Top 10 Albums of 2014

1. PVRIS - White Noise

It's not often that when I discover a band, they can make such an impression on me within the matter of weeks. Welcome PVRIS, a band that I only stumbled across in September time, but when their debut album White Noise was released in November I was head over heels. With dark, haunting words entwined with fuzzy synths and Lynn Gunn's incredible vocal tone, every track is a masterpiece and that is why it's my top album of the year. 

Favourite Track: Fire

2. Lower Than Atlantis - Self Titled

As soon as that bouncing riff in 'Here We Go' made it's way to our ears and firmly stuck itself to our brains, it was obvious that whatever LTA had in the pipeline for the album was going to be huge. They did not disappoint, though more melodic, their fourth studio album is full of anthemic tracks that beg to be played to thousands, all wrapped up with a nice dose of cheeky Mike Duce charm. 

Favourite Track: Stays the Same

3. Twin Atlantic - Great Divide

My favourite Scot’s returned this year with this absolute belter of a record. Taking things in a new direction, a little more wild and with a little more party all put together into a Rock and Roll record - Great Divide has it all. It still retains everything Twin Atlantic are known for but they’ve pushed their sound to it’s peak and delivered bold, beefy tracks that'll have you fist pumping for days. 

Favourite Track: Hold On

4. Moose Blood - I’ll Keep You In Mind From Time to Time
I've been swooning over Moose Blood and their punked up love songs for some time now, but 2014 finally saw the release of their debut album I'll Keep You In Mind From Time To Time. Brimming with emo influences and grainy guitars, it's like a dose of nostalgia with a modern twist. 

Favourite Track: I Hope You're Miserable 

5. Mallory Knox - Asymmetry

I was a huge fan of Mallory Knox's debut record Signals, so there was no denying to see how they'd step up and do better with sophomore album Asymmetry. They certainly delivered, combining Mikey's impressive vocal talent with echoing guitar melodies, they've also improved upon their songwriting abilities - making this album standout amongst many of the others released this year. It has its ballads and it has it's full-throttle, punchy anthems which make it an absolute treat to listen too. 

Favourite Track: She Took Him to the Lake

6. Neck Deep - Wishful Thinking
There's no denying that I have a big place in my heart for pop-punk, having grown up around bands such as New Found Glory, I'm very fond of the new, rejuvenated era that has taken over 2014. Neck Deep are a band that have absolutely dominated the pop-punk scene, with debut album Wishful Thinking scoring them trips around the World and high-fives from the genres heroes. This is a band that the UK should be incredibly proud of and I can't wait to hear what they've got in store next. 

Favourite Track: Losing Teeth

7. BANKS - Goddess

Despite the fact my music taste very much focuses on the heavier side of music, I like the breakdowns and the huge chanting choruses, but sometimes I discover a gem on the complete other end of the spectrum that I just cannot stop listening to. Welcome BANKS, the goddamn sassiest singer that I have completely fallen head over heels for this year. Her debut album twists incredibly dark lyrics, with vibrating basslines and an RnB soul. It's smooth and sultry, with a hidden bite and I can honestly say her voice is one of the most astonishing I've ever heard live.

Favourite Track: Drowning

8. Natives - Indoor War
Potentially the least well-known band on my list, but the debut album from New Forest pop-rockers Natives has been on repeat most days since its release way back in the first quarter of 2014. There's no heavy breakdowns, there's no stadium-ready anthems, but what it is full of is eleven tracks of pure upbeat, bouncing riffs and choruses to make you smile. I'm losing count of how many times I've seen these guys live now and I'm still not bored of hearing their music, good vibes for days!

Favourite Track: The Horizon/Can't Say No

9. Charlie Simpson - Long Road Home

From Busted through to Fightstar and now onto his solo career, I've followed Charlie's music career since I was twelve and we're now in the era where he is at his finest. His debut Young Pilgrim announced Charlie as an established singer-songwriter and the latest addition, Long Road Home has only further cemented his worth within this industry. With beautifully written acoustic melodies accompanied by an old English charm, Young Pilgrim was written for long summer days and cosy winter nights. It's an all-year round record that never fails to please your ears.

Favourite Track: Comets

10. Ben Howard - I Forget Where We Were

My favourite solo artist returned this year, however this time around he's swapped the acoustic for an electric and has created an extremely haunting record with an incredible amount of depth. The guitars are slick and echo alongside Ben's moving vocal tone and this record really flaunts off his skilled musicianship to its finest. It's quite the change from the debut record that threw him into the spotlight, but I Forget Where We Were shows Ben in a whole new light, which makes it even more enticing.

Favourite Track: Conrad

Top 5 Albums of 2011:

2011 for me was a very up and down year, but there was one thing for me that stood out over everything else and that was the exceptional music that has treated my ears over the past 12 months. I've been to a number of live shows and purchased various albums both of new artists and old favourites. 2011 was an exciting year music wise, particularly for upcoming artists, so I am most definitely hoping that 2012 will have a whole lot more to offer! For now though these are my top 5 albums of 2011, it was fairly difficult to narrow it down to five, but i am very happy with my choices!

1. Ben Howard - Every Kingdom

Some of you may have read my album review already on this album, so i won't go into too much detail here. However this album has not stopped playing on repeat since it was released back in the beginning of October. I am quite frankly in awe of Ben Howard and his musical abilities, his voice is soulful and unique and his guitar skills are some of the best i've seen in a long time. This album is fantastic from start to finish and i find myself getting completely lost in the music, unaware of anything happening around me (sometimes a problem when i'm walking around in public!) His music makes me lust for the country air or a long car journey to an unknown destination. The album suits any mood, high or low so if you haven't yet heard his music or bought the album, i cannot urge you enough to do so, i guarantee that you won't regret it.

2. MONA - MONA

I first discovered MONA at the beginning of the summer and have loved them since. I saw them live on Halloween and despite spending the evening alone i couldn't have been happier. Infront of me stood a group of very attractive Tennessee men, sweating their way through a rock filled set list. It's becoming difficult these days to find some real, talented rock bands, however MONA have reignited the fire and are making people fall back in love with the old school rock sounds we grew up on. Personal favourites from the album include 'Listen to Your Love', ' Teenager' and 'Shooting the Moon'. Take a listen and i'm quite sure after hearing Nick Brown (lead vocalist) say the word "Babydoll" they will have wormed their way into your music loving hearts.

3. Charlie Simpson - Young Pilgrim

I've been banging on about Charlie Simpson for a while now, he was the influence for one of my first posts on here and has made various appearances on Seaside in the City ever since, but can you blame me? Young Pilgrim was released in August and is still the soundtrack to most of my daily life, after seeing him live in Brighton in October my love for him grew even more as the show was just outstanding. Some of you may have already heard his three singles from Young Pilgrim, 'Down Down Down', 'Parachutes' and 'Cemetery' which would have given you a great taster for the rest of the album. But i must urge you all to get you hands on a copy of this excellent debut record, it's full of brilliantly written songs that a lot of people can relate to, Charlie's choice of instruments are spot on and the whole album has such a great vibe to it.

4. Twin Atlantic - Free

Twin Atlantic, a four man, scottish filled, rock beast. These chaps are well on their way in making themselves known in the alternative scene and i am so excited to see how far they will go in the next year. Free is an album that, from start to finish makes you want to jump around in the air screaming along to their songs. I'm quite sure they'll be playing the festival circuit this summer, so if they're playing one of the one's you will be attending, go see them, you will undoubtedly be impressed with what you see and hear. You'll have a sudden desire to have a scottish accent and if like me and my friends, will go around quoting lines from their songs in the most inappropriate of situations. Sam McTrusty's voice is gritty but powerful and really creates an atmosphere with each song he sings. Together they make up a very exciting new approach to rock music.

5. Benjamin Francis Leftwich - Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm

I reviewed Ben's album back in the summer on here and i still stand by every word i said. This is a beautiful record that stands out amongst the other choices due to it's style and genre. Each of the tracks on the record are fantastic, Ben has one of those husky, soulful voices that makes you melt a little on the inside and go off into a daydream world. Well, that's what happens to me anyway! Definitely an album to put on when you're having a quiet evening to yourself so you can just lose yourself in his music. He spent most of 2011 touring around Europe and by the looks of things is doing the same for 2012, already he has UK dates set for February and i wouldn't be surprised if he's enlisted for every festival going! Benjamin Francis Leftwich is definitely a name to remember and keep your eyes out for, i predict great things!


So there we have it, my top five albums from 2011, these are just my words though, to really believe what i say you need to go buy each of the records and listen for yourself. Of course there were many other albums that i enjoyed which i feel deserve a mention, so if none of the above tickle your fancy then maybe try out one of the below:

You Me At Six - Sinners Never Sleep
Deaf Havana - Fools and Worthless Liars
Kids In Glasshouses - In Gold Blood
Example - Playing in the Shadows
Ed Sheeran - +
Birdy - Birdy
Dave McPherson - The Hardship Diaries
Friendly Fires - Pala
Jessie J - Who You Are
Lower Than Atlantis - World Record
Rizzle Kicks - Stereo Typical
Rihanna - Talk That Talk
Two Spot Gobi - The Sun Will Rise

Live: Charlie Simpson - Concorde 2 Brighton

It’s been a while since I have felt the need to travel to see a band or artist play, but having missed Charlie’s first tour back in May, it was a definite that I would go wherever necessary to see the dapper young man at his best.

Charlie’s debut album ‘Young Pilgrim’ was released back in August and already is in my top 5 of ‘Best albums of 2011’. On top of that he was playing in one of the best music venues along the South Coast therefore it was a show that just simply couldn’t be missed.

As the 25 year old graced the stage there was a sudden uproar of screaming girls, (probably the only negative of the entire show) and it became clear that Charlie is still as much of a heartthrob as he was 10 years ago when he adorned many a bedroom wall with his fellow Busted members.

Charlie and his band gradually made their way through the tracks that feature on the album, as well as a cover of 80’s hit ‘(I Just) Died In Your Arms’ which seemed to go down a storm with an audience that were fresh out of the 90’s. With each song they played the band as a whole put everything they had into it, one that stood out in particular was ‘Riverbanks’. On record the middle instrumental is already quite powerful, but live, it is a whole new experience. You could see Charlie squeezing out as much energy as possible to intensify the sound, mix that with strobing lights and you’re left standing in awe of what is happening; I could even feel my ears struggling with it all.

Alongside the album tracks, Charlie also treated the crowd to a couple of B-Sides, including ‘Please Let Me Go’ which was performed completely stripped back with only Charlie, his guitar and one band member for harmonies. The performance left an incredible atmosphere, as everyone dealt with the tingles that were sent up their spines.

The show drew to a close, of course an encore was due and Charlie performed two more upbeat tracks so the crowd left on a happier note, however if everyone else felt the way I did afterwards, then Charlie has definitely mastered the art of connecting emotionally with his fans. His vocals could perhaps have been stronger, but after losing his voice just two days prior to the gig it’s a negative that I’m sure won’t apply for the rest of his shows on the tour.

Overall, a great performance from Charlie and his band. Long gone are the days of his spikey hair and poppy chorus’; these have been replaced by designer stubble, waistcoats and a lyrical genius.

The Boys Are Back In Town!

This time last year we were routing on the girls and their guitars when it came to music, with the likes of Ellie Goulding, Florence and the Machine and Laura Marling hitting the airwaves at an alarming pace! Fast forward on twelve months and it looks like the boys are pushing the ladies to the side while they take on the industry with acoustic guitars and hauntingly good vocals.

Some of you may have read my previous blog posts about the wonderful Benjamin Francis Leftwich and Charlie Simpson. But it seems that they are just two of many fuzz-faced gentleman releasing albums recently.

Charlie released his album Young Pilgrim on the 15th August, which at first looked unlikely to happen as unfortunately all of the copies of Young Pilgrim were burnt to a cinder in the Sony Warehouse fire during the London Riots. But thankfully him and his team managed to get a whole new load of Cd's produced and released on the 15th! I have been a fan of Charlie ever since his face adorned my bedroom walls back in his Busted days, so was overly excited to find out he was releasing solo material, and he has most definitely done himself proud!
Young Pilgrim is a lyrically mournful album with many songs relating to losing someone close which i am sure many can relate too. However Charlie has teamed his words with the perfect instruments and harmonies that can just wind through your mind with each listen.

It has also been rumoured that Robert Pattinson co-wrote some of the songs with Charlie for Young Pilgrim, although Simpson isn't the only person Pattinson has helped write music for.

Bobby Long is a 26 year old British singer-songwriter originally from the south-west, however now resides on the other side of the Atlantic where he tours constantly. Bobby moved to London in 2004 to attend University, where he met the now pale skinned, vampire heartthrob Robert Pattinson. Twilight fans would know that Pattinson recorded a song called Let Me In for the first Twilight soundtrack, which, in fact was written by Bobby Long. From then on Bobby's career has gone from strength to strength, his voice is soulful and enchanting and his music beautifully written. He released his album A Winter Tale at the beginning of February this year and although he is yet to 'break' the UK he is definitely one to keep an eye one as i think we will be hearing much more of him in the future.

Another recent discovery of mine has been 23 year old Ben Howard from Devon, (must be something in the country air!) His album Every Kingdom is to be released on October 3rd of this year and will include previously released tracks Old Pine and The Wolves. If these tracks are anything to go by we can expect some remarkable vocals mixed with some country folk guitar playing similar to that of Newton Faulkner.

Taking a slightly different route with his guitar is fiery haired Ed Sheeran. His single the A Team has been sweeping our ears constantly with it getting a very large amount of air time on radio's across the country and has thrown him into the spotlight. Unlike others though Ed is very much inspired by the underground grime scene and has become good friends with the likes of Example and Wretch 32. This evidently makes him a very exciting newcomer because he's different to so many acoustic artists around. His debut album + is to be released on September 12th and has the potential to be one of the best albums of 2011. Simply because it has such a mix of genres flowing through it. He has the lyrical stature of big name Hip Hop and Grime artists, yet also a singing voice that could make even the hardest of butters melt. With such a large fan base and industry backing, i wouldn't be surprised if Ed will be selling out some of the biggest venues in the UK within a few months.

So there we go, my tips for the top! I can only strongly urge all of you to check out each of these artists as I'm sure they will be loved by many!

Happy Listening!

Benjamin Francis Leftwich: Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm

Ever since i got my hands on a copy of this album it has been played non-stop on my iTunes/iPod.  It is quite difficult to actually try and sum up how beautiful this record is!
I first head about Benjamin Francis Leftwich whilst listening to Huw Stephens' show on Radio 1, in which he interviewed Ben and played his track Box of Stones which i instantly fell in love with.

From beginning to end of his debut album Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm Ben's enchanting vocals and harmonies swirl around your head and the acoustic guitar is the perfect accompaniment to them. As soon as I pressed play I went off into my own little zone of calm and peacefulness, which i thoroughly enjoyed, each song fills you more and more with this warming feeling which i am sure is desired by many.

The tracks on the album are all quite similar in style, there isn't a track that stands out as being 'more up-beat' than the others or anything of the like, which has been a fuel for criticism from the press. However this is what Benjamin Francis Leftwich does and it is what he does best and i cannot find a single fault with it. This is an album to accompany you on a long journey somewhere, one to sit down and enjoy on a rainy afternoon with a nice cuppa!

If you're one who tends to get bored of songs and frequently skip tracks then it probably isn't for you, but for anyone who are fans of Newton Faulkner, Charlie Simpson, Bobby Long, Laura Marling, Ellie Goulding etc i would expect nothing less than pure love for this record. Personal favourites include; Box of Stones, Pictures, 1904 & Shine but each song truly is wonderfully written.

Ben will be touring throughout the UK during October, as well as appearing at a number of music festivals in the last months of the summer season. To see a full listing of the show dates go to his website here

Charlie Simpson

I am in no way stating that Charlie Simpson's solo career is the newest of the new when it comes to music, however having recently heard his second single release Parachutes, i could only help but feel that Charlie and his music deserved a blog post.

Many of us remember Charlie as being the teenage heartthrob that adorned many girls bedroom walls during his time in pop-rock band Busted, before he moved into a completely different musical direction with Fightstar, a four piece prog-rock/hardcore band who produced a number of albums and released several singles. Nowadays, he is out on his own, producing music different from both that of Busted and Fightstar, music that gives the impression that this is the route Charlie has wanted to take for many years now.

First single Down Down Down was delivered filled with acoustic guitars, soulful harmonies and a very dapper looking Mr Simpson, who has swapped his worn jeans for a shirt and tie. The song clearly has more of a pop-folk feel to it, which as many of us know is a genre that is becoming very popular, very quickly, with thanks to artists such as Mumford and Sons and Laura Marling.

Most recently, Charlie has been touring throughout the UK and has released his second single release Parachutes. 

This single seems to have more focus on the percussion and piano, as apposed to acoustic guitars like in Down Down Down, but it works, it most definitely works. The melodies are enchanting and Charlie's voice is a great accompaniment. Like much of his previous work, it's unsure as to whether his latest offering's will be one's that work their way up the charts and have every DJ in town talking, but i doubt none of that really matters to Charlie, i think he has finally found his comfort sound and hopefully he will stick with it as i personally think he is on to a winner here.

Photograph credit to Tom Langford Photo
http://tom-langford.blogspot.com/