I never thought I would lament the loss of the old Cold War Kids, largely because the old Cold War Kids weren’t that great. Their first two albums, Robbers and Cowards and Loyalty to Loyalty, walked the fine line of almost worthwhile. Beautiful, considered, reverb-ridden riffs and well paced percussion were unfortunately obscured by Nathan […]
In early 2012, I stumbled across a track called Money, which comprises the kind of unashamedly archetypal riff you think you must surely have heard before. The Delta Riggs, the Melbourne-based band behind the track, have been criticised for being a ‘generic’ rock band, but I don’t think that’s the case. In my opinion, it’s simply that […]
With a measured, looping twang and Paul Banks’ unmistakable purr, Interpol paint the first strokes of their fifth album, El Pintor. This, lead single All the Rage Back Home, is the New York outfit at their finest. Brimming with urgency, it’s a desperate love song that is tender yet emphatic – a tightrope that Interpol […]
Richard In Your Mind, five dudes from Sydney headed up by Richard Cartwright, specialise in blowing brains out all over the wall. To any listener their style of experimental, psychedelic, indie pop is breathtakingly spasm inducing. For a music reviewer it’s a total bitch. The reason I say this is because I have to somehow […]
Former Dinosaur Jr front man, J Mascis (seen above looking like the hipster equivalent of Gandalf), is often heralded as one of the best guitar players in the world. Rolling Stone and Spin have him at number 86 and number 5 respectively, on their “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” lists. Dinosaur Jr, of course, […]
In the wake of the powerhouse that was, and to a lesser extent, still is Wolfmother, comes Kingswood. These four lads out of Melbourne follow in the path of Andrew Stockdale’s iconic band in reviving 70s Black Sabbath-esque heavy metal and combining it with a uniquely Australian classic-rock aesthetic. When Microscopic Wars, Kingswood’s debut album, is […]
Like many others, I first became acquainted with London duo Jungle earlier this year, after the release of their brass-infused single Busy Earnin’. As a sucker for a horn section, Jungle had my attention immediately. Several months later, they have not only my attention, but my adoration and some of my money. Jungle’s eponymous debut […]
“Is this The National?” Many heads have poked through my door in the last week to ask that question. Tempting as it has been to engage in an Abbott and Costello “Who’s On First” esque argument and reply with “No, it’s NO,” I haven’t. After all, the confusion is understandable. Like The National, the LA […]
Brisbane’s Dune Rats make the frustrations of living in a city that has no beach, not only relatable, but a little more bearable. Built on a foundation of sound moulded by both international and local alt-rock constituents, Dune Rats’ bare similarities to the likes of Best Coast and Gold Coast’s Bleeding Knees Club but with […]
Black metal may have been the country’s biggest musical export in recent years, but there’s nothing dark about the tunes of Norway’s Mikhael Paskalev. The 26-year-old struck gold in 2012 with the release of his debut single, I Spy, the video for which has amassed almost 1.5 million views since its release. The video incorporates […]