Alt.rock

King’s Daughters & Sons - If Then Not When

Glorious pastoral folk-rock debut from alt-rock super-group on Chemikal Underground

9 Nov 2011

(Chemikal Underground) Not many alt-rock super-groups would simultaneously align themselves with William Faulkner and Led Zeppelin, but then Louisville, Kentucky’s King’s Daughters & Sons are no ordinary band. Formed by members of post-rock…

EMA - Past Life Martyred Saints

Slow-burning alt.rock from the former Gowns and Amps for Christ noise-folker

25 Apr 2011

(Souterrain Transmissions) Erika M Anderson (EMA), formerly of the folk-noise outfits Amps for Christ and Gowns, makes her solo debut with this ethereal collection of lo-fi grunge ballads. Hushed vocals set to low-key guitar strumming that builds to…

The Feelies - Here Before

The post-punk pioneers return with a much mellower sound

25 Apr 2011

(Bar None) Encircling the laid-back parameters of Tom Petty and REM, this comeback album from US alt-rockers The Feelies – once the toast of 70s New York – finds the years have mellowed the post-punk trailblazers, but they have not drained the band’s…

Deerhunter out on UK tour

Alt.rock foursome beloved by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Battles and Nine Inch Nails

3 Mar 2011

Any respectable profile piece on Atlanta, Georgia quartet Deerhunter would necessitate its author to offer a history and overview of the self-styled ghost rock and ambient punk band’s impressive ten-year career. It would thus require the writer to dig…

Isa & The Filthy Tongues - 'Addiction'

23 Jul 2009

Re-issued from 2006 on the strength of their recent ‘New Town Killers’ single (from Richard Jobson’s film of the same name) Addiction marked/marks the return of Goodbye Mr Mackenzie alumni Martin Metcalfe, Fin Wilson and Derek Kelly. Having seen…

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson

9 Jul 2009

Another new name (all four of them!) to drop into conversation at a summer shindig, the enigmatic Miles stirs the cockles on this rich and raw debut set. From Portland, Oregon, to living rough in Coney Island, New York (and back again), Miles and his…

New Found Glory

11 Dec 2008

ALT.ROCK It’s really not often you get a band who nail pop punk live. Really nail it. The three supports tonight all try, and fail for various reasons – primarily horrendous sound – but New Found Glory have their own equipment, own sound guy and a…

Jubilee

21 Aug 2008

You can’t dispute the talent involved in Jubilee, featuring Aaron North (Nine Inch Nails/The Icarus Line) on vocals and guitar; Michael Shuman (Queens of the Stone Age/Wires on Fire) on bass and vocals and Jeff Lynn (Wires on Fire) guitar. However they…

Kristin Hersh

After the flood

7 Aug 2008

To the casual observer, Kristin Hersh is a bundle of contradictions. Just seconds into our conversation she is gabbing away like an old friend, expounding on her one-woman show Paradoxical Undressing, the tale of a tumultuous teenage life when, in the…

Jaguar Love - Take Me to the Sea

7 Aug 2008

ALT.ROCK (Matador Records) Formed from the ashes of Seattle art-punk luminaries Pretty Girls Make Graves and Blood Brothers, Jaguar Love consists of veteran squawker Johnny Whitney, former bandmate Cody Votolato and Jay Clark. As the creative force…

Chris Bradley

19 Jun 2008

Expect a subtle mix of alternative rock and classical elements as Chris Bradley launches his new album Voices in his native Edinburgh. He started as a child singing with the prestigious St Mary’s Cathedral Choir, then joined a jazz band before finally…

Plain White T's

17 Jan 2008

ALT.ROCK Barrowland, Glasgow, Fri 25 Jan Dave Tirio is asleep. Fifteen minutes after the interview is scheduled to start he’s probably dreaming about number ones and sell-out tours. But these things are fast becoming more than dreams for the…

Nine Black Alps

15 Nov 2007

ALT.ROCK Love/Hate (Island) When this Manchester foursome released their debut album two years ago, they sounded a great deal like Nirvana. Now they’re back it’s disappointing to hear just how little they have actually progressed. On the plus side…

Records - Built To Spill

3 Jul 2007

ALT.ROCK It’s been years since we last heard from this influential, Idaho-based collective and thankfully we find them on remarkable form sixth record around. Refreshingly at odds with the current glowsticks and guitars-strewn music scene they have…

Our Lunar Activities and The Gems

Nice’n’Sleazy, Glasgow, Sun 5 Nov

11 Nov 2006

ALT ROCK What better way to pull in punters on a windy Sunday’s eve than with the lure of Sleazy’s womb-like interior, free warm Red Stripe and hard, driving rock? Launching their new single ‘It Comes in Waves’, Our Lunar Activities were the night’s…