Monday 30 September 2013

Music Chart - September 2013

A quiet month in the Underwurld with new albums from Travis, Franz Ferdinand, Braids, Nine Inch Nails, Glasvegas, Medicine, Julianna Barwick, Arctic Monkeys, Goldfrapp, Manic Street Preachers and Mark Lanegan. Nothing to trouble (pun intended) The National...
  1. Trouble Will Find Me by The National
  2. Wakin On A Pretty Daze by Kurt Vile 
  3. Once I Was An Eagle by Laura Marling 
  4. Nepenthe by Julianna Barwick
  5. Opposites by Biffy Clyro 
  6. Push The Sky Away by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds 
  7. The Ghost Of The Mountain by Tired Pony
  8. Kveikur by Sigur Rós
  9. Waiting For Something To Happen by Veronica Falls
  10. Love Has Come For You by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell
  11. Hesitation Marks by Nine Inch Nails
  12. Regardless by Thea Gilmore 
  13. Tales Of Us by Goldfrapp
  14. ...Like Clockwork by Queens Of The Stone Age 
  15. Sticky Wickets by The Duckworth Lewis Method
  16. Dear Mark J Mulcahy, I Love You by Mark Mulcahy
  17. Impossible Truth by William Tyler
  18. The Beast In Its Tracks by Josh Ritter 
  19. Slow Focus by F Buttons 
  20. AM by Arctic Monkeys
  21. The New Life by Girls Names
  22. Nocturnes by Little Boots
  23. Heartthrob by Tegan And Sara
  24. Yes, It's True by The Polyphonic Spree
  25. Long Way Down by Tom Odell
  26. Standards by Lloyd Cole 
  27. Warp & Weft by Laura Veirs 
  28. Later... When The TV Turns To Static by Glasvegas
  29. Welcome Oblivion by How To Destroy Angels
  30. Les Revenants Soundtrack by Mogwai
  31. Moon Tides by Pure Bathing Culture
  32. More Light by Primal Scream 
  33. Imitations by Mark Lanegan
  34. The Blessed Unrest by Sara Bareilles
  35. The Weight Of Your Love by Editors 
  36. MCII by Mikal Cronin 
  37. Where You Stand by Travis
  38. Shamrock City by Solas
  39. Let It All In by I Am Kloot
  40. Bloodlines by Barbarossa
  41. Where The Heaven Are We by Swim Deep
  42. The Sun Comes Out Tonight by Filter
  43. Spectre At The Feast by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club 
  44. Random Access Memories by Daft Punk
  45. Slave Vows by The Icarus Line
  46. Palms by Palms
  47. You Belong Here by Leagues
  48. The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here by Alice In Chains 
  49. Soft Will by Smith Westerns
  50. Black Pudding by Mark Lanegan & Duke Garwood 
  51. Modern Vampire Of The City by Vampire Weekend
  52. Rewind The Film by Manic Street Preachers
  53. Tape Deck Heart by Frank Turner 
  54. To The Happy Few by Medicine
  55. Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO by Besnard Lakes 
  56. Electric by Pet Shop Boys
  57. Howlin by Jagwar Ma 
  58. IDIOTS by The Electric Soft Parade
  59. Silence Yourself by Savages
  60. People, Hell & Angels by Jimi Hendrix
  61. Fade by Yo La Tengo
  62. Wolf's Law by The Joy Formidable
  63. The Civil Wars by The Civil Wars
  64. Vicissitude by Maps
  65. Heart Of Nowhere by Noah And The Whale 
  66. Big TV by White Lies
  67. The Graceless Age by John Murry 
  68. Elba by Laura Jansen
  69. Paramore by Paramore
  70. Tales From Terra Firma by Stornoway
  71. Electric by Richard Thompson 
  72. Oblivion OST by M83
  73. AMOK by Atoms For Peace
  74. Wonderful, Glorious by Eels
  75. In A Perfect World by Kodaline
  76. Immunity by Jon Hopkins
  77. A Bad Wind Blows In My Heart by Bill Ryder-Jones
  78. Volume 3 by She & Him 
  79. Hubcap Music by Seasick Steve
  80. Wait To Pleasure by No Joy
  81. A Long Way To Fall by Ulrich Schnauss 
  82. Machineries Of Joy by British Sea Power 
  83. Flourish // Perish by Braids
  84. Pale Green Ghosts by John Grant 
  85. Performance by Outfit
  86. All The Little Lights by Passenger
  87. Tooth & Nail by Billy Bragg
  88. Sound City - Real To Real by Sound City - Real To Real
  89. Disarm The Descent by Killswitch Engage
  90. The Messenger by Johnny Marr
  91. If You Leave by Daughter
  92. Pollen by Wave Machines
  93. Sistrionix by Deap Vally
  94. Mosquito by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
  95. Back Into The Woods by Ed Harcourt
  96. Clash The Truth by Beach Fossils
  97. Country Sleep by Night Beds 
  98. The Next Day by David Bowie 
  99. Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action by Franz Ferdinand
  100. Rules By Passion, Destroyed By Lust by Asphodells
  101. Blood Oaths Of The New Blues by Wooden Wand
  102. Centralia by Mountains
  103. In Love by Peace
  104. Ores & Minerals by Mazes
  105. Pedestrian Verse by Frightened Rabbit 
  106. The Invisible Way By Low
  107. Lysandre by Christopher Owens
  108. English Rain by Gabrielle Aplin
  109. Monomania by Deerhunter
  110. California X by California X
  111. Field Of Reeds by These New Puritans
  112. Save Rock And Roll by Fall Out Boy
  113. 180 by Palma Violets
  114. News From Nowhere by Darkstar
  115. Almanac by Widowspeak 
  116. Bloodsports by Suede
  117. Graffiti On The Train by Stereophonics
  118. Wash The Sins Not Only The Face by Esben And The Witch 
  119. Comedown Machine by The Strokes
  120. The Moths Are Real by Serafina Steer
  121. {Awayland} by Villagers
  122. Out Of Touch In The Wild by Dutch Uncles
  123. Lost Sirens by New Order
  124. Girl Talk by Kate Nash
  125. Beta Love by Ra Ra Riot
  126. Early Rocking by Paul Simon
  127. Collections by Delphic

Saturday 14 September 2013

Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks (Album Review)


The ever-talented Trent Reznor looked set to close the doors on Nine Inch Nails in 2009 when the band's tour came to an end and he started work with How To Destroy Angels. A few much publicised award-winning film scores and three HTDA releases later and Reznor revealed that he had been working with Atticus Ross (with whom he created the aforementioned scores and the HTDA records) and long-term NIN producer Alan Moulder, on Hesitation Marks. What started as a few tracks and ideas has become one of the best albums Reznor has made under the name Nine Inch Nails.

It is the style and mood of Hesitation Marks that makes an initial impact. The songs are controlled and balanced, with very few explosions of anger or vitriolic emotion. Reznor, as the vocal centrepiece, never overwhelms with his voice; instead creating a calming influence over the electronic-industrial backing. Even on the early Copy Of A (featuring Lindsey Buckingham), the music builds, shifts and rises but feels much like a reworking of The Hand That Feeds from With Teeth, never uncontrolled or messy. Everything is direct and measured. The final verse packs a punch lyrically without the need to ram it down your throat. Came Back Haunted follows in a similar way, choosing tension and gritted teeth over screams of pain and catharsis. Even through the muddy guitars, the music builds and throws in multi-layered vocals, to create the illusion of maddening cries all shouting together - but then calms to a low, morose finale.

The usual themes are explored with a more modern twist, most notably the piercing Satellite - an oppressive tale of 'Big Brother' paranoia, gliding effortlessly through five minutes, data pulsing in the background. The flip-side to this is the more inward-looking Find My Way, this has Reznor barely whispering by the end. Another highlight is the wonderful Everything, a post-punk riot of guitars and drums packaged into a three-minute pop song. "I am home...I believe. I am home... I am free... always here...", Reznor sings. And the sparse, fragmented Various Methods Of Escape sounds like a re-worked HTDA piece, but builds to a fantastic guitar/drum combination and some of the best vocals on the album.

As expected, Hesitation Marks is by no means perfect. The spiky funk-infused All Time Low is an odd move and about three minutes too long. That said, the juxtaposition of styles breaks the otherwise sedate flow. Running is also disjointed and, although musically interesting, brings nothing new to the album. Then there is I Would For You, which sounds laboured and jaded - a shame as the guitar work and piano in the last minute are fantastic. Thankfully, the final songs are top draw. In Two is a glorious mix of old and new (with more great guitars from Buckingham) - again Reznor is powerful and punchy without losing control and focus, as a combination of complex percussion and empty-spaces provide the backdrop. And the ending is superb, crashing headlong into While I'm Still Here, the final ballad, beautifully crafted and arranged; treading a careful path and concluding with a perfectly odd brass section, and then into Black Noise to finish.

For the most part, Hesitation Marks is a mix of everything that has come before: the chaotic intensity of The Downward Spiral, the pop-tinged hooks of Pretty Hate Machine, the angst from With Teeth, the majesty of The Fragile and the sedate atmosphere of the glorious Ghosts. And the Social Network score has had a huge impact on how Reznor now constructs songs; how they move and evolve. The 'side-project' HTDA has been a positive influence but with Hesitation Marks, Trent Reznor has proved that his heart and soul is very much with Nine Inch Nails.
-- CS

Wednesday 11 September 2013

Mercury Prize 2013 - Shortlist announced

The 2013 Mercury Prize shortlist has been announced and it's no surprise to see David Bowie getting all the headlines. Even more surprising is that The Next Day isn't a very good album - challenging, yes, but not great, in the same way as PJ Harvey's Let England Shake. So Mercury continue to write their own headlines and put forward a shortlist of albums that stir up discussion and debate and in most cases, thankfully, lead the music fraternity to revisit and reassess albums from earlier in the year that had little or no impact the first time around. Several of these made it...Villagers, Savages and Foals to name three. But it's great to see real talent acknowledged: Laura Marling (again), Jake Bugg (firm favourite) and Jon Hopkins (a much more interesting album than Disclosure's Settle). Interestingly, this year there is no classical, no folk (Marling doesn't count) and no 'jazz'. James Blake and Laura Mvula are outside chances with strong records and Rudimental are the dark horses. (And it's too early to comment on Arctic Monkeys)

Here are the nominees:

Arctic Monkeys - AM
James Blake - Overgrown
David Bowie - The Next Day
Jake Bugg - Jake Bugg
Disclosure - Settle
Foals - Holy Fire
Jon Hopkins - Immunity
Laura Marling - Once I Was An Eagle
Laura Mvula - Sing To The Moon
Rudimental - Home
Savages - Silence Yourself
Villagers - {Awayland}

Read the BBC Website round-up here.


Sunday 1 September 2013

Music Chart - August 2013

New albums this month from Mikal Cronin, Girls Names, Laura Jansen, The Civil Wars, Barbarossa, Swim Deep, White Lies, Sara Bareilles, Laura Veirs, Tired Pony, Outfit and Pure Bathing Culture.

The National continue to hold the top of the chart with the album of the year.


  1. Trouble Will Find Me by The National
  2. Wakin On A Pretty Daze by Kurt Vile 
  3. Once I Was An Eagle by Laura Marling
  4. Opposites by Biffy Clyro 
  5. Push The Sky Away by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds 
  6. The Ghost Of The Mountain by Tired Pony
  7. Kveikur by Sigur Rós
  8. Waiting For Something To Happen by Veronica Falls
  9. Love Has Come For You by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell
  10. Regardless by Thea Gilmore
  11. ...Like Clockwork by Queens Of The Stone Age 
  12. Sticky Wickets by The Duckworth Lewis Method
  13. Dear Mark J Mulcahy, I Love You by Mark Mulcahy
  14. Impossible Truth by William Tyler
  15. The Beast In Its Tracks by Josh Ritter 
  16. Slow Focus by F Buttons 
  17. The New Life by Girls Names
  18. Nocturnes by Little Boots
  19. Heartthrob by Tegan And Sara
  20. Yes, It's True by The Polyphonic Spree
  21. Long Way Down by Tom Odell
  22. Standards by Lloyd Cole 
  23. Warp & Weft by Laura Veirs
  24. Welcome Oblivion by How To Destroy Angels
  25. Les Revenants Soundtrack by Mogwai
  26. Moon Tides by Pure Bathing Culture
  27. More Light by Primal Scream 
  28. The Blessed Unrest by Sara Bareilles
  29. The Weight Of Your Love by Editors 
  30. MCII by Mikal Cronin
  31. Shamrock City by Solas
  32. Let It All In by I Am Kloot
  33. Bloodlines by Barbarossa
  34. Where The Heaven Are We by Swim Deep
  35. The Sun Comes Out Tonight by Filter
  36. Spectre At The Feast by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club 
  37. Random Access Memories by Daft Punk
  38. Slave Vows by The Icarus Line
  39. Palms by Palms
  40. You Belong Here by Leagues
  41. The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here by Alice In Chains 
  42. Soft Will by Smith Westerns
  43. Black Pudding by Mark Lanegan & Duke Garwood 
  44. Modern Vampire Of The City by Vampire Weekend
  45. Tape Deck Heart by Frank Turner
  46. Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO by Besnard Lakes 
  47. Electric by Pet Shop Boys
  48. Howlin by Jagwar Ma 
  49. IDIOTS by The Electric Soft Parade
  50. Silence Yourself by Savages
  51. People, Hell & Angels by Jimi Hendrix
  52. Fade by Yo La Tengo
  53. Wolf's Law by The Joy Formidable
  54. The Civil Wars by The Civil Wars
  55. Vicissitude by Maps
  56. Heart Of Nowhere by Noah And The Whale 
  57. Big TV by White Lies
  58. The Graceless Age by John Murry 
  59. Elba by Laura Jansen
  60. Paramore by Paramore
  61. Tales From Terra Firma by Stornoway
  62. Electric by Richard Thompson 
  63. Oblivion OST by M83
  64. AMOK by Atoms For Peace
  65. Wonderful, Glorious by Eels
  66. In A Perfect World by Kodaline
  67. Immunity by Jon Hopkins
  68. A Bad Wind Blows In My Heart by Bill Ryder-Jones
  69. Volume 3 by She & Him 
  70. Hubcap Music by Seasick Steve
  71. Wait To Pleasure by No Joy
  72. A Long Way To Fall by Ulrich Schnauss 
  73. Machineries Of Joy by British Sea Power 
  74. Pale Green Ghosts by John Grant 
  75. Performance by Outfit
  76. All The Little Lights by Passenger
  77. Tooth & Nail by Billy Bragg
  78. Sound City - Real To Real by Sound City - Real To Real
  79. Disarm The Descent by Killswitch Engage
  80. The Messenger by Johnny Marr
  81. If You Leave by Daughter
  82. Pollen by Wave Machines
  83. Sistrionix by Deap Vally
  84. Mosquito by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
  85. Back Into The Woods by Ed Harcourt
  86. Clash The Truth by Beach Fossils
  87. Country Sleep by Night Beds 
  88. The Next Day by David Bowie
  89. Rules By Passion, Destroyed By Lust by Asphodells
  90. Blood Oaths Of The New Blues by Wooden Wand
  91. Centralia by Mountains
  92. In Love by Peace
  93. Ores & Minerals by Mazes
  94. Pedestrian Verse by Frightened Rabbit 
  95. The Invisible Way By Low
  96. Lysandre by Christopher Owens
  97. English Rain by Gabrielle Aplin
  98. Monomania by Deerhunter
  99. California X by California X
  100. Field Of Reeds by These New Puritans
  101. Save Rock And Roll by Fall Out Boy
  102. 180 by Palma Violets
  103. News From Nowhere by Darkstar
  104. Almanac by Widowspeak 
  105. Bloodsports by Suede
  106. Graffiti On The Train by Stereophonics
  107. Wash The Sins Not Only The Face by Esben And The Witch 
  108. Comedown Machine by The Strokes
  109. The Moths Are Real by Serafina Steer
  110. {Awayland} by Villagers
  111. Out Of Touch In The Wild by Dutch Uncles
  112. Lost Sirens by New Order
  113. Girl Talk by Kate Nash
  114. Beta Love by Ra Ra Riot
  115. Early Rocking by Paul Simon
  116. Collections by Delphic