I figured I’d do something different this week and cover a bunch of songs that premiered over the last few days. It made for an interesting change to write about about and maybe I’ll do this kind of stuff more often, maybe not. A lot of my views come through search engines, so I doubt… Read More New Song Reviews – 28/01/2014 (The Cape Race, The Used, Chiodos, Have Mercy, The Hotelier)
It may have taken a while but it seems that You Me At Six have finally come of age. Over the course of their last three studio albums they’ve gradually matured and if Cavalier Youth is the final push towards fully fledged alternative-rock stars then they’ve nailed it. It may not carry the charm or… Read More You Me At Six – Cavalier Youth (Review)
Of Mice & Men are a band who’ve always seemed to polarise opinions, so the announcement of a nu-mental infused studio album confused and pleased both fans and sceptics, with there probably being a similar number of both. Restoring Force marks the American bands third and most comfortable venture, and although it doesn’t always find… Read More Of Mice & Men – Restoring Force (Review)
A ‘swan song’ is supposedly a beautifully song sung only once by a swan in its lifetime as it’s dying, but in less adventurous terms the phrase can also mark the end of a career as a final piece of work. Both seem apt to describe Lakefield’s final venture, as although Swan Songs is the… Read More Lakefield – Swan Songs (Review)
Decade have built a solid name for themselves over the last 12 months, so it seems fitting to release an album good enough to set them up for another big year. Good Luck is the first British album this year to deliver on the hype surrounded it, discounting Wishful Thinking by Neck Deep, which seemed… Read More Decade – Good Luck (Review)
Against Me! are one of those bands who’ve always made music on their own terms and filled it with the charismatic bite and soul that makes it appealing to audiences the world over. They’re also one of the few bands who continue to surprise, excel and inspire with each new entry into their discography. Following… Read More Against Me! – Transgender Dysphoria Blues (Review)
It’s fair to say that Neck Deep’s rise to pop-punk stardom was pretty meteoric, releasing two EP’s that were well received and then signing to Hopeless Records (home of Yellowcard and The Wonder Years) solely on the back of those two releases. Debut album Wishful Thinking comes around 15 months after their debut EP Rain… Read More Neck Deep – Wishful Thinking (Review)
Did you really expect Keep Doing What You’re Doing to be bad? Let’s be honest, if you’re here now then you probably didn’t. If that’s the case, then prepare to be relieved, because You Blew It!’s sophomore album is excellent from start to finish. I’ve been writing a lot about sad music recently, and Keep… Read More You Blew It! – Keep Doing What You’re Doing (Review)
I’ve been buying my vinyl from Monkey Boy Records for around a year now, occasionally buying records solely on the strength of the sites backing, so I figured that the first release on the sites label outside of their distro would be a good one, and BeachBoy definitely is. If you’re yet to listen to… Read More McCafferty – BeachBoy (Review)
The middle of December always seems like a strange time to put out a record, but that being said, if a release is good enough then people will find it and love it regardless. Everything Between Paint and a Wall is definitely good enough, and although it won’t make any end of year lists because… Read More Grandview – Everything Between Paint and a Wall (Review)
This will be my final end of year list, and it’s counting down my favourite tracks of 2013. I’ve only chosen one per artist because if I hadn’t Have Mercy would’ve occupied almost half of this list. I’ve also left YouTube links beside each (where available) so you can check them out if interested. 25)… Read More Top 25 Songs of 2013
I’ve counted down my favourite albums of 2013, so here’s my favourite EPs, splits and mini-albums of the year. Full lengths have definitely taking a priority this year, but some of the shorter releases have been equally excellent. Some of these are free to download via Bandcamp, so I’ve left links if you’re interested. The rest… Read More Top 25 EPs / Splits / Mini-albums of 2013
Released: May Genre: Rock / Emo Metacritic Rating: N/A I’ve made a lot of tough decisions this year, but choosing my favourite record of 2013 was blissfully easy. In a year in which I finished college and found myself at a troubling crossroads in my life The Earth Pushed Back was… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 1: Have Mercy – The Earth Pushed Back
Released: June Genre: You Decide Metacritic Rating: 92% I’m not entirely sure what’s happening on Sunbather most of the time, but I know that it sounds incredible. There’s something very special about Deafheaven’s second full-length, which is as mesmerizing as it is menacing. Sunbather is one of the deepest, most striking… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 2: Deafheaven – Sunbather
Released: November Genre: Emo / Indie Metacritic Rating: N/A It may have only been released last month but I’ve already listened to The Albatross more than a lot of the albums on this list, and for good reason. With their debut album Foxing penned a work of art that could well… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 3: Foxing – The Albatross
Released: September Genre: Hip Hop / Rap Metacritic Rating: N/A Blame Miss Barclay is the best British hip hop album I’ve heard since A Grand Don’t Come For Free (I don’t listen to much of the genre so that statement isn’t as bold or complimentary as it initially sounds). There’s a… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 4: Mikill Pane – Blame Miss Barclay
Released: September Genre: Synth Pop Metacritic Rating: 81% The Bones Of What You Believe is one of the most accessible records I’ve heard this year. I know people who like Converge, Deafheaven, Blink 182, The Story So Far, The Gaslight Anthem etcetera who’d say they love it as much… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 5: Chvrches – The Bones Of What You Believe
Released: May Genre: Punk / Rock Metacritic Rating: N/A There’s a reason why On The Impossible Past by The Menzingers was by far my favourite album last year, and that was because it invited a listener in. It took me on a journey more than anything, and there was nothing I… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 6: Captain, We’re Sinking – The Future Is Cancelled
Released: October Genre: Rock / Instrumental Metacritic Rating: 88% Over the years there’ve been very few non-electronic instrumental albums that have held my attention. The main three that spring to mind are This Will Destroy You’s S/T, The Collective by Scale The Summit and Russian Circles’ 2011 releases Empros, which I… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 7: Russian Circles – Memorial
Released: August Genre: Metalcore Metacritic rating: 85% There’s no denying that Norma Jean are very good at what they do, which you’d expect after ten years and six albums, despite a number of personnel changes preceding Wrongdoers. Instead of the changes presenting an issue, the bands sixth studio album showed exactly… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 8: Norma Jean – Wrongdoers
Craig Reviews Music 