The Sound of Summer

Although the current torrential downpour might suggest differently, summer is here. To celebrate the beginning of festival season and the end of exams I've put together a small selection of some of my favourite songs for this time of year. Both old and new, I hope you enjoy.

Don't Look Back In Anger//Oasis

Click here to watch the music video

The main reason why this song is at the top of list is because right now, it is so important. Don't Look Back In Anger has become synonymous with the message of pulling together and supporting each other in the hideous aftermath of the recent terrorist attacks. What happened in Manchester, and now London, is simply heartbreaking, but seeing the people of Manchester offer their houses to people, give food and drinks, donate money, get people home safely gives me faith in humanity. Don't Look Back In Anger is an important song.

T-Shirt Weather//Circa Waves

Click here to watch the music video

A very cliched and generic choice, but there's no denying that this is THE summery song. It's lighthearted indie pop at it's finest, and whilst I definitely prefer newer stuff from them, this is the songs I'm most excited to see at Leeds Festival. If this doesn't make you want to sing your heart out with your friends at a gig, I don't know what will.

Tonight//Misfires

Click here to visit their YouTube Channel and check out their other brilliant songs. 

This unsigned Indie Rock four piece are making waves, having just finished a UK tour (gig review on its way). Shouty and rocky, you won't regret giving this lot a listen.

Cut Me and I'll Bleed//Blossoms

Click here to watch the music video

If you haven't heard Blossoms yet, you need to sort that out. They are BRILLIANT. Cut Me and I'll Bleed is my personal favourite, but their entire self titled album is amazing, and it all has the summer-y vibe you want when you're pitching your tent in the rain.

Kids//MGMT

Click here to see the music video

It may not be new, but it whether psychedelic rock is your thing or not, you will love this. It's melodic and catchy and will be stuck in your head for days.

I Am The Walrus//The Beatles
Click here to hear it on YouTube
Magical Mystery Tour might well be my favourite Beatles album, although it's a hard choice to make. I Am The Walrus is simply a brilliant song, which is guaranteed to make you smile. If for some strange reason you haven't heard this song, you absolutely have to listen to it now.

Like A Rolling Stone//Bob Dylan
Click here to see it on YouTube
Another old-y but gold-y, this song is epic. Long enough to enjoy properly, this song is the sunny, slightly drunken garden song you're ever likely to hear. I just don't have the words to explain what an amazing song it is.

Welcome To The Kingdom//Ellie Rose
Click here to see the music video
A new discovery which I'm very surprised I like. Having stumbled across her on Instagram , I ended up listening to her. I am unbelievably impressed. As far as I know, she's released a handful of songs (review to come soon), and this slightly pop-y but without being nauseating tune is absolutely brilliant, catchy and summery. Of all the songs on this list, this is the one I've been listening to over and over... well worth checking out.


Honourable mentions:

>Wall Of Glass//Liam Gallagher

> Cigarettes and Alcohol//Oasis

> London Calling//The Clash

 >Anything//Catfish and the Bottlemen

 >Cigarette Smoke//Arctic Monkeys

 >Changes//David Bowie

>Be Who You Are//The Kooks

Black Honey

Recently, a friend recommended to me a band named Black Honey, telling me I needed to listen to them. Given her track record of having a good taste in music, I got on YouTube, and got listening to them.

What an excellent decision that was.

Black Honey are a Brighton based indie 4 piece, with Izzy Baxter on vocals and guitar, Chris Ostler on guitar, Tommy Taylor on bass and Tom Dewhurst on drums.

With plenty of guitar, the music isn’t far removed from classic rock, but songs like Headspin and Mocking Swing give them a more relaxed, calm sound than you would usually get from a rock band. To me, certain aspects of the guitar is reminiscent of The Strokes, which is a massive plus in my book. Izzy’s voice is highly reminiscent of Lana Del Rey, but with a faster, more punk-y sound.

They have supported well known bands like Catfish and the Bottlemen, and whilst I would definitely recommend them to Catfish fans, Black Honey have a very distinct sound which makes them different to the other indie bands around. They definitely fall more on the pop side of things, but they have enough of a punk-y, psychedelic vibe to make it ok in my book.

Having seen them live in Manchester, I can confidently say that they live up to all the hopes I had. I saw them at Manchester Deaf Institute on their headline tour with Dream Wife, and they were enthusiastic, animated and their stage presence was incredible.

If you are looking for a new band to listen to, I really do recommend listening to All My Pride or Corinne as an introduction to an incredible band whose newest single, Hello Today, is even more of a tune than anything they have released before.

The Last Shadow Puppets Everything You've Come To Expect Album Review

Today's post is going to be a review of Everything You've Come To Expect, the 2016 album by The Last Shadow Puppets.

Like many people, I came across The Last Shadow Puppets through the Arctic Monkeys. Having never been disappointed by anything Alex Turner has ever produced, I was hopeful when I ordered their 2008 album, The Age Of The Understatement.

As I bought the album from Amazon, I got the MP3 version as well, which has the track The Bourne Identity on it, which the CD (and I presume vinyl) version doesn't. For that reason, I would strongly recommend buying the album of amazon, as I absolutely love The Bourne Identity, which I think really rounds off the album, and (I'm sure I'm not alone on this!) I get an enormous amount of satisfaction from having physical albums.

The first thing that struck me about this album was that compared to the earlier album and to Arctic Monkeys albums was how much more mature (and lovestruck) the album sounded.

Without a doubt, I would describe the album as polished. With The Age Of The Understatement, I sort of get the sense that Alex and Miles were slightly mocking themselves and not taking it completely seriously, whereas with this album. it seems like they were very clear on what they wanted to achieve and what kind of sound they wanted.

Lyrically, the album is reminscent of the love struck tone of Arctic Monkey's Suck It and See album, with words like " All of our exchanges are by candlelight" (Miracle Aligner), "Lipstick on my pillow via my cheek" (Dracula Teeth), "It feels like your entrance just caused the temperature to rise" (The Element of Surprise) and "Ain't  I fallen in love" (Sweet Dreams, TN) giving the album a sense of being dedicated to someone in particular (Presumably Alex Turner's girlfriend, Taylor Bagley).

Despite the maturity, the album's song The Dream Synopsis talks about "...a wicked gale came howling up through Sheffield City Centre..." and says "Both well aware that there'd be trouble if the manager should find us/You'd got a leaning tower of pint pots in your hand, you can carry much more than I can". To me, this sounds like a reference to Alex's work as a Barman in Sheffield as a teenager. Talking about "Some kid I went to school with" also appears to be a sign that he is thinking more about his hometown of Sheffield.

The album as whole (with the exception of Bad Habits) has a very relaxed, lazy Sunday morning feel to it, with elaborate, layered music and nothing abrasive in the slightest. Bad Habits stands out due to its faster base, and louder, harsher vocal style. Personally, it's my favourite song, after Sweet Dreams, TN.

Although I do really enjoy listening to this album, it is not really the type of thing I would usually listen to, and I can also see why it gets played on Radio 2 a lot. It definitely appeals to the older audience, perhaps more than to teenagers. Having said that, Alex and Miles are both 30, and as their previous album was released in 2008, many people who bought the album at the time will be of a similar age.

Personally, I listen to whatever music I want to, and I don't really care about what people think, so it doesn't bother me that my mum likes it as much as I do (if anything, that's a good thing, as it means I can get away with playing it loudly in a way I never get away with playing Bullet For My Valentine!). 

My main criticism of the album is that it's so polished some of the meaning of the lyrics are lost to me. Watching live performances on YouTube (I couldn't get tickets to see it live myself), the passion of the words,  particularly in Sweet Dreams, TN, comes through more than the highly produced album version does, but on the other hand, it means that the album is perfect background music. 

On the whole, I would definitely recommend this album, although I would recommend listening to Aviation on YouTube first, as that opening song really sets the tone for the whole album, so allows you to get a taste of what the album is really like.

Thank you.