Pop-punk. Is that a dirty phrase? I’m almost loathed to even use it in this review but it’s kind of difficult to avoid with The Wonder Years. There is a clear leaning towards that world in the band’s music. But the band draw upon the influences associated with pop-punk in the very best possible way. They’ve brought the genre bang up to date with an album that unsurprisingly focuses on the upsides in life. The band members have had some bad luck along the way but they haven’t let this get them down and seem to have channeled all frustrations into one of the feel good albums of the year.
What makes The Wonder Years stand head and shoulders above many of their peers is the care they’ve clearly taken to avoid making a one dimensional record. Sure, it’s melody-driven, there are gang vocals, singalong moments and punky drumbeats, but that’s not all there is to it. The gentler approach on ‘Hey Thanks’ sees vocalist Soupy picking up the ukulele and also features female vocals. The Wonder Years’ approach is refreshingly honest. They’re clearly not trying to be anything they’re not. And it just so happens that what they are is a group of people with something to say, great melodies and the ability to craft one hell of a singalong.
Chirps Galore
You can stream ‘The Upsides‘ in its entirety over at the band’s Purevolume page.
Einmal Reicht (or ‘Once Is Enough‘) is at once an eye-opening scene video from the young, Berlin-based Chinchilla Crew and a further example as to why professional filmers need to step up their game. In the hands of Nico Kasterke, one can be sure that a camera will be put to good use and put some of the industry’s entry-level standard filmers to shame. We live in a glorious age. In the same way that the internet has rogered the music industry but placed the tools of production into the hands of the many consequently opening the doors for wonderful musicians we may never have heard of in previous generations, here we are able to watch Eimal Reicht online for free. When made the most of, living in the disposable footage generation isn’t always a bad thing. This is one of those golden examples that remind us how lucky we are to be in a smaller world where we can witness such talented skateboarders and filmers right from the beginning.
After a textbook introduction complete with shameless benihanas and a shit-the-bed backside 180 we’re introduced to Nino Ullman who seems to be having a bit of trouble at the Kulturforum. He later redeems himself with a disgustingly nonchalant b/s 5-0 fakie the hard way at the same spot before taking his sleepskating style to a variety of spots across Europe with a deep bag of tricks including one potentially lethal switch f/s bigspin. We’re off to a great start. Next up is Nepomuk Herok is a literal little ripper. He’s not as far away from the sky as some of Flip’s notorious young gunners but he can rip just as hard. This is the kind of section that makes street grabs not only legit again but rad too. Nepomuk can tuck knees over nipples in a way that’s probably illegal for someone his age.
Max Von Nolting follows a gruesome rib-cruncher with some steezy lines at Berlin’s famous benches. He’s swiftly shoved aside in a very Nick-Jensen-in-Static-2 style introduction by Mortiz Zimmerman who preludes a banging friends section by holding his own with some solid ledge bangers and some quick-footed lines.
It’s already been mentioned but the friends section really is fucking great. I watched it twice before moving on to Brian Rietze who’s got a cool lanky steeze that I can relate to. I really dig that he’s not afraid to get that foot on the ground and do some double flips too. Tim Wixwath steps shit up with a rad boneless 360 to get me excited. Those who suffer from boniophobia need not apply, but this kid is ruling. He kind of skates in a weird crunked out Beagle way and I like it.
Georg Balchamischvili will never hear me pronounce his name correctly but he will perhaps read me write some props for his last trick. Unexpected and gnarly as hell. Reik Manig doesn’t take more than three tricks to instantly become my favourite skater in this video. He’s got style, plenty pop, mad trick selection, gnarly spot choice and balls. After a leg-splitter that would send most packing he steps back up and gets shit done. There’s a front wallride grab out over some stairs that will make you pay attention to whatever this guy is doing in the near future for sure.
Paul Röhrs takes one to the face for the team but delivers a sick section to match how sickening his opening bail is. Expect some pro-standard tech, huge nollie heelflips and lots of smiles. Farid Ulrich claims the last part for good reason, it takes a lot of style and substance to be given the honour of a cover shot for Place Magazine. You’ll find style and substance in abundance here.
You can watch the entire video below. Props Chinchilla Crew, this shit is über and watching this once is definitely not enough.
What’s the music world lacking in right now? Some straight-up, awesome new rock bands. Dinosaur Pile-Up do a damn fine job of bringing back the gritty yet catchy rock tune with debut album ‘Growing Pains’. Packing a humungous punch through hooky riffs, hard-hitting drum-patterns and some of the most addictive vocal harmonies ever to be heard, ‘Growing Pains’ is a record that begs to be heard by the masses. Because it will no doubt be loved by all and sundry.
Current single ‘Mona Lisa’ is certainly one of the highlights, surging forth with such assured melodic brilliance that it jumps out at you like a lightning bolt. In fact, the majority of the album is decidedly loud and electric. The only respite from full-on rocking comes just before the very end of the record with ‘Hey You’ which sets out very softly softly but ends in a characteristically crashing climax. Another anthem-in-the-making comes in the form of ‘Love To Hate Me’ – dark themes are offset by a chorus melody so brimming with exuberance that you can’t help but smile as you sing along. Singing along is inevitable with Dinosaur Pile-Up. Experimental they’re not, but this is a band so endearingly focused on producing the very best rock tunes they can that you can’t help but get swept up in the wave of rocking riffs and pure melody they so expertly purvey.
It’s always a source of nervousness when two producers get together to form a collaborative project – will it be amazing or will it career into the gutter with too many styles vying for their place on the track? Thankfully,Lomax and Xample’s Loadstar proves to be very much the former. Already both hyped in their own right, the duo have released Link To The Past and Rapidas on the ever-brilliant Ram Records and have delivered two slabs of banger.
Link To The Past kicks in soon after the intro begins with its gritty bassline’s crescendo, unrelentingly humming over the crisp beats underneath it. Having already been dropped by numerous DJs including their label boss and highly influential Andy C [who showcases their talent in his upcoming Nightlife 5 mix], it’s easy to see why this track gets so much love in the clubs. Four minutes is gone in no time which is testament to the powerful throb of the track and leads perfectly into the second track on the CD.
Rapidas is slightly more of a bubbler with an understated intro kicking off proceedings before the vocals enter the fray. As ever with big D&B tunes, as important as the build-up is, it’s all about the drop and Rapidas manages to include such a drop whilst not veering off into the thunderous b-line of its predecessor. An altogether mellower track, it still packs a punch and has plenty for the headphone listener to pick up on.
This is just a taster of what’s to come from Loadstar and 2011 promises to be a big year for them both.
Pinch, punch, first day of the month and all that.
We’ve got some tracks that pack a mean hit this week. Whether it’s the drops of Diplo taking on the dark electronica of Proxy or the riffs of Chickenhawk you need to rise up we’ve got both areas covered. CFCF continue to amaze us with scenic soundscapes while Marnie Stern continues to do things with her hands we cannot comprehend. There’s more from Former Ghosts, a fresh joint from the masked mystery known as SBTRKT, an amazing cut from Women and the sounds of UNKLE colliding with Lupe Fiasco.
Be sure to follow us on Soundcloud if you have an account, as new tracks get added every week.
Ahead of the release for his new album ‘It’s What I’m, Thinking Part One – Photographing Snowflakes’ due out next Monday, Badly Drawn Boy has offered up a full EP to download free of charge.
The EP features tracks from the bonus CD on the special edition of ‘It’s What I’m Thinking…‘ and is mostly a collaborative effort with some fantastic artists, including Tim and Sam’s band with the long name who have been steadily making a name for themselves throughout the year.
Simply sign up to the mailing list to get your hands on the following tracks…
1. In Safe Hands (demo)
2. It’s What He’s Thinking (Oxidising Hexagons Silver Iodide – Album Re-Dux / Sound Collage by Andy Votel) (short excerpt)
3. The Order Of Things (with Tim And Sam’s Tim And The Sam Band With Tim And Sam)
4. A Pure Accident (with Sirconical)
Whether you’re fans of the Suffolk-based extreme metallers Cradle Of Filth or not, it’s strangely compelling to watch their videos.
Here’s a new one for ‘Forgive Me Father (For I Have Sinned)‘, the first single taken from the forthcoming Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa, due November 1st.
The single will be released October 18th. Protip: the video is all the more fascinating once you take into account the names of the band members. So click play and watch Paul, Ashley, Dani, James, Dave and Martin do their thing below.
In addition to having a brand new website to get hyped on this week, Flip have posted some footage hot and fresh out the kitchen for all to gawp at.
The ‘Arizona Power‘ edit features Geoff Rowley, Rodrigo TX and footage of Bob Burnquist 50-50ing into the Grand Canyon. Click the picture below to see it.
The Vans Royal Challenge blew up in Torino a few weeks ago with Greg Nowik claiming first place on the enormous mini-ramp that was shoved in the middle of Piazza San Carlo.
Watch below to see action from Nowik, Josh Young, Jake Collins and more.