Monthly Archives maj 2012

Posted in Cd Reviews

“Chasing The Night” is the second album from Leeds singer/songwriter Rupert Stroud. Mixing alternative, indie, rock and acoustic the album is an interesting mix of influences. The lyrics are semi autobiographical and are emotive and at times thought provoking. The album has been produced by Will Jackson (The Kaiser Chiefs, Embrace, The Cribs and The Music) at the Soundworks Studios in Leeds

Cynics would say that ”singer songwriter” is a glorified name for a busker, which I have to admit in some cases is probably true, but in some cases then it’s an unfair criticism. Singer songwrite could also be descibed as ”solo artist who doesnt fit neatly into any of the usual musical genres” – Rupert Stroud falls into this latter category...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Deals Death are a melodic death metal band from Sweden that was formed in 2007. An early lineup of the band featured members of Sabaton. Based in Gothenburg, this is their second album. The first album was released in 2008 and was only available digitally. Since then the band has changed it’s lineup and worked on their second album, Elite, which was recorded in May 2010 – presumably the delay of two years in releasing it has been partly down to finding a suitable record deal. The band are now signed to Spinefarm and have just released Elite .

With nine songs and clocking in at just 34 minutes this isnt the longest album in the world, but Deals Death aren’t alone in producing a short album sadly, and with genres like death metal it is more acceptable – a 34 minute Prog album would be u...

Posted in Cd Reviews

At the beginning of June, Jettblack are due to release their second album, Raining Rock. Before then we have the first single from the album being released. For the single they’ve chosen the title track of the album – Raising Rock. I can see that causing a bit of confusion with people asking when ”Raising rock” will be released – the date depends if they mean the single or the album.

I’ll say one thing, if the title track is any indication of how good the album will be then I suggest you don’t waste any time and order the album now. This is one hell of a good track – well written with a great catchy chorus. Great vocals, some nice guitar work and pounding drums, this is probably one of the best songs Jettblack have released so far.

The B sides (for those that don’t know why they’re ca...

Posted in Cd Reviews

”Stones grow her name” is the oddly named seventh album from Sonata Arctica. It’s been three years since the veteran Finnish Power Metallers released their last album (The days of grays). With all six of their earlier albums going Gold in Finland then they obviously have a lot to live up to.

Some brief comments on a few of the songs…

”Shitload o’ money” is an unusual name for a song, but lets be honest the name is fairly unimportant as long as the song itself is good enough, and this song is certainly a good strong song.

”Cinderblox” is an unusual track – totally unlike the rest of the album. It opens with a rapid melody on the banjo before the rest of the band kick in giving it a Hillbilly heavy metal feel...

Posted in Press Releases

Sonny Landreth’s 11th album, bearing the fittingly evocative title Elemental Journey, is something completely different from the Louisiana slide wizard. Released on his own Landfall label, the new CD is Landreth’s first all-instrumental effort and his most adventurous work to date.

“From day one on the guitar, many genres of music have had an impact on me” says Landreth. “For these recordings, I drew from some of those influences that I hadn’t gone to on previous albums with my vocals. Trading off the lyrics this time, I focused solely on the instrumental side and all this music poured out. Then I asked some extraordinary musicians to help me layer the tracks in hopes of inspiring a lot of imagery for the listeners.”

Like its predecessor, From the Reach (2008), Elemental Jour...

Posted in Press Releases

”Electro-pop as honey-sweet as you’ll hear” – The Guardian
”Lettie’s songs are a masterclass in avant-pop” – Wears The Trousers

Album release: Good Fortune, Bad Weather by Lettie
Release date: May 21, 2012
Label: Outerworld Records
Listen: http://www.youtube.com/lettiemusic

On May 21 2012, Lettie releases her new album, Good Fortune, Bad Weather, an incredible piece of electro-pop and a masterclass in songwriting.

Lettie is a ”memory collector”, obsessed with collecting pieces of the past in the forms of books, postcards, second hand shop finds and newspaper clippings. This comes from her sense of ’Saudade’ – a unique Galician-Portuguese word that refers to a deep emotional state of nostalgic longing for an absent something or someone that one loves...

Posted in Press Releases

Russian punks Biting Elbows announce the video for their new single ‘Toothpick’. No strangers to viral video success, Biting Elbows’ last single ‘The Stampede’ has been viewed over 2 million times on youtube ( http://tinyurl.com/d4aymf5 ). The band are hoping that this new track can emulate some of that success and reach a new audience in the UK.

Vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and video director, Ilya Naishuller said;

The song is based on those revenge fantasies that one tends to experience after a painful end to a relationship. When first decided to shoot a video of ’Toothpick’, I was very tempted to just illustrate the revenge fueled story that is told in the lyrics, but after much consideration, I settled on an underground tournament...

Posted in Press Releases

rupertstroudforaruk.com
www.alzheimersresearchuk.org

Singer-songwriter Rupert Stroud, from Leeds, releases a charity single entitled Always today to boost funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK. Always is a tribute to Rupert’s grandma Eileen who died two years, aged 87, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. The single will be available globally as a download here rupertstroudforaruk.com and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the UK’s leading dementia research charity.

An official video has been filmed for the single, which will be available to view on YouTube –

Rupert’s music is a mix of indie, rock and pop and produced by Will Jackson (The Kaiser Chiefs, Embrace, The Cribs and The Music) at the Soundworks Studios in Leeds...

Posted in Press Releases

Featuring Paul Heaton, The Wire’s Reg E Cathey, Cherry Ghost, Gareth Paisey from Los Campesinos! Ex Beautiful South singer Jacqui Abbott, and many more

www.paulheatonmusic.co.uk

Former Housemartin and Beautiful South main man Paul Heaton will celebrate his 50th birthday by taking his acclaimed soul opera The 8th onto the road this July...

Posted in Press Releases

Across four CDS and 121 tracks, this box set is the first complete career retrospective of The Searchers who between 1963 and 1967 notched up hit after hit on Pye Records, rivalling The Beatles and, unlike most of the other Merseybeat groups, having an enduring influence with their inventive jangling guitar sound and strong harmonies. American groups from The Byrds through to Tom Petty and beyond are indebted to The Searchers. Their classic treatment of Jackie de Shannon‘s Needles And Pins (the second of three UK No 1’s) which earned them their first US Top Twenty single in March 1964 clearly anticipated folk rock. And uniquely among British beat groups, they also recorded gentle folk protest songs Where Have All The Flowers Gone? and What Have They Done to The Rain?

Originally forme...