Album Reviews: March's Top Of The Pops

Here's a round-up of what's gone under the NME-E microscope in March, plus a few other bits which you might think worthwhile.

The Rakes: 'Klang' (Rating: 6/10)
Ten tracks in little more than 30 minutes, means 'Klang' is almost over before you've got into it and, whilst it's no classic, it does its best to keep you entertained. Read more


Starsailor: 'All The Plans' (Rating: 8/10)
Four albums into their career, Starsailor have well and truly estalished themselves as one of the UK's top pop acts. The blend of inoffensive melodies, haunting ballads and water tight, often melodramatic lyrics are on show once again. Read more

U2: 'No Line On The Horizon' (Rating: 6/10)
Maybe the word desperate is a bit too strong, but Bono and Co's latest offering 'No Line On The Horizon' is, at best, lightweight. Read more


Its A Buffalo: 'Don't Be Scared' (Rating: 8/10)
Ten tracks of pseudo-folk, cum rockabilly akin to the likes of The Coral or Clap Your Hands Say Yeah hustle and bustle along for just over 30 minutes and have certainly put a spring in my step on the way to work this week. Read more

The Trestles: 'Hard Faced Town' (Rating: 9/10)
After a week of having my ears invaded by The Prodigy, I needed something to heal my aural wounds and, despite the challenging title, 'Hard Faced Town' fits the bill perfectly. Read more

The Prodigy: 'Invaders Must Die' (Rating: 8/10)
The hairline may be receding, but the attitude is still there. The Prodigy have sent out a warning to all invaders... It's their fat, their land and they're living off it. Read more


Here's a couple of other soundbites too (if only I had the time to review them all!)....

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart: 'The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart' (Rating 8/10) Quality indie-pop from NYC. An unexpected, yet much appreciated discovery.


Empire Of The Sun: 'Walking On A Dream' (Rating 5/10)
Aussie glam-rock? Nah, didn't work for me either, but it takes all sorts...


Read February's review summary.

Weekly Round Up (30 Mar 2009)

Welcome to the latest batch of interesting (?) new stories from the music world.

Top Stories
Revolutionaries Manic Street Preachers have stopped the British National Party from using their 1998 Number 1 'If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next', after the far-right political party used the track as the backing for a video titled 'The Cesspit Called London' on their website and on a YouTube account without seeking permission to do so. The material was removed after SonyBMG, the band's label, issued a cease and desist order.

Ironically, the lyrics to that song concern the International Brigade – the group of volunteers who went to Spain to fight Franco's fascist ranks in the Spanish Civil War. Another example of the BNP's ignorance.

Back in the "cesspit", organisers of a campaign aiming to ensure that a suitable replacement is built for the London Astoria, which was forced to close in the name of urban development in January, held a rally outside the venue last Saturday.

Campaigners were asked to take their iPods with them in order to have a silent disco directly outside the venue, due for imminent demolition.

A campaign petition has now been signed by over 1,000 people, while the campaigners' official Facebook page has over 3,000 members.

Back in the 'Pool, Some of the city's best known musicians have teamed up with Liverpool players to honour the Hillsborough disaster, which "celebrates" its 20th anniversary in April.

Musicians including John Power (The La's, Cast), Peter Hooton (The Farm), Nick Kilroe (Echo And The Bunnymen) and Rob Taylor (The Troubadours) have recorded an updated version of Irish folk song and fans' favourite 'Fields Of Athernry'.

The song, which has been renamed 'Fields Of Anfield Road', also features vocals from the 'Kop Choir', made up of past players including Kenny Dalglish, Phil Thompson, John Aldridge, and Bruce Grobbelaar.

Speaking of the single, Hooton said he wants the track to be seen as a tribute.

"A lot of people have volunteered to get involved," he said. "It is a reworking of a Kop classic and I hope it raises awareness of the Hillsborough disaster and is a fitting tribute to the 96 and the survivors."

Starsailor frontman James Walsh, a big Liverpool fan, also appears on the track.

As a member of the "Blue half", I wish the project the very best. I was unfortunate to be around at the time and hope this serves as a deserved tribute to all those who were affected.

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.

Myspace Magic
Plenty happening on Myspace this week, in fact too much to summarise here. With no disrespect to the rest, the picks of the week are Loveday Fools, a band who will appear on this page in the next week or so and who have uploaded another new track to their page this week. 'The Year I Started Smoking' confirms their ability to bang out a quality melody. (And thanks for sending me a sneak preview, gents!).

Fellow friends, Alexis Blue, also uploaded some new sounds. Their debut album is available on a free download from their page. I seriously recommend a visit and listen.

Following the latest Myspace Magic interview with midlanders The Scholars, the lads have informed me that their demo album 'Turbulence', mentioned in the article, is available for full streaming on LastFM at the following link:

http://www.last.fm/music/the+scholars/turbulence

You can read the full interview here (shame on you if you haven't already!)

And finally, congratulations to Londoners We Have Band, who have won the Emerging Bands competition organised by the Glastonbury festival. The lucky gits will be on one of the main stages during the festival.

Reviews
No particularly important releases this week. Still pending is a write-up of 'Klang' by The Rakes, and a summary of this months top albums will appear soon.

Festival Fever
In the light of Los Planetas' cancellation ahead of this year's SOS 4.8 festival, the organisers have been quick to confirm Maximo Park as replacement and have also rescheduled the programme a little. Spiritualized have now moved from the Friday (May 1) to the Saturday, while the aforementioned Maximo Park will play the main stage on the opening night. You can check out the complete listings here.


Up the road, Benicassim's classic FIB festival announced more confirmed acts to accompany headline acts Oasis, Franz Ferdinand, Kings Of Leon and The Killers. The latest additions are Lily Allen (oh well!), Glasvegas and Mystery Jets. Other confirmed acts included TV On The Radio, Fight Like Apes and Late Of The Pier. Again, more information is available on the official webpage.

More next week.


Read all NME-E News

Album Review: Starsailor

Starsailor: All The Plans (EMD Int'l)

1. Tell Me It's Not Over
2. Boy In Waiting
3. The Thames
4. All The Plans
5. Neon Sky
6. You Never Get What You Deserve
7. Hurts Too Much
8. Stars And Stripes
9. Change My Mind
10. Listen Up
11. Safe At Home

Four albums into their career, Starsailor have well and truly estalished themselves as one of the UK's top pop acts. The blend of inoffensive melodies, haunting ballads and water tight, often melodramatic lyrics are on show once again.

The album kicks off with 'Tell Me It's Not Over', a tale of a man who refuses to accept the end of a relationship. The track is brought to life by the punchy piano intro. The next couple of tracks are nothing to write home about, but the middle section of the album really hits the emotions.

Title track 'All The Plans' sets the ball rolling with a trademark Starsailot melody, while 'Neon Sky', 'You Never Get What You Deserve' and 'Hurts Too Much' are pure elegance - James Walsh's exquisite vocals wrapped up in heart-touching guitar riffs.

'Stars and 'Stripes' takes an eloquent pop at imperialism and its failings - "the ground on which you stand, not owned by any man" and there is still time to 'Listen Up' before the album concludes its 40 minute journey through your emotional system.

There are no radical changes to their style on this new release, but while the likes of Keane or Coldplay seem to have worn a bit thin, Starsailor are still full of beans.

Top Track: 'All The Plans'
Album Rating: 8/10





Last 5 NME-E reviews:
U2: 'No Line On The Horizon'
Its A Buffalo: 'Don't Be Scared'
The Trestles: 'Hard Faced Town EP'
The Prodigy: 'Invaders Must Die'
Lily Allen: 'It's Not Me, It's You'

Read all NME-E reviews