Wednesday 30 December 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.41 Magoo – Holy Smoke / Pink Dust / A Meeting Of Minds


Magoo were a strange band, veering all over the place with different styles and experimentations, but when on form they wrote perfect indie pop songs that deserved a much bigger audience, ‘Holy Smoke’ is one of those songs, beautiful melodies it’s an excellent chilled out song. ‘Pink Dust’ on the other hand is a masterpiece of simplicity and should be heard by everyone everywhere “take your head on the ground, there’s a deal going down, and you might as well stay, the final act of the play, is being written for those, who sneak a peek at the prose…” it’s one of my favourite songs.

Saturday 26 December 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.40 Kings Of Leon – Four Kicks / Head To Toe


Sometimes a bands biggest hit can ruin everything that was good about them, up until ‘Sex On Fire’ Kings Of Leon could do no wrong, three excellent albums back to back each with a different twist on their own stlye, then that ass-rock of a song ruined everything! ‘Four Kicks’ is the best track off their second album and uses a great quite loud dynamic to explode the chorus into a rush of adrenaline which thank god they back up with an equally as good song. ‘Head To Toe’ will most likely have never been heard by even the older fans, tucked away here in b-side obscurity it’s a gem of a track and makes me miss when bands released more 7” records, it’s better than some of the other singles off the second album and it definitely pisses all over that earlier mentioned pile of shit.

Tuesday 22 December 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.39 The Horrors – Sheena Is A Parasite / Jack The Ripper


The Horrors now considered a pioneering psychedelic post punk and various other genre’s band were once mocked for their image and sound at the beginning, not by me, I fucking loved their early records. Seeing them at Leeds University made me not feel quite as bad that I never got to see The Birthday Party, they were chaotic and reckless and outstandingly noisy, debut 7” ‘Sheena Is A Parasite’ perfectly showcased what they could do in just under two minutes of screamed chaos. If that wasn’t enough their roaring cover of ‘Jack The Ripper’ almost put The Gruesomes to shame.

Friday 18 December 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.38 Guns N’ Roses – It’s So Easy / Mr. Brownstone


It’s not that I don’t like the Use Your Illusion albums, it’s just they were a bit watered down and sappy at times, something Guns debut album definitely wasn’t. Appetite For Destruction’ is essentially a perfect album from start to finish there’s not a dud track and will forever be hailed as a landmark in rock history, here we have my two favourite songs from the album. ‘It’s So Easy’ which is one of the lesser famous singles yet one of their best showing everything that was great about this band from Axl Rose’s venomous spitted lyrics to Slash’s untouchable guitar lines. On the flipside you get ‘Mr. Brownstone’ a song about the spiralling drug addiction that had already started taking its toll on the band to a Bo-Diddley beat, untouchable single.

Monday 14 December 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.37 Green Day – 1,000 Hours / Dry Ice / Only Of You / The One I Want


Like most people in the UK I got into Green Day when I saw the ‘Basket Case’ video on MTV and was instantly hooked by their pop-punk greatness, but it didn’t stop me begging my parents to buy me the first two independent albums to hear more. Back then these 4 songs were on the extended ‘1,039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours’ release but this was in reality Green Day’s first EP released on 7” and contains the first fruits of their labour. Even back then they had an amazing knack for catchy as hell melodies and heart tugging lyrics they became famous for ‘1,000 Hours’ is a love song pop songwriters would kill for. ‘Dry Ice’ continues in the same vein showing Billie Joe was always a romantic at heart, ‘Only Of You’ has the classic Green Day guitar sound while having a harder edge. Culminating in ‘The One I Want’ which hints at Mike Dirnt’s future brilliant bass playing and brings to close a perfect EP.

Thursday 10 December 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.36 Foals – Hummer / Astronauts And All


While Foals debut album was good the decision to not include this or Mathletics on it was a big mistake both singles surpassed a number of songs they did include and would have made for a much better record. ‘Hummer’ with its rhymic cowbelling rumba of a sound was something fresh at the time and really broke the band big. B-side ‘Astronauts And All’ shouldn’t have made the album because it’s an excellent b-side and should only be known by those who picked up this single, it’s arguably better than the main track with an even bigger melody running throughout.

Sunday 6 December 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.35 The Datsuns - Lady / MF From Hell


One of their early self-released singles, both tracks would make their debut album and rightly so, first up you have ‘Lady’ while not a slow track it shows The Datsuns softer side while still being classic garage rock and is a great intro to the record, but it’s on the other side of the coin that really interests. ‘MF From Hell’ is a rip-roaring rocker of a song that doesn’t let up for a second and is the reason I’ll never let this record out of my collection.

Wednesday 2 December 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.34 The Cramps – Naked Girl Falling Down The Stairs / Let’s Get Fucked Up


Ahhh, The Cramps took psychobilly garage rock to new schlock levels and were all the better for it, I’m still working my way through their early works but in college I came across this single someone had left in the radio booth and was instantly hooked.  It’s literally a song about a naked girl falling down the stairs, but b-side ‘Let’s Get Fucked Up’ with its stop start rhythm and ode to forgetting tomorrow “when we’ll feel like we’ve been hit by a  truck” and enjoying literally getting fucked up makes it a double a-side worth picking up

Saturday 28 November 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.33 The Bellrays – Fire On The Moon / Stupid Fucking People


In Lisa Kekaula The Bellrays have probably the finest voiced front woman a band could ever have, when on form as she is here on both tracks she was ferocious yet melodic enough to make songs stick in your head for eternity. ‘Fire On The Moon’ sounds like MC5 jamming with Tina Turner in her good days but it’s bb-side ‘Stupid Fucking People’ that makes this single worth every penny a tirade against government and “stupid grins, on their stupid fucking faces”

Tuesday 24 November 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.32 Black Flag – Nervous Breakdown / Fix Me / I’ve Had It / Wasted


I’ll never regret being a child of the 90’s it produced some of the best bands and records in my collection, but part of me sure wishes I’d been around for the early US hardcore scene, records like this are a must have and there’ll be a few others later on in the list, kicking off literally with ‘Nervous Breakdown’ two minutes of utter chaos that can’t be matched by any other hardcore band and showing what a fine frontman Keith Morris was before the equally talented Mr.Rollins took over. Then 3 more tracks that clock in at around 1 minute each the ferocious ‘Fix Me’, ‘I’ve Had It’ and ‘Wasted’ while the Sex Pistols were Punk, Black Flag were Hardcore!

Friday 20 November 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.31 Pearl Jam – Alive / Once


On the intro to ‘Habit’ Eddie Vedder utters the phrase “speaking as a child of the 90’s” well I was a child of the 90’s and Pearl Jam were my soundtrack, I remember borrowing their ‘Ten’ album from my brothers friend on cassette and being blown away by just how good and album I was hearing, they say home taping was killing music, to me it was introducing me to many bands that I would go onto collect a lot of records by. Here we have their biggest single of probably their entire career ‘Alive’ and if you don’t know it shame on you, backed by album opener ‘Once’ which is an understated gem and quite a bit darker and heavier.

Monday 16 November 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.30 The Strokes – The Modern Age / Last Nite



The world’s first taste of the The Strokes and it might has well have been a banquet, two songs that were definitely a sign of things to come and the quality of songs that would make up their first album. I remember picking this up the week it was released back when NME used to help you discover great bands on a regular basis and review singles, ahh the good old days… So not only do you get the laid back anthem of ‘The Modern Age’ but backing this up is an early version of one of their future singles ‘Last Nite’ which everyone should already know by heart.

Thursday 12 November 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.29 Six By Seven – Candlelight / Young Man’s Stride


Yet another totally underrated band, Six By Seven could change style at the flick of a switch sometimes slow melodic soundscapes sometimes rock beasts and occasionally indie rockers. ‘Candlelight’ falls mostly into the last category and should have made them huge, their contrasting styles probably stopped them obtaining a bigger fan base but something tells me that wasn’t the point. On the flipside you have ‘Young Man’s Stride’ a Mercury Rev cover done in Sx7s own unique style with great use of brass section.

Sunday 8 November 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.28 The White Stripes – Red Death At 6:14


Single sided 7” records only make a few brief appearances on this list and generally only if they’re an exclusive song not on an album. ‘Red Death At 6:14’ makes the list for a few reasons, one it was only on the Sympathetic Sounds Of Detroit compilation and two it was mail order only through Mojo magazine, and three it rocks like a SOB! Jack White is at his best here spitting out lyrics over loud as fuck guitar, showing even his non-album material of that era surpassed all his contemporaries.

Wednesday 4 November 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.27 Weezer – Undone (The Sweater Song) / Mykel & Carli / Susanne / Holiday


The first single from Weezer and what a start, you get the best track IMO from their debut album ‘Undone’ which takes quiet loud dynamics to another level but that alone wouldn’t do, on this UK version of the single you get the unreleased b-sides ‘Susanne’ and should have been a single in its own right ‘Mykel & Carli’ these songs are just the best you could expect from a band and for a first single is remarkable. Topping this off you get album track ‘Holiday’ the perfect ending to a literally perfect single!

Saturday 31 October 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.26 22-20's - 22 Days / Cut You Down


22-20’s what happened? You could have been big and I mean massive big, you had huge songs you had an amazing debut album which had just as good b-sides and you decided you didn’t want to play blues infused music anymore and quit, mental! Anyway this cut from their debut is one of the heavier songs and a corker of a single, but it’s on b-side ‘Cut You Down’ that the band truly shine with a stomping blues infused rocker that leaves you gawping at the sheer talent of it all.

Wednesday 28 October 2015

Hyena - Forget My Name


Third single this year from one of the best new bands I've heard in quite some time, don't get me wrong, there's some amazing bands out at the moment, but there's something special about Hyena that tells me they're going to get much bigger. Having caught them live at this years Camden Rocks festival, they laid waste to the tiny Stillery early in the day and were the best band of the day in my opinion and i also saw Dolomite Minor and The St. Pierre Snake Invasion that day! At that point i'd already heard the excellent debut single 'Mental Home' and it's follow up 'Come Down To Hilo' both crammed full of energy and melody not mixed this good since the great 90's days of Sub Pop and Amphetamine Reptile. However Hyena don't tread old ground like some grunge copyists I've been hearing lately, they sound like an undiscovered gem from that era that you've just come across and can't believe your luck. Latest single 'Forget My Name' takes what they've done so far and ramps it up a few more notches further, even louder more immediate riffs, massive melodies, huge chorus... it's got the lot. As usual link below to soundcloud page, discover the next big thing and tell 'em happydays sent you.

https://soundcloud.com/hyenauk

Tuesday 27 October 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.25 The Zutons - Valerie / Get Up And Dance


Yeah Amy Winehouse did a cover of it and everyone loved it, The Zutons owned it and did a way better version IMO anyway.  So what you get here is a complete classic that hasn’t been Mark Ronson’d or raped of all originality and talent as I like to call it and an even bigger catchier flipside in the bouncy as hell ‘Get Up and Dance’ which shows when The Zutons were on form there was no touching them.

Vulgarians - Wet Juice


I saw a recent news item in the NME that claimed that Alex James from Blur had announced that independent music was dead and his cheese business was the way to go, who knows if it was actually true i have a feeling they lie a lot over there, why am i bringing this up? Good question, time to introduce another stupendous new independent band Vulgarians, who join the ranks of many more amazing bands emerging these days such as The Wytches, Eagulls, The Fat White Family, Post War Glamour Girls, Hyena and many many more. Bands of this ilk are proving that there's still hope out there, cutting their teeth on previous demo's 'Autocratic' and 'Naturally Nothing', they now unleash their official debut 'Wet Juice' showing that we can expect great things from these Hull based noise rockers, the link to download for free is below, yes all for the princely sum of fuck all. Like a hybrid of Nirvana jamming with early-mid The Horrors shot through with a strong post-punk leaning, this gives me hope for the future, Alex James, smell my cheese!

https://soundcloud.com/vulgariansuk

Friday 23 October 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.24 Young Heart Attack - Mouthful Of Love / Over And Over


Jesus Christ this band should have been huge! The same energy and recklessness that you found from AC/DC in their early days, with a brilliant use of female side vocals added to the mix. ‘Mouthful Of Love’ comes at you literally like a juggernaut of sweaty rock n’ roll and leaves you collapsed on the floor drenched in your own sweat and spent alone it would be enough. But we have more to come in the just as thrilling yet more melodious ‘Over And Over’ it makes it a crime that you can get the first album by this band in pound shops, fucking shocking!

Monday 19 October 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.23 The Wildhearts - Greetings From Shitsville / The Bullshit Goes On


Anyone who knows me or reads this blog knows that I’m a huge Ginger Wildheart fan and that no list will be done without featuring him somewhere, this list is no exception. Debut single proper after the Mondo-Akimbo A-Go-Go EP and Don’t Be Happy… Just Worry EP, ‘Greetings From Shitsville’ is an anthem and a half, massive riffs, huge melodies and chorus, filthy mouthed it ticks all the boxes as does b-side ‘And The Bullshit Goes On’ which deserves a much bigger audience as it could easily been the a-side. Any band wanting to know how to write the perfect balance of Power-pop and Heavy Rock needs to check out this and the album it came from, pure genius!

Saturday 17 October 2015

Heck - The Breakers


Insanely good video and song from Heck aka the artist formally known as Baby Godzilla, who were one of this sites bands of the week eons ago, just shows you how on the ball Happy Days really is, anyway this is the forthcoming single due October 30th from an album that will hopefully appear at some point. Excellent stuff!

Thursday 15 October 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.22 The View - Wasted Little DJ's / Posh Boys


Another great debut single proper from an even better debut album, The View’s early records shone with a ramshackle charm and youthful abandon that they don’t seem to have been able to replicate on future releases. ‘Wasted Little DJ’s’ could have been much bigger if wasn’t overshadowed by future single ‘Same Jeans’ which is a shame because ‘Wasted…’ is the better of the two and deserved a lot more credit. On the flipside we have the chaotic ‘Posh Boys’ showing how true it is, you’ll never hear posh boys play with this kind of passion.

Sunday 11 October 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.21 Ultrasound - Same Band / Floodlit World


Yet another massively underrated band and another great debut and again on the best UK label in the 90’s Fierce Panda, if they released your first record you were generally destined to go onto better things. Ultrasound did get some good press before splitting but not as much as they deserved. ‘Same Band’ is an big indie anthem but ‘Floodlit World’ is the best song here and my favourite of theirs altogether, soaring melodies and great male/female entwined vocals.

Wednesday 7 October 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.20 Travis - All I Want To Do Is Rock / Blue On A Black Weekend


There was a time when Travis did indeed rock, in fact their debut album was chock full of bouncy indie rock anthems, then they went all dull.  Not only were their singles huge and catchy like this one but the early b-sides in some cases were actually better, ‘Blue On A Black Weekend’ sounds like something you’d find on their duller boring albums but it’s actually another perfect slice of pop-rock like it’s a-side.

Saturday 3 October 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.19 The Sunshine Underground - Commercial Breakdown / The Way It Is


The first record I picked up from Leeds own Sunshine Underground and still my favourite, TSU are one of those bands that everyone I took to see them live ended up loving them and this single shows exactly why, both cuts are available on their first album and both showcase the soaring vocals and infectious beats that made their first album a must own. Not many people will have heard this record but its head and shoulders above all the other indie/dance bands that were around at the time.

Tuesday 29 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.18 The Raconteurs - Steady, As She Goes / Store Bought Bones


At this point Jack White hadn’t spread himself around quite like he has these days, The Raconteurs were a one-off side project and promises of similarities to Nirvana and The Beatles were made. So when this debut double A-Side was released expectations were high. ‘Steady As She Goes’ surpassed all expectations, delicious harmonies, massive guitars, surely a one-off, except ‘Store Bought Bones’ is just as good with an even darker side, overall I preferred their second album but this 7” was the perfect start.

Friday 25 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.17 Queens Of The Stone Age - The Lost Art Of Keeping A Secret / Ode To Clarissa


I haven’t been into QOTSA stuff as much after the Songs for the deaf album, there’s been a few good singles but the albums seemed to be a little worse for ware, this is Queens in their prime from the exceptional ‘Rated R’ album. ‘The Lost Art Of Keeping A Secret’ is easily one of the best tunes from that album and alone would have been good enough to make this list, but the pounding drums and thrilling guitar riff on ‘Ode To Clarissa’ makes this a 7” everyone needs in their collection

Monday 21 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.16 Placebo - 36 Degrees / Dark Globe


On their first two albums Placebo could do no wrong, unfortunately I’ve not been so enamoured by their later work but especially the self-titled debut is a must for any indie rock fan. ’36 Degrees’ is a re-recording of their debt single and sounds much better here, but as usual it’s the b-side that makes the list. A beautiful stripped back cover of Syd Barrett’s ‘Dark Globe’ I’ve heard many a band cover this song but Placebo’s takes it to another level so emotional and cracked it’s definitely worth picking up.

Saturday 19 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.15 Oasis - Some Might Say / Talk Tonight


Yet another band with countless amazing 7” records under their belt, early Oasis b-sides were often as good as the singles if not better. ‘Some Might Say’ is one of the better singles from the bands second album along with ‘Roll With It’ I personally got sick of hearing Wonderwall and Don’t Look Back In Anger, but what really makes this record on the list is the beautiful ‘Talk Tonight’ a classic example of how Noel could churn out classics in his sleep during this era.

Thursday 17 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.14 Nirvana - Sliver / Dive


Another band who will be making this list more than once, rarely has there been a band that captured the magic of melody and chaos like Nirvana, they rarely put a step wrong and Sliver was the bridge from the early days to the major label days. ‘Sliver’ itself is a song I played countless times in my teens, just over 2 minutes of chaotic bliss backed by the equally thrilling ‘Dive’ you shouldn’t need to check this single out you should know it off by heart.


Tuesday 15 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.13 Mudhoney - Touch Me I'm Sick / Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More


Another classic debut release, Mudhoney proved to be one of the longest standing bands from the grunge era, outlasting all their peers and still putting out brilliant records to this day, ‘Touch Me I’m Sick’ is where it all started and still sounds as fresh today as it did back in ’88. All fuzzed up guitars, with Mark Arm’s shrieking vocals taking centre place. Backing this up is the slower paced but still outstanding  ‘Sweet Young Thing Ain’t Sweet No More’ this would the first in a long line of great 7” records put out by this band and not the last to feature in this list

Sunday 13 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.12 The Libertines - What A Waster / I Get Along


Solid proof that a band should cut their teeth working the circuit and gigging where they can before putting out any material, The Libertines in various forms and names had been working at it for a few years before this single dropped and it was well worth the wait. ‘What A Waster’ is as catchy as anything they’ve ever done, ramshackle while keeping a tight melody and a filthy mouth, as debut singles go this is up there as a classic. B-side ‘I Get Along’ has a harder edge and veers even more chaotically throughout, while much has been made of the bands personal lives and strife’s, you can’t deny they wrote some amazing catchy songs and this was the start of it all.

Friday 11 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.11 Kula Shaker - Grateful When You're Dead/Jerry Was There / Another Life


People sometimes forget that Kula Shaker weren't just all about the hippy Tattva and Govinda stuff, when they wanted to be, they could be quite the rock beast of a band. 'Grateful When You're Dead' is evidence of such with it's fast spiky guitar lines and huge chorus, it's what propelled them to the heights they achieved and really they deserved even better. Segueing into the hippier 'Jerry Was There' it lulls you into a relaxed cosmic state just in time for 'Another Life' to come and slap you back into reality you filthy hippy. It might kid you for around 45 secs of softness but when it kicks in it reminds you that Kula Shaker's early b-sides were some of their best work and it's another belter of a song

Thursday 10 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.10 The Jesus Lizard & Nirvana - Puss / Oh, The Guilt


What i loved about this split single is not only does it contain the best Jesus Lizard song ever, but it also contains an exclusive Nirvana track which is also outstanding. Now fans of Nirvana's softer stuff would likely balk at this single, first you have Jesus Lizard screaming maniacally "Give Me Something to Stop the Bleeding" and other hard to understand warbling over a heavy as hell guitar pummeling. Then we move onto Nirvana with the excellent and screamy 'Oh, The Guilt' with a great stop start time rhythm, how it never got more radio play i'll never know, oh yeah it was released on an independent label, that might be why.

Wednesday 9 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.9 Iggy & The Stooges - Raw Power / Search & Destroy


Originally released in Japan only back in '73, this 7" contains the best 2 songs from the 'Raw Power' album, finally re-released in 2013 in the US you can now get it for a much decent-er price. A-side the title track from the album is as good as anything from The Stooges which means very good indeed, however it's the B-Side here that makes this record so worth getting, 'Search And Destroy' is pretty much as good as music can get, it's a song i will never tire of listening to, so ramshackle yet held together by the skin of it's teeth, it paved the way for so many bands and should be held up as the classic song that it is.

Tuesday 8 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.8 Hurricane #1 - Just Another Illusion / Touchdown


Hurricane #1? Surely not, well have you ever actually sat and listened to this bands first album and b-sides, if not you can shut it! Hurricane #1 had Andy Bell's excellent songwriting and guitar playing mixed with Alex Lowe's soulful vocals, something which he has never had the full praise for that he deserved. Anyway 'Just Another Illusion' kicks off their debut album and is all John Squire spirally guitar mixed with Charlatans keys and swagger, love it to bits, but it's the b-side 'Touchdown' that could have been a single itself on a 1-sided etched 7" and still made this list, more rocking than the A-side and a song i used to have on constant rotation in the late 90's, it's only 72p on discogs, what are you waiting for!

Monday 7 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.7 Girls Against Boys - Super-Fire / IfGlamourIsDead


Unless your in your mid 30's like me or a bit older you might not realize that in the mid 90's magazines like Kerrang! used to be great for finding new bands, there was barely any internet then so it was a lot harder to find them. Two bands i got into through reading reviews in said magazine were Redd Kross and Girls Against Boys, also watching Clerks was a good introduction to this bands laid back groove ridden rock, this was the single taken from their last independent album before a disastrous jump to a major. Super-Fire is all creepy atmospherics and spirally riffs twirling through GVSB's own version of melody, there really was no-one quite like them and hasn't been since. B-side 'IfGlamourIsDead' is more of the same and highlights just how at the peak of their power they couldn't even do a dodgy outtake.

Sunday 6 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.6 Feeder - Stereo World / My Perfect Day


Ahhhh, Feeder, the band that started so amazing and went downhill so fast after their first album, they showed so much promise in these days, i remember catching them at Leeds Duchess Of York and being blown away by how good they were, even their early b-sides were amazing. So good in fact that it was a hard choice for their entry here, but 'Stereo World' is such an amazing song, hard rocking yet melodic and sing along as is b-side 'My Perfect Day' if only they could have kept the quality to this standard as they went on, for a moment in time, they were damn near perfect.

Saturday 5 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.5 Embrace - All You Good Good People / My Weakness Is None Of Your Business


If there was one label in the UK that championed up and coming bands and put out their first or their early recordings it was Fierce Panda, a label like Sub Pop that will likely have a few records in this list. Most people know both these songs, both epics from the bands first album presented here in early form, 'All You Good Good People' is an anthem that never got the attention it deserved, and at over 6 minutes it really is an absolute anthem. As usual backing this up is the equally sublime 'My Weakness Is None Of Your Business' a beautiful piano led comfort blanket of a song, makes you feel warm inside.

Friday 4 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.4 Dwarves - Drug Store / Detention Girl / Astro Boy / Motherfucker


Sometimes you need a nice bit of indie rock like the next record that will be on this list, sometimes though, just sometimes, you need a record sleeve with naked chicks and a dwarf covered in blood, and four songs that smash through your brain in about 5 and a half minutes, Drug Store is such a record. Released on one of the best labels ever Sub Pop Dwarves deal in no frills straight up punk rock, 'Drug Store' is one of their best early songs full of energy yet strangely melodic, 'Detention Girl' hit you like a battering ram to the left while 'Astro Boy' slaps you in the face from the right, all crash landing into the finale of 'Motherfucker' which is as good as it's title suggests with a brilliant rip from 'Surfin' Bird' love it.

Thursday 3 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.3 Cave In - Anchor / Minus World


A lot was made of Cave In taking a more commercial direction, but what everyone seems to forget is that they were already headed this way with the amazing Jupiter album before they signed to a major. Regardless this is their first single on a major and in my opinion it's a a future classic, not recognized nearly enough for it's huge melodies and pummeling guitar. Now as usual that's just not enough to make it on this list, luckily they backed this up with the (could'vebeenasingleitself) Minus World (or Harmless Armless) depending on which copy of this record you have, the RCA one came out first so it's Minus World to me, it comes off like an unreleased Nirvana song and they never did crap rarities. Such an under-appreciated band and album, shame!

Wednesday 2 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.2 Beck - Loser / Alcohol / Fume


The a-side here is a classic to any fan of MTV in the early to mid 90's, it was on constant rotation and is a bonafide classic song off an even more impressive album, what we also get here is 2 unreleased b-sides 'Alcohol' is a laid back little bonus ending in a mess of noise but it's Fume that makes this record onto this list. An expletive ridden story about nitrus oxide, that's catchy as hell and when it's about to end it ramps back up again into a metallic beast of a song, i remember playing this to death in my teens.

Tuesday 1 September 2015

1001 7" Records You Must Own No.1 AC/DC - Highway To Hell / If You Want Blood (You've Got It)

Inspired by the book with the albums you must own (some of which i agreed with, some of which i did not!) I've started my own list of 1001 7" records i feel people should own, disagree if you want but these are one's i love. To make it clear this is not a list of my favorite singles, this is a list of my favorite 7" records, a tale of two halves where the b-side needs to be equally as good and at times even better than the a-side. To kick things off I've decided to go with an absolute classic.

AC/DC - Highway To Hell / If You Want Blood (You've Got It)



Both songs taken from the album 'Highway To Hell' an album by a band at the peak of their career, a stone cold classic album and the best two songs from it are found here. Everyone knows Highway To Hell it's a staple of any rock soundtrack and probably the bands biggest single next to 'Back In Black' but the reason this record makes the list is the b-side, a track i'd never paid that much attention to, until i watched Empire Records. Now Empire Records is a lame but lovable comedy about people who work in a music shop, and it's soundtrack introduced me to many a decent song but If You Want Blood is easily my favorite of the lot, huge riffs that bring to mind The Who's guitar style at their rockiest with a massive fuck off chorus that you'll chant for days. i'd go as far to say it's better than Highway To Hell and is probably my favorite AC/DC song, so good they named a live album after it, yet didn't include it on said album, weird!

Friday 14 August 2015

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Juggernaut



Apt title for this amazing new single from former Gallows/Pure Love frontman, the whole album should have been called this based on what I've heard definitely worth picking up

Monday 10 August 2015

The St. Pierre Snake Invasion Debut Album News


This excellent band are finally releasing their debt album 'A Hundred Years A Day' on the 31st October 2015, long time coming, caught them at this years Camden Rocks and they were one of the days highlights.

Buy Here (eventually)


A taster of what they sound like from their last EP 'Everyone's Entitled To My Opinion'

Good Stuff, looking forward to this one


Saturday 8 August 2015

Baby Chaos - You Can't Shut Us Up


Lead single from new album 'Skulls · Skulls · Skulls · Show Me The Glory' well worth the 17 year wait as usual you can purchase the album from below and believe me it's worth getting

Buy here

It's a good year for music so far!

Friday 7 August 2015

Post War Glamour Girls - Gustave


Love this song, can't wait to hear the new stuff they've been working on

Thursday 6 August 2015

The Icarus Line to release new double LP 'All Things Under Heaven'


The Icarus Line are back, one of Happy Days favourite bands will be releasing the double LP 'All Things Under Heaven' on 2nd October 2015 available exclusively from Rough Trade

Buy here

They have the following to say about the album

'Brand new album from legendary LA firestarters, The Icarus Line. Their third full length release for Agitated  (their eigth album in total), following on from their imperious return to the fray in 2013 with the much lauded release of 'Slave Vows', followed up by its companion album release 'Avowed Slavery' in 2014. The album features a guest appearance from legendary outsider artist Joe Coleman who helped coin the album title.   Also appearing is Bad Seed / Grinderman / Dirty Three band leader Warren Ellis who helped pen the track 'Bedlam Blue' with Cardamone. 'All Things Under Heaven' packs the kind of swagger, raunch and ascent that would make Iggy Stooge and Sun Ra proud parents. It is a record that expands the vocabulary of what rock music can be without sacrificing the critical spirit that makes it Rock N Roll. The Icarus Line have summoned up the demons from the past, paid their homage and taken the sound in an entirely new direction; because this band are never ones to be caught on their knees. The album is a sprawling sonic landscape that has a timeless quality about it as it traverses between low valleys, towering skyscrapers and all the dirty alleyways that connect them. It's a record that's as sprawling as the city of Los Angeles to which The Icarus Line have always called home.  It's a fuck you to the bite size society that has become music consumption. Life is bigger than that. And just like LA, this is a record that from the opening hollow echo swallowed pounding drums of 'Ride Or Die' to the final free jazz funeral lullaby of 'Sleep Now' is all its own world. For fans of all music styles American Primitive: Ayler, Patton, Howlin Wolf, Gira, Velvet Underground, Funkadelic, Sun Ra, The Psychedelic Stooges, Black Flag, Charlie Feathers and Tony Conrad.
LP - Limited edition double LP set with CD on transparent Orange coloured vinyl exclusive to Rough Trade.  300 copies / numbered'


Giddy doesn't even cover it, gotta be a contender for Happy Days album of the year, in the meantime here's a little taste with new song 'Ride Or Die'

A Little Something To Whet Your Appetite



Excellent new single from DeadCuts, available from Speedowax

Buy here

Hopefully will be on their much anticipated 2nd album

Tuesday 17 March 2015

Baby Chaos – You Can’t Shut Us Up / The Whispering Of Giants (Self Released)


So yet another amazing 90’s band have re-formed for another go, for some these re-formations can leave a bad taste in the mouth or seem like they might be pointless, for instance Hurricane #1 have recently started organising shows without Andy Bell, which is fine but considering he wrote the entirety of the excellent debut makes you wonder if there’s any point other than nostalgia. Nostalgia’s fine for a few one off shows, like The Stone Roses who made promises of a proper comeback but 3 years later we're yet to hear even a demo of a new song. Then there’s bands like Kerbdog who started a comeback last year and released the excellent ‘Electricity’ which gives me high hopes that we’ll hear a full-length at some point, so what’s worse a band just re-treading old ground but sounding amazing or a band making a genuine comeback but failing miserably with songs that aren't a patch on the originals, did anyone really need a new Bush album? So over the last few years there’s been various rumours that Chris Gordon et al were planning to resurrect Baby Chaos, a band that I genuinely loved from my youth that I didn't want to see their memory tarnished with a shitty comeback album that wouldn't do their genius justice, regardless I heard they were playing Ginger Wildheart’s Halloween Hootenanny, and I travelled all the way from Leeds to Wolverhampton to catch them and see if the old magic was still there, I was not disappointed. The first of the new songs played ‘Blackbirds’ immediately impressed and not long afterwards the free download of ‘Have Faith In Yourself’ amazed me with some amazing production and hammer hitting guitar riffs, my hopes were starting to raise. Then I was sent a link to the first double A-side single from new album ‘Skulls, Skulls, Skulls, Show Me The Glory', kicking off with immediate urgency of 'You Can't Shut Us Up' which brings back just how brilliant Chris Gordon always was at writing huge melodies, that are instantly memorable while still being quirkily original, smashing to a strong end with Helmetesque riffing it sets things off nicely. I'm already suitably impressed when 'The Whispering Of Giants' gently starts with an almost mainstream sound akin to Snow Patrol showing just how amazing Chris' vocals are, better than the old days if anything, this song should really finally break them onto bigger things, it's huge soaring melody with twisted staccato guitar lines are impressive enough, but then 2 and a half minutes in it turns into a frenzied rabid attack of a song. Based on the 4 songs i've heard so far, Baby Chaos are already contending for album of the year, this is a resurrection that would put Jesus to shame, and the production of the 3 songs I've heard are damn near perfect, welcome back lads.

10/10

http://www.babychaos.com/

The new album is just for pre-release this week, seriously get it ordered.