ALBUM REVIEWS

2005

FALL OUT BOY – From Under The Cork Tree (Island / FueledByRamen Records)
Released 2005
The hottest new band to arrive in Europe until their bass player set up his own record company (Decaydance) and they then started releasing albums from bands who were more exciting than themselves! With "From Under The Cork Tree" FOB bring us an album filled with very catchy garage punk songs that for the most part have very long, if at times amusing song titles. The highlights on this album include tracks 4, 7, 8 & 9, recent single "Dance, Dance" (track 3) and "A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More - Touch Me" (track 11) which should probably have just been called "All`s Calm - Touch Me" instead?! However, with the exception of REM or Talking Heads I believe that I have finally discovered why the majority of US bands end up becoming predictable and if we look at history: rather uninspiring? In my opinion it's because they usually all end up repeating those jangly guitar riffs once too often - in a Pearl Jam or Bon Jovi kind of way, but eventually very dull and after repeated plays incredibly boring! That said, FOB claim to be inspired by the British music scene from the 70`s & 80`s (punk, The Clash, The Smiths, etc) but even they just can't resist chucking in those guitar riffs. Image wise they do look a bit too manufactured with their designer clothes and haircuts, and although they are not the new HANSON it`s when they start coming out with lyrics like "We're going to be burning down the City" that they're just not totally believable! The end result is that this is a good but not great album from an interesting but not exciting band who are currently very much on the rise. Fall Out Boy will also be huge across Europe come the end of the year but I can't help but wonder where their CDs will be found in 3 or 4 years time? - 7/10 - TerryA - March 2006



FIELD MUSIC – Field Music (Memphis Industries/Chrysalis)
Released 2005


Once every so often a band comes along who deliver a debut album that totally appeals yet you can't quite place them into any category, and even though when listening there are the occasional moments that sound slightly familiar the songs unexpectedly change direction and you are then left wondering all over again where they'll end up. Released last year, Field Music hail from Sunderland and have connections with the band members of both neighbours The Futureheads and Maximo Park (who come from just up the road in Newcastle) yet for the most part sound nothing like them. In fact Uncut Magazine reported that "Field Music sound like Wire arranged by The Beach Boys", but if someone else were to say that musically "they sound like bass lines from The Stranglers mixed up with Blur or Madness keyboards along with a touch of Lloyd Cole" then they'd still be close as they really are that diverse! And on the live front, for those lucky enough to have got there early enough, Field Music were reported to have been one of the better bands who appeared at one of the London Calling events in Amsterdam towards the end of 2005, so here's hoping they will return to the Benelux region soon. A highly recommended debut album and definitely one to watch out for in the future. - 7.5/10 - TerryA – March 2006



AMBULANCE LTD - Ambulance Ltd (TVT Records)
Released 2004 USA - 2005 Europe


Ambulance Ltd are one of the latest bands from New York seeking success across the Atlantic. On their self titled debut album (released 2005), one can find a number of stylistic influences from the Beatles and the Stones to Spiritualized, Elliot Smith and the Smiths, with "Stay where you are" and "Primitive (The way I treat you)" being the stand-out tracks on the album. Surprisingly the opening track is an instrumental which is a refreshing change, unlike many artists lately who want to ram there views down your throat within 30 seconds of the album opening. This track continues for an impressive 4.54 which takes the listener through at least 3 different musical journeys. Great Start. The remainder of the album continues to impress, notably with tracks like "Heavy Lifting" and "Anecdote" which couldn't be further apart in influences. Ambulance Ltd should go from strength to strength and are definitely a band to watch out for in 2006. - 7/10 - Hughsie - December 2006



BABYSHAMBLES - Down In Albion (Rough Trade)
Released December 2005
Over hyped and out of tune are just two things that spring to mind with this album. The rest is probably unprintable on a website so I`ll just finish by saying that this was released just in time to be "the worst album of the year", but the (expensive) press campaign has predictably ensured that it has conned the brainless youth out there to buy more than enough copies to so that everyone else will have to put up with even more dross by this talent less toothpick throughout 2006. - 2/10 - TerryA - December 2005



EDITORS - The Back Room (Kitchenware Records/PIAS)
Released 2005

A debut album from a band that have been influenced by most things exciting from the early 80?s along with some early comparisons to Joy Division just for good measure. Editors are highly tipped for 2006 and having already sold out their first wave off gigs across The Netherlands during the autumn of 2005 they are set to return in February with a series of gigs that have also already sold out. Recommended.
7.5/10 - TerryA - December 2005



SLIPKNOT - Live (Roadrunner Records)
Released late 2005
Hands up who thought these mask wearing looking freaks actually had something to offer the musical evolution in the late 90`s? - Bet you feel a wee bit stupid now don?t you? Here are 24 live tracks recorded from gigs across the USA and Far East by the former favourites of Metal Hammer, OOR and Kerrang magazines (who I hope have since changed their editorial team!) If Slipknot had any sense they should have released this last October to coincide with Halloween for added novelty value, but instead they appear to be trying to bridge some kind of gap for a possible re-launch in 2006. There?s a Scottish expression for bands like these: utter shite! - 2.5/10 - TerryA - December 2005




JOSE GONZALEZ – Veneer (Peacefrog / Imperial Music)
Re-Released 25th April 2005



I first came across Portuguese born Swedish national singer-songwriter Jose Gonzalez earlier this year although this album was originally released in 2003. His haunting voice, somewhere in-between beautiful and mystical is even more apparent when combined with no more than an acoustic guitar. With his lyrics, voice and guitar moving between emotional (Heartbeats), melancholic (Slow moves) and almost cynical (Lovestain/All you deliver), Jose Gonzalez has produced a moving album, managing to be both powerful and touching at the same time. Other highlights are my personal favourite Crosses, while Remain and Stay in the shade both have a distinctly Latin acoustic guitar, an influence from his country of birth maybe. A touching album and a debut worthy of a 7.5/10 - Nick – November 2005




THE SUBWAYS - Young For Eternity (Infectious Records)
Released 2005

When this album first came out I wasn`t convinced because it reminded me too much of 90`s bores The Lightning Seeds, and the fact that it was also produced by Ian Broudie (the singer from The Lightning Seeds) didn?t really help, but recent single "No Goodbyes" along with its catchy female backing vocals re-ignited an interest and by then giving the album a few more listens I now have to concede that it`s actually a really good debut album from this young British 3-piece power-pop band and by all accounts their gigs are highly recommended too. But maybe that?s the reason? - The Subways have a dominant female influence, are young and can pull it off while The Lightning Seeds had neither, along with the fact that Ian Broudie will secretly always wish that back in his Liverpool days he had been part of The Lotus Eaters instead of forming The Lightning Seeds? - 7/10 TerryA - November 2005




RICHARD BUCKNER & JON LANGFORD - Sir Dark Invader vs. The Fanglord (Buried Treasure Records)
Released 2005

Jon Langford, oprichter van de Engelse folky punkrockband Mekons, collaboreerde in 2003 met de Canadese groep The Sadies. De samenwerking leverde het goed ontvangen album ?The Mayors of the Moon? op. Een jaar daarvoor schreef Langford samen met singer-songwriter Richard Buckner de liedjes voor ?Sir Dark Invader vs. The Fanglord?. Dat de plaat nu pas uitkomt ligt aan het feit dat er toentertijd geen platenmaatschappij werd gevonden. Volkomen onterecht, want het is een sympathiek plaatje. Simpele pop/rocksongs met een folk-tic, waarin de donkere, onheilspellende stem van Buckner en Langford?s cleane zang (met Engels accent) elkaar prima afwisselen. ?Rolling Of The Eyes? is een verassend rockende opener. De hoogtepunten zijn de typische Buckner-composities ?Sweet Anybody? , ?Do You Wanna Go Somewhere?? en Langfords ?Torn Apart?. De cd duurt slechts een half uur en bevat enkele mindere goden (?The Inca Princess? is een misser van jewelste), maar ?Sir Dark Invader vs. The Fanglord? zal liefhebbers van beide heren zeker bekoren.
6/10 - Jeroen Dijkema - November 2005



AMUSEMENT PARKS ON FIRE - S/T
Amusement Parks on Fire is Michael Feerick. Een twintigjarige Nottinghammer die dit debuutalbum in zijn uppie heeft geschreven en ingespeeld. Dat is knap. Maar leeftijd doet er niet toe: Feerick heeft simpelweg een goede plaat afgeleverd. De sferische opener "23 Jewels" is niks meer dan een intro van prijsnummer "Venus in Cancer". Een Dinosaur-achtig (ten tijde van "You`re living all over me") liedje met van die heerlijke noisy, scheurende gitaren dat we ook kennen van de shoegazers begin jaren `90. Wat volgt na "Venus in Cancer" is veel van hetzelfde, waardoor af en toe de aandacht verslapt. Zoals in het ruim acht minuten durende langdradige "Wiper". Dankzij het daaropvolgende nummer, het vlotte en explosieve "Venosa", zit je weer vol verwondering te luisteren. En zo wordt je af en toe heen en weer geslingerd op dit debuut album. 6.5/10 - Jeroen Dijkema - November 2005



SIOUXSIE - Dreamshow - Live at the Royal Festival Hall, London 16-10-2004
(2005 Demon music group) - DVD
Released October 2005

Back in 1977 the late and great Marc Bolan went along to a gig by Siouxsie & The Banshees and was suitably impressed to even state that in public. Spanning an incredible 4 decades since punk rock hit London, Siouxsie Sioux has fronted both The Banshees and The Creatures, selling millions of albums worldwide while also having a significant not to be sniffed at impact on umpteen variations of clothing adored by the Goth, metal and punk generations which have since followed her. There have also been many pretenders over the years (Curve and Garbage to name just a few) that have tried but ultimately failed to dethrone her. Siouxsie Sioux (real name Janet Ballion) is a true legend and has to date been without doubt the most influential (female) artist in the alternative music scene. This concert, with over 25 songs, is a truly amazing experience and was recorded in London last year, bringing together the highlights of her musical career, along with a major contribution by Budgie (real name Peter Clarke), who in my opinion is still the best drummer alive today. It goes without saying that the DVD recording of this special concert is a must have for all fans, but its also highly recommended to all music lovers! 8.5/10 - TerryA - 31st Oct 2005



ARCTIC MONKEYS - I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor (Domino) - EP
Released October 2005
Crashing into the UK Top 40 singles charts at number 1 with their first single is a lot more than just hype. These four lads from Sheffield are not expected to release their debut album until early next year, so in the meantime try and grab hold of a copy of this EP and take it down to the DJ at your local indie club. - 7.5/10 TerryA - 30th Oct 2005



DEPECHE MODE - Playing the angel (Mute Records/Venusnote Ltd)
Released October 2005

It`s good to hear that Depeche Mode are finally back with a brand new album that once again makes the same sort of impact not felt since their 1993 release Songs of Faith & Devotion. Not wanting to detract from its overall impact, it is worth mentioning that when I first played the album there was initially one slight scare, in that apart from the foghorn type sounding intro, the first 30 odd seconds of the opening number (A pain that I`m used to) made me think I`d put on the soundtrack to the sci-fi film Bladerunner by mistake! - But once up and running so to speak, I quickly realized that this was a fantastic album. The fact that DM have been releasing records for over 25 years now is just testimony on how influential they?ve been to the alternative music scene. DM are masters of the indie scene and in creating songs that they describe themselves as "Pain and suffering in various tempos", Playing the angel has instantly become one of the essential albums of the year.
8.5/10 TerryA - 17th Oct 2005



VIOLENT FEMMES - The Very Best of (Slash/Rhino) re-issue
Violent Femmes were one of those bands that were huge amongst the alternative art house fraternity during the 80?s but then totally lost the plot in the 90`s never to recover. The 16 tracks on this compilation album are therefore a bit hit and miss, which is a shame because their debut album had what have since become classic indie hits like Add It Up and Blister In The Sun. So I`m not really convinced they should have called this album The Very Best of? Therefore it gets a just about acceptable 6.5/10 but the debut album from 1983 still deserves 8/10 - TerryA



THE WHITE STRIPES - Get Behind Me Satan (XL Recordings)
Released 2005


What have The White Stripes, Kings of Leon, Quentin Tarantino, and arguably even Nirvana all got in common? - They had all tasted popularity in Britain before being accepted in their own country. The White Stripes are good but not great and their latest album, despite all the hype and promise remains good at best. "The Denial Twist", "As Ugly As I Seem" and "Take, Take, Take" are great, while "Forever For Her" with its very Pulp influenced intro or the rather brief "Passive Manipulation" are both cool songs, but one still wonders what kind of album they could have delivered without those irritating country & western influences found on this album with the likes of "I`m Lonely" and "Little Ghost"? They`re currently out there touring in red, white and black across Europe in what should be highly recommended gigs this autumn. - 7/10 TerryA - October 2005



NEW ORDER - A Collection (Factory Records/Warner Music) - DVD
Released October 2005


Finally we have a collection of all New Order?s singles on one DVD. More than 25 tracks spanning the same amount of years which allows us to look back at one of the most important bands ever to emerge out from the alternative music scene. From "Blue Monday" and "True Faith" in the 80`s all the way through to include classic indie hits like "Regret" (1993) and "Crystal" (2001) and then on to recent videos from the album "Waiting For The Sirens` Call" (2005), along with additional footage that includes a brand new version of "Ceremony". Already a must have for all fans but also highly recommended to everyone else! - 9.5/10 TerryA - 14th Oct 2005



FRANZ FERDINAND - You Could Have It So Much Better? (Domino)
Released October 2005



Having appeared at almost every festival during the summer of which songs like "Take Me Out" (first album) and "Outsiders" (new album) stood out, the new album by Franz Ferdinand was bound to get a vast amount of press coverage, and with recent single "Do You Want To" becoming an instant hit after blanket coverage on most music stations across Europe, the release of their 2nd album was guaranteed success before the majority had even heard it. In 2004 their debut album won the Mercury Music prize but despite a few strong songs I somehow wasn`t entirely convinced, and now with the release of their 2nd album I`m still not totally converted. A very good effort though and as they are already guaranteed to make a 3rd album I`ll probably just have to wait until then to pass final judgement. - 7/10 TerryA -11th Oct 2005



THE DEAD 60`s - The Dead 60`s (Deltasonic Records)
Released 26th September 2005


There have been a lot of new British bands breaking through this year, which have thankfully been a million miles away from all that pop idols, and boy band nonsense, which had taken over the airwaves during the past decade. This is a debut album by a band heavily influenced by all that was great about youth culture and British music in the late 70`s and early 80`s. You can hear The Clash, The Jam and The Specials, while "Ghost Faced Killer" is reminiscent of early Madness, and although comparisons will bound to be drawn to fellow newcomers Hard-Fi who have also been swayed by some strong Ska influences, I actually prefer this offering by The Dead 60`s. This is a fantastic debut album and hopefully it won`t be their last. 7.5/10 TerryA - October 2005



STEREOPHONICS - Language. Sex. Violence. Other? (V2 Records)
Released 2005
Sometimes it`s a real puzzle how some bands are allowed to keep releasing records? - In the case of the Stereophonics this has been since 1996! There has never been anything original about this band and at first they appeared to have just been used to fill the gap vacated by their Welsh counterparts Manic Street Preachers, but it`s now becoming tedious and their latest album is a perfect example of what has been so uninspiring about the alternative music scene over recent years. 3/10 TerryA - September 2005



RICHMOND FONTAINE - The Fitzgerald (El Cortez)
Met het album "Post to wire"(2003) nestelde de Amerikaanse band Richmond Fontaine zich in de voorhoede van de huidige alt.country-beweging. Een afwisselende plaat met ingetogen luisterliedjes en meeslepende gitaarrockliedjes als "Willamette". Een topper in het genre. Het nieuwe album "The Fitzgerald" is andere koek. De rockkant is verdwenen en heeft plaatsgemaakt voor een sobere en akoestische aanpak. Het resultaat is niet minder intrigerend. Alleen de sterk observerende teksten en verhalen van Vlautin over gokkers, alcoholisten, depressievellingen en ander gespuis maken "The Fitzgerald" al meer dan de moeite waard. De teksten worden zonder opsmuk omlijst door een akoestische gitaar met hier en daar een drumroffel, viool, accordeon en piano. Geen moeilijkdoenerij, langdradige nummers en overbodige gitaarsolo`s, maar elf ingetogen miniatuurtjes die je met een brok in de keel ontroerd achterlaten. Fantastische nachtplaat!
Jeroen Dijkema - Augustus 2005 - 7.5/10



HEATHER NOVA - Redbird (Sony/BMG)

Sinds 1990 is Heather Nova bezig met het schrijven van gevoelige en sfeervolle muziek, waarop het na een stressvolle dag lekker ontspannen is. Uitermate geschikt om een glaasje wijn bij te nuttigen en te genieten van de geneugten des levens. Op haar zesde en nieuwe album "Redbird" probeert Heather Nova dat relaxte sfeertje weer op te roepen. Het beginnummer "Welcome" klapt er lekker in. Dit nummer stond al op de Amerikaanse versie van haar vorige cd "Storm". Het frappante aan deze song is dat de tekst door Dido en Nova is geschreven per e-mail. "I miss the sky", het tweede nummer, is een stuk rustiger en gebaseerd op de "Mythe van Amelia Earth". Er staat ook een cover op de cd ("Wicked game", van Chris Isaak), maar helaas heeft ze er niets extra`s aan toegevoegd om het op een originele en verrassende manier te vertolken aan haar publiek. "Redbird" is te vergelijken met haar vorige albums "Oyster" en "Siren", maar de liedjes zijn rustiger. Een voorbeeld daarvan is de mooie afsluiter "The sun will rise", een slaapliedje over haar zoon. "Redbird" is een goede cd, maar kan niet in de voetsporen treden van "Oyster" en "Siren?" - 6.5/10 - NvdV - Augustus 2005.



CURVE - The Way of Curve (Anxious / BMG)
Released 2004


Back in the early to mid 90`s CURVE (fronted by Toni Halliday) were probably the most exciting industrial goth rock indie band on the planet! Also the first band to be able to appeal to both the electro, indie, New Wave and Goth scenes in pretty much equal measures, and back in the early 90`s that really was some achievement! Their music was typified by heavy beats and densely-layered guitar tracks, and as a live band they were simply brilliant. It could be argued that they were the band who defined what industrial and electronica would be in the late '90s - And correctly claimed that grunge-pop band GARBAGE appropriated large portions of Curve's musical template! This two-disc compilation album was released in 2004 and gives us superb singles like "Ten Little Girls" or "Clipped", tracks from their U.K. indie charts number one album "Doppelganger" (Anxious Records - 1992), and a host of other gems like "Chinese Burn" and "Coming Up Roses" which are taken from their 1997 album "Come Clean" (Universal) - CURVE may have missed out on making an impact on the MTV and internet generations from the late 90`s but now that this two-disc compilation has been released it will hopefully make people finally realize how important they really were. Highly recommended. - 8+/10 - TerryA – Summer 2005



JULIETTE & THE LICKS - You`re Speaking My Language (Hassle)
Released 2005
Where do you start with this? - Back in the 90`s Juliette Lewis was/is a very promising and very good actress. Something must have gone wrong because rather than concentrate on building on her acting talent someone has gone and convinced her she should waste time and release an album! Now even if the initial hype gets her the press coverage and festival slots, what happens after the release when the (record buying) public realize that although she can entertain by jumping, screaming and shouting the reality is that it`s all very short sighted and she can`t actually sing? - 3.5/10 TerryA - Summer 2005



ARCADE FIRE - Funeral (Rough Trade)
Released 2004

Earlier this year I mentioned in a review that there hadn`t been that much new inspirational alternative music coming from the other side of the Atlantic over recent years, but fair is fair and I stand corrected with Arcade Fire`s album which is a breathe of fresh air compared to the majority of North American bands who have been attempting to gain access to the UK since the days of Grunge. Mind you, other reviews in the music press suggest that they`ve been heavily influenced by the likes of David Bowie (British) and Björk (Icelandic), oh, and they actually come from Canada! ? Great debut album though. 8/10 - TerryA - Summer 2005



EELS - Blinking Lights & Other Revelations (Vagrant)
Released 2005
A double album bursting to the seams with expectations that apart from a handful of good songs (like "From which I came", "Trouble with dreams" & "Hey Man") never really delivered and with too many tracks instantly forgettable is therefore unlikely to do anything to expand their already shrinking fan base. Which is a shame because who knows what could have happened if they`d been more selective and just gone for half the material with quality and not quantity in mind? - 6.5/10 TerryA - Summer 2005




The following three female artists appear to follow in the footsteps of Norah Jones and have all been creating a fair bit of press recently - Justified or just hype?


KATIE MELUA - Piece By Piece (Dramatico)
Released October 2005
A great voice, good live reviews and she can play the guitar, but once again just like debut album "Call Of The Search" (2003) the majority of her songs are written by someone else, with the target audience being mums and dads, or for background music during dinner parties! It would be really interesting to see whether Katie Melua could ever create her own album but as long as record companies plot out her career it`s unlikely she will ever have anything interesting to write about and therefore will probably just remain a talented musician with a big bank balance, which is a shame. 5/10 TerryA

JEM - Finally Woken (Sony/BMG)
Released 2004

A very good voice and at least she has contributed to writing most of the material on the album, but not sure she can play the guitar or any other instrument for that matter? Jem Griffiths comes from Wales and her debut album certainly has its moments with stand out tracks like "Falling For You" and "24", but it also has its instantly forgettable moments with "Wish I" and "Stay Now". A decent enough debut album and it will be interesting to see what she can come up with next time. 6.5/10 TerryA

K.T.TUNSTALL - Eye to the Telescope (Relentless/EMI)
Released 2004


A fantastic voice, excellent live reviews, she can play the guitar and she writes great songs. Katie Tunstall comes from Glasgow, her debut album has for the most part great songs, especially recent single "Suddenly I See" and "Other Side Of The World", and with a busy summer festival schedule now behind her and a sell out tour across the UK in October it has helped keep her album in the Top 10 and propel it deservedly up the European charts. Highly recommended debut album from a very talented artist. 8/10 TerryA




HARD-Fi - Stars of CCTV (Necessary Records/Warner Music)
Released July 2005


This debut album from HARD-Fi received a fair bit of hype in the UK when released in the summer, although to be fair it did already contain three indie hit singles that had by all accounts gone down well at university venues up and down the country, which for the most part had not really been heard here in Holland. The verdict is that this a good debut album, with for the most part an exciting fast tempo mixture of Rock, Pop and Indie influences from the 80`s with even Ska sounds thrown in for good measure. They didn`t want to sound like Keane and let`s be honest; that`s only a good thing! - 7/10 TerryA - Summer 2005



JOSEPH ARTHUR - Our shadows will remain
Joseph Arthur is not your typical singer songwriter. Op zijn vierde langspeelplaat "Our Shadows will remain" is de Amerikaan bijzonder eclectisch bezig. De fraai vormgegeven cd vereist dan ook meerdere luisterbeurten om te doorgronden. De plaat bevat gitaarrock, triphop, meezingpop en akoestische luisterliedjes. Af en toe wordt er flink op los geëxperimenteerd. De liedjes "Stumble and Pain", "Echo Park" en "Even Tho" worden prachtig ingevuld door een Praags Filharmonisch orkest. Arthur beschikt over een unieke stem, die in elk nummer anders klinkt. Niet alles is goed: "Wasted" is iets te veel van het goede. Te zeikerig gezongen. Maar daar tegenover staat veel moois als "Can`t exist", "Devil`s Broom" en "A Smile That Explodes?" - Benieuwd hoe zijn volgende plaat klinkt. - 7.5/10 - Jeroen Dijkema



REIGNING SOUND - Home For Orphans (Sympathy for the record industry)
Released 2005
Een nieuwe plaat van Reigning Sound. De band van Greg Cartwright alias Greg Oblivian, ooit voorman van de beste garageband uit de nineties?, The Oblivians. Voor degenen die inhaakten bij Reigning Sounds vorige plaat, het hard rockende "Too Much Guitar"(2004), even slikken. Want "Home For Orphans" is een echte luisterplaat geworden. Enkel op de afsluiter en Breakers-cover "Don`t Send Me No Flowers, I Ain`t Dead Yet" wordt er flink geragd. Allemaal leuk en aardig deze uitsmijter, wat zich daarvoor afspeelt is werkelijk waar adembenemend mooi. De garagesoul klinkt behoorlijk authentiek (luister maar eens naar het prachtige "If Christmas Can`t Bring You Home"), maar de over liefde handelende songs raken telkens de juiste snaar. Dat is vooral op conto te schrijven van Cartwright. Hij beschikt over een machtige en soulvolle stem. Drie liedjes stonden ook op "Two Much Guitar" en krijgen hier een andere, rustige uitvoering. De plaat duurt slechts 28 minuten. Dat is aan de korte kant, hoewel er geen slecht nummer op staat. Vernieuwend is het allemaal niet, maar dat had u vast al begrepen. 7.5/10 - JD

2004 releases (reviewed in 2005)

THE FUTUREHEADS - The Futureheads (679 Recordings)
Released 2004


Not only is this album recommended but in being one of the best live acts to break through in recent years they are also most definitely worth a visit if they ever get to play a venue near you. Not too dissimilar in sound to Franz Ferdinand the main differences here is that while FF got together while at university in Glasgow, The Futureheads come from the former industrial and ship building metropolis of Sunderland and like the majority of adults living there now have also tasted the frustration of unemployment and the cities social decline ever since the 60`s which can be found in large doses on their self titled debut album. It was only about a year ago that the likes of FF, Kaiser Chiefs and The Futureheads were all touring similar gig circuits up and down the UK. A few trivia points worth mentioning is that unlike a lot of bands out there The Futureheads, whilst singing, have maintained their local accents and that although the media write up that FF all hail from Glasgow, their singer actually comes from Sunderland. The Futureheads self titled debut album is out now. - 7.5/10 - TerryA - Summer 2005



INTERPOL - Antics (Matador Records)
Released 2004


Let`s be honest, there hasn`t been that much new inspirational alternative music coming from the other side of the Atlantic over recent years, but Interpol are a very welcome exception, and my favourite new band since NYC`s Jonathan Fire Eater arrived but somehow never conquered during the late 90`s. This is a more adventurous album than their previous release, although I have since met people who think the opposite so it`s a good thing that (musical) taste varies. Either way, this album, with occasional R.E.M. influences, is very good and if live reviews are anything to go by they should then make further inroads appearing at the European festivals during the summer. - 7.5/10 - TerryA



RAZORLIGHT - Up All Night (Vertigo/Mercury/Universal)
Released 2004/5


Although this album has been out there for some time now, with the band even winning the Best New Band award in 2004 by Q magazine, it wasn`t until this summer that they finally made people really sit up and take notice after some very good live reviews from a hectic touring schedule which saw them appearing at most of the major festivals. Razorlight sound like they come from the other side of the Atlantic and apart from being very popular with the students thanks to indie hits like "Rip It Up", "Golden Touch" and my favourite "Somewhere Else", have delivered a good debut album. - 7/10 - TerryA - Summer 2005



LILIAN HAK - Silence feels safe (Siren Music - NL)
Released 2004


It`s not often you come across a previously unannounced album that actually makes a notable impact. "Silence Feels Safe" is a very good debut album, which for the most part stands out by Lilian Hak`s unique vocal range which is highlighted in stand out tracks like "Show Me" and "Jane" along with it`s clever progressive use of the 90`s Bristol sound (Portishead/Massive Attack) and more recent Goldfrapp influences which can be found in "Wait For". This debut album was written, produced and mixed by a highly promising Dutch artist who can only go from strength to strength. Highly Recommended - 7.5/10 - TerryA - Summer 2005



MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC Co - Trials & Errors (live)
Jason Molina heeft zijn band Songs: Ohia voorgoed in de ijskast gestopt. De laatste plaat die de band maakte heet "The Magnolia Electric Co"(2003). En laat dat nou juist de naam zijn die Molina voor zijn nieuwe formatie hanteert. Eerste wapenfeit: "Trials & Errors": een liveplaat met grotendeels nieuwe composities. Opgenomen in Brussel, anderhalf jaar geleden. Was Songs: Ohia trage altcountry/slowcore, op "Trials & Errors" wordt er á la Crazy Horse gerockt. Dat betekent: lang uitgesponnen liedjes, duellerende gitaarsoli en tijdens "Almost was good enough" en "The Big Beast" tekstflarden van respectievelijk "Out on the weekend" en "Tonight`s the night?" van good old Neil Young. De nummers worden gedragen door de weemoedige, gevoelige zang van Molina (kaliber Will Oldham). De liedjesschrijver lijkt nogal geobsedeerd te zijn door het donker, getuige songtitels als "The Dark Don`t Hide it?" en "Don`t this look like the Dark?". Deze uitstekende liveplaat kan niettemin elk moment van de dag gedraaid worden. - 7/10 - Jeroen Dijkema



RACHAEL YAMAGATA - Happenstance (RCA/Sony/BMG)

Although initially released in 2004, this debut album has received a fair bit of press and critical acclaim this year but while everyone seems to be going out of their way to throw up comparison to the likes of Tori Amos, Norah Jones, Björk and Fiona Apple along with informing anyone who will listen that she has supported AIR or Liz Phair, the end result is that although a competent album, in all honesty its all been done before and she just ends up coming across like the rich person`s KT Tunstall only nowhere near as good! The photo on her album cover also suggests she doesn`t really know whether she is coming or going? - Maybe someone should find the courage to tell her that the huge investment made by her record company was probably less than the budget which has been spent so far on Katie Melua!? - 5/10 - TerryA - November 2005





Please be advised that although we would really like to review more albums (or gigs) in depth this is not always going to be possible as we are just not in a position to purchase every release. However, through our network we do get to borrow or make use of listening posts in record shops to check out new releases - For an expanded summary of more new albums then you can also go to our "2006 - The year so far" section (HERE) for our marks out of 10 ...

ALBUM OF THE YEAR - 2005
click here for NOMINATIONS & WINNERS !!

We would also recommend that you go through our MySpace link where you get to see an overview of all the artists & bands who we believe are making a real difference - > HERE

Wij adviseren dat jullie ook via onze MySpace link naar de overzicht gaan kijken van alle bands wat wij op dit moment belangrijk vinden - > HIER




There are more CD reviews in the Dutch language & TOP 10 ALBUMS by TerryA on the musicmeter.nl website (where it is marks out of 5) - > HERE