No Address – Time Doesn’t Notice
No Address’ release Time Doesn’t Notice is an album that will surely go unnoticed. This is an album that could only have come out of the bowels of mediocrity. Ben Lauren’s vocal’s have a quality you would expect from Kurt Cobain’s untalented third cousin. The rest of the band brings nothing new or interesting to the world of rock. Time Doesn’t Notice will earn itself 2 out of ten for being 2 places removed from being a recording of Barry Manilow’s butt hole. Bottom line… don’t buy this album.
By Jon Cohen
Dirty Pretty Things – Bang Bang Your Dead
While Pete seems to have taken a turn for the worse with Babyshambles,Carls’ new band “Dirty Pretty Things
Snow Patrol – You’re All I Have
“You’re All I Have” is the lead single from the band’s highly-anticipated new album “Eye’s Open”. On first listening, it sounds very familiar. It is typical Snow Patrol, catchy and sounds alike to “Chocolate” in many ways. The band have stuck down the road they set out on, no experimentation at all, in fact it wouldn’t look out of place on “Final Straw” in any way. The catchy melody and sing-a-long chorus makes this a worthy single choice, one that could see it hitting the charts fairly high and turn out to be a live favourite. Snow Patrol fans maybe a bit disappointed on first listening, but stick with it and appreciation is easy to come by. However, it is predictable and lacking that killer edge that have graced past singles.Good, but nothing new.
By Matt Shaw
Embrace – This New Day
Embrace’s comeback surely was one of the least expect in recent history. “Out Of Nothing” reached number 1, and they had a string of hit singles off the album to go with it. Now Embrace return 18 months on from “Out of Nothing” and already a number 2 single under their belts, Embrace are poised for a glorious return.
“No Use Crying” starts off the record very much in the same vein as “Ashes” did to “Out Of Nothing.” It’s a bit of a power pop record, not as urgent as “Ashes,” “Natures Law” is their massive single, their biggest to date as well. It fits very well in context of the album and I like it a bit more here. “Target” should be the next single a great track. “I Can’t Come Down” switches things up a bit it’s one hell of a gorgeous tune. The piano melody is beautiful with Danny’s vocal. The strings pick up the song well, Embrace always sound better with more of everything. “Exploding Machines” is next and was once the working title for this album. It’s a get fast, upbeat song, but towards the end, where Danny just keeps on shouting “Exploding Machines” just a bit to cheesy. But otherwise a top tune. “Even Smaller Stones” has a feel of Echo and the Bunnymen. Richard McNamara’s guitar on this track is fantastic, especially once we get to the three minute mark.
“This New Day” probably won’t win over and Embrace fans who haven’t already got on board. But it will certainly please their faithful followers. We get here 10 very nice tracks, that will satisfy your appetite for some soaring, epic hooks and mega guitar solos.
By John Siwicki