The Stone Roses - All For One single review

It finally happened, nearly 5 years after their comeback The Stone Roses have released new music for the first time in over 2 decades. Of course it was unrealistic to expect a song that is on par with anything off their debut but still there was potential (albeit a small amount) for it to be a very strong song, but equally the possibility that it was going to be utterly dreadful was quite high. I mean 20 years is a long time not to release anything and just look to their second album for a guess to what it could be like. Upon its release it had an overwhelmingly positive response, but take it out of the context of being The Stone Roses and its just yet another middle of road indie pop song, to me ‘all for one’ just screams average.

That said there are good parts to it, John Squire’s guitar playing mainly, but also some truly dire lyrics to accompany, the kind that wouldn’t be out of place on a teenage indie bands first attempt at a peace and love song. "all for one, one for all if we all join hands we'll make a wall" it really is a thousand miles away from the opening line to she bangs the drums, "  I can feel the earth begin to move, I hear my needle hit the groove". I know comparing the two is harsh but you do expect at least something vaguely reminiscent of the cleverness of this lyric

 On first listen I really hated it but I’ve given it a few more goes now and its grown on me slightly, though there are still some huge flaws. Its no secret that Ian Brown isn't the greatest singer in the world and on the debut the vocals weren’t relied on to carry the song so it was able to looked over but here the bass and drums aren’t strong enough individually and it leaves his vocal imperfections exposed. The guitar solo is very impressive but it just doesn’t quite fit; its as if they new they didn’t have much so decide to just let John Squire loose and do his own thing. In isolation it’s a really really good solo, just not in the context of the song.

As a song it does come together fairly well if you manage to ignore the cringe worthy lyrics, accept the fact that its not the 80’s anymore and that the level of their first album is not going to be replicated. It’s a fun, bouncy, pop track and at the end of the day it could have been so much worse.

6/10

Drowners // Cruel Ways single review

Today saw Drowners release their first piece of music since their eponymous debut album over two years ago. The track is titled ‘Cruel ways’ and is the first single released from their upcoming album ‘On Desire’ set to be released at the end of June. Its tone is very reflective of its name seeing the New Yorkers edge away from their jangle –indie -pop ways and adopting a more matured sound.  

The track begins with with a heavier than usual guitar riff, which has a sense of forced melancholy about it. This is followed shortly after by Matt Hitts growling vocals; ‘There’s an alternate meaning behind the words you spoke’ following the usual Drowners pattern of kinda tacky and most definitely about a love interest. But nonetheless the lyrics are very catchy and unlike the first album Hitts vocals are able to stand on their own two feet without getting lost in a sea of dreamy guitar. This time round they dictate where the song is going, in this case its building up the chorus with pacy, breathless vocals to make way for a scathing solo. Only to be followed to by softly spoken seductive vocals where his voice takes forefront. But its too repetitive and simple to be anything more than just a decent track. There are some good elements of it but its all just too predictable. It has so much of a 'I love this so much because look at Matt Hitts jaw line, he's so perfect I want to fuck him until his dick falls off' feel as to the reason people love the band/song. 

The whole thing has a mid/late noughties, almost nostalgic feel about it. Nevertheless it does have more drive than anything off the debut album, this first song shows some promise for ’On Desire’ looking on course to offer something different... Well, kinda. 

Rating 6/10

Listen to Cruel Waves below,

Why Foals headlining is the best thing to happen to Reading & Leeds in years

It was announced this morning that Foals are to co-headline Reading and Leeds this August alongside Disclosure and there has been a mixed reaction varying from general distaste and how they’re not “iconic” enough for the headline slot, to the fact they actually have to share top of the bill and are deserving of it by themselves. But in my eyes Foals headlining is exactly what Reading & Leeds, and festivals in general, need. 

Its not just their music which in my eyes makes the Oxford quartet deserving, 4 UK top ten albums should speak volumes as it is, but it’s more the fact they’re a new headlining band. I personally am sick and tired of the same dozen bands being regurgitated by the larger festivals; and more often than not these are bands haven’t released anything of any significance for several years – now of course if can be argued that these bands have a plethora of bangers from huge back catalogues but is that really what festivals are about? To me a headline slot at a major festival signifies a band reaching the top of their game – something which foals have; and with 8 years of hard work under there belt it's safe to say that their time has finally come and they are most definitely ready. 

Foals are a phenomenal live band, having seen them at their secret set at Reading last year and in Kingston’s intimate Hippodrome they create so much energy through out, even during the slower songs such as Spanish Sahara. But for me it’s the passion shown by Yannis during every single one of their songs that takes their gigs to the next level – and his balcony jump during two steps twice wasn’t really harming their cause as a great live band either.

In terms of back catalogue, they aren’t shy of hits either with four studio albums. From old fan favourites such as Cassius and two steps twice to My Number which was one of the biggest hits of 2013 and What Went Down and Mountain at my gates proved to be great success in 2015, with the latter even making it on to FIFA – so there’s one for all you cheeky Nandos shuffling lads too!

Now I understand that Foals aren’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea but alongside Disclosure they do offer something for a huge demographic, which is why I think the co-headline slot has been chosen, that or they were fearful of the backlash that might come if Foals were stand alone headliners – but then again this is the same festival that actually booked Mumford and sons last year. To put into context how badly new headline worthy bands are needed, there hasn't been a lineup since 2006 where none of the 3 bands topping the bill haven't already headlined.

It is so refreshing to have Foals and Disclosure both headline for the first time and maybe this will break the mould of booking has beens year after year *cough* the who at Glastonbury *cough*. 

Also the pair released two of 2015’s best albums and have been rewarded with a co-headline slot , a welcome change of the usual routine of booking a band after churning out yet another compilation of greatest hits. But this year can only be seen as positive even if Foals and Disclosure aren't your favourite artists on the planet. Hopefully this will let big festival organisers see the light and book new bands giving them that final elevation to reaching the top as Reading have done with Foals. (Less so with Red Hot Chilli Peppers as this is the fourth time they have headlined but baby steps, Reading, baby steps.)

10 years of looking good on the dancefloor

This week ten years ago Arctic Monkey’s debut single ‘I bet you look good on the dancefloor’ was released and thus indie was born. Okay, well it wasn’t really. Maybe it wasn’t even ‘reborn’ but it was certainly brought fully into the mainstream. I mean having your first single as a bunch of 19 year olds go straight to number 1 is no easy feat. So when a shy, scrawny, baby faced Alex Turner walked up to the microphone introduced his band and instructed the audience to not believe the hype, someone who is now long extinct, no one could have fathomed what was to become of these four teenagers from Sheffield.

What they have achieved as a band on a whole is very impressive. Listen to almost any typical guitar indie rock band around today and you’ll hear elements of their early material – all stemming from this one song. It was just so different and beautifully frank with itself, in truth it is not a ‘masterpiece’ but it has paved the way for so many bands with this two minutes and fifty-three seconds of furious riffs and witty anecdotes.

Though not long before had Oasis reached number one with ‘the importance of being idle’ they were living off the fan base from their only two good albums. They hadn’t been at their top for the best part of a decade but who else was around? Franz Ferdinand had released their disappointing second album just weeks before and exploding onto the music scene in the manner which they did breathed new life into the alternative genre with lyrics everyone could relate to. Maybe not through being in their exact shoes but it’s something everyone has seen on a night out. And that’s what made this band so universally loved, there was no fantasy world; it was relatable, true and not half bad either.  

As for the track itself it’s a storming piece of work, no messing around. What is essentially a modern love song – albeit about the lack of true love - opening with such furiosity and high energy and bustling Turner vocals crooning over. Lyrically unusually confident for a teenager with quick wit in the form of trademark Sheffield poetry. But the best moment comes 30 seconds from the end, with a slow build up just for the whole thing to break down in what would become the most chantable moment of any song in the past ten years. Not that I really needed to tell you how good it is, everyone’s heard it, everyone knows.

Definitely the most important Arctic Monkeys song from their huge back catalogue and possibly even of the last decade, it really was a true anthem that made them the pioneers they are seen as today.

(Even though AM was shit but I’ll let that slide because this really is a fucking banger.)