New Year New Us.

New Year New Us.

From now on #NewMusicMondays are no longer.

Instead, we'll be uploading our favourite tracks/artists/albums from the previous month as a sort of recap on the 1st of each month!

Check back on 1st February for reviews of what's been getting us through the January blues.

Until next time...

@wewantgoodmusic

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.

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. 

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.

'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.  

'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.

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.