My Top 10's: Bombay Bicycle Tracks

10.) Beggars (A Different Kind Of Fix, Track 7)

9.) Overdone (So Long, See You Tomorrow, Track 1)

8.) Feel (So Long, See You Tomorrow, Track 8)

7.) Shuffle (A Different Kind Of Fix, Track 6)

6.) Always Like This (I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose, Track 6)

5.) Ivy And Gold (Flaws, Track 4)

4.) Dust On The Ground (Flaws, Track 3)

Searchlight: Bully

Who are they?
Bully are a rock band who formed in Nashville, Tennessee (USA) who formed in 2013. The band consists of Alicia Bognanno (vocals), Stewart Copeland (drums), Clayton Parker (guitar) and Reece Lazarus (bass). Bognanno had an internship at a Chicago record shop, when there she started recording demos. She then moved to Nashville and formed her own band after playing with a band called 'King Arthur' for a while.

How can their sound be described?
The band have a very grungy sound to them with big guitar riffs, crashing drums and open lyrics. They also have a punk element to much of their music. In an interview with Gigwise the lead singer spoke about people likening their sound to the 90's. She said "there is no intentional replication of the Nineties feeling... a lot of the artists I like and that influence me come out of that era so it makes sense that subsciously it would turn out like that".

Review: Halsey- BADLANDS

Halsey (real name, Nicole Frangipane) is an American singer/songwritter who was born in 1994 in New Jersey. She was discovered and signed by the Astralwerks record label in late 2014 after beginning to write songs at the age of 17. She became a singer because she couldn't imagine anyone else singing her songs, according to an interview with Fuse earlier this year.

BADLANDS is her debut album after she previously released an EP called 'Room 93'. So far she has been touted as the new kid on the block in the pop world, but she's showing far more quality than many of her peers in my opinion.

The album opens with the track 'Castle', this starts with a kind of glitchy beat then her vocals come in, these can be likened to Lana Dey Rey in many ways. The track has a good beat that kind of rumbles and crashes along. The next track, 'Hold Me Down' has a similar style beat to it. The vocals are good, the lyrics are quite cryptic but it seems to tell the story of older men trying to make her do sexual favors. 'New Americana' is the most popular track on the album. This track talks about pop culture and how the current younger generation will change the world in the future. This is a catchy track with a good chorus, however I'm finding that it gets a bit annoying after hearing it a few times.

Review: The Weeknd- Beauty Behind The Madness

The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) is a singer, songwriter and producer from Scarborough, Onterio (Canada). He gained notable support from fellow Canadian, Drake, in the early stages of his career when they were both featured on the same blog. The duo have since collaborated on a number of tracks.

This album is The Weeknd's second studio album after 2013's 'Kiss Land', however he released three popular EP's before that. Although he is notoriously wary of the media, in a recent interview with Pitchfork he spoke about changing his sound for the new album, He said "I owe it to people to make music that makes me feel good and is also a little easier to understand".

The first track on this album is 'Real Life', this track has a powerful intro that gains you attention before it breaks down and the vocals come in. I like the instrumental of this track with it's warped, glitchy sounds. It then goes into the Labrinth featured 'Losers', this track is bittersweet with it's vocals and piano hooks. I really like the latter part of the track which has striking vocals with little instrumental input, before a big, bouncing beat comes in. 'Tell Your Friends' feels like quite an intimate track where he sings about stealing for drug money and other raw topics. Kanye West helped to write and produce this track which should make for good listening, however I'm not too sure about the structure and the way it kind of just keeps rumbling on.

Review: Beach House- Depression Cherry

Beach House are a duo from Baltimore, Maryland (USA) who formed in 2004. The band is made up of Victoria Legrand (vocals) and Alex Scally (guitar). They have a kind of dreamy sound to their music that's very recognisable. They use drum machines and the organ in many of their tracks.

Depression Cherry is the bands 5th studio album. In a recent interview with Here And Now, Victoria said that the new album is "full of many things. Love, pain, getting older, dealing with loss, letting go. It's really ultimately what the listener feels in response to it". This was in response to a question about the meaning of the album. One topic that is tackled though, and also included in the title, is depression.

The opening track of the album is 'Levitation', this contains a simple drum rhythm and organ sound with Legrand's airy vocals over the top. I like how melancholy the sound is and how it immerses you into a kind of imaginary world. The second track, 'Sparks' feels a bit too lackluster and open, it doesn't really have as much direction as I'd like it to. 'Space Song' is a really good track, I really like the chord progressions towards the start that set it up. I also like the synth hook that draws you in further coupled with the catchy chorus.

Review: Foals- What Went Down

Foals are a an indie rock band from Oxford, England. The band consists of Yanis Philippakis (lead vocals/lead guitar), Jack Bevan (drums), Jimmy Smith (rhythm guitar/synth/backing vocals), Walter Gervers (bass/sampler/backing vocals) and Edwin Congreave (keyboard/synth/backing vocals).

'What Went Down' is the fourth studio album that they have released. Previous releases from the band are 'Antidotes', (2008) 'Total Life Forever' (2010) and 'Holy Fire' (2013). Foals have received very positive reviews for their previous albums and singles and have built a large international fan base. They are also famed for intense live shows.

The opening track of the album is the title track, 'What Went Down'. This track is full of powerful riffs and poignant vocals. I really like how the track builds up with so many layers then slowly breaks back down again. The next track is 'Mountain At My Gates' which is the also the second single that was released from the project. This song is really catchy and has a recognisable melody to it that you can't help but nod along to.

Interview: Bloody Knees

I caught up with exciting new band Blood Knees, here is the interview:

Where and when did the band meet? 
"Sam and Brad met in primary School, da lolly man met the guys at Secondary School and Tom's known da lolly man all his life."
Can you describe the bands sound? 
"It's like so close to being so good." 
What were your main musical influences when growing up? 
"I think really boring stuff like Metallica, Queens of the Stone Age and Alkaline Trio. da lolly man really liked HIM."
Do you have a favourite venue to perform at? 
"ermmmmmmmmm one in Leeds. I can't remember what it was called. The venue was downstairs below a really nice restaurant. We got free food from the restaurant y'see. Underground Leeds Restaurant Venue." (The Wardrobe?)

Review: The Fratellis- Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied

The Fratellis are a Scotish indie/rock band who formed in 2005 in Glasgow. All the band members use stage names with the surname Fratelli, which was chosen because it's the criminal family's surname in The Goonies.

They achieved wide spread commercial success with their debut album, including two UK top ten hits with 'Chelsea Dagger' and 'Whistle For The Choir'. This success wasn't replicated to the same extent with their next album 'Here We Stand', and they took a three year hiatus from 2009. 'Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied' is the bands second album since returning from this break.

The first track on the album is 'Me And The Devil', this has a catchy opening piano piece and vocals. I like the chorus, with it's positive chord progressions and upbeat vocals. The second track on the album is where the folk/country sound that covers much of the album kicks in. This track is quite repetitive and annoying in parts, it also lacks the instrumental quality that can be seen on many tracks in the genre.

My Top 10's- Radiohead Tracks

10.) Paranoid Android (OK Computer, Track 2)

9.) High And Dry (The Bends, Track 3)

8.) A Wolf At The Door (Hail To The Thief, Track 14)

7.) Let Down (OK Computer, Track 5)

6.) The Reckoner (In Rainbows, Track 7)

5.) No Surprises (OK Computer, Track 10)

4.) Pyramid Song (Amnesiac, Track 2)

Review: Radkey- Dark Black Makeup

Radkey are a garage rock band from Missouri, United States. They formed in 2010 and are made up of the three brothers Dee (vocals/guitar), Isaiah (bass) and Solomon (drums) Radke. Although the band are quite heavy, they like to keep their tracks catchy lyrically and instrumentally.

The guys from the band were home-schooled together and their dad is their manager. In an interview with Noisey, the band explained how being home-schooled helped them to discover "cool muisc". This subsequently inspired them to form their own band.

The album begins with title track, 'Dark Black Makeup'. This track is lively and has a catchy chorus, I also like the multitude of layers that build up then break back down again at different points. It then transitions into the thunderous opening riff of 'Romance Dawn', before the vocals and main instrumental body of the track kick in. This track is faster than the previous track, making it feel much shorter than its 4 minute running time. The next track, 'Love Spills' is probably my favourite track on the album, it has succulent vocals and Arctic Monkeys style guitar riffs that are near perfect. The only bad thing I can say about this track is that I wish it was longer.

Review: Spector- Moth Boys

Spector are an indie/electronic band who formed in London in 2011. The band is made up of Fred Macpherson (vocals), Jed Cullen (guitar/synth) Thomas Shickle (bass) and Danny Blandy (drums). Since forming, the band have gathered quite a lot of media coverage. They were widely touted as the next big thing in British music and were nominated for BBC Radio 1's sound of 2012 poll.

'Moth Boys' is the bands second studio album after 2012's 'Enjoy It While It Lasts'. Their last album didn't gain as much commercial success as expected and they didn't really live up to the hype that some journalists were surrounding them with.

This album begins with the track 'All The Sad Young Men', this track starts off brooding and downbeat. It then builds into a glorious chorus with a catchy synth line and vocals. It then flows into 'Stay High' which is a smooth and well put together track. I like how the big sound of the chorus contrasts with the slower introduction and bridge sections of the track.

Searchlight: Superfood

Who are they?
Superfood are a four piece indie band from Birmingham. The band is made up of Dominic Ganderton (vocals/guitar), Ryan Malcom (guitar), Emily Baker (bass) and Carl Griffin (drums).

How can their sound be described?
Their music is full of energy and their lyrics are clever and witty. They have a lot of really catchy hooks and an uptempo rhythm. This sound can be likened to 90's Britpop in many ways, which is a genre that they have clearly taken a lot of inspiration from.  

What's their role in the B-town scene?
The band play quite a big role in the thriving music scene in Birmingham alongside Peace, Swim Deep and Jaws. This scene is really exciting at the moment, spawning a stream of fresh, new bands with a lot of potential. The core of this scene is Digbeth where there is regular events on that promote local talent. Dom, the lead singer from Superfood helped to produce early demos for both Peace and Swim Deep, showing the community aspect of the scene.

Interview: Birdskulls

I spoke to Jack Pulman, the guitarists/singer from upcoming band Birdskulls.

Where are you from?
"Jack and Rory are originally from Exeter, Devon and Sam from East Grinstead but now we all live in Brighton."

How long have you known each other and how did you meet?
"We've all known each other for 3 years and met at parties in Brighton. Coincidentally Sam met Rory at a Greg Jackson and the Hot Flushes show in Bournemouth."

How would you describe your sound?
"Its everything that we like listening to, it changes a lot, but its based in punk rock and because we use fuzz pedals, people say it sounds like grunge! Which is fine because grunge is great, but we don't really think its grunge because it doesn't have influences from the metal side as much as the punk rock side!"

Do you have any advice for someone who's looking to start a band?
"Playing Rage against the machine covers is fun, Bombtrack is a great riff. Wear earplugs for safety, but don't if you don't want to. Do what you want!"

Review: FKA Twigs- M3LL155X (EP)

FKA Twigs (real name, Tahliah Barnett) is a singer, songwriter and producer from Gloucestershire, Britain.

She came onto the music scene with the releases of 'EP1' in 2012 and 'EP2' in 2013. She then released her debut album, 'LP1' in 2014, this received good reviews in general and gained her notable commercial success.

The five track EP opens with the track, 'Figure 8', it has a very striking beat that's very fragmented. Her vocals work well with this beat, adding a softer elements. Around half way through the track there's a deeper, rather illegible voice that marks a change as it descends into a kind of organised chaos.

The second track on the album is 'I'm Your Doll', the production on this track isn't as strong as the previous but the balance is very delicate and poignant. It then goes into the track 'In Time', this has a faster pace than the previous track and has a whomping instrumental that's very hip hop inspired. The vocals are also have a much faster pace, but they still feel very gentle against the heavier beat.

Interview- Virginia Wing

I spoke to Alice, the lead singer of Virginia Wing, an upcoming band from Camberwell, South London. 

How did you meet and how long have you known each other?
"There is no interesting answer for this question I'm afraid. We knew each other through music, had been friends for a while and decided to start making music together. Other members have come and gone but it's always remained the three of us."

How would you describe your sound?

"When people ask me what kind of music I make, I say "electronic music" for ease but I suppose that's not really representative. I guess it's just weird pop music."

Describe the process behind writing one of your tracks.

"Every song starts off as some fragmented demo made by Sam or myself. Usually based around a sample or a recording or just something we've been playing around with. Then the other person has their input and shapes it a little more. Most songs properly form when we're recording in the studio and we can figure out all those last little details."

Review: Frankie & The Heartstrings- Decency

Frankie & the Heartstrings are an indie band that formed in Sunderland in 2008. The band slowly formed around Frankie Francis (vocals) and Michael McKnight (guitar) with multiple line-up changes occurring before reaching its current roster. Frankie started off as a bassist, but changed to vocals when the other members told him he was no good at playing the bass.

Decency is the bands third studio album after 2011's 'Hunger' and 2013's 'The Days Run Away'. The band have gained relative success in recent years, playing support slots for such bands as The Futureheads and The Vaccines. They have also had their own UK headline tours and played shows across Europe, New York and Tokyo.

The album opens with the 42 second long 'Peterborough Dogs'. The next track is the title track, 'Decency', this track is very upbeat and happy sounding. This is a good start to the album in my opinion, it sets the pace and tells listeners what they can hope to hear as the album carries on. 'Think Yourself Lucky' and 'Save It For Tonight' are both similarly uptempo tracks that are vocally and instrumentally very classy  and well executed. They are both riff heavy and the prior track incorporates brass into the chorus.

Searchlight: Cloud Nothings

Who are they?
Cloud Nothings are an indie rock/punk band from Cleveland, Ohio (USA). The band is made up of Dylan Baldi (singer/guitars), TJ Duke (Bass) and Jayson Gerycz (drums). Joe Boyer was the fourth member of the band but he left at a later date.

Dylan Baldi started off as a solo artist, writing and recording music in his parents basement. He created a number of different fake bands with their own Myspace accounts. Cloud Nothings were one of the bands that he created, it then got noticed by a rock promoter from New York. This promoter invited the band to play a support slot for Real Estate, prompting Baldi to gather people for the band to play his songs live. 'Here And Nowhere Else' was the first album that the band created together.

How can their sound be described?
The band have have a lo-fi, noise rock sound that focuses heavily on experimental sounds and a rough and ready style. Although Baldi doesn't have a lot of technical ability as a singer, his actual lyrics and the way he crafts his vocals with the instruments are very good.

My Top 10's- Muse Tracks

10.) Unintended (Showbiz, Track 7)

9.) Starlight (Black Holes And Revelations, Track 2)

8.) Undisclosed Desires (The Uprising, Track 3)

7.) Knights Of Cydonia (Black Holes And Revelations, Track 11)

6.) Resistance (The Resistance, Track 2)

5.) Supremacy (The 2nd Law, Track 1)

4.) Stockholm Syndrome (Absolution, Track 5)

Review: Don Broco- Automatic

Don Broco are a rock band from Bedford, England. They formed in 2008 and consist of Rob Damiani (lead vocals), Simon Delaney (guitar), Tom Doyle (bass) and Matt Donnelly (drums/vocals). Their sound can be described as pop rock or post hardcore.

The band met at school but didn't properly form until after university. They then went though a couple of name changes before going out on tour and playing some festival slots. 'Automatic' is the bands second album after 2012's 'Priorities' which did reasonably well for itself.

The album opens with 'Superlove', this track has good parts to it, such as the chord progressions and the well executed vocals. I think that the overall sound of it is quite generic though and similar to many other tracks in the genre. The second song, and title track of the album, 'Automatic' is better than the previous track as it varies more between tempos before going into the chorus. This track is also more powerful both vocally and musically.

My Top 10's- Movie Soundtracks

10.) The Great Gatsby, 2013 (Jay Z, The XX, Sia etc.)

9.) 500 Days of Summer, 2009 (The Smiths, The Temper Trap, Doves etc.)

8.) Interstellar, 2014 (Hans Zimmer)

7.) Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, 2008 (Vampire Weekend, We Are Scientists, Band of Horses etc.)

6.) A Clockwork Orange, 1972 (Composed by Wendy Carlos)

5.) Tron Legacy, 2010 (Daft Punk)

4.) Reservoir Dogs, 1992 (Stealers Wheel, Bedlam etc.)