Album Review: Silversun Pickups

Silversun Pickups: 'Swoon' (Dangerbird)

1. There's No Secrets This Year
2. The Royal We
3. Growing Old Is Getting Old
4. It's Nice To Know You Work Alone
5. Panic Switch
6. Draining
7. Sort Of
8. Substitution
9. Catch And Release
10. Surrounded

This L.A indie quartet first started making themselves heard on this side of the pond back in 2006 when they promoted their debut album 'Carnavas' with a series of support slots for Snow Patrol and Kaiser Chiefs.

The dreaded second album has been three years in the making, but it's been worth the wait. There is definitely an American sound to this album - the drums and bursts of melodrama accompanied by grungey guitar riffs are a real give away, but there is no disputing the general quality 'Swoon' has to offer.

The tracks seem to creep up on you and take you spiralling out of control before you have time to react, 'The Royal We' or 'Growing Old Is Getting Old' are both clear exponents. However, some just hit you in the face from the very beginning - personal favourite 'Panic Switch' an obvious example.

Brian Aubert's vocals are strong and varied enough to accompany the changes in rhythm and tone and the pace and intensity are maintained throughout this quality album from start to finish.

NME-E rating: 8/10
Top Track: 'Panic Switch'



Last 5 NME-E reviews:
The Enemy: 'Music For The People'
Maximo Park: ' Quicken The Heart'
The Maccabees: 'Wall Of Arms'
So Shush: Wistful Wanders
Doves: 'Kingdom Of Rust'

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Weekly Round Up (27 Apr 2009)

Hello everybody and welcome to another round up.

Top Stories
Seems like everybody is talking about money (or lack of) and downloading these days, so nme-e is going to jump on the bandwagon again....

Last week, Sir 'Poor' McCartney was mouthing off about illegal downloads and now we now why. The poor soul's personal fortune has dropped by 60 million pounds to a mere 400 million!!!!!!! No wonder he's talking about taking the bus. Meanwhile Dhani Harrison, who just a month ago complained that he was "losing money everyday" must be in a real state now that his personal fortune is down to 140 million. Now, I'm not going to be the one to condone or not downloading, but I hereby propose that the whole world downloads George Harrison's discography. If the money isn't going to George the God direct, why should it go to Dhani the Devil and not stay in our pockets?

At least someone with a bit of clout has offered a different perspective. Gary Lightbody, he of Snow Patrol, has spoken out in defence of the founders of The Pirate Bay, who as you now were jailed for a year a fined 2.4million pound for copyright offences on their page just a week ago.

In an interview with The Big Issue Scotland he said he thought they had been treated harshly, saying the sentences were "over the top".

"They shouldn’t have been jailed. A year in jail for someone doing that is crazy. The punishment doesn't fit the crime."
He also added that, unlike some musicians, he was not opposed to file-sharing.

"I'm not anti-filesharing at all. This is the modern way. This is what we've brought on ourselves and you have to live in the society you created. Music is available to everyone if they know how to get and I say, 'Fucking go for it'.

Before he got arrested, he also added that he paid for all his own music. Mind, could make for an interesting even in June when Snow Patrol support U2 in Barcelona, given Bono's recent statement about downloads killing the industry. Watch this space.

Incidentally, The Pirate Bay boys are still planning their appeal.

Myspace Magic
A few uploaded tunes to comment on this week, some new, some a blast from the past. Seattle based The Constabulary have uploaded a new track to their profile. If you like a bit of post-punk, check out 'Just A Memory', confirming The Constabulary as the west coast's answer to Interpol.

First timers on nme-europe (but not the last), BenSem from Wales have also added a new track to their profile. With a recently released album and a nomination at the Exposure Music Awards, BenSem could be ones to watch. A full interview will appear here soon.

Finally, Murcian veterans Los Marañones have added a couple of tracks from their legendary discography to the myspace profile. If you're not familiar with Señor Bañón and co, check out any of the tracks available, although 'Las Manzanas Del Mal' or 'A Miles De Años Luz' typify the musical and lyrical quality of this band.



Album Reviews
As promised last week, So Shush will be under the microscope in the next couple of days. Been having a listen to Gomez too and think I've unexpectedly come across another little find in the name of Hatcham Social. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs is also a decent listen (but not enough to merit a full review!)


Festival Fever
Murcia finally takes centre stage this week as it plays host to the SOS 4.8 festival over the bank holiday weekend. Friday and Saturday will see some of the best acts around (Duffy excepted) grace our presence during what promises to be a high-charged two days.



Just in case anyone's interested in my humble point of view, here's what I'd take in on the Friday (a father of two couldn't go both days!) and what I WILL be doing Saturday:

Friday 1st:
Warm up with a few beers for the Maximo Park set (21.00, main stage); avoid Duffy like the plague with Those Dancing Days and the start of the Spanish Editors, Catpeople on stage 2 and then back to Babyshambles, The Prodigy and Boys Noise. Friday is pretty simple really.

Saturday 2nd (my day):
This is a much tougher affair, mainly as The Wombats coincide with Underworld (still angry about that). Anyway, going to get into the spirit with Spiritualized, followed by Keane (as long as they don't play anything from 'Perfect Symmetry') and a spot of Murcian locals Second - who, incidentally are inviting fans to choose which tracks from their back catalogue they'd like to hear played during the gig - and then The Wombats (who get my vote over Underworld). A mad dash over to see the encore of Born Slippy and then back to Ladyhawke until I drop!

Don't miss..... The Prodigy on Friday. The Wombats on Saturday (and, if you're new to Spain, Second - they won't disappoint you!).

You can customise your timetable here.

Think that's about it. More next week!

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Weekly Round Up (09 Mar 2009)

Hello everybody. Here is the news.....

Top Stories
This week must be "International Promote Your New Release Week" or something similar, as every second news bit seems to be dedicated to a new album. Here's an example of just a few of them; Maximo Park will offer a free download of their new track 'Wrathlike' from the forthcoming album 'Quicken The Heart' on their webpage; Kasabian have named their third album 'West Rider Pauper Lunatic Asylum', which will be out in June; in the middle of the Blur reunion, Graham Coxon has announced the release of his new experimental album 'The Spinning Top', due out on May 15; Super Furry Animals will broadcast a live version of their new album 'Dark Nights/Light Years' their myspace page on Mar 16 coinciding with its digital release). Better start saving my cents!

The rest of the news appears to belong to veteran Irish rockers U2. On the back of claiming the tenth chart topping album of their career with 'No Line On The Horizon', the band have announced the first details of their forthcoming world stadium tour. The tour will kick off on June 30 at Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium, then continuing through Europe – including four UK dates and a Dublin show – before heading to north America.

Audiences will suuround the group on a specially designed stage and will also be able to enjoy support bands such as Glasvegas, Elbow, Kaiser Chiefs, Snow Patrol and Black eyed Peas.


As if that wasn't enough, they have also had a street in New York City named in their honour to celebrate the release of their brand new album. 53rd Street is now U2 Way. Shame the album is only average (more of that later).

Still in the States, Morrissey has had an eventful start to the US leg of his world tour. After cancelling the first few dates due to illness, he was reportedly interrogated by US immigration officials in Atlanta. You can read all about it on his myspace page blog, but he appears to be ready to take on the world if, in his words, "the world can take it".

Myspace Magic
Myspace has been unreal this week and I'm having serious trouble keeping up to date with things. Friend requests galore and stacks of really cool music mean the list of pending interviews is getting longer and longer. Its A Buffalo are the latest band to be featured, coinciding with the release of their debut album 'Don't Be Scared', which is currently on the iphone awaiting a formal review. I'll get the rest done as soon as I can, so please be patient.

Elsewhere, Liverpool's The Rackets have announced free downloads of their tracks on their myspace page. Don't be a fool and take them up on the offer, 'The Usual Suspects' is my personal recommendation.

Reviews
I foolishly got my hands on the new U2 release last week and will explain my foolishness in due course. Fortunately, I also got Its A Buffalo's 'Don't Be Scared', a review of which will appear shortly. I can see I'm going to be void of time to review everything I'd like to, so I might have to re-organise things a little. Let's see what I come up with - so much to listen to and only one pair of ears!


Festival Fever
Manic here too, with most of the big festivals finalising line ups. The V festival announced headline slots for Oasis and The Killers. Tickets went on sale on March 6, the Chemlsford show sold out in two hoursand their ar eonly a handful of ticket left for Staffordshire! Myspace Magic bands The Little Hydes and Metropolitans are taking part in the Road To V competition, so please click on the following link to see how you can help them. You can also find link to the official website on the sidebar and keep abreast of developments of this and other top festivals there.

And finally.....
Couldn't sign off without a special mention to local Murcian boys Second who offered a fabulous gig last Saturday night. The quality was outstanding in all aspects and confirms them as one of the top bands in Spain right now. Check out the youtube video below, where Jose Angel and co. invite fans on to the stage to take part in the final track - what a shame I was so far back! Enjoy.



Take it easy.

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