"There's no point being my idol if you're just gonna die"
Sad news, Untitled Musical Project have disbanded. They we're a great little band that never seemed to get enough attention and kinda disappeared off the radar. I first heard the band back in my first year of uni as I was properly getting into alternative/indie music, and always had a bit of a band crush on them. I was lucky enough to see them supporting Art Brut, where they we're very loud and very brilliant, kinda like mclusky junior.
The good news is, they've released all of their music for free! Download from the band's myspace blog
Quite a bit of music here, quality control is a bit suspect, but if you like your music shouty and frenetic, there's some real gems here.
This year has seen many of my favorite artists release extremely average new albums. However, it's good to see that some things stay great. Super group Future of the Left', assembled from members of the new defunct mclusky and Jarcrew, had a tough act to follow with their 2007 debut 'Curses', a brilliant which was comfortably among my favorite albums of the year. However, they've pulled a sequel off, and how.
Andy Falkous is a great man. And when I say great, I mean there should be 30ft statues erected in his honor in culturally significant locations around the globe. Lyrically, he manages to highlight the ridiculousness and evil in life in the most fantastically dark and aggressive fashion, delivering lines with a ferocious bark which has been known to decimate hecklers across the land.
His scuzzy guitar lines are backed by almost unfairly catchy basslines, which all together produces the most incredibly powerful music for a group of only three members.
'Travels with myself and another' is packed with great songs, which only improve on repeated listens. Opener 'Arming Eritrea' is a statement of intent, 3 minutes of thumping aggression which demands your attention, and may be the best thing the band have written.
Chin music continues in a similar vein, assaulting your ear drums, with screamed lines like "I ONLY HIT HIM 'CAUSE HE MADE ME CRAZY, I ONLY HIT HIM 'CAUSE HE MADE ME MAD!" reminding you that no one quite does angry like FotL. Current single 'The hope that house built' offers a breather after the opening barrage, but is still no less than awesome. As the album goes on, we hear more of Falco's divisive use of the Korg. It feels more natural on this album, perhaps because it's more expected, but standout tracks 'You need Satan more than he needs You' and 'Throwing Bricks at Trains' wouldn't work without it.
So, are there any negatives? On first listen, the album does appear to tail off halfway through, but with repeated listens you'll fall in love with everything. The only real problem here is that the album is a bit short at barely half an hour... seriously, that's it. What we have here is a band hitting it's stride, producing an album which is actually better than their debut, and providing proof that FotL have inherited mclusky's title of 'Most under appreciated band in the World'.
In one line: Buy this album, and love it, or I hate you.
9/10
Listen To:
Arming Eritrea
The Hope That House Built
You Need Satan More Than He Needs You
Maxïmo Park first burst into my consciousness in 2005 with debut album 'A Certain Trigger', a brilliant collection of indie poptastic songs, high energy and catchy as hell, 4 years later comes' Quicken the heart', an alum which essentially sticks to the same formula as their previous efforts, but ironically, album totally fails to quicken my heart.
The band have literally tried nothing new here, simply trotting out more of the same from the first 2 albums. Problems is, which the second album's sameness was forgivable because the songs were so catchy and danceable, the songs here are just average and forgettable.
There are some enjoyable moments, 'Calm' is probably the best song here, but none of the songs would have stood out on the previous albums. Look's like we have to chalk up another casualty from the great indie pop crop of 2005
4/10
Listen To:
Calm
Wraithlike
The Kids are Sick Again
Well, the band many dismissed as a novelty are still going 3 albums in. However, by this point, the band seem to have realised that Art Brut really are purely about lead singer Eddie Argos. Eddie's voice is by far the loudest thing in the mix, and musically, most of what is here is predictable indie pop by numbers
Thankfully, the novelty still capable of producing. Argos is just as frank and entertaining as ever, and Art Brut remain one of the few bands who can make me laugh. Art Brut vs. Satan is a collection of songs from a man who knows what he loves in life, refuses to grow up, and is never shy about he's insecurities. As with all Art Brut albums, I could fill this review with quotes of memorable lyrics, but to do so would ruin much of the surprise of a band for which the first listen is usually the best.
Unfortunately, the hit rate of songs here isn't as high as their past efforts. Admittedly, this is a lofty goal (Bang Bang Rock and Roll is still in my top 5 albums of all time), but the latter half of the album really tails of in terms of catchy tunes, and the last few songs are totally unengaging.
Perhaps it was inevitable that the band could never continue to have the same impact as they were when the first appeared, but there is a sense of familiarity that mars the album. Overall, it's still enjoyable, but not quite the essential purchase that their past work was
6/10
Listen To:
Alcoholics Unanimous
The Passenger
Demons Out!
On the first listen to this album, I wasn't initially totally convinced, but I knew immediately that I wanted to hear it again. So I did listen again and again, and the album gradually tightened it's grip, till I fell utterly in love.
Primary Colours is simply awash with style and attitude. The band certainly aren't afraid to wear their influences on their sleeve, and while the album doesn't have a really new sound, it still manages to sound incredibly vital. Lead singer Faris Badwan's voice is a good example, while it echos many great vocalists of the genre (especially Ian Curtis), his powerful yet almost spoken voice is the cornerstone of this barrage of awesome.
Album opened 'Mirror Image' sets to tone brilliantly, with its arpeggiated keys and huge reverb soaked guitars, topped with Faris' impassioned vocals. The album quality almost never lets up, with delay infused chords, fuzzy bass lines, and old skool synth tones.
The album possess an air of confidence and attitude which makes the whole thing come alive, the only real weak track is title track 'Primary Colours' which just comes across as a bit naff. However, all is forgiven as it is followed by album closer 'Sea within a Sea', which is as good a song as you're likely to hear this year, a mighty epic that plays to all the band's strengths.
Simply put, this is comfortably the best album I've heard this year, and I seriously recommend if you've not heard it you check out the links below
9/10
Listen To:
Sea within a Sea
Mirror Image
Who Can Say (youtube)
Dammit, I still can't spell this bands name right without looking it up (perhaps this says more about me than the name, but whatever...). Dananananaykroyd are what I would describe as ADD rock: indie with speedy intricate guitar lines. This album is also produced by the same guy responsible for the similarly inclined Johnny Foreigner album. 'Hey Everyone!' is definately sonically comparable, with it's peppy guitar tones and bright mids.
Duelling guitars are constantly battling with the also duelling vocals and the 2 drummers, the album is relentless in it's enthusiasm. Vocal yelps and chants ride over speedy riffs (and an addiction to guitar rakes) and big drum beats, with rarely a moments pause.
Its all pretty enjoyable, but unfortunately, it can get a little tiresome, there aren't that many truly memorable riffs or hooks and aside from the singles, the album failed to ever genuinely thrill me
It's a shame that the album doesn't change pace more, as 'Black Wax', one of the slower songs (it's a relative term ;-) is one of the best tracks here, and serves to break up the first half of the album well.
This is a fun album, but I didn't find it quite as life changing as some of the excitement around this band would have suggested. Apparently their live performances are incredible, so perhaps I should reserve judgment until after seeing them. I reckon there is potential for a great second album from this band and I look forward to hearing what they do next.
Oh dear. I wanted to like this album, I really did, I loved ‘Capture/Release’, I even liked difficult second album ‘Ten New Messages’ but on the
basis of Klang, The Rakes might be a bit over
The band fled what they described as the ‘dull’ London music scene to record in Berlin, ironically creating an album with almost no new ideas. We’ve heard this all before, tales of nights out with frank lyrics, hedonism verses capitalism themes recited over simple jangly guitar lines. Alan Donohoe’s once endearing London accent is now frankly annoying as he wails out notes in borderline self parody, with barely a hook in sight. The guitar parts now sound incredibly dated and uninspired, there’s nothing to remember here
There are glimpses of what I once loved about the band here, but they just seem a shadow of their former selves, and this album only serves to tarnish my view of a band that brilliantly soundtracked my first year of uni.
4/10
Listen To:
Capture/Release, and pretend this never happened
Listen to the whole album on Spotify
