The Kinetiks are aptly named; the tracks on their new EP are a bundle of raw energy. The EP’s first track, ‘A Smile’d Crack Your Face,’ sets a rapid pace but the band are able to maintain it until the end. The Dublin band cultivate a sound reminiscent of the Strokes circa Is This It?. If their live shows are anything like their recorded tracks, audiences will not be disappointed.
On her latest single, Majella Murphy’s vocals deliver the ballad of Mary Jones. Her voice is reminiscent of Dolores O’Riordan or Sinead O’Connor, but with more of a folky troubador sound. Keep an eye out for the Kilkenny songstress; while she released her debut, Brave New World, in 2006, Murphy’s warm sound and sweet lyrics are likely to continue winning fans in the future.
Who knew that a rain stick and a didgeridoo had a place on a punk and blues record? Limerick’s Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters aren’t afraid to sprinkle their jagged sound with uncommon instruments. While the tracks themselves aren’t anything revolutionary, it’s fun to listen for the eclectic elements hidden here and there.
Citing influences from The Beatles and the Beach Boys to Steve Earle and Ron Sexsmith, Sundrive combine the best of their favorite bands to create their own brand of guitar pop. This subdued single is a departure from their previous upbeat release, ‘A Day Like Today,’ but the result is successful and proves that they’re a versatile outfit.
The soundtrack to the third Spiderman film features tracks from The Killers and The Flaming Lips, but the honour of lead track goes to ‘Signal Fire’ by Snow Patrol. The sound is – well, like any other Snow Patrol song: sweeping guitar chords building with percussion to the chorus.
Although the ’90s are over, Escape Act manage to harness the sound and energy of the decade’s alternative scene on their new EP. The Belfast three-piece have a simple drum, bass, and guitar arrangement, but the upbeat and catchy melodies are engaging. This EP will stay in your head for days, but the tracks are so likeable that you won’t mind at all.
This single off Perry Blake’s sixth album, Canyon Songs, is straight out of a country western film. Blake’s duet with Dervish vocalist Cathy Doran is backed by a hefty dose of slide guitar. However, the lyrics are nothing out of the ordinary. For listeners interested in getting to know Perry Blake’s work, exploring the rest of the album’s tracks may be a better bet.
Waterford’s AcroJunk may write songs for the 21st century, but their hearts sound firmly entrenched in 1960s sound. ‘The Cold Old Playboy’ is a bouncy track with a touch of ‘60s surf guitar and the background organ of the Doors all rolled into one. The band’s harmonies on ‘Nonebrities’ and ‘Man Or Machine’ feel quite Beatles-esque but the overall sound is quite unique. AcroJunk take the best, leave the rest, and develop a likeable combination of old and new styles.
Galway’s Breakdown Rambler used everything but the kitchen sink when recording their latest EP and the results are lovely. The opening guitar on the title track is reminiscent of old Pavement riffs but, unlike the California band, Breakdown Rambler opt for quirky musical instruments rather than offbeat lyrics. Try to pick out the glockenspiel, spoons, and egg tube that are woven into the EP’s three songs.
The Maccabees know how to put together a tight pop song and ‘About Your Dress’ is compellingly fueled by their Clash-influenced sound. Combining a driving bassline, fierce guitar, and frontman Orlando Weeks’s urgent delivery, the song clocks in at a brief 2: 17 – but leaves listeners wanting more.
If church services sounded more like Soulsavers, there wouldn’t be enough pews to hold all the parishioners. A dark and antiquated organ backs a lovely choir as they plead for forgiveness and an end to suffering. However, the resulting sound is anything but painful; in contrast, the gospel-infused track is simultaneously somber and hopeful. Give this track a listen and you’ll want to see a revival tonight, too.
Songwriter Emil Svanangen, known to fans as Loney, Dear, has emerged from his basement studio with his new single, ‘I Am John.’ His soft-spoken delivery and bouncy clarinet melodies make him sound like a Swedish Sufjan Stevens. However, he takes Stevens’s style and makes it his own with bursts of falsetto and a tinkling glockenspiel. In the past Loney, Dear recorded his own tracks and developed a fan base through word of mouth, so have a listen and tell your friends.
After fixing up tracks like ‘Baby’s Got Sauce’ and ‘Milk And Cereal’, G. Love has emerged from the kitchen with his latest tasty dish, ‘Hot Cookin’’. His breezy lyrics are backed by bluesy guitar and peppered with a bit of harmonica. Put this track on and sit on the front porch with a mint julep.
The Pigeons are completely unapologetic on their new single, and why shouldn’t they be? ‘I’m Not Sorry’ features gritty guitar, with front man Matt Bellows insisting, “I’ll never take it back, I’ll never take it back”. His delivery is so demanding that you’ll want to apologize for whatever the problem was.
From punk princess to MTV starlet to French warbler, it’s been a long strange journey for Belinda Carlisle. But right now, what she really wants to do is open a donkey sanctuary.
Located in the top floor of one of north Dublin’s last remaining tower-blocks, Hotel Ballymun is both an art project and a dynamic social experiment. It’s also proof of what a community can achieve when it pulls together.
‘Be With You’ features a marching bassline and a melody that’s catchy as hell. And while We Thrive On Big Cities is a much better representation of Director’s talent, give this single a chance. After all, they just want to be with you.
