Zany British Rockers the Guillemots recently released their second album. Is it any good?

I really liked their most recent single Get Over it, an chilled out, synthy track which reminded me of festivals and lukewarm overpriced lager. Opening track Kriss Kross took a couple of listens to get into but it was also a good ‘un, and perhaps even a potential single release. The album itself is very eclectic. Clarion had a bit of a bhangra vibe to it whilst Standing on the Last Star sounded like it could have been released in the eighties.

Some tracks weren’t too great, Big Dog sounded a bit like it could have been released by a boyband whilst Falling out of Reach was a bit slow. All in all though this is an excellent album and anyone who has got tickets to see the band live in the future is very very very lucky indeed!

Guillemots have released two albums: Through the Windowpane (2006) and Red (2008).

Guillemots - Red

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Phantom Planet are back with their latest album - and are now signed to the trendy Fueled by Ramen label. I’m a big fan of their second album The Guest, so I was really looking forward to giving this album a spin on the ol’ cd player.

The album is a lot rockier than what the band have released before - possibly down to their new record label. Opening track Raise the Dead is a shouty yet melodic stomper, whilst Do the Panic sounds like it could have been released by one of the up and coming British Indie bands. I also liked Demon Daughters and Leave Yourself for Somebody Else.

Not all the songs are brill - most recent single Leader has a good chorus but the rest of the song is a bit odd whilst Quarantine sounds like a bad Radiohead b-side.

This album isn’t too bad - I think The Guest was better but if you’re a fan of the band you’ll definitely enjoy this.

Phantom Planet have had four albums: Phantom Planet is Missing (1998), The Guest (2002), Phantom Planet (2004) and Raise the Dead (2008).

Phantom Planet - Raise The Dead

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Let me start this album review off by telling you a story. In 2005 I went to see the White Stripes in Blackpool where they were supported by a band called the Greenhornes - who were a bit rubbish. I listened to them for about two minutes and then hotfooted it to the bar.

It turns out that the Raconteurs are Jack White plus the members of the Greenhornes, which doesn’t bode too well. I really liked Steady As She Goes but the rest of debut album Broken Boy Soldiers left me cold.

Consolers of the Lonely is a lot better - soley for the reason that it sounds very bluesy and garagey. In fact… a lot of the tracks wouldn’t have sounded out of place on a White Stripes album. Particular tracks I liked included the opening title track, Top Yourself and Rich Kid Blues.

Some tracks on the album didn’t work - You Don’t Understand Me was as dull as dishwater whilst Old Enough was a bit cheesey. It’s not the greatest album, but hey ho, it could have been worse.

The Raconteurs have released two albums: Broken Boy Soldiers (2006) and Consolers of the Lonely (2008).

Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely.

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I’ve got to admit, I’ve never been a big fan of indie stalwarts R.E.M. I’m not too sure why this is, whether I find them a little bit preachy or maybe a bit old for the music scene, but when Other Clothing joyfully threw this cd onto my desk and told me to review it, I wasn’t looking forward to it.

I’ve got to admit that Accelerate wasn’t that bad though. It was extremely rocky and a little less experimental than a lot of their previous stuff. My favourite tracks were the summery sounding Supernatural Superserious, the frantic I’m Gonna DJ and the ghostly sounding Sing for the Submarine.

I couldn’t pick any instant classics off this album which was a bit of a pity, but the album as a whole still worked really well. Even lager drinking, Northern, music reviewing girls can be wrong from time to time you know!

R.E.M have released a humongous 14 studio albums: Murmur (1983), Reckoning (1984), Fables of the Reconstruction (1985), Lifes Rich Pageant (1986), Document (1987), Green (1988), Out of Time (1991), Automatic for the People (1992), Monster (1994), New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996), Up (1998), Reveal (2001), Around the Sun (2004) and Accelerate (2008).

R.E.M - Accelerate (Buy CD)

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Part of writing reviews means scouting around for new bands that you’ve never heard of before. A friend tipped me off about American punk band Crash Romeo, so I was really keen to have a listen.

Cheesy album name aside, this album was alright. It’s more poppy than punk, but it reminded me of a more sophisticated Sum 41. Favourites of mine included the rocky Popular, the anthemic Lady Luck and the ballad-esque Give Me Something. Okay, it’s not that original, but If you like bands like Blink 182, you’ll probably like this too.

Crash Romeo have had two albums: Minutes To Miles (2007) and Gave me the Clap (2008).

Crash Romeo - Gave me the Clap

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Danish band Horrorpops are back with their third album Kiss Kiss Kill Kill. I loved their previous album Bring it on! so will this effort be as good?

Thelma and Louise is a good start on the album, with its surfer rock vibes and Patricia Day’s sultry vocals. Heading for the Disco? is a short-but-sweet slice of punk rock whilst Kiss Kiss Kill Kill sounds like it could have been released in the eighties.

Everything’s Everything is probably the closest thing to a love song on the album, and the whole album is finished off with a blinding live version of Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell.

If you love punk, gothic or ska music you’ll definitely want to get this album!

Horrorpops have released three albums - Hell Yeah! (2004), Bring it on! (2005) and Kiss Kiss Kill Kill (2008).

Horrorpops - Kiss Kiss Kill Kill (Buy Now)

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It’s always good getting something for nothing, especially when it comes to music. Madchester band the Charlatans have very nicely put their most recent album out as a free download through the XFM website. Indiemonkey got very excited at the thought of a freebie, but is it worth downloading?

A Day for Letting go is a good start to the album, with the Britpoppy lyrics and indie keyboards that we all know and love the band for. Mis-takes made me all nostalgic for the Stone Roses, whilst current single Oh! Vanity made me think of lazy summery sundays hanging out in the nearest pub.

If you’re expecting something new from the Charlatans then you’ll probably be a bit disappointed (the start of Bad Days sounds scarily similar to nineties single Forever, whilst the Misbeggoten sounds like it’s been done before too) but there are some gems on there, and as it costs the princely sum of zero pounds and zero pence, it can’t be that bad.

The band have had ten albums: Some Friendly (1990), Between 10th and 11th (1992), Up to our Hips (1994), The Charlatans (1995), Tellin’ Stories (1997), Us and Us Only (1999), Wonderland (2001), Up at the Lake (2004), Simpatico (2006) and You Cross my Path (2008).

You Cross my Path will be released as a CD on the 18th of May.

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The majority of fictional bands have never been that good - those old enough to remember the Brady Bunch will be able to sympathise with me. Dethklok however may be the exception to the rule.

Dethklok feature on the American cartoon Metalocalypse. Athough this is well into its second series now, it has not been publicised very well in Britain which is a shame. In the cartoon Heavy Metal band Dethklok (who live in a viking ship) cause mayhem, get into fights with each other and play gigs in which a substantial proportion of their fans get maimed.

Brendon Small, the brains behind Metalocalypse and Dethklok has released an album of the songs in the series. The music is typical metal, with shredding guitars and grunted vocals - but it you listen to the lyrics you’ll find something very special indeed. From awakening lake trolls to belittling 30 year old men who still live with their parents, most of the songs will have you laughing out loud.

Although this album is very tongue in cheek and parodies pretty much every heavy metal band in existence (with the obligatory songs about vikings and murder), it’s very impressive that only two people have played all the music on the album. Go get the album if you haven’t got it already, and if this is the first time you’ve ever heard of Metalocalypse, beg, borrow or steal the DVD set. Brutal.

Dethklok - The Dethalbum

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