Monday 17th October 2005 - Use our review page here as a shortcut to official website's for these new CD's .... Arcade Fire, Cardigans, Cut Copy, Dead 60s, Dear Eskimo, Dogs, Duels, Dear Eskimo, Fightstar, The Fold, Hives, Kills, Kubb, Lady Sovereign, Mew, Pure Reason Revolution, Paul Weller, Slipknot, Strokes ... Want your stuff reviewed?
e-mail miketv@xplosure.com To hear a sample - Click here A Voice
previous review pages
Roadrunner Utd, Green Day, Big John, Ladytron
Nickelback, Ben Folds, Civita, Tom Vek, Arctics
Littl'Ans, Brakes, Lady Sov, FFAF, Paul Weller
Franz Ferdinand, Cardigans, Elbow, Paul Anka
Foo Fighters, Him, Super Furry LP, Mew, Mohair
The Strokes -
Juicebox new single 5 Dec They're back and this will be a massive hit. A bass riff modelled on the Peter Gunn & James Bond theme and atmosphere, soaring vocal and a catchy tune, serviced two months before release ... a new album 'First Impressions Of Earth' released on 9 January - 14 tracks recorded in New York over the past ten months of which 11 were produced by David Kahne and three were produced by David and Gordon Raphael who produced their excellent debut 'Is This It' in 2002. XXXX
www.thestrokes.com (Posted 17 October)
Dogs -
Tarred & Feathered
new single 14 Nov Tarred & Feathered - a storming song from their debut album now edited for Radio and demonstrating the awesome vocal power of singer Johnny Cooke. They draw their inspiration from The Jam and The Kinks and whereas they began the year playing 200 capacity venues - Cardiff Barfly twice - they'll tour with Paul Weller in December - well worthy. There is a rasping, pleading heart and soul quality to Johnny's voice which sells the entire album and the medium paced Tarred is their strongest single to date. XXXXwww.dogsmusic.com (Posted 17 October)
The Dead 60s -
Ghostfaced Killer new single 21 Nov Al Capone (the 60's Dancehall star not the 30's gangster) would be proud of this. The Specials borrowed the same Ska riff on Gangsters, "Al Capone guns don't hurt you" .... "the return of the ghost faced killer", and there is a rapper using the same name who'll be chuffed with the free publicity. Recorded at The Ranch in Liverpool, 'Ghostfaced Killer' will be the fourth single from The Dead 60s debut album and should easily follow 'Riot Radio', 'Loaded Gun' and 'Last Resort' into the Top 30. See them live on a just announced nine date tour starting on November 28 at Sunderland Manor Quay. XXXx www.thedead60s.com (Posted 21 October)
Lady Sovereign -
Hoodie new single 21 Nov A fine follow up to '9 To 5', some more excellent rhyming from the Lady. And I can well see why she'd like to un-ban the Hoodie - and I can also very good reasons for keeping the Hoodie banned. Now that Hoodie's main purpose is no longer only protection from the weather, but rather more protection from being identified - it's a bit foolish to imagine that people who may have been victims of Hoodie crime will just forget it - and why should they? It's not prejudice but common sense to be on guard around a Hoodie ... and why shouldn't it be? Having said that this girl was born to be a star. XXXX www.ladysovereign.com (Posted 17 October)
The Cardigans -
Super Extra Gravity new album 17 Oct 'Super Extra Gravity' is The Cardigans sixth studio album, it was 'Gran Turismo' that launched them onto the world stage with Love Fool and My Favourite Game in 1998. "Unruly, Spontanious and Obnoxious" might give you an idea of the aurra of this platter, produced by Tore Johansson who's just received great aclaim for his production skills with Franz Ferdinand. XXXX www.thecardigans.com (Posted 17 October)
The Kills -
No Wownew single 31 Oct Try No Wow the Mstrkrft Remix, an awesome mash up of sampled vocal, song and new instrumental - brilliant. Four more tracks on this promo include the album version and the Chicken Lips Remix plus two new The Good Ones mixes, the Tiga Single Mix Edit and The Backstage Sluts Remix. Lovely people, a fine record and look out for the excellent promo video filmed by Kenneth Cappello which captures the unique atmosphere of their show precisely. XXXX www.thekills.tv(Posted 17 October)
Arcade Fire -
Wake Up new single 14 Nov Arcade Fire's much requested and Gold debut album 'Funeral' now unleashes a fourth single. An amazing story of finding fame .. even before Funeral was released their debut shows were all sold out , big shows too! They are no doubt one of the best new acts of the year and the more medium paced Wake Up, now edited to 3'54" for le radio, should easily make the Top Ten. XXXX www.arcadefire.com (Posted 17 October)
The Hives -
A Little More For Little You
new single and DVD 7 November (Posted 17 October) Tussels In Brussels is the new DVD package released in November which spawns this new single. The DVD begins with an entire 20 track gig filmed in Brussels in 2004, then a documentary charting their career from their bleak beginnings in their hometown Fagersta and narrated by Little Steven Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteens E Street Band. 'A Little More' is a strong single and should have no problem making the Top 30. XXXX www.hivesmusic.com
Paul Weller -
As Is Now new album 10 October Fourteen new tracks, a return to the feel of Wildwood and Stanley Road. Studio 150's production team Jan Kybert and Joeri Wisseloord have again taken the Production duties. This set was recorded in two weeks at Oasis Wheeler End studios and features some raucous performances like the the opening track 'Blink & You'll Miss It' and the singles 'The Floor Boards Up' and 'Come On / Let's Go'. The obligatory 'Beatles' piano features on 'Here Comes The News', Weller's unbeatable when in reflective ballad mode as he is on mellow accoustic 'The Start Of Forever'. Weller has never stopped being an awesome talent and this is an excellent album of new material. XXXX www.paulweller.com(Posted 17 Oct)
Kubb -
Wicked Soul new single 7 November Harry Collier aka Kubb is one talented man. This is the follow-up to 'Remain' and it's another mature, well produced pop record, great melody, fine lyrics, great musicanship and production - hopefully Top Twenty. XXXX www.kubbmusic.co.uk (Posted 17 October)
Slipknot - The Nameless
9:0:Live new single and album 31 October Eighteen legs, nine boiler suits, a range of unsettling masks - Slipknot are back. This 24 track double CD was recorded on Slipknot's 2004 World Tour promoting their 'Vol 3 Subliminal Verses' album, an album which included 'Duality' their biggest hit to date. The Nameless qualifies as a love song, I'm sure it will be featured in some interesting movies. XXXX www.slipknot1.com(Posted 17 October)
Dear Eskimo -
Be Patient EPnew single 31 October Dear Eskimo features 'foxy pop chanteuse' vocalist Katie, Jules the guitar and Simon the sampler. Based in Manchester, this EP features four tracks 'Patience', 'Jack & Jill', 'Don't Wanna Feel' and 'Traffic Light' . Not bad XXX www.deareskimo.com (Posted 17 October)
Cut Copy -
Going Nowhere new single 21 Nov Australian Melbourne Indie-dance band Cut Copy are currently supporting Franz Ferdinand on their US tour and are already making waves with their French disco, electro, soft rock mesh. Having said that 'Going Nowhere' seems a little limp, a little too disjointed, in need of a stronger hook - it's okay but probably needs to be far stronger. XXx www.cutcopy.net(Posted 17 October)
The Fold -
Loading To The Crashnew single 14 Nov The Fold will be on NME club tour duty in November and December following the release of 'Loading To The Crash' which will be launched at Public Life in London's Spitalfields - formerly a public toilet. While 'Loading' is a lot more screechy than label mates Bromheads Jacket, track 2 'On You' is a little alluring "What Does Your T-shirt say?", again screeching vox but a more medium paced flava - The Fold will certainly find an audience - a good single. XXXx www.thefoldmusic.co.uk(Posted 17 October)
Mew -
Why Are You Looking Grave
new single 5 Dec Denmark's faves are on the warpath again ... "Why Are You Looking So Grave, are you thinking of something to say?" - quality material, superb musicianship, great production, airy vocals - they play a short UK tour starting on 22 October in Oxford Zodiac, then Bristol Fleece 23rd, Newcastle 24th, Preston 25th, Secret Show at London 93 Feet East, London (it says secret here, maybe I shouldn't be telling you) - you never know? XXX www.mewsite.com(Posted 17 October)
Pure Reason Revolution -
The Intention Craft
new single 24 October These guys are trying somthing very ambitious, harking back to the days of seventies progressive rock ala Pink Floyd ... long musical tracks and deep mystical meanings ... with a bassline almost lifted from Voodoo Chile, The Intention Craft now edited to 4 mins, features intriguing male female interplay - well worth checking out on their 17 date UK tour which winds up in Nottingham on 25 October. Tis an excellent single and if you'd like to sign up to their website click here. XXX www.purereasonrevolution.com(Posted 17 October)
Fightstar -
Grand Unification new single 31 October "If I wake up on my own, something happens please come home", grungy Foo / My Chemical Romance style guitar ... the problem with being in St Winifred's School Choir is no one will let you forget it, The Wini's had a number one, Busted had three Number One's achieving the dubious honour of having the lowest selling Number One ever with just 20,000 copies sold. Charlie is a nice guy, maybe a bit mis-guided a la Rooster jeered throughout their support slot with Deep Purple - this is well produced but a pale imitation of the real thing. See for yourself, they play Newport TJ's on Sunday 30th October. XX www.fightstarmusic.com
Duels -
Pressure On Younew single 5 Dec Leeds based five piece Duels (four guys, one gal on keyboards) release their second single 'Pressure On You' on Nude Records. Jim Abiss takes the production credits for a choppy, stop start kind of chorus - punchy enough to win some interest. XX www.duelstheband.com(Posted 17 October)
