And the finest ten records released this year are... drum roll please...
10. DAUGHTER: If You Leave
9. LOS CAMPESINOS!: No Blues
8. PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING: Inform - Educate - Entertain
7. BIFFY CLYRO: Opposites
6. FUTURE OF THE LEFT: How To Stop Your Brain in an Accident
5. PARQUET COURTS: Light Up Gold / Tally All The Things That You Broke
4. FRIGHTENED RABBIT: Pedestrian Verse
3. VILLAGERS: {awayland}
2. SAVAGES: Silence Yourself
And this year's finest record...
1. R KELLY: Black Panties
Such verve, such poise, such grace; an album that explores timeless themes with a varied and classy musical and lyrical palette. Songs like 'Marry the Pussy' really push the boundaries and will doubtless strike a chord with even the most... oh, okay, I'll stop. The REAL number one...
1. THE NATIONAL: Trouble Will Find Me
Showing posts with label Biffy Clyro. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Biffy Clyro. Show all posts
Wednesday, 25 December 2013
Wednesday, 26 December 2012
13 for 2013
13 albums to be super-excited about in the new year (in no particular order...)
1. THE NATIONAL (release: TBC)
2. FRIGHTENED RABBIT: Pedestrian Verse (release: 11/02)
3. BIFFY CLYRO: Opposites (release: 28/01)
4. EVERYTHING EVERYTHING: Arc (release: 14/01)
5. ARCADE FIRE (release: TBC)
6. CHVRCHES (release: TBC)
7. YEAH YEAH YEAHS (release: Spring)
8. BRITISH SEA POWER (release: April)
9. FOALS: Holy Fire (release: 11/02)
10. FRANK TURNER AND THE SLEEPING SOULS (release: Spring)
11. THE 1975 (release: Spring)
12. THE KISSAWAY TRAIL (release: TBC)
13. VILLAGERS: Awayland (release: 14/01)
1. THE NATIONAL (release: TBC)
2. FRIGHTENED RABBIT: Pedestrian Verse (release: 11/02)
3. BIFFY CLYRO: Opposites (release: 28/01)
4. EVERYTHING EVERYTHING: Arc (release: 14/01)
5. ARCADE FIRE (release: TBC)
6. CHVRCHES (release: TBC)
7. YEAH YEAH YEAHS (release: Spring)
8. BRITISH SEA POWER (release: April)
9. FOALS: Holy Fire (release: 11/02)
10. FRANK TURNER AND THE SLEEPING SOULS (release: Spring)
11. THE 1975 (release: Spring)
12. THE KISSAWAY TRAIL (release: TBC)
13. VILLAGERS: Awayland (release: 14/01)
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Live review: Biffy Clyro (support: Manchester Orchestra, Pulled Apart by Horses), O2 Academy Leeds, 06/11/09
BIFFY CLYRO (Support: Manchester Orchestra, Pulled Apart by Horses), O2 Academy Leeds, 06/11/09
Biffy Clyro are probably the quietest noiseniks in the world. The Scottish trio have been minding their own business for the better part of fourteen years, making colossally addictive rock music without really causing a fuss. The Biff don't bother themselves too much with anything other than their deeply ingrained work ethic: it's heads down, nose to the grindstone, just get on with it. This attitude seeps through into everything they do, and, refreshingly, even with the eyes of the Zeitgeist trained on them, they still haven't changed one bit.
Live, this approach makes for quite the thrill ride. From the moment they shuffle onto the stage, bereft of fanfare, there's an inexplicable intensity in the air, a palpable energy that threatens to rip through the walls of this converted cinema and tear apart its foundations. As soon as the spinetingling reverb of opener 'That Golden Rule' begins, it kicks into gear; the venue surges forward, the band go full throttle and the insanity commences. Bodies fly everywhere, devotees scream every word, Simon Neal acts like a man possessed, hacking and slashing at his guitar, climbing the speakers during 'Who's Got A Match?', leaping and bounding across the stage with spasmodic glee.. and it never stops. The aggression is unrelenting: one wall of noise bleeds into another and the singalongs just keep getting bigger and better. 'Living Is A Problem' is an even heavier and faster beast than on record and 'Glitter and Trauma' sounds like it's about to knock you to the floor, so infuriated are its guitars. This is no frills rock indulgence, a show that knows better than to let you stop to catch your breath... and even when it does, during an achingly tender 'Machines' and equally as moving 'God and Satan', the physical intensity just gives way to an emotional one, with the poignancy of Neal's cracked delivery threatening to choke you up.
Thankfully, the handful of tracks that are played from long-awaited 'Puzzle' follow-up 'Only Revolutions' bode very, very well. 'Bubbles' has hit single written all over it and a ludicrously catchy hook, 'Born on a Horse' introduces keyboards to the Clyro arsenal without compromising their sound and current single 'The Captain' has to be the pop song of the year, brash, bold and bloody magnificent.
As if all this wasn't enough, we are also treated to two wonderful support acts: Leeds' very own Pulled Apart By Horses are a cacophonous amalgam of choppy guitars and hardcore sensibilities, and while tonight, they seem a little more subdued than usual, there's no denying the addictive ferocity of their music. It's Manchester Orchestra that practically steal the show though. They play a meagre five song set, all from current album 'Mean Everything to Nothing', but every pained, melancholic note is just superb. Lead singer Andy Hull spits and snarls the confrontational lyrics to 'Shake It Out' while his keyboardist convulses in the corner; 'Pride' is as aggressive a dirge as you can possibly imagine and 'The River' washes over you with the force of a tsunami, so powerful is the music. By the end, you're converted, desperate to see more and resolved to invest in everything they've ever produced.
With two outstanding support acts and one blitzkrieg of a performance, this gig, ladies and gentlemen, can only be considered a triumph. They don't come much better than this.
Biffy Clyro are probably the quietest noiseniks in the world. The Scottish trio have been minding their own business for the better part of fourteen years, making colossally addictive rock music without really causing a fuss. The Biff don't bother themselves too much with anything other than their deeply ingrained work ethic: it's heads down, nose to the grindstone, just get on with it. This attitude seeps through into everything they do, and, refreshingly, even with the eyes of the Zeitgeist trained on them, they still haven't changed one bit.
Live, this approach makes for quite the thrill ride. From the moment they shuffle onto the stage, bereft of fanfare, there's an inexplicable intensity in the air, a palpable energy that threatens to rip through the walls of this converted cinema and tear apart its foundations. As soon as the spinetingling reverb of opener 'That Golden Rule' begins, it kicks into gear; the venue surges forward, the band go full throttle and the insanity commences. Bodies fly everywhere, devotees scream every word, Simon Neal acts like a man possessed, hacking and slashing at his guitar, climbing the speakers during 'Who's Got A Match?', leaping and bounding across the stage with spasmodic glee.. and it never stops. The aggression is unrelenting: one wall of noise bleeds into another and the singalongs just keep getting bigger and better. 'Living Is A Problem' is an even heavier and faster beast than on record and 'Glitter and Trauma' sounds like it's about to knock you to the floor, so infuriated are its guitars. This is no frills rock indulgence, a show that knows better than to let you stop to catch your breath... and even when it does, during an achingly tender 'Machines' and equally as moving 'God and Satan', the physical intensity just gives way to an emotional one, with the poignancy of Neal's cracked delivery threatening to choke you up.
Thankfully, the handful of tracks that are played from long-awaited 'Puzzle' follow-up 'Only Revolutions' bode very, very well. 'Bubbles' has hit single written all over it and a ludicrously catchy hook, 'Born on a Horse' introduces keyboards to the Clyro arsenal without compromising their sound and current single 'The Captain' has to be the pop song of the year, brash, bold and bloody magnificent.
As if all this wasn't enough, we are also treated to two wonderful support acts: Leeds' very own Pulled Apart By Horses are a cacophonous amalgam of choppy guitars and hardcore sensibilities, and while tonight, they seem a little more subdued than usual, there's no denying the addictive ferocity of their music. It's Manchester Orchestra that practically steal the show though. They play a meagre five song set, all from current album 'Mean Everything to Nothing', but every pained, melancholic note is just superb. Lead singer Andy Hull spits and snarls the confrontational lyrics to 'Shake It Out' while his keyboardist convulses in the corner; 'Pride' is as aggressive a dirge as you can possibly imagine and 'The River' washes over you with the force of a tsunami, so powerful is the music. By the end, you're converted, desperate to see more and resolved to invest in everything they've ever produced.
With two outstanding support acts and one blitzkrieg of a performance, this gig, ladies and gentlemen, can only be considered a triumph. They don't come much better than this.
Monday, 11 May 2009
It's #musicmonday time.
1. SUCIOPERRO: 'Grace and Out of Me'
Absolutely fantastic band whose new album, Pain Agency, is probably the best thing I've heard so far this year. Credit to Mr. Joe Parry of July Rising for introducing me to their music and giving me the opportunity to meet the lead singer, who had apparently pissed his pants. Delightful.
2. MARMADUKE DUKE: 'Kid Gloves'
Predictable, but nice, segway here into the second pick: the lead singer of Sucioperro is also in this deliciously bizarre duo, known for playing gigs in women's clothing and gimp suits. But not necessarily at the same time.
3. BIFFY CLYRO: 'Folding Stars'
Well, might as well carry on the musical connections while we're on a roll, eh? The other guy in Marmaduke Duke's slightly more famous band. J'adore this song. Great one to yell at the top of your voice when no one's around.
4. IDLEWILD: 'Everyone Says You're So Fragile'
What's the connection here? Country of origin, of course. The criminally underrated and overlooked Idlewild also hail from Bonny Scotland and have a new album out very, very soon. It'll be awesome, guaranteed. They always are. And and and... I get to see them perform four of their six LPs in their entirety in London in a couple of weeks! Cannot f-ing wait. Anyway, 'Everyone Says You're So Fragile' is from their messier early days. Altogether now, "HYAAAAAAGH!"
5. DIE! DIE! DIE!: '155'
Okay, I've given up on the connections now. Die! Die! Die! hail from New Zealand and are playing the Head of Steam tomorrow night. They're a bit insane, so it'll be well worth the 2 or 3 quid you'll pay to get in.
6. SPRAYDOG: 'Prizefighters'
These guys aren't supporting Die! Die! Die! tomorrow evening, but one of the members of the band is in the group that are, The Black Static of Summer. Nothing on the 'tube from them, but Spraydog are well worth checking out. This video, filmed out and about in good ol' Newcastle upon Tyne, is pretty darn cool.
7. GREEN DAY: 'Peacemaker'
New album 21st Century Breakdown is a flamboyantly adolescent beauty, epic as, well, a rather epic thing, and this is one of my favourite tracks from it. Kinda like a sped up version of 'Misery' but with better lyrics. Can't get it out of the old noggin.
8. WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS: 'Quiet Little Voices'
Ace band. Playing the Head of Steam on Saturday June 20th and also the Cockpit in Leeds on the 19th, supported by the wonderful July Rising. YOUR FACE NEEDS TO BE AT THAT GIG. One of the best band names I've heard in a long time too.
9. THE GET UP KIDS: 'Action and Action'
Recently reformed and apparently playing a couple of dates in the UK later in the year. This should have you creaming your pants.
10. SAVES THE DAY: 'See You (Live - Acoustic)'
And one more for the emo inside. Some wonderful imagery in this wonderful, wonderful song. 'My head is swirling/Been carried off in the sky/And where it lands is where it lands/I guess that I/Will get another head and get on with my life...' Ah, bliss.
Absolutely fantastic band whose new album, Pain Agency, is probably the best thing I've heard so far this year. Credit to Mr. Joe Parry of July Rising for introducing me to their music and giving me the opportunity to meet the lead singer, who had apparently pissed his pants. Delightful.
2. MARMADUKE DUKE: 'Kid Gloves'
Predictable, but nice, segway here into the second pick: the lead singer of Sucioperro is also in this deliciously bizarre duo, known for playing gigs in women's clothing and gimp suits. But not necessarily at the same time.
3. BIFFY CLYRO: 'Folding Stars'
Well, might as well carry on the musical connections while we're on a roll, eh? The other guy in Marmaduke Duke's slightly more famous band. J'adore this song. Great one to yell at the top of your voice when no one's around.
4. IDLEWILD: 'Everyone Says You're So Fragile'
What's the connection here? Country of origin, of course. The criminally underrated and overlooked Idlewild also hail from Bonny Scotland and have a new album out very, very soon. It'll be awesome, guaranteed. They always are. And and and... I get to see them perform four of their six LPs in their entirety in London in a couple of weeks! Cannot f-ing wait. Anyway, 'Everyone Says You're So Fragile' is from their messier early days. Altogether now, "HYAAAAAAGH!"
5. DIE! DIE! DIE!: '155'
Okay, I've given up on the connections now. Die! Die! Die! hail from New Zealand and are playing the Head of Steam tomorrow night. They're a bit insane, so it'll be well worth the 2 or 3 quid you'll pay to get in.
6. SPRAYDOG: 'Prizefighters'
These guys aren't supporting Die! Die! Die! tomorrow evening, but one of the members of the band is in the group that are, The Black Static of Summer. Nothing on the 'tube from them, but Spraydog are well worth checking out. This video, filmed out and about in good ol' Newcastle upon Tyne, is pretty darn cool.
7. GREEN DAY: 'Peacemaker'
New album 21st Century Breakdown is a flamboyantly adolescent beauty, epic as, well, a rather epic thing, and this is one of my favourite tracks from it. Kinda like a sped up version of 'Misery' but with better lyrics. Can't get it out of the old noggin.
8. WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS: 'Quiet Little Voices'
Ace band. Playing the Head of Steam on Saturday June 20th and also the Cockpit in Leeds on the 19th, supported by the wonderful July Rising. YOUR FACE NEEDS TO BE AT THAT GIG. One of the best band names I've heard in a long time too.
9. THE GET UP KIDS: 'Action and Action'
Recently reformed and apparently playing a couple of dates in the UK later in the year. This should have you creaming your pants.
10. SAVES THE DAY: 'See You (Live - Acoustic)'
And one more for the emo inside. Some wonderful imagery in this wonderful, wonderful song. 'My head is swirling/Been carried off in the sky/And where it lands is where it lands/I guess that I/Will get another head and get on with my life...' Ah, bliss.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)