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 EP's of 2012!

Okay, I know I did a very similar post on my top 5 albums from 2012, however this year has also seen EP's making an bigger appearance. For bands and artists that are possibly a bit too busy touring, but want to give their music and outlet and keep the nagging fans at bay, EP's are a little teaser for a band's new direction and what to expect from their next full length record. So here it is; my Top 5 EP's of 2012.

1. Ben Howard - Burgh Island EP

Come on, a post like this wouldn't be fit without an appearance from my beloved! I've been a huge fan of Mr Howard since before his debut Every Kingdom was released and along with the rest of the country / world I have fallen completely in love with his smooth vocals that literally make my heart rate beat at an inappropriate level. The Burgh Island EP sees Ben experimenting more with his electric guitar, creating a more haunting and deep vibe throughout. Without sounding to 'emo' stick this on, switch the lights off and lie back on your bed, it's worth it.
Favourite Track: Burgh Island

2. HARBOUR - Morning

I promise I'll stop going on about these guys soon, (I probably won't) but this EP is really, really good. Five tracks, each beautifully crafted with strong lyrical stature and vocal harmonies powerful enough to whip you into an emotional rollercoaster. I recently sent the EP over to a good friend of mine, who messaged me simply saying "it's made me excited about music again", which is just incredible to hear. They're nice lads, who put on a bloody good live performance and are working hard to produce the best music possible. Keep an eye out for these guys in 2013, you won't be disappointed.
Favourite Track: Dear God

3. Alexisonfire - Death Letter EP

The only band ever, of course. 2012 saw us say the real goodbye to a band that soundtracked so many people's lives. I managed to catch them at Brixton Academy for one of their farewell shows and I can safely say no gig has ever made me so emotional. Then this came along, the Death Letter EP, a handful of tracks completely stripped back to piano's and acoustic melodies. Utterly beautiful, it only enhances the question of WHY? WHY DID YOU HAVE TO BREAK UP? Though we shall probably never get the chance of hearing or seeing them again, this EP is a magnificent goodbye. Thank you Alexis, thank you.
Favourite Track: Happiness By The Kilowatt 

4. Morain - Are We Lost

Morain are a fairly new discovery of mine, after catching them on tour with HARBOUR, I got home, checked out their music and was very impressed. Plus the EP is free to download, it can't get much better? If you like bands such as Futures, Kids In Glasshouses and Young Kato, these guys will be right up your street. With their upbeat, catchy guitar rhythms, you'll have the tracks bopping around your head for some time. Go on, take a listen, they could be your new favourite band.
Favourite Track: Animals  

5. Young Kato - Self-titled EP

Cheltenham did well in 2012, not only are my favourite boys HARBOUR from there, but so are Young Kato, a group of lads who's average age is 18. Don't be put off by their age though, (or their hair cuts), the music they make is a perfect blend of indie pop-rock. Signed to LAB Records, these young adults are producing music far beyond their age and it looks like they have a strong career ahead of them. Already creating a buzz around themselves and about to set out on a small UK tour, go catch them live and switch this EP on to brighten up your mornings.
Favourite Track: Drink, Dance, Play

There we have it, my top 5 EP's, does anyone else have some suggestions that I may have missed out? Let me know!

Sunday Sound #3

Well here we are, another week gone by! Before we know it we'll be wrapped up in our cosy jumpers, sipping hot chocolate after demolishing the biggest christmas dinner ever. With that thought in mind, I'm going to take things down a notch on the old music side and introduce you to a band that will leave you with shivers up your spine.

Daughter

I first discovered Daughter when they were on tour with Ben Howard at the beginning of the year and have been mesmerised by vocalist Elena Tonra's haunting voice ever since. I included them in my Guest Music Edit of Company Magazine back in July and still thoroughly believe that Daughter are one of the most exciting musical talents to come from this year. Both of their released EP's His Young Heart and The Wild Youth are brimming with electric melodies and lyrical stature. Latest single release, Smother, (backed by b-side Run), has had an increasing amount of play time from myself and is possibly one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in a long time. The three-piece are heading out on a tour of the UK in January so maybe spend that little bit of christmas money on a ticket to see them and I can assure you that you'll be completely spellbind by the sounds surrounding you. 

For Fans Of: The XX, Ben Howard, Lucy Rose

Find Them: http://www.ohdaughter.com/ 

https://twitter.com/ohdaughter

Tattoo!

So for any of you that follow me on twitter you may have already seen me excitedly tweeting about my new ink. For those who don't here it is!

'only love' written across my rib just below my left boob. The words come from the Ben Howard song of the same title, which is one of the reasons i have it, because he's become one of my all-time favourite musicians. The second being that it represents my love for music, as it's been my biggest passion since i was small and it's what i want to do with my career, so yeah thats what it's for. A bit cheesy yes, but i absolutely adore it! I've been a fan of rib tattoos for a long time but have put off having my own due to the "oh thats the most painful place" comments i always get. In fact, it was nowhere near as painful as i thought it was going to be, probably helped that i had a lovely tattooist and a hand to squeeze! It's my second tattoo and i have a few more ideas up my sleeve for other ones, but i need to save some pennies first!

Have any of you got tattoos? Would love to see them if you do!

LIVE: Ben Howard - Portsmouth Pyramids 14th February 2012

Now to say I was excited about going to see Ben Howard live is a little bit of an understatement. Ever since purchasing his album back in October I have fallen completely in love with his music and still daily listen to his music repeatedly. There aren’t many bands or artists that leave a lasting impression with me, yet Ben Howard has done just that, so I had high hopes for his live show.

Daughter were the support act for the evening, who completely surprised me, it’s difficult not to fall in love with Elena Tonra’s vocals and timid personality, plus there’s always something great about hearing such an innocent looking girl delicately sing the word “fuck”. The set isn’t too long, but it satisfies the audience in their wait for the main event.

As the lights at the venue lowered and the crowd opened their lungs to announce the arrival of Ben Howard, It’s safe to say I was feeling completely elated. Opening with Depth Over Distance, Ben’s husky, soulful voice filled the room that had now fallen totally silent. For those that know the song you will understand when I say it’s very passionate, with echoing bass drums and Ben pushing his vocals more than the norm. An incredible opening, which left an even more incredible atmosphere amongst the fans.

Ben then worked his way through most tracks from his debut album Every Kingdom, with Old Pine and The Wolves going down an absolute storm with the crowd, who were singing along to every line. One thing that really impressed me was the amount of effort the band as a whole had put into the show, and how well they all work together, drummer Chris Bond is clearly a very talented musician, as well as India Bourne who works her magic on the Cello, Bass and backing vocals. There was so much enthusiasm in the music; Ben in particular pushed his guitar skills to a whole new level, which I didn’t think was possible.

Clearly still bemused by his success and the amount of females that now lust after him, he still seems quite shy when talking about his album influences and stories behind his music, making quite the comical comment at a young girl declaring her love for him from the front row.

The show then draws to a close, Ben finishes off with Move Like You Want To, which gets everyone dancing around and singing along. As he departs the stage the crowd give him one big cheer, showing their full appreciation for the show tonight… and I leave completely in awe and worried that I’ll never love a man again after watching him.

But this is just the beginning for Ben; he seems to have become Radio 1’s new favourite toy and is in high demand from music types across the country. He has already announced another full scale UK tour for November, so make sure you get your tickets early to avoid disappointment! 

Tracks of 2011

Yes i know we're already half way through January, but i personally am still enjoying all the music that hit us in 2011 so thought i'd do a post on all the tracks that kept me going through the year!

First off:

The 'Everything WILL be alright' song

Ben Howard - Keep Your Head Up
I think the title of the song gives it away really, this helps lift my mood when I've been having a bad day!


The Summer Anthem

Bombay Bicycle Club - Shuffle
The up-beat, poppy chorus will leave you literally shuffling along and makes me think of days spent with friends over the summer.




The 'I'm going to sit back with a cuppa tea and listen to you' song

Benjamin Francis Leftwich - Box of Stones
Just listen, thats all you need to do.


The 'Brings me back to a good time' song

Neon Trees - Animal
This tracks reminds me of my work experience at Absolute Radio at the beginning of my year, where i was lucky enough to meet these guys. I also met a great friend there & this song always reminds me of them!


The 'I really liked that song but someone ruined it for me' song

Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks
Thanks to the lovely Greg James of Radio 1 fame, i now can't listen to this without picturing him doing his 'Bum Dance' ... Cheers Greg!


And Finally...

The guilty pleasure

One Direction - What makes you beautiful
I'm not even going to try and justify myself with this one, i know you all secretly enjoy it just as much as i do!


There we have it, just a few of the tracks that made up my 2011, check back soon to see my favourites of 2012 so far (yes there are some!) and the future single releases i think you'll all love!

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

Ben Howard - Every Kingdom

 

There must be something in the air down in the West Country, as over the years it has churned out more exciting musical talent than cheese and cider, one of them being twenty three year old Ben Howard.

Originating from South Devon, Ben grew up listening to the likes of Jeff Buckley and Joni Mitchell, which appear to have heavily influenced the music he’s been writing over the years and that now appears on his debut album ‘Every Kingdom’.

The album begins with ‘Old Pine’, which was released as a single earlier this year. The first minute or so of the song is a build up of instrumentals, which set the tone for what’s to come from the rest of the album.

One of the traits of Ben’s music is to layer his vocals on top of each other to create haunting harmonies that make for an almost enchanting listen. From the first track, it is a clear this album is a triumph, there’s so much texture to the music, with bass drums, cello and tambourines giving more of a dramatic edge.

As the album progresses his nimble fingers pluck the strings in a majestic fashion while mixing in percussion slaps on the guitar, a skill that not many can master, therefore only emphasising the talent Ben Howard has.

The album also includes previously released singles ‘The Wolves’ and ‘Keep Your Head Up’. Even though they didn’t exactly chart high, both have incredible rhythm and gained Ben the recognition he deserves. The music video for ‘Keep Your Head Up’ also probably has one of the best concepts ever, who wouldn’t enjoy building and riding down a ridiculously large water slide that runs through the countryside? The single is an excellent self-esteem booster with lyrics “keep your head up/keep your heart strong’ which, when accompanied with the excellent guitar playing can only leave you with a smile.

Not every track is filled with happy melodies though, songs such as ‘Black Flies’ and ‘Gracious’ have more of an edge to their sound, the lyrics are mournful and the pace has slowed to create a different type of mood. Not to say these are the worst of the songs, they’re probably just not the ones to listen to if you are feeling a bit down in the dumps!

There have been many folk-pop artists appearing recently and it may seem that there surely can’t be room for anymore? But Ben Howard is an artist that every folk fan should make space for in their record collection. If you enjoy the likes of Newton Faulkner, Jack Johnson and Damien Rice then there is no doubt that ‘Every Kingdom’ will be up there in your favourites.

Ben Howard has also recently started his album tour, so if you like what you hear then check out the dates at www.facebook.com/benhowardmusic

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!