Loney, dear
I am John (Regal)
One of my favourite songs off the album, Loney, Noir, which should take him (or them, I’m not sure) far, in the future. They already have a big tour planned, starting this April, which includes the Social. It’s definitely worth a listen, you might even end up at the gig. Dan Lees
Loney, dear website
Five O’clock Heroes
Skin Deep (GLAZE Records)
A nice indie song but there’s nothing particularly special about it. It’s the kind of song I’d imagine listening to, liking at first and getting bored of within a week. The video, which comes on the single, is a slight variation on the usual, stand and perform indie video, but once again nothing special. Dan Lees
Five O'clock Heroes website.jpg)
The Rapture
Pieces of the people we love (Vertigo)
Can’t say this is one of their best records, the vocals are rather irritating and part of the drum beat sounds very similar to the noise a spray paint can makes when you shake it.
I’m sure, however, that if you are a fan of The Rapture, you’ll enjoy this. Dan Lees
The Rapture website
South
You are one (Cooking vinyl)
This is the first time I’ve heard of South, but apparently their on their third album. A great contrasting song, they’ve mixed hard playing guitars with a slower more relaxed beat. This is a nice song for the summer. Dan Lees
South on Cooking Vinyl
The Good, The Bad and The Queen
Green Fields (Parlophone)
Can Damon Albarn ever put a foot wrong? Green Fields is another classic track; with jangly guitars and a slick bass rhythm both so reminiscent of the 60’s it’s hard to believe it wasn’t written 40 odd years ago. That 60’s vibe combined with the modern twist of Albarn’s voice makes superb listening. Josh Payne
The Good, The Bad and The Queen website
The Answer
Be What You Want (Albert)
Ireland’s The Answer having been causing quite a stir on the classic rock scene recently and this single does seem to justify the fuss. This is the kind of song that makes you want to buy a convertible, find a straight road and drive, just make sure you don’t take your hands off the wheel to many times while you shred on your air guitar! Josh Payne
The Answer website
Jim Burgess
Get Back in Ya Cadillac (unsigned)
Jim Burgess is an absolute gem of an independent artist. Some superb acoustic country influenced acoustic guitar coupled with Britpop esque vocals almost certainly by the Gallaghers makes for a truly original sound. The addition of a backing band on the recording adds depth to the song yet judging by the B side ‘Ghost Rider’ which was recorded live sans backing band Jim certainly cuts it live on his own. Josh Payne
Jim Burgess website
Circuits
Pistols at Dawn (Try Science!)
Ever since this reached me I haven’t been able to stop listening to it. Circuits are a mish mash of reggae, rock, ska and plenty of other genres to boot, yet it all comes together to create a truly fantastic sound. Pistols at dawn is a song that brightens the dreariest of days and I’m sure that come the summer many a party will be dancing to this… Josh Payne
Circuits website
Thirteen Senses
All the Love in your Hands (Mercury)
Thirteen Senses aren’t exactly bad but they seem to do very little to try and distinguish themselves from the current crowd of overproduced indie rock out there at the moment. All the love in your hands is certainly radio friendly but lacks the depth to be worth listening to more than a couple of times. Josh Payne
Thirteen Senses website
Fall Out Boy
Thnks Fr Th Mmrs (Island)
This song’s lyrics are bizarre and yet the song makes sense. It has a lot of lines that are really smart and stand out. It helps that they have a singer that is talented and everything just falls in to place just right. Mags Farfouti
Fall Out Boy website
Alexisonfire
Boiled frogs (Hassle records)
The track is addictive and should be on repeat constantly. The lyrics make you think about life. It is a motivation song for those who need it and an awesome song for those who don’t. It’s aggressive and it’s definitely worth seeing them live. Mags Farfouti
Alexisonfire website
The Strange Death Of Liberal England
A day another day (Fantastic Plastic)
The begging sounds good for a ‘T-mobile’ advert its very calming, when you get deeper into the song it’s not as calming. The vocals are strong, but you cant really understand what is said. Definitely for boring days when you feel a bit depressed. For some reason it seems like you can’t be bothered to speak when this song is playing! Maria Farfouti
The Strange Death of Liberal England website.jpg)
Good Shoes
Never meant to hurt you (Brille)
WOW! I love them, very upbeat, songs you can sing them, dance and the lyrics are quite ‘real’. All of the songs have something unique about them, I would say these are good for when you are with your friends, or when you are playing on the computer and need background music! Very youthful, lively they’re great!! Maria Farfouti
Good Shoes website
Bright Eyes
Four Winds Saddle Creek
The begging is very lively, bubbly and fun, the vocals are really good, but the lyrics are a bit strange, but they do fit the song really well. I would recommend it for when doing homework, it gives a positive atmosphere, or for when you want to listen to something when you have nerves! Maria Farfouti
Bright Eyes website.jpg)
Klaxons
Gravity’s Rainbow
The self-proclaimed 4 Horsemen of 2012 are currently sweeping the indie-rave scene all across the world, with current single Gravity’s Rainbow injecting itself into the hearts and minds of every rave and club possible. A heavy bass line mashed together with hypnotising drums makes for a track destined to be a hit. Matthew Abbott
Klaxons website
The Holloways
Dancefloor
The song Dancefloor is built around some inspired guitar riffs and accompanied by some pounding drum action, with lyrics about a night on the town in modern day London. Things are looking up for this punchy quartet, with this track sure to rocket them to more success. Matthew Abbott
The Holloways website
Kings of Leon
On Call
The much-anticipated return of the Tennessee 4 piece could be described as good or bad. On Call is creative, daring, catchy, but it also seems a bit on the safe side, with a bit of a lack of creativity on the lyrics. Moving away from their upbeat, catchy style and towards a slightly more gloomy and dark genre could be a turn for the worst, but oppositely another successful outing for the band from Southern America. Matthew Abbott
Kings of Leon website
The Needles
Girl I used to Know (Dangerous)
Girl I Used to Know, sounds like early Elvis Costello or something along the lines of Weezer, and it has quality. It’s got some fine lyrics and upbeat sing-along choruses, it all ties together into an electric little single with a very likeable sound. Oliver Levers
The Needles website
Maximo Park
Our Velocity Single (Warp)
Maximo Park are on top form. This is a proper single, with a proper tune. It keeps you listening all the way through and builds and builds. I love its brilliant distinctive sound and you just know that the next albums got to be good. Oliver Levers
Maximo Park website
The Pigeon Detectives
Romantic Type
This is indie pop at its very finest; many more tracks like this and The Pigeon Detectives are in danger of becoming absolutely huge this year. Although Romantic Type is quite formulaic in it’s approach, with familiar ‘shouty’ lyrics and thrashing punk guitar, it’s a stunning single from a band with a lot of well deserved confidence. Matthew Abbott
The Pigeon Detectives website
Maria McKee
A Good Heart (Cooking Vinyl)
Listening to this a highly confusing and tiresome ordeal. The songs are saturated with repetitive preachy nonsense, which is a shame because she does have a good voice. It’s disappointing and kept me scowling most of the way through just because it really fails to spark into something memorable. Oliver Levers
Maria McKee website
Hayseed Dixie
Holidays in the Sun (Cooking Vinyl)
An annoying re-tread of the Sex Pistols lesser-classic. Like being punched in the eye and laughed at, both songs bullied me into self-loathing and hatred. If you value music and hate horrific covers as much as I then save yourself and avoid this like the hideous monster it is. Oliver Levers
Hayseed Dixie website
Make Good Your Escape
Cut The Ropes (Fierce Panda)
This song definitely grows on you, and after listening to it on repeat for what must have been the past 15 minutes I can see it as being a top download when it’s released. The slow starting track builds throughout and teamed with it’s emotional lyrics show it to be an impressive record that really pays off. The Indie/Rock band have been on the underground circuit for the past year, and by the looks of this track we’re about to hear a lot more from them. Rhiannon D’Arcy
MGYE on myspace
AFS
Mothers’ Day (Atomic Duster)
Adham Fisher took the voice and inspiration from a tape he got with an old Amiga computer he bought at a garage sale, the man on the tape tells his kids off for not sending anything for mothers’ day. It’s bizarre and gets full marks for originality. However, it’s very repetitive and lifeless. Oliver Levers
AFS website.jpg)
The Hours
Back When You Were Good (A&M)
With it’s strong orchestral intro this song certainly sounds different from everything else we’re hearing on download at the moment. But after listening to it a couple of times I can safely say it’s not for me. If you’re looking for a slow, steady beat with good, though repetitive lyrics sung with amazing male vocals then this is for you. However, I felt I was constantly waiting for a build up in tempo or some sort of climax that never appeared and while the song is good, It’s just too slow for me. Rhiannon D’Arcy
The Hours website
Mr Hudson and The Library
Too Late, Too Late (Mercury)
The first realist R&B/indie band to emerge from London for a long time at least, named interestingly Mr Hudson & the Library, I guess we should never judge this book by its cover. Well straight away we can hear the typical London pub-crawl scene expressed with a twist, this is mellow, all so relaxing and completely reggae. As we are taken for a ride through a night on the town in London the highlight of the song has to be the introduction of the brass assembly followed by simply exquisite classical piano renditions. Off beat rhythms in check, it’s Reggae, it’s pop, it’s great. Rob Milton
Mr Hudson website
Nneka
God of Mercy (Yo Mama)
From Hamburg, Germany emerges Christian soul singer Nneka. The track opens with an intersting ambient, R&B beat giving way to some weak and rather dull version of “rapping” although knowing little about the artist it easy to see that rapping is not her forte, especially when listening to her rather soothing and uplifting soul voice. Nneka could easily be likened to that of masie gray and other soul singers of the sort but however Nneka lacks the talent to be able to right a somewhat interesting chorus rather than relying on repitition. Although a voice to be beckoned to the high heavens, this song lacks any real content with tedious rhythmic vocals and an unimaginative chorus. Rob Milton
Nneka website
Mark Ronson-
Stop Me feat. Daniel Merriweather (Columbia)
After having had this track on repeat for the past five minutes it’s easy to say that “Stop Me” could easily be one of this summer’s anthems. The Smith’s meet The Surpreme’s in this laid back approach to a club hit and maybe this time Ronson will get his deserved recognition after being in the industry for so long. Stick to the original though. The remixes lack that much needed dance factor although good for lengthy listening. Sarah Milton
Mark Ronson website
Arctic Monkeys
Brianstorm (Domino Recordings)
It seems that for the few of us who didn’t catch on to the craze last year, “Brianstorm” will now take you to that place of twangy guitars and jump-about rhythms that will definitely make you dance. But for the followers of the band, this track seems to be drowning out the all important quirky vocals and may question whether this is a follow up of a critically acclaimed album or a progression to something new; or arguably both. Sarah Milton
Arctic Monkeys website
Hanson
Go and Ugly Truth (3CG Records)
The Hanson brothers won’t give up and good for them. “Go” is a million miles away from the hit we all know and love. But different is not necessarily bad. A beautifully melodic first track followed by the rockier “Ugly Truth” which has such strong vocals and guitars. You’ll be turning this one up and singing along. Sarah Milton
Hanson website
