Alt-Rock

Album Review: Justin Currie – This Is My Kingdom Now
Justin Currie’s new album – ‘This Is My Kingdom Now’ – is the polished jewel in the crown of the Del Amitri frontman’s solo career. Currie’s fourth solo album (out now via Endless Shipwreck Records) follows the inappropriately titled ‘Lower Reaches’ in 2013, a Del Amitri reunion tour in 2014 and recent performances including the …

Track: The National – The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness, plus Album /Tour news
Following some mysterious posts on their social networks, The National have just announced a new album – their seventh studio album – entitled “Sleep Well Beast”, due out on 8 September 2017 through 4AD. The song list is: 1. Nobody Else Will Be There 2. Day I Die 3. Walk It Back 4. The System …

Not Forgotten: Silver Jews – Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
Silver Jews are a band that I knew by name long before I heard a note of their music. Apparently they were originally associated with Pavement, and that was enough for me to not need to know anymore, at least until recently. Then I stumbled across a copy of Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea in a …

Album Review: Craig Finn – We All Want the Same Things
In late 2007 I encountered an album that saw me regain my faith in rock music. With its cranked up guitars, big choruses and quick-fire repeated lyrics, that album was Almost Killed Me by The Hold Steady. In a matter of weeks I had bought all three of the albums they had released up to …

See: Justin Currie – ‘This Is My Kingdom Now’ plus album news and tour dates
Justin Currie returns to his songwriting throne with the announcement of his fourth solo album, ‘This Is My Kingdom Now’. 2016 seemed like a busy year for Justin Currie – with various performances including the Kelvingrove Bandstand (when the weather finally permitted) and a stunning collaboration with the RSNO in Paisley Abbey, along with helping …

Album Review: The Courtneys – II
When it comes to modern Indie Rock and Surf Rock, the general consensus is that if it is not done correctly, it can grow old very fast. Thankfully, Canadian trio The Courtneys have yet to figure out how to make a bad song. Even by barely changing their sound over the course of two albums, …

Track: The Dears – To Hold and Have, plus UK tour dates
Montréal husband and wife duo The Dears will return with their sixth studio album, Times Infinity Volume One, due out on February 3, 2017 through Dangerbird Records. From it, the band have today shared a new track, to have and to hold. As the album title suggests, it’ll be followed by volume two later in …

Album Review: Japandroids – Near To The Wild Heart Of Life
It seems that Brian King and David Prowse have gone full Hooters(the band not the chain store.) They’ve turned their DIY, punk-inspired anthems into full-on roots rockers. From 2009s Post-Nothing clear through to 2012s breakout Celebration Rock, Japandroids have cultivated this caffeinated, punk-meets-Springsteen-meets-Replacements sweat and blood-stained love letters to getting drunk, falling in love, punching …

Track: Desperate Journalist – Resolution
Desperate Journalist release their timely new single ‘Resolution’ and get 2017 off to an explosive start. The North London four-piece have followed up their comeback show at London’s Kamio in November – and the release of brooding track ‘Hollow’ – with their new single ‘Resolution’ released, fittingly, on 1 January (via Fierce Panda Records). Taken …