Kings of Leon – Wasted Time

The third single of “Youth and Manhood” really shows what this foursome from Tennesse does best. The track offers a more frantic sound compared to their older singles. With its guitar solos and jarring drum beat, they reek of southern rock. But they make it an institution to respect again and at the same time, more importantly, make it fun.

By John Siwicki

Suede – Singles

Suede released their first music in 1992 and kicked off the brit pop movement. They were always the misfits of the movement. They have managed to keep it together and produce five albums. Here we have a collection of the twenty-one singles released over the last ten years.
With the opening chords of Beautiful Ones you instantly remind of how suede was and still is one of the best out there. Animal Nitrate, Metal Mickey, and So Young instantly bring you back to the early 90s when Suede was on top of their game and poised for stardom. Metal Mickey was one of the first singles they released off their debut. It is one of the best songs of the 90s. The song is symbolizes the movement and captures there sound oh so well. There are a few from Dog Man Star their last album before guitarist Bernard Butler left the band. Wild Ones, New Generation, We are The Pigs. These songs show Suede with a larger production sense and some big epic sounding tunes. We Are The Pigs one of the highlights from that album the song simply rock. Bernard’s guitar work is simply fantastic.
After Dog Man Star, Suede was left without a guitarist and main songwriter. They added a guitarist and a keyboard player and out came Coming Up. Trash, Lazy, Filmstar and Beautiful Ones were the hits during the transition. This album had 5 hit singles. Trash there comeback single after all the turmoil they had to deal with. The song was very catchy well written song. It most importantly showed Suede could still do it without Bernard.
Head Music was Suede’s next album. Here we get Cant Get Enough, Everything Will Flow, She’s In Fashion and Electricity. The album was rockier than ones in the past. Some killer singles that helped keep Suede moving along.
We are treated to only two tracks from the so average A New Morning. Obsessions is a classic song that fits perfectly in here. But Postivity well its not the best thing.Also we get a taste of a new Suede sound. Attitude and Love The Way You Love are the new ones here. Both tracks are absolute killers. Attitude, which is also a single from the album, is a storming slow tempo track. The song reminds of older suede. The production work and instrumentals on here are excellent. Love The Way You Love is another classic. The track is the closet to a dance song. Very simple lyric and some great production on here again the song will make another want to get up and dance.
Well there are Twenty-one tracks from one of Britain ’s best bands and the kings and starts of Britpop and glam. Lets just hope the can stay together and keep making some great music. This one is essentially for who haven’t heard Suede or Suede heads who need these new tracks. A Must Have

By John Siwicki

Travis – 12 Memories

Travis first record Good Feeling came to us about 6 years ago. These boys seemed poised for some big things. Then The Man Who hit in 2000and they become big rock stars. The Invisible Band help continue their upward travels with a few hit singles. Well after a freak accident to their drummer and about 18 months off to find themselves we get to hear 12 Memories.
The real stands on this release are The Beautiful Occupation, Reoffender, and Love Will Come Through. The latter two being released in another form already. The Beautiful Occupation made its debut on a Warchild album but it is back again here. The song is an over produced little anti war jingle. There was too much work done to it. The chorus has a background vocal that should not exist ever again. The song worked on the Warchild album. It was much rawer and more effective. The song still has a good emotional quality. Reoffender is a solid Travis song, which deals with the tough issue of domestic violence. The song has a brilliant chorus “you say you love me but you do it again” the song is very emotional and it really works. Love Will Come Through appeared on the soundtrack to Moonlight Mile last year. The track has Travis doing what they do best singing about love.
This album also has its downside. The rest of the album is very poorly written and just sounds so rushed. “Quicksand” has Fran (singer) giving his worst vocal performance ever. Then we have there protest song “Peace The Fuck Out” which evokes the same amount of emotional as does the Black Eyed Peas protest song. Then we are treated to the track “Paperclips”. The song has the repeating line of “now paperclips memories hold together all these melodies” way too much for my liking. Tracks like Mid-Life Krysis and Happy To Hang Around have just such some very bad lyrics for example “ill never get into your heart and I don’t even want to start”
The album is a big disappointment. Travis have giving us three wonderful albums. Now we get this mess. The albums only saving grace is those three standout tracks. Huge letdown

By John Siwicki