What artist most exceeded your expectations when you saw them live for the first time? For me it was Hozier. I saw him live in London just as the hype surrounding ‘Take Me To Church’ was reaching a fever-pitch, after following his meteoric rise right from his first EP. In a sold out show in Shepherd’s Bush there was an electricity in the air which I’ve only experienced a handful of times, the kind that makes just another date on a tour feel like something special and unique. To this day it remains one of my favourite gigs. Several years down the line, and with a new album under his belt, I decided to see if the magic was still there. Continue reading
Hozier
Album Review: Hozier – Wasteland, Baby!
Hozier – Wasteland, Baby!Belwood Music Awards 2018
It’s new year’s eve, and therefore, more importantly, it’s Belwood’s 4th birthday and time for our annual awards! It’s been an odd twelve months in many respects, and a real mixed bag as far as music is concerned, but 2018’s highlights more than made up for its lows. Here’s the music that left the biggest impression on us over the past year: Continue reading
Top Ten Songs of 2018
Though this past year has had it’s fair share of ups and downs, 2018 has consistently delivered some killer songs. In previous years my number one song of the year was obvious, it would spark something within me, ignite a fire that would keep burning all year. This time round I’ve had that same feeling about half the songs on my list! Continue reading
Top Ten EPs of 2018
These lists aren’t final until they are up on the site to give a chance to those November and December releases that often get forgotten. That said, a basic list usually gets drafted quite far in advance as a guide. This list however is the exception. It took a long time to narrow down to a top ten, and even longer to decide on the final order. It’s been an impressively consistent year for EPs across the board, but after much deliberation I’ve settled on my final rankings. Continue reading
Song. Bond Song.
Despite it’s mixed reception, Sam Smith’s ‘Writing’s on the Wall’, the theme for the latest James Bond Film Spectre, has made history by becoming the first Bond theme to reach number 1 in the charts. The prestigious honour of performing a track for a Bond film isn’t given to just anyone, but the end results have always been a bit hit-and-miss even with the big name stars. So who would be best suited then to perform the song for the next instalment? Who can match Smith’s chart success and yet find the universal acclaim that ‘Writing’s on the Wall’ has been missing? Continue reading
Playlist: Jan/Feb 2015
This is the first of what I hope to be another regular feature. A playlist every couple of months or so to summarise the highlights of music that has been reviewed, both live and album reviews. (note: I’ll try and get it formatted a bit nicer for my next playlist post) Continue reading
Live Review: Hozier, Shepherds Bush Empire, 1st Feb 2015
Photo Source: Nathan Barnes
Young Irish songwriter Andrew Hozier-Byrne, better known simply as Hozier, has had an astounding year. His song ‘Take Me To Church’ reached number 2 in the charts, currently has around 90 million views on YouTube, was one of the most listened to songs of the year and earned him nominations for both a Grammy and a BRIT award. His eponymous debut album has received critical acclaim. His songs have featured in several top TV soundtracks, he’s performed at such high profile events as Saturday Night Live and the Victoria Secret Fashion Show, Adele has attended one of his concerts and is one of his many famous fans and, most importantly, he won my award for album of the year. Thankfully I was lucky enough to get tickets to one his several sold out London shows. Continue reading
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