Category: Buzz Chart

Former NWA rapper Ice Cube is back with a bang as he releases his new album and shows he’s lost none of his style or hard hitting content.

Why We Thugs, the first track to be taken from the album Laugh Now, Cry Later, sees Cube tackling the continued problem of violence on the streets, and sees Bush making the same mistakes as Saddam did when he was in power. When he states that “every hood’s the same, everything’s the same” you know he’s speaking from experience and it’s a sad state of affairs that we’ve not come on from street gangs and larger scale warfare.

Cube also questions why he’s called an animal for smoking some weed and wonders why the person who built the prison he gets thrown into isn’t the animal. Uncompromising as ever, Cube spits the brutal truth in his typically hard delivery and shows that he’s not afraid to say the things that others might. If this single is an indication of the rest of the album, then he’s going to set a lot of tongues wagging and get some people in high places’ back’s up. Long may that continue. This single is released on September 4th, look out for it.

The albino MC made big waves with his Rhymesayers debut Shadows On The Sun, combining powerful story telling with a mixture laid back verocity and hyped passion. With Atmosphere’s beatmaker Ant behind him, his beats have always been feel good and cranks the head-nod up to 10. With his Champion EP, he once again proved he is one of the best MCs in the underground right now and everyone has been anxious to see what he’ll come up with next.

His new album, The Undisputed Truth, is out early next year and will certainly be one of the best albums of 2007 is his past record is anything to go by. Showcasing new tracks at Scribble Jam this year, he proved he’s the man and will continue to prove Rhymesayers are the top of the pile right now in hip hop. This track is from the Scribble Jam Compilation CD and is an absolute banger. Love it.

The Crimea have been simmering underneath the radar for a few months, relentlessly touring and working on the new album – but with the release of the atmospheric, multi facetted Baby Boom, they have the weapon with which to really crack into the mainstream. Baby Boom, a mainstay of their stunning live shows, sets your senses alight with twinkling keyboards, soothing bass and wailing, almost crying, guitars combining with Dave MacManus’s edgy and breaking vocals.

The lyrics are both comical and tragic ‘we’re just a bunch of buffalos, getting slaughtered’ is closely followed by the wonderfully comic chorus lines of ‘You can call me Fred Flintstone, Tarzan King of The Jungle..’. It’s an inspirational wide sound, every piece of the jigsaw fitting together for a track that is both melancholic but strangely uplifting, a dark sky lit by sparkling stars. The Crimea are one of the hardest working bands out there, and well deserving of success. Baby Boom is a great showcase for them and it’s little wonder it’s been Track of The Week on Radio One – and with a slot at V Festival on the horizon, here’s hoping they win over the crowds.

Toronto four piece Billy Talent are at full throttle with upcoming single ‘Red Flag‘, taken from their Gavin Brown produced second album ‘Billy Talent II‘.

From the onset ‘Red Flag‘ explodes into your brain, taking the listener by the scruff of the neck and demanding your attention. Vocals are angry and forceful, there’s a Green Day-esque punk vibe, but the sound is easily accessible to all.

It’s little surprise their July tour in UK sold out – Billy Talent have an engaging pop slant which is complimented by aggressive punk sensibilities. The quartet have been together for over a decade now, and their trademark sound is honed to perfection; they’ve reached their position through hard graft and grit, and the production retains that achingly raw side. “The kids of tomorrow don’t need today, when they live in the sins of yesterday‘ storms along, twisting itself around you, searing guitars drop momentarily before you’re swept up with this attitude filled, explosive single.

With all the flash in the pan bands out there, there’s a very valid reason that Billy Talent are still going from strength to strength – as their name suggests, they’re dripping with talent. This single is released on September 11th.

LIVE DATES – SEPTEMBER:

7th Southampton, Guildhall
8th London, Hammersmith Palais
9th Bristol, Academy
13th Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Hall
15th Glasgow, ABC
16th Manchester, Academy

How best to describe the Dresden Dolls? ‘Punk cabaret’ isn’t a bad place to start, but it doesn’t fully do them justice. This Boston-based duo consist of Amanda Palmer on vocals/piano/songwriting duties, and Brian Viglione on drums/backing vocals; together, they create a dark but theatrical sound that has won them a cult following across the globe since the release of their self-titled debut in 2004.

‘Backstabber‘ is the second single to be taken from this year’s excellent ‘Yes, Virginia‘ album. Don’t let the carefree piano melody and sweet harmonies fool you – this is Amanda’s bitter, cynical ode to past deceptions. “Don’t tell me what to write, and don’t tell me that I’m wrong”, she warns, before joining Brian in joyfully unleashing waves of condescension over said ‘Backstabber‘ in the chorus.

Sounds interesting, no? Check out their website and decide for yourself!

The band’s forthcoming UK dates are:

August 23rd – Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Spiegel Tent)
August 25th – Leeds Festival (NME/Radio 1 Stage)
August 27th – Reading Festival (NME/Radio 1 Stage)
November 3rd & 4th – London Camden Roundhouse

They ain’t called The Steal for nothing! Having formed in Kingston in October 2005, this melodic hardcore lovin’ quartet got together to have fun and pay tribute to the classic eighties punk rock they were brought up on.

We’re talking the classic shit here folks; 7-Seconds, Gorilla Biscuits, CIV – all the good stuff before emo took over and everyone’s fringes were blow-dried sideways and the fashion police moved in on the scene.

The Steal may be thieves but the source they’re taking from is as fresh and inspiring as the day it was created. And although their influences shine through this debut album as clear as the day, every song is littered with killer hooks and riffs and songs that will stick in your head like glue.

This is quality punk rock. Put down that fucking hair dryer and let’s walk together and rock together.

If you were to read Steve Turner‘s musical CV it would list lead guitarist of Mudhoney right at the very top being his most famous role over the years. Then as you worked your eyes down the list of other credible projects such as the grunge catalyst Green River, and the rawkus Monkeywrench with Mudhoney singer Mark Arm, the scuzzy garage skills of The Fall Outs, the wonderfully named The Thrown Ups and others, you realise that Turner has kept to his routes from day one and has never fallen down the bad music hole once.

With the addition of a further 3 solo albums to boast about since learning how to play guitar and sing at the same time, Turner is back with another project released this month on Funhouse Recordings that needs your attention. ‘New Wave Punk Asshole’ is a 16 track long player that creaks garage soul and punk prowess that you could possibly associate with the solo projects of one Graham Coxon.

If you look at the influnces of both of these musicians you can hear that UK Punk played a role in the spikyness of the Brit’s songwriting and likewise with Turner with the psych garage sound the 60’s.

Mainly though the one simple 2 things they both have in common is that they both come from popular bands and they both have the songwriting skills to keep us all happy with amazing music.

‘New Wave Punk Asshole’ does not spit noise down your ears though, despite it’s roots in punk. Kicking off with the attitude filled ‘No One Gives A Shit’, this record keeps it’s superfuzz big muff quietly in the mix to deliver standout tracks ‘Reject the Future’, ‘Everyones an Ex’, ‘Cold City’, ‘I know You Scorpio’, the wonderful ‘Pushing Up Daisies’ and ‘The Partys Over‘ that has more in common with Coxon’s songwriting than any other tracks on this album.

Turner’s 60’s roots reflect best on ‘Baby Baby Baby Baby’ that has more in common with The 13th Floor Elevators than Mudhoney, so if you are looking for ‘Touch Me I’m Sick‘ you will not be finding it on this record but that is what is so great about Turner’s solo projects, as you are always going to get something different when it’s released on August 24th.

Chuck Bangers

Over the years great pop records have three things in common; you can dance to them, sing along to them and you can of course, whistle the tune if it’s a corker.

This summers ditty is supplied by a Swedish 3-piece Peter Bjorn and John whose previous 2 albums have slipped under the radar here at Crossfire but i’m sure we will not be missing their third ‘Writer’s Block’.

This tune is the lead single lifted from this album and was released on August 7th through the wonderful Wichita Recordings label, home to Giant Drag, The Drips, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah to mention a few.

With it’s infectious whistling melodies and lush vocal lines, ‘Young Folks‘ could well be one of the tunes that in many a year to come could remind you of the summer of 2006. If this magnificently innocent single is to set the standard for the long player, it should be a must have in your collection. Let’s just hope that the trio did not actually have ‘Writer’s Block’ after they wrote this little gem.

There’s nothing better than hearing a band just blow up in your face and spray you with their anger and spiteful hatred and this is exactly what you get with ‘I Object’.

This 16 track incendiary device co-released through Alternative Tentacles and Blacknoise is uncontrollable from first track ‘Like a Billboard‘ until the more mellow chuggy hardcore efforts of ‘The Chosen Profession‘ 6 tracks in – after that the album explodes right in your face again until the end!

Fronted by the spiky vocals of pissed off, riot girl Barb, ‘Teaching Revenge‘ is a dose of 80’s inspired hardcore that has it’s DIY ethics intact and its edges razor sharp.

You would be wise to grab this album if you like your music out of control and with a passion for punk before profit as this has everything.

Want more punk and hardcore? Click here to stream our None More Punk radio show…

Chuck Bangers

What should have been a celebratory release of the comeback of one of the greatest American hardcore punk bands of all time is now tinged with sadness. Original guitarist Pig Champion died earlier this year just after this album was completed, their first in nearly ten years. It was no secret that Pig was not a healthy man. His sheer size and endless bad habits were never going to see him into his eighties but it was still a shock when he finally went. I had the pleasure of meeting him on a few occasions and he was a kind and friendly giant and knocked up a great curry too!

Pig and frontman Jerry A were lifelong friends and went through thick and thin together in the band. The booklet opens with some words from Pig: ‘This is a dedication of love to Jerry A. and Poison Idea. It is with great pride that we have delivered this LP. That we have completed it is almost a miracle.’

Despite the fact that Pig rarely gigged with the band anymore (his size made touring difficult!), he was still very much a member of Poison Idea and his unmistakable guitar and buzzing trademark riffs run riot all over this album as Jerry A screams and bellows like he’s sixteen again. And while this album was never going to reach the dizzy heights of the classic ‘Feel The Darkness‘ there’s still some great Poison Idea moments here and let’s face it, any new Poison Idea music is good music.

Songs like ‘The Number One‘ and ‘Jihad Love‘ are as ferocious as anything the band have delivered in the past and ‘Latest Will And Testament‘ is just another great Poison Idea album. And this one’s for Pig.

James Sherry