Up And At 'Em

2 bands making waves in the UK at the moment are The Vaccines and Brother. They are generating a lot of hype because at the moment guitar bands are few and far between. Both bands seem to be bringing back a sound that hasn't been heard for some time. Buzzed about since last year and touted as the bands to watch in 2011. I may not be the first to rant about them but maybe to some people I am. Either way they are definitely making some catchy music. The Vaccines released a couple EP's before their full length What Did You Expect From The Vaccines dropped in March 2011. Their sound harkens back to 50's rock n roll and all over the map.

Brother on the other hand are by their definition "gritpop" but could easily be categorized with Oasis as "ladrock". Whatever you want to call them they have the attitude and sound to back it up to be one of the bands to watch out for. They have only released a handful of singles so far but are due to release their debut Famous First Words in July 2011.

It is cyclical that every 10 years another guitar band makes an impression and brings rock n roll back to the forefront so maybe it's one of these bands to follow in the tradition of Nirvana and The Strokes. Remember when they get big you can say you heard them first and be like that annoying hipster who heard about them before anybody else haha. Cheers and enjoy:

The Vaccines "Post Break-Up Sex" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

The Vaccines "If You Wanna" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

The Vaccines "Blow It Up" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

Brother "Darling Buds Of May" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

Brother "Time Machine" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

Brother "New Year's Day" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

C'Mon Try A Little Bit

Mellowdrone hail from Los Angeles, California and consist of Jonathan Bates, Tony Dematteo and Brian Borg. They issued 4 EP's prior to their first album starting with ...Boredom Never Sounded So Sweet(1999), Glassblower(2001), A Demonstration Of Intellectual Property(2003) and Go Get 'Em Tiger(2004). Their first full length Box was released in 2006 and garnered some attention with many of the tracks being used in TV shows, movies and video games. In 2008 the band issued a 7" Maquina before issuing Angry Bear in 2009. Former member Cami Gutierrez went on to play in Uh Huh Her and Jonathan Bates has formed Big Black Delta and played with Monsters Are Waiting during some downtime. No word of any new material being recorded but let's hope so cause this hugely underrated band deserves some attention to say the least. Nothing really to compare the band to but there are so many different references you can hear in their music like Queens of The Stone Age. Refusing to be pigeon holed is probably what makes the band fly under the radar. After seeing the band open a show I immediately bought everything they had. There is not a single song I have heard by them that I do no like. I encourage everyone to listen to them and also their other projects. Come on try a little bit:

"My First Love Song" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Beautiful Day" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Bone Marrow" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Fashionably Uninvited" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Orange Marmalade" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Oh My" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Elephant" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"DMT" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Where Ever You May Go" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

If you go to http://bigblackdelta.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c you can download the Big Black Delta songs for free plus an EP. Enjoy and always remember to share what you know...

Tear You Apart

Another band that deserves some attention is She Wants Revenge from California. Definitely pulling from their influences the band sound like a mix of The Cure, Joy Division and many other 80's bands but new at the same time. Releasing their first self titled CD in 2006, the band experienced some moderate success with one of their videos featuring Shirley Manson of Garbage and another being directed by Joaquin Phoenix. The band followed up with This Is Forever in 2007 but then seemed to slip under the radar but still managed to release two low key EP's Save Your Soul in 2008 and Up and Down in 2009. Just recently it was announced the band would be releasing their long awaited 3rd album Valleyheart in May 2011. This was preceded by 2 singles "Must Be The One" and "Take The World". Interesting to see what the band will do now as "Must Be The One" seems to be more upbeat than anything the band has done previously while "Take The World" harkens back to their older material. Lead singer Justin Warfield and Adam Bravin also seem to have a lot of unreleased material that may see the light of the day soon as b-sides. Let your heart melt:

"Sister" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Tear You Apart" http://www.dailymotion.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"These Things" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"True Romance" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Written In Blood" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Spend The Night" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Hazy Shade Of Winter" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Must Be The One" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Take The World" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

The Man From The Future

Take a step inside the world of M.A.G.N.U.S.(aka Magnus Gabrielsen) a multi-talented artist from Denmark who is making waves in his homeland and across the map. Taking his cues from various eras of British music, M.A.G.N.U.S. has taken these and formulated a well crafted debut EP.

"Teach Me Darling" kicks off the EP in excellent style with a swirling synth sound reminiscent of 80's groups but also sounds fresh and new. M.A.G.N.U.S.' vocals recall crooners such as Jarvis Cocker, Scott Walker or even David Bowie to name a few. The 2nd track on the EP "Wisdom Up For Grabs" brings out a raspier tone in M.A.G.N.U.S.' voice that brings thoughts of British Sea Power to mind. 2 songs into the EP and these songs already get stuck in your head which by any account is a sign of good things to come.

"Designer Life" starts off with a ringing guitar tone and breathless vocals that beg "let's find something real, let's do things that matter". The track is a good lead in to "Getting Harder" which sounds like Suede when they were at their peak during the early 90's. The lush strings and guitar would have been right at home on Suede's Head Music.

To wrap up the EP is "I'm Looping" which nicely sums up all of the influences heard throughout the songs. An upbeat track that is a good way to come down from an EP that is sure to please. There is no doubt that M.A.G.N.U.S. is heavily influenced by British music and uses the greatest elements to his advantage. Now to wait and see what else this man of many talents has in store for the future because if it's anything like what we've heard so far then lead on, M.A.G.N.U.S., lead on...

A promotional video for "I'm Looping":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

An interesting interview with the man himself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

And here's a place for everything else you want to know:

http://www.britishpopsongs.co.uk/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

And Boom Goes The Dynomite!

Ima Robot are from La La Land istelf, Los Angeles and formed in the 90's. An early incarnation of the band featured Justin Meldal-Johnsen and Joey Waronker. Both members had played with Beck and Waronker was a studio drummer who played with the likes of The Smashing Pumpkins, R.E.M. and Elliot Smith to name a few and now plays in Atoms For Peace, Thom Yorke's new band. Shortly after their first self titled effort both members left the group. Their first self titled CD was released in 2003 with Monument To The Masses following 3 years later in 2006. Although Alex Ebert has other commitments with Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeroes and newly released solo CD, Ima Robot managed to release another record in 2010 Another Man's Treasure. The good thing about Alex's projects is that they vary so differently from each other that one would be surprised to find that they tied together. Partial to their first CD with such great songs as "Dynomite" and "Scream" even their b-sides maintain the band's fun, upbeat style. Definitely listen to the diversity of all of Alex's projects but never forget where he came from. Slip and slide:

"Dynomite" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Scream" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Alive" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"STD Dance" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Lovers In Captivity" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Creeps Me Out" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Life Is Short" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Ruthless" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

Oooh My Desire

The band de jour is Stellastarr* who hail from Brooklyn, New York. Having met in school while studying art and design (which isn't an uncommon place for bands to form), they performed their first show in 2000. Their first CD was released in 2003 and had some success with a string of singles. They followed in 2005 with Harmonies For The Haunted which also fared well. Interestingly enough the album contained a hidden track on track 10 "Bloated Wife" which is said to be the 1st song the band ever wrote. The UK version of the CD included another track "Angela" and yet another version has "Foolish Games". Not much was heard from the band for some time but a song "Warchild" appeared on their Myspace and was said to be from their 3rd album and then eventually did appear when the album was issued a year later in 2009. Poppy hooks and a steady stream of great songs has made this band an underrated gem. The unique voice of lead singer Shawn Christensen also kept the band from sounding like a clone of other bands of their ilk. With their newest CD Civilized the band definitely bridged the gap between the 1st and 2nd albums and found a working formula that will hopefully carry over onto further releases. Also interesting to note about the band is all the members have others skills including screenwriting, painting and graphic designer to name a few. Get on board:

"My Coco" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"In The Walls" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Somewhere Across Forever" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Sweet Troubled Soul" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Love And Longing" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Damn This Foolish Heart" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Freak Out" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Graffiti Eyes" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Prom Zombie" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

The Great Escape

Finally to end this week's series is The Rifles from Chingford, London. Formed by Joel Stoker and Lucas Crowther who were inspired to form a band after seeing an Oasis show. After recruiting additional members the band played their first show in 2004 and went on to release their debut album No Love Lost in 2006. Before releasing their second album the band issued two one-off singles "Talking" in 2007 and "I Could Never Lie" in 2008. I personally love "I Could Never Lie" because it's just so damn catchy. Due to their album being delayed they issued The Rifles EP as a free download for fans before releasing The Great Escape in 2009. The band lost 2 of it's founding members but have started recording their 3rd album nonetheless. Such great songs and they definitely showed a maturity on their 2nd album that will hopefully carry over onto the 3rd. Great unabashed rock n' roll that should get everyone's feet tapping along. Take a long look at The Rifles:

"Peace & Quiet" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Local Boy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Repeat Offender" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"She's Got Standards" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"I Could Never Lie" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"The Great Escape" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"The General" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Science In Violence" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c