5 BEST ALBUMS – FEBRUARY 2025

1 March 2025

Band: AVALANCHE PARTY
Who: High-voltage outfit from Yorkshire Moors (UK),
formed by brothers Joe and Jordan Bell, vocalist and
bassist respectively.

Album: DER TRAUM UBER ALLES
Their second one.

Press info: “New album ‘Der Traum Über Alles’, is compared to their debut a more
considered, full-formed beast, its dark underbelly undoubtedly a result of it being
conceived during and after the caged-animal isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

TUTV: This record is a funk and punk, buzz and fuzz, move and groove jukebox.
Avalanche Party have become masterly songwriters who know exactly how to construct adrenalized knockout killers with the right combination of roasting riffs, jagged hooks, bang-on licks, powerhouse drumming, effervescent synths and sultry horns here and there.

You’ll hear echoes of Scottish celebs Franz Ferdinand, English post-punks Squid and
rowdy rockers Young Knives, but all 3 references’ new album can’t match the fireworks extravaganza of Der Traum Uber Alles.

KEY SINGLE

ALBUM


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Instagram – Linktree
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New album artwork

Band: THE MURDER CAPITAL
Who: Impassioned Irish mavericks.

 

Album: BLINDNESS

The Line Of Best Fit (UK) says: “The album captures the band at their most
independent, revelling in high-energy performances while embracing a broad
eclecticism.”

TUTV: The critics are divided for different reasons. My trained ears tell me that TMC
made their best work so far. Extremely passionate, feverishly absorbing and brutally honest.

Singer-songwriter James McGovern still fights his demons, still delivers soul-stirring vocals and the band still back him up with a vehement boldness. Sterling songs, sterling sound, sterling execution.

KEY SINGLE

ALBUM


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Tour Dates 2025 – Instagram
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Album artwork

Band: CUT THE KIDS IN HALF
Who: Boston via Rahway, NJ rock siblings Charlie and Jack Silver, named after Radiohead‘s line in Morning Bell. They bring a fresh approach to the age-old genre with songs sure to make their predecessors proud with catchy hooks and an emotional tenderness.

Album: WHAT WE BECAME

Press info: “Vignettes of struggle, loss and life come to the forefront, soundtracked by soaring guitars and sticky melodies. Heading to college in Boston, the brothers soon added guitarist Kevin Mortenson and bassist, keyboardist and trumpeter Joey Sorkin to their live trio. A group of native New Jerseyans, Cut the Kids in Half follows in the state’s storied musical tradition of raw but fine-tuned lyricism paired with gritty guitars.”

TUTV: Young, but already sounding as seasoned musicians who know exactly
how to fabricate solid pop/rock songs of high-quality. Whether they speed up,
slow down or groove in between, they grab your aural attention and hold it
from start to finish.

Acoustic and electric guitars, drums and bass, all work together as well-trained
teammates. The vocals are pretty impressive, full of vim and vigour. With this
highly promising debut these kids will become talk of the indie town quite soon.

SINGLE

ALBUM


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Instagram – Linktree

Band: THE LUMINEERS
Who: Lauded folk pop-rockers
from Denver, Colorado.

Album: AUTOMATIC
Their 5th longplayer.

MOJO Magazine: “The combination of Schultz’s desperately appealing voice and
Fraites’s lonesome but poppy piano still hits hard. They’re still doing things right.”

TUTV: These are ecstatic days for folk rock-pop fans with the new album from The Luminineers. The Lathums‘ 3rd one, titled Matter Does Not Define, which lands on 7th March and Mumford & Sons 5th, named Rushmere, which comes out on March 25th.

Except for anthemic, upbeat openers So Long and Asshole they entice with a series
of sepia-colored torch songs, passional musings and picturesque balladry. C’mon,
all you romantic hearts, lit some candles and enjoy the longing melodrama at play
here.

SINGLE

ALBUM


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Instagram – Linktree
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Artist: GHOST ON TV
Who: Boston-based alternative singer-songwriter who found himself in Japan several years ago, wandering back alleys, absorbing a more spiritual sense of culture, and embracing a kind of creative balance that had previously eluded him. There, he understood the art of being quietly loud and, as he puts it bluntly, to “be impactful with less.

Album: MISTER SILENCE

With this record, disparate elements of styles and sounds are wrapped tightly around a rock music core. And like a back alley of Tokyo, what lurks on the other side, beyond what our mind perceives, may not be what we first anticipated. When DePasquale looked beyond what was right in front of him, Ghost on TV truly found its rhythm.

DePasquale: “Some of these songs are about being tired of all the noise, and some are about getting old, losing memories, getting older and becoming wiser, standing up for yourself, being bold, and also just knowing your humbled place in the world.”

The album’s artwork is a photograph of DePasquale and a friend, backs turned, walking through Tokyo’s back alleys in search of a hidden cocktail bar, with elements of bright new technology jostling with old-school decay, reflects a scene like something out of a dystopian film, drawing us deeper into this world.

Instagram

TUTV: Beneath all the distortion, sonically and vocally, there’s always a galvanizing
groove generated mostly by a busy bass, that carries the songs and infuse them with
a magnetizing hauntingness which turns the record into an eerie trip you need to repeat
a couple of spins to let it sink in. Don’t get lost in translation, people.

SINGLE


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ALBUM


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TURN UP THE VOLUME

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CUT THE KIDS IN HALF – Young Wolves Score Again With New Punchy Ripper ‘SONG OF TWO HUMANS’

Daily electricity to load your batteries

29 January 2025


Photo credit: Ava Nagy

Band: CUT THE KIDS IN HALF
Who: Boston via Rahway, NJ rock trio of 3 youngsters, including 2 brothers,
Charlie and Jack Silver, named after Radiohead‘s line in Morning Bell. They bring
a fresh approach to the age-old genre with songs sure to make their predecessors
proud with catchy hooks and an emotional tenderness.


Album artwork

Single: SONG OF TWO HUMANS
Track from their upcoming debut LP, titled
What We Became, arriving this Friday.
The song tackles a tumultuous relationship.

Jack Silver (vocalist and lyricist). “I wrote the first lines after a strained conversation with an old friend, and somewhere along the way, it became about a relationship It’s about what it’s like when you discover everything about someone, and one day you realize you don’t like what you’ve found.”


Album artwork

TUTV: Following one of the grooviest, funkiest, punkiest rippers of 2024 with
A Good Man Died (listen below) these young wolves share this new, third piece
from their upcoming debut LP.

Again they show, with punchy panache, what you can do with a zippy combination
of infectious riffs, mettlesome hooks, a clean-cut drums/bass tandem, pithy vocals
and a cutting chorus. Bang-on score. Bring on the album, kids.

WATCH/LISTEN

STREAM


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A Good Man Died

Instagram – Linktree

20 BEST TRACKS OF THE MONTH – MAY 2024

The best of the best of the past month

ALL TOGETHER


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TRACK-BY-TRACK

1. ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’ by AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS (Australia)


Press photo by Zac Bayly

This Australian rawk ‘n’ roll tornado released their second LP ‘Comfort To Me
already 3 years ago and they’re still touring it. It calls popularity and success.

But they found some time recently to record this belter. U Should Not Be Doing
That
bounces forth and back, and funks and punks with big beats, schreeching
guitars, a sexy sax and Amyl ‘s sneering vocality.

Amyl rules.

Instagram
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2. ‘Help Me, I’m Spiralling’ by SPRINTS (Ireland)


Press promo

2024 is supersonic Irish post-punk turbine Sprints‘s breakthrough year.
Their rad riff ‘n’ roar debut LP Letter To Self, caused/causes exciting waves
among critics and old/new fans.

To keep the momentum going they dropped this new whirlwind stroke.

Instagram
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3. ‘Psychopath’ by BODY COUNT (NYC)

Ice-T and his earsplitting gang are back.
They bagged their 8th LP, and titled it
Merciless
. Release date TBA.

For the first slam dunk, they get help from growling loudmouth
Joe Badolato from deathcore band Fit For An Autopsy.

They’re all psychopaths if you ask me.

Instagram
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4. ‘Repeat After Me’ by RAPTUROUS (Kent, UK)

Rapturous is an English Hip-Rock-Hop squad that erupt here like
if Cypress Hill is fronted by Zack de la Rocha, rattling like a rapid-fire
riot-gun.

If you’re looking for an avid anthem that celebrates freedom,
then this is the very loud and very clear one you can go berserk
to in the streets.

Repeat after them.

Linktree
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5. ‘Crumbs, Chaos And Lies’ by PIG (UK)

Industrial Goth-rock crusader Raymond Watts
has his new cast iron LP, baptized Red Room
out.

It features this flabbegasting sledgehammer
you can pulverize concrete with.


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Instagram
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6. ‘A Foretold Ecstasy’ by MADAME MAYFLOWER (Oslo, Norway)

Truly hypnotizing from start to finish with velvety vocals and darkwavish synths
in the back adding a twilight tone. Top-tier tune. The on-repeat button was invented
for this kind of arousing thrills. Don’t miss this ecstatic MM jam.

“In and out
Inside again
I’m passing out
To ease the strain”

Instagram
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7. ‘Don’t Go Making Plans’ by HARD-FI (UK)


Press pic

The British pop/rock team that scored three successful albums between 2003 and 2014 returned in 2022 for some live action. They all got in the mood again and wrote/recorded thsi brand new song Don’t Go Making Plans.

It’s an infectious, brassy tune that swings around with a dance-inviting oomph.

“Where’s everybody? Where’s everyone? / I’m coming out tonight, I wanna have some fun /
But these empty streets and shut-up bars/ Too broke to eat, to nowhere to dance.

Instagram
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8. ‘A Good Man Died’ by CUT THE KIDS IN HALF (New Jersey)


Photo credit: Francine Silver

This rotating riff-ripper is just irresistible. It’s a head-spinning stomper that gets under
your skin from the get-go. A fervid upper with a jump-up-and-down with your fists in the air chorus that doubles your adrenalin production for 4 and a half banging minutes.

Think of the early zealous gusto and the buzzing drive of NYC’s celebs The Strokes.
In a normal world, this revved-up stunner of a tune should top all indie charts
all over the globe.

Cut it here!

Linktree
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9. ‘Cover It Up’ by TYPHOID ROSIE (Brooklyn, NY)


Photo: Janier De Jesus, via Typhoid Rosie

Rosie Rebel and her robust retro rock combo do it again. This one is for their beloved dog of six years and tour companion, Canaan, who now rocks his tail off, up there in the sky.

As we experienced before Typhoid Rosie always storm full steam ahead from start
to finish. This punked-up, harmonious chant with its sickly sticky chorus triggers your
best zigzagging moves. It’ll feature on their 5th album, called Last Words, which lands
on June 21.

“We’re not gonna leave you in this shithole town!
Get in the car, let’s go!”


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Instagram
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10. ‘Nothing To Report’ by FOLD PAPER (Winnipeg, US)

This far-out trio is masterminded by the Nigerian-born, Michigan-raised and
Winnipeg-based Chell Osuntade, who delivers almost-spoken-word lyrics searing
with intent. They produce a raw, jittery and energetic brand of post-punk.

Nothing To Report is a glorious cacophonous jackhammer going everywhere fast.
It rattles and rambles, motorized by schizophrenic guitars, a mean bass/drum
tandem and Chell Osuntade‘s sloganesque chant. Almost 5 minutes of razzle-dazzle turmoil, revved-up dynamics and jazzed-up rhythms. Think British mavericks black midi.

Touchdown.

Instagram
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11. ‘So Desperate’ by SALEM WOLVES (Providence, Rhode Island)


Photo Credit: Black Cherry Creative

With this new piece, Salem Wolves taps into the human
psyche and a lost wrestler’s supernatural ambition.

Gray Bouchard (songwriter): “‘So Desperate’ is about recontextualizing what should be a moment of triumph as something grimy. If you’re ambitious or a dreamer, it’s easy to just focus on the goal, the stage, that moment in the spotlight when all eyes are on you. You tune out the noise, ignore your screaming muscles and tired bones, and march toward victory.”

Expect a riveting mid-tempo flare-up pushed by an agonizing vocalist,
an ironclad rhythm section, and mental guitars. Vehement emotionality.

Linktree
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12. ‘Cold’ by CRENSHAW PENTECOSTAL (North Carolina, US)

This North Carolina outfit formed, fuelled by late-night jam sessions, where the only
rule was to keep the spirit of Tom Petty alive, with members who found themselves
veering away from their roles as backing musicians for solo artists.

With Cold they hit bullseye. It’s a bittersweet epic Americana
symphony that touches heart and soul. Splendid score!

Linktree

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13. ‘Shark-Shark’ by JOHN CALE (Wales)


Press photo

The 82-year-old VU legend JOHN CALE is one of those artists who’ll never stop
making music until his final breath. Back in January 2023 he released one of the
finest records of that year with Mercy.

And he has already another one to offer.

It’s called POPtical Illusion and he will share it with the world
on June 14. The songs were written around the time he worked
on Mercy.

While you wait for the LP find
out how old(er) dogs still rock.

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14. ‘Cyanide Soul’ by ALAN VEGA (US)

Tomorrow, 31 May, another previously unreleased
Alan Vega (1938-2016) album, titled Insurrection will
hit our ears.

This otherwordly and enigmatic synth-psych groove will be on it.

Spooky stuff.

Linktree
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15. ‘Taking Hold’ by COMMON CULTURE (England)

Common CultureCommon Culture is a rousing, fiddle-driven alternative folk band from Barnsley, England who fuse traditional and contemporary elements into an upbeat and energetic sound.

From the very start their new pîece Taking Hold explodes like a firecracker. Peppy, bustling
and stimulating. It’s a highly encouraging mind-and-body booster incited by a dizzying pace, flaming violin play, electrical rapture, pepped-up vocals, and a delirious chorus.

There’s always a common culture light at the end of the tunnel.
Folk rock veterans Levellers should take them on tour.

Here’s why.

Linktree
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16. ‘All That School For Nothing’ by JOHN GRANT (Michigan, US)


Press

The boy from Michigan has bagged his 7th album, baptized it
The Art Of The Lie, and he will share it with the world on June 14.

Ahead of it, we can funk ourselves dizzy to this peppy dance floor knockout.

Instagram
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17. ‘Need’ by THE GREETING (Ireland)

This act is a collaboration of Irish bands Big Generator and pMad

War, Hate, Distrust, Propaganda, Bullying and all the horrible attributes of life,
we don’t need it!! We have seen it all and it does not make us happy, let us break
the cycle and stop the unhappiness!!

Wow! What a powerhouse debut smack this is. Terrifically vigorous
and puissant, with a titanic guitar-blazing and drum-hammering chorus.

Play it!

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18. ‘Bye Bye Sunday Afternoon’ by SMITT E. SMITTY & THE FEZZTONES (Boston, US)

This Boston collective knows how to shake their booty. They did it before and
they do it again with this instantly working booster and exultant chant.

A rotating bass riff dictates the jumping-for-joy pace, alternating female/male vocals add some more jubilation and on the chorus, we all can go nuts. And let’s not forget that brisk violin with a jocund vibe.

Party time!

Instagram
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19. ‘Lunch’ by BILLIE EILISH (USA)


Press photo

Mega superstar (I bet she has fans on the Moon) Billie Eilish
has her new, 3rd album Hite Me Hard And Soft out.

And she eat girls for lunch on it.

Yummy!

Instagram
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20. ‘Garawek Khaos’ by CEMENTO ATLANTICO (Italy)

Cemento Atlantico is the electronic project of Italian
producer and DJ Alessandro “ToffoloMuzik” Zoffoli.

His new single is a mid-tempo techno boomer that spellbinds from start to finish.
Magnetic vibrations interwoven with hip-swaying synth eurhythmics and echoing
vocals.

Dance here.

Linktree
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CUT THE KIDS IN HALF – New Jersey Upstarts Make Your Head Spin With Their New Riff-Ripper ‘A GOOD MAN DIED’

New striking strokes

25 April 2024


Photo credit: Francine Silver

Band: CUT THE KIDS IN HALF
Who: Trio of 3 youngsters, including 2 brothers, Charlie and Jack Silver, named
after Radiohead‘s line in Morning Bell. They bring a fresh approach to the age-old
genre with songs sure to make their predecessors proud with catchy hooks and
an emotional tenderness.

New single: A GOOD MAN DIED
Only their second one, following the 2022
debut of The Quiet Life Of August.

Jack Silver: “‘A Good Man Died’ was born out of a horribly toxic relationship.
It’s about two people who have given up but are too attached and afraid to
make their escapes. It’s an intense glimpse into a love story approaching the
edge of a cliff.”

TUTV: This is vivid vintage rock ‘n’ punk roll from the past played by young, hungry upstarts in the present. Their new riff-ripper is just irresistible. A head-spinning groover that gets under your skin from the get-go, a fervid feet-stomper that rotates on and on,
a bang-bang-bang booster with a jump-up-and-down with your fists in the air chorus
that doubles your adrenalin production for 4 and a half hit-and-run minutes.

Think of the early zealous gusto and the overwhelming oohm of NYC’s celebs The Strokes. In a normal world, this revved-up stunner of a tune should top all indie charts all over the globe. I know a good man died here, but don’t cut this kids in half, they will make your day on the spot. Fact!

WATCH/LISTEN

STREAM


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CTKIH: Linktree