After years of making a name for themselves on the live circuit, Bristol based alternative band Little Thief finally released their debut album ‘Under The Patio’ in 2021. While their recorded work didn’t quite capture the power of their stage presence – they were far and away the best band at a showcase for Funnel Records at the Music Hall in Ramsgate, a year or so before their album materialised – ‘Under The Patio’ was a fantastic record which suggested even greater things were ahead for vocalist/guitarist Charlie ‘Fitz’ Fitzgerald and powerhouse drummer Rhii Williams.
Category Archives: Album & EP Reviews
THE BUDDY SYSTEM FOREVER – The Most Famous Arena EP
Not to be confused with several bands called The Buddy System, The Buddy System Forever are a three piece indie rock band from Queens, New York and their members delight in sharing a massively retro sound that celebrates the glory days of 90s alternative rock. Across the five tracks that make up their 2025 EP ‘The Most Famous Arena’, you’ll hear a love for the legendary Dinosaur Jr, Superchunk and Pavement delivered in massively broad strokes. Much like other twenty first century bands that are so keen to look back at those plaid filled summers, of course, everything is recycled with love, and the material has a spark of its own.
BOX – Born To Crawl EP
When it comes to chosen names, ‘Box’ feels rather cheeky. This one man band’s work refuses to be kept tidy, or easily placed within a genre. Or any kind of box. Beyond “cold, arty rock”, the songs on ‘Born To Crawl’ refuse to conform to any label, and certainly don’t fit any pre-conceived ideas you may have about a musician who has previously been associated with US punks Poison Idea. There are moments that, perhaps, fall a little further in line with multi-instrumentalist Andrew Stromstad’s work with blackened doom band Atriarch but, again, at its best, the Box sound feels very different. It’s certainly less heavy and although it feels more experimental, it’s actually more accessible than some of his past works. The heart of Box definitely shares like a fresh sound for Stromstad, making it the perfect side project.
HATS OFF GENTLEMEN IT’S ADEQUATE – The Uncertainty Principle
In April 2024, prog band Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate returned to the spotlight with a two track release helmed by the rather thoughtful ‘One Word That Means The World (Arkhipov)’. The first new tracks to appear in over a year, the digital pairing re-acquainted fans with the Gentlemen’s rather quirky and adventurous musical style.
LOOKING GLASS WAR – Saints Of The Lost And Found EP
Post punk fans paying close attention to the US underground in 2024 might have encountered Looking Glass War. The band – featuring Boston scene regulars Mike Ackley and Pete Ziegler – released a couple of impressive tracks which took their hybrid of post punk and goth sounds, as laid out on their 2023 EP ‘Where Neon Meets The Rain’ EP, and very much improved on them. These recordings demonstrated a much tighter command of a riff, but more importantly, captured frontman Goddamn Glen singing in a way that seemed more sympathetic to Looking Glass War’s needs.