James Arden checks out the garage rockers latest album.
The Christian rock band from Brighton bring religion to the masses.
Recipe for modern R'n'B album: liberal helpings of guest rappers and an overdose of sexual euphemisms.
If you fancy kick-starting your week with an overdose of culture, then head over to the National Centre for Early Music at 8pm tonight to see The Erasmus Project, a multidisciplinary artistic collaboration. I Inspired by Erasmus Grasser's fifteenth-century sculptures of dancers, the performance features music by Martin Scheuregger, poems by Pauline Kirk, and dance choreographed by Melanie Fox. If this doesn’t satisfy you then this week’s University Concert celebrates the music of the Estonian composer Veljo Tormis, performed by The 24 with its director John Potter. Just make your way to the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday 24th.
A relatively quiet week gives way to a barrage of gigs at the weekend at York’s biggest venues, The Duchess and Fibbers. Gracing the stage of the former on Friday 26th are a trio of up-and-coming bands headed by Chew Lips with their brand of well-styled synth-pop. Saturday 27th sees a different style of music altogether, with the visit of one of the greatest power blues rock groups of our time, The Hamsters, who bring their much lauded interpretations of Hendrix and ZZ Top to The Duchess.
At Fibbers, meanwhile, fast-rising star James McCartney plays on Friday 26th before a veritable tornado of musical talent hits the stage over the following two days; both Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th see a grand total of eight acts strutting their stuff, with headline acts coming in the shape of The Galleries and Straight Lines.
Having been gaining something of a cult status in their native Manchester of late, The Courteeners are probably hoping that the release of their second album, Falcon, is enough to cement their place within the public’s musical consciousness. The wind certainly appears to be blowing in the right direction for them, with positive reviews of the album flowing forth, and with NME having been seemingly adopting them as their new poster-boys of British rock.
This week also sees the release of the third album from Danish indie post-rockers Efterklang. Now entering their tenth year as a band, this release is their first with independent British label 4AD, having been previously signed to The Leaf Label.
But the undoubted highlight of the musical week comes courtesy of superstar in the making Marina and the Diamonds, who unleashes her debut upon an expectant audience today. Gathering almost as many accolades as she is fans, her album The Family Jewels is the culmination of her song-writing career so far. Although it’s the radio hit ‘Hollywood’ that has received the most attention, see the video below to check out the softer, heartfelt approach of album highlight ‘I Am Not A Robot’.
Owl City – Vanilla Twilight
I have the same issue with Owl City as I do with rocky road. I definitely don’t like it, but I find myself listening to it anyway (although obviously I eat the cake despite not liking it... listening to cake’s a silly idea). Happy poppy electronica with a few cheesey and horribly sentimental lines (the title, for one) and some unnecessary modulation, there is every reason that I shouldn’t like this, and I don’t... or do I? A radio-friendly very commercial crowd pleaser; expect to hear more from Adam Young very soon. I must now absolve myself with some Radiohead.
Lucie Vincer
Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed
As lead-in singles go, ‘Starry Eyed’ is right on the button when trying to define this already much acclaimed artist. With many ‘Sound of 2010’ awards under her belt, this single reminds us why she is such an exciting new talent in pop. This is an exercise in the short and sweet with one hell of a catchy chorus making sure that every facet of her unusual voice gets used. This has only acted to increase expectation of her debut album Lights released next week.
Peter Searle
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