SINGLE REVIEWS 13/08/21

Published on 13 August 2021 at 04:13

 

'We Are The People' is the new release from The Jonny Ash Band (who are playing at our Indie All Dayer in Hull next month, tickets on sale here). HUGE guitars on this one, a whirling wall of sound that is reminiscent of early The Verve before the song settles down into a more 1990's Madchester influenced sound. The chorus rolls off the tongue, a tour de force of fast rhymes and epic-ness. We have known for a while now that The Jonny Ash band are something special. 'We Are The People' is their best song to date, which covers a lot of ground. This is our Single Of The Week and if such an accolade existed, would be our Single Of The Month too. Phenomenal.

 

We're All Reytons

 

On to this week's other new releases and The Reytons deliver 'Landslide', the latest single to be lifted from the Rotherham band's forthcoming debut album, 'Kids Off The Estate'. With a dark sounding  opening punk-rock riff, 'Landslide' morphs into a lyrically melancholic The Reytons-by-numbers affair. The track will sit perfectly fine on the album but it is by no means in the top tier of The Reytons tunes. The band have admittedly set their own standard remarkably high with such previous releases as 'Take Me Home', 'Tallest Man In The Nightclub', 'Red Smoke', and 'Shoebox' (you get the picture). I'm sounding like I've found a fiver and I'm moaning because it wasn't a tenner here. Good tune...Jade Bird's second album came out today and so did new single 'Candidate' (I think). Anyway, this is Jade back to her best, and I suspect is a song that didn't make the first album. Her recent single releases have been lacklustre, veering into arty folk territory so it is pleasant that 'Candidate' has some edge and a riff straight out of 90's indie-rock, a sound that brought Jade Bird to the table in the first place. A tremendous song...BLOXX follow up last years fabulous 'Lie Out Loud' album (read our review here) with new EP 'Pop Culture Radio'. The four songs (as it should be for an EP; any more than five it's an album, less that four, a single release) combine to make a near-perfect  collection. Opener 'Everything I've Ever Learned' is polished until its edges have gone but is catchy, smile-a-long summer pop at its best all the same. 'Magnet' has a disco feel to it and has a definite early Madonna vibe. The title track 'Pop Culture Radio' is the standout here, a glorious ear-worm anthem with some depth to the lyrics to go along with the sugar-coated music. Final song 'Emily' is the most traditionally indie sounding song, one that sits nicely with the band's earlier releases. It has been a long time coming for BLOXX. A band with undeniable songwriting talent who seemed to struggle to find their forte in the past. They've found it now. A great release...Bristol-based rock outfit Little Thief have released 'Freak', a single lifted from their  upcoming debut album 'Under The Patio', which is out in September. The song starts off with a sweet guitar riff that is as catchy as it gets. The vocal here is in the style of  Peter Gabriel (look him up), - a warm, soulful tone . 'Freak' has a retro feel and charm about it that will resonate with older readers. A reminder that there was a time when great pop-rock music was churned out regularly...Hull band The Avenues released 'Beautiful Shoes' last week, which is from the band's upcoming new EP 'The View's Amazing'. Described by the band as being about media manipulation, it is a blistering, lyrically heavy and melodic indie-rock tune. 'Beautiful Shoes' is accomplished in its sound and the band haven't been afraid to embrace elements of charming indie-pop here. A solid release...Across the M62 and up the A1 to Newcastle now and glam rockers Midnight Chic have released their new one, 'Can't Get Enough'. This one is predictably retro in its sound but man does front man Timmy Taylor have a perfect rock voice. With big, no-nonsense riffs and fiery guitar licks, 'Can't Get Enough' is a fun listen. That's it for this week - Kev.

 

All of the above releases can be listened to on our Spotify Playlist here.

 

TICKETS FOR THE HULL INDIE ALL-DAYER THAT TAKES PLACE NEXT MONTH ARE ON SALE HERE. 90'S BRITPOP ICONS NORTHERN UPROAR HEADLINE A FULL DAY OF LIVE MUSIC. OTHER PERFORMERS INCLUDE THE VOYD, THE RILLS, THE SHERATONS, THE SUPERLATIVES, JONNY ASH BAND, JESS KEMP, INDOOR FOXES, HAWKE THE BAND AND AUDIOTOWN.

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