Honeycut – The Day I Turned to Glass

Album was released in 2006. It’s a mix of soul, funk, rock, bossa nova and electronica. A cut down version of track 11 – ‘Exodus Honey’ was used by Apple in one of its commercial’s, which is how I came across it. I think the opening track and album title ‘The Day I Turned to Glass’ sets the bar for what to expect - dark, jazzy and in some parts a haunting feel. Overall I think it’s a great album, with an usual sound… but not to everyone’s taste! I think track 9 ‘Aluminum City’ is the best track (Track 3 ‘Shadows’ is pretty good also) - An instrumental only jazz, funk and electronic mix – worth a listen!

Aeroplane - We Can't Fly

This is the Debut Album from a Belgian Duo. And their last they are already parting ways with one of the lads keeping the name alive for now. However this is a pretty good album for a Debut. It’s meant to be a electro / dance album but like all good European bands its has a very distinctive poppy feel to it. There are some very catchy tracks that no doubt give a few weeks and we'll probably hear a lot of. I do think this is another one of those albums you might need to get in and enjoy early before it gets way overplayed and makes you hate it. It does have a really good summer party feel to the album which really hasn’t happened much yet this year (Or at least no one has posted here about too many yet). The album is not officially released until September so you do have time to get the jump on the masses. 8 /10

Ariel Pinks Haunted Graffiti - Before Today

Well this one is certainly a little out there. A rather strange album that has managed to grow on me. Starts out like a soundtrack to some shady 60's porno but still its a catchy little tune. The whole album does sound like it was recorded and produced on a tape deck rather than in a studio. But for some obscure reason it seems to work really well. The first listen is almost like that feeling you get when going somewhere you have never been before but it feels very familiar. As for what genre to put this into that would be as hard trying to watch an Emmerdale Omnibus. Its not electronic or pop or indie but yet it could be all of the above at the same time. It wont be to everyone's taste but still a nice gem of a find if you like it 7/10

RPA & The United Nations of Sound

So this is Richard Ashcrofts latest album. It seems to be a little move away from his solo stuff and gets a little less pop like. So far there are 2 stand out tracks in America and Glory. Suppose you could say this falls somewhere between Keys to the World and Urban Hymes but just not Urban Hymes enough for my liking. Being perfectly honest its average at best and he does go on about how wonderful life is just a little too much. They did release a single before the album Third Eye which was very promising but instead just built a little hype for 12 song album with only 2 or 3 decent tracks. Dissapointing 4/ 10

Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

I was all ready to write this album off as mediocre, run of the mill US indie stuff. I was going to dismiss it with a smart alec comparison to Kevin Kilbane – reliable and likeable but not too spectacular and easily forgettable. Ho ho ho. However I was too hasty in forming my opinions and after giving the album a few more listens I’ve realised that it’s actually really good – turn of the millennium Kilbane, all shaggy hair and dominating the midfield against France. Don’t judge this album based on the first two tracks, which aren’t very memorable, as the album progresses it reveals a number of catchy clever tunes. It’s the perfect soundtrack to a summer’s day driving on an empty country road. The stand out track is ‘The Underdog’ with its cool mariachi trumpets. To me Spoon are the type of band that Razorlight wished they sounded like if they were any good or what Phoenix might sound like if they weren’t French and didn’t like synthesisers. 9/10

Turin Brakes – JackInABox

I loved the debut albums by this folky duo but was left disappointed by the second offering and lost interest. I’ve had this, their third album, for ages but never gave it a listen until I decided to give it a spin on my MP3 player last night at the gym. It opens with a sunny upbeat track that sets the scene for the rest of the album – simple guitar and drum tracks with nice melodies and vocal harmonies. After the more ambitious ‘Ether Songs’, which ended up being atmospheric but ultimately boring in my opinion, this is closer to the basics of their debut and works well for it. The strings and keyboards that litter the album are subdued and don’t overtake the rest of the sound. My only complaint is that the album is quite long and could have done with being ten minutes shorter but despite that it’s worth getting hold of particularly if you liked the first album. 7/10

2 Door Cinema Club – Tourist History

Ah yes, the ubiquitous 2 Door Cinema Club, appearing in a mobile phone advert or playlisted on daytime radio somewhere near you. I first heard of this band on the BBC’s ‘One’s to watch’ list for 2010, sandwiched somewhere between Ellie Goulding and Marina And The Diamonds. Taking all of that into consideration I now wonder why I bothered picking up a copy of this album at all but in fairness the two singles are pretty catchy and sure it’s always good to give a bit of support to local artists. If you’re familiar with the two singles, and let’s be honest who isn’t, you won’t be in for any surprises with the rest of the tracks on their debut full length. This is slick pop music in the best possible sense – all jingly guitars and kick drums with some catchy keyboard trills thrown in for good measure. It’s definitely well worth getting your hands on and sooner rather than later before over exposure ruins the music for everyone. You might just get two or three weeks out of it before that happens. 7/10

Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More

This is actually a very good album that I wasn’t particularly impressed with when I first listened to it. I first heard ‘The Cave’ nearly a year ago and I was intrigued by it. Then the two other singles appeared over the next couple of months and I was pretty excited about the album. The three singles have continued to receive a lot of airplay and when I first listened to the album I found myself tuning out until they came on. I was expecting all the tracks to be instantly catchy but that wasn’t the case. The tracks really need to be listened to in small chunks and if you give them a bit of time they reveal themselves to be just as good as the singles. The slower tracks are a little weak compared to the more up-tempo ones but that’s a small gripe. Give it a bit of time and it’ll worm its way into your head. After all who can resist a bit of banjo driven alt. folk? 7/10

David Holmes – The Holy Pictures

This is an excellent album. Anyone familiar with Holmes’ previous work might be a little surprised by the change of direction he takes on this album. Gone are the dance floor heavy sounds of his first couple of albums and the funky soul of his soundtrack work and in their place is a sort of indie-electro sound. It reminded me of late eighties Jesus And Mary Chain and Vanishing Point era Primal Scream. It features a mix of instrumentals and vocal tracks sung by Holmes himself. The two highlights are the opening track ‘I Heard Wonders’ and the closing track ‘The Ballad Of Sarah And Jack’ a beautifully evocative piano led instrumental. The music sandwiched between these two high points is also pretty good as well. 9/10

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

I came across this whilst perusing the web for some new music to tickle my fancy. Now it's not particularly new (it was realeased over a year and a half ago) but it's new to me so I hope that it qualifies for this blog. It topped of a lot of music blog 'album of the year' lists for 2009 so we can take it that it's what all the cool kids are listening to these days (well the ones who like experimental US indie rock that is). If you can imagine the basterd child of an unholy union of The Beach Boys, Stereolab and MGMT then you wouldn't be far off understanding what this music sounds like. You can probably guess that it's not immediately accessable; there aren't any real stand out tracks apart from perhaps 'My Girls' and 'Summertime Clothes'. This is an album that's meant to be consummed as a whole rather than to have it's individual tracks listened to out of context. If you're willing to give this album a few listens then you'll be rewarded as the dense fractured music slowly reveals the sunny harmonious melodies hidden within. It's also possible that you might hate it so don't blame me. 7/10

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat the Devil's Tattoo

Never listened to any of their stuff before. This is the new album. Its pretty good was a littl surprised by how much I like it. Some nice rocking tracks on it. Well worth a listen or seven.