No Ripcord
Contents:
[News] [Reviews] [Rico - Preview of Santuary Medicines] [Band of the Fortnight] [Gig Dates] [Classic Album] [General Failures]
The Charlatans are to play a gig on September 4th on Glasgow Green. Beth Orton and Cast are lined up as support acts. Tickets are on sale now.
Reef release their new single, "Sweety" on May 24th. The follow up single to "I've Got Something To Say", is the second to be taken from "Rides". Look out for a feature on Reef in a future issue.
Blur's new single will be 'Coffee & TV', featuring Graham Coxon on lead vocals.The band seem to have had a bit of trouble deciding, as first Trimm Trabb and then Bugman were tipped for release, but it's now been confirmed that "Coffee and TV" will be released on June 21st.
More bands have been announced for T in the Park. Reef, Mogwai, Rico and Ultrasound are amongst the names announced.
Singles:
Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy, Hey Girl
Well... the Chemical Brothers new single - it's catchy, but not exactly new. I am a big fan of the previous 2 albums but if you're going to put out a "new" single why not make it sound different? All through the song I hear samples smacking of "Exit Planet Dust" and "Dig Your Own Hole". That being said its a great, high octane summer tune that's sure to get the nightclubs bouncing. If you're ready to party, get it - if you're into clever lyrics, forget it!
Texas - In Our Lifetime
This tune is very catchy - it follows the simple Texas formula that always seems to work a treat. Since releasing "White on Blonde", Texas have gone from strength to strength and this too is a fantastic track. I'm not quite sure why, judging by my usual taste in music, but I like this song a lot...it's one for everyone. Single of the Week
The Happy Mondays - The Boys Are Back In Town
Shaun fuckin' Ryder is fuckin' back in fuckin' town! The first mix of this track has a dance feel to it, with samples, bass lines and edits, plus the monotonous drone of Mr Ryder muttering a series of expletives. "Back in Town" is amusing to listen to, but not one to put on when your Gran is visiting - they don't make 'em like they used to.
With Rico's brilliant single "Attack Me" coming out soon we've decided to look ahead to what promises to be an interesting album from the Glasweigan Artist. There's no set date for his debut album, "Santuary Medicines", but it should be out soon. All we've heard so far are 5 tracks off the promotional sampler but if these are anything to go by, the album should be worth waiting for. The opener, "Shave Your Head", is a great start. Full of surprises from start to finish, with the highlight being a brief section where the song suddenly turns to a Gomez-esque aside, before the distorted guitars and Rico's screaming voice crash back in. Another highlight is "Float", potentially a future single. After this song has finished what seems to be a hidden track kicks in, where Rico voices his dismay at todays world saying fuck to everything from the BNP to God...it ain't the 60's anymore.
Catch Rico live at the following dates:
May 28th: Radio 1's Glasgow Live week (10.30pm St Georges Sq), June 17th: Kerrang night @ The Barfly (The Falcon, Camden), July 10th: T In The Park - Evening Session stage, Aug 29th: Reading, 30th: Reading at Leeds.
In this edition, band of the fortnight comes in the form of the Chicago based Rockers, the Smashing Pumpkins. This band is one of my all time favourites and I proudly hold the claim that they were the first band I ever saw live. The Pumpkins for me hold a special kind of aura about them - never knowing what they are going to do next…which musical whim will take their fancy. All this leads to the mystique and the power that is the Pumpkins.
Starting out in 1988 the Pumpkins played their first (real) gig the respected Metro Club in Chicago; they had previously played using a drum machine! This was later replaced by the jazz influenced Jimmy Chamberlain - The Pumpkins line up was now complete comprising of the following guilty suspects:
Billy Corgan - Vocals and Guitar
James Iha - Guitar and backing vocals
D'arcy Wretzky - Bass and backing vocals
Jimmy Chamberlain - replacement Drum machine! (Jimmy was sacked from the band in '97 after a drugs binge in which keyboard player from the Melon Collie tour died from an overdose. However Jimmy has been recently re-instated in the last couple of weeks).
The Smashing Pumpkins have released these albums to date:
There has also been a boxed set of singles known as 'The Aeroplane Flies High' but this is rare and sells out as soon as it is seen on the shelves.
The Pumpkin's last gig here in the UK was a surprise performance at last years Glastonbury festival and I hope to God they play here again soon!! More recently they have toured the US on the Uprising Tour selling out at every venue.
Our sources indicate that there should be a new album coming out soon which they started work on last Autumn …we can only hope.
That concludes Band of the Fortnight for this week - if any of you readers out there would like to nominate a Band / Your band for Band of the Fortnight feel free to email us at the following address: fanzine@zensearch.net subject title it as 'band of the fortnight', cheers.
Fungus:
May 26: Leicester Princess Charlotte, May 27: Wolverhampton Varsity, May 28: Bristol Lousiana, May 29: Oxford Zodiac, May 31: Norwich Arts Centre, June 1: Sheffield University, June 2: Newcastle Riverside, June 3: Manchester Roadhouse, June 5: York Fibbers, June 6: Glasgow King Tut's, June 8: Hull Adelphi, June 9: Leeds Josephs Well, June 10: London Garage, June 11: Southampton Joiners, June12: Tunbridge Wells Forum, June13: Carlisle Festival, June 26: Glastonbury Festival, July 4: Leeds Breeze Festival, July 23: Sheffield Music in the Sun Festival, August 28: Reading Festival, August 29: Leeds Festival,
Kindred (All in London):
May 24: Hope And Anchor, June 1: Albany Arns, June 10: Dublin Castle, June 19: Red Eye,
The Beta Band:
June 12: Edinburgh Liquid Rooms, June 14: Leeds, Irish Centre, June 15: Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Hall, June 16: Cambridge, Junction, June 18: London, Kilburn National Ballroom,
New Electrics:
June 18: Manchester Night And Day, June 19: Birmingham Flapper and Firkin, June 23: London Camden Barfly,
It's been ten years since the last era-defining band released the last era-defining album. The Stone Roses perfectly caputured the mood of a movement and (in many ways unfortunatly) inspired Brit-Pop. Let's get one thing straight though, it's good, probably brilliant, but the 2nd best album of all time? No way. It is however, one of the the most culturally significant albums of the past 20 years (see also Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures, the Smiths eponymous debut album and New Order's Technique) and it should have set the template for all UK guitar music since: i.e. Imaginative songs that aren't restricted to one time (She Bangs The Drums is one of those songs which you can never grow weary off), melodic basslines and a range of influences (acid house, psychedelic rock, dance) fused into one sound.
Forget the fact Ian Browns singing is nothing special - he sings with soul (and thats what matters kids) and any faults are easily made up John Squire's exceptional guitar playing.
Please, do yourselves a favour: Buy this album, form a band and make something happen.
The classic albums section this week was written by Peter Mattinson. Feel free to contact him with any opinions or comments.
1) Cast: #1 on my hit list this week, their recent audio abuse 'Beat Mama' is a shocker. I have yet to meet a single person who likes this rubbish and I hope that John Power gets the message with the low sales. Cast, either get good or get out!
2) Geri Halliwell: Oh sure Geri you can sing - so can Cast! Clutching at the last straws of fame, Ms. Halliwell (UN Ambassador!?) whines out yet another awful song, which only goes to prove our suspicions that she couldn't sing in the Spice Girls and she sure as hell can't sing now!
3) Cartoons: self explanatory really, if you haven't heard their song you don't want to and if you have you'll know what I mean.
4) Martine McCutcheon: Nice try Tiffany stick to what you're good at...NOTHING!
5) Lightning Seeds: Like you do? I don't think so - this is like our last issues mention of Shed Seven, releasing a greatest hits album when you are crap is just plain rude. What's more it is totally unnecessary and just clogs up the bargain bin with more shit.
6) Westlife: Boy bands are the bain of my life, they hog Radio airplay with their corporate bollocks and all follow the same sickening formula. If only real bands got the attention that this mindless drivel does the charts would be a much more interesting and 'talentful' place. Sorry to whine but this is my column and I call the shots if you disagree…..Fuck off.
7) Backstreet Boys: see above.
Well that concludes General Failures this time around, if anyone has any feedback or bands they'd like to nominate for this column please don't hesitate to email us titled 'General Failures' at: fanzine@zensearch.net
