Single Reviews - Hal - Play The Hits (Rough Trade) By Steve Rudd

Following up their chirpy What A Lovely Dance hit, Play The Hits' is quite frankly a fabulous tune from this refreshing Irish four-piece. These fellows go all out to hit upon classic melodies and harmonies that burrow their way into the hearts and minds of their listeners - and that Brian Wilson would die for. This song has been written by band front man David Allen and Stephen O'Brien, and together they have produced a wonderfully grin-inducing, eternally cheerful and explicitly non-offensive anthem that is almost impossible not to like.

Hal are clearly very talented purveyors of jubilant indie-pop music, and singer Allen certainly doesn't shy away from the high notes. What's more, their fun and frolicsome ways have already called-to-arms support slots in their favour for the Magic Numbers, The Doves, The Thrills and Brendan Benson. Well, Hal had better get used to being busy, because if they continue to write songs of this quality then they are sure to be in demand for a long while to come. 7/10

Music, Album Reviews - Oasis: Don't Believe The Truth By Nick Boldock
	There was a time when it would sound faintly ridiculous to suggest that Oasis would ever again record a great album. Their last effort - 2002's Heathen Chemistry - suggested a renaissance, and despite mediocre media interest did contain some brilliance, most notably the Noel-sung numbers Little By Little and Force Of Nature. Certainly it was a sign of Read more...

Single Reviews - Hood - The Negatives (Domino) By Steve Rudd
	Well, there's nothing quite like being positive - even if they're Hood and they're playing The Negatives. For starters, this band's music is certainly intriguing and thoroughly fascinating, not least because they refuse to conform when it comes to writing conventionally structured songs. The two b-sides that are tagged on the back of this single release, just Read more...

Music News - Leeds Festival - Calling all unsigned bands from the North of England!
	This years' Leeds Festival will be providing a new stage for unsigned bands. The Mean Fiddler, organisers of the festival have teamed up with local BBC Radio show, Raw Talent, Sandman Magazine and The Cockpit in Leeds to select 20 bands who will perform on the new stage this August. It's an incredible opportunity Read more...

Wanted - Bass Player - Urgent!
	For local female singer/songwriter. Influences include Joni Mitchell, Hem, Emiliana Torrini, Kate Bush. Please contact 01482 217080

Single Reviews - Bodyrockers - I Like The Way (Mercury) By Steve Rudd
	The type of tune that you either love or loathe, this latest anthem from this troupe of Dance-dazed musicians is taking the nation by storm regardless, and the Top 40 really cannot resist a tune of this calibre. This release heaves with some epic remixes of the song, but rarely do remixes compare Read more...

Single Reviews - Wherewithal - Sixth Form Poetry (Foolproof) By Steve Rudd
	This fem-fronted quintet sure isn't taking any prisoners, ballsily bursting out of the Farnborough area with gusto. Stacy Hart is the singer, and what a singer she is. Holding the rest of the band in check with her fantastic vocal musings, Stacy possesses a strong and distinctive voice that dominates the music, with such music Read more...

Album Reviews - Rumpus - EP By Michelle Dee
	This offering from Sheffield band Rumpus - features seven varied tracks of atmospheric unusual electro death rock. They have managed to mix up the genres of Indie rock with a shade of electronica and a hefty slab of death metal vocals. This ambitious approach stands up well to scrutiny and has Read more...

Single Reviews - Ryan Adams - Let it Ride (Lost Highway) By Steve Rudd
	American Country-rocker Ryan is back on the scene, and is being backed by a new band of friends called The Cardinals. Let It Ride is their new single, and - true to form for Ryan - lush elements of both Country music and rock 'n' roll are fashionably entwined in the most sublime manner. Read more...

Single Reviews - Razorlight - Somewhere Else (Vertigo) By Steve Rudd
	Face it - Razorlight front man Johnny Borrell is a total star in his own right, even without the other three lads that make up this tantalisingly talented band... especially when he's armed and potentially infamous with his trusted acoustic guitar. Still, the full band sound is hard to beat, and this tune Read more...

CD Reviews - Miss Machete - EP - Wanted For Murder By Steve Rudd
	For a good old all-round intense and wholly invigorating rock experience, then you ought to make friends with Little Miss Machete, because when they cut you with their music, it doesn't so much hurt as it simply stuns. This fresh and frantic quartet is a fast-rising phenomenon in the Yorkshire Read more...

CD/Album Reviews - Blind Frog Ernie - Ver:5.1 By Arse-Nick Photographs by Sarah Edwards
	Adorned with a picture of a blind frog, that looks a lot like a mushroom, Ver 5.1, the new release from Blind Frog Ernie is out for public consumption this week. Featuring a new drummer, in their ever evolving fifth reincarnation, The Frog have gone and done themselves proud with this Read more...

Album Reviews - The Raindogs - The Adventures of The Raindogs By Nick Quantrill Photos of Raindogs and A Certain Type of Person at The Sesh 5th April 05 by Michelle Dee
	Formed in October 2004 The Raindogs comprise of vocalist and guitarist Martin Clappison (ex King Rupert), bass guitarist Phil Ives (ex Circa 75) and drummer Dan Lydon (ex Mr Ed). The Adventures of The Raindogs is the band's first release and having played Read more...

Music, Album Reviews - Lola Ray - I Don't Know Why (DC Flag) By Steve Rudd
	Signed to the same label as Good Charlotte, this quartet is hitting the world's airwaves hard with their sun-kissed brand of highly melodic and supremely fashionable rock music for the masses, with John Balicanta chairing proceedings Read more...

Music News - Vote For Sworn Amongst in The Snickers Unsigned Download Festival
	After months of hard graft, Sworn Amongst have been selected from thousands to compete in this year's Snickers Unsigned Download Festival competition. The final ten bands will appear in this week's issue of Kerrang and will be voted for at Read more...

Singles Reviews - Chart Review 21st March 2005 with DJ Chris Plant
	In the land of eternal cabaret, Tony Christie is a God. Although never quite in the same league as the likes of Englebert Humperdinck or Tom Jones, the singer had a brief flowering of fame in the early 1970s going Top 10 in 1971 with murderers lament Read more...

Album Reviews - Sixty 6 - Crash and Burn By Nick Quantrill
	Sixty6 are an exciting power-pop three-piece from York who are starting to make waves across the country and attract the interest of major label record companies. The band confirms this potential with the release of the CD, Crash and Burn. Read more...