Rags frontman Danny Anderson’s gobby self-assurance may prove off-putting to some, yet to dismiss the Finglas five-piece outright is unjustified. Their recorded output is deserving of the hype that surrounds them and ‘Razors and Ropes’ is no exception. Easily digestible, yet utterly memorable, this compelling slice of Smiths-esque guitar-pop stands out as their finest recording to date. Its charm ultimately lies in Anderson’s deft lyrics and vocal delivery. Here, he channels his arrogance into an emotive anger rendered all the more persuasive by his tender, often fragile vocal style. It’s an approach which echoes Pete Doherty and The Libertines in particular. B-side ‘Owner Of A Loveless Life’ adds weight to such lofty comparisons. Dublin’s answer to The Libertines? Maybe. Certainly, The Rags are just as exciting.
This is THe Rags' second EP of beautifully crafted, elegantly presented music. ‘Monsters & I’ ups the ante on their hugely impressive debut by turning up the confidence and the volume
Few new Irish bands arrive as seemingly perfectly formed as The Rags. Everything about the package that surrounds their debut suggests that they’ve got their act seriously together, not least the music itself.
After two years and two limited releases, the Evil Harrisons finally hit their stride in spectacular fashion. Six tracks on a debut single may seem to be a bit presumptuous but, like The Rags before them, they exude the confidence to make it all sound effortless. The pick of the bunch is ‘Some Grand Plan’, a bizarre clash of guitars, vocals that sound like Bob Dylan having a go at rapping and a shuffling dance beat.
The other five tracks are no slouch either, displaying an equally admirable disregard for convention. With both 8Ball and The Rags themselves gone AWOL, this might just be the lot to do it.
Delorentos seem to have been with us for an age, outdone only by The Rags in taking their time releasing that long awaited first album. ‘Basis Of Everything’ is one last, download only salvo before said LP arrives in April but it indicates just how much this cautious approach has paid off. As with everything they’ve put their name to, this screams quality, conviction and promise. New Irish band of the year? Look out Ham Sambo, there could be a battle on the horizon.
Based on the rags-to-riches tale of a hard-up Durham twelve-year-old from a striking-miner family, whose massive passion for ballet holds him out the promise of escape, Billy Elliot is so bland it leaves you on the point of tears:
Underdogs who've clawed their way into the top flight, Setanta Records, like Wimbledon, are a premiership act - with attitude. stuart clark gets the rags to (comparative) riches story from label boss, Dubliner Keith Cullen and also seeks the considered opinions of boys-done-well, Neil Hannon and Edwyn Collins.
Although john squire and his new band The seahorses have taken something of a critical mauling following the release of their album Do It Yourself and some less-than-sparkling live shows, the former Stone Roses axeman is surprisingly unperturbed as peter murphy finds out.
How many bands can you fit into a weekend? One more than you thought, because it's just been announced that Paddy Casey has will headline a night at Hard Working Class Heroes.
In the current issue of Hot Press, the musicians of Ireland have spoken - but what do they know? Have YOUR say on the top 100 albums of all time. Ever.
Now in its fourth year, Hot Press is please to announce a nationwide search for Irish artists to have a music video directed and produced by film students from the illustrious Tisch School of the Arts, New York University.
The Full Monty's inexplicably gigantic success was a nice enough story when it happened, but it got way out of hand, and we might have to live with the consequences for some time to come.
Northern hopefuls Fighting With Wire and rising Dublin electro act Robotnik are among those set to play this year's HWCH festival, with the full line-up just announced.
Hot Press is pleased to announce another nation-wide search for Irish music talent to have a music video directed and produced (at no cost) by film students from the illustrious Tisch School of Performing Arts at New York University.
Hot Press is pleased to announce another nation-wide search for Irish music talent to have a music video directed and produced (at no cost) by film students from the illustrious Tisch School of Performing Arts at New York University.
hotpress.com can exclusively reveal the hundred or so acts that are getting offered a slot at the prestigious Hard Working Class Heroes Festival 2005. Selected by over 25 judges including the likes of Thrills & Humanzi manager Allan Cullivan
Over a hundred acts took part in the annual Hard Working Class Heroes event in Dublin last weekend. While the standard wasn’t uniformly impressive, a number of new contenders emerged who might ultimately be capable of lifting the rock’n’roll crown...
Indie rock isn’t just about hip fringes and attitude. It means doing your own thing – not because you’re looking for fame and fortune but because you care deeply about music
