Month: January 2024

FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES Move To Classic Rock With Their Staggering 5th LP ‘DARK RAINBOW’

Posted on by JL

26 January 2024


Press photo

British alt rockers FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES have
their 5th full length, baptized DARK RAINBOW out today.

Kerrang says: “Some people’s perception of them may remain stuck in the seething punk rock of the singer’s youth but, in truth – bar the post-pandemic rage unleashed on previous album Sticky – in the studio, they have long since been moving closer to Arctic Monkeys than Gorilla Biscuits. It’s their ambitious fifth record, however – augmented with pianos, synths and strings, heavy with mature power ballads and emotionally charged throughout – that might just make the world appreciate them as the consummate modern rock band they have become.” Full interview here. Score: 4/5.


Album artwork

TUTV: With tensely emotive singles Man Of The Hour and Brambles, tattoo artist Carter seemed to let his angry punk days behind him and move towards classic rock. Now the album confirms that surprising, bold move.

And it’s a truly staggering record, filled with several melodramatic power ballads that generate goosebumps and some stoner rock ebullitions. Carter sings his heart out with monumental vivaciousness. A vocal tour de force throughout, dealing with mixed love emotions. Dark Rainbow will impact your ears for a very long time.

Singles/clips: Man Of The Hour / Brambles

– MAN OF THE HOUR –

– BRAMBLES –

ALBUM

FC & TR: Instagram – Linktree
TUTV: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter

THE SWEET Topped The UK Charts This Day 51 Years Ago With ‘BLOCKBUSTER’

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

26 January 2024

British glam and glitter stars THE SWEET were a non-stop hit machine
between 1968 and 1977, thanks to profilic songwriter duo Nicky Chinn
and Mike Chapman who also composed for Smokie, Suzy Quatro, Mud and
Racey among others.

One of their Number Ones in the UK was BLOCKBUSTER,
that topped the charts this day, 51 years ago.

A blockbuster it was.

“Does anyone know the way, did we hear someone say
(We just haven’t got a clue what to do)
Does anyone know the way, there’s got to be a way
To blockbuster”

Frontman Brian Connolly passed away in 1997 due to kidney failure,
liver failure and repeated heart attacks. He was only 51 years old. R.I.P.

Believe It Or Not ‘ELVIS IS ALIVE’ – Irish Graceland-Based Dream Pop Team THE CRAYON SET Wrote A Song About It

Posted on by JL

Daily electricity to load your batteries

26 January 2024

Band: THE CRAYON SET
Who: Dublin outfit producing
hook-filled alt pop.

New single: ELVIS IS ALIVE

Title track from their new 3-track EP. Stream here.

“The song is about conspiracy theories – and how a conspiracy theory can
sometimes be more comforting than the truth or the reality of your situation.
It’s the song the mainstream media doesn’t want you to hear.”

TUTV: This Irish, Graceland-based, dream pop team reveal that among all Elvis imposters the real King is still hanging around, somewhere in a ghetto. The revelation comes with a glossy pop tune that progresses in slow-motion, gentle and gracious. Its whispering vocals create a kind of mysterious feel. Mellow strings and soft guitar glimmer accentuate that feel. Let’s make this a hit so the mainstream can’t but play this bittersweet symphony. One more thing: trust me, The Crayon Set are for real (I think).

The stars are not light
The sky is really blue
The Earth is not round
There’s a man on the moon

The ozone is fine
The sea won’t ever rise
Elvis is alive
And you are still mine

I don’t believe what you tell me
I don’t believe that it’s true
I’ve no time for your nonsense
You’ll be back home soon

STREAM


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BUY


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LIAM GALLAGHER And JOHN SQUIRE – 2nd Track ‘MARS TO LIVERPOOL’ From Upcoming Album Out Now

Posted on by JL

Daily noise that works faster than any stimulant

26 January 2024

Super Manchester duo LIAM GALLAGHER and The Stone Roses‘ JOHN SQUIRE have their collaborative longplayer, simply titled LIAM GALLAGHER JOHN SQUIRE out on March 1, followed by a 13-date tour (see all below).


Daft album artwork designed by John Squire

Liam: “I think John’s a top songwriter. Everyone always bangs on about him as a guitarist,
but he’s a top songwriter too, man, no two ways about it as far as I’m concerned. There’s not enough of his music out there, whether it’s with the Roses or himself. It’s good to see him back writing songs and fucking good ones. The melodies are mega and then the guitars are a given. But I think even when you take all the fucking guitars off, you can play the songs all on acoustic and they’ll all still blow your mind.”

Following the lead-single, psych-pop treat Just Another Rainbow, we get appetizer number two. MARS TO LIVERPOOL is an equally easy-going tune, you’ll sing/whistle/hum along after a couple of spins. Both doing their familiar thing. Exactly what I expected, no more, no less, except for the daft artwork. Manchester rules, once more.


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3/13 – Glasgow, Barrowland
3/14 – Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
3/16 – Dublin, Olympia
3/18 – Newcastle, O2 City Hall
3/20 – Manchester, O2 Apollo
3/21 – Manchester, O2 Apollo
3/23 – Leeds, O2 Academy
3/25 – London, O2 Forum Kentish Town
3/26 – London, Troxy
4/2 – Paris, Salle Pleyel
4/4 – Berlin, Columbiahalle
4/6 – Milan, Fabrique
4/11 – Brooklyn, Paramount

GALLAGHER SQUIRE: Website

No Retirement For Former DIRE STRAITS Maestro MARK KNOPFLER – New Album, First Single

Posted on by JL

New striking strokes

25 January 2024


Press photo

I guess MARK KNOPFLER doesn’t need an introduction. The now 74-year-old Scottish guitar hero wrote/recorded/released 6 LPs with Dire Straits between 1978 and 1991.

In 1996 he had his first solo album Golden Heart out.
He also released 9 soundtrack albums, so far.

Over the years he turned more to softer music, to folk, country and roots
vibes. His new, 10th album, titled ONE DEEP RIVER lands on April 12th.

Press info: “The record offers an unstoppable flow of future Knopfler classics, with their customarily learned lyrics and refined guitar textures. They draw on a lifetime of genre-crossing ingredients and influences in blues, folk, rock and beyond, and as usual, reveal their charms with unhurried grace and depth.”

First single AHEAD OF THE GAME is described as a wistful, perhaps autobiographical,
story about a singer/songwriter struggling to make it, set to a distinctively Knopfleresque classic riff.

It’s a smooth, melodic, country-flavored tune with his trademark sparkling guitar play.


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Mark Knopfler: Instagram – Facebook

Argentinian Punks Kill Fascists With Synths On New Blistering Compilation ‘ESTE SINTE MATA FASCISTS’

Posted on by JL

25 January 2024

One month after the assumption in Argentina of the new ultra-right-wing president Javier Milei, Buenos Aires-based indie label Fichines Ruido Zafarla released a compilation called Este Sinte Mata Fascistas / This Synth Kills Fascists featuring 18 Argentinian synth-punk bands. The idea was to bring together projects with a punk attitude and the digital sound of synthesizers and electronic drums.

The album’s title is, I’m pretty sure, a nod to legendary folk icon Woody Guthrie
(July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) who had a sticker on his guitar saying ‘This Machine
Kills Fascists’.

The compilation is a fierce whirlwind of barbed wire punk protest against Argentina‘s
new dictatorial leader who got in power only last December. Trust me, you don’t need
to understand Spanish to feel/hear here the blistering rage, the scorching frustration
and the very loud and very clear screams for libertad/freedom.

Punk started as an anti-establishment movement with politically outspoken spirit.
It still is and always be, of which this 18-track compilation is a vivacious and fiercely combative example.

Este Sinte Mata Fascistas


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Fichines Ruido Zafarla: Facebook – Instagram

Legendary Folk-Pop Songtress MELANIE Passed Away Aged 76

Posted on by JL

25 January 2024

American folk-pop songstress MELANIE was born Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk on
3 Feb 1947 in New York City. She had a unique, intensely passionate, slightly hoarse
voice, an important part of her musical work. She recorded/released 20+ LPs and
scored several hits with formidable songs like Brand New Key, Oh Happy Day (cover),
Lay Down and Beautiful People.

She passed away last Sunday, aged 76.

Her 3 children broke the news with this message.

Dear Ones,

This is the hardest post for us to write, and there are so many things we want to say, first, and there’s no easy way except to say it… Mom passed, peacefully, out of this world and into the next on January, 23rd, 2024.

We are heartbroken, but want to thank each and every one of you for the affection you have for our Mother, and to tell you that she loved all of you so much! She was one of the most talented, strong and passionate women of the era and every word she wrote, every note she sang reflected that.

Our world is much dimmer, the colors of a dreary, rainy Tennessee pale with her absence today, but we know that she is still here, smiling down on all of us, on all of you, from the stars.

We ask tonight, Wednesday January 24th, at 10pm central time, each of you lights a candle in honor of Melanie. Raise, raise them high, high up again. Illuminate the darkness, and let us all be connected in remembrance of the extraordinary woman who was wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to so very many people.

We are planning a Celebration of Life for Mom and it will be open to all of you who want to come and celebrate her. The details will be announced as soon as they are in place. We look forward to seeing you there.

At this time please allow us, her family, privacy as we grieve for her, remember
her, and figure out how to navigate this crazy world without her.

Thank you all for your love – you meant so very much to her.

Love and Peace,

Leilah, Jeordie, and Beau Jarred

– LAY DOWN –

– BRAND NEW KEY –

MELANIE: Bio – Discography

JO BELOW – Finnish Hard Rockers Go Mad On Their New Helter Skelter Hammer Blow ‘FOREVER MINE’

Posted on by JL

Daily noise to load your batteries

25 January 2024


Promo picture by Sami Heiniö

Band: JO BELOW
Who: Hard rock 4-piece
from Finland.

New single: FOREVER MINE
Piece from their upcoming 5-track EP ‘New Worlds‘
out on March 15.

Roni (guitarist): “Musically, the song is inspired by all these great bands
from 70’s and 80’s. We’re all big fans of bands like Aerosmith, KISS, and
Guns N’ Roses, and we wanted to embrace those influences in this song.”

Johanna (singer): ”The lyrics are about the power struggle in a relationship.
The song tells a story of bitterness, jealousy, and the desire to own somebody.”

TUTV: This heavy haymaker punches you in the face from the get-go.

Forever Mine thrives on a relentless, roasting riff reminiscent off Slash‘s
distinct pyrotechnics and vocalist Johanna‘s agonizing vocal outburst is
a loud and clear sign of her obsessive state of mind.

This solid gold hammer blow will make all headbangers
out there go nuts. No rest for the wicked. Helter skelter.

You make me mad
You make me bad


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Jo Below: Instagram – Facebook

TUTV: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter