NIGHT SCHOOL

Hitch by Speedy Ortiz

Weird Purr by Eugene Quell

Looking Back At 2013: All Hail Bright Futures by And So I Watch You From Afar

From the moment I first heard their 'Letters' EP back in 2010 I've always felt that ASIWYFA were one exciting instrumental rock outfits around. On their third full length, the Irish quartet have surpassed our expectations by making probably the happiest post/math rock record EVER! With a bundle of extra gadgets, instruments, the odd vocal and tones of super sweet effects, All Hail Bright Futures is a truly uplifting experience. There are still some rock out moments and plenty of riffs to get stuck into but here the melodies and the idea's really shine through on this triumphant piece!

EP OF THE YEAR 2013!

Real Ale And Model Rail - The Lonely Man's Guide To Not Committing Suicide by Alpha Male Tea Party 

From uplifting epicness to the bone crushingly heavy, this EP really is one of the most exciting piece’s of techy rock music I’ve heard in a long time. It’s fun, riffy, moshy and dancy; basically its everything you could possibly wish for in a rock band!

LISTEN & DOWNLOAD HERE: http://alphamaleteaparty.bandcamp.com

10. Pretty Good by Dads

Emo two piece get heavier and catchier.

9. Management by Delta Sleep

Super nice math pop; lovely melodies with a rock snarl.

8. I'm A Lazer, You're A Radar by God Damn

Loud as you like, riffy fuzz rock radness!

7. Eventually Your House Will Burn Down by Blood Mammals 

Shouty, snotty and sweaty rock music at its finest! 

6. Funemployed by Gnarwolves

Super fun, even more instant punk pop from UK punk's sweethearts.

5. The Nextwave Sessions by Bloc Party

LDN indie rock mavericks get their mojo back with sweet grooves and cool ass guitar sounds! 

4. Their/ They're/ There by Their/ They're/ There

Stupidly tight emo-punk-pop from three guys who really know there way around a good hook, a nice twiddle and a killer beat. 

3. EP462 by Vasquez 

Incredibly inventive math rock, full of loops, layers and riffs. It'll make you wanna rock out and dance your tits off at the same time. 

2. Tigercub by Tigercub

Three perfectly written and played wonky pop songs with choruses the size of Mars. If you don't know, get to know! 

1. Real Ale and Model Rail by Alpha Male Tea Party

Looking back at 2013: Nature Nurture by Dinosaur Pile Up

I've found myself embracing he riff recently. I mean, I've always been about the riff don't get me wrong, but on my late evenings at work, I've found myself cracking out the first Dinosaur Pile Up record and rocking out. As excellent as debut 'Growing Pains' was, 'Nature Nurture' is a pretty natural follow up for one man rock machine Matt Bigland. It's still got the riffs and the rock your socks off vibes of the first album but with more of an emphasis on bigger choruses and in places a more poppier, punkier edge. I've always felt DPU wore their influences on their sleeves and on this album the Weezer really comes out in Matt's writing with simple yet effect chord progressive and, as previously mentioned, big fuck off choruses and are ready for bigger stages! Nature Nurture is a solid rock record full of hits, they just need that little extra push from the press and the radio and we've got ourselves another big British rock band to flaunt in front of everyone! 

Low To Be Heavy by Vasquez 

Looking Back at 2013: The Bones Of What You Believe by Chvrches

So I was just hanging out at my friends gaff just the other evening and we had this record on in the background and it's an album that I think I've overlooked somewhat, as almost every song on it is a belter! I also love listening to Scottish bands this time of year so that probably did it too! I remember hearing about Chvrches at the start of the year and from the select few tunes I heard I was really drawn in but their uber catchy brand of electro pop. I've been lucky to catch the trio twice this year, both times have been marvellous, but I remember seeing them on a particularly shitty Monday at the start of the year in one of Manchester's smaller venues and  being really impressed with  the set and thinking 'this debut album is gonna be great'; and I was right! It's got plenty of radio friend smash hits but it also nods towards their most progressive past's (all three members have been previously part of some pretty cool Scottish indie rock bands) with some more epic and slightly darker moments. The Bones Of What You Believe has certainly lived up to its hype and is really well structured and put together debut record.

Looking Back at 2013: Pedestrian Verse by Frightened Rabbit 

About this time last year I heard The Woodpile, a track lifted from the then upcoming third LP from Scottish indie-rock mavericks Frightened Rabbit. It was it's bold, string laden, guitar riffing chorus that filled me with joy and got me excited for the release of Pedestrian Verse. As we all expected, Pedestrian Verse is another triumph for FR and is probably their strongest set of songs to date. It's still dark and melancholic in its lyrics and vocal delivery but musically it sounds bigger and bolder than ever, the arrangements carrying a real swagger and the melodies are at their most instant. 

Loves In, Loves Out by Cold Crows Dead

Looking back at 2013: No Blues by Los Campesinos

I love Los Camp! Their first three records soundtracked by three years at uni, pretty much being released as I started each academic year (they released two albums in year back in 2008). Their last record soundtracked by move to the big city of Manchester and now we have album number 5, which, well, hasn't soundtracked anything significant in my life this time round but has certainly enriched my life somewhat as a plod along as a nearly mid-twenties slave to the wage. Although Los Camp very much have a formula and stick to it, No Blues is still a progression for them and has a real sense of and maturity and majesty to it. Sonically its their biggest and most expansive sounding record with some of their biggest choruses to date and a smattering of electronic flourishes which help in creating another triumph set from one of the best kept secrets in UK indie-rock.

Looking back at 2013: Funemployed (EP) by Gnarwolves

Gnarwolves are three happy go lucky punks from Brighton who make super fast, super catchy punk rock with big pop melodies! Last year, they released an aboustely storming EP called 'Cru' and spent the most of the year touring its arse off. This year, they've done a similar thing and managed to capture the hearts of punk rock kids around the world Although Funemployed is a bit shorter in length than Cru it still packs a hell of a punch, with perhaps more of focus of bigger melodies and more epic sounding arrangements. I loved the harmonies on the Cru record, a lot punk bands just wanna be loud and fast with maybe a catchy hook thrown in, but Gnarwolves seem to put some real thought into arrangements and their vocals in particular are great; there's some killer harmonies on this record! It's this knack for writing hit punk jam's and insatiable thirst for touring that makes them one of the most exciting and well deserved bands in the UK right now. Bring on the full length! 

Travellers Insurance by Their / They're / There

Stomach Full Of Cats by Oliver Wilde

My Crass Patch by Dads

Looking back at 2013: 13.0.0.0.0 by This Town Needs Guns (TTNG)

This Town Needs Guns have been a firm favourite of mine in the twiddly, math-rock world and it has felt like a lifetime ago since they released their incredible debut full length 'Animals' in 2008. Of Course, a lot has gone on since then and the band have faced a few line up changes, most notably the departure of vocalist Stuart Smith who played a big part in making TTNG's distinctive 'emo' sound. But, when it was announced that Henry Tremain formally from excellent UK twiddle-tock outfit 'Pennines' was due to take over from Stu, excitement and anticipation built for the all important follow up to 'Animals'. I was lucky enough to receive a promo copy of this record  a short while before the record came out at the start of the year and became the soundtrack to my winter. To me this is everything TTNG stand for; insanely intricate guitar work, sumptuous melodies and super tight, brain frying-ly cool time signatures/ drum beats. Henry's vocal are much more gentle than Stu's but are still hair raising-ly beautiful and gives the album a less 'emo' sound and helps give it that more 'mature' sound that you expect from a sophomore record. There's also a few interludes on this record which shows a slight progression in sound, mainly with glitchy drum beats and effect heavy vocal samples which makes an interesting dynamic to the record. In short, an enchanting record that proves that TTNG mark two aren't messing about and are still aiming for to capture your heart.

Looking back at 2013: L'Ami Du Peuple by Owen

Since the release of his last record under his 'Owen' moniker (2011's 'Ghost Town'), Mike Kinsella has become one of my favourite musicians and songwriters. I've become somewhat obsessed with the impressive back catalogue he's created under this solo venture since 'Ghost Town' completely knocked me back and was my favourite record of 2011. His 7th LP L'Ami Du Peuple (english translation: The Friend of the People), is quite an ambitious and slightly experimental sounding record for Mike. Although it's full of the twinkling indie pop arrangements we expect from an Owen record with lush melodies and twiddly acoustic guitars, it's got some more urgent, rocking and cymbal crashing moments in form of 'Bad Blood' and 'Blues To Black', while 'The Burial' is one of the first Owen track that isn't guitar driven with its subtle yet danceable beats/ synth stabs. Obviously there's plenty beautifully arrangements acoustically driven moments here too in the form of 'I Got High' and 'Who Cares'. When you hear an Owen record you always know it's going to be full of layers, lyrically, musically and sonically and on L'Ami Du Peuple, Mike Kinsella has excelled himself.