National Rip-Off Day: Record Store Day 2014

I'm not expecting this article to go down well with everyone, mainly because even I once agreed with the ideals and goals of record store day, I queued up from 6am in the freezing cold to get my hands on the Blur Fool's Day 7” and the Radiohead Supercollider 12”, twice I've even been 1^st in the queue, so yeah I've always been a nerdy record collector. And to be completely honest, I loved waiting in line, the camaraderie of discussing which records you wanted with others in the line, holding places while people went to get refreshments for each other, those cups of tea took the edge off the cold. Hoping that no-one in front of you was going to get the last copy of the main record you wanted, not to mention trawling through the release list prior to going, making your own list of the records you were after. On top of all this there was the good it did for all your favourite little record shops, extra revenue, extra exposure, people might hang around and buy more records after browsing, or it might re-ignite the collector in some who will go more often and pick up more music in general. I want to make it perfectly clear I completely support and recommend all of this.

Now the average vinyl price has jumped up a lot over the last 5 years or so, the average cost of a 7” circa 2009 was anything between £2-£3, it's now around £6-£7, I have no idea why the costs have increased quite so much, maybe the materials cost more these days? If anyone can shed light on this I'd love to know, same with LP's which have gone from around £10-£12 to £17-£20, again quite a jump in 5 years but prices are what they are. So over the last 2 years I've had to give record store day a miss due to getting married and having kids etc... Things are now getting back on track this year, so I thought, I'm gonna go for it again. I got my list ready...

Gloria Jones – Tainted Love 7”
Nirvana – Pennyroyal Tea 7”
Pantera / Poison Idea – The Badge 7”
Joy Division – An Ideal For Living EP 12”
Green Day – Demolicious CD
Radkey – 9 Lives MC

...some great records, some I'd love to have, luckily before I set off on the first bus of the day into Leeds centre Crash records posted the price list.

Nirvana and Pantera 7” records £11.99 each!!

So, despite the massive rise in vinyl costs over the last 5 years, somehow these two records have also boosted in price by another £5 or more, checkout the artwork on the Pantera record, it cost the label the price of a fucking sticker!
 

Gloria Jones – Tainted Love 7” £7.99

Not quite as bad, but still excessive for a record in a paper sleeve.
 

Joy Division – An Ideal For Living EP 12” £17.99

For a 4 song EP, that's more than some albums cost.

 

Green Day – Demolicious CD £15.99

When was the last time you paid over £15 for a fucking CD that wasn't a deluxe 2/3 disc version? And this is just a collection of rough demo tracks, now I know some will say, you don't have to pay these costs it's a choice, these people are entirely missing the point that you shouldn't be getting ripped off to help support your local stores.
 

Radkey – 9 Lives Live Tape £??

Oh and this one wasn't available in the Leeds stores, funny enough the XFM sessions LP for Warchild, a record that actually should have cost a little more to make more for charity, was actually a very reasonable £10, work that one out.

So, why the huge increase in price? If the stores themselves had boosted the prices to make more money, while I would still feel a little aggrieved, it would be understandable, they need this day and the revenue to keep doing what they do. Unfortunately I have the obvious feeling (and once again feel free to correct me on this) that the increase has come from the label end, once again finding a way to ruin and take advantage of something that music lovers throughout the country hold close. So forgive me if I'm not going to queue up in the cold for hours to spend £66 on one 12”, three 7” records and one CD, where just 2-3 years ago I would have got more than double this for the same price.
 

Now I'm not saying don't buy records, in fact I recommend going to your local record shop as often as possible, but instead of paying £15 or more for a Green Day demo CD, go another day and spend £10 on a 3CD b-side collection by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds like I got from Jumbo records in Leeds recently.

Or take a chance on a local band like when I picked up the NARCS album based on an employee review for £6-£7, most decent record shops will have a local band section to help you. Now I realise that on some releases you can end up paying an extra pound or so at the smaller shops, but that extra is helping keep these shops alive, shops where the staff actually know their music and can help you pick new records out.

 

But don't just support the shops, support the artists themselves where you can, get the new Antemasque album from At the Drive-In/Mars Volta's Omar Rodriguez and Cedric Bixler on their bandcamp for a minimum of $4 to download, that's less than £3 for a full album.

http://nadiesound.com/album/antemasque

Or pledge to get albums made, yeah there are a few taking advantage of this but the good far outweigh the bad, for £30 I recently pledge to help CJ Wildheart record his new solo album 'Mable', in return I get to go see him perform a solo acoustic show in Leeds, get a signed CD and a professional photo with him.

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/mable
 

The Sunshine Underground recently did a pledge for their new album, pledges had to chance to get free tickets to a show down south with more promised in future.

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/thesunshineunderground

Ginger Wildheart's new G.A.S.S. Fanclub is offering £30 membership for a year, which gives you 3 new songs a month, plus a few rarities and much more, all for just £2.50 a month.

http://www.g-a-s-s.co/announce/announce.php
 

Follow bands on facebook, The Deadcuts recently asked fans to help out with the mixing costs of their début album, offering signed copies in return for the help.

http://constantrotation.bigcartel.com/product/deadcuts-dark-is-the-night-cd-special-pre-order-version

https://www.facebook.com/deadcuts

To sum up, support artists, independent shops, independent labels as much as you can, as often as you can, but don't let the greed of major labels get involved and take their cut which is more than anyone else's involved.
 

Instead of illegally downloading music, try packages like Emusic, where it's less per download, I've discovered some amazing bands on there.

http://www.emusic.com/

Go to the shows as much as you can, buy the albums direct from the band, it's often cheaper, buy a t-shirt, buy the band a pint if they're new and have no label backing, spend ages thumbing through records reading the store review, taking chances on something new.

I openly welcome criticism or comments or corrections to this article, and hope you can understand where I'm coming from, like most readers I'm just a music lover wanting to make a difference.

Top 50 of 2013: No.37: Silver Sun - A Lick And A Promise (Invisible Hands Music)

Criminally underrated is probably the best way to describe Silver Sun, for 17 years on and off they’ve been banging out amazing power-pop, I say they, these days it seems to be more just James Broad, which makes the likelihood of touring almost non-existent. So out of nowhere after a 7 year gap, new album ‘A Lick And A Promise’ just appears on download sites with no promotion and as far as I can tell not even a website or social media page to its name, it’s hard work being a Silver Sun fan, but occasionally very rewarding. Opening with what must be the best 3 songs to start an album ever ‘I Just Wanna Treat You Right’ is jam-packed with beach boy harmonies, huge guitar riffs, and James’ sardonic wit, ‘For Alan Clarke’ continues this tradition into what must be the most introspective song for this (band) yet ‘Bottom of The Class’ which ironically may actually be the best song you’ll ever hear by Silver Sun. The rest of the album has no chance of really keeping up with this trilogy of tunes, not that there’s a bad song on here, it’s just too good a start. Sadly there may never be another album, tour or any word at all from Silver Sun, but then again who knows when an album will appear from nowhere, fingers crossed.

8.5/10

Buy here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lick-Promise-Explicit-Silver-Sun/dp/B00EYXBTXG/ref=sr_1_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1395914879&sr=1-1&keywords=Silver+Sun

Top 50 of 2013: No.38: Black Sabbath - 13 (Vertigo)

Let’s face it, no-one was expecting this album to be this good, it’s why I kind of respect Zeppelin for refusing to do new stuff, it’s because they know it wouldn’t be a patch on their old material and it’d pretty much ruin their legacy, so that’s what I was expecting of this. Amazingly Sabbath have pretty much managed to pull it off, I mean it’s no Paranoid, but it definitely stands up to their early work ‘Zeitgeist’ even comes off as this albums own ‘Planet Caravan’ and for a man ill of health Iommi doesn’t show any sign of weakness on the guitar front, ‘Loner’ kicks off with his unmistakable riff style, Geezer’s lyrics occasionaly veer into the cringeiness, but let’s face it ‘Iron Man’ was no lyrical masterpiece, so while this isn’t up there with their best, it would have made the top 5 easily if it was, it’s still an outstanding album from what are technically pensioners.

8.5/10

Buy here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/13-Black-Sabbath/dp/B00BU986UG/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1395419902&sr=1-2&keywords=black+sabbath+13

Top 50 of 2013: No.39: A Day To Remember - Common Courtesy (Self Released)

Admittedly I was a little slow getting into ADTR, only starting out with their last album 2010’s ‘What Separates Me From You’ but admittedly I was blown away with the massive pop-punk anthems mixed with brutal metal breakdowns and I’ve since already picked up some of their early stuff, so expectations were already high when I heard about Common Courtesy. The best thing is that they haven’t changed one bit, this album is still crammed with massive sing-alongs and even heavier sections than before, opener ‘City Of Ocala’ is a brilliant ode to remember where you’re from "This is our corner of the world, Where we can come to be ignored" bouncing straight into ‘Right Back At It Again’ which sums up this band so well, always working and always touring. There are no real dud tracks on here but I have to admit I preferred the previous album as a whole; maybe it’s because of how concise and to the point the last one was, with bonus tracks this album comes in over an hour and for once maybe it’s just slightly too much of a good thing, or maybe the old adage is true, the best albums can be fitted onto one side of a 90 minute tape.

8.5/10

Buy here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Common-Courtesy-A-Day-Remember/dp/B00G75BNSK/ref=pd_sim_m_h__4?ie=UTF8&refRID=1R3N46CVAAH36NGVSP0T

Top 50 of 2013: No.40: NARCS - Two Birds, One Stone Later (Clue Records)

Yet another Leeds band worth getting excited about, Narcs literally erupt from the first minute of this album and over the next 10 songs hold you captivated in the palm of their hand. Opener ‘Souvenir’ sets the tone perfectly with a foul-mouthed sample opening into the controlled chaos that Narcs ply their trade in, there’s an almost early-Arctic Monkeys style to the lyrical delivery mixed with the unhinged rage of the extremely underrated My Red Cell and swirled round bouncy catchy choruses. Debut single ‘19’ is a stand-out track that will stick in your head, all sing-along wrapped in thoughtful lyrics such as "It takes two to make a fool, one to lie and one to listen" and that’s what sets this album apart from most, it’s not just catchy, it’s not just rocking but it’s got great lyrics that takes it one step above. Forthcoming single ‘Coast To Coast’ based on a heart wrenching tale of an old couple out of their time with its beautiful line of “Don’t mind me dear, I’m tired & I want to go home” showcasing Narcs ability to get inside you, and that’s what good music does, it gets in your heart and makes you feel, it’s what separates good bands from great bands.

8.5/10

Coast To Coast will be released on April 1st with a few live tracks added which I’m looking forward to, but if you fancy the real thing they’re playing The Library in Leeds on 4th April, links to all that good shit below

http://cluerecords.bandcamp.com/album/two-birds-one-stone-later
http://cluerecords.bandcamp.com/album/coast-to-coast
http://www.jumborecords.co.uk/tickets.asp?event_id=17082
http://crashrecords.co.uk/online/product.php?xProd=14626

40 Bands To Keep An Eye On

Last years 40 bands to keep and ear on went down a bit of a storm so after much toiling, I've come up with this years 40 bands to keep and eye on (i hope the pun is lost on no-one) There's shit loads more but you have to stop somewhere.

Eagulls

Filthy dirty northern monkeys they may be, but Eagulls have been slogging away for a good few years now and their jagged post-punk has come on leaps and bounds since the Wipers infused debut Council Flat Blues 7", debut album is due any day now and after hearing new single 'Nerve Endings' it can't come soon enough.
For fans of: Wipers, Joy Division, Killing Joke

http://www.eagullsband.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/eagulls

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhralB8bCL8

Youth Man

Punkrock brummies Youth Man have been going for around 2 years now and already have a couple of EP's to their name, raucous, full of angst and energy, and one of the most intense female vocalists i've heard since Katie Jane Garside.
For fans of: Queen Adreena, early-Yeah Yeah Yeahs, general punk rock

http://youthman.bandcamp.com/music

https://www.facebook.com/youthmanband

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbGyEl9vkss

Radkey

Another great punk band, Radkey's Cat & Mouse was one of the best EP's i heard in 2013, new tune 'Feed My Brain' takes a step towards the darker post-punk style, while still keeping the huge chorus' they've been known for.
For fans of: Ramones, Misfits

http://radkey.shopsilentempire.com/

https://www.facebook.com/radkeyband

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5K0ZOH-koY

Knuckle

Okay so they haven't even released anything yet, however they have just hit the studio and 'Apocalyptic Kiss' is already all over youtube, and the band features Jonny Firth so it's guaranteed to be good.
For fans of: The Raconteurs, Jonnythefirth

https://www.facebook.com/#!/weareknuckle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2tJ51ECJNw

The Witch Hunt

I saw The Witch Hunt Valentines Day, i believe 2 years ago, or maybe one year at the Oporto and loved the few songs they played, a year or so later and I'm still loving the chill Louisa's voice sends down my spine, New EP 'Little Book Of Hate' sees their gothic dream pop reaching new levels.
For fans of: PJ Harvey, Portishead, great music

https://witchhunt.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/wearewitchhunt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kUGBuaDZXo

We Are Knuckle Dragger

Vicious as fuck metal/punk, We Are Kunckle Dragger used to be good, on new album 'The Drone' they've taken it up a notch or dozen to create something evil and filthy that gets under your skin.
For fans of: Hardcore Punk/Sludge/Rock

http://weareknuckledragger.bandcamp.com/music

https://www.facebook.com/WEAREKNUCKLEDRAGGER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PReDq-aiBLY

Wolves Like Us

Norway band plying their trade in emotional post-hardcore, their last album was pretty good, something tells me their next 'Black Soul Choir' will see them breakthrough to bigger and better things.
For fans of: The Afghan Whigs, Hot Water Music

https://www.facebook.com/#!/wolveslikeusss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71nPzm87oBg

Giants

I caught Giants supporting H2O last year and was suitably impressed with their 90's style posi-punk with a harder edge, New EP 'Misguided' took their song-writing up a notch, hopefully 2014 will see a full-length.
For fans of: Pennywise, H2O, Descendents

http://giants.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/giantsuk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iAEBzUHGwE

The Orwells

Another band i stumbled upon, their Head LP is full of garage rock as is their last album 'Remember When' i can't recommend them enough, new EP 'Who Needs You' has already seen their profile raised to the point of sell-out tours and with a new album due in the summer things are looking bright.
For Fans of: The Strokes, The Star Spangles, Living Things

https://www.facebook.com/theorwellsband

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwAdhvvGFlo

Black Moth

Huge Riffs, Massive female vocals, best stonerish band I've heard in ages and the second album is on it's way, it seriously can't be anything but amazing, this is Black Sabbath fronted by a much better singer.
For fans of: Black Sabbath, Jefferson Airplane, Queens Of The Stone Age

http://blackmothband.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/themothpit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrxFUWM6BrY

ZOAX

One track has already got me hooked and giddy as fuck for the XIII EP, Huge melodies mixed with vicious occasional vocals and a truly inventive unique style, GOING TO BE HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For fans of: Letlive, Glassjaw, Deftones

http://zoaxofficial.bigcartel.com/

http://zoaxofficial.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/zoaxbandofficial?directed_target_id=0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7u0_cPs7IQ

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Best band/vocalist I've heard EVER, Sharon sounds like Tina Turner doing Gloria Jones doing the best soul in the world, this is already a contender for 2014 album of the year, INSANELY GOOD!!!
For fans of: Tina Turner, Northern Soul, Otis Redding

https://www.facebook.com/sharonjonesandthedapkings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrOYkHjdpdM

The Amazing Snakeheads

The Snakeheads come at you with a vicious punk fuelled howl kind of evil sounding like an evangelist preacher in full swing put to rock n roll. With only two singles to their name the hype machine is maybe running a little on the heavy side but it's looking like they deserve it.
For fans of: The Birthday Party

https://www.facebook.com/theamazingsnakeheads

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqlKoEHm8-A

NARCS

Leeds lads who i decided to give a chance based on the album cover and the description Jumbo records gave them so thank Jumbo for being on this list lads, mixing Monkeysesque lyrics with a grating punkesque racket, they've pooled it all into a sound of their own, and what a sound it is.
For fans of: Arctic Monkeys, The Cribs, My Red Cell

http://cluerecords.bandcamp.com/album/two-birds-one-stone-later

https://www.facebook.com/NARCSband

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmfTxkx6YoM

Single Mothers

Single Mothers have been quiet for too long now, 2011's EP which was crammed with caustic vocals over a backbeat of punkrock melody, seems like an age ago now. Hopefully new material will surface this year, however with their attitude they're just as likely to not release anything just because people want to hear it.
For fans of: At The Drive.In

http://singlemothersband.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/singlemothersparty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAuA9O8g-ig

The Greenery

There's only one band close to these guys when it comes to viciousness and that was 'Breathe In' they disappeared some time ago and The Greenery are carrying the angriest band in the world flame with pride. New album 'It's Looking Grim' was an audio treat laced with strychnine.
For fans of: Breathe In

http://thegreenerylbc.com/the-greenery-merch

https://www.facebook.com/TheGreeneryCA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w-toWfty6U

Diamond Youth

What do you get when members of hardcore bands like Trapped Under Ice and Down To Nothing team up for a side-project, you get something fuck all like their hardcore day jobs and instead two mini-albums chock full of catchy rock.
For fans of: Weezer, Foo Fighters, Queens Of The Stone Age

http://dmnd.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/dmndyouth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot99sFasW20

Catfish & The Bottlemen

Looking like a cross between the Ramones and BRMC, Catfish actually trade in a much more melodic side with massive chorus' full of soaring melodies and explosive bursts of energy, their few singles so far are extremely promising.
For fans of: The Strokes, early-Razorlight, The Strypes

http://www.catfishandthebottlemen.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/catfishandthebottlemen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6LTDsPMDLY

Drowners

Arrrhhh, remember when the The Strokes used to play good old fashioned rock 'n roll without all the arty shit, that's what Drowners sound like, no frills catchy as fuck rock 'n roll, check out the debut album out now.
For fans of: early-Strokes, The Killers melodies

https://www.facebook.com/drownersofficial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuFYXj5k8ug

Gun Club Cemetery

A lot of people may remember Hurricane #1, from the 90's one of the most underrated britpop era bands there was, most people remember them for featuring Andy Bell of Ride etc... not me, the best bit about them was vocalist Alex Lowe who has been releasing awesome solo albums since and a one-off single as The Garage Flowers, finally he's back in a band again and Gun Club Cemetery fulfil all the promise he's shown over the years with big gravel-throated old-school rock songs.
For fans of: Alex Lowe, Rolling Stones, Faces

https://www.facebook.com/GunClubCemetery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmgMqU7VLEE

Royal Blood

Often i try listening to new bands and you get a mixture generally of the fucking awful and the half decent, Royal Blood managed to stand out from the pack quite easily with debut single 'Out Of The Black' simply because it rocks like a motherfucker and it's catchy toboot, more of the same please.
For fans of: Helmet, heavier-White Stripes stuff

https://www.facebook.com/RoyalBloodUK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_3mNCaJgNM

Low Fat Getting High

They have an EP out called 'Bad Yoga' It Rules, couldn't have put it better myself, their slacker rock brings to mind early fuzzed-up Nirvana, rough as chuff and full of melody, i can see these guys getting even better.
For fans of: early-Nirvana, Mudhoney

http://lowfatgettinghigh.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/lowfatgettinghigh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDZqwryLOyA

No Sinner

A Surprise hit from last year, No Sinner belt out track after track of old school rock 'n roll with elements of blues and soul and bring to mind all the old classics, vocalist Colleen Rennision brings it all together with her powerhouse of a voice, hammering every track home.
For fans of: Detroit Cobras, Rolling Stones, Northern Soul

http://nosinner.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/NoSinner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIhDILaxLxw

Polar

Over the last 4 years Polar have been honing their hardcore/metal hybrid sound releasing records on the always impressive Wolf At Your Door records, and now stepping up to the always amazing In At The Deep End records, and in turn with the jump in labels the quality of songwriting has picked up a notch, new album 'Shadowed By Vultures' is their best yet, and for a this hard-working band should bring everything they deserve.
For fans of: Bring Me The Horizon, Architects, Feed The Rhino

https://www.facebook.com/thispolarnoise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7WzwU6Ifeo

Post War Glamour Girls

Swirling walls of noise with male/female duo vocals and elements forged together from pretty much every amazing indie band for the last 30 years all melding together to create one of the most unique debut albums this side of Psychocandy.
For fans of: Jesus & Mary Chain, Ride, iLiKETRAiNS

http://postwarglamourgirls.com/merch

https://www.facebook.com/postwarglamourgirls

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEBCRjQTYDc

Tiger Bell

Sweden churns out more great bands than almost any other country and Tiger Bell are one of the latest garage punkrock bands to be making impressive sounds from that way, taking up from where The Donnas left off when they dropped the ball after 02's 'Spend The Night' Tiger Bell have unleashed an album chock full of bouncy anthems.
For fans of: The Donnas, The Runaways, Danko Jones, Hellcaopters

https://www.facebook.com/tigerbellband

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SgmFm5bTa4

Dolomite Minor

More fuzz drenched blues and once again from a two piece, there's hope for fans of the now defunct Wet Nuns with these guys around, with only two admittedly awesome released songs to their name they should be honing their craft by playing pretty much every UK festival there is this year.
For fans of: Wet Nuns, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Black Sabbath

https://www.facebook.com/dolomiteminor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccoU-Pvdvrc

Glass Caves

Shimmering dream-pop is probably the best description of the music Glass Caves create with soaring melodies over the top of jangly almost shoegaze guitars, whatever you want to label them, they have the songs to back up the hype they've been getting.
For fans of: Embrace, Sunshine Underground

http://glasscaves.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/glasscavesmusic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yQdt9xGEKE

Black Dogs

Depending on the mood, i can sometimes fancy a bit of soul, a bit of blues, even occasionally some decent country music, but sometimes i just fancy having my face melted off by aggressive as fuck metal, Black Dogs provide just the soundtrack for those times with their groove infused metal and their northern as fuck stance, i mean they sold t-shirts that had 'Slags, Chips, Gravy' printed on them for christsakes.
For fans of: While She Sleeps, Eyehategod

http://weareblackdogs.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/weareblackdogs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MadmOrLeDCw

Giuda

While glam-rock in general is well known for the occasional homoerotic artwork, Italy's Giuda take it to the point of top notch campness, however this isn't your sleazy glam ala New York Dolls, this is more rooted in the Slade, Wizzard etc... style with a nice hint of punk, 2nd album 'Let's Do it Again' reeks of 70's excellence.
For fans of: Slade Wizzard et al, i already said

http://giuda.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Giuda/162619653788119

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Ib0KLtRP8

Neck Deep

There's been a bit of a 90's skater-punk revival in the UK as of late, but standing head and shoulders above them all are Neck Deep, the difference? Tunes! Massive chant-along tunes, and with an already rabid fanbase from non-stop gigging and releasing new music over the last two years they're ready to takeover their influences.
For fans of: Pennywise, NOFX

http://www.neckdeepuk.com/store/

https://www.facebook.com/neckdeepuk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbOEGnDksKQ

Sex Cross

New Jersey has a long history of producing great music and Sex Cross are no different with their darkwave post-punk their first two singles have already surpassed contemporaries albums, and with news of an LP being in the works there's much more to come.
For fans of: Joy Division, Echo & The Bunnymen

http://sexcross.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/SexCross

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trlCYr361HA

Southern

Brother/sister duo's are quite rare and often like in the case of Same Difference abysmally shite, luckily Southern are bucking that trend, their debut EP is a blues drenched backbeat rock 'n roll treat which is bound to pick them up tons of new followers, good genes.
For fans of: The Strypes,

https://www.facebook.com/thisissouthern

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V958QAAT2K8

68

When Josh Scogin announced the end of The Chariot a lot of people were bummed out, luckily he wasted no time starting a new project '68, and it's everything you would expect it be, which is noisy as fuck with angular twists and shout along anthems. the debut 7" Midnight packs quite the punch.
For fans of: The Chariot

https://store.nosleeprecords.com/product/6972/midnight

https://www.facebook.com/theyare68

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksl5nX3PWDg

Viva Viva

Showing more promise than any other band I've heard in a long time, Viva Viva have been steadily getting better over the last 7 or 8 years, 2010's self-titled album was a pop-rock juggernaut jammed full of singalong nuggets, 2012's 'What's The Kim Deal?' mini-album showed a maturity to their song-writing which was fully realised with last years 'Dead In Yr Tracks' EP a masterpiece with some of the most original sounds I've heard in forever.
For fans of: Original Rock

http://vivaviva.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thisisvivaviva

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3yyP_yC81g

Weathered Hands

When a band release an EP called 'Of All the People That I've Left, Each One Has Died of Loneliness' you already have my attention, when that release is put out by In At The Deep End records I'm actively interested in hearing it, and when the EP is full of emotional hardcore anthems I'm loving it.
For fans of: Defeater

http://weatheredhands.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/weatheredhands

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6KW1ZO-jWs

Rexine

Reminiscent of Sheffield's Long Blondes, Rexine deal in a bit heavier and darker territory while maintaining the melody and rhythm of the previous outfit, two singles in and they already show huge promise, 2014 should be their year,
For fans of: Long Blondes, post-punk

http://rexine.bandcamp.com/album/new-sparkle-red-fox

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rexine/165381883507472

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZuEhgwka4o

Sulk

While bands like Peace are spearheading a 90's baggy revival, Sulk are releasing a much better version, hell their picture even looks like an early Charlatans shot, and the music follows suit, the difference between these and the pretenders is this sounds like it was actually released in the early 90's
For fans of: The Charlatans, The Stone Roses

http://www.sulktheband.com/shop/

https://www.facebook.com/sulktheband

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YU0LjRbAz0

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs

Aka The Seven Swines, i literally can't tell you anything about this band, other than the fact that they've only released one 22 minute opus called 'The Wizard and The Seven Swines' which is a psychedelic rockbeast of a track and they play the occasional gig, looking forward to more in the future.
For fans of: The Heads

http://pigspigspigspigspigspigspigs.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/PigsPigsPigsPigsPigsPigsPigs

Loom

Being the brother of the The Horrors singer you'd think Tarik Badwan would be standing in quite the large shadow, however his own 90's re-incarnated band looms it's own shadow (see what i did there), so far they've been dealing exclusively in limited vinyl and cassettes and enlightened covers tunes while occasionally throwing their own even better songs in.
For fans of: Nirvana, 90's Alt Rock

https://www.facebook.com/Loomband

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXmKkMyGiSA

As before if you can't find something here you like, you should stop reading this blog and probably stop listening to music in general, if you like any of the bands make sure you try and buy stuff where you can and remember there's other ways to support new music. Go to more gigs, bands on this list are likely to charge less than a takeaway or a packet of cigs for a ticket and it's much healthier.