Hailing from the dusty town of Nazareth in Pennsylvania (now that’s a damn rock sounding town!), Pearls & Brass take the bluesy proto-metal of 60s rockers like Cream, Blue Cheer and Led Zeppelin and then add huge doses of stoner rock fuzz and twisted math rock chaos to the mix.
Only The Fucking Champs come close to creating the kind of bizarre hard rock jams that ‘The Indian Tower‘, from which the track ‘No Stone‘ comes from so it’s hardly a surprise to find out that this album was in fact produced by Fucking Champs legend Tim Green. He’s in damn good company!
Incredible stuff – listen and learn!
British producer Colin Emmanuel [aka C-Swing] has gotten his big break with help from Lowlife Records, home to Jehst, Rodney P and Skinnyman. His production skills have helped him work with a range of artists from Jamelia to remixes for Nas and eventually allowed him to produce The Beta Band’s “Hot Shots 2” album and currently is involved with tours and production for Steve Mason’s King Biscuit Time.
8 years after his death, The Notorious B.I.G aka Biggie Smalls has a new album out, this time with his previously unheard studio stuff being paired up with a host of guest rappers, some of whom weren’t even out of nappies during his reign on the top of the Rap world.
Hearing the music by this widely tipped trio being described as “Spazz Punk” is perhaps the most apt description of an album I’ve ever come across. One minute you’re sitting listening to twanging guitars, the next your ear drums are being shattered by screams that would have banshees cowering in awe.
If you like your Alternative US rock, then Yellowcard are back with a new album as their follow up to 2003’s Ocean Avenue. This debut album back in 2003 seemed to catch on in alternative music circles like free beer in skate jam and it looks as though Lights and Sounds will be no different. The band have taken a different approach to this record this time round and the result is a much bigger, more challenging mix of different styles of music that is all held together by big hooks, catchy songs and overall, more personal.
Vanessa, the creative force behind Jaed, was raised on a strict diet of Veruca Salt, L7, Hole, the Pixies and the Riot Girl scene, influences which are echoed in her own unique brand of spikey punk pop. Her disarmingly honest and personal lyrics clearly set her apart from her contemporaries.
Take two lead singers still in their teens, put them into a studio with! four ot! her solid musicians, add some gnarly bass, a healthy dose of angsty yet arrogant attitude and some sleazy punk pop and the result is Louie’s debut single ‘Trees‘.
There are 4 people that form this cheeky cockney set up and they seem to be the closest thing to Chas n Dave than anyone else right now! Some people have mentioned Billy Bragg, others have spoken about Mike Skinner from The Streets and they would not be wrong, but I would personally say that Delboy, Rodders and Co from Only Fools and Horses could be revisited just in time for Xmas this year with this monster!
With an undying reputation as one of contemporary metal’s most fearsome live acts, heavy-hitting thrash quintet Lamb of God have already achieved the type of mainstream success many once considered unthinkable for a band of such magnitude. Following steady sales figures on the back of debut release ‘New American Gospel’, its Devin Townsend produced follow-up ‘As The Palaces Burn’ would go on to shift well over 100,000 copies, capturing the attention of major label giants Sony.
Def Jux have thrown up some of the most influential and memorable hip hop in the past few years, and such is the depth of their talent pool that they have released this album of B-Sides and remixes. Not content with having the likes of El-P, Aesop Rock, Mr Lif and RJD2 doing their thing, they drafted in guest MCs such as Blueprint, MF Doom and Copywrite to bolster their already impressive attack.