Barns Courtney – The Attractions Of Youth
Indie Folk | Alternative
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Album Review: The Killers – Wonderful Wonderful
The Killers – Wonderful WonderfulTop Tracks: Maggie Szabo – Don’t Give Up
Canadian singer/songwriter Maggie Szabo is back with perhaps her most soulful and moving effort yet. ‘Don’t Give Up’, the first single from her upcoming EP Worthy, shares a heartfelt message of understanding and compassion. Penned as an anthem for the LGBT community and those struggling to understand their place in the world, its video shares a poignant story of a transgender student attending prom. It’s the kind of track that offers a voice to those unable to raise their own, acceptance to those feeling lost and alone, and an empowering spark to those battling conformity. Maggie has outdone herself here; finding exactly the right words to say and wrapping them up in such a sweeping soulful package, to provide an uplifting opus for the forgotten and downtrodden who just want to be themselves.
Album Review: Jaws of Love. – Tasha Sits Close to the Piano
Jaws of Love. – Tasha Sits Close to the PianoTop Tracks: The Sulks – Days Are Gone
Upcoming and newly formed Swindon based indie band ‘The Sulks’ have released a toe tapping tune of a song ‘Days Are Gone’. The track starts off with the endearing vocals of Rhys Burys and James Cumner before taking it up a notch by releasing a prominently upbeat and exhilarating drum and bass line, that’s sure to entice you and make you want to put on those dancing shoes. The song lets off similar vibes of Catfish whilst still managing to sound different enough to entice a new audience. When trying to think of the perfect words to describe this song, one word in particular comes to mind instantly… it’s exciting! The track feels exciting, different, free. We can only hope the alternative, indie band carry on releasing tunes like this!
Critic’s Choice: gigsandfreudianslips
Welcome to the first installment of a new feature, where we welcome other music bloggers that we know and love to share some of their favourite up-and-coming artists and underrated acts. Kicking things off is Georgia from gigsandfreudianslips: “In the music blogging game, you naturally come across a ton of acts who are unsigned and you just think ‘this is audacious; they aren’t signed yet the freaking Chainsmokers are??!’. Unsigned and smaller acts struggle to obtain the same amount of promotion as the bigger names, and work A LOT HARDER for slithers of column inches talking about their music, which is why a large emphasis on my blog has been on acts who fall in this bracket. Here are five unsigned / signed but still upcoming acts I take pleasure in introducing the readers of Belwood Music to.”
Top Tracks: High Waisted – Free Throw/Firebomb
Brooklyn band High Waisted are back with a brand new double A side. ‘Free Throw’ deals with feeling trapped in the confines of routine over the years and longing to break free and “make it” before it’s too late, and in the process dishes out some of the most gorgeous melodies I’ve heard all year. Meanwhile the aptly titled ‘Firebomb’ is a tempestuous garage rock number that makes the world sit up and take notice. Both mark a real evolution from their surf rock origins, and whether exploring introspective dream pop or riled-up feminist rock anthems, High Waisted have taken to these new musical horizons like a duck to water. With a new album on the way next year, this double A side is a promising sign of things to come.
Album Review: Alvvays – Antisocialites
Alvvays – AntisocialitesTop Tracks: Death By Unga Bunga – Into The Night
Don’t let the daft name fool you, this Norwegian band have released one killer new single. ‘Into The Night’ marries frantic punk energy, classic rock musicianship and pop addictiveness, before topping it all off with the single finest guitar solo of the year. That combination hasn’t been pulled off this well since The Only Ones’ ‘Another Girl Another Planet’, one of the finest songs ever recorded. Much like that track, it feels as though the planets have aligned and made every aspect of this song, from the sublime bass tones to the hyperactive riffs, the best it could possibly be. ‘Into The Night’ is one of the most delightful surprises to ever find its way to my inbox, and undoubtedly one of the strongest singles of the year.
Live Review: The RPMs, Cafe INDIEpendent Scunthorpe, 16th Sept 2017
We all have our own little habits and rituals, but every now and then we need to break free of them, and take a chance in the hopes that life catches you off-guard. You can’t be pleasantly surprised unless you first take a plunge into the unknown. The same mantra applies well to music, as I found upon returning to the quirky Cafe Indie. With three bands on the bill, I went in knowing next to nothing about any of them, and left as a new fan of all three. It seems like small bands and smalls gigs can offer the biggest surprises, and it’s no exaggeration to say that the night exceeded my expectations in every sense. Continue reading
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