14/02/11:

Coming Soon:

This week I'm holding out for the release of Radiohead's latest offering this coming Saturday, so stay tuned.

In the meanwhile I'll be taking a listen to Frankie and the Heartstrings single 'Hunger'.

07/02/11:

Coming Soon:

James Blake's gorgeous self titled album and I Blame Coco's 'Turn Your Back on Love'.

31/01/11:

Coming Soon:

Go!Team's 'Rolling Blackouts' and Metronomy's single 'She Wants'.

Out Like a Lion: Interview

Coming Soon:

An interview with the hotly tipped 'Out Like a Lion'.

17/01/1:

Coming soon:

White Lies' 'Ritual' and Adele's 'Rolling in the Deep'.

2010 - The Best Of.

With 2010 over, what better to do than to look back on the best albums of the year? Cliché? Maybe. But admittedly 2010 was a fantastic year for music. Crammed with breaking artists, old favourites making comebacks and a wealth of solo projects, there was certainly a lot to talk about; thus resulting in a good fifteen albums having to be, (rather regrettably), whittled down to my ‘Top 3’.

Caribou – Swim:

Harbouring a penchant for electronic dance, Caribou have remained at the top of my list of favourite bands and artists in the past year, hence their position as what I consider to be the best album of 2010. The nine track offering is one of which has been and still remains somewhat of a soundtrack for the majority of nights out – the disorientating Odessa being no less than the perfect companion for a drunken dancefloor stint. Sun is something of legend, as is the sinister Found Out. With the remainder of the album being just as delightful, there’s not much more to say... except that if you’ve not yet experienced the heady mix that is Swim, you’d best get started. As they say, it’s better late than never.

Gorillaz – Plastic Beach:

Regrettably, before the release of Plastic Beach, I’d never fully appreciated Gorillaz. Of course, I was familiar with Albarn and Co’s cartoon personas and Clint Eastwood and Dare were considered as staple tracks on my IPod. Thankfully, whilst flicking through music channels one afternoon, I came across Stylo. The first track to be released from the then newly released Plastic Beach; it posessed an addictive quality – along with the remainder of the album. No matter who the artist or band are, it’s not often that every track on an album is capable of being a hit should they be released; nor is it the ‘done’ thing to remain bravely experimental throughout. Gorillaz no doubt succeeded with Plastic Beach. Empire Ants, Glitter Freeze and To Binge are superlative; Melancholy Hill and Some Kind of Nature are most definitely highlights. Packed full of collaborations, (Snoop Dogg and Lou Reed to name but a few!), Plastic Beach pays homage to Gorillaz at their peak. Mind blowing both through a set of speakers and live on stage, it’s a must for any music fan.

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy:

Kanye West is an artist I’ve always had a degree of respect for, despite a flux of negative press piling against him in the past year or so. A much anticipated album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy looked to go one of two ways; you’d either love it or you’d hate it. Rightfully so, it’s been the former – gaining critical acclaim from music magazines, fellow artists and most importantly, his fans. A shockingly honest insight into the rapper’s mind, his demons are unravelled track by track, acknowledging personal flaws and his desperation to distance himself from the lures fame has to offer. Of course, the mind blowing POWER and the strangely beautiful Runaway are clear favourites - as are Lost in the World, (which features songster Bon Iver), and All of the Lights, (featuring fellow rapper Jay Z). Although, admittedly, an album that took a little while longer than others to fully appreciate, it’s well deserving of your patience – arguably one of his best offerings, (if not the best), yet.

However, the above albums were not the only ones worth a mention. Flame haired songstress Florence Welch re-released her debut album Lungs earlier this year, featuring a handful of new tracks, reminding her fans of why she remains as one of the feistiest front women of pop. Multi instrumentalists Arcade Fire’s heartbreaking Suburbs brought a message of the importance to family to old and new listeners alike, whilst Royksopp made a firm return with Senior. The charming Laura Marling ditched her blonde locks and sweet songs for a grittier offering, whilst Vampire Weekend’s Contra provided this summer’s festival soundtrack. Kings of Leon paid homage to their roots with Come Around Sundown and Brandon Flower’s proved he can be more than Mr Brightside.

Phew! Here’s hoping 2011 will be just as fantastic, if not better.

We Are Scientists @ The Pyramid Centre.

Belonging to a small group of bands I have craved to experience live since the age of 15, upon hearing about indie rockers We Are Scientists return to Portsmouth, excitement soon set in. Making my way across the (surprisingly plush), floor of the Pyramid Centre, anticipation hung heavy in the air. With the crowd growing restless after lingering for over two hours, W.A.S finally graced the stage – and boy was it Worth the Wait. (Excuse the pun!)

Kicking off with ‘Nice Guys’, Keith Murray and Co set the bar for the rest of the evening, sending the crowd into an ever growing frenzy. Despite being a track from their relatively new album ‘Barbara’, appreciative murmurs rippled across the audience, their eyes lighting up with recognition.

As expected, ‘This Scene is Dead’ and ‘The Great Escape’ received the best reception, nostalgia sweeping over the venue. With the incredibly impressive mosh pit in the middle of the crowd getting larger with each track, the energy coming from both the band and the audience was electric.

By the encore, you’d think the fans would’ve tired from the constant jumping and throwing themselves around. But no, as energetic as ever cries of ‘We want more!’ echoed throughout the venue, with W.A.S finally succumbing to their pleas.

A collective sigh of relief could be heard as the crowd made their way out of the venue and into the refreshing night air, ears ringing and legs aching – two signs of a great gig. With the aid of a fantastic venue, (it’s a pyramid for God’s sake!), and a throng of appreciative fans, W.A.S’s unblemished reputation remains deservedly so.

Published for www.rhythmcircus.co.uk - link coming soon.