Album name: I Just Want To Feel That Way (EP) Artist name: Ryan Smith Genre: Pop/Rock Released: 2008 Label: n/a ZME Rating: 4/10 Website: ryansmithonline.com I seem to be falling into a pattern of reviewing every EP from every little-known artist that falls across my lap, looking up at me with lonely eyes, begging for some loving attention and a little recognition. Which is fine – I’d like to think that years from now, at…
Album name: The Ride Across Lake Constance (EP) Artist name: Evening Magazine Genre: Indie/Alternative Released: January 2009 Label: n/a ZME Rating: 7/10 Website: www.myspace.com/eveningmagazinemusic I’m sorry. I apologise in advance. I should be able to do better. I pride myself on being able to do better. And yet, here I am, standing on the precipice of my own self-destruction; doused in metaphorical gasoline, and about to strike the match. I never thought I’d stoop so…
What’s that? You want new, interesting music to listen to, you say? Music that can be safely categorised as “indie”, yet doesn’t make you want to tear your eyeballs out with your kitchen scissors before feeding them to a horde of rabid dogs? Well – GASP – I might just be able to help you out, son. Extend a warm welcome to Evening Magazine, a shiny new face in the dull, bored crowd of be-stubbled…
Artist name: Lily Allen Album name: It’s Not Me, It’s You Label: EMI Genre: Pop Release date: February 9, 2009 ZMErating: 8/10 Website: lilyallenmusic.com Lily Allen’s debut album, Alright, Still was something of a guilty pleasure for me, even though it shouldn’t have been all that guilty at all. It was an unabashedly great pop album (and one that spawned too many imitators, of which only Kate Nash was tolerable) but that fact always managed…
I’m not sure there’s a modern rock band more steeped in the history of rock n’ roll than the Drive-By Truckers. Band leader Patterson Hood is the son of David Hood, a key figure in the old Muscle Shoals music scene; they were the backing band for the forgotten queen of soul, Bettye Lavette’s Scene of the Crime album; and their last album, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark, featured Spooner Oldham (who is being inducted into…
In what’s potentially the greatest news you will ever hear, Spinal Tap are set to make a long-awaited return to the studio to put together a new album. The album – their first since 1992 – has been confirmed as in the works by bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) during an appearance on BBC radio, and will “be for download as well as on conventional media later this year.” The much-vaunted, legendary band – who…
Most rock n’ roll tour documentaries are fairly painful to endure, if we’re to be honest with ourselves, full of self-important man-children who think their philosophies on life, music and the laydeez are compelling viewing, and oh-so-artistic shots of the artists coming off stage (invariably with a towel wrapped around their head or neck) and collapsing into a chair. Rock stars are, generally, not people you want to spend a lot of time around. An…
Chris Cornell certainly has plenty to be screaming about today – his upcoming, Timbaland-produced record leaked yesterday, giving the entire internet a chance to experience the end product of this unusual and much-maligned collaboration. In a completely unrelated turn of events, we can offer a preview of some tracks you might not have heard previously. We all know Long Gone, Ground Zero and Part of Me were breaking new ground for Cornell, even if they…
Artist name: Amazing Baby Album name: Infinite Fucking Cross Label: Psilocybe Genre: Indie Rock/Glam Rock Release date: 2008 ZMErating: 7/10 Website: theamazingbaby.com All this modern, new-fangled indie music tends to breeze right by me, if I’m honest. And I’m not sure it’s not deliberate on my part. If there ever seems to be a bleeding edge to the music scene, I always tend to wrap myself in metaphorical bandages and run straight in the other…
Doubtlessly, the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the ethereal sounds of a Sigur Rós song is, “Ooh, that’s pretty – I wish I had some current events to digest as I listen.” Or, perhaps you find yourself reading the newspaper, scared witless thanks to the apocalyptic forecasts of war, disease and global warming, and find yourself in need of some floatingly beautiful, orchestral Icelandic rock to soothe your frayed nerves. More…
Al Byrne