Album Review | The Orielles – ‘Silver Dollar Moment’

After a long time waiting, The Orillelles have finally released their debut album Silver Dollar Moment. Making a name for themselves over the years, the band has slowly built up a lot of anticipation about this record, with the the releases of ‘Let Your Dogtooth Grow’ and ‘I Only Bought it For The Bottle’, settling the bar fairly high.

The album manages to live up to its expectation as the band stick to their garage rock sound throughout. However, garage rock could be too much of a restrictive term when talking about this album. It gently comes to life with the opening track ‘Mango’ which sets the table for the rest of the album, as you get a serious Orielles kick within the first few moments.

Throughout the album it seems the band drift in and out of consciousness, because some tracks are simply too dreamy. Prime example here being ‘Liminal Spaces’ and ‘The Sounds of Liminal Spaces’, both of which are soothing tracks. It’s also hard not to admire the creativity with these songs following each other, and the second serving as a playground where ‘Liminal Spaces’ was created.

It’s impressive to hear how well coordinated this album is, they using quite complex sounds and elements, blending them all together so well. The Orielles seem to have etched their own little genre, which can only be describes a Lo-Fi Disco Garage. The name of the genre is a working progress. Songs like ‘Sunflower Seeds’ and ‘I Only Bought it For The Bottle’ manages to bring out the dancing bug in you, but when combined with a very raw production, it manages to keep an authentic and grounded sound.

‘48 Percent’ is a wall of sound completed filled out with guitars, harmonies and reverb. This track subtly suggests summer to you, it just has that sort of vibe attached to it. ‘Borrachero Tree’ is a hazy number referencing to the famous tree that can create a powder making people act like zombies, and it’s a perfect representation of that.The guitar hooks throughout this record are something special, it seems to be a natural muscle that they flex out for every song, which is expertly shown on ‘Snaps’.

The album finishes off with ‘Blue Suitcase (Disco Wrist)’ which was the final song released ahead of the album, and it serves well as a closer. The band surely wanted to leave you aching for more, and this track fits that mould. The dancy hook along with the throwback bells, they found the perfect remedy. The song could even be argued as slightly psychedelic with the whirling guitars. Nonetheless, your left in a hurricane after the record.  

Although the album was a long time coming, it needs to be appreciated that The Orielles had the patience and foresight to not rush a release like this.The debut album will often be a bands most important, and with them taking their time it’s culminated with them developing a very high quality album the represents the band so well. Can easily see these songs going down well at live shows. So now the wait is over and the pressure is off, all the guys have to do enjoy the performing this amazing songs.

8/10

Words by Alex Wise @AJWise

 

Single of the Week! Little Brother Eli – ‘Tooth’

This weeks Single of the Week is supplied by Oxford quartet Little Brother Eli with their brand new track ‘Tooth’.

Their unique style of music makes them stand out from most bands, and this track is the ideal example. As soon as it bursts out the track you have the vocals attacking you with pace and slight aggression, there’s no time to wait around. The wicked style the lyrics are delivered make the song so entertaining to listen to.Combined with the fuzzy instrumentals provided by the guitar, it gives you a glimpse into the madness that is Little Brother Eli. The song also has a catchy hook as the singer preaches “Heaven won’t treat you well”, and once again it’s the delivery of the line that gets you.

Little Brother Eli continue to make huge strides in their music by combining so many different genres. With their hip-hop rhythms, electro sounds and sometimes garage-rock guitars – they’re becoming delightfully unpredictable. This will without doubt continue, and hopefully with new music being released hopefully there is an EP waiting in the wings.

That concludes this weeks Single of the Week, if you think you have a single of the week on your hands please get in touch!

Twitter: @Wordsformusic1

Email: wordsformusicblog@gmail.com

Words by Alex Wise @AJWise

Album Review: DEAD! – ‘The Golden Age of Not Even Trying’

The Golden Age Of Not Even Trying: A heavily anticipated album that gives off all the right vibes in all the right places. With Alex Mountford taking control of the mic, he sure knows how to belt this songs with every ounce of passion and fortitude he has. Complimenting this, we have brothers Sam and Louis Matlock shredding on guitar, Sam Chappell letting hell loose on bass and session drummer Stephen North crashing cymbals and hammering in heavy beats.

Toe-dipping into the album with ‘The Boys The Boys’, you are greeted with a baseline that penetrates through crowds of hundreds on teen hearts, followed by solid lyrical talent and inspiration taken from the 1996 remake of Romeo and Juliet. This track is exploding with heavy bass and drum sequences. The video, situated around Dean Street, Soho, London, is perfectly fitting with the whole mood the song portrays. ‘Enough Enough Enough’ then bursts into your ears with a chaotic essence and almost forces your body to throw itself about. Live, this track kick starts the crowd, influencing pushing and shoving with its combination of guitar and drums. Transitioning nicely into the title track ‘The Golden Age Of Not Even Trying’, we dive straight into that ‘red patch’ Alex sings about. You are met with a flurry of melodies and soft harmonies, mixing with fist pumping bridges towards the end. The long awaited studio version of ‘Jessica’ has brought the majority of Dead!’s following to their knees, as throughout 2016/17, Dead! teased crowds across the country playing Jessica live wherever they went. Fluttering guitar solos, a power ballad of how to love, lose and learn. Alex’s stage persona blossoms, punching lines connect emotionally with every single individual in any room through this song.

Baselines don’t come much sexier than the opening bars to ‘Off White Paint’. The slow but very captivating mood of this song succeeds in swaying your body without you even realising. The chorus hits and once again you’re screaming out the lyrics, stamping your feet and punching the air with an accumulation of every emotion possible. It runs through your body seamlessly as if it was blood. Throw back to the release of ‘You’re So Cheap’ which climbed high in the Kerrang! Rock Charts summer of 2016, this is a track that will never enter the realms of the abyss. Another unmistakable power ballad to add to the collection already!

‘Petrol and Anaesthetic‘, an unusual combination admittedly, delivers a very My Chemical Romance vibe across the whole song and really encourages you to bounce around your bedroom at your very own personal concert.  ‘Up For Ran$om’ is full of choppy pace changes, a video of five dashing men in blue suits and the 90’s style video outlook, this album really is turning out to be something spectacular from start to finish. It’s riddled with rugged baselines, high-powered riffs and aggressive yet relatable lyrics. ‘W9’ then comes into play. A softer piece that is set to sink you deep into your chair, relaxes your body, mind and soul and creates a bluesy atmosphere, this track bewitches you and you’ll find it’s hard to snap out of that zen mind it’s set. There’s something truly haunting about this track in particular, in a beautifully spectral way. Still so full of life but in a sedative shell.
The next track is not to be messed with,  ‘A Conversation With Concrete’. Straight back in there with heartfelt lyrical content, clear vocals and beefy baselines, everything about this track is compelling, pure and real, tearing you away from the album and connecting with your emotions in a way you’ve never felt before. ‘Any Port’ then opens a gateway of rhetorical questions that convinces you to answer them all in your own specific way. To which leaves us with the closing track ‘Youth Screams and Fades’. A phenomenal song filled with impeccable melodies and a strong chorus that’ll be sung far and wide with tears streaming down faces all over the world. A powerful message is belted our towards the end of this track, connecting these four men with an entire following and building bonds strong than iron.

Summarised, this album has absolutely everything all blended into one. Life, energy and devotion. This album has the power to connect with an individual and that’s hard to come by. This record will relentlessly push the name Dead! as far as possible. And THIS truly is …

The Golden Age Of Not Even Trying.

Written by Amelia Saunders @youthscreams 

EP Review: Peach Club – ‘Cherry Baby’

Even though Peach Club have only been on my radar for a short amount of time, as soon as I heard them I couldn’t wait for the release of their debut EP. This is the effect that Peach Club can have on you, they’re a very different band with venom running through their veins which comes out in their music.

After hearing ‘Bad Bitch’ ‘Cherry Baby’, two tracks that preceded the album, you get an instant feeling of what Peach Club are all about, raw vocals and rough guitars that create this perfect instrumental to what anger sounds like in song form. It became appparant after listening to those two songs repeatedly, that if they could carry this energy over an EP they would have a very good piece of work. Which is what Cherry Baby is.

Cherry Baby embodies what Peach Club are, this raw emotion which is delivered in a very visceral yet melodic way.

As soon as the EP kicks off with ‘Venus’ the band refuse to let go as they never slow down for a second. This opening track very much sets the tone for the entire EP as the band masterfully mix this heavily distorted guitar with this highly pitched voiced with an attitude, and it works perfectly. The contrast between them is so different it covers a lot of ground, and when combined with in-your-face vocals it becomes any riot grrrls dream.

The self titled track ‘Cherry Baby‘ follows, and it really is a highlight of the EP. The band tell the story of a girl called Cherry Baby chasing the dream of becoming a star with the helping hand of a controlling manager. The chorus of the song really makes it stand out, purely because of how it’s delivered. You can really hear the desperation of Cherry Baby in the vocals, adding this emotion into the song.

The EP rolls on with ‘Oh My God’, however when the intro of ‘Bad Bitch’ comes on you’re instantly hooked. The unique opening of the clapping hands throw you a curve ball, as it’s the most explicit song on the EP. You could easily lose yourself to this song, as you confess how much of a Bad Bitch you are at the top of your lungs. Also the track as this cool little twinkle twinkle littler star moment, which also gets stuck in the mind.

It’s finished off with ‘Death Becomes Her’ which is a great closer, as it serves as a final reminder of who Peach Club are as the drums are crashing with the guitar once again delivering another heavy riff that cannot be stopped.

Overall the EP serves perfectly as an introduction to Peach Club, because if you didn’t know what they were about going in, you will have a clear idea after. Looking forward to see where the band take it from here, as I can see the Cherry Baby tour being a very memorable one, with EP hopefully taking them to the next level!

7.5/10

Make sure you go and see the band live if you can, it will be your loss if you don’t!

February

6th – Sunflower Lounge – Birmingham – Tickets

15th – The Lending Room – Leeds – Tickets

March

3rd – Birthdays – London – Tickets

Words By Alex Wise @AJWise

Album Review: Happyness – ‘Write In’

Happyness have unleashed their third album Write In at the perfect time. The weather is on the turn for the better, festival season will be soon upon us and summer will begin. For those who don’t know, the south London trio play feel-good alt-rock that matches the season. Album opener ‘Falling Down’ is cool, calm and collected. It has The Verve written all over it, and the strings only add to that mid-nineties Britpop vibe. Don’t be fooled by the mournful vocals. This is a happy album from a band who love to be inventive with their songwriting.

The band’s earlier releases focus on their passion for American alt-rock, but on this occasion the band are pushing themselves to look beyond that scene. Second track ‘The Reel Starts Again’ carries on in the same vain, building intrigue. As third track ‘Anytime’ begins the pace increases and the album comes alive.

The band draws its influences from Roxy Music, The Beach Boys, Sonic Youth and Randy Newman. It’s a broad mix of styles and the band blend these influences superbly. ‘Through Windows’ is a song that showcases perfectly their love of Newman. The piano and deep vocals are almost an impersonation of the bespectacled songwriter.

The album cost £500 to make, with most of that going towards a multi-track recorder. It was recorded at the band’s Jelly Boy Studios and the results won’t disappoint. Jon EE Allan said: “The building’s being redeveloped at the end of the year, so this is the last record we’ll make there, which feels like the end of a chapter for us.”

This is a ground-breaking album for the band; it’s a new direction which fans of the band will be pleased with. They’ve managed to retain the cheeky pop characteristics that made debut album ‘Weird Little Birthday’ so good. The album has a west-coast charm that separates the songs from where they were recorded. Some people don’t like bands that look beyond their roots to write songs, but in this case it works very well.

The band are on tour now. See details here.

Words by David Chrzanowski @D_Chrzanowski

7/10

Favourite songs: ‘Falling Down’, ‘Anytime’ and ‘Victor Lazarro’s

 

 

Album Review: Richard Edwards – ‘Lemon Cotton Candy Sunset’

Three years after the last Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s record, lead singer, Richard Edwards releases his debut album. Titled Lemon Cotton Candy Sunset, this album is a sweet yet sorrowful treat of alternative (pop/folk) rock. Edwards had been out of commission for a year due to health issues and was also recently divorced. These events, specifically the divorce, seem to influence the majority of the record.

The album takes a melancholy approach right at the gates with the opening (after an intro) track, “Lil Dead Eye-d.” From the opening line of, “I got bored in California,” Edwards seems to be moving forward, sick of his current location and mindset. As he finishes the verse saying, “Bored with a sun that always shines, I got bored and I started dreaming again, Lil black eye-d you, Please let me go.” The chorus, “I’ve been thinking bout you, Oh, I’ve been thinking bout you, Little dead eye-d, And Los Angeles,” seems to sum up the idea that after Edwards moved forward he soon began to miss his (now ex-)wife. Edwards is now lost without his significant other, while simultaneously believing she’s lost herself long before he left. It’s a song where if you closed your eyes you can see a lemon cotton candy sunset right in front of you, with a gracefully played acoustic guitar humming in your ear.

The track, “Fool,” seems to summarize Edward’s marriage quite concisely. Edwards claims he’s suffering from his current relationship, haunted by his lover, who is torturing his soul, “I’m on fire and you’ve been the ghost, I’ve been a most patient kind, Like a fool, I admired, Even loved, you.” This song seems to inhibit the focus of the album; Edwards is struggling with the loss of his relationship and doesn’t know how to cope, so he drowns in his own distress.

A constant theme throughout the record is the repeated use of the moon, lemons and lemonade. Edwards strategically places the imagery of the moon and scatters it throughout the album. He asks where the moon is, the source of light in the dark void that is now his life without the person he truly longs to be with. In “Postcard” Edwards tells his wife, “When the moon is out, I hardly ever think of you now,” then compares her to a postcard, a distant memory of somewhere he’s once been. Countering the moon metaphor, on the previous track, “Disappeared Planets,” Edwards asks where his moon is. He’s in despair, wandering aimlessly, while she’s disappeared without a trace.

The pairing of these two tracks is seamless. “Disappeared Planets” begs the question of what Edward’s purpose is without his significant other. While “Postcard” tells us he doesn’t need her. She’s but “a shadow that vanished in the fog.” When the chorus comes around, so does Edwards, he daydreams, singing that he no longer needs her, but what would she do if he came back? Both tracks prove that Edwards still hasn’t moved on. No matter how much he denies the facts, he’s still in love.

“Lemon” tells the story of someone, whom he calls “honeysuckle,” (possibly his wife, whom he refers to as “honey” throughout the record) coming to see him in Chicago. There reunion is passionate, but he sees something deeper. He says he has given her all his love, but it never seems like it’s enough. “Honeysuckle” then calls out his flaws, maybe comparing him to another lover.  This lover seems to be portrayed as “lemon” in the bridge. The song ends with Edwards defeated, knowing he doesn’t measure up to his rival in honeysuckle’s eyes.

The closing track “Moonwrapped,” may be the most heartbreaking track of them all. “Seen the moon wrapped around you, I’m happy livin’ in a dream, We been stitched at the hip, Why you pickin’ at the seams?, With the moon wrapped around you…,” Edwards wistfully croons as he looks back at his marriage that is now in shambles. All can do is stand and watch as his world crumbles down around him, watching his moonlight fade away.

“Hey, Jelly, Don’t cry, ’cause in the next life there ain’t no stomachs, And love don’t die, It moves through time (forever), Where it’s always true,” may be my favorite verse on the entire record. Edward’s love is dead, but he refuses to believe it’s gone forever. This could be perceived as a foolish way of thinking, but I believe it’s admirable. Edwards won’t give up, no matter how difficult it’s been for him, no matter the hell that he’s been put through he holds on to his love for his wife. The album ends with, “I love you, I always do.” The music dies down and we hear waves crashing on the shore, the same way the album opens, but this time a door closes, silence.

Lemon Cotton Candy Sunset  is one of the most beautifully sounding and written albums I’ve heard this year. It will no doubt be, at least, in my top 10 favorites at the end of the year. It’s a concept album about a marriage that ceased to exist and a man left alone to deal with the aftermath. Unlike Ryan Adam’s “Prisoner,” this record leaves us empty and alone with Edwards on the beach watching the sunset fade away with no moon in sight.

 Words By Zach Shappley

 

Album Review: Bonny Doon – ‘Bonny Doon’

Bonny Doon are a four piece acoustic/lo-fi band from Detroit and all members have been involved in a number of projects in the run up to this album, which makes for quite the interesting listen. The band focus around an acoustic/folk style, however their stints in bands have clearly had an influence as the record delves into some lo-fi and grittier sounds.

The self-titled album kicks off with the slow and lackadaisical ‘Relieved’, and this song really sets up the tone and pace for the album as the band never really stray too far away from this pace. This also runs into the song ‘Summertime Friends’ which is a really catchy number, but the band seem to play it fairly safe.

The album really kicks into life with the track ‘Lost My Way’ which really does inject some life into the entire band. With the under produced sounding guitar along with the compatible vocals, it really does have some lo-fi qualities which the band pull off well. The main feature on this track is the lead singer shouting down the house along with a catchy hook, proving it to be a stand-out song. ‘I See You’ follows this lo-fi pattern while staying true to their acoustic and rustic style, like something you’d hear from Beat Happening.

The second part of the album has much more to offer regarding edginess and rough around the edges. ‘Maine Vision’ is a noteworthy song which harkens back to something The Strokes may have done in their early days. However ‘Evening All Day Long’ gives the album that bag of gold to hold onto. A classic tale of breaking up which is delivered passionately on the acoustic guitar, although it doesn’t have a blistering electric sound behind it, the lyrics and the tale make this song.

Bonny Doon clearly have a direction they want their music to go, unfortunately on the album there weren’t many tracks that left a lasting impression which is a common problem for most bands.  However it was refreshing to hear a band that delivered something different and didn’t recycle garbage which a lot of people are guilty of in this genre.

6.8/10

Favourite Tracks: ‘Maine Vision’, ‘Evening All Day Long’ and ‘Lost My Way’

Words by Alex Wise @AJWise

NEW MUSIC NOW! The Weeks – ‘Start it Up’

‘Start it Up’ is the latest release from Jackson, MS four-piece The Weeks and is taken off their upcoming album Easy, which will be released April 7th.  After listening to the track for 20th time this morning (Which won’t be the last) it’s easy to pick up on the catchy nature of the song, which is showcased at the beginning of the track with a deep rhythmic bass line that brings you to the party. All throughout the song your gifted with this beautiful riff that ties the song together nicely, and combined with stories of being young and dumb, it’s easy to become endeared to it. It’s clear the band take some early Kings of Leon vibe with that dirty rock feel combined with The White Stripes as they heavily lean on the guitar work to do the talking.

Here’s hoping that the album brings this same amount of energy and musicality to the album, because if they do it could easily find itself to be a contender on the albums of the year 2017!

Words by Alex Wise @AJWise

NEW MUSIC NOW! The Assist – ‘Wonderful’

 

Since their EP Trouble, The Assist have been moving pretty fast by performing nearly everywhere except the moon, churning out new tracks and consistently building their fan base by simply putting the work in. In the midst of all of this the band released their brand new track ‘Wonderful‘ and it’s probably their best work yet.

The Assist have always had a knack of developing simple yet catchy hook lines, however on this track it seems as though their sound has matured ever so slightly and it’s working in their favour. Mikey Stanton has always prided himself on creating these long verses that dual up as rapping and singing at the same time, which always makes for an interesting listen as you try to to keep up and hang off his every word. This song is no different as Mikey delves into this type lyricism and delivery once again before topping it off with the emphatic outburst of the word “Wonderful”.

The band provide a clean playground for Mikey to wonder and draw whatever he likes. The simplicity of the musicality shouldn’t be underestimated because there’s still a lot going on, with guitarist Ryan working hard and providing lead and rhythm simultaneously. The subtle jangly guitar work are a perfect bed for the vocals, and when it’s backed by a funky drum and bass it’s easy to see why the song is so catchy.

Hopefully this is the early workings for their debut album, and if it is, they’ve definitely found their sound.

Words by Alex Wise @AJWise

NEW MUSIC NOW! Wolf Solent – ‘Red Moon’

 

Ahead of his new  EP // IV Wolf Solent has released his new single ‘Red Moon‘ which has been dubbed as lo-fi narcolepsy, which couldn’t be closer to the truth with this song.

The song slowly drones throughout the three minutes with hazy guitars and far out vocals, giving you a sense that you’re swimming underwater. It’s impressive to note that the entire EP, as well as this song, was all recorded in is bedroom and all instruments were only played by him. It’s amazing to recognize the size of production on this track considering it was only recorded in a bedroom, this alone is quite a feat. On the whole song gives of this cinematic experience that gives of a slightly psychedelic vibe.

Hopefully the EP lives up to what this song brings, as this track has raised the bar fairly high.

Words by Alex Wise @AJWise