Three bands who I knew nothing about and a bit of a mixed bag. First up are White Light Parade, who are about to release their second single, Turning All The Lights Down on the Split Records label. I was in a bad mood already as the change to British Summer Time had robbed me of an hours sleep and now I’ve been cheated out of another six or so minutes of my life by listening to this.
It’s not bad as such, it’s just that it sounds like it could be any one of a number of similar bands. It brings to mind The Libertines, The Pigeon Detectives and Little Man Tate. I know all of these are widely popular, but I just don’t get it myself. Actually, on a second listen, it is pretty rubbish. Anyway, if it sounds more like your cup of tea, it's out in May and you can get it here:
Myspace (Link)
or the label's Myspace (Link)
Next, something to cheer about. Victoria, from London’s Official Secrets Act. This is a punchy, new wave style pop song that sounds like it would have sat nicely on a Stiff Records compilation alongside Elvis Costello. The B-side, Sell, Sell, Sell is a real grower with some intelligent lyrics and urgent guitars.
The band are touring in April and May, including an appearance at the Camden Crawl. You can get the single through Weekender Records from 5 May.
Finally, Vatican DC with their new single Bugs, released on April 28 through The Red Flag Recording Co. They claim to be post-punk, but this has quite a nineties feel to it, reminiscent of a number of bands on the fringes of Britpop. It has touches of Eat, The Family Cat and a post-Laid James. It’s all quite melodic and pleasant enough, but it just washed over me and made me yearn for some of the real thing. They have a number of tracks at their Myspace , but I’m off to dig out my copy of Gold Mother.
It’s not bad as such, it’s just that it sounds like it could be any one of a number of similar bands. It brings to mind The Libertines, The Pigeon Detectives and Little Man Tate. I know all of these are widely popular, but I just don’t get it myself. Actually, on a second listen, it is pretty rubbish. Anyway, if it sounds more like your cup of tea, it's out in May and you can get it here:
Myspace (Link)
or the label's Myspace (Link)
Next, something to cheer about. Victoria, from London’s Official Secrets Act. This is a punchy, new wave style pop song that sounds like it would have sat nicely on a Stiff Records compilation alongside Elvis Costello. The B-side, Sell, Sell, Sell is a real grower with some intelligent lyrics and urgent guitars.
The band are touring in April and May, including an appearance at the Camden Crawl. You can get the single through Weekender Records from 5 May.
Finally, Vatican DC with their new single Bugs, released on April 28 through The Red Flag Recording Co. They claim to be post-punk, but this has quite a nineties feel to it, reminiscent of a number of bands on the fringes of Britpop. It has touches of Eat, The Family Cat and a post-Laid James. It’s all quite melodic and pleasant enough, but it just washed over me and made me yearn for some of the real thing. They have a number of tracks at their Myspace , but I’m off to dig out my copy of Gold Mother.
Spot on concerning White Light Parade. There is so much music like this out there under the so called alternative label that it is soul destroying.
Nice couple of posts - keep it up mate!