The Others - Stan Bowles (Poptones) By Steve Rudd

These guys have reveled in one hell of a year, going to inspirational extremes in the art of self-publicity for their Alternative poppy and punky rock 'n' roll band. The likes of Embrace and The Libertines have long been applauded by fans for staging secret gigs in often rather obscure places, and The Others seem to be exhilarated by the same prospect.. and thus they've been organising impromptu gigs of their own in all manner of weird and wonderful places - such as on the tube and on festival fairground rides.

Rounding up fans to attend these strange events never seems to be a problem, as the modern-day medium of text message communication always seems to spread the word almost instantaneously. Such rock 'n' roll shenanigans have gained them much press in the past year, and that's even before their music itself is considered. Stan Bowles - dazzling with its Strokes-esque production qualities - is an excellent little anthem, and partially in tribute to the QPR football player of the same name. Others band member Dominic Masters elaborates by saying, I wanted to write a song about the good times we've had over the last couple of years, playing football in the park, going out partying and building our community. Well, their work hard, play harder ethic has paid off, given The Others' cult following. They might not be half as scary as the Nicole Kidman film of the same name, but then that's not their intention. The don't aim to be an intimidating or aggressive rock 'n' roll band; these guys and their fans just want to live the dream and enjoy the music. And that helps a bunch when the band members are really nice guys off-stage too - a fact that I can vouch for. 4/5 www.letskilltheothers.com

Single Reviews - Daniel Rachel - Dear Friend (Dust Records) By Steve Rudd Release Date: September 27th 2004.
	Daniel Rachel, as a style-conscious solo singer-songwriter, is truly to be treasured. I couldn't recommend his work more, so seek it here, seek it there. Then slip it on, stand back.. and listen. No, I mean really listen. Dear Friend is an astonishing song, crisp with twin acoustic guitar-based purity that Read more...

Album Reviews - Koreisch - The Decaying Schizophrenic Christ Complex (Calculated Risk) By Steve Rudd
	This 14-track album is actually a re-release, although it has been remixed and remastered and so might still appeal to folk who bought this monster the first time around in the late nineties. Such folk would have been of the variety that is obsessed with hardcore rock to manic Read more...

Album Reviews - The Clauberg Opera - The Death of this City By Michelle Dee
	Is The Clauberg Opera's foreboding CD title, The death of this city, prophesising the end of Hull? It could be describing the very nature of urban society where all cohesion is lost to poisonous, suspicious, insular, ideologies. When does a city actually die? Read more...

Album Reviews - Three Movements - Electricity Wiped out Heaven (Calculated Risk) By Steve Rudd
	If you've got half an hour of your life to spare for this 6-track mini-album, then good for you - it's nigh impossible to be disappointed by the raving beauty and dynamic musicianship on offer. The atmospheric, haunting subtlety of instrumental opener Awaken is so breathtaking that Read more...

Album Reviews - Ernest: (Pimps, B**ches and) Superheroes By Elsie Creek
	Ernest have progressed quite steadily in the two years since they formed. Some bands make a big entrance and disappear just as fast, while others go on for years wondering why they don't get the recognition they deserve. However; for this four-piece from Hedon, the hard work is paying off, Read more...

Album Reviews - Hayley Hutchinson - Independently Blue (album/ R N R Music) By Steve Rudd
	This 12-track, 43-minute album is packed with some of the most beautiful and heart-breaking songs that I've heard in years, and singer-songwriter Hayley - now living and working from her base in York after a childhood brought up in Scotland - is only in her early twenties. Listening to these astonishing tunes, all of which Read more...

Album Reviews - The Boxer Rebellion - Code Red (single/ Mercury) By Steve Rudd
	These guys have led a lucky couple of years since Alan McGee spotted them playing their hearts out in the New Bands tent at Glastonbury. So impressed was he that he signed them up to his Poptones label, through which two severely limited edition/ scandalously sought after Read more...

Album Reviews - We Start Fires - Caught Red Handed (11 tracks/Head Girl) By Steve Rudd
	Proudly keeping the DIY punk spirit alive, Darlington quartet We Start Fires (in which female members outnumber the male contingency three to one) aren't ones to wait around for a record company exec to get out his chequebook. They believe in their music to such an extent (which they Read more...

Album Reviews - Cathy Davey - Something Ilk (album/ Regal) By Steve Rudd
	This 14-track release is an infinitely interesting and beautifully conceived album, opened with Come Over, which is reminiscent of the sultry sounds that Italian-born singer-songwriter Elena is making. Complete with a cool riff and sexed-up PJ Harvey-esque swagger, this is Read more...

Single Reviews - Still Life at the wheel By Michelle Dee
	After a promising start, a distinctive vocal, which can only be described through emotions rather than words, tells a story of a road trip gone sour. Short chords punctuate the verse and, at the wheel, gathers pace. The chorus kicks in followed by rolling guitars. One or two of the backing vocals seem superfluous but Read more...

Single Reviews - Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue (Parlophone) By Steve Rudd
	Release Date: September 6th 2004. It's been one hell of a couple of years for this American pop-punk-rock quintet, and deservedly so. This is the title track from their ever-so-popular Ocean Avenue album that was released to instant acclaim earlier this year, and - somewhat Read more...

Single Reviews - Sam Roberts Band - Brother Down By Steve Rudd
	Release Date: August 30th 2004. This guy - and his band - has long been big business in Canada from where they hail, going so far as to be awarded with Best Artist and Best Album awards at this year's Juno Awards. Now it's time for the UK to see and hear what all the amassed fuss Read more...