Mylo – Destroy Rock And Roll

“Destroy Rock and Roll” is unlike anything you will ever hear. It’s a sample of a man running through a list of rock bands. Thrown in some beats and some guitars and you have one of the most unique tracks out there. It’s a thrilling and compelling track that you can’t stop listening to. Also, the remixes make it even more club friendly. Get your hands on this one immediately. “Destroy Rock And Roll” is the first truly great single of the year.

By John Siwicki

The Paddingtons – First Comes First

The boys from Hulls’ first long player is finally upon us. Five of the eleven tracks were previously released on singles “50 to a pound,” “21,” “Panic Attack,” “Some Old Girl” and “Sorry.” While not including “Sorry,” the weakest of the bunch, they are all solid singles that got me really hyped for the album. “First Comes First” is one of the standouts from the rest. It’s got the great shouty anthemic chorus, that must be amazing live. “Alright in the Morning” brings that dub/reggae feel to the table, think The Clash plus reggae.
The Paddingtons delivered here on what their early singles promised. The album is full of that cocky swagger and attitude. There are few dodgy tracks on here. “Sorry” just doesn’t sit well with me. The Clash influence is heavy and often but we can’t blame them for that. This is only the beginning for the boys.

By John Siwicki

The Rakes – 22 Grand Job

“22 Grand Job” is now getting the full single treatment after being the first offering for the Rakes last year. “22 Grand Job” starts off with a solid drum beat, and clocking in at just over 90seconds. Lyrically the song is spot on and full of great lines “”What am I supposed to do / He’s earning twenty-eight and I’m on twenty-two, it’s alright, it’s alright…” We have all been there, well I have at least. It’s relentless, clever and one of the best songs on a fantastic album. Usually I don’t like reissues but this band and song need to get to as many people as possible.

By John Siwicki

Supergrass – Low C

Yes they’re still around, and they’re not getting any better…introducing Supergrass. Even though their Singles album last year proved to be a big success, there’s no doubt in saying their talent and energy has been left back in the 90’s, and the new album Road to Rouen is absolutely no exception.
The second single from the album is Low C, a nice, gentle song with a sweet chord progression. However, accompanied with the averagely plain melody, it sounds like one of those songs you heard on Radio 2 the other day and forgot who and what the hell it was within an hour. As well as it not grabbing you at first play, neither is it a grower, so don’t hold out any hopes on some kind of pumping on your stereo -esque return, because basically it’s not happening. There’s definitely no point in looking into this one, you’ll just forget it!

By Katherine Hunt

Test Icicles – Circle, Square, Triangle

The new kids on the punk bloc Test Icicles (make sure you read it correctly

Kings of Leon – Bucket

After achieveing worldwide acclaim on their debut album. How would they follow up their great album? Well “Bucket” clearly is one of the bands better tracks. It starts off with a howel which you know your in for a treat. The track has a great little riff and it just builds on that trademark Kings of Leon sound. A great step forward now only if the album is this good we will be ok.

By John Siwicki

The Magic Numbers – Loves A Game

The sisters and brothers are back with a lovely joyful song with a laid back feel, more so than the rest of their singles. He sings of different incidents that happen in love and how he will get over someone. The girls join in the chorus which gives the song more depth. There is also a nice instrumental piece with gentle guitars and keyboards. The song builds up after this and once again goes into the chorus. Very relaxing song overall and very gentle on the ears.

By Helen Daw

Tom Vek – Nothing But Green Lights

Now this is good stuff. At the beginning it totally unlike anything around at the moment musically. It instantly grabs your attention for originality. Tom also has the originality when it comes to his lyrics in this song, talking about a Mercedes Benz amongst other things and he does it well. He doesn’t really sing as such, more talk which I usually dislike in a song however in this one it works extremely well. This is because the music is soft all the way through and his voice is easily defined. I was a bit disappointed with it at the end though as it sort of fades out before anything really happens. I was expecting a bit more but it kind of goes away into nothingness which is a shame because otherwise I really like it.

By Helen Daw

Ladytron – Destroy Everything You Touch

Destroy Everything You Touch is a dark pop gem, from the soon to be old hand four piece in the electro game. Especially amidst the emergence of new electronic bands, Ladytron have re-emerged amongst the rookies to prove what they always knew. They’re best at it. The tracks released off their upcoming third album,

Mew – Mew And The Glass Handed Kites

Not so long ago Dannish band Mew were playing to crowds of elementary school
pupils in their playground in their home country of Denmark and now look
where they are. Mew And The Glass Handed Kites is one of the most consitant
albums of the year so far. It is not very often you find an album that each song is as good as the one before it, or in fact even better. It is really
one long song which has many different sections intertwined into it.
The album opens with an instrumental track Circuitary Of The Wolf which sounds like the album is going to be a rock album. However, as the album progresses it gets more dreamy and less rocky which is not a bad thing at all. Apocalypso is probably the stand out track, one of the more rocky ones, it has almost space theme element to it with the production. For some reason throughout this album the music seems to create images in your head of either flying through space or through desolate land which makes the albums sound magical. You can’t help but get drawn into it. This album could have so easily been over produced but I think here the producer has done an amazing job at keeping it simple but at the same time there is many layers in each song. Jonas’ voice almost whispers some of the tracks such as A dark Design which adds to the mysterious element creeping through the tracks. His voice is almost childlike in places which makes the album sound almost innocent.
The only thing that lets this album down is the artwork. It looks like a dodgy 80s band on the front cover which really does not reflect the album at all.
Overall, I don’t think this album could be put into a genre very easily as it is rock mixed with a fusion of pop and dance. All I know is it is an album to watch out for and I don’t understand why Mew are not as big as Coldplay because these songs would sound great in an arena with lighters swaying in the wind. Maybe they will get there in time, we can hope.

By Helen Daw

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