Reviews
Blood Red Shoes (2008)
Box of Secrets
Furious and abrasive debut album from much acclaimed guitar and drums duo, Blood Red Shoes
Blood Red Shoes (2008)
Say Something, Say Anything
Surprisingly subdued but nevertheless still catchy and effective latest single from usually more volatile guitar and drums duo Blood Red Shoes
Envy Corps (2007)
Story Problem EP
Impressively straightforwward EP from Iowa four-piece guitar outfit the Envy Corps
Milburn (2008)
These are the Facts
Enjoyable second album from much acclaimed Sheffield-based indie pop act, Milburn
Razorlight (2005)
Somewhere Else
New single from the popular Razorlight, which is more acoustic-based than the band's previous work
Razorlight (2004)
Stumble And Fall
"Fresh and fun" multi-formatted second single from Tom Verlaine-influenced Razorlight
Razorlight (2003)
Rip It Up
Second single from Television/Strokes-inspired 4 piece, Razorlight, who look to be a name to watch
Related
Interviews
Common Prayer/Silent League
Interview
Brothers Justin and Jason Russo were members of both Hopewell and Mercury Rev. Anthony Strutt speaks to them both at a show in London about their current groups, Common Prayer and the Silent League
David Baker
Interview Part 1
Ex-Mercury Rev frontman David Baker in the first part of a two part interview speaks to Andy Cassidy about time travel, superpowers and 'Central Flow', his first album in eighteen years and with his new band Variety Lights
Field Music
Interview
Owen Peters goes to the cinema in Belfast, watching 1929 silent film 'Drifters' in order to track down Mercury Award nominated-band Field Music
Gomez
Interview
In our second interview with them, Mercury Prize winning band Gomez's drummer and percussionist Olly Peacock speaks to Ben Howarth about their new and seventh album, 'Whatever's On Your Mind'
Gomez
Interview
Winners of the Mercury Music Prize with their 1998 first album 'Bring It On', Gomez have met with critical indifference since then, but have kept an enthusiastic following. Singer Ian Ball chats to Ben Howarth about his band's new album 'How We Operate'
Peter Straker
Interview
Singer, actor and cabaret star Peter Straker talks to John Clarkson about the reissue of his three albums, 1977’s ‘This One’s On Me’, 1978’s ‘Changeling’ and 1980’s ‘Real Natural Man’, and the influence on them of Queen frontman and co-producer Freddie Mercury.
Silent League
Interview with Justin Russo
The Silent League's Justin Russo provided many of the arrangements and piano parts on Mercury Rev’s 'Deserter’s Songs'. He talks to Ben Howarth about his new band's debut album, 'The Orchestra, Sadly, Has Refused'
Profiles
Queen
Bohemian Rhapsody
Nick Dent-Robinson asks if the much maligned new film 'Bohemian Rhapsody' about the music of British frontman Freddie Mercury and Queen has been fairly received or whether its bad reviews have been justified.
Live
Eska
Stables, Milton Keynes, 26/11/2015
Owen Peters travels to Milton Keynes to see Mercury-nominated singer Eska, but is left wondering whether he's come to the right place
GoGo Penguin
Union Chapel, London, 3/4/2015
Owen Peters enjoys Mercury Award-nominated Manchester-based trio GoGo Penguin's fusion of modern jazz, electronica and classical music at a triumphant gig at the Union Chapel in London
Gomez
Roundhouse, London, 21/6/2011
Mercury Music Prize winners Gomez have always been more out than in fashion, but Ben Howarth watches them play a near perfect set to promote their new album 'Whatever's On Your Mind' at the Roundhouse in London
Jozef Van Wissem
Mercury Lounge, Ottawa, 22/3/2012
Andrew Carver watches Dutch lutenist and minimalist composer Jozef Van Wissem play an entrancing set at an unfortunately poorly attended gig at the Mercury Lounge in Ottawa
Waterfront Studio, Norwich, 19/11/2021
Nige Nudds at the Waterfront Studio in Norwich enjoys a compelling set from Mercury Prize nominated post-rock outfit Lanterns on the Lake in which they play their latest album 'Spook the Herd' in full.
Laura Marling
Custom House Square, Belfast, 24/7/2011
Tara McEvoy watches the twice Mercury Prize nominated Laura Marling, who was a once crippingly shy stage performer, play a both confident and tranquil set at the Custom Square House in Belfast
Maximo Park
Carling Academy, Newcastle, 10/12/2005
Maximo Park enjoyed a great year in 2005, with a Top 10 album, a sold out UK tour and a Mercury Music Prize nomination. At a homecoming Christmas gig in their native Newcastle, Jonjo McNeill sees the boy who left as small fry come back as stars
GIT Awards
Leaf Cafe, Liverpool, 27/4/2012
Richard Lewis attends the GIT Awards, which dubbed 'the Scouse Mercury Prize', saw performances from ten of the twelve acts on the shortlist
Villagers
Scala, London, 5/10/2010
At the Scala in London, Paul Waller watches recent Mercury Prize nominees Villagers play a triumphant set
Young Knives
Venue, Derby, 25/10/2011
Denzil Watson enjoys eccentric former Mercury Music Prize nominees Young Knives' refreshingly unique brand of indie rock at a show at the Venue in Derby
Albums
Gomez
Bring It On
Cila Warncke finds that an outsized 20th Anniversary Edition four CD re-release of Gomez's Mercury Music Prize winning 'Bring It On' captures the brash charm of their youthful debut
Mercury Rev
All is Dream
In our 'Re: View' section. in which our writers reflect on albums from the past, Keith How finds that a timely sumptuous four CD celebration of Mercury Rev’s 'All is Dream'from 2001 presented with demos, live materials and unreleased material proves to be a relevant and fascinating listen.
Favourite Album : PJ Harvey
Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
In the latest in our series, in which one of our writers writes about an album of his or her choice, Julia Willis examines PJ Harvey's Mercury Award winning 'Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea'
Features
Photoscapes
Gomez
Mercury Prize winners Gomez recently released a new album 'How We Operate' and toured the United Kingdom. Anna Gudaniec photographs them exclusively for Pennyblackmusic at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London
Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll
November 2012
Ben Howarth in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column is unimpressed by the the Mercury Music Prize
Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll
October 2013
Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' asks the announcement of this year's Mercury Music Prize nominees there are no folk, jazz or classical albums on the list
Hitting the Right Note
The Mercury Awards
Jon Rogers in his 'Hitting the Right Note' column gives his personal assessment of the acts nominated for this year's Mercury Prize
Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll
August 2007
In thnis month's edition of his Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll column, Ben Howarth questions whether the Mercury Music Prize has any real purpose