Author: Ben Walton Page 3
Sharks - Selfhood Album Review
Returning with their second offering, Sharks appear to be on the cusp of making something of themselves. After high profile support slots with bands such as Blink 182, Selfhood is their biggest moment to shine...
Review posted on 19th June 2013
Born Ruffians - Birthmarks Album Review
Now that both Radiohead and The Strokes are arguably long past their best, the indie world should be on the lookout for the next hot thing. What we have is, in reality, a torrid heap...
Review posted on 13th June 2013
Beware of Darkness - Orthodox Album Review
Following support slots with some of the biggest names in alternative rock (Smashing Pumpkins, Deftones, Stone Temple Pilots and Bush), Beware of Darkness have come out all guns blazing with their debut album, Orthodox. Beware...
Review posted on 3rd June 2013
Middle Class Rut - Pick Up Your Head Album Review
Around two and a half years on from their explosive and politically charged debut No Name No Colour, Middle Class Rut return with Pick Up Your Head, another aggressive collection. Although Pick Up Your Head...
Review posted on 28th May 2013
These Monsters - Heroic Dose Album Review
Last time These Monsters released an album, it was the impressive Call Me Dragon, an album made up of seven lengthy, proggy instrumental pieces of sludge rock recorded on vintage equipment. On its follow up,...
Review posted on 15th May 2013
The Computers - Love Triangles, Hate Squares Album Review
Given that my first introduction to the music of The Computers was a brutal, rip-roaring track called Lovers Lovers Lovers on a New Heavy Sounds compilation album, I was somewhat surprised by the sounds coming...
Review posted on 13th May 2013
At The Drive-In - Relationship of Command Album Review
Originally released in 2000, At The Drive-In's third and final album Relationship of Command would go on to become one of those underground cult classic albums, gaining critical acclaim immediately. What followed was an ugly...
Review posted on 29th April 2013
Kurt Vile - Wakin' On A Pretty Daze Album Review
Kurt Vile has building his profile as the king of American indie rock for a few years now, and Wakin' On A Pretty Daze finds him in typically ambivalent voice, shrugging his way through eleven...
Review posted on 29th April 2013
They Might Be Giants - Nanobots Album Review
To cut an incredibly long story short, They Might Be Giants have been around, plugging their own brand of quirky power pop for around thirty years now, finding success in the early nineties with the...
Review posted on 9th April 2013
How To Destroy Angels - Welcome Oblivion Album Review
Since temporarily dissolving Nine Inch Nails following a series of emotional, high octane 'Wave Goodbye' shows in 2009, Trent Reznor has been something of a busy boy. 2010 saw the re-master and re-issue of NIN's...
Review posted on 2nd April 2013
Diamond Rugs - Diamond Rugs Album Review
History tells us that we should always be somewhat wary of supergroups. I am sure very few people would say that they preferred Velvet Revolver's Contraband to Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses. Diamond...
Review posted on 26th March 2013
Suede - Bloodsports Album Review
Having completed a triumphant reunion victory lap of festivals all over the world, and the re-release of their entire back catalogue in commendably comprehensive and extensive reissue packages, the legendary Suede inevitably had to get...
Review posted on 21st March 2013
The Scaramanga Six - Phantom Head Album Review
The weirdest band in Yorkshire just got a little darker.Phantom Head is The Scaramanga Six's seventh album, and the first since 2011's Cursed, which saw the band moving into some darker territory. On Phantom Head,...
Review posted on 19th March 2013
Cold War Kids - Dear Miss Lonely Hearts Album Review
Two years on from their last offering and with the addition of new guitarist Dan Gallucci, Cold War Kids return with Dear Miss Lonely Hearts: an album which sticks fairly rigidly to their tried and...
Review posted on 18th March 2013
Eureka Machines - Remain In Hope Album Review
Leeds' pop rock titans turn to their fans to help fund album number three and reward them with an absolute masterpiece.After the release of their second album, 'Champion the Underdog', Eureka Machines found themselves at...
Review posted on 4th March 2013
Milky Wimpshake - Heart and Soul in the Milky Way Album Review
Very much more of the same from Newcastle pop-punk oiks, Milky Wimpshake.Last time I reviewed a Milky Wimpshake album, I used up all of my best, most witty and bile-filled lines to communicate how banal...
Review posted on 25th February 2013
Ben Harper with Charlie Musselwhite, Get Up! Album Review
Modern Rock's most soulful voice meets blues hero to go back to basics with a charming blues collaboration.Nostalgia is big business in music these days. Whether it is bands 'getting the old gang back together'...
Review posted on 11th February 2013
Wounds - Die Young Album Review
Wounds deliver exactly what you would expect from a band who have toured with Gallows and Cancer Bats on their frantic and noisy debut offering. What becomes alarmingly apparent from pretty much the moment you...
Review posted on 4th February 2013
Al Lewis - Battles Album Review
Folky acoustic singer-songwriters walk a narrow path at the best of times between being much too twee and insipid, and just delivering acoustic versions of potential rock songs. Al Lewis treads the line carefully, with...
Review posted on 23rd January 2013
Rams' Pocket Radio - Trajectories Album Review
Rams' Pocket Radio (essentially a solo project of multi-instrumentalist Peter McCauley) has been making some serious waves with radio play on big stations and a tour with Snow Patrol while remaining relatively obscure with dramatic,...
Review posted on 21st January 2013
thenewno2 - thefearofmissingout Album Review
An impressive and expensive sounding follow up album, but is there any substance?Every piece of press relating to thenewno2 seems to begin by mentioning that one of their number is the son of George Harrison,...
Review posted on 2nd January 2013
Born Blonde - What the Desert Taught You Album Review
Born Blonde are one of those bands that just can't get enough of the 90s and hopelessly wish they were able to go back in time so they too could be a part of the...
Review posted on 24th December 2012
Walking Papers - Walking Papers Album Review
American rock heavyweights prove themselves more than the sum of their parts on their impressive first album.If ever the term 'Super Group' was applicable, it is to Walking Papers. For those of you not yet...
Review posted on 22nd November 2012
Young Buffalo - Young Buffalo EP Review
On their promising debut EP, Young Buffalo show a lot of promise, but it isn't really anything you haven't heard before.Young Buffalo are an American two piece band specialising in that sort of post-Dinosaur Jr....
Review posted on 19th November 2012
The 1975 - Sex EP Review
Where it is wrong to fault creativity, you get the feeling that The 1975 cannot quite make up their minds what they want to be.Sex starts off with the fairly wistful and breezy anthemic pop...
Review posted on 26th October 2012
King Dinosaur - The Night EP Review
I am going to begin this review with an apology for my own stupidity. When I get the choice of what I want to review, I usually head over to Google and have a little...
Review posted on 25th September 2012
Bear Driver - Bear Driver Album Review
Although Bear Driver hail from England, the noises they make on their self-titled debut album certainly call more American slacker bands to mind than any sort of Britpop. This is not a criticism in any...
Review posted on 25th September 2012
Holy State - Electric Picture Palace
Holy State's debut album Electric Picture Palace comes at a strange time as the band decided to call it a day just weeks prior to its release, and so this is not only their debut,...
Review posted on 2nd July 2012
The Darcys - Aja
Cover versions can prove to be tricky territory for even the best of bands. At their best they can re-invent and breathe new life into tired old standards providing a fresh perspective on something familiar....
Review posted on 6th June 2012
Blacklisters - BLKLSTRS
There are no two ways about it, Blacklisters make a racket. If you have seen the recent video for the single Trickf**k, you will already know that Blacklisters make a terrifyingly unhinged sound (coupled with...
Review posted on 16th May 2012
Suggested
Leisure Festival - Dreamland in Margate
On the same day that Glastonbury welcomed back Margate's adopted sons, The Libertines, Margate itself put on it's very own Leisure Festival as it...
Pretty Fierce talk to us about collaborating with Doja Cat, emetophobia, arena tours and staying "true to yourself" [EXCLUSIVE]
Sheffield's very own all girl group Pretty Fierce are still on a high after the recent release of their debut single - 'Ready For Me'.
Will Varley & Jack Valero - The Astor Theatre Deal Live Review
Three nights before the end of his current tour Will Varley returned to his home town of Deal to delight a sold out crowd in The Astor Theatre.
WYSE talks to us about her "form of synaesthesia", collaborating with Radiohead's Thom York and the prospect of touring with a band [EXCLUSIVE]
With only a few days to go before Portsmouth based songstress and producer WYSE releases her new single, 'Belladonna', we caught up with her to find...
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Bay Bryan talks to us about being a "wee queer ginger", singing with Laura Marling and being inspired by Matilda [EXCLUSIVE]
Colorado raised, Glasgow educated and Manchester based Bay Bryan is nothing if not a multi-talented, multi-faceted artist performing as both...
Keelan X talks to us about staying true to "your creative vision", collaborating with Giorgio Moroder and being "a yoga nut" [EXCLUSIVE]
Former Marigolds band member Keelan Cunningham has rediscovered his love of music with his new solo project Keelan X.
![Luke De-Sciscio talks to us about having the courage to be yourself, forgiving that which is outside of one's control and following whims [EXCLUSIVE]](https://images.contactmusic.com/images/home/homepage/luke-de-sciscio-abof-a.jpg "Luke De-Sciscio talks to us about having the courage to be yourself, forgiving that which is outside of one's control and following whims [EXCLUSIVE]")
Luke De-Sciscio talks to us about having the courage to be yourself, forgiving that which is outside of one's control and following whims [EXCLUSIVE]
Wiltshire singer-songwriter Luke De Sciscio, formally known as Folk Boy, is set to release is latest album - 'The Banquet' via AntiFragile Music on...
Annie Elise talks to us about the challenges a female producer has to face and "going through a year of grief and sickness" [EXCLUSIVE]
Electronic music pioneer and producer Annie Elise says that the release of her first EP - 'Breathe In, Breathe Out' feels "both vulnerable and...
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