Bomb the music Industry – Planning My Death

When I started this track I wondered if the player had malfunctioned; it reminded me of the olden days when you could play a 33rpm vinyl at 48rpm.  This manic sound made me think they were a comedy band. It seemed that they did have some instrumentalist who could actually play. The vocalist’s voice sounded as rough as a bears arse, as he screamed into the poor defenseless mike.  I can imagine a sweat filled stage with half naked performers playing and screaming into the microphone, while a room full of sweating bodies gyrates at a manic pace. I would clearly wish to be somewhere else. With luck I will not find this in my Christmas stocking.

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I Made This Mistake – Billboards

The name of this group is what I did when I started this number. I thought I might actually like it, alas this was not to be so. Nice opening instrumentals were spoiled by the nonsensical vocalist words that made me think the player had jumped a track.  I attempted to understand the lyrics, sadly I failed, the pace and mood of the number seemed mystifying as to what it was trying to be. Listening to this was a bit like banging your head against a brick wall; nice when you stop.

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Los Campesinos! – There are Listed Buildings

I quite liked the tune – I also felt I would like the number but as it progressed I felt no, it would not be going onto my Christmas list to Santa.  The vocalist spoke the words rather than singing them and it seemed to be a race with the backing as to who could drown the other first.  I would have liked it to have been the group then they could get some meaningful lyrics instead of the chant I listened to. The tune was OK not happy about the overall sound.

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The Album Leaf – Falling from the Sun

A nice gentle number make nice background music for the car. The singers are in harmony with the group – a good number to finish off, at the end of the evening so that sweaty bodies can glue themselves together with the promise of more fun later.  I did like this one better than any of the others, I would not buy it, but I would listen to someone else’s copy.

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Errors – Bridge Or Cloud

This instrumental number took almost 2 minutes to finish the intro. I kept waiting for it to start. At over 5 minutes this number is 5 minutes too long. It reminded me of a background to a very poor film, slightly one step up from lift music.  You can imagine when this one starts everyone rushes to the bar as they have 5 minutes to get the beers in.

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The Besnard Lakes – Albatross

Another pleasant number this. The singer seems to be able to really sing and not shout and scream into the mic.  The instrumentalists could actually play their instruments without drowning the singer, and in fact complementing her. The tune was a bit monotonous but I quite liked it.  I would not buy it, but I would listen to more of their music to see if they were a one trick pony.

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Links

Bomb The Music Industry released (or made available if you’d prefer!) their most recent album through Quote Unquote Records. All tracks are available to download for free from their label’s website.

I Made This Mistake’s most recent album ‘Bow and Quiver‘ is available from Bermuda Mohawk Productions. Great album cover alert btw.

Los Campesinos! released their 3rd album ‘Romance Is Boring‘ near the end of January and can be bought from the Wichita site here.

‘A Chorus of Storytellers‘ by The Album Leaf is available from Sub Pop now, plus several free Mp3s if you want to try before you buy.

Errors recently released their second album ‘Come Down With Me‘ through Rock Action.

The Besnard Lakes third album, ‘The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night‘ was released on the 10th March through Jagjaguwar and the track ‘Albatross‘ was a free download on iTunes a few weeks back.

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By Mad Mac

Last Mad Mac of the year folks. I’ll be asking the big man to give me his favourite track of the last 12 months come the end of year round-up post, so keep your eyes peeled for that little beauty.  Some of these are pretty ‘last month dude’ but I can assure you, some of these WERE the hot tracks out in October, it’s just my dad has only just got round to listening to them. He initially asked if he could review the tracks without hearing them. I declined. Although, I’m thinking that could be a good new feature, so let’s see what next year brings.

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Dead To Me – Modern Muse (Fat Wreck Chords)

An extremely fast number with a long guitar intro. Despite the loud background you could still hear the lyrics. The speed of this number made me feel they were trying to get it over with as soon as possible, I felt that was a really good idea.

Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More (Island Records)

A slow melancholy number that would be best played at the end of the evening rather than at the start. This would be an indication that it was time to go home. One imagines a bars of drunks getting their coats as they drag their weary way to the door. As this number comes from the stage, people leave before they slash their wrists. Fortunately I have not heard any of their previous numbers so cannot tell if this is their style or not.

The xx - Crystalised (Young Turks)

Two vocalists with pleasant voices – pity about the song.  Would be interested to see then live, nice to hear a number with the vocalists not in competition with each other. Overall not an unpleasant sound.

A Place To Bury Strangers – Deadbeat (Mute)

This cacophony of noise did have some lyrics all but drowned out by the heavy beat of various instruments, which seemed to be in competition with each other to see who could make the most noise. Just when you thought it could not get any worse, it did. The ending seemed to be a bit random I felt that if they played it again the finish would be totally different. Mercifully I only heard it the once.

Times New Viking – Move To California (Matador Records)

Powerful  guitar intro paves the way to a great rock number, if only  it had been one. Heavy instrumental threatens to drown the vocals. Vocalist struggling to make them selves heard, pity they do not have a voice for singing. Hope these are better live than on record.

The Drums – Lets Go Surfing (Moshi Moshi)

This song I felt, does for surfing what lions do for limping wildebeests. If I felt that to surf I would have to put up with that repetitive racket I would rather take up carrier bag collecting.  Not one for my stocking. Please.

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Links

Dead To Me’s 2nd album, ‘African Elephants’ is out now through Fat Wreck Chords. Get it here.

Somehow Mumford & Sons are signed to Island. I’ve never heard of them. Their debut, also titled ‘Sigh No More’ can be found here.

The xx released their cryptically titled debut ‘xx‘ through Young Turks, check it. Great album art guys, must have taken you all weekend huh?

Noisy bastards, A Place To Bury Strangers chucked out ‘Exploding Head’ their 2nd full length on Mute in October.

Times New Viking released their 4th album, ‘Born Again Revisited’ on Matador Records around the end of September time.

The Drums debut single/ep/thing came out in September at some point I think. The Moshi Moshi site is being weird. Find it here.

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Intro – Ross
Main – Mad Mac

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Coming soon:

Million Dead Retrospective
Dillinger Four (live!)
Large Hadron Collider Cake Making
Golf Sale

Another year, another beer festival – thank you Peterborough for a most excellent time drinking various ales that ranged from the colour and texture of tar (one of my friends stated that “drinking a half of that would take 10 years off my life”) to something that looked like it had been passed into the steel urinal trailers out back. Also, sort out the crow hats for next year – we want 2 feet on each, yeah?

Mad Mac was sent ahead as a scouting party on the Friday. I was at work/lazy/wanted to play Journey on Rock Band and didn’t accompany him. His task was to at least sit through at least 10 minutes of the 2 bands that were playing that night and provide a witty diatribe of the proceedings. His attempt at this task wavers between failure and success, much like an unpredictable seesaw. The results read as follows:

Convulsions

This four man group I heard strike up from a neighbouring tent. If I had listened to my first impressions, I would have moved away from them and coincidently - missed a treat. Of the four, three of the band members had seen a good many summers – the term old rockers seemed to fit. The lead vocalist who screamed down the mike; jerked and jumped about like a puppet worked by someone having a fit or a cat on a hot plate. On one occasion, he leaped over the speaker, over the barrier, and into the crowd much to the delight of all. A large crowd collected to watch this really good group. I did not know any of the numbers but a crowd of all ages was enjoying the spectacle. One rather long instrumental was extremely good and a few people started to dance.  The vocalist who played a variety of mouth organs, for some mysterious reason attempted to lift the keyboard he was playing, then though better of it. It must have been a bit heavy. They all played their instruments very well under the direction of the manic vocalist. I watched them for nearly an hour. They played number after number without a pause during that time. Whatever he was taking I would like some of it.

The League of Mentalmen

I did not have the opportunity to spend much time watching them. A massive crowd was spellbound at the antics of The League of Mentalmen. Dressed in skirts, Mohican headdresses made from many coloured belts, leggings and lots of hairy chubby flesh they looked amazing. They made me think of The Village People on speed. Their numbers, which included covers of rock songs given a manic twist, blasted out across the tent to the delight of all. Their outrageous costumes, prancing about like broken necked chickens and the thunderous music had the whole tent rocking.

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Links

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Intro – Ross
Words – Mad Mac

The sixth installment of the Mad Mac series (both the Orchestra and Beer Festival reviews are not canon) and probably/hopefully one of the best. Last time saw positive thumbs up to both The Thermals and William Elliott Whitmore. Hopefully this devil-worthy edition will put a stop to that constructive and helpful feedback and focus on what we all enjoy: crushing nepotism.

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Rancid – Last One To Die (Hellcat)

I felt this was very seventies rock and roll. The lyrics which seemed to make very little sense (nothing new there) could be heard clearly over the music.  The musicians seemed to be able to play and I did not feel they were making it up as they went along. I think I like this track and it would grow on you, but not perhaps at grannies birthday party.

 

Passion Pit – Moths Wings (Columbia/French Kiss)

Nice sound and a nice beat – good for dancing to. Lyrics are difficult to follow but perhaps that is intended. The vocalist seemed to be able to sing and he should have been closer to the mike with the backing band further away. Would I buy it? No. Would I get up a do dad dancing to it? Probably.

The Mars Votla – Halo of Nembutals (Warner Bros/Mercury)

This I do not feel is a dance number, it is more for listening to after you have taken a shot of something or smoked some funny baccy. You can nod aimlessly to the indistinguishable nonsensical lyrics through a haze of something illegal. I kept waiting for it to get better – it didn’t.  I will not be putting this on my Christmas list unless I used it as a shaving mirror.

Eyedea & Abilities – This Story (Rhymesayers)

This is yet another monotonous rap number where a number of unrelated sentences are stitched together with background music. The only talent required for this is to be able to talk fast, in a manner that sounds like you are making it up as you go along. Do I care what the lyrics are? Do I care if I hear it again? Is there anything to distinguish this number from any of the other rap numbers?  I think you can guess the answer.

The Gay Blades – Hey She Say (Triple Crown Records)

Of the six numbers on the selection this had the best instrumentals. This is a number to frenetically dance to. Not bad, I wouldn’t mind hearing this again, next year would be soon enough.

 

Next Life – Sol Blade (Fysisk Format)

What a cacophony of noise. I thought they were tuning up, then I thought the CD player was acting up, then I cleaned the disc. It did not make any difference, it was still a wall of noise. The only reason I can see for buying this is to play it loudly to annoy your neighbours, it would certainly do the trick unless they were stone deaf or dead. Death would be a happy release after listening to this number.

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Links

Rancid, the band that’s more punk than the UK Subs and The Exploited put together, have released their 7th album  ‘Let The Dominoes Fall’ through Hellcat/Epitaph Records.

Passion Pit’s debut ‘Manners‘ is out on Columbia and French Kiss Records. The band are currently on a massive world tour from 9th August to the 18th November. Blimey.

The Mars Volta and their wacky musical train of nonsense have released ‘Octahedron‘ via Warner Bros and Mercury.

Eyedea & Abilities released ‘By The Throat’ last week on Rhymesayers.

The Gay Blades debut ‘Ghosts‘ is available through Triple Crown Records.

The excellent cacophony of noise that is Next Life have released their 2nd album ‘The Lost Age’ via Fysisk Format.

(Also, apologies for the lack of updates over the last 10 days or so. I’ve been ill with the swine flu and sitting at a computer listening to the sound of guitars being beaten against drums made my head want to explode like that scene in Scanners. Standby for a Future of the Left album review, something about NOFX and some other gubbins.)

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Intro – Ross
Words – Mad Mac

I don’t actually think these needs a smart-arsed introduction anymore, so we’ll just kick things off below:

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And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead – Inland Sea

Their name must be reminiscent of the public trying to leave when they start to play. (I think he means that you’d have to be dead to listen to it – Ross) My first impression is that this group do seem to be able to play a wide variety of instruments between them. It is a bit unfortunate that the backing music seems to drown the lyrics out a bit . Not sure why, perhaps the musical director thought that the words were not worth listening to? This should have been left to the audience to decide, but it does seem to be a little unfair to the vocalist. Did he upset someone when the tracks were laid down? I am sure if one could hear more of the lyrics, the overall sound would be greatly improved.

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Matt and Kim – Daylight

This number has great orchestration a constant throbbing beat that would pound through the neighbour’s walls, drive them to distraction and then to the local council. They had strong lyrics, which came over the volume of the music, unfortunately it was difficult to identify which language they were using.  The lyrics were not sung but rather spoken – unfortunately not with the clarity of Rex Harrison in “My Fair Lady”. What the number was about and its purpose, will forever remain a mystery until the end of time – or rather till the start of the next track.

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Obits – Pine On

This is a bit more like the music I get to review. It is the sort of annoying row one hears from the oversized speakers of a car at the traffic lights echoing across the town. It makes you think of sledgehammers. A fast heavy rock number that any car it was played in would go about twenty miles an hour faster to keep up with the beat. Very reminiscent of the loud pounding rock beat of the sixties and seventies, I didn’t like those either. Would I include this band’s CD on my desert island discs collection? No. It’s only use would be to reflect the sun to attract a rescue plane to save me.

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Sky Larkin – Beeline

This number has a female vocalist – not too bad a voice, but seemed to have limited range; this could be due to the song. The title ‘Beeline‘ was repeated frequently not sure why, as the rest of the words were incomprehensible. Perhaps she could stand a bit farther in front of the group – about 70 feet should do it. I think she has a pleasant voice. Would I like to hear this number again? No, not without being paid an awful lot of money.

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The Thermals – Now We Can See

Now this is a heavy rock number very much in the genre of the great Rolling Stones. The lead vocalist sounds a lot like Mick Jagger. In my minds eye he would be doing the moves of Jagger and this would fit the lyrics. Rather than develop his own style, he has copied someone else. This is not a problem if it is done well, but total rubbish if done badly – thankfully this is done well.

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William Elliot Whitmore – Old Devils

This track is very much in the country genre. A cross between Johnny Cash and Burl Ives. If you like country you will like this. I can imagine him singing with a now banned cigarette in a smoky pub performing in the corner. Of course now he won’t be in a smoky pub so to hear him would not damage your health. His sound is different from other performers, who prefer to rely on noise volume rather than quality. If his other numbers are in this vein then he is quite listenable.

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Links

Trail of Dead’s ‘The Century Of Self’ is available now through their website. I haven’t heard it yet, but the cover art is predictably awesome.

Matt & Kim’s album ‘Grand’ is also available through Faderlabel, which confusingly re-routes back to their own site, so I’m not sure what’s going on there.

‘I Blame You’ by Obits came out early last week through Sub Pop. The track ‘Pine On’ as reviewed above, is also available for free download.

Sky Larkin’s debut album ‘The Golden Spike’ is available through the fine people at Wichita Records. ‘Beeline’ was actually a free Mp3 on itunes a few weeks ago.

‘Now We Can See’ by The Thermals is released by Kill Rock Stars on the 7th April and also features some excellent cover art.

William Elliott Whitmore’s ‘Animals In The Dark’ is available from Anti . Whisky to accompany this CD is available from all good off licences, supermarkets and booze king.

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Words – Mad Mac
Pictures – From Myspace (Thermals pic by Whitey McConnaughy)

The Group – City of Cambridge Symphony  Orchestra
The Venue – West Road Concert Hall
Date – 29th November
Damage – £15

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Time for a bit of culture. On Saturday Mad Mac took in a show at the West Road concert hall in Cambridge. I demanded he reviewed the event so as to give a different slant to his critique in order for at least 1 positive review to flow from his poisoned pen. Let’s see what he came up with….

The CCSO have been performing under a number of names since 1973 before settling on their new name.

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Siegfried Idyll by Wagner

Not my favourite piece I could not get a hand on the tune – it seemed as though they were never going to finish tuning up and get started. All 42 in the group played with great gusto, and to be honest it was a relief when it ended. Despite the conductor’s valiant efforts, I felt it was not one of Wagners best, “The Ride of The Valkyrie” it was not. (I prefer the early demos myself – Ross)

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Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 16 by Grieg

Just as the conductor was about to start he realised that one of the trombonists had not put in an appearance – a runner was duly sent. He came back waving his equipment in his hand. We had to stop once more, as the drummer, who reminded me of Dale Crover of the Melvins, (Mad Mac is a big fan of theirs) thought the drums would sound better if he took of the covers first. We at long last began.
Despite the long opening title, once this number started I thought of Morecambe and Wise and the classic sketch they did with Adre Previn when Eric Morecambe attempted to play this number. Previn (Prevue as they called him), stopped him playing and said he was playing the wrong notes, Eric replied “No I am playing the right notes sunshine, but not necessarily in the right order.” Classic. The soloist on this occasion was Clare Hammond on the piano. Not only did she play all the right notes but in the right order as well. Despite thoughts of Eric, Clare with the now increased group size of 51, gave an excellent performance.

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Syphony No8 in B minor (Unfinished D 759)  by Schubert

This was one I could have done without for despite the obvious prowess of the musicians    I longed for the unfinished part, despite the movements of the pretty violinist in the front.

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The Young Persons Guide To The Orchestra Op 34  by Britten

The group size had once more increased with the addition of harp (not the drink) and more percussion. It now stood at 63. For this number, we had a narrator who told us what we were going to hear. Each of the instrument sections played part of the melody, followed by each instrument doing the same; which rose to an extremely loud and spine tingling final part using all of the instruments in the group, ncluding harp, xylophone, gong, whip, and various men at the back playing with their horns. Throughout this we had the narrator telling us what was to come. After the applause,  the conductor took three curtain calls, accompanied by the narrator, why? All he did was read a short piece of text, which required no skill whatsoever other than the ability to read which most people can now do. Bouquets came on, one for the conductor, one to a random violinist who was most confused and passed it on the first violinist. There was one for the narrator, I still cannot see why, he read a bit, and did look slightly confused.  No electronics needed, and no bleeding eardrums at the end a good night.

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Words – Mad Mac
Intro – Ross Macdonald

(Previous Mad Mac reviews can be found here)

As stated in a previous post, I was trying to think of somewhere I could send my dad for a live review and it just so happens the wonders of Peterborough beer festival had the answer. Featuring several of his favourite things – ground hops in a liquid format, pub games, ‘crumpet’ and Oliver Reed t-shirts (okay not that), why not let the master brewer review some of the bands? So off he went to sit on a stolen chair, in the middle of the entertainment marquee, with the back of the festival programme to scribble on and half of mild.

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Bands – King Kool, Plastic Soup
Venue – Peterborough Beer Festival
Cost – Fiver
Date – 23rd August
Beer – loads

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The rather crowded stage was set halfway down the long side of a very large marquee. The audience of about sixty people were aimlessly scattered on the large grassed area in front of the stage, with enough open space to park several full grown blue whales.

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King Kool

This was a duo made up of Dan Donovan and Joe Mason. The blurb in the program describes them as quote: “Kicking breed of art garage rock” – whatever that means. The singer was dressed in black reminiscent of Johnny Cash. Unfortunately, that was where the resemblance ended. I endured three songs as the vocalist seemed to be in competition with the drummer in a ‘who can be the loudest’ match. I could not determine any distinguishable words as Joe, the exuberant gum-chewing drummer, drowned them out. The singer to show his virtuosity played a harmonica and short solo on the guitar when the drummer took a breather. The patrons were offered CDs at £7 each. Amazingly none of the paying public rushed to buy a copy. To me, the overall sound was akin to being interned in a forty-gallon drum with several bricks and rolled downhill.

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Plastic Soup

Comprised of four exuberant performers, this group enthusiastically belted out three numbers with the volume and musicality of a jet engine. The lead vocalist wore trousers that appeared to be made from the skins of four Dalmatians. The first number seemed to be called ‘Plastic Soup’, with the singer who appeared to have watched a Mick Jagger video, attempting to copy some rocking moves. The rest of the numbers were a cacophony of sound that assaulted your ears harder than a bailiff banging on a door on rent day. They left much to the imagination as to what the lyrics were about, as the vocals blended into a wall of noise. The low frequency bass made your teeth vibrate enough to give white finger to your lips. (I don’t get this at all – Ross.)

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Links

King Kool
Plastic Soup

Peterborough Beer Festival

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Intro – Ross
Words – Mad Mac

After a brief stint away from the writer’s desk, Mad Mac returns to the fold to pen more words of wisdom on the current ‘hot’ acts that are trawling the musical airwaves. After the slamming he gave (The) Foals last time, how will indie-darlings Johnny Foreigner go down? Let’s see…

(If you want your band/song/face reviewed by Mad Mac, drop us a line to the usual e-mail address or why not try the ‘Ask Mad Mac’ button at the top of the page.)

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The Hold Steady – Sequestered in Memphis

During this very long intro I was begining to loose the will to live, in fact I was not sure I would live long enough to hear it finish. But finish it did. I felt the vocalist lost his way wondering around the Southern States. With enough listens I think this one would grow on you, but then so can ringworm.

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Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – The Boxer

Puts me in mind of the Sex Pistols trying to annoy by murdering a well known classic. Remakes can be risky and can be rubbish if the rendition does not work – it does not work. Pity.

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Jay Reatard – See/Saw

Very hard on the drums (ear drums). I feel the drummer brought his own drum kit along and they had to let him play, even though it tried to drown out the vocalist (if only.) The lyrics very samey all I could understand was “she freaks me out” repeatedly, a bit how I felt at the end.

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She & Him – I Was Made For You

High school musical type tune, I felt it tried to remind me of “Grease” – it didn’t. The girl tried her best, hope she is good looking and they have better material than this. (She is and I perhaps should have picked a better song, faux pas on my part – Ross)

Johnny Foreigner – Salt, Pepper and Spinderella

Bad sounding percussion. Reminds me of banging your head against a metal locker at school. The ending cannot start too soon, or be too short, unfortunately is does go on a bit to make the track seem longer, it succeeds.

Pulled Apart By Horses - The Lighthouse

Pulled apart by horses? It felt like it! The end would be a blessed relief, which is exactly what it was. The finish was a bit abrupt it does seem that the “Music Appreciation Society” or the “Noise Abatement Society” had got to the mains power. My life was not enriched by this listening experience.

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Nice. If anyone has any ideas for gigs to send Mad Mac to, post your comment below or drop us an e-mail. Preferably somewhere he can sit down if need be and one that won’t cost me an arm-and-a-leg in ticket price/travel/beer.

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Links

‘Stay Positive’ by The Hold Steady is out now through Rough Trade.

‘Have Another Ball’ by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is available from the Fat Wreck Chords site. You can also download an MP3 of ‘The Boxer‘ as well.

Jay Reatard stuff can be bought from the Matador Records site, including the singles comp that ‘See/Saw’ comes from.

‘Volume 1′ by She & Him is out now on the Merge Records site.

‘Waiting Up Til It Was Light’ by Johnny Foreigner is out now on Best Before Records, but the site seems confusing, so try Amazon if you want to get it.

Pulled Apart By Horses have all their songs available for free download from their website, check it out.

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Intro – Ross
Words – Mad Mac

As promised in the mixtape post, yet another installment of ‘Mad Mac Reviews’. It’s been quite a while since the last, so he’s pulled out the stops to make this one extra harsh. He’s putting me out of a job with this quality of writing, seriously.

(If you want your band reviewed by Mad Mac or anyone else on the writing team, drop us an e-mail/carrier pigeon/shout really loudly.)

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Foals - Cassius (Transgressive)

The opening bars brought me back to the days of George Formby with his ukulele; I wish it hadn’t. I long thought those days were dead and gone – fortunately hearing the rest, I realised they had. On two occasions I thought mercifully that the CD had stuck, but it moved on to a thankful finale. The lyrics took very little learning as it seemed to be the word ‘Cassius’ repeated over and over. I’m not sure why, but at least it gave the song a title.

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This Will Destroy You – Threads (Magic Bullet Records)

When this track started, I felt finally that there would be a track that I could listen to. This was a completely different type of music, which turned out to be one long session of opening bars. A bit like sex with lots of foreplay and no grand conclusion. I did wonder if the sound man had put his pizza on the controls and if this had caused the music to accidentally blur, which gave them the sense of improving it, not so! (I’ve no idea what this means. – Ross)

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Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – DIG, LAZARUS, DIG! (Mute)

The phrase ‘Lazarus dig yourself‘ is repeated throughout the track and I’m not sure why. It reminded me of some songs I heard at discos in the late 70s – very heavy bass thumping in the background. One can imagine this will be popular played very loud in a small car driven by a youth with a backward facing baseball cap. In addition, as the car drives up the street the driver trying to look cool as the heavy base thumps out, causing the car to lurch forward and back like a demented heartbeat. Even so, I quite liked it, as long as I didn’t have to listen to it played on a car stereo.

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MGMT – Time To Pretend (Columbia)

The opening sequence seemed to have been recorded in a bath with the occupant farting into the mic. The start of the lyrics seemed to be promising until the volume of the synthesiser is just loud enough to drown out all but a few of the words. It would be the sort of music played by that annoying neighbour during one of his dreadful late night parties. This track is ideal for annoying all those who live around you. This works on some level, I am just not sure what that level is.

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Future of the Left – Manchasm (Too Pure)

When this track started, I thought that the player had developed a fault, the one note repeated throughout the sequence only started to become annoying after the first ten seconds. This developed into a crescendo of unintelligible noise masquerading under the guise of lyrics. A row usually heard at the end of long nights clubbing when the management want you all to go home so that they can pack up.

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The Mountain Goats - San Bernadino (4AD)

By far the most pleasant track of the collection. It does seem that the musicians can in fact play and are not hiding their lack of talent by producing a cacophony of noise. The singer has a voice for karaoke, and the lyrics can be heard, and in keeping with the tune. The type of music to play while enjoying a cup of coffee late at night, just before going to bed.

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Links

See above! I’m going to watch The Shield and try to perfect ‘Manchasm‘ on the stylophone.

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Intro: Ross
Words: Mad Mac

The second installment of ‘Mad Mac Reviews’ hits the screen like body parts splattering from a combine harvester accident. Yes, the man himself has returned to spill more pearls of wisdom with his views of the today’s music. He was locked up in a room with just a biro and a scrap of paper, with only the same 6 songs piped into his ears for company. Here’s what he thought of each one…..

(All views expressed are by Mad Mac. If you feel he has been unjust with a review of your band or you’re a fan of the band and want to complain, grow up, it’s just a larf. Who knows, one day we might actually give him something he enjoys! End transmission….)

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Liars – Plaster Casts of Everything

This track would probably improve if the keyboard player could play a few more notes. The lyrics need to be listened to very carefully to see if any words are actually being used. I did and concluded that there are none. The overall sound is monotonous and is ideal for the sort of person who does not like any distinguishing point to this kind of music. (What??? – Ross)

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65daysofstatic – Don’t go down to Sorrow

An instrumental offering that I did not detest from the start. It is obvious that they could at least play their instruments. A lot of this type of music seems to be played by people who have spent at least 20 minutes learning to play about three or four notes. They then keep repeating them in an attempt to suggest they can play .On the whole, a nice track as long as you do not have to listen to it for too long.

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Northern State – Better Already

Nice to hear a discernible tune the lyrics are a bit samey and difficult to hear. However, listening to the words is not the point of this type of music. It is the overall sound that matters. This is a song the will live with you for a long time, as I could not get the repetitious tinny voice out of my head for quite a while, try as I might. A group I could visualise on one of my blacker moods.

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No Age – Everybody’s Down

The predominant noise throughout this track is the pummel of heavy bass guitars. I can imagine this in a small room possibly causing structural damage. The singer tries valiantly to be heard over the music; and most of the time he succeeds. I fear he should not sing for too long for health and safety reasons because of damage to his voice. It would be a great shame if he were lost to the world of music because of overexposure.

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Melt Banana – Blank Page of the Blind

The weighty beat of the heavy percussion succeeds very well in drowning out the vocalist. For this they deserve a medal. The singer I think, must be aged about 12 and should have been left at home with her mum. Little was added by the sound. The music and vocals were frantic as if they could not wait to finish; I know how they felt.

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500 Miles to Memphis – All My Friends are Crazy

The fiddle playing is very good and makes me think of an Irish pub for tourists or a barn dance. The vocals I could hear but soon lost interest in. Nice arrangement, good tune and not too long, for which we can all be thankful.

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A result I think, at least 3 out of the 6 tracks were given a slightly positive ‘thumbs up’ from the old man. I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw him at the next No Age gig! (‘Fat chance’ – Mad Mac)

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Intro – Ross
Words – Mad Mac

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Additional and Links

- Liars are set to release their 4th album on Mute Records, titled ‘Liars‘ in August. The video for ‘Plaster Casts of Everything‘ can be viewed here.

- 65daysofstatic released their 3rd album on Cargo Records, titled ‘The Destruction of Small Ideas‘ in April 2007. ‘Don’t Go Down to Sorrow‘ was the first single. They plan to support the Cure of their North American Tour.

- Northern State release their 3rd album on Ipecac Records, titled ‘Can I Keep This Pen?‘ on August 14th 2007. The video for ‘Better Already‘ can be viewed here.

- No Age are set to start a tour of America in September in support of their debut full length, ‘Weirdo Rippers‘ on FatCat Records which can be bought here.

- Melt Banana released their sixth studio album, ‘Bambi’s Dilemma‘ on A-Zap records in April 2007.

- 500 Miles to Memphis’s album, ‘Sunshine in a Shotglass‘ is out now on Deep Elm records.