Monday 11 September 2017

CRITICS 'Woodwork' EP



The wait is over, London based dirt-pop trio Critics' second EP is here. Filled with the catchy melodies, insane guitar parts and groove heard in their previous EP 'Spilt Milk', the highly anticipated 'Woodwork' reinforces Critics' label of 'ones to watch'.

Kicking off with previously teased track 'Key Lime Pie' gets the EP off to a great start. Reminiscent of the more pop infused elements of the first EP,  this is the type of song you can't help but click and sway along to. 

'You make everything alright,
Turn the dark into the light,
Got a tattoo on my mind.' 

Continuous dance beats and uplifting guitars are punctuated by those distant vocals that have come to define the Critics sound. This adds interest to the verses. Vocalist Lynn's unique tone can be heard throughout the chorus, adding a bit of grit to an otherwise very pop orientated track.

In contrast, the more rock orientated 'What Are You Waiting For' follows. The crash of cymbals, claps, heavy bass drum and distorted guitars lets you know we're in a different area of the Critics brand now. 

This is a much darker toned track yet it retains the ability to make you want to move around - even if it's to sway your arms and stamp your feet.

I particularly liked the call and response element of 'What Are You Waiting For' that features group vocals shouting the hook of the song in response to the drum pattern. You can definitely imagine this live.

Monday 4 September 2017

Coasts - 'This Life' Album Review


Picture Source: @coastsband on Twitter



Bristol five piece Coasts are back with their second pop infused indie album.

Looking at the track listing, you can already see the journey you're about to go on emotionally. Tracks such as 'Heart Starts Beating' and 'Come On Over' sit at the beginning of the album, you might argue this indicates a positive start to a potential relationship as opposed to the middle/final tracks 'Make It Out Alive' and 'Born To Die' that may suggest a darker tone - but we'll see.

'Take Me Back Home' kicks off the album with a sound reminiscent of the band's first album - fun, upbeat pop that you can't help but dance and move along to. Amongst the strong beats and guitar licks creating that typically Coasts summer vibe, attention to the lyrics of songs can sometimes be lost. I particularly liked the metaphor used at the beginning of 'Take Me Back Home' to illustrate sunlight coming through the window and its later use to conjure up a picture of a stunning sky.


'Sunlight starts to skate across the ceiling.'

'Where the sky is glittering gold.' 


To me, this song is written from the perspective of looking back to when life was less complicated. However, the memories might be a tad embellished as they seem so perfect. 

Monday 28 August 2017

PICTURES - THE SCRIPT GIG

This week saw Irish rock/pop trio The Script return to Birmingham to play intimate venue The O2 Academy.

With a set full of classic anthems to sing along to and a few tracks from new record 'Freedom Child' scattered in for an introduction to their new sound, The Script put on a fantastic show.

Support came from hit singer-songwriter JP Cooper (you've heard him on summer anthems such as 'September Song' and 'Passport Home') who kicked off the night perfectly.

Then it was time for the infectious energy that is The Script. Here are some pictures from the show:


JP COOPER



THE SCRIPT 



















All photos taken using an iPhone 6s.


Until next time...

@wewantgoodmusic



Find out more about The Script here.

Monday 21 August 2017

'Wayback EP' by The Real Cool



Picture Source: @therealcooluk on Twitter

Hailing from Birmingham, UK, The Real Cool are a three piece dream pop band on a mission to bring the 80s sound into modern times. Today we'll be looking at their debut three track EP 'Wayback!'.

Released earlier this year, the EP uses synths, drum machines and the narrative of love as a thread.

The EP opens with title track 'Way Back' and immediately packs a punch diving straight into the lyrics of the chorus.


'I knew I'd be with you, when I met you
way back in the summer girl.' 


Although slightly repetitive, this is a chilled song with relaxed synths and perfectly placed drum beats/claps punctuating the track. The reduction of instrumentation to just synths and a simple beat towards the end of the song is particularly interesting and adds to the laid back vibe.

A relatively simple, clean sounding love song - this is one to sway your arms along to.

Next up we have 'Home', a contender for my favourite track on the EP.

Bright guitar riffs introduce the track but we quickly revert to the chilled synths heard previously with perhaps more of a bass element.

Personally, my favourite part of this song comes towards the middle when almost all the instruments are taken away so you can hear the relaxed, raw tone and accent in the vocals.

The mixture of slightly sarcastic social commentary-like lyrics, mellow synths and guitar riffs is slightly reminiscent of bands such as The 1975 - never a bad thing! But of course, The Real Cool add their own unique edge.

'Home' is all about the modern dating scene and how technology plays a key part in that. This gives rise to some of the best lyrics I have heard in a while, such as:


'It's okay to be at home, 
I'll seek you in a screen on my phone.'

'If you swipe right,
then I know that you're just my kind.'

'I fell in love with a selfie.'

'You're sweet twenteen
and you're living a dream on your newsfeed. '


'Blinds' is the final track on the EP. - upbeat, pure synth heaven. 

I'd argue that this is the most 80's influenced song but still retains a modern twist and those smooth guitar riffs continue to make an appearance. 

With a higher energy and more bass enhanced groove, 'Blinds' is definitely one to dance along to and finishes the EP perfectly. 

The future looks very exciting for this Birmingham trio.


Until next time...

@wewantgoodmusic


Find out more about The Real Cool here.  


Monday 24 July 2017

'Let Down' EP by Dresses



Whilst this blog normally features new music, we are also here to promote music discovery. When researching last week's Youth Club post, I stumbled across an indie pop male/female duo named Dresses' EP 'Let Down'. Having listened to a couple of songs on the EP, I thought it'd be good to share with you all (even if it was released in 2015). It appears as though the US duo haven't been active on social media for a while but I hope you enjoy this little slice of summer pop.

Beginning with whistle-like synth tones, an intricate clicking rhythm, plucked strings and upbeat vocals, 'Catch' introduces the feel good EP. This song throws a veil of cheerful claps, bright guitars and optimism over the deeper, more personal, emotive core of the story of how important communication is within a relationship. This becomes particularly prominent in the beautifully metaphoric chorus:

 'Don't wanna be another one that you throw back
 This is a two way street not a culdesac,
And if I threw my heart and made a pass
Would your hands reach out when I said Catch.'

The two way street emphasises how both people in a relationship need to talk and try to understand eachother - it's not one way communication. However, it is the final line of the chorus that is very bold and resonates emotion implying the question; will you be there for me when I need you?

Following on from 'Catch' is the equally as catchy and bright track 'Drift Away'.

In contrast from 'Catch', 'Drift Away' begins with a solo guitar that builds up from a simple strum to more intricate patterns. The cheerful claps are replaced temporarily with slightly stronger drum beats but the duo's signature harmonies remain. 

'No matter what we are
We're gonna give it up
My mind, your heart have had enough
No matter what you do
I'm still in love with you 
But my heart, your mind
Are out of touch.' 

As the title would suggest, my interpretation of 'Drift Away' is that it is about two people separating from each other due to a lack of understanding of the others' feelings. 

Suddenly the EP takes a darker toned turn with 'I Don't Believe Them'. Drum beats become more intense and purposeful, almost like a march, while the synths and guitars that are often used as a bright pick up have become more mysterious in tone. 

'They say I have come so far but I don't believe them, I don't believe them.'

Skipping over the anomaly that is 'I Don't Believe Them', the brighter tone returns in title track 'Let Down'. With similar instrumentation and ''sway your arms'' vibe to the first two tracks on the EP, 'Let Down' tells the tale of perseverance, trying to make a relationship work - ultimately failing but happy in the knowledge the narrator tried. 

'I'm sorry if I let you down, but I didn't let me down.'

Next up is 'Frozen' (not featuring any mention of building any snowmen). 

This track has a slightly different feel to the rest of the EP as more of a ballad than pop song. Featuring layered vocals as well as the return of purposeful drum beats and the odd cymbal crash promotes a powerful sound throughout. 

Finally we have 'Fools'. 

Starting with quick guitar licks and the return of whistles, 'Fools' is the ultimate summer song with a bright, upbeat tone and xylophone inserts. Unexpectedly, the chorus of 'Fools' is perhaps more mellow than the tracks that precede it - perfect for driving along to in the summer sun. 

After listening to the 'Let Down' EP it is clear that Dresses are incredibly talented as they manage to make you smile and tap your feet along to heartbreak. Combining cheerful hooks and bright tones with personal, thought provoking lyrics has allowed Dresses to create a fun, summer sounding EP that we thoroughly enjoyed listening to.


Until next time...

@wewantgoodmusic


LISTEN to the 'Let Down' EP on Spotify here.



Monday 17 July 2017

Introducing Youth Club

Picture Source: @weareyouthclub on Twitter


We are late to the party.

After attending Village Green Festival last weekend and not being able to fit into the tent this Southend four piece were playing, we knew they were something special.

Youth Club are an indie pop band from Essex that combine catchy hooks with upbeat guitars, creating infectious songs that leave you no choice but to dance along. This week we'll be looking at a few of Youth Club's singles, beginning with their most recent release 'Are You Wanting It All'.

Starting off with a laid back vibe created by clicks and a funky bass line, the rhythmic groove present in many Youth Club songs is given a slightly mysterious sounding twist. Typical to Youth Club, this song has a quite mellow dance groove in the verses with more uplifting phrases in the chorus aided by repeating brighter guitar patterns. Another interesting element to this track is its video which features silhouettes of the band throughout - something different.

Next, we're going a bit further back into Youth Club history with 'Pressure'.

The start of this track is rather unique, with drips and synthy beats punctuated by guitar strums introducing the song. This drip-feed of synths, drums and guitars flows into the musical accompaniment for the chorus and rest of the song representing, in my opinion, the confused/pressured situation. 'Pressure' has an arguably darker tone than most other Youth Club songs and a slightly more chaotic feel.

'We're wasting our time, never live up to the pressure.'

Half way through the pressure breaks.

'I know I know.'

This is a sort of calm oasis in the song. Overall, 'Pressure' has a good groove and reminiscent carnival vibes created by the mix of instruments and beats.

The final track we're going to talk about is 'DTLA' (short for Downtown LA).

With a defined beat and bass line from the start, DTLA definitely packs a punch. This upbeat track mixes guitar licks with a more R'n'B orientated vocal to once again create a catchy blend of indie pop. In particular, towards the end the guitar copies the vocal pattern in a solo type affair which was a nice addition to an already fantastic track.

If you're looking for more Youth Club tunes to jump around, sway your arms and move your feet to check out their 2014 EP 'Brothers'.


Until next time...

@wewantgoodmusic



Find out more about Youth Club here.  



Monday 10 July 2017

IN PICTURES: VILLAGE GREEN 2017

It's that time of year again - festival season. Saturday 8th July saw the return of Village Green Festival in Essex, a fantastic grassroots festival for the whole family.

With a combination of undiscovered/unsigned bands and a few familiar names, it is easy to see why this festival draws crowds of all ages from across the region.

Some of our highlights included:

- Airways joking about how relevant their song 'Mate' is to Essex.
- Janet Street Porter masks the audience received from BAIT.
- The brilliant pop/rock energy brought by special guests Youth Club.
- This quote from intense rockers Suspects:

'This one's for all of us because going to work sucks - this is War Horse'.

Overall, Village Green is a great family day out that brings local talent and the community together - bring on next year!

Until next time...

@wewantgoodmusic

Village Green In Pictures

AIRWAYS



NOTHING BUT THIEVES






YOUTH CLUB (so good we couldn't fit in!)



HOLLOWAY ROAD




SUSPECTS



LONGY & THE GOSPEL TRASH 



BAIT







All photos taken using an iPhone 6s.





Monday 3 July 2017

The Hummingbirds - 'Moving On' EP

Picture Source: PledgeMusic



Hailing from Liverpool, The Hummingbirds are a five piece Nashville inspired alt. rock band. Set for release on 28th July, their new EP 'Moving On' follows the success of their debut album released in 2016.

The four track EP begins with title track 'Moving On'.

Having never heard The Hummingbirds before, one of the first things I noticed was how their sound echoes other bands such as The Eagles and Oasis but with a Nashville-esque flavour, resulting in a truly unique sound. 'Moving On' is the track where these influences are most prominent in my opinion.

The EP links songs through the common narrative of love.

Monday 12 June 2017

Nambyar




For those unaware of the creative, soulful singer-songwriter Nambyar here's a brief overview. Currently based in Amsterdam, Nambyar is half Fijian, half Dutch and has made a name for himself in Europe, with writing credentials including Swedish pop singer Erik Rapp's single 'Look Like Lovers'. 

Now, Nambyar has used his writing and production talents to produce two alternative R&B singles - 'Warm In The Winter' and 'Once More'.

Released earlier this year, 'Warm In The Winter' has a mellow groove featuring Nambyar's signature soulful vocal punctuated by understated beats. Starting with warm tones created by ambient analogue synths, this chilled vibe track is perfect for a relaxed playlist. Even the explosive chorus, featuring beautiful piano parts, maintains a perfect balance for this atmospheric electronic love song. 

Monday 5 June 2017

The Maine: 'Lovely Little Lonely' Album




Last weekend I attended Slam Dunk Festival with the sole aim of finally seeing one of my favourite bands live. The Maine did not disappoint. Their set was everything a fan could wish for - great music with a couple of the hits thrown in, plenty of comedic moments and an abundance of audience participation! It was only when the band played one of their most recent releases ('Bad Behaviour') that I realised I hadn't written about their incredible new album yet. So here it is, my take on The Maine's 'Lovely Little Lonely' album.

Released in April 2017, 'Lovely Little Lonely' builds upon the success of The Maine's previous album 'American Candy' incorporating memorable hooks with rhythms that drown you in the desire to dance.

A clean, typically Maine sounding guitar and clear vocal introduces the album with a tambourine lifting the song. As soon as the drums hit you know you're in for a treat - the summer vibe exerted so perfectly by The Maine has begun. This is 'Don't Come Down', a song about living in the moment, appreciating the good times and not getting caught up on the bad times whilst surrounding yourself with the best people to enjoy each day.

One thing that The Maine do extremely well is create catchy choruses that will get stuck in your head for the foreseeable future - this isn't a bad thing. 'Bad Behaviour' is one of those songs that you can't help but hum and tap a foot along to as soon as you hear the ring of guitar and crash of drums that start the track. Seeing this performed live was everything you'd imagine it to be - everyone jumping and singing in unison with not a care in the world. As the lead single from 'Lovely Little Lonely', 'Bad Behaviour' doesn't hold back from the beginning and tells the story of a romantic encounter with a girl that could be disadvantageous for both parties.

Monday 15 May 2017

INTERVIEW: MODEL AEROPLANES




Over the weekend I was given the pleasure of interviewing Dundee band Model Aeroplanes at CloseUp Festival - this is what happened.

[G] = Grant Irvine

[K] = Kieran Smith

[B] = Ben Buist

[R] = Rory Flemming-Stewart

(  )  = My comments during editing


Let's get straight into it, how did you guys get started? How did you guys meet?


[B] Never been good at anything else.

[G] We met in high school, the boys were the year above me and in first year we started jamming.

[R] I think Kieran bullied Grant in the corridor once!

[K] 'Cause he was a first year and I was a second year, it's just what you have to do.

[G] Yeah, he'd step on my heel so my shoe would come off - he's a coward though. We're mates now though so it's fine. But yeah so we met at school and started writing songs, bunking off classes...

[R] Bunking off! (weird hand movement)

[G] Like to write - we're pretty bad ass just to let you know - so we'd go to the music rooms and just sit and write songs when we were meant to be in classes.


That's cool, so it happened naturally.


[All] Yeah, yeah

[G] Yeah it happened really naturally, didn't help our grades though!

[R] I don't even know what I got. I can't even remember what highers I got...I've lost the certificates as well, don't know how to find it online.

[G] I left school with less qualifications than I started with - somehow.


Monday 1 May 2017

Bellevue Days: 'Sad Boy' EP



After seeing these guys live at a gig last week, I felt they had to be mentioned in this week's post. The immense energy and love for their craft presented on stage transfers to their music. This is Bellevue Days, the 'Sad Boy' EP.

Hailing from Croydon, UK, Bellevue Days are a four piece rock band with a unique sound.

'Down down down it didn't exist' - the EP kicks off with a strong vocal that demands attention.
Accompanied by a pulsing electric guitar, the thunder like crash of drums hits - this is 'Ripped Jeans'.

The first thing you notice about Bellevue Days' songs are the contrast between loud and quiet. After the initial drums comes a period of refreshing quiet, just a guitar and vocal providing an emotive twist to the song. A chorus of voices singing/chanting 'Ripped Jeans' then join even bigger drums than before to finish the track until only the faint clink of glasses can be heard, conjuring up a picture of a crowded bar.

'Ripped Jeans' seamlessly flows into 'Pepper Tea', a song that starts off with a relatively more mellow vibe than the previous track. A smooth guitar and determined vocal set the scene, ready for a build up of drums and guitar parts, only to return to the simple drum/bass beats seen at the start. This was one of the song's highlights in my opinion as you're expecting an explosive chorus, only to find out that this comes later. 'Pepper Tea' is one of those songs that makes you sway then lose your mind.

I particularly liked the start of this next track - 'Something New'. Beginning with a deep, clean guitar, three drum punches lead into the whispered vocal providing a different tone to the rest of the EP. Airy group vocals and guitars ring but don't quite prepare you for the explosion of drums that happens next. Favourite lyric: 'Amongst the anarchy we'll find something new'.

We're almost there, last track but one is 'Gratefully Gracious' - another track that starts off with a whole new tone of its own. A simple solo guitar introduces the track with hushed vocal phrases giving the impression of a chilled, quieter, perhaps more reflective track. This image is shattered a few seconds later when the familiar racing drums and clean guitar patterns return.

Finally, 'Made From The Devil, Heavy Metal' ends the album in typical Bellevue Days style but a much quieter version.

We hope there are big things to come from Bellevue Days in the near future.


Until next time...

@wewantgoodmusic


To find out more about Bellevue Days click here.





Monday 24 April 2017

Chase Atlantic - 'Part Two'

If  you haven't already read our review of Chase Atlantic's 'Part One' you can find it here



In short, Chase Atlantic are an Australian twisted alt-pop trio now based in LA. After some time away, the band have come back strong with a collection of songs, 'Part One' and 'Part Two'.

'Part Two' begins with the band's debut UK single 'Triggered', a dark cinematic account of a young relationship. Building on the determined rhythms in 'Part One', 'Triggered' features pulsing beats with impatient vocals to detail a highly emotion charged, slightly reckless, drive to a girl's house in the middle of the night. A stand out part of the song is a moment of silence in the middle when you think things have calmed down, only to realise that this is the build up to an even more explosive chorus than the previous ones.

Monday 27 March 2017

Introducing The Fall Of Ego

Picture Source: @TheFallofEgo1 on Twitter


Hailing from Nottinghamshire, Sven Fredriksson is the singer/songwriter for band The Fall Of Ego. With the release of a new album 'World In Disguise' coming soon we thought it would be a great time to introduce you to The Fall Of Ego by talking about two previously released tracks of the indie rock genre.

First of all, we have 'One of These Days' - a relatively slow paced yet uplifting track.

Cymbals and drum crashes punctuate the chorus with more mellow patterns providing a good contrast during the verses. The track starts off with these cymbal crashes mixed with the repetition of clean guitar patterns and bass lines to create an intriguing atmosphere. The raw, piercing, warm toned vocal enters with the line 'this is me' - a very striking beginning to the track.

Monday 20 March 2017

Introducing INEGO

Picture Source: @inegomusic on Twitter


Hailing from Manchester, UK, INEGO are an alternative rock band with a knack for creating an infectious groove.

Today we're taking it back to 2015 with Inego's EP entitled 'What Are You Waiting For?'

A crash of drums, a flash of guitar and they're off - first track 'Talking To You' sets the scene for the EP with expansive vocals and an upbeat rhythm. This is definitely one to bop along to. Towards the end of the track sits a relaxed, clean sounding guitar solo which breaks down into a tribe like, pumping drum beat complimented by a rhythmic bass pattern. This finishes the track with an air of mystery that is built upon in the second song on the EP, 'Startin' Fires'.

Monday 13 March 2017

'Ashtray Black' by Pete Gardiner




For fans of  Irish singer songwriter Pete Gardiner, this highly anticipated album has been a long time coming but let me tell you - the wait was worth it.

Featuring tracks mixed by Ash Howes and Mercury Award winning producer Tommy McLaughlin, 'Ashtray Black' builds on the success of singles such as 'Hollywood Lights' and 'Pretty Smiles' to create a collection of foot tapping, feel good tracks with emotive narratives.

The album kicks off with '11 O'clock', a relatively melancholic song with lonely lyrics layered over a conflicting uplifting groove.  The chorus of '11 O'clock' is infectious, with energetic drums and bright guitar melodies, combined with lyrics such as 'just got paid but it's 11 o'clock and I've drank it all away' that conjure up a picture of a crowd singing along in a bustling bar.

Monday 27 February 2017

INTERVIEW WITH PETE GARDINER




Introducing Pete Gardiner, a talented singer-songwriter from Ireland. We asked Pete a few questions about his music and life in general so you could get to know the man behind the music ahead of his album release next month.


Let's start with a bit about you, what is your first musical memory?

There's a few that blend together. I remember Meat Loaf's ''Bat Out Of Hell'' album on cassette tape one Christmas and listening to it with my dad Saturday morning when I got up. I was only about six or seven but even then I had a strong sense that this was a great album to start the weekend to.

My older cousin let me hear the Guns N Roses album ''Use Your Illusions' when I was around the same age. I was captivated by that one for a lot of years after.

I can remember my parents playing Bob Dylan's ''Mr Tambourine Man'' and I was fascinated by the contrast between his version and the version by The Byrds. I would come back to Dylan many years later when I was ready to understand him...I never came back to The Byrds though. 


How did you get into music as a career?

Well I never really thought of it as a career, and I still don't. Songwriting was just something I got a high from and when I was in school it gave the class-clown smart-ass inside me an outlet that didn't get me into trouble - now it's just second nature, part of my identity. If I showed up to a party with a guitar people might think I was ill. Even if it did start to really pay off financially, I think I would always be too close to it to think of it as a career. 


How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it - in three words?

Worth a listen.


Where has been your favourite place to play and why?

The best nights don;t always transpire where you'd expect them to. I've played to five thousand people before and there's a certain trill attached to that, but then some of my most memorable evenings have been entertaining non more than eight or nine people in somebody's kitchen. A good night just depends on so many things that are out of your hands that you don't really know when it's going to come together. 



What is your writing process like?

It usually begins with a rhyming couplet racing through my head at a very inappropriate time, like when I'm busy or just about to fall asleep. Just one or two lines that are worth pursuing. When that happens, they'll be noted, and I'll look at them again the next time I bet a chance to sit down with the guitar. If I'm lucky it'll spark off a song. There's a balance and a compromise that happens because you have to sit and work at part of the song but another part has to be given to you from somewhere. There's a key component to a song that you can't find just from showing up and trying, it just presents itself when it wants to and sometimes it just keeps you waiting around.

Monday 20 February 2017

New Music Monday: Singles Edition

This week I thought we'd do something different.

In recent weeks a few good singles have come to my attention from various bands around the UK who are in the middle of making new albums. As such, with no EP or album to review all we have are the singles so that's what we're going to talk about today. Welcome to New Music Monday - the singles edition.

First up we have 'Modern Times' by Pink Hotel.

Monday 13 February 2017

Dangerous Animals: 'Thick Thieves On The Bricktops EP'



Based in New York, Dangerous Animals are a four piece alternative rock band. Today we'll be talking about their recently released EP 'Thick Thieves On The Bricktops'.

Intriguing guitar phrases are combined with fragments of drums to open the EP on first track 'Confusion'. After you've gotten used to the quiet guitar, the track bursts open with the crash of drums and a roar of added guitars. Layered on top of this is the raw vocal of Mike Holler. In the band's words, this is a song about waking up not knowing where you are and trying to piece together what happened the night before. The chaotic melodic mix of guitar and drums on this track demonstrate this inner turmoil very well. 

Monday 6 February 2017

Chase Atlantic: 'Part One'

Image Source: Chase Atlantic Twitter @ChaseAtlantic

For those of you unfamiliar with the work of Chase Atlantic; Mitchel, Clinton and Christian are a three piece alternative, electronic edged band from Australia. It's been a year since their last EP and now they're back with 'Part One' - continuing the smooth beats and emotive vocal from before.

The three track piece kicks off with a distant clean guitar tone and echoed vocals on the track 'Right Here'. Typical pulsing drums are added with scratchy clicks to define that chilled beat Chase Atlantic do so well. An almost whispered verse towards the end of the track displays vocal talents and the Aussie accent to add even more of a mellowness to the track. This is intensified with a smooth saxophone solo that brings chills to your spine. The track fades into the next - 'Into It'.