Tag Archives: alt-rock

Music & Film Picks: What To Watch

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cdPortland alt-rock singer-songwriter Matt Lande has released his album GLOW on PopMatters who noted “the balance of heavy rock, pop hooks, catharsis, and introspection is damn near impeccable throughout.”

A Girl Walks Home Alone

An influential vampire film from Iranian-American film director Ana Lily Amirpour. Shot on moody black and white, it was one of the highlights of 2015. Put it on your watch list.

Black Coal Thin Ice

This was a brilliant Chinese crime thriller. Memorable and ground-breaking.

On Broadway

Heart-warming US drama On Broadway features a stellar all-star cast led by Joey McIntyre (New Kids On The Block) alongside Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation), Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Mike O’Malley (Glee), and Sean Lawlor (Braveheart), and follows a Boston carpenter who writes and puts on his own play. Hilarious. Will be on DVD for the very first time in the UK on 18 January 2016, courtesy of Simply Media.

 

 

The Xcerts – Scatterbrain | Music Review

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I’ve never been to Scotland; never felt the need or desire. I watched a documentary called ‘Trainspotting’ when I was a kid and felt I’d seen enough. However, they do produce a disproportionate amount of good music for the 5 or so million population. Not so fresh off the production line are Aberdeen rockers The Xcerts, who, according to their Wikipedia entry at least, formed after meeting in their headmaster’s office at their school. Boys after my own heart.

‘Scatterbrain’ is the band’s 2nd album and one they’ve actually been touring since it’s release in October 2010. If I’m honest I’d ignored the band. I couldn’t stomach the name and, rather incorrectly, assumed they were some sort of electro laptop-band, a genre I loathe. Rather fortunately I’ve just managed to enjoy them before they return to the studio to hibernate.

This is a good record and one that brilliantly occupies the space between twee indie-rock and the sonic noise of alt-rock. Demonstrating their sounds perfectly the track ‘Young’ has two versions on this record, one with their powerpop sound and the other, the album’s closing track, a stripped back acoustic strum-along.

Still only in their early 20’s this record has at times the feel of a band more mature than their years and at others they sound like mid 90’s punk-pop band Midget. At times it’s clever and exciting. Imagine Biffy Clyro back when they didn’t take themselves too seriously. ‘Tear Me Down’ even sounds like it has borrowed a wee bit from Biffy’s ‘Justboy’.

The criticism of the record is that it plunders rather obviously from other bands. It’s a band still finding their feet and developing their sound, which you would be at 23, but it’s an album worth listening to and a band worth taking note of. That they haven’t yet carved their own niche is not necessarily a bad thing. This record shows the band have plenty of potential. Watch this space and buy this record, I can think of few things better to spend £5.99 on right now.

 

Scatterbrain is out now via Xtra Mile. Catch the band on tour in May.

 

Milk Maid to release 2nd album in July | Music News

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Martin Cohen, mainman of Milk Maid used to play bass in Manchester alt-rockers Nine Black Alps. He left the band to concentrate on Milk Maid, releasing his debut album “Yucca” in 2011, to much acclaim. Just a year later he returns with Milk Maid’s second album, “Mostly No”, released via FatCat on 9th July and finds front man Martin Cohen cementing his reputation as a talented songwriter straddling the line between noise and pop whilst also expanding the band’s sonic terrain and adding swirls of psychedelia to debut ‘Yucca’s’ crafted fuzz.

“Mostly No” is released by Fat Cat Records on 9th July.  Milk Maid tours the UK in June and July.

 

 

 

Original Mercury Rev frontman to release EP | Music News

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It’s been 18 since he left the public spotlight but David Baker, original singer in American alt-rock heroes Mercury Rev, is back with a new band, Variety Lights. The band, a collaboration between Baker and fellow vintage synth addict Will MacLean, have an EP ready for release on 21st April, with a full album to follow in June. The lead track is, appropriately, “Silent Too Long”, which will be released as an exclusive single for Record Store Day on transparent peppermint green vinyl.
As co-founder and vocalist of Mercury Rev, Baker helped to forge their revolutionary sound. he left the band in 1993 to be replaced by Jonathan Donahue. Since leaving Mercury Rev Baker has released solo albums and more recently he has been working as a producer for other bands.
The album was recorded by Baker at his own Over the Trees studio using a mixture of 80’s era midi expanders, vintage keyboards, drum machines and effected guitars. Speaking about the band’s sound, Baker says that “personal adventure is and always has been the most important thing”. Baker says that plans are afoot to play the songs live with a full band including drums and bass, with dates to follow at some point later on in 2012.
Variety Lights – Silent Too Long EP is released on 21st April 2012 on Fire Records