It appears 2010 is going to be off to a smashing start just like 2009 appeared to. The Courteeners are back! Manchester’s new favourite sons following in the steps of the Smiths and the recently dearly departed Oasis are about to drop their long awaited second record entitled Falcon 22 February.  It’s a good thing too as I haven’t stopped playing the debut, 2008’s St. Jude since I first bought it.

With news of the record on the horizon, the first fruits of said record has come early in the form of what could very well be the first single Cross My Heart And Hope To Fly. A song darker in tone than what we heard previously but showcases a greater depth. Bigger drums and the use of strings certainly prove to be the highlight of the song along with Liam’s strong vocals.

Fall in love with the Courteeners all over again just like I did. Listen to your heart’s content.

The Courteeners on MySpace
The Courteeners on Facebook
The Courteeners on Twitter

“Cross My Heart And Hope To Fly” by The Courteeners. Taken from the forthcoming Polydor release “Falcon”

Look. This band needs no introduction. The band were a perfect blend of the Doors, Bowie and the last vestiges of punk. A lead singer who not only was cool but personified the word and gave it a new meaning and thus offering a blueprint for future frontmen to adopt and follow. A guitarist who knew very few rivals, if any. Add in one of the more underrated rhythm sections of the day and you get Echo and the Bunnymen. Beginning with the epic debut single Rescue to era-defining hits like The Cutter, The Back Of Love & Lips Like Sugar, the Bunnymen were always a band to be reckoned with.  In fact, I’ve always been of the opinion that if it wasn’t for the more important and challenging bands such as Echo, the Smiths, the Sound, etc falling by the wayside in 1987, U2 never would have become the one-eyed monster they were to become.  Echo were simply that good.

The band are back now with a new single called Think I Need It Too. It’s a slow burner but it’s a good one. It features the signature Will Seargeant guitar sound as it carries Ian McCulloch’s smoke-drenched vocals. It must be said that in his prime that very few could wail like Mac and the smokes over time have done quite a number to his vocals.  That minor complaint aside, the single is the lead track taken from the brand new record The Fountain due out next week. Play it once, play it the rest of the day and groove. This is the sound of cool.

Echo & The Bunnymen on MySpace
Echo & The Bunnymen on Facebook
Echo & The Bunnymen on Twitter

“Think I Need It Too” by Echo and the Bunnymen, taken from the forthcoming release, “The Fountain”

Noel Gallagher, it appears dropped the bomb earlier today by walking out on Oasis. Needless to say that without Noel, there really is no Oasis. Sorry, Liam, I love ya but let’s be honest… Noel is and always has been the creative sparkplug of the band. As a fan since Supersonic, it’s my hope that cooler heads prevail and the brothers Gallagher get back to writing quality tunes real soon.

“Married With Children” by Oasis, taken from the Creation/Epic release, “Definitely Maybe”

“these are my twisted words
when i feel you still walking
i know i should not look down
but i’m so sick of just talking”

Here’s a question for you. When you’re the best band of your generation and feeling the constant nibbles at your ankles from the likes of lesser beings such as Muse or Coldplay that get ever closer to breaking skin with every bite, what do you do? What do you do when you set the recording industry on its ear (again) with In Rainbows and still the cries of “Overrated!” and “Sellouts!” begin to gnaw at every fibre of your collective being? Well, to borrow a sentiment from the Jam, one can simply say to hell with all of you and start going underground.

The sneaky little buggers that are Radiohead who appear ready to eschew the traditional route of releasing proper physical record and singles altogether have had the unfortunate circumstance occur in a new song being “leaked” to the general public. It’s a track called These Are My Twisted Words and thus far the reactions from fans, nazel-gazers and chin-strokers alie have been mixed thus far. To me personally, I like it. It’s dark. It’s a bit on the sparse side but allows the song to be carried by the most underrated drummer in music today in Phil Selway.

What sounds like could be a simple jam session that got lucky on tape still works. Thom doesn’t say much here but is usually the case. He doesn’t need to but the sounds of caged ghosts trying to escape purgatory that emanate from his throat do the job that the lyrics begin.  Rumour has it that Words will appear on an EP that teh lads will drop this coming week entitled Walls Of Ice. Oh goodie!!

Whatever you may think of the track, I think we can all agree that it’s good to see the kings are on their way back.

“These Are My Twisted Words”, by Radiohead from the rumoured forthcoming EP, “Walls Of Ice”

Remember Postcard Records? How about Kitchenware? If not, ask your older and much cooler brother. Postcard and Kitchenware were two of the finest indie labels going in the late seventies and early eighties. Neither label gained much traction in terms of notoriety as compared to labels like Rough Trade, Mute, or Factory but if you were looking for top notch post-punk of the mellow variety aka “twee”, these two labels could not be beat. From bands like Prefab Sprout to Orance Juice to Josef K, it’s sae to say you would have to look pretty hard to find a subpar band on either label.  Sadly, many of these bands didn’t reach the great heights of chart stardom and mainstream fame. It’s a shame, really. It’s the same old refrain where the greater public just wants something to ignore and put on the backburner while they meander through their daily lives instead of allowing the likes of Paddy McAloon to serenade through another wistful day.

Let’s fast forward a couple of decades to the here and now where that spirit lives on in a fantastic band from London called Hatcham Social. Theirs is a sound that takes the wide-eyed enthusiasm and sharp wit of yore and updates it for the end of this decade. Signed to Fierce Panda in the UK, their debut record You Dig The Tunnel, I’ll Hide The Soil was just released in July via TBD records (home of the almighty Radiohead) here in the States. I’ve presented two songs for your listening pleasure from the record as proof positive that it shant be long before their most accessible post-punk burrows a path into your heart. Edwyn Collins would be proud…

Like ‘em? Tell them on MySpace. Tell them Billy sent you, they’d like that!

“So So Happy Making”, taken from the Fierce Panda/TBD release, “You Dig The Tunnel, I’ll Hide The Soil”

“I Cannot Hide My Pure Evil”, taken from the Fierce Panda/TBD release, “You Dig The Tunnel, I’ll Hide The Soil”

Oh it’s so tempting… So very tempting. It’s always exciting to jump into hyperbole when describing a band who is simply teeming with potential. Like a shot from a cannon, a comet that passes by in the blink of an eye or any cliche that seems appropos, a brand new band’s first stab in the dark always brings such promise. Suede-heads, I bring you The Ruling Class! This UK quintet is on to something here and I want you guys to hear what I hear!

Bringing back the sound of Madchester and invoking the spirit and fervour of the seminal legends in the Stone Roses, The Ruling Class strike with the confidence and bombast of bands much older.  The band makes their debut on this site with their second offering to the world comes in the form of a double A-side single (these are still around…?) entitled Sleeping Beauty/Marian Shrine.  Led by vocalist Jonathan Sutcliffe who one could hardly be faulted for hearing a resemblance to the great British warbler in Ian Brown, the Ruling Class have arrived to let the world know while the 80s are cool and all, the early 1990s Britpop era is right around the corner and have no shame in kicking the doors down and inviting themselves in. Enjoy them and keep your eyes on this band and better yet, add them on MySpace.

“Marian Shrine”, taken from the Loog release, “Marian Shrine/Sleeping Beauty”

“Sleeping Beauty”, taken from the Loog release, “Marian Shrine/Sleeping Beauty”

One of the greatest British bands ever. Bar none. Without question. One word. Blur. I could go list the top songs the quartet bestowed upon us over the years. She’s So High, For Tomorrow, Popscene, Girls & Boys, This Is A Low, Stereotypes, Entertain Me, Death Of A Party, No Distance Left To Run, etc… Like I said, I could go on and on… Thankfully, the prodigal guitar hero, Graham Coxon came to his senses and returned to the fold allowing Blur to come back perhaps better than ever. They’ll be playing the major festivals this year with rumours of some US dates coming down the pipeline. That…would make for a happy Billy indeed! Naturally when you put together a band that’s been away from the world for a spell with a vast catalogue that’s ripe for the picking along with the prospects of performing for huge audiences for a tour…we get a brand new compilation! Midlife: a Beginner’s Guide To Blur is due for release in the UK on the 15th of June and culls together singles, album cuts and tracks that previously could only be found on limited editions (Popscene!) or soundtracks (Sing). Is it an obvious cash grab by EMI? Obviously. Is it a good idea? Yes, especially since it’s not an ordinary comp. It will serve as a wonderful primer for those not in the know or those silly Americans who think Song 2 is actually any good. Silly wabbits!

Here’s the tracklisting: “Popscene!!!!!”

CD1
‘Beetlebum’
‘Girls & Boys’
‘For Tomorrow’
‘Coffee & TV’
‘Out Of Time’
‘Blue Jeans’
‘Song 2′
‘Bugman’
‘He Thought Of Cars’
‘Death Of A Party’
‘The Universal’
‘Sing’
‘This Is A Low’

CD2
‘Tender’
‘She’s So High’
‘Chemical World’
‘Good Song’
‘Parklife’
‘Advert’
“Popscene!!!!!”
‘Stereotypes’
‘Trimm Trabb’
‘Badhead’
‘Strange News From Another Star’
Battery In Your Leg’

Maximo Park. How do I love thee? The band is brilliant. They are smart. They are hip. They are better than you…and me. The new record Quicken The Heart is out in the US on Warp this coming Tuesday and if the first two tracks The Kids Are Sick Again and Wraithlike are a good indication than this third installment of the adventures of Maximo Park should prove to be their most varied and exciting one yet. Do yourself a favour, friends. If you haven’t picked up A Certain Trigger or Our Earthly Pleasures yet, do so at once or risk missing out on one of the more deserving bands England has produced in years.  Once you’ve done that, definitely take an opportunity to see the band live and I just happen to have the tour dates below. I love you, guys!

Seattle, WA Bumbershoot Festival (September 6)

Vancouver, British Columbia Richard’s on Richards (7)
Portland, OR Berbati’s Pan (8)
San Francisco, CA Grand Ballroom (10)
Los Angeles, CA Avalon (11)
San Diego, CA House of Blues (12)
Denver, CO Bluebird Theater (14)
Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Café (16)
Chicago, IL Metro (17)
Toronto, Ontario Lee’s Place (18)
Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club (20)
New York, NY Webster Hall (21)
Philadelphia, PA World Café Live (24)
Washington, DC Black Cat (25)

“No one cares when you’re out on the street

Picking up the pieces to make ends meet
No one cares when you’re down in the gutter
Got no friends got no lover”

Placebo. Nuff said. One of the most consistently excellent bands the UK has produced the last fifteen years are at it again. I’m sure you guys checked out the free download of the title track taken from the new record Battle For The Sun due out in the UK 8 June via PIAS and loved it.  I now am proud to present the new single For What It’s Worth and what a joy it is to behold. A very accessible and concise ditty that clocks in under three minutes, FWIW is a song that begs to shoot up the charts with a bullet and appears to be a return to the band’s glam roots that they had sort of left behind in recent years. Personally this one get two thumbs up from me. Any comments from the peanut gallery? Have at it!

“The morning after the revolution

PC 1525 tells me there’s no real solution.
Bruised ribs and a ripped up jacket, money all in the road.
Some man with a big fat mouth screaming while I’m on my way home!”

Psst! Hey you! C’mere! Have you heard? The Jam reformed!  Yeah. That Jam. Paul Weller. Bruce Foxton. Rick Buckler. The thing is they look a lot younger and they come from Coventry instead of Woking but the fire and brimstone is present in full abundance. The angst is there. The incisive lyrical content and anger at the state of an England that’s turned on its back on an increasingly agitated youth contingent. In all seriousness, I think Paul Weller would be awfully proud when he turns on BBC Radio One and hears the new single by the Enemy. Fresh off the blistering debut record We’ll Live And Die In These Towns, the trio return with their sophomore release Music For The People just released in the UK yesterday.  The debut was a personal favourite of mine when it was released in 2007 as it simply hit me like a ton of bricks over my head. It really was a breath of fresh air with songs Away From Here and the title track to name a couple.

Above we’ve got the leadoff single No Time For Tears displaying a louder, rawer and more abrasive sound than before showing a bit of growth and a growing swagger for a band that wasn’t lacking in the latter if you read the press clippings from the NME. Here’s hoping the record storms the charts and finds its way Stateside a lot sooner than it took for the debut to.