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Buzz Chart Music Reviews Single Reviews

Trouble Andrew

Adorable

trouble_andrewSkaters may remember Trouble Andrew from his various deck collabs or even his reputable cover version of Eight Dayz’ classic track What’s So Strange About Me. That version lurked on the end of his last album and was originally featured on the 80’s Santa Cruz video ‘Wheels Of Fire‘ where Natas took skating to a whole new level.

For those that didn’t know that or are wondering what the hell I’m talking about here, Trouble Andrew used to be pretty tasty on a snowboard until he injured himself and turned to making music. After hooking up with artists and producers such as Lil Jon, Amanda Blank and Diplo to name a few, Trevor Andrew made an album of electro/indie pop that has been played on the Crossfire Sound System playlist since it dropped, namely the tune Bang Bang which featured Santigold.

This week, the Canadian born musician has released a video for new tune Adorable that is a dose of infectious 80’s pop that mixes influences from Billy Idol, New Order to The Faint. Watch the video here and look out for album Dreams of A Troubled Man album that is coming soon.

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Album Reviews Buzz Chart Music Reviews

fun.

Some Nights
(Fueled By Ramen)

Although not slated for UK release just yet, we couldn’t help but post something about indie-pop renegades fun.’s new album, especially as it’s streaming in its entirety now for all to hear (check it out in the player below).

Some Nights is the band’s second album following the dissolution of singer Nat Ruess’ much-loved former band The Format. Whilst he Format developed somewhat of a cult following in their day, fun. look set for bigger things as the lead-up to the release of this album has come to demonstrate. Lead track from the album We Are Young (featuring none other than Janelle Monae) was performed on pop culture phenomenon Glee a few weeks back, and the same track was featured on a Chevy advert screened during a Superbowl commercial break.

The album’s producer Jeff Bhasker appears to be the link to the world of the likes of Monae, having worked with artists so massively popular as Alicia Keys, Adam Lambert and Kanye West. Hopefully it stands to reason that fun. will follow in the footsteps of such artists and hit the heady heights of immense commercial success.

Some Nights is supremely poppy. However, it appeals to pop sensibilities in the most quirky of ways as title track Some Nights and its intro demonstrate. Bombastic choral flourishes juxtaposed with pulsating electronic interjections, vocoder effects and the purest of melodic vocals from Ruess, make for an eclectic and unusual album to say the least. One Foot is another standout track, with its “woooahs” punctuated by synthesized brass being particularly inviting to the listener. A jarring key-change midway through is also aurally inspiring. Despite a lot of the instrumental backing being of synthetic origin on this album, everything feels very organic and, above all, musical. Some Nights is clearly an investigation into unconventional sounds but at the end of it all, there are some massive tunes on the album. Potentially huge pop songs abound.

Winegums.

Fun. – Some Nights by Fueled By Ramen

Categories
Buzz Chart Music Reviews Single Reviews

Scholars

Bad For Business

In Bad For Business, Scholars have crafted one of those rare tunes that lodges itself firmly in your head yet doesn’t cause annoyance no matter how long it sticks in there. This song is insanely catchy but also packs a punch with its assured guitar riffs and propellant drum beats. It’s written from the perspective on an employee right at the bottom of the food chain but the catharsis in the lyrics is conveyed with such a fun swagger that you can’t help but sing along with glee.

Bad For Business is a bouncy, upbeat, party of a track which is guaranteed to get everyone dancing. Serious undertones there may be but this is one band whose tongues are firmly planted in their cheeks. They can have fun with any subject matter they tackle and produce upbeat pop-rock along with the best of them. Throw in a snappy music video which required the construction and destruction of a multitude of cardboard boxes and you’ve got a band whose get-up-and-go rock’n’roll music you can’t help feeling would be far from bad for any business. Or at least bad in a good way. If you see what we mean.

Winegums.

Categories
Buzz Chart Music Reviews Single Reviews

Holy State

‘Dial M For Monolith’
Brew Records

You may remember this band playing a killer live set at our Camden Crawl date last year at the Barfly. They have been writing new material which is about to see the light of day and from what we have heard, it’s fantastic.

This week, the Holy State released an amazing, new video for track Dial M For Monolith which sees the 4-piece tackle outer space on a budget, but pulling it off remarkably on the effort front.

The track is described as a “story of evolution through space and time, taking us from the dawn of humanity to to beyond the infinite” with the video a tribute to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.

You can check out the video below and get ready for the band’s debut album Electric Picture Palace, which will be released by Brew Records on April 30th.

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Music News

New letlive. video unleashed

Letlive. have released the visuals to their song Muther.

The track features on the awesome Fake History album, released on Epitaph Records. The band are currently finishing up a run on the Kerrang! tour and are in the midst of working on a new album.

Whilst we wait for that though, press play below and enjoy what you’re hearing, it’s big.

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Music News

The Menzingers stream album online

The Menzingers are streaming their album On The Impossible Past online.

The band, who are releasing the album on February 20th, have put the entire album up on the Punk News site and will showcasing the material when they hit Kingston on May 5th. You can listen to the whole album here and get a little taster of what to expect below.

Fans that want to pre-order the album can do so by heading over to the band’s site.

The Menzingers – Gates by Epitaph Records

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Music News

Napalm Death to re-issue SCUM

Napalm Death will re-release their debut album on March 5th.

SCUM, originally released in 1987, will be released on limited edition redux CD and coloured vinyl LP to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The album has been remastered from the original tapes and Mick Harris from the band said:

“It sounds wicked – that record still holds up today and I’m proud I was part of it.”

The vinyl will be released thus:

100 made – Lime Green
200 made – Lilac
300 made – Magenta
800 made – Black & White

Pre-order the SCUM limited edition redux now on CD and LP here.

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Buzz Chart Single Reviews

Zig Zags

Scavenger 7″
Mexican Summer

zig_zags_scavengerIt’s Valentine’s Day as I type this and what more to my ears crave more than ever right now? A band that have the psychedelic charge of Hawkwind with the rawness of Black Sabbath. Combined, this could sound like a lot of bands but Los Angeles based Zig Zags have made the past and present clash with filthy panache on A-side track ‘Scavenger’, and just enough goodness for me to spread this love and bring it to you today.

This 7″ that is available in your local record store and for download today has a tale of two sides. The B-side ‘Wastin My Time’ is more reminiscent of the type of jam that you will find spread all over the tunes of Eddy Current Suppression Ring. Stripped back guitars and upbeats pushing a laid back Stooges style vocal that keeps driving you all the way home aurally.

This 3-piece band are meant to be pretty raw live, so get on this 7″ from Mexican Summer today and spread the love if you like it. There’s also a 5 track EP below here for free download an EP from their bandcamp if you want more.

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Music News

Brother Ali’s new EP drops

Brother Ali‘s new free EP, The Bite Marked Heart, has hit the web.

We told you about it yesterday and now it’s here to download. The seven track EP features production from Jake One and long-time collaborator Ant [of Atmosphere fame] with guest spots from Stokley Williams, Phonte, Nikki Jean and Aby Wolf.

Listen to the EP on the player below and download it here. Smooth as hell!

Brother Ali – The Bite Marked Heart by rhymesayers

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Music News

Cursive stream new album online

Cursive are streaming their new album online.

I Am Gemini, their first album since 2009’s Mama, I’m Swollen, is released on February 21st but the band have put the entire album up for your listening pleasure on the Rolling Stone site.

All you need to do is click right here and you’ll be able to wrap your ears around it.