Music

Breton-Other People's Problems

Not asbos

Now I'll freely admit that I only discovered South London outfit Breton because they shared their name with the inhabitants of Brittany, France; where I regularly go on holiday(12 years in a row, as a matter of fact).

But now, when I hear Breton I don't think of rainy holidays in Northern France, but Roman Rappack's exciting young band.

And the critcs agree. NME say that the 'Future is exciting if Breton are involved'. The Guardian says, 'If Breton can relocate the inspiration that produced it, they'll be here for the long run'.

I too feel the same way about the hooded band. They describe themselves as an 'Art Collective', mainly because the band was set up to provide music for their arty videos(check out their great music videos here-http://www.youtube.com/user/bretonLABS).

And the band use anything and everything to improve their sound-from power tools to someone chowing down. But it has worked. They have managed to pull off the raw, drawled sound, and it sounds very good on tape.

Who do they sound like? Well, that's another benefit of this great album. It's diversity. Tracks like Jostle could be mistaken for a Friendly Fires track. Governing Correctly is distincly like that of an early Metronomy. And Ghost Note would be the best ever Kasabian song-should Kasabian have written it.

However, the track which makes this band is Edward The Confessor-a menacing track which makes this band and the record.

It deseveres it's 10/10

In my opinion, this is the record of the year-will The Vaccines or Two Door Cinema Club be able to defeat the newbies? Give your opinion below
Download: Edward the Confessor, Interference and Jostle

Leave your comments below.

Rabies.

Lady Gaga- Born This Way

Is there much point introducing her? We all know who she is; her strange music videos, her 'love everyone' ethics, akin to previous LGBT superstars (cough, cough Madonna). So, instead of talking about the album as a whole, I'm going to review this track by track:

Marry The Night- One of the best songs on the album. Cool, confident and with one of the weirdest bridges on a song I've heard.

Born This Way-We all know this one, since everyone has been humming it since May. It smacks of 80's dance but is wondrous and yet shameless in its feel-good factor.

Government Hooker- Occasional hits of Gwen Stefani's Rich Girl are echoed in this, this being one of the more strange songs on the album. Dancey, but the blatant Marilyn Monroe references are painful.


Americano- A throwback to Latin American, Gaga's Spanish warbling is great, but after 10 'a-a-a-a-aa's, it wears a little thin.

Judas- Frustrating R and B verses are bearable for the wonderful chorus, and the added chants of 'Judas' are magnificent.

Hair- Simply the best song on the album. With self affirming lyrics, jazz undertones and the best bass drop of the year, it is simply the perfect pop song.

Scheiße- Fake German singing proves for, again, one of the more obscure songs on the album. Weird, but intriguing.

Bloody Mary- A simply excellent song. A wonderful chorus, the best lyricism on the album and yells of Gaga in the background makes for a great song.

Bad Kids- We hear Bruce Springsteen when we hear this rock ballad. Sometimes it can be silly but it is clever and enjoyable.

Highway Unicorn- An awkward display of synth and bass, this is an example of when Gaga's self confidence gets the better of her. Messy, but well intentioned.

Heavy Metal Lover- Again, awkward but better than Highway Unicorn. Too weird for its own good and some simply painful first lyrics. Interesting.

Electric Chapel- After 2 average songs, we ger a great, dancey disco hit. This guitar improv solo is rock at its finest.

Yoü and I-No Speechless wonder to be found on this album, but we do get a great old school dance record. Wonderful.

The Edge of Glory- One of the more average dance songs, it's one of those 'lyrics saved me' singles. Good music, but the lyrics are better.

9/10

Download-Hair, Marry the Night, Bloody Mary

Everything Everything- Man Alive

This band holds the record, in my opinion, as the hardest karaoke band ever. Their complicated and completely irregular choral pattern and ridiculously high soprano voice is musical gold, but is nevertheless a catchy tease. The album, their début, was, despite being ungodly difficult to sing, was one of the best from 2010. By far the best song on the album is MY KZ UR BF, which uses such strangetiming and one of the strangest song plots I've seen in a while.(see http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858799709/) Photoshop Handsome provides equally great pop relief, with again, some of the strangest lyrics I've seen. However, once Schoolin' plays, the quirkiness starts to get a tad annoying. Similar to the quirkiness of Michael Cera, it's best enjoyed in small doses.
8/10
Download: Photoshop Handsome, MY KZ UR BF

Teo


Metronomy-The English Riviera

Mount and Co rue forgotten buckets and spades

I've just been brought to a new, beautiful place thanks to Joe Mount an Co. A place, where England is the place where Stella ads are made. A place where England is beautiful. A place where Torbay is paradise. Yet again I've been listening to The English Riviera. In my opinion, the album of 2011. The album begins with 37 seconds of seagulls backed by bass and synthesiser. Almost instantly you leave your daily life and are whisked off to the seaside. This short intro perfectly draws you in, so much so that you are hooked. And as the breif introduction moves on to We Broke Free, a song in which Mount's falsetto tones wrap around you and don't let go-until Everything Goes My Way, a beautiful song in which Joe and Veornica Falls singer Roxanne Clifford deut, complimenting each other perfectly. The Look is next, and the track seems to have nominated itself for the summers anthem. But next up is The Bay, a track which brings us back to the old Metronomy, and which will undoubtedly find itself on the minds of campers as they holiday in realistic rainy Torbay. The next notable track is Love Underlined, a bassy track with an edge. I believe that is track is worthy of the ultimate 10/10. Well done Metronomy. Thanks for reading. Leave your comments and requests underneath. Rabies, signing out.

Download: Love Underlined, Everything Goes My Way
The Vaccines-What Did You Expect From The Vaccines

Well what did we expect from The Vaccines? Personally, I expected a medicore debut which would see the London based outfit over the line for a second try. But what did we get? The answer is simple-greatness Yes it is just their first album, but I believe it's as good as debuts such as The Stone Roses or Is This It. It's that good. And this is not just thanks to fast moving hits like If You Wanna or Post Break Up Sex-the slower numbers such as Wetsuit and A Lack of Understanding also contribute to the band's massive WIN. I personally prefer Wolf Pack to Wetsuit, but the evidence is clear-the fact I have to choose between to epics proves the albums greatness. And not only are the guitars good. Justin Young has managed to make himself the best voice in British Indie Rock. However, as the album develops it begins to feel like a broken record. That is greatness greatest flaw-they have over done their greatness so that it feels samey. But the album is superb, and more than deserves its 9/10. Who'd have expected that from The Vaccines? Thanks for reading. Leave any comments or requests below. Rabies

Download: Norgaard, Post Break-Up Sex

Rabies

Alt-J- An Awesome Wave

After last year's Vaccine success, expectedly, here comes a wave of similarly themed indie groups, just waiting to steal the limelight. But halt! This could not be further from the Vaccines. Instead, we get the sheer marvel of An Awesome Wave. The best track is definately Matilda, which is smooth, calming, and ungodly catchy. The nice guitar seams effortlessly with the lead singers voice, a marriage made in heaven. However, like The Vaccines debut, the album get extremely samey after a short while and some of the lyrics surpass simplicity and are occasionally plain lazy. (Sample lyric: Please don't go, I love you so x4, groan) Verdict? A mixed bag, with a few brilliant songs but it is all too redundant and it is undeniably bland.
6/10
Download: Matilda, Breezeblocks

Teo

Crocodiles-Endless Flowers

I only discoved San Diego's Crocodiles earlier this week in Rough Trade East on Brick Lane, with my friend and fellow blogger Matteo. We both came with the intention of buying Totally Enourmous Extinct Dinosaur's album Trouble, but the Crocs impressed us so much we both bought their album Endless Flowers.

And the fuzz lovers didn't disappoint. Title track Endless Flowers soars, as does lead singer Brandon Welchez's voice, not entirely different from the equally great Vaccines track Norgaard. Other notable tracks include No Black Clouds For Dee Dee and Dark Alleys, both in The Vaccines mould, but with added fuzz. However, by the time you reach Bubblegum Trash, the blary bass will sound a little tired. For this reason, the album gets a 7/10


Download:Endless Flowers and Dark Alleys

Thanks for reading, Rabies and Teo