The Naked And Famous - No Way

Having only heard their brilliant 2010 single, "Punching In A Dream", I was excited when I saw that The Naked And Famous had new material coming out this week. And while that song only got to number 139 in the UK singles chart, it did mark the New Zealand 5-piece as ones to watch in the indie scene.

"No Way" starts off in a sombre fashion, a slow-burning ballad that resembles an indie version of the Charlene Soraia/Slow Moving Millie prototype that's dominating the charts at the minute. Slowly plucked strings intertwine with tender female vocals and whilst it's fairly nice to listen to, I found myself getting bored by the minute mark.

Then bang! It explodes into life with crunching guitar riffs and pulsating beats. Within 30 seconds, it reverts back to its softer side, like a musical Jekyll & Hyde.

It would be incredibly exciting to listen to.... if the song weren't 5 and a half minutes in length. It overstays it's welcome as it repeats this same formula at least another 2 times. It becomes predictable and loses its dramatic effect.

On the whole, this is a very frustrating outing from a band I had high hopes for this year. It starts off very promisingly but fades into mediocrity during the overly long duration of the track.

Disappointing to say the least.


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Frank Turner - Wessex Boy

No-one does touring quite like ex-Million Dead frontman Frank Turner. To put how road-weathered he is into perspective, here's a little fact. On 21st April 2011, he performed his 1000th live show. And that's just his solo performances. You then have to factor in all of the Million Dead shows too!

This kind of background makes a song like "Wessex Boy" all the more genuine - one man's love for his hometown summed up into 3 and a half minutes of summery, passionate and generally pleasant folk punk. His punk roots are still detectable in his raw vocals but these combine beautifully with gently-strummed guitars to create a songwriting masterclass that you can't help but sing along to.

However, Frank Turner purists may feel a little hard done by. It's a fair bit different from anything he's done before and those who were around for debut album "Sleep Is For The Week" may not appreciate the change. It's clear for fans of all music genres, though, that this guy has bags of songwriting talent and it shines through in this track especially.

Overall, it's lovely, heart-warming and although it's a departure from Frank's older work, it's still a cracking tune.

Disagree or want to share your opinion? Leave a comment!


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Bryan Adams - Merry Christmas

It's nearly that time of year again! It's nearly Christmas! And because I love the festive period so much, I'm going to review a brand new festive single, courtesy of Mr. Bryan Adams.

No stranger to Christmas songs himself, Bryan Adams releases this gem of a Christmas track, ingeniously called...

wait for it....

"Merry Christmas". Oh.

The song itself is actually pretty good. As always, Bryan's vocals are the highlight of the song, his pleasant crooning fitting in perfectly with sleigh bells and piano chords. The only bit that ruins it for me are the horribly cheesy keyboard riffs in the middle that wouldn't be out of place at a baseball game. Not cool.

All in all, it's not the best Christmas song ever but it's much better than some of the more recent attempts at a Christmas Number 1. Anyone remember Miss Piggy's "I'm The Christmas Queen" from 2006?

Didn't think so. 

At the end of the day, I personally think the Christmas Number 1 should be taken up by a festive song, not some super-angry Californians or the latest product from the X Factor machine. By the looks of this year's crop though, Bryan Adams may be our only hope.


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Fixers - Majesties Ranch

Since its inception with The Smiths & R.E.M. in the 80's, indie rock has progressed and grown with every year, making it one of the largest genres around. Unfortunately though, the sheer number of bands has resulted in a horrendous lack of originality within the scene.

Fixers are a prime example. "Majesties Ranch", their latest single, is effectively an "indie by numbers" track, designed for repeated plays on XFM and similar radio stations. The jangly guitars and upbeat percussion are all present whilst frontman Jack Goldstein's unusual and "kooky" vocals intrigue and irritate at the same time.

They even have the stereotypically indie video to go along with it. Abstract items such as old-fashioned TV's, chandeliers and bird cages all feature heavily. One Youtube viewer hits the nail on the head with the comment, "lol they're all so wonderfully surrounded by stereotypical hipster items". They aren't the only one to have noticed. 38 people 'like' the comment too.

At the end of the day, there's nothing inherently wrong with the track (the chorus is actually quite catchy). It's just that it's painfully obvious that Fixers are trying way too hard to be different. Unfortunately for them, it makes them the carbon copy of about a million other indie bands out there.


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Gotye - Easy Way Out

I like trying new things. For example, I always try and have a different curry dish every time I go to an Indian restaurant. On the way back from university sometimes, I may also change my route home just so I don't get bored of always going the same way. Unusual? Perhaps.

This thirst for "different" also translates to music. I estimate that I spend 15-30 minutes everyday trying to discover a new favourite band. Therefore, it's always a pleasure to review a band I've never heard of before. Especially when they're as good as Gotye.

Now on his 3rd studio album, he releases his brand new single "Easy Way Out". The track itself is a mish-mash of different styles - Muse-like basslines clash with indie-style riffwork as Gotye's melancholic voice glides over the top. It's an impressive track to listen to although it does take a few repeats to truly appreciate.

The fact it barely reaches 120 seconds is also a massive plus. It's direct, incisive and to the point. Sometimes it's good to go back to basics.

At the end of the day, this won't be to everyone's taste. But it is to mine and I'd recommend you to give it a listen. After all, how do you know you don't like something if you've never tried it?


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Ben Howard - The Fear

Island Records has had a history of having great folk singers on their roster. Just Nick Drake and John Martyn on their own could justify this statement but there are many more too. With Ben Howard signing last year and his debut album released already, they could have the next big thing on their hands in the world of folk.

"The Fear" is the fourth track released from his debut album, "Every Kingdom". In it, you can hear many influences including the likes of Mumford & Sons, The Gaslight Anthem and to an extent, a similar vocal style to Ed Sheeran.

Overall, it's a good song. It starts off with a nice, little folky riff before kicking into life with dramatic percussion and Ben's tender vocals. It's quite clear that Ben is a very talented songwriter as he croons his way through some of the better lyrics I've heard in a song this year. The song comes to an end with a refrain that builds up to a crescendo as Ben sings "I'll become what I deserve" over and over, capping what is, arguably, the highlight of the song.

Unfortunately though, we've all heard this before. As I listened to it, I couldn't help thinking how similar it is to Mumford & Sons. I have no doubt that this song will do very well, both in critical terms as well as chart success but it offers nothing new in an industry where fans & critics demand originality.


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The King Blues - The Future's Not What It Used To Be

"The future's not what it used to be/ So will the last one out please turn off the lights".

It's this kind of lyrical wordplay and social awareness that has made The King Blues so popular among the punk-lovers and the underground. This reference of The Sun's famous headline is just one of many highlights in, what has to be said, is some of The King Blues best work to date.

 The famous headline

(photo from businessinsider)

The track is actually quite a departure from their last album ("Save The World, Get The Girl"). It's a lot slower, more toned down and generally less aggressive than previous tracks. In fact, it kind of resembles "Ghost Town" towards the beginning. However, the lyrics are sure to keep their fanbase happy and a nice little bit of variety keeps the song fresh. A dubstep-influenced section near the end was quite a surprise upon first listen but grew on me after repeated listens. After all, change is good.

"The Future's Not What It Used To Be" is the 4th single from 2011 album "Punk & Poetry". If I were to recommend one album mentioned in this entire blog, it would be this one. The King Blues have outdone themselves on creating an album that is catchy yet carries an important message in each song. It also must be said that frontman Itch is one of the best songwriters of this generation. Do yourselves a favour and give it a listen.


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