Re: The Great British music debate: redux #5 : Mon Jul 23, 2012 8:13 pm  

Dita's Slot Meter wrote:

Not too sure about the 'pop singer' tag.....While, through his 'Strickland Banks' album, he was certainly marketed to appeal to a more mainstream crowd, its fair to say he isn't 'pop' in the old Smash Hits sense.

I think this is where he needs to be careful, because Ben Drew is an intellegent artist, who writes some sharp, observational stuff - those who believe him to be 'pop' really need to listen to his work....However, with him pulling in one direction and his management in the other, its always likely to lead to incidents like this.

He gets played on Real Radio so it's pop to me

Re: The Great British music debate: redux #5 : Mon Jul 23, 2012 8:20 pm  

So. Handwritten by the gaslight anthem.

I'm going to avoid my hyperbole, and say...

Bloody ruddy awesome.

So much quality in there. "Here comes my man" the cries of the girl he regretted leaving behind. "too much blood" the cry of artist seeking perfection.

More to Fallon's lyrics is the maturing of the band and the production of the music. Listening over the weekend, I hear new levels to the songs each time.

If 59 Sound was their Born to Run, this is their Darkness on the Edge of town. The maturing of them.

Now. To finish building me a Brian doll.

Re: The Great British music debate: redux #5 : Tue Jul 24, 2012 3:29 am  

Best non-ska (coz I know it's getting repetative....) release of the last couple of months for me is punk/folk combo Roughneck Riot's 'At The End Of The Day'. Flat out punk with mandolin and accordian etc, they're like an improved version of The Levellers on amphetamines.
Foot stomping material all the way.

Re: The Great British music debate: redux #5 : Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:29 pm  

I'm currently listening to:

Black Moth - The Killing Jar
Hawk Eyes - Ideas
Apollo's Arrows - Glass Vessels
Holy Mountain - Earth Measures (Holy Mountain play a free show in Leeds on Thursday at the Brudenell).
Rush - Clockwork Angels
Hans Zimmer - The Dark Knight Rises OST

All are great in their own way.

Re: The Great British music debate: redux #5 : Fri Jul 27, 2012 12:23 am  

Ski wrote:

So. Handwritten by the gaslight anthem.

I'm going to avoid my hyperbole, and say...

Bloody ruddy awesome.

So much quality in there. "Here comes my man" the cries of the girl he regretted leaving behind. "too much blood" the cry of artist seeking perfection.

More to Fallon's lyrics is the maturing of the band and the production of the music. Listening over the weekend, I hear new levels to the songs each time.

If 59 Sound was their Born to Run, this is their Darkness on the Edge of town. The maturing of them.

Now. To finish building me a Brian doll.

It's an enjoyable album but I'd be surprised if they ever match the excitement of their second one '59 Sound It was raw yet the production was perfect, and lyrically and musically is was so if this world it was out of this world, poppy yet visceral with every track an anthem.

Re: The Great British music debate: redux #5 : Fri Jul 27, 2012 11:23 am  

The Gaslight Anthem & Plan B's latest ones are rocking my world

both amazing

Re: The Great British music debate: redux #5 : Fri Jul 27, 2012 11:28 am  

It's all about Frank Ocean's debut album right now for me (Channel Orange)
I don't even like RnB as a rule, it also seems a little unfair to try and pigeon-hole it into a specific genre. But it's an incredible album that just gets better and better with each listen.

Re: The Great British music debate: redux #5 : Fri Jul 27, 2012 11:36 am  

Dita's Slot Meter wrote:

Not too sure about the 'pop singer' tag.....While, through his 'Strickland Banks' album, he was certainly marketed to appeal to a more mainstream crowd, its fair to say he isn't 'pop' in the old Smash Hits sense.

I think this is where he needs to be careful, because Ben Drew is an intellegent artist, who writes some sharp, observational stuff - those who believe him to be 'pop' really need to listen to his work....However, with him pulling in one direction and his management in the other, its always likely to lead to incidents like this.

Isn't it because of that "pop singer" tag, the reason that "Ill Manors" has gone back to his "urban/hophip roots"????

Re: The Great British music debate: redux #5 : Fri Jul 27, 2012 11:43 am  

The Lambeth Bronco wrote:

Isn't it because of that "pop singer" tag, the reason that "Ill Manors" has gone back to his "urban/hophip roots"????

In all fairness "Defamation..." had signs of his roots on

at same time he did a few tracks with Chase & Status which were clearly showing his rapping skills

Re: The Great British music debate: redux #5 : Fri Jul 27, 2012 5:07 pm  

nathancroucher wrote:

It's an enjoyable album but I'd be surprised if they ever match the excitement of their second one '59 Sound It was raw yet the production was perfect, and lyrically and musically is was so if this world it was out of this world, poppy yet visceral with every track an anthem.

There are very few acts who can match the excitement around their breakout album. That is just why it is a breakout.