Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks

One of music's great mavericks, Stephen Malkmus with his band The Jicks, release new album "Mirror Traffic," which includes Beck on production duties through Domino on August 22nd.

Can't wait?........Ok............ it's streamed in full at the link below.



http://www.npr.org/2011/08/14/138957392/first-listen-stephen-malkmus-and-the-jicks-mirror-traffic

Blitzen Trapper

http://soundcloud.com/subpop/blitzen-trapper-love-the-way


Free download of "Love The Way You Walk Away" from Blitzen Trapper for all you banjo lovin, harmonica appreciating country rockers out there, certainly something I'm not adverse to these days.

The album "American Goldwing" is released on September 13th.

The new breed of Mudkiss Pt.2

http://www.mudkiss.com/augustalbumskidz.htm

Part 2 from the new breed of album reviews for Mudkiss as Callum, Josh and Lydia give their thoughts on :

Merissa Nadler

Japanese Voyeurs

Heights

Robots in Disguise

China Bull Shop

Filthy Nights

Barricades Rise

This Frontier Needs Heros

Foster The People

100 albums recorded since 2000 better than Oasis pt.4

Sorry for the delay people, it's been a busy week.  Back to business now however and Pt.4 of my 100 albums better than Oasis recorded since 2000.

Tried to help if you aren't aware of certain albums with a link to a bit of YouTube footage.


Spires - Spiral of Ascension

Only come across this beauty from last year recently. It's metal, but it's not metal, if you see what I mean. The progressive elements are within, without an over reliance on the harder vocal aspects.  The guitars swoop and soar in tandem and separately, creating an almost relaxing atmosphere on occasions.  Stunning stuff.  UK metal is back in a big way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YieApEq00qE




Phosphorescent -  Here's to Taking It Easy

Country folk of the most heart wrenching, poignant and yearning type interspersed with some top quality lead guitar interplay. Gorgeous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8J1mK3jats







Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig Lazarus Dig

One of the few musicians who's been around Donkey's years, still producing something exciting. Classic Cave.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjZQYWGrT8E




Orphans and Vandals - I am Alive and You Are Dead

Intense and disturbing lyrical imagery from a truly dark mind.  One of the classic debut albums

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNiwhI3zoQ8






Mclusky - The difference between me and you is I'm not on Fire.

Warped sense of humour from the Welsh punks. The first album I came across, unfortunately turned out to be their last.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o66g12emwE






Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk

Folk super group including Conor Oberst, Jim James and M. Ward produce a master class in melodic pop music basically.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIiDvOdkyCc





The Strokes - Is This It

I don't need to say anything about this one I guess. We all know......although a good friend of mine recently admitted this was the album which made him aware of bass lines.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1vvUec71v8






Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

I could take or leave Kasabian....mainly leave.....up to this point and then they upped their game with a consistently good collection of indie rock tracks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBo9bfdS4DE



Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone

Probably one to annoy the metal purists and the hardcore Slipknot fans as they certainly took a more melodic turn.  Personally, I regard "All Hope is Gone" as a great rock / metal crossover album and in "Snuff" one of the great power ballads of all time, in a very deep, dark sense. Excellent short film to accompany the track on top.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXEKuttVRIo&ob=av2n




Bring Me The Horizon - There is a Hell Believe Me I've Seen It, There is a Heaven, Let's Keep it a Secret

One of the most inventive British metal albums for years, brutal, yet beautiful in places.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-4m0ivCFeo

More new blood at Mudkiss

As if three new writers added to the Mudkiss ranks wasn't enough, (another collection of album reviews from Callum, Josh and Lydia will appear soon,) we continue to mine the seam of youthful talent and reveal our latest addition, Chumki Bannerjee.

Chumki has taken over the role of singles / EP reviewer for the site and she is really rather good, as you'll find out through the link below.  Check out new offerings by:

Van Susans
Night Wreckage
Jodie Marie
The Beautiful World
Delta Maid
Films of Colour
David J Roch
Louise Distras
Nhor
Hyde and Beast



and last but not least

Noel Gallagher.

http://www.mudkiss.com/augustsingles.htm#.TjpIz8EDADU.facebook

The Music

This week see's the final ever performances by The Music, in London tomorrow night, followed by two home town gigs in Leeds on Friday and Saturday. A band who must rank as one of the most underrated British rock outfits of all time, produced three albums, their eponymous debut in 2002, "Welcome to the North" in 2004 and "Strength in Numbers" in 2008.  Over the years they received great critical acclaim, built up a fervent following, although true success continued to evade them.  They excelled particularly in the live arena, the gig I attended in Lancaster back in 2005, still resides in my top 5 of all time.



The Music leave us with with a back catalogue filled with quality, rather than quantity, full of some of the biggest riffs this side of Led Zep and in Rob Harvey, a truly inspiring clean rock vocal.

A parting gift is available as a free download  from their website, "Magic Hands," a track recorded while the band were working on their fourth album, subsequently never destined to see the light of day.


 http://www.themusic.co.uk/


So to the strains of "Magic Hands" let us bid, Robert Harvey – vocals, guitar, Adam Nutter – lead guitar, Stuart Coleman – bass guitar and Phil Jordan – drums a fond farewell. 


The Music, after this weekend may be gone, but they will never be forgotten.  

l

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woKUFyqIAE0&ob=av2nh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ospxlZZM2Hw track and it just seemed a shame to leave it gathering dust for ever. It's good to go out with something positive g about the single lead singer Robert Harvey said:

"We love the track and it just seemed a shame to leave it gathering dust for ever. It's good to go out with something positive and new and we think it deserves to see the light of day. Hopefully the fans will agree - again we want to thank everyone who's been with us on this journey and look forward to celebrating an amazing ten y

Manchester becomes the epicenter of UK Metal

While Manchester's musical heritage is the envy of many a city, spanning decades and genres, metal has never really raised it's head much above the industrial parapet, although that's about to change.  From within the confines of the city and surrounding areas, a plethora of extreme talent gathers, producing some of the most intelligent and innovative metal music around.

Take, Spires and debut album " Spiral of Ascension" released in November last year.  Incorporating progressive elements, Paul Sadler - guitar / vocals, Paul Cuthbert - guitar, Alex Jolley - bass and Chris Barnard on drums have produced a melodic masterpiece.  While hinting towards Opeth, Mastodon or Emperor territory, a real calm pervades the ether, the guitars swooping and soaring, accompanying Sadler's predominantly wraithlike vocal.  On the occasions he incorporates the more metallic rasp, still  restrained, never overtly invasive, "The Infinite Descent" a case in point.

"The Broken Hourglass," "Martyr" and title track "Spiral of Ascension" extend past the ten minute mark, highlighting not only the technical ability of the players within Spires, also a complete aptitude for holding the attention, tempo and mood changes abound, if ever metal could be called relaxing, this is it. "Spiral of Ascension" is an album you can become completely lost within..... epic certainly, although unpretentious..... magnificent, whilst still being modest and utterly accessible, transcending the progressive metal genre.

Spires are currently touring with another of UK metals current crop of monoliths, Talanas, having two dates at The Joiners Arms in Southampton and The Peel in Kingston-Upon-Thames prior to appearances at Bloodstock Festival.  Definitely ones not to miss.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qwUjTEz148