May Reviews

  Deftones – Diamond Eyes – Released 3^rd May

Diamond Eyes is the title track and first single from Doftones’ forthcoming album Diamon Eyes. The band’s 6^th studio album and produced by Nick Raskulinecz who has also worked with Alice in Chains and Foo Fighters, this is their first record since 2006’s Saturday Night Wrist. They will be playing at this year’s Download festival. This single is slow and heavy with beefy guitar riffs and some nice syncopated drumming, accompanied with lyrical vocals and a real head banging tempo. This must be incredible when performed live…a great track over all.

The Foxes – Get Me – Released 17^th May

Having given up everything to get fully behind the bad, these musicians started their own record label and have been touign the UK, US and Europe ever since. Producer John Cornfield who has worked with Oasis, Muse and Razorlight among others, invited them to record their first full length album in Cornwall. It’s a catchy and chorus led indie pop tune which will get you dancing around. They play at the Arts Centre here in Norwich on 18^th June so catch them while you can.

Gorillaz – Superfast Jellyfish – 9^th May

Any track which married De La Soul and Gruf Rhys is surely a heavenly concept. This is the second single from the Gorillaz’ album Plastic Beach and it’s a hip hop classic, with an accompanying supercute chorus sung by Gruff in true Super Furries style. Incredibly proficient and just instrinsically cool, this is a great song. Plastic Beach has been very well received by critics, going in at number 2 in the US and UK charts and featuring the talents of, amongst others, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Bobby Womack and Damon Albarn. There are in fact any number of tracks from this album which would do well as singles, such is the strength of the album as whole.

A Place To Bury Strangers – Ego Death EP – 24^th May

Wow. Very heavy. A big wall of sound hits you upon listening to this track for the first time. Imagine if you will a massively heavier Jesus and Mary Chain without the surf element. Slow and deep and low, it doesn’t much more “your mother wouldn’t like it” than this. They would be just incredible live, and for all you Goths out there, young and old, you MUST get this ep! It’s available as a download from 24^th May and also as a limited edition 12” which will only be available at the band’s live shows…and they play Norwich Arts Centre on May 20^th; I would bring earplugs!

Jamie Cullum – Wheels – Released 24^th May

Not half as jazzy as expected, this is actually a strong song from Sophie Dahl’s other half. It sounds very much like The Fray crossed with some elements of David Gray or Coldplay, and indicates that perhaps Mr Cullum is heading in a different direction. This track is taken from his new album The Pursuit and he is on tour in April. Playing the Ipswich Regent on May 12^th.

Eli 'Paperboy' Reed – Come and Get It – Released 10^th May

The US soul sensation in back with a fantastic new single, harking back to the Motown and Northern Soul years. This is a real floor filler and you won’t be able to stop grooving on down to this sweet and funky track. He has already had two independently released albums which did really well through word of mouth, culminating in his winning Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the 2009 Mojo Awards. It’s so great to hear someone jusr really enjoying the music and creating original music and lyrics that despite their vintage style are simultaneously very current. You’ll be hearing this all over the place this summer, and he plays London’s Scala in October.

Laura Marling – Rambling Man – 16^th May

Laura Marling’s second album I Speak Because I Can was recently released to great acclaim and she seems to be playing all over the place this Summer. This, her new single from that album is a cover of Hank Williams’ Rambling Man. It’s a marvellous song, full of emotional lyrics and a peaceful and smooth musical accompaniment. Her popularity is sky high at the moment and she can do no real wrong. Her style reminds me of Cat Power, not showy or brash but just making music for the love of it.

Band of Skulls – Death by Diamonds and Pearls – 17^th May

The first time I heard this song on the radio I was convinced that it was by The White Stripes, so similar is their sound. However, Band of Skulls have made an intriguing song which stands on its’ own merit and is edgy, syncopated and very good indeed. They will always be compared to The White Stripes which is something that they have to deal with but I hope that they manage to develop and create their own individual sound as they seem potentially very good indeed.

White Rabbits – They Done Wrong, We Done Wrong – Released 24^th May

New York six piece White Rabbits return with a new single in May following on from last singe Percussion Gun and a support tour with Spoon. They are playing all over the place festival-wise this summer with their band which includes two drummers and three singers. This sounds a little like Mumford and Sons, featuring what sounds like a mandolin and a beautiful sweeping keyboard melody. Really beautiful and looking forward to seeing what else they produce.

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip – Sick Tonight/Great Britain – Released 24^th May

Playing regularly in Norwich, Dan le Sac and Scroobius Pip have had a devoted following since they got together in 2006, following on from their former careers of spoken word artist and laptop musician. They speak of current issues and things that rankle with them, from politics to violence and it’s great that they use their music to express their views on things they care about. It’s not that commonplace these days to do so it makes a nice change. Definitely worth a listen and a visit to watch them live if you get the chance.

The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang – Released 24^th May

The Gaslight Anthem are a band from New Jersey who have really taken off in the last couple years, not least as Bruce Springsteen, the Boss himself, has supported their rise to fame, even appearing onstage with them at Glastonbury last year. Their sound is a very typical New Jersey sound, classic guitar led rock n roll, and to an extent musically it sounds a lot like Springsteen. Their two albums thus far have been very well received and their new album, American Slang is due to be released on June 14^th. They play Brixton Academy on June 26^th.