Kelly Smith - Reviews
She and Him
Wonderful collection of Christmas song covers from She and Him, the project of Hollywood actress Zooey Deschanel and acclaimed indie musician M Ward
Funeral For A Friend
Fantastic combination of new tracks, re-mixes and live performances, this is a welcome on nine track EP from Funeral For A Friend, which serves as an appendage to their recent @Welcome Home Armageddon' album
Pipettes
Gorgeous vinyl only comeback single from still under-rated girl group the Pipettes, who have returned as two-piece
Jason Downs
Catchy first single in a decade from anti-authoritative American singer Jason Downs, which nevertheless finds him resting on past successes
We Are The Ocean
Fantastic second album from Essex-based post-hardcore collective, We Are The Ocean
Wakey! Wakey!
Comforting-sounding orchestral folk-pop on debut album from Wakey! Wakey!,the project of Brooklyn-based musician and One Tree Hill actor, Michael Grubbs
Owen Franklin
Unpolished, yet highly promising second album from 19 year old Manchester-based singer-songwriter, Owen Franklin
Click Five
Underwhelming and repetitive indie rock on third album from Boston-based band, the Click Five
Mojo Fury
Endearingly eccentric, yet unsatisfying debut album from Northern Irish rock outfit, Mojo Fury
Funeral For A Friend
Fanbulous fifth album from pioneering Welsh hardcore act, Funeral For a Friend
!!!
Unique disco funk on latest single from Sacramento-based collective, !!!
Various
Predictable, but pleasant double CD compilation of tracks from some of the NME's favourite bands of the year, including Temper Trap, Enter Shikari, the Horrors, the Enemy, Franz Ferdinand, Muse, Kasabian and Maximo Park
Arctic Monkeys
Challenging third album from the Arctic Monkeys, which finds them growing out of and far beyond the upbeat indie tunes of their beginnings
Frank Turner
Melancholic, but ultimately inspirational compilation album from acoustic folk punk Frank Turner, which sums up his first three years as a solo artist after leaving Million Dead
Weightlifters
Quietly powerful and memorable second album from the Weightlifters, the project of Chicago-based singer-songwriter Adam McLaughlin
Lauren Harris
Over hyped new single from Lauren Harris, the daughter of Iron Maiden's Steve Harris, which,while radio friendly, comes across as tired-sounding and lacklustre
One Night Stand in North Dakota
Softly powerful debut album from self-labelled DIY, Feminist, Vegan, Acousti-core Durham-based two piece, One Night Stand in North Dakota
Blackmarket
Catchy indie punk on first album from powerful-sounding American band Blackmarket
Lethargy
Suprisingly melodic part rock, part metal debut album from highly promising new Welsh band Lethargy
Soviets
Excellent debut single from chaotic, but energetic Scottish-based five piece, the Soviets