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: 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.

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.

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!"

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.

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.

Review: Frank Turner: Positive Songs For Negative People

Frank Turner is a British rock/folk singer and musician from Hampshire. He started off his musical career in punk band 'Million Dead', but went solo in 2005 as the band split up. Turner has quietly become one of the most popular solo artists in the UK by playing a huge amount of shows.

Turner is now on his 6th studio album after a solo career spanning 10 years (8 years since first studio album). He has been widely praised for his ability to fuse the folk sound of a singer-songwriter with a heavier tone. This means that he's gained a wide range of fans from different music scenes.

This album starts with a track called 'The Angel Islington', this track is slow and minimalist, featuring just Frank's vocals and a guitar. This is a really sweet opening track that sets up the powerful 'Get Better' really well. This second track is an emotionally charged love song that finds the really delicate balance between heartwarming vocals and heavy guitars and drums, This track ends abruptly going into the twinkling opening riff of 'The Next Storm', then building into the full body of the song. This is what Turner does well, roaring vocals over perfectly put together instruments.

Searchlight: Dune Rats

Who are they?
Dune Rats are from Brisbane, Australia. They are a rock band that were originally a duet consisting of Danny Beausa (guitar/vocals) and BC Michaels (drums). They then became a three piece as Brett Jansch (bass), from Bleeding Knees Club, joined.

How can their sound be described?
Their sound can be described as surfer rock, with loud guitars and drums. The tracks keep travelling in new directions as Beausa's vocals power through the noise. They sing songs about light hearted topics with no real emotions being touched

What other projects have they been working on?
As previously mentioned, the bassist is also a part of Australian garage rock band, Bleeding Knees Club. The band have also made a short TV show on their YouTube channel called 'DUNIES TV', this documents their tour shenanigans over four episodes.

My Top 10's- Arctic Monkeys Tracks

10.) Teddy Picker (Favourite Worst Nightmare- track 2)

9.) Dangerous Animals (Humbug- track 3)

8.) Piledrive Waltz (Suck It And See- track 9)

7.) Crying Lightning (Humbug- track 2)

6.) 505 (Favourite Worst Nightmare- track 12)

5.) When The Sun Goes Down (Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not- track 11)

4.) R U Mine? (AM- track 2)

Review: Albert Hammond Jr.- Momentary Masters

'Momentary Masters' is Albert Hammond Jr's third solo studio after 2006's 'Yours to Keep and 2008's 'Como Te Lama?'. The keyboard/guitar player for seminal indie band 'The Strokes' has forged a solo career for himself, while not straying too far from the sound of the aforementioned band.

Details of the 35 year old's album came about in mid May, however it has been a while coming. Hammond Jr released an EP in 2013 and gave updates of the album on social media with images of recording.

The album starts really strongly with 'Born Slippy'. This, the lead single from the album, wouldn't be out of place on a Strokes album with it's wobbly guitar sounds and happy beat/lyrics. This sound is also relatively apparent on the second track, 'Power Hungry', however Hammond Jr comes across with a darker sound in the way that he delivers his lyrics.