Vanguard #7: The Cheek

Grab your trench coat! We're gonna see 'The Cheek' because they are brilliant.
Their guitar licks and bashing drums set fire to anything really. Even non-flammable items.
Hang on. I'll slow down.
'The Cheek' are essentially an indie band, who find it hard to be average. They push boundaries and they sound very 60's, which almost suggests that they are trying to recreate the building blocks modern day pop and indie were formed on. That's not bad though. Someone has to reinforce what hasbeen forgotten, if not replace it intirely.
Being truthful, I really believe that 'The Cheek' have these capabilities. They are just a bit slow at doing so...

'Hung Up'
'Just One Night'

Vanguard Excitement: 7/10

Next Sunday's Vanguard: Barry


Follow @pancccake

Review #60: White Denim - D

Mind. Blown.
It takes a strong willed man to experiment properly with music. It takes and even stronger one to do what 'White Denim' have accomplished. This isn't just some mess the Texas foursome has created. It's a controlled mess.
Think of the album as a piece of ripped cloth. It still has its jagged edges, and off centre feel. However, it feels trimmed, and as if it has been placed off centre on purpose. It is difficult to succeed in creating such a perfectly freakish record, without sounding insane, or having people shove their noses up at you, claiming you're a cynical band. But they have captured that essence needed and bottled it into a perfectly commercial jar of experimental jam.
It has taken a while for 'White Denim to reach this stage in their careers, but it was well worth the wait!


Best Tracks: 'It's Him!', 'River To Consider', 'Is And Is And Is'

7/10

Next Review: Wu Lyf - Go Tell Fire To The Mountain


Follow @pancccake

Review #59: Emmy The Great - Virtue

This is very literal music. It doesn't give the idea that it is particularly well thought out, almost as if she thinks of a line and just uses it. As she would normally speak. However, you can tell they have been thoroughly thought out. Which, in a way, makes it worse.
However despite the lyrics, it's not actually that bad. The voice of Emmy is beautiful. She knows how to stress her vocal chords, and I really respect her chord changes. They aren't just your simple G's, C's, or D's!
There is something captivating about her music. Not quite sure what it is though. When I am. You will be the first to know.

Best Tracks: 'Iris', 'North', 'Tellick Tower'

6/10

Next Review: White Denim - D


Follow @pancccake

Vanguard #6: The Draytones

What is this I hear? Good music?
Okay, they have an album, that was released three years ago, so they aren't exactly new, but does that matter? Their sound isn't unique, it's not amazing, it's not even particularly special, but it is good. It doesn't push boundaries but it reinforces them. It adds to the brilliance of British mod culture, without doing anything drastically different to other bands, they manage to make themselves feel fresh, even if they aren't.
I suppose they are a bit like a red apple. Same essential thing, yet they wear different coloured clothes. Well... They don't. But I couldn't think of a better analogy.

'Keep Loving Me'
'Turn It Down'

Vanguard Excitement: 7/10

Next Sunday's Vanguard: The Cheek


Follow @pancccake

Review #58: Black Lips - Arabia Mountain

Listen up! This is the future of music!
The last thing I expected from 'Black Lips' was to find trumpets and various other brass and woodwind instruments, hiding in every nook and cranny on 'Arabia Mountain'.
However, despite this, I find the most magical part of the album to be the sound that the album is recorded on. It does sound like it was made in the 1960's and it hasn't been remastered. It is essentially 16 short tracks that don't mean anything, yet they are brilliant. Much like 'The Ramones'.
However, if I was to compare 'Black Lips' to anything. It would be my beard. Whether it is trimmed finely, or left to grow... It is amazing!
I am as vein as 'Black Lips' are good!

Best Tracks: 'Family Tree', 'Go Out And Get It', 'The Lie'

8/10

Next Review: Emmy The Great - Virtue


Follow @pancccake

Vanguard #5: GoGoBot

I'm not sure if i actually like these guys. They seem a bit like fake indie.
Don't get me wrong, it's good music but it seems too mainstream. I feel that they are trying to please too many people with their music.
It's clear that their music means a lot to them, but maybe it means too much. So much, that they feel the need to make sure they have a career in music. So they try to make as much money as possible through downloads, whilst still trying to stay close to their indie roots.
That's my theory anyway.
They do however have great synth riffs!
Thanks for listening.

'First Class Fool'
'Do You Remember?'

Vanguard Excitement: 6/10

Next Sunday's Vanguard: The Draytones

Review #57: Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones

Say in 200 years, Britain is recovering from an apocalypse of some sort. I don't know. Zombies? Well whatever it is, they are making a TV programme, and a character similar to Tony Robinson, is sifting through music archives, attempting to work out what the past civilians of Grande Britannia enjoyed listening too. Whilst going through the numerous albums, to his horror, he realises there is no Medieval music recorded. However, he does find 'Frank Turner's fourth LP. He sits there and contemplates about how this is the nearest he will ever get to experiencing what it would be like to live in the time of Medieval kings and queens.
Either that, or I just listened to 'Frank Turner' sing words from a history book.

Best Tracks: 'Peggy Sang The Blues', 'English Curse', 'Wessex Boy'

8/10

Next Review: Black Lips - Arabia Mountain

Follow @pancccake

Review #56: My Morning Jacket - Circutial

There is nostalgia.
Then there is 'My Morning Jacket'.
It just doesn't seem like anything special. It feels like it would have been an average album in 1984, but by it being released in 2011 it just needs to be that bit better to really make a mark. Which it hasn't done.
But it's not all bad. 'Wonderful (The Way I Feel)' is beautiful, and it almost sounds like it could have come straight off an early 'Simon And Garfunkel' album and the backing vocals are delightful. It's just a real feel good track.
However, just as this review is a bit rubbish. So is the album.

Best Tracks: 'Wonderful (The Way I Feel)', 'You Wanna Freak Out', 'Slow Slow Tune'

5/10

Next Review: Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones



Follow @pancccake