The Independent

Totally dedicated to the alternative & indie music scene …

A BRIEF HISTORY …

At the beginning of 1994 The Independent venue was set up in Eindhoven, which at the time became a truly original concept with a mixture of alternative music, art exhibitions and acoustic performances by established and upcoming original artists. But while they dedicated their time to the alternative & indie scene, and were the very first venue in The Netherlands to play music by the likes of Oasis and have Britpop on their playlists, Dutch radio & TV had only just discovered Grunge or House music. So it became no real surprise that the people involved returned to the UK towards the end of that same year (“kort maar krachtig” as they say in some parts of The Netherlands!) and then went onto represent and work with many influential alternative artists (Silvertone, Echo, Factory & Mute Records)

The poster by venue from March 1994 …

2005:

Having had to put up with the uninspiring garbage that has been churned out over recent years (bland guitar bands playing music by numbers, those Pop Idols type shows, the limitations of Dutch radio, covers bands clogging up the live music circuit, limited imagination and drive from both record companies and promoters, etc.)  The Independent will have very little time for those commercial sounds of MTV or Dutch radio that’s usually heard in the vast majority of bars and cafes. It’s simply time to give it another go! …

So what can you expect?

A platform for those alternative / independent (indie) artists past and present who actually have something exciting to offer, which will also include album and gig reviews, info on new bands and brand new releases, a concert agenda, and if all goes well maybe the occasional concert or event. Unlike the commercial websites or music magazines we do not get paid to review the music, and we don’t take bribes or gifts. If we think it’s good we will say so and if we believe it isn’t we will even tell you why. It’s all about our opinion. Whenever possible we will also point you towards the artists via their own websites. This way you also get the opportunity to check things out for yourself from the actual source so to speak!

A selection of some of the artists (past & present / in no particular order) who continue to impress can be found below.
We also reserve the right to add or delete artists from time to time … simply because we can!

SNAPSHOT – Here’s a selection (PAST & PRESENT) in no particular order:

SMASHING PUMPKINS, THE SMITHS, INSPIRAL CARPETS, THE FUTUREHEADS, DEPECHE MODE, P.J. HARVEY, ARCADE FIRE, GOLDFRAPP, NEW ORDER, KT TUNSTALL, KAISER CHIEFS, ARCTIC MONKEYS, WHITE STRIPES, RADIOHEAD, DAVID BOWIE, STONE ROSES, DOVES, ROYKSOPP, T.REX, PANIC! AT THE DISCO, FIELD MUSIC, THE GOOD THE BAD & THE QUEEN, THE JAM, PLACEBO, EDITORS, CURVE, THE LOVERS, BAT FOR LASHES, SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES, MORCHEEBA, NICK CAVE, ROXY MUSIC, HOT CHIP, MADNESS, HAPPY MONDAYS, TALKING HEADS, BABY BIRD, JAPAN, MORRISSEY, AIR, THE PIXIES, THE CREATURES, BLUR, AIMEE MANN, NIRVANA, BECK, THE STRANGLERS, BOARDS OF CANADA, BJORK, THE SPECIALS, ENTER SHIKARI, TORI AMOS, MOBY, JOY DIVISION, TOM HINGLEY, SUEDE, BUZZCOCKS, The KLF, THE VERVE, GENEVA, CSS, THE FALL, THE SUGAR CUBES, VIOLENT FEMMES, iLiKETRAiNS, TRAVIS, PORTISHEAD, FALL OUT BOY, ELECTRONIC, ABC, FRANZ FERDINAND, SEX PISTOLS, THE HUMAN VALUE, PURESSENCE, CANDIE PAYNE, KLAXONS, GORILLAZ, WHITE LIES, SIOUXSIE SIOUX, CARTER USM, PULP, THE SUBWAYS, MUSE, PREFAB SPROUT, JAMES, BLOOD RED SHOES, THE TING TINGS, VAMPIRE WEEKEND, THE COURTEENERS, MAPS, SIGUR ROS, THE RUMBLE STRIPS, KINGS OF LEON, YEAH YEAH YEAHs, JESUS & MARY CHAIN, SHARKBOY, JARVIS COCKER, KID BRITISH, THE MUMMERS, BROKEN RECORDS, THE HORRORS, DELPHIC, SHE KEEPS BEES, BAD LIEUTENANT, R.E.M. & INTERPOL

© AAPA – 2005

CURVE … “The Way of Curve” (BMG / Anxious Records – 2004) is reviewed here

And on the Sixth Day…

Some of us will remember the impact that Punk Rock had in Britain and then the rest of Europe during the 70’s, and even older generations will look back at the time when Liverpool gave us The Beatles, while The Rolling Stones created similar waves from London. Younger generations will recall the impact created by the emergence of music tv channels in the early 90’s and the introduction of bands like Nirvana from Seattle.

Musical influences keep changing all the time and we often see shifts towards different locations across the globe. But ever since guitar driven bands entered the music charts across the world in the early 60’s there has been one city that has probably had more impact on the subsequent shifts in musical taste than any other – MANCHESTER

Back in the 60’s while Lennon & McCartney were gigging between Hamburg’s seedy bars and Liverpool’s The Cavern, Manchester were about to give the world The Hollies and The Bee Gees, and by the time punk hit London’s 101 Club in the late 70’s, people up in Manchester were already going to gigs by The Buzzcocks and then Joy Division. I suppose you could say that it was during this period that Manchester began to establish itself as the most creative alternative place on earth…

Below is a selected list of bands and artists (not necessarily alternative) who have all since emerged from this former industrial city in the North West of England over the past 40 years.

MANCHESTER – so much to answer for…

THE SMITHS, NEW ORDER, THE CHAMELEONS, THE DURUTTI COLUMN, HAPPY MONDAYS, INSPIRAL CARPETS, STONE ROSES, THE FALL, JAMES, 808 STATE, ELECTRONIC, A CERTAIN RATIO, THE MOCK TURTLES, CHARLATANS, LAMB, MORRISSEY, M PEOPLE, THE VERVE, MOLLY HALF HEAD, PURESSENCE, BLACK GRAPE, STEREO MC’s, THE LONGCUT, I AM KLOOT, SOLAR RACE, IAN BROWN, TAKE THAT, HOOP LA BABY, CHEMICAL BROTHERS, BADLY DRAWN BOY, THE LOVERS, OASIS, GOLD BLADE, WIRELESS, ELBOW, MINT ROYALE, DOVES, JOY DIVISION, THE BUZZCOCKS, MARION, SIMPLY RED, STARSAILOR, NINE BLACK ALPS, OCEANSIZE, CHERRY GHOST, ENGINEERS, THE COURTEENERS, THE TING TINGS, THE WHIP, THE BEEP SEALS, DELPHIC …

Somehow Seattle suddenly seems a very small place indeed!

2009: the Good the Bad and the Ugly

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY (the best, the worst & the most over hyped guitar orientated drivel ever to get a record released):

THE GOOD – DEPECHE MODE, ARCTIC MONKEYS, PJ HARVEY, BAT FOR LASHES, THE FUTUREHEADS, THE COURTEENERS, ARCADE FIRE, DOVES, AIMEE MANN, MORRISSEY, BROKEN RECORDS, GRACE JONES, DELPHIC, FIELD MUSIC & RADIOHEAD

THE BAD – STEREOPHONICS, KEANE, RAZORLIGHT, CHRIS CORNELL, ATHLETE, THE SCRIPT & more to follow!

THE UGLY – THE KOOKS, MOKE, AVRIL LAVIGNE, KID ROCK, ANOUK & BABYSHAMBLES

2009 – THE YEAR SO FAR …bums worth another mention in no particular order (majority released over the past 12 months)

Albums are given marks out of 10: All albums given 10 or 9 are essential! – All albums given 8.5, 8+ and 8 are highly recommended,
those given 7.5 are very good and recommended (while a 7+ is much better than a 7 but not as impressive as a 7.5), a 6.5 or 6+ are good to decent, a 6 is average or just about acceptable, while anything from 5.5 downwards start to sound a bit grim, and all albums under a 3 should be removed from their cases and would have much better use as a beermat!

THEM CROOKED VULTURES – Them Crooked Vultures (Columbia) 6/10
BLACK GOLD – Rush (Red Bull Records) 4.5/10
THE ANTLERS – Hospice (K7 Records) 5+/10
STING – If On A Winter`s Night … (Decca) 6/10
STEREOPHONICS – Keep Calm And Carry On (Mercury) 3/10
TOM HINGLEY – Thames Valley Delta Blues (New Memorabilia) 7+/10
101 INDIE CLASSICS {5 CD} – various artists (EMI) 7.5/10
JULIAN CASABLANCAS – Phrazes For The Young (Rough Trade / RCA) 5.5/10
PURESSENCE – Sharpen Up The Knives (Caserta Red) 7.5/10
SKUNK ANANSIE – Smashes & Trashes (One Little Indian) 3.5/10
RYUICHI SAKAMOTO – Playing the Piano (Decca) 7+/10
CREED – Full Circle (EMI) 4+/10
SLAYER – World Painted Blood (Columbia) 3/10
BRETT ANDERSON – Slow Attack (BA Songs) 5+/10
LUCAS RENNEY – Strange Glory (Brille) 7/10
WOLFMOTHER – Cosmic Egg (Island / Modular) 5/10
MORRISSEY – Swords (Polydor) 7+/10
COPARCK – A Dog and Pony Show (V2) 5/10
EPICA – Design Your Universe (Nuclear Blast) 3/10
AIR – Love 2 (EMI / Astralwerks) 6+/10
HOCKEY – Mind Chaos (EMI) 5.5/10
THE FLAMING LIPS – Embryonic (Warners) 5+/10
SERGEANT – Sergeant (Shy Records) 6.5/10
SLADE – Live at The BBC {2 CD} (Salvo) 7+/10
MADNESS – Total Madness {CD & DVD} (Union) 8/10
ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN – The Fountain (Ocean Rain) 6/10
EDITORS – In This Light and on This Evening (Kitchenware) 6+/10
BAD LIEUTENANT – Never Cry Another Tear (Triple Echo) 7.5/10
GIRLS – Album (Fantasy Trash Can) 6+/10
ALICE IN CHAINS – Black Gives Way to Blue (Parlophone) 4/10
DAVID SYLVIAN – Manafon (Samadhisound) 7+/10
MAPS – Turning The Mind (Mute) 7+/10
KISS – Sonic Boom (Roadrunner) 3/10
IAN BROWN – My Way (Polydor) 6+/10
PEARL JAM – Backspacer (Universal) 6/10
DAVID GRAY – Draw The Line (Polydor / East West) 6/10
ANOUK – For Bitter Or Worse (EMI Benelux) 2.5/10
PARAMORE – Brand New Eyes (Fueled By Ramen) 6+/10
PALOMA FAITH – Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful (BMG) 7.5/10
MUSE – The Resistance (Warners) 7/10
THE CRIBS – Ignore The Ignorant (Wichita) 6/10
DJ HELL – Teufelswerk {2 CD} (Gigolo) 7+/10
HOPE SANDOVAL & THE WARM INVENTIONS – Through The Devil Softly (Nettwerk) 6.5/10
VICTORIAN ENGLISH GENTLEMENS CLUB – Love On An Oil Rig (This Is Fake DIY) 5+/10
MOKE – The Long and Dangerous Sea (PIAS) 2+/10
WILD BEASTS – Two Dancers (Domino Records) 7/10
TINARIWEN – Imidiwan: Companions (Independiente) 7+/10
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS {ost} – various artists (Warners) 7.5/10
NOAH & THE WHALE – The First Days Of Spring (Mercury) 6/10
SUSANNA HOFFS & MATTHEW SWEET – Under The Covers, vol 2 (Shout Factory) 7+/10
SAINT ETIENNE – So Tough {2 CD Deluxe Edition} (Heavenly / Universal) 8+/10
SHE KEEPS BEES – Nests (Names Records / Rough Trade) 7.5/10
THE MADD – Are Pretty Quick! (Excelsior) 3.5/10
ARCTIC MONKEYS – Humbug (Domino) 7.5/10
ATHLETE – Black Swan (Polydor / Fiction) 4/10
MAGIC ARM – Make Lists, Do Something (Switchflicker Records) 7+/10
THE XX – XX (Young Turks / Rough Trade) 6.5/10
MEW – No More Stories Are Told Today … (BMG / Columbia) 5/10
THE STONE ROSES – The Stone Roses {20th Anniversary Edition} (BMG) 9/10
REVEREND & THE MAKERS – A French Kiss In The Chaos (Wall of Sound) 6/10
THE RUMBLE STRIPS – Welcome To The Walk Alone (Island) 7/10
THE TWANG – Jewellery Quarter (B-Unique) 4.5/10
KiD BRiTiSH – It Was This Or Football – part 1 (Mercury) 7.5/10
THE DEAD WEATHER – Horehound (Polydor / Columbia) 6+/10
ISOBEL HEYWORTH – The Attic Recordings (Green Bird) 7+/10
ENGINEERS – Three Fact Fader (K-Scope) 6+/10
BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB – I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose (Island) 7+/10
FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE – Lungs (Island) 6.5/10
DINOSAUR Jr. – Farm (PIAS) 3.5/10
SLOW CLUB – Yeah So (Moshi Moshi) 7+/10
WILCO – Wilco (None Such) 6/10
WHITE DENIM – Fits (Full Time Hobby) 5/10
LA ROUX – La Roux (Polydor) 7.5/10
THE GOSSIP – Music For Men (BMG) 6.5/10
THE ANSWERING MACHINE – Another City, Another Sorry (Heist Or Hit) 7+/10
Common People: The Brit Pop Story – va {3 CD} (Universal) 7.5/10
BLUR – Midlife: A Beginners Guide To Blur {2 CD} (EMI) 7.5/10
ENTER SHIKARI – Common Dreads (Ambush Reality) 7+/10
PLACEBO – Battle For The Sun (PIAS) 6+/10
SONIC YOUTH – The Eternal (Matador) 6.5/10
LITTLE BOOTS – Hands (679 / Warners) 7/10
KASABIAN – The West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (BMG / Sony) 5/10
JARVIS COCKER – Further Complications (Rough Trade) 7/10
SIMPLE MINDS – Graffiti Soul (Universal) 6.5/10
GRIZZLY BEAR – Veckatimest (Warp) 6+/10
MARILYN MANSON – The High End Of Low (Polydor) 7/10
SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES – At the BBC {3 CDs & 1 DVD} (Polydor) 9/10
SAINT ETIENNE – Fox Base Alpha {2 CD Deluxe Edition} (Heavenly / Universal) 7.5/10
BROKEN RECORDS – Until The Earth Begins To Part (4AD) 8/10
GOLDEN SILVERS – True Romance (XL) 7+/10
JOHAN – 4 (Excelsior) 4/10
PASSION PIT – Manners (BMG) 7+/10
THE FIELD – Yesterday and Today (Kompakt) 6+/10
POLLY SCATTERGOOD – Polly Scattergood (Mute) 6.5/10
THE MACCABEES – Wall of Arms (Polydor / Fiction) 6.5/10
GREEN DAY – 21st Century Breakdown (Warners / Reprise) 5/10
MANIC STREET PREACHERS – Journal For Plague Lovers (Columbia) 6+/10
MADNESS – The Liberty of Norton Folgate (Lucky Seven) 7/10
TORI AMOS – Abnormally Attracted to Sin (Universal Republic) 7+/10
THE HORRORS – Primary Colours (XL) 7+/10
THE SHEER – Here and Now and Long Before (PIAS Benelux) 1.5/10
MAXIMO PARK – Quicken The Heart (Warp) 6+/10
POST WAR YEARS – Greats & The Happenings (Wealth) 7+/10
THE GATHERING – The West Pole (Psychonaut) 3.5/10
GALLOWS – Grey Britain (Warners / Sire Records) 7/10
GAZPACHO – Tick Tock (HWT / Bertus) 5+/10
THE ENEMY – Music For The People (Warners) 4+/10
SKA MANIA – various artists {2CD} (Universal – UMTV) 7+/10
SILVERSUN PICKUPS – Swoon (Warners / Dangerbird) 6/10
DEPECHE MODE – Sounds Of The Universe (Mute) 7.5/10
ART BRUT – Art Brut Vs Satan (Downtown / Cooking Vinyl) 7/10
SUPER FURRY ANIMALS – Dark Nights / Light Years (Rough Trade) 6/10
SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES – A Kiss In The Dreamhouse {Remastered} (Polydor) 7.5/10
THE MUMMERS – Tale To Tell (Big Bass Drum) 7.5/10
CAMERA OBSCURA – My Maudlin Career (4AD) 7+/10
ENNIO MORRICONE – Soundtracks {2 CD} (Metro) 7.5/10
DANANANANAYKROYD – Hey Everyone (Best Before) 6.5/10
BAT FOR LASHES – Two Suns (EMI / Echo / Astralwerks) 8+/10
THERAPY? – Crooked Timber (Demolition / Global) 3.5/10
THE BOAT THAT ROCKED {ost} – various artists – 2 CD (Mercury) 7+/10
ULTRAVOX – Best of: Sight and Sound {2 CD & DVD} (EMI) 7+/10
DURUTTI COLUMN – Love In The Time Of Recession (Artful) 7/10
THE VIRGINS – The Virgins (Warners / Atlantic) 5/10
THE VEILS – Sun Gangs (Rough Trade) 6.5/10
GOMEZ – A New Tide (Eat Sleep) 6.5/10
DOVES – Kingdom Of Rust (Heavenly / EMI) 8/10
Peter Bjorn and John – Living Thing (Wichita) 6/10
CRYSTAL ANTLERS – Tentacles (Tough & Go) 5/10
SAINT ETIENNE – London Conversations: The Best Of {2CD & DVD} (Heavenly) 7.5/10
THE DECEMBERISTS – The Hazards of Love (Rough Trade / Capitol) 5/10
PJ Harvey and John Parish – A Woman A Man Walked By (Island Records) 7+/10
OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT – Understanding Electricity (One Little Indian) 7+/10
ROYKSOPP – Junior (Wall Of Sound / EMI / Astralwerks) 7+/10
THE WHITEST BOY ALIVE – Rules (Bubbles) 6+/10
1990s – Kicks (Rough Trade) 5/10
THE RAKES – Klang (V2) 5+/10
KARIMA FRANCIS – The Author (Kitchenware) 7+/10
CHRIS CORNELL – Scream (Polydor / Interscope) 3/10
Dark Was The Night – various artists {2 CD} (4AD) 7/10
BLACK LIPS – 200 Million Thousand (Vice) 4/10
STARSAILOR – All The Plans (Virgin) 4.5/10
HOWLING BELLS – Radio Wars (Independiente) 4/10
MONGREL – Better Than Heavy (Wall of Sound) 6.5/10
PETER DOCHERTY – Grace / Wastelands (Parlophone / EMI) 3+/10
SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS – Alpinisms (Ghostly International) 7.5/10
YEAH YEAH YEAHs – It`s Blitz! (Polydor) 7/10
WAR CHILD: Heroes – various artists (Parlophone) 6+/10
U2 – No Line On The Horizon (Interscope / Mercury) 5/10
RED LIGHT COMPANY – Fine Fascination (Lavolta) 7+/10
BEIRUT – March OF The Zapotec / Holland (Pompeii) 5/10
PASSION PIT – Chunk Of Change EP (BMG) 7+/10
THE PRODIGY – Invaders Must Die (Cooking Vinyl / V2) 4/10
DEERHUNTER – Microcastle (4AD / Kranky) 5/10
MARIKE JAGER – The Beauty Around (Morning Coffee) 3.5/10
EMPIRE OF THE SUN – Walking On A Dream (EMI) 6.5/10
MORRISSEY – Years Of Refusal (Decca / Polydor) 7.5/10
A R RAHMAN – Slumdog Millionaire {ost} (Polydor) 7+/10
THE FRAY – The Fray (Sony) 4/10
THE VIEW – Which Bitch? (1965) 6/10
LILY ALLEN – It`s Not Me It`s You (Parlophone) 5+/10
FRANZ FERDINAND – Tonight … (Domino) 7.5/10
THE SCRIPT – The Script (BMG / Sony) 3/10
SKY LARKIN – The Golden Spike (Wichita) 7/10
THE RIFLES – Great Escape (679 Recordings / Warners) 4/10
ANTHONY & THE JOHNSONS – The Crying Light (Rough Trade) 5+/10
WHITE LIES – To Lose My Life (Fiction / Polydor) 7.5/10
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE – Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino) 6/10
FIGHT LIKE APES – The Mystery Of The Golden Medallion (Model Citizen) 7/10
FACTORY RECORDS: Communications 1978-92 – various artists {4 CD} (Rhino UK) 8+/10
FALL OUT BOY – Folie A Deux (Mercury / Fueled By Ramen) 7+/10
BELLE & SEBASTIAN – The BBC Sessions (Jeepster) 7.5/10
THE KILLERS – Day & Age (Island) 6+/10
THE SMITHS – The Sound Of The Smiths {2 CD} (Warners) 9+/10
SNOW PATROL – A Hundred Million Suns (Polydor / Geffen) 6/10
KEANE – Perfect Symmetry (Island) 2+/10
TRAVIS – Ode To J. Smith (Red Telephone Box) 7.5/10
GRACE JONES – Hurricane (Wall of Sound) 8.5/10
FLEET FOXES – Fleet Foxes (Bellaunion / Sub Pop) 7+/10
KINGS OF LEON – Only By The Night (BMG / RCA) 7+/10
GLASVEGAS – Glasvegas (Columbia) 7+/10
DOLPHIN BOY – Vertical Variations (Vertical Records – 2008) 7.5/10
DEATH OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD – Death of the Neighbourhood (Atic) 7.5/10
BLOC PARTY – Intimacy (Wichita) 4+/10
THE WEEK THAT WAS – The Week That Was (Memphis Industries / PIAS) 7.5/10
THE BEEP SEALS – Things That Roar (Heron) 7+/10
OASIS – Dig Out Your Soul (Big Brother) 7+/10
AIMEE MANN – @#%&*! Smilers (ADA / Super Ego) 8+/10
THE FUTUREHEADS – This Is Not The World (Nul Records) 8.5/10
THE TING TINGS – We Started Nothing (Columbia) 7.5/10
TINDERSTICKS – The Hungry Saw (Beggars Banquet) 7+/10
THE COURTEENERS – St Jude (Polydor) 8.5/10
JAMES – Hey Ma (Mercury / Fontana) 7.5/10
THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS – The Age Of The Understatement (Domino) 8/10

Playlist December 2009

Not many new albums get released in December as most record companies prefer to market their “Best of” or “singles” collections … So I went for an album which will be released early next year!

Album recommendation:

FIELD MUSIC – Measure {2 CD} (Memphis Industries)

Album (re-release) recommendation:

JOHN BARRY – Revisited {4 CD} (Fantastic Voyage)

This months play list, we decided to go out with a bang and finish off with a military theme …

Playlist:

1 – POST WAR YEARS – Whole World On Its Head
2 – FIELD MUSIC – Each Time Is A New Time
3 – PALOMA FAITH – Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?
4 – GRACE JONES – I’ve Seen That Face Before (DJ Hell Berlin mix)
5 – DJ HELL & BRYAN FERRY – U Can Dance
6 – MAPS – Love Will Come
7 – BAD LIEUTENANT – Split The Atom
8 – THE HORRORS – Whole New Way
9 – PURESSENCE – Our Numbers Oracle
10 – DELPHIC – Doubt
11 – THE FUTUREHEADS – Struck Dumb
12 – ARCTIC MONKEYS – Catapult
13 – THE DRUMS – I Felt Stupid
14 – VAMPIRE WEEKEND – Cousins
15 – AIMEE MANN – Calling On Mary
16 – LUCAS RENNEY – These Same Stars
17 – EMILY SMITH – Winter Song
18 – JOHN BARRY – Monkey Feathers
19 – IAN BRUCE – The Stoutest Man In The Forty Twa
20 – The Pipes & Drums 1st Battalion THE BLACK WATCH – Medley (The 42nd, The Black Bear, Highland Laddie)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR – 2009

does NOT include “Greatest Hits” or “Singles” collections…

THE NOMINATIONS (20x – in no particular order):

DEPECHE MODE – Sounds Of The Universe
DOVES – Kingdom Of Rust
MORRISSEY – Years Of Refusal
FRANZ FERDINAND – Tonight …
WHITE LIES – To Lose My Life
PASSION PIT – Manners
MAPS – Turning The Mind
LA ROUX – La Roux
MUSE – The Resistance
BAT FOR LASHES – Two Suns
ARCTIC MONKEYS – Humbug
BROKEN RECORDS – Until The Earth Begins To Part
BAD LIEUTENANT – Never Cry Another Tear
PALOMA FAITH – Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful
BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB – I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose
PURESSENCE – Sharpen Up The Knives
MADNESS – The Liberty of Norton Folgate
TINARIWEN – Imidiwan: Companions
SHE KEEPS BEES – Nests
THE HORRORS – Primary Colours

“TOP 10 ALBUMS” of 2009:

1 – BAT FOR LASHES – Two Suns
2 – DOVES – Kingdom Of Rust
3 – ARCTIC MONKEYS – Humbug
4 – BROKEN RECORDS – Until The Earth Begins To Part
5 – LA ROUX – La Roux
6 – DEPECHE MODE – Sounds Of The Universe
7 – MORRISSEY – Years Of Refusal
8 – WHITE LIES – To Lose My Life
9 – FRANZ FERDINAND – Tonight …
10 – MUSE – The Resistance

Best Debut Album of the Year 2009 NOMINATIONS (20x – in no particular order):

RED LIGHT COMPANY – Fine Fascination
OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT – Understanding Electricity
SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS – Alpinisms
BAD LIEUTENANT – Never Cry Another Tear
KiD BRiTiSH – It Was This Or Football
WHITE LIES – To Lose My Life
BROKEN RECORDS – Until The Earth Begins To Part
FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE – Lungs
SKY LARKIN – The Golden Spike
KARIMA FRANCIS – The Author
THE MUMMERS – Tale To Tell
LITTLE BOOTS – Hands
PASSION PIT – Manners
LA ROUX – La Roux
SLOW CLUB – Yeah So
WILD BEASTS – Two Dancers
MAGIC ARM – Make Lists, Do Something
PALOMA FAITH – Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful
BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB – I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose
THE ANSWERING MACHINE – Another City, Another Sorry

“TOP 10 DEBUT ALBUMS” of 2009:

1 – BROKEN RECORDS – Until The Earth Begins To Part
2 – LA ROUX – La Roux
3 – WHITE LIES – To Lose My Life
4 – BAD LIEUTENANT – Never Cry Another Tear
5 – PALOMA FAITH – Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful
6 – THE MUMMERS – Tale To Tell
7 – MAGIC ARM – Make Lists, Do Something
8 – PASSION PIT – Manners
9 – SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS – Alpinisms
9 – THE ANSWERING MACHINE – Another City, Another Sorry
9 – OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT – Understanding Electricity

Playlist November 2009

Album recommendation:

PURESSENCE – Sharpen Up The Knives (Caserta Red)

Album (re-release) recommendation:

MADNESS – Total Madness {CD & DVD} (Union Square)

Playlist:

1 – DUTCH UNCLES – Steadycam
2 – SOFT TOY EMERGENCY – Critical
3 – DELPHIC – Red Lights
4 – PURESSENCE – Raise Me To The Ground
5 – BAD LIEUTENANT – Twist of Fate
6 – THE DRUMS – Let’s Go Surfing
7 – BABYBIRD – Roadside Girl
8 – FIELD MUSIC – Measure
9 – THE CROOKES – Chorus of Fools
10 – LA ROUX – Quicksand
11 – MUSE – Undisclosed Desires
12 – CAPTAIN – Back In The Knife Drawer
13 – THE PROCLAIMERS – Love Can Move Mountains
14 – JARVIS COCKER – Girls Like It Too
15 – MAGIC ARM – Six Cold Feet of Ground
16 – EMILY SMITH – Gala Water
17 – BROKEN RECORDS – Out On The Water
18 – POST WAR YEARS – Soul Owl
19 – FALL OUT BOY – Alpha Dog
20 – FILM NOIR WORLD – Flutter

New and Upcoming Bands: October 2009

EMILY SMITH is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter with a fantastic voice, who comes from Dumfriesshire in the South West of Scotland. So far she has made a huge impact in the Scottish Folk scene having released three albums; “A Day Like Today” (2002), “A Different Life” (2005) and “Too Long Away” (April 2008) on independent labels. She is out touring across the UK with her band during October and November, while early next year she is set to play almost 20 gigs in New Zealand with an Australian tour set to commence in March 2010. More info, including details on her new album “Adoon Winding Nith” which is due out next month, can be found on her MySpace site

Playlist October 2009

Album recommendation:

BAD LIEUTENANT – Never Cry Another Tear (Triple Echo)

Album (re-release) recommendation:

MORRISSEY – Swords {2 CD} (Polydor)

Playlist:

1 – ARCTIC MONKEYS – Cornerstone
2 – SERGEANT – Sunshine
3 – PLACEBO – The Never-ending Why
4 – BROKEN RECORDS – All So Tired
5 – MORRISSEY – I Knew I Was Next
6 – MADNESS – Grey Day
7 – YOUNG SOUL REBELS – I Got Soul
8 – MASSIVE ATTACK – Psyche
9 – BAD LIEUTENANT – Poisonous Intent
10 – MAPS – I Dream Of Crystal
11 – EDITORS – Papillon
12 – THOM YORKE – The Hollow Earth
13 – BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB – Magnet
14 – IAN BROWN – Marathon Man
15 – TOM HINGLEY – The Lake Of Fire
16 – SHE KEEPS BEES – Cage Match
17 – TWIN ATLANTIC – You’re Turning Into John Wayne
18 – MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA – I’ve Got Friends
19 – I LIKE TRAINS – Sea Of Regrets
20 – DAVID SYLVIAN – Manafon

Playlist September 2009

Album recommendation:

SHE KEEPS BEES – Nests (Names Records / Rough Trade)

Album (re-release) recommendation:

SAINT ETIENNE – So Tough {2 CD Deluxe Edition} (Heavenly / Universal)

Playlist:

1 – BROKEN RECORDS – If Eilert Lovborg Wrote a Song …
2 – THE ASSOCIATES – Club Country
3 – MUSE – Guiding Light
4 – JAMES – Not So Strong
5 – MORRISSEY – Boxers
6 – KID BRITISH – Reactions
7 – ARCTIC MONKEYS – Pretty Visitors
8 – EDITORS – Bricks And Mortar
9 – BURN THE NEGATIVE – Low
10 – BAD LIEUTENANT – Sink or Swim
11 – LITTLE BOOTS – Remedy
12 – SAINT ETIENNE – Avenue
13 – PALOMA FAITH – New York
14 – BAT FOR LASHES – Use Somebody
15 – SHE KEEPS BEES – Focus
16 – THE HORRORS – Sea Within A Sea
17 – MAGIC ARM – Widths And Heights
18 – CAMERA OBSCURA – Honey In The Sun
19 – LA ROUX – I’m Not Your Toy
20 – MAPS – Everything Is Shattering

New and Upcoming Bands: Summer 2009

BAD LIEUTENANT are not so much a new band in that they are fronted by none other than New Order’s founding member Bernard Sumner. In 2007 they formed as a band in Manchester, which also features Phil Cunningham (New Order / Marion) on guitar and newcomer Jake Evans on lead vocals. They have recorded and mixed their debut album and also enlisted the help of Blur’s Alex James and New Order drummer Stephen Morris. Their debut single ‘Sink or Swim’ is expected to be released next month (probably 21st September) – More info can be found on their MySpace site

Playlist August 2009

Album recommendation:

ARCTIC MONKEYS – Humbug (Domino Records)

Album (re-release) recommendation:

THE STONE ROSES – The Stone Roses {2 CD & 1 DVD Legacy Edition} (BMG)

Playlist:

1 – ARCTIC MONKEYS – Crying Lightning
2 – THE STONE ROSES – This Is The One
3 – ISOBEL HEYWORTH – I Take My Hat Off To You
4 – KINGS OF LEON – Notion
5 – TINY MASTERS OF TODAY (with Karen O) – Hologram World
6 – THE KILLERS – A Dustland Fairytale
7 – DELPHIC – This Momentary
8 – DAVID BOWIE & GIORGIO MORODER – Cat People (Putting Out Fire)
9 – THE LOTUS EATERS – Face Of The Century
10 – FLORENCE & THE MACHINE – Drumming Song
11 – THE ANSWERING MACHINE – Emergency
12 – HOPE SANDOVAL & THE WARM INVENTIONS – Blanchard
13 – CAMERA OBSCURA – Sweetest Thing
14 – GRAMMATICS – Murderer
15 – SHE KEEPS BEES – Gimmie
16 – MUSE – Uprising
17 – PASSION PIT – To Kingdom Come
18 – SLOW CLUB – Giving Up On Love
19 – JAPAN – Life In Tokyo (12″ version)
20 – SAINT ETIENNE – Hobart Paving

Playlist July 2009

Album recommendation:

KID BRITISH – It Was This Or Football (Mercury)

Album (re-release) recommendation:

Common People: The Brit Pop Story – various artists {3 CD} (Universal)

Playlist:

1 – THE MACCABEES – Can You Give It
2 – THE GOSSIP – Heavy Cross
3 – THE ANSWERING MACHINE – Obviously Cold
4 – SALAD – Drink The Elixir
5 – BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB – Dust On The Ground
6 – KiD BRiTiSH – Our House (Is Dadless)
7 – BLUR – The Universal
8 – DEFEND MOSCOW – Die Tonight
9 – MOLLY HALF HEAD – Breaking The Ice
10 – SHE KEEPS BEES – Wear Red
11 – THE MUMMERS – Wake Me Up
12 – BROKEN RECORDS – Wolves
13 – BAT FOR LASHES – Travelling Woman
14 – SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS – My Cabal
15 – RUMBLE STRIPS – Not The Only Person
16 – MOBY – Pale Horses
17 – DURUTTI COLUMN – Loser
18 – GENEVA – Into The Blue
19 – DEPECHE MODE – Fragile Tension
20 – DEAD WEATHER – Treat Me Like Your Mother