Bedroom songwriters. A breed loaded with connotations both endearing and all at the same time sneering and vile. That trapped image of the pale-faced adolescent outcast, greasy complexion, matted hair, narrow eyes and a volume of take-out menus that we are all prone to become at one point in our lives, given about any instrument and the correct balance of imagined disillusionment, is a little too much to suppress. Best Friend Records is a new Philadelphia label driven by the Continue Reading

First off, Joy Zipper is an actual person and whilst she’s not in the band, she does lend her rather comely moniker to album covers and press shots with and without baby daughter in arms. From Long Island, New York, Joy Zipper parade another fine lo-fi, pant swinging vehicle to herald the release of the album, American Whip in January of 2003. With vocals and production alike steeped heaps of glorious honey and sticky sunshine, ‘Christmas Song’ recalls the fey Continue Reading

This doesn’t need to be here, they didn’t need to do it, we don’t really want it. That much is given. So why then? For Reni’s benefit, to guarantee him bed, board and a meal a day up till Christmas? It’s not like the others haven’t seen themselves alright, with varying levels of artistic credibility (naturally we’re talking Squire’s downward spiral here – you expect him to get off scot free, even in this setting?). The blame is likely to Continue Reading

Already established as a major act by the end of the 1980’s, U2 had struck a nerve with music fans with their unique blend of spiritual and political aware lyrics. The band was tight with the Edge’s signature guitar work, Bono’s wide-ranging voice and a stout rhythm section in Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton.  With the help from legendary producer Brian Eno, such records as The Unforgettable Fire, Joshua Tree and Rattle & Hum had catapulted the four lads Continue Reading

After the release of their come-back album in 2002, ATTAK, industrial pioneers KMFDM set out on a highly anticipated and successful US tour. Approximately 30,000 loyal fans turned out to capacity filled venues as KMFDM invaded city after city.  After 31 shows in 34 days, founding member Sascha Konietzko had enough material recorded to put together a comprehensive live record – their first non-bootleg live album ever.  What makes this live record monumental for the influential and innovative group was Continue Reading

Whilst the rest of the not entirely knowledgeable world either lauds or laments this quiet Aylesbury boy’s vigorous likeness to Messrs Buckley and Yorke, Crud would ever so quietly like to point out that Martin Grech has managed to produce a debut album of such jaw dropping quality that you could drive a bus right down it without even the threat of it touching the sides and dislodging your fillings. It’s also as bravely original as perhaps any of the references it Continue Reading

Never mind the music, this album’s artwork is a joy in itself: kitsched up to the nines, as cheesy as Stilton, and a veritable dripping rainbow of space-era colours and disco font-types. It’s big; it’s pink and characteristically – it’s funkadelic. Although straight as a di’ funk been muted in recent years by the growing chart presence of urban, house and hip-hop, it may be fair to say it’s making a comeback. And whilst that doesn’t mean that happy go Continue Reading

With the near incomprehensible afterglow of the thirty-something soundtrack to an unremarkable life just about fading into the warm glow of just another comfortable evening in by the tele, Gray follows up ‘White Ladder’ with the equally meek and mellow ‘A New Day At Midnight’ – an album not to be confused with the similarly titled: ‘A New Album At Last’ by Ready By May. Lyrically and emotionally fuelled by the death of Gray’s father and the birth of his Continue Reading