Live Review: Red Hot Chili Peppers @ London O2 Arena

When most bands return to the live circuit after releasing a new album they will base their entire set around it, with smatterings of the classics. Red Hot Chili Peppers, though, are not most bands. Their set at the impressive O2 arena included just four songs from the band’s tenth studio album, I’m WIth You, which was surprising considering the tour was in support of the new album. 


The four-piece, including the most recent replacement for John Frusciante, Josh Klinghoffer, kicked things off with an explosive version of ‘Monarchy Of Roses’, the first song on I’m With You. They followed it up with the punchy, funky groove of ‘Dani California’ from 2006’s double album, Stadium Arcadium.

Stadium Arcadium was revisited as many times as the band’s new effort, with ‘Tell Me Baby’, the beautiful ‘Hard To Concentrate’ and the epic ‘Wet Sand’ all demonstrating the quality of the Chili’s back catalogue. Klinghoffer, who had previously toured with RHCP for the Stadium Arcadium tour before taking over from Frusciante, showed that he was more than comfortable filling this predecessor’s shoes, putting his own distinctive stamp on many of Frusciante’s legendary solos. 

Album Review: Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials

Florence Welch, aka Florence and the Machine, was one of the breakthrough acts of 2010 even though her debut album Lungs was actually released halfway through 2009. Lungs didn’t go completely under the radar when it was released - it was number two in the UK chart for five consecutive weeks - but it didn’t quite take off like it did at the start of the new year when it reached number one. 

The second rise of the album, this time to the peak, was undoubtedly helped by the constant reoccurrence of Florence and the Machine songs in a host of films and T.V programs. ‘Dog Days Are Over’, ‘Kiss With A Fist’ and ‘You Got the Love’ were, among others, pretty much everywhere. Consequently, the album spent a total of sixty-five consecutive weeks in the top forty. So, it’s fair to say that the expectation was high for Florence’s second album, entitled Ceremonials.

The album kicks off with the sparse piano of ‘Only If For A Night’, as that delectable voice chimes in for the first time. It is a straightforward combination between Florence’s enticing vocals and the piano, but one that is incredibly effective. The album’s first official single, ‘Shake It Out’, is a colossal song that starts with an organ that forms the basis of song, before exploding into an irresistibly addictive chorus of “Shake it up, shake it up, woaaah / And it’s hard to dance with the devil on your back so shake him off”.

The Reunion Fad: The Stone Roses Return

The rumours have been rife for a while now, but what was once derided as fantasy has now been confirmed as fact.The Stone Roses, the seminal four-piece formed in Manchester in 1983, have become the latest band to reform. And it’s fair to say that there is a great deal of excitement following the announcement. 

The band recently revealed that they will be playing three huge homecoming gigs in Manchester’s Heaton Park next summer. 

The 220,000 tickets made available, priced at £55 each, duly sold out in just over an hour when they went on sale a few days after the announcement. Impressive.

Reunions have become somewhat commonplace recently. The Verve reformed two years ago and recorded a well-received new album, just like The Stone Roses are planning to do. They also performed a successful headline slot at Glastonbury before breaking up yet again.

Album Review: Noel Gallagher - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

The outspoken one has returned and this time he is flying solo. The Gallagher brothers have been engaged in a heated war of words since the demise of Oasis, with both Liam and Noel determined to top the other with their new musical ventures. Liam basically rehashed Oasis in all but name, creating the mediocre Beady Eye. 

Noel on the other hand has spent his time putting together his debut solo album under the intriguingly named moniker, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Whilst there was interest in what form Liam’s ‘new’ band would take, the anticipation for Noel Gallagher’s solo album was undoubtedly greater, considering he was Oasis’ central songwriter. 

The lead single from Noel’s debut solo effort, ‘The Death of You and Me’, sets the tone for the rest of the album. Whilst not drawing too many comparisons with Noel’s previous work with Oasis, it is reminiscent of ‘The Importance of Being Idle’, with a prominent strum of the guitar and a bouncing beat. It is incredibly infectious - without being remarkable - and Noel is on fine form lyrically, “And is it any wonder why the sea is calling out to me / I seem to spend my whole life / Running from people who will be / The death of you and me.”

The second single from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, ‘AKA... What A Life!’, is a huge anthem that you will have no doubt heard on the Vauxhall TV add, subliminally embedded in the deep recesses of your brain.

Album Review: Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto

Coldplay are very much the musical equivalent of the American show, Friends. Their music is relatively safe, enjoyable and always there - like a comfort blanket.

It only takes a few minutes of flicking through T.V channels to find Coldplay languishing in the background of a teen drama - or pretty much any program ever - ready to burst forth with an epic, climatic chorus to suit a moment of *insert emotion*. In fact, they have already been covered twice in two outings on this years live X Factor shows.

Yet whether you love them or loathe them for their, at times, mawkish, bland and overtly polished anthems, there will undoubtedly be a part of you that can’t help singing along to ‘The Scientist’, ‘Trouble’ or ‘Yellow’. Even the mere thought of Coldplay caused Bono to belt out one of their signature tunes during U2’s headline set at Glastonbury, this year. So, after the positive commercial and critical reception to the four-piece’s fourth album, the Grammy Award-winning Viva la Vida, have Chris Martin and Co. tinkered with their ready-made formula for success, or have they attempted to break new ground?

Album Review: Kasabian - Velociraptor!

With Oasis gone and Beady Eye unremarkable in every way, Kasabian were left with the mantle of lad-rock band all to themselves. Yet the same year as Oasis’ acrimonious break-up, Kasabian released Mercury-nominated and critically acclaimed West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, an album that marked the band’s determination to add a different dimension to their music. 

Whilst it wasn’t a complete departure from the lad-rock stylings of their first two albums, West Ryder... was a quality psychedelic rock album that propelled them to festival headliners.

With expectations high following the plaudits showered on West Ryder..., Kasabian have returned with Velociraptor!, the band’s fourth album. In fact, if expectations weren’t already high, they were certainly given an injection by Kasabian’s creative force Sergio Pizzorno, boasting “It’s been 15 or 16 years since the last truly classic album, but I think we’ve done it”. Modesty at its best. 

However, whilst there is nothing wrong with overblown statements such as this one, it is important to back them up. And although Velociraptor! is a confident, and at times, impressive follow-up to West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, it is by no means a classic.

Album Review: Bombay Bicycle Club - A Different Kind Of Fix

The guitars have been plugged back in for Bombay Bicycle Club’s third album, A Different Kind of Fix, yet the London four-piece have not simply reverted back to the formula of their highly popular debut album. Bombay’s first album, I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose, was an album full of indie dance floor hits in-waiting.

Combining infectious hooks with frontman Jack Steadman’s unique and emotive voice, Bombay Bicycle Club found a formula that instantly found its way into the hearts of thousands of indie fans, quickly building a passionate fanbase.

However, the Bombay boys didn’t rest on their laurels after the success of their breakthrough album, quickly returning with their follow-up album, the acoustic effort Flaws. Once again, Steadman and Co. found themselves showered with critical praise, with an album that managed to break away from the sudden explosion of folk music acts, such Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling.

Album Review: Red Hot Chili Peppers - I'm With You

It’s been five years since the last offering from Red Hot Chili Peppers, in the form of the double album, Stadium Arcadium. However, the return of Red Hot Chili Peppers has yet again been punctuated by the departure of guitarist John Frusciante, who many consider to be central to the band’s best albums, such as Californication, Blood Sex Sugar Magik and By The Way. So, how does the band’s tenth studio album, I’m With You, sound without the instrumental influence of Frusciante?

Well, it’s pretty much a standard Red Hot Chili Peppers affair, minus John Frusciante. Josh Klinghoffer - the replacement that Frusciante himself suggested - never really gets a chance to put his stamp on I’m With You. There is no sense that he has added anything new to the Chili Peppers’ sound, instead, he has just slotted in comfortably. First single from I’m With You, ‘The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie’, is probably Klinghoffer’s spotlight moment, with some interesting hooks layered on top of Flea’s addictive bass line.

In fact, Frusciante’s departure has given Flea more freedom, something that is evident from opening song ‘Monarchy Of Roses’. The song kicks off with the fusion of Chad Smith’s rumbling drum beat and Flea’s bass before Anthony Kiedis’ distorted vocals thunder over the top.

Foo Fighters Live @ Milton Keynes Bowl, 3rd June 2011

Foo Fighters are used to filling huge stadiums by now, but all that practice has made them one of the most consistently entertaining live acts in the world. The Foo’s graduated to one of the biggest live acts in 2006 following their first headliner slot at Hyde Park, before cementing their live reputation at the now legendary sold-out Wembley shows in 2008.

What makes the Foo Fighters such a popular and impressive live band is that they are not afraid to play their hits. In fact, Dave Grohl and Co. love returning to the live areas and playing classics such as ‘Everlong’ and ‘Best Of You’. So, with their new stadium-friendly album ready for another Foo’s tour, where better to perform than two nights at the Milton Keynes Bowl to over 140,000 fans.

After a strong supporting cast - including Jimmy Eat World and Scottish legends Biffy Clyro - kept the huge crowd more than entertained, it was time for the main event. And what an event it was. Kicking off with ‘Bridge Burning’ - the epic opener from Foo Fighter’s newest album, Wasting Light - the Foo’s proceeded to put on an unbelievable show, full of classics, newbie’s and some rarities.

Arcade Fire Live @ Hyde Park, 30th June 2011

Arcade Fire’s meteoric rise from quaint indie rock band to full-blown superstars always had an air of inevitability about it. Their debut album, Funeral, was mind-blowingly good. The Canadian band then released their follow up album, Neon Bible, and once again created a phenomenal album, full of truly epic rock anthems.

Yet whilst Arcade Fire swiftly built a strong cult following and critics poured praise all over their first two albums, they still remained relatively unknown. Third album, The Suburbs - yet another world class album from Arcade Fire - won Album of the Year at the 2011 Grammy Awards and two BRIT Awards, yet still had some people asking “Who Are Arcade Fire?”.

However, Arcade Fire’s Grammy win did bring them more attention and secured them a headline slot at Hyde Park, a gig that often provides a launch pad for bands to move from a big band to a massive one. Before the seven piece from Canada took to the stage there were stellar support slots from Arcade Fire contributor Owen Pallet, The Vaccines, Beirut and Mumford & Sons.

Sunday @ Glastonbury Review

After spending most of the week slushing about in mud, soaked to the bone, the sun finally decided to show up on Sunday. And it was bloody hot. So what better way to start the day than with the chilled R&B musings of Jamie Woon, whose debut album, Mirrorwriting, was one of the best albums from the BBC’s Sound of 2011 nominees.

The BRIT school graduate had a great crowd on the West Holts Stage, as he went through the best songs from Mirrorwriting such as ‘Night Air’, Lady Luck’ and ‘Spirals’. Woon was clearly enjoying himself and whilst his debut can be quite intense, he decided to lighten the mood a bit with a stonking cover of Charles & Eddie song ‘Would I Lie To You’.

Review: Saturday @ Glastonbury

Day two of Glastonbury brought more great acts, including some of the brightest new bands around this year. Starting off with Stornoway - the indie folk band from Oxford who are viewed by many as the calmer, relaxed, love-child of Mumford & Sons - Saturday was another great day of music. After seeing Stornaway put on an accomplished performance in their debut at Glasto - on the Pyramid stage, no less - we headed to the John Peel tent to catch the London indie rock quartet, Yuck.

The four-piece released their impressive self-titled debut album earlier this year to widespread critical approval, and it was interesting to see them perform that material live for the first time. Whilst Yuck don’t have great stage presence - more like a “we’re know were good, so we’re going to do that cool rockstar ambivalence thing” attitude - their enthralling guitar driven songs proved a hit with the the packed-out tent.

Friday @ Glastonbury: Review

For some campers, especially those who travelled to Worthy Farm on Tuesday evening, Friday could not come quick enough. Friday means music, and at the end of the day, that’s what Glastonbury is really about. In fact, the desperation for music - after two days of average to crappy weather - was evident from the huge crowd that gathered to watch Chipmunk open up the Other Stage.

The ‘Oopsy Daisy’ singer was a suitable warm-up act, getting the crowd going with his mainstream-orientated hip-hop. Next up on the Other Stage were Brother, a band that are better known for the amount of vitriol they receive, than the music they make. This is entirely justified, though. The four-piece from Slough bring much of the hate on themselves through their cocky, self-assured boasts, and their ‘lad’ personas. They put on an accomplished performance, but their attempt to regurgitate Britpop for a new generation, comes off as tiresome.

And if Brother weren’t derisive enough, it has now come to light that the band have changed their name to Viva Brother as the result of a legal dispute with Australian Celtic rock act with the same name. This explained the band waving a big flag with Viva Brother emblazoned on it.

Kings of Leon Live @ Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester, 19/06/2011

The rise of Kings Of Leon in the past few years has been incredible; they have ascended from little-known Southern rock act to huge stadium-filling anthemic rock band in the space of one album. This showing at the sold-out Old Trafford Cricket Ground, demonstrated the dramatic shift in sound that has accompanied the Followills’ climb and seen them ditch the label that was attached to them earlier in their career - the Southern Strokes.

Kings of Leon’s debut album, Youth and Young Manhood – which gained them a strong cult following in the UK – was virtually non-existent in a set that revolved around the foursome’s most recent stadium-friendly output. There were 12 songs in total from the band’s last two albums, the biggest selling album of 2008, Only by the Night, and their most recent fifth album, Come Around Sundown. However, the band clearly attempted to satisfy those who sought a set based around their debut album and the formidable follow up, Aha Shake Heartbreak.

Album Review: Miles Kane - Colour of the Trap

Miles Kane has been around for a while now; however, he has yet to really make his mark on the music industry. His main claim to fame was as one half of the Last Shadow Puppets with his close friend, Alex Turner.

Many would consider the Arctic Monkeys frontman to be the main draw of the Mercury Award-nominated side-project, yet Miles was arguably as influential to the sound of the Puppets as Alex Turner, if not more. This is evident from the sound of his debut solo album, which evidences a similar sound in many ways to the Puppets album, The Age of the Understatement. Where Colour of the Trap differs though, is that it is an incredibly upbeat and rowdy album compared to the more laid back musings of the Puppets’ debut album.

What Does the Future Hold For Physical Music Releases?

In the last few months debate has been raging about the value of physical music, in an age where more and more of us are relying on internet downloads – whether legal or not – to satisfy our musical cravings.

In fact, there was recently a collective sigh at the news that Mercury Records - the label home to bands such as Arcade Fire, U2 and The Killers - announced it was to stop production of physical singles and vinyl records. Inevitable as this may be, what does it mean for the future of physical releases in the music industry? Well, not a lot really. Mercury has stated that they have only released physical singles when the demand has been there for the past two years anyway. When you take into account that physical formats now only account for just over 1% of the overall singles market and that Mercury made a loss on single releases in 2010, Mercury’s decision is simply straightforward business sense.

Album Review: Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

"THESE ARE MY FAMOUS LAST WORDS!" screams Dave Grohl, opening Foo Fighters’ seventh studio album in spectacular style.

Ex-Nirvana man, Grohl, stated that Wasting Light would be Foo Fighters’“heaviest album yet”, and the band certainly deliver. ‘Bridge Burning’ kicks the album off with chunking guitars and machine-gun drums, which quickly evolve into an insanely catchy chorus.

After the furious opening, follows the lead single from Wasting Light, ‘Rope’, which is a much more radio-friendly rock number, with its sporadic, stop-start guitars. Although Wasting Light is heavier than Echoes, Silence, Patience, Grace, it remains a very accessible album.

Album Review: The Strokes - Angles

Almost 10 years on from its release, Is This It still manages to haunt every new release by The Strokes. The critical acclaim that greeted The Strokes’ debut album has followed them ever since, and the subsequent weight of expectation that met both Room On Fire and First Impressions Of Earth, led to both albums receiving fairly mixed reviews, despite being good albums.

However, four years on from First Impressions, can The Strokes cast away the lingering shadow of Is This It with their fourth album Angles?

The album opener, ‘Machu Picchu’, emphatically dispels any doubts about the five-piece being submerged under the expectation after such a long lay-off, with its surprising reggae hooks. The lead single from Angles, ‘Undercover Of Darkness’, continues to get better with every listen. Its light-hearted, jangly guitars, Albert Hammond Jr. staple guitar solo and irresistibly catchy double chorus, make it an instant Strokes classic.

Album Review: Alex Turner - Submarine EP

It was about time Richard Ayoade cashed in the favour owed to him by Alex Turner for the numerous contributions he has made to the Arctic Monkeys. Ayoade – who most will know as Maurice Moss in The IT Crowd – has directed three Arctic Monkeys videos, including the brilliantly surreal video for ‘Florescent Adolescent’.

He also directed the phenomenal live Arctic Monkeys DVD, At The Apollo, which won ‘Best DVD’ at the NME Awards in 2008. In return, Arctic Monkeys’ frontman created the Submarine EP – the soundtrack to Ayoade’s directorial debut film, Submarine.

This is Turner’s first foray as a solo artist, and he demonstrates a startling maturity on this EP - which consists of a short intro and five full songs. From start to finish Turner sounds very comfortable, with his voice purring over beautiful acoustic guitars. The first track is the melancholic ‘Hiding Tonight’, where the minimal acoustic guitar brings Turner’s vocals to the foreground.

Album Review: Lupe Fiasco - Lasers

Artist versus label. This age-old problem essentially sums up the fraught history of Lupe Fiasco’s third album, Lasers. Lupe had originally planned to release a triple album, LupE.N.D, as his third and final album. However, this was prevented by his contract with label Atlantic Records.

Lupe went back to the drawing boards and returned with Lasers, which has itself been held back for over a year by Atlantic, until a fans petition and demonstration forced the label into announcing a release date. To say that Lasers has had a checked history isn’t a far stretch, then. In fact, even Lupe has stated in one interview that “I love and hate this album”. So, how good is Lasers if even the man who created it is indifferent to it?

The album begins strongly with ‘Letting Go’, where a beautiful melody backs Lupe’s distorted vocals, evoking a similar sound to Kanye West’s vocals on 808’s And Heartbreak. Next up is ‘Words I Never Said’, which is by far the strongest song on Lasers.

Album Review: White Lies - Ritual

White Lies released their debut album, To Lose My Life, in 2009 to instant success. The London three-piece became the first British act in 2009 to achieve a number one album, beating established American acts such as Kings Of Leon and Lady Gaga in the process. Their debut was certainly one of the most impressive albums of the year, and reinforced the potential suggested by their appearance in BBC’s Sound of 2009 poll.

However, whilst their debut was well-received, White Lies’ dark, melancholic sound led to them being compared – unsurprisingly – with the host of bands emanating from the seminal Joy Division, such as Editors and Interpol. Whilst it’s unfair in many ways to critique a band because of their influences; Harry McVeigh’s deep voice matched with the bands’ lyrics about life and death, meant the comparisons were inevitable. So, how does White Lies’ second effort, Ritual, compare to the debut album? Do White Lies cast away their dark, foreboding sound and revert to Vampire Weekend-like glossy tunes?

What’s Next for Music in 2011?

So, 2010 has been and gone. Overall, it was a fairly unspectacular year for music, other than occasional glances of genius (Kanye West and Arcade Fire stand up please). Can 2011 do any better then?

Well, the New Year should see new releases from established artists such as Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, White Lies, R.E.M, Coldplay and Death Cab For Cutie. We will also see the return of Lady Gaga with her second album, Born This Way, which will no doubt see the eccentric pop star dominate the mainstream charts again. For Hip-Hop/Rap fans the joint album from Kanye West and Jay-Z, entitled Watch The Throne, and the third album from Lupe Fiasco, called Lasers, will both be making an appearance at some point during the year.

The Best of 2010 – Part 2: Best Albums Of The Year

15. Hot Chip – One Life Stand: The fourth album by British band Hot Chip really stood out as one of the best dance/electronic albums of 2010. The brilliant opener ‘Thieves In The Night’ sets the tone for the rest of the album. It is quickly followed by the sweeping, jittery piano-led ‘Hand Me Down Your Love’ and the euphoric synths of ‘I Feel Better’, which almost steals the album before it has really begun. The first single, ‘One Life Stand’, initially makes for fairly difficult listening through the electro distortation, that is, until the throbbing beat breaks into Alexis Taylor’s subtly anthemic chorus. One Life Stand is full of the consistently brilliant hooks which Hot Chip are known for, but vocally the album is much more mellower, as captured in the heartfelt ‘Brothers’ and softly, softly ‘Alley Cats’.

The Best Of 2010 - Part 1: Best Songs Of The Year

It would be pretty difficult to argue that 2010 was a great year for music. The mainstream charts were typically repetitive, terrible songs such as ‘This Ain’t A Love Song’ by Scouting For Girls, Owl City’s ‘Fireflies’ and ‘The Time (Dirty Bit)’ by Black Eyed Peas all managed to make it to number one, somehow. Yet, if you ignored the absurd, and quite frankly, boring mainstream charts, then you may have realized that there were actually some great songs knocking about. So, what songs stood out in 2010?

15. Darwin Deez – ‘Constellations’: Darwin Deez’s debut album is unmistakably from the school of The Strokes. However, it is full of catchy, summery tunes such as ‘Constellations’. The song is fairly straight-forward, yet it’s the very simplicity of the jerky guitar that makes the song so infectious.