Gisli HOW ABOUT THAT? EMI
Within the next few weeks, we will be selecting our albums of 2004. It is shaping up to be a very difficult task with the high number of wonderful albums released (many of which haven’t appeared high up in the UK album charts – surprise, surprise…). I will be obliged to add Gisli to the list of nominations, with a rock album that almost defies description due to its highly original nature. Gisli is a 26-year old Icelander who lives in Norway, and this, his debut album, is so bloody good…
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Good Charlotte THE CHRONICLES OF LIFE AND DEATH. Epic
Listening to this new album by Good Charlotte one could imagine it being played live at a theatrical/symphonic venue like London’s Royal Albert Hall. It’s effectively a youthful pop/rock opera that documents life through the eyes of a rock band. It’s an epic musical adventure…
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Interview with Aerogramme’s Lead Singer, Craig B
Where you guys from man, and how did you form?
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Shadows Fall THE WAR WITHIN. Century Media
Since the dawn of the NWOAHM (new wave of American heavy metal) the world has been gripping its balls and waking up in hospital after violent mosh pits and insane gigs - and that’s just in the record stores! But European metal has also been pushing the boundaries of metal since the early 90’s; bands like children of Bodom and Hammerfall to name but a few. It was only noticed because somebody farted and out popped Nirvana, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and in the extreme case of being injected with laxatives, along came Linken Park, Evanescence and Avril Lavigne.
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Shadows Fall Interview with Matt Bachand (Guitars)
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Green Day AMERICAN IDIOT. Reprise
The title track to this album has already stormed the UK singles chart, and rightly so. It’s a bombastic, angst-driven rock song that drives its message home with conviction and musical skill. Like the whole of this highly personal rock opera, one can smell and feel the frustration and anger, all too rarely reflected by top American and UK rock acts over the past four or five years. Prevention is always better than cure, and it’s regretful that more wasn’t said and sung prior to the dreadful and painful events that now pepper daily news reports.
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Fried FRIED. London Records
I really looked forward to hearing a new and genuine soul singer with an original, distinctive sound (i.e. NOT Joss Stone). But there’s something amiss here and I don’t think it’s a fault with the singer, Jonte Short…
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The Mooney Suzuki ALIVE & AMPLIFIED. Columbia
I saw The Mooney Suzuki playing at this year’s Download festival and was impressed. In fact the guys set a guitar rock torch to the tent and drew in a lot of punters who were on their way to another gig. This record brings back memories of that performance, and in these worrying times makes me feel a little happier. It’s that sort of album…
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Dean Walker I WANT MORE. 2 Dogs Records
Around four years ago I came across a Liverpool based band called Deadline. The band was in the throws of completing its debut album. Then I lost touch until a mate of mine informed me that the excellent lead singer of the band, Dean Walker, was now based in L.A. and was on the verge of releasing his debut solo album. There are many singer/songwriters with few that specialise in writing and performing simple, hard rock songs. But that is precisely what Walker has done, and much more…
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The Faint WET FROM BIRTH. Saddle Creek
To me, the best music always reflects personal real life experiences and/or acute observation of the world/community we inhabit. Performed by leading edge performers with a distinctive style/sound, and who often ignore the big buck marketplace, this type of music seems to adhere to me like the most ferocious quick-drying glue. 2004 has been a good year for my kind of music, in fact one of the best I can remember. Records from PJ Harvey, the Frames, Gretchen Peters, Ataxia (John Frusciante), Paddy Casey, Damien Dempsey, Carina Round, Ella Guru, The National, Lori McKenna, Tom Baxter, Green Day and a few others are supremely communicative. Above all they involve the listener; they raise painful and joyful memories; they raise awareness of important personal and national/international issues. They tell the truth. The Faint is part of this meaningful scene and WET FROM BIRTH is a powerful exploration of emotions and experiences that we can all relate to.
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