to gain a (somewhat detached) view of the delectable Leslie Feist.»
A chance to reignite the flame of the weekend, so sincerely pissed on after a Monday morning in the office, is what we come for this evening...»
South Carolina's Band of Horses have announced their new album will be titled Cease to Begin.»
As rulers of the austere and romantic underworld, Interpol’s proficiency in building luscious tension and sublime release has pervaded every one of their songs with devastating effect...»
Shoegaze’s influence on modern music, now rehashed as ‘nu-gaze’, is stronger than ever. And now, blazing up the inside like one of those lavish climactic choruses, we have Asobi Seksu...»
The Ponys used to create catchy, guitar-driven pop songs; now they create nightmares. From their pristine pop perfection of previous releases, such as 2005's Celebration Castle, the band has taken the plunge into the darkness of the lock-up garage this year...»
Two ‘n’ a half minutes into the track and it all seems to have finished. But oh, no, hold on… it’s back and it’s back with wreaking balls bigger and harder than Ali ever possessed...»
While most can be found sipping ale in public houses across the country this evening, watching the European Cup slip in an unfortunate manner from the hands of Liverpool FC, some of us have defied convention and stand in the throng of Oxford Street's 100 Club. Unfortunately, however, not many have followed our lead – the venue is half empty. The few that are in attendance needn't have bothered, either, really: their support is lackluster throughout. Through no fault of Annuals, too...»
The Wild West-style checked shirts are out in force at the Scala tonight. And rightly so: this is, after all, a rather special event. Band of Horses are making their London debut as part of a brief four-date UK tour...»
