As labels like Burning Heart and Birdnest have proved, Sweden has been a hotbed of punk for years. Rather importantly, it has its own sound. Bands like No Fun At All and Millencolin share a common musical root with lots of the pop- and skatepunk bands from the US, but there’s something unique in the way the Swedes approach their art…and it goes deeper than a mere accent on a vocal.
Monthly Archives: May 2018
PRAYING MANTIS – Gravity
In 2015, Praying Mantis broke a six year silence with their tenth album ‘Legacy’. A welcome surprise, the album was not only their first with new vocalist John ‘JayCee’ Cuijpers, a man with a big presence and someone who appeared to be a perfect fit for the band, but also the strongest Mantis offering for a very long time. For the most part, the album featured memorable rockers that allowed the band’s trademark twin lead guitars to shine and also presented some very melodic hooks showing the band could still truly hit the mark. 2018’s ‘Gravity’ – obviously – follows a very similar path lyrically, musically and stylistically. After all, it’s not so much that you can’t teach old dogs new tricks, but with an album as good as ‘Legacy’, Praying Mantis would have been foolish to mess too much with a winning formula. However, although this second album with JayCee offers a few tracks that are a little less inspiring, on the whole, it’s a great return.
They Might Be Giants confirm massive run of live shows
They Might Be Giants are heading out on the road again shortly. The seemingly unstoppable duo are not doing things half heartedly either, with a run of thirty two shows comprising two full sets each.
Listen to ‘Seven Years’, the new single from The Yada Yada Yadas
In April 2018, UK indie band The Yada Yada Yadas made underground waves with their second single ‘Woke Up Strange’. [Listen here]
The Steve Lamacq championed band have a few shows coming up over the next six weeks and they’ll also be promoting yet another single, ‘Seven Years’. The track has already been referred to as “nostalgic” and just one listen should tell you why. The three minute nugget is loaded with a world of guitar jangle that almost instantly transports the listener back to the mid 90s. It could be part of the soundtrack to your summer! Take a listen below…
Matthew Sweet: US Summer tour dates confirmed; vinyl reissues available
Power pop legend Matthew Sweet will be trekking across the US this Summer to promote his new album ‘Tomorrow’s Daughter’. All confirmed shows are listed below and tickets are available now.
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