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 as the band singer. High profile support slots in the company of The Killers and Sum 41 have done wonders for the band's roaring popularity, with tunes such as What It Feels Like smacking of Razorlight's luscious genius. Their She's A Tiger cut is notably more chilled out, but Slave further confirms the fact that these chaps are indeed out for a good time and in the game of producing upbeat rock tunes of the greatest order.

For perhaps their coolest track so far, head for their awesome Automatic Girl that is effectively a pulsating nu-wave orgasm that best shows off this band's intense energy levels that are thoroughly Killers-esque in dapper style. These four gents comprise one of those very special bands that touch the heart yet rock with the best of them. They're both a breath of fresh air and a startling shaft of sunlight to brighten the dullest day. Yep, they're American, and they're exciting. They're Lola Ray. 4/5 www.lolaray.com

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...

Music News - Showcase Your True Talent with Selador Studios Amazing deal for local bands/artists all for just ten squid.
	Newly opened, fully furnished studio, with a relaxed working atmosphere catering for all musical genres, promise top quality recordings for knock down price. The recording studio is equipped with industry standard microphones inc. Neumann u87 Read more...

Single Reviews - The Departure - Lump In My Throat (Parlophone) By Steve Rudd
	These Northampton boys can't do no wrong since past singles All Mapped Out and Be My Enemy both crashed into the Top 40. Likewise, this single couldn't be cooler and boasts a mesmerising chorus (I've got a bag with no air-holes, a chair with no seat...) Read more...

Band News - 1000th Number One (Long Live The King) By DJ Chris Plant
	More than 27 years after he was officially declared dead, Elvis Presley has made history by claiming the 1000th British chart No 1. One Night is his 20th UK chart topper. One Night, part of a weekly re-release campaign to mark what would Read more...

Single Reviews - The Others - William (Mercury) Release Date: 4th April By Steve Rudd
	These guys have been nothing but a huge inspiration to hordes of people over the past year, not least because of the band's willingness to stage impromptu guerrilla gigs - wherever and whenever they please. Hell, they've even produced a short film Read more...

Album Reviews - The Kaiser Chiefs - Employment (B-Unique) By Steve Rudd
	This Leeds outfit has become very, very famous in what seems like a very, very short period of time. The scale of hype around these guys has come to rival the hype that has surrounded Franz Ferdinand over the past year. In a coincidental parallel Read more...

Band News - The Black Dogs - Headlining at YoYo at The Welly 2nd April
	Chromium Records Band of the Month for March, The Black Dogs: are four hard hitting northern boys from Liverpool. Like their stage presence, their music is as eclectic and electric as it is loud. The lad's music came together due to a shared passion Read more...

Album Reviews - Idlewild - Warnings/Promised (Emi) By Steve Rudd
	It might be somewhat incredible to comprehend, but these guys have been around now for an entire decade, having got together as a band back in Edinburgh circa 1995. Ten years down the line, and this is Idlewild:'s astonishing fifth album, packed with twelve stunning tunes. Read more...

Album Reviews - Scarlet Soho - Divisions of Decency (Human Recordings) By Steve Rudd
	I'm genuinely glad that Scarlet Soho: have released of album of such breathtaking grandeur. For the past few years, this Hampshire-based band has built up something of a cult underground following following on from their UK-roving gigs Read more...

Single Reviews - Cherry Falls - Winter/Winter (Island) By Steve Rudd
	This album has to be one of the most stunning debut albums ever released by a band. There is not one dull moment or dud note, and every last snatch of melody sets the spirits soaring. Welcome to the wonderful world of Cherry Falls, Read more...

Album Reviews - Face of Scars- Deathblow (11 Reasons to Fight) By Harry Slater
	If life was a film, then Face of Scars: would be the soundtrack to the scene when the intrepid hero gets his head kicked in repeatedly. Sadly, life isn't a film, but if on the off chance I ever get my head kicked in repeatedly, I will probably be Read more...

Single Reviews - Five O'Clock Heroes - Run To Her (Glaze) By Steve Rudd Release Date: 21st March 05
	This is the second single from the band's Bend To The Breaks debut album, and by the sound of it this quartet is certainly one to watch out for. Two of the members are British and the other two are native New Yorkers, so there is an exhilarating melting Read more...

Music News - London's Marquee Club - Wednesday 16th February 05 By Steve Rudd
	Never does a night go by down in the capital when there isn't at least one quality gig on, and now there is no excuse for music lovers not to catch a gig or two if they are right in the heart of London's West End since the legendary Marquee Club has Read more...

Single Reviews - The Kaiser Chiefs - Oh My God (B-Unique) By Steve Rudd
	If you think you've heard this tune somewhere before, don't despair...you'll probably be right. Yes, this was actually released last Spring as the band's debut single, but since then a lot has happened and the lads decided it would be worth reworking the Read more...

Single Reviews - Ambulance LTD - Stay Where You Are (TVT) By Steve Rudd
	This fame-finding New York outfit could cure all ills, and already they are very well known over the Atlantic - in the States - where they have appeared on both the Jay Leno and David Letterman TV shows amongst others. Slowly but surely the band's profile Read more...

Music, Bands - Who Is Phil Marshall? By DJ Chris Pant
	In the year 2000 Phil Marshall released a solo acoustic EP entitled The Atlantic Project. In 2003 he released an amazing album entitled Dondonisi. Most recently, Phil recorded a Live CD at The Big Coffee in 2004 (which I had the honour of introducing on Read more...