Indie/Alternative charts

Review: Some 19 years later (and not a moment too soon) this great compilation from Nu Metal legends Deftones is seeing its much-needed repress - with an added remastering to sweeten the deal. A tough record to find at a stomachable price for a while, 'B Sides & Rarities' is full of acoustic versions, demos and covers of the likes of The Smiths, Cocteau Twins, The Cure and - most amusingly - Sade. 'Wax and Wane' is a severely underrated cover, a wicked interpretation filled with punchy guitars and, of course, Chino Moreno's mastery of blending metal and new wave vocals. The most popular of the tracks on offer here is, without doubt, 'Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want', their cover of The Smiths' 1984 B-side to 'William It Was Really Nothing' . It's a rollercoaster of a cover, with a wild guitar solo and filled with the same rumbling, underlying sadness that made the original such a staple. Who doesn't love a melancholic metal song?

Review: Pale Saints' breakthrough album, In Ribbons, turns 30 years old this year and so the label that first put it out is looking back with this superb new anniversary edition. The album was a key driver in the shoegaze scene and became much loved for its ethereal sound. That has aged well here with bittersweet pop in tracks like 'Thread Of Light' as Meriel Barham's vocal delivery reaches through time and still hits the mark today. Musically the record blends bruising riffs and dreamy atmospherics and has been freshly remastered for this special commemorative CD edition which should appeal to fans old and new.

Review: James Ford is one of the most important unsung heroes of contemporary pop and rock. As a studio producer, he's helped craft and hone incredible work from Fontaines DC, Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode, Blur and more. As an artist in his own right, he's perhaps more incredible. So, his impact on the latest and long-awaited new addition to Black Country New Road's catalogue should not be underestimated. Nor should the result of splitting the songwriting and vocal duties between members Tyler Hyde, Georgia Ellery and May Kershaw. "It's definitely very different" said one of the trio about how this compares to preceding long form outings. We'd say it's definitely very different to most music you'll hear this week. It's folk, soft rock, experimental garage something, and none of the above, with tracks that almost seem at odds with themselves, chopping and changing, evolving and progressing, until you hear them as a whole.

Review: Two British pop legends unite for Who Believes in Angels?, a new record spot-checking our faith in divinity. Having connected through a mutual admiration and shared love of music, Elton initially became a fan of Carlile through her effusions of folk, rock and country, which matched the former's megastar's sometimes pained, moving songwriting. Their friendship deepened over the years, with Carlile performing at Elton's annual AIDS Foundation events and joining him on stage for special collaborations. Now blending Elton-led and Brandi-led tracks, the album contains lyrics from longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin alongside Carlile's own contributions, with production by Andrew Watt. This marks Elton's 33rd studio album and Brandi's eighth.

Review: Combining industrial metal and art rock with dance-pop and darkwave-influenced post-punk, Sisters of Mercy are essential listening and an inspirational force behind some of the most important names in music. Not least Steve Albini, who is said to have modelled parts of Big Black on their sound. Part of the key to their sound is the bold, mechanical precision of a drum machine nicknamed Doktor Avalanche, which is the only thing in the band, other than frontman Andrew Eldritch that's been a constant. They gatecrashed the mainstream with the albums First and Last and Always [1985], Floodland [1987], and Vision Thing [1990], but were active long before that. This vinyl pressing of their demo tapes gives invaluable insight to their history. It's the rare demo given out to press, friends and the music industry in 1981. It's split into two, with the a-side studio being the three tracks planned for the abandoned Floorshow EP and the b-side a collection of live recordings. This is pre-internet and a representation of one of the coolest ways of trying to break a band.

Review: Siouxsie Sioux remains a real icon of post-punk. The English singer and songwriter was the powerhouse lyricist behind her band the Banshees from formation in 1976 until they stopped performing in 1996. She is often held up as a pioneering women who was way ahead of her time. With her band, she was part of this iconic 1991 performance at Le Zenith in Paris, right when they were at their peak and delivering an unforgettable fusion of haunting vocals and brooding post-punk energy. The legendary setlist includes fan favourites such as 'Spellbound' and 'Kiss Them for Me' which both capture the dark, hypnotic essence that defined their sound. Now, this historic concert is immortalised and means you can relive it time and time again.

Review: Ryan Adams' Wednesday album was released in 2020 and is introspective with songwriting up there with the best Americana. It's a world away from the classic rock swagger of his previous album, Prisoner, but no less powerful. This new album takes the exact same tracklist and reinvents the sound and spirit. It's a novel approach and a refreshing way of thinking about new studio releases for a label. 'Dreaming You Backwards and 'I'm Sorry and I Love You' has more of a more baroque pop with lush string sounds embellishing the fraught emotional tension; 'Dreaming Of You Backwards' is similarly majestic with classical music references guiding it. Compare these takes with the previous record's soulful rock feel - close in some ways to the sound of Hiss Golden Messenger - and it becomes clear Adams has shed that sound completely and achieved a true reinvention.

Review: Hailing from The Gret White North's Toronto, PUP (Pathetic Use of Potential) are your favourite current punk band's favourite current punk band. Originally formed in 2010, the past decade and a half has seen the group deliver one consistent album of bangers after the next, with their new fifth full-length Who Will Look After The Dogs? arriving three years on from 2022's The Unraveling Of PUPTheBand, proving that prior titular statement to be mistaken information. Expanding their sonics as far as their musical palettes, the LP showcases the debaucherous yet earnest Canadian troubadours pulling simultaneously from both more radio-centric college rock as well as more intense hardcore this time around, while modern punk legend (and once Bomb The Music Industry lynchpin) Jeff Rosenstock makes a standout appearance on the latest single 'Get Dumber'. Gritty, melodic, and sincere, all within the same breath (or verse), it's a tough year for any punk band to compete whenever PUP rear their grimy head.

Review: Countless bands sing about mind-altering substances, but none capture the experience quite like Spacemen 3. By combining the Suicide ethic of one-chord blues with maximalism, they simulate the infinite layers of a trip with a sound that is often imitated but never replicated. The reissued A Perfect Prescription exemplifies this, showcasing the beautiful stages of a high - from energetic and hazy highs to downbeat and drone-y lows. The album kicks off with the energetic 'Take Me to the Other Side,' representing the initial rush of a high. It seamlessly transitions to 'Walkin' with Jesus,' evoking endless ecstasy and then each track acts as a plateau of the phase it represents, with the album oscillating between jittery excitement and warm drone. Songs like 'Feel So Good' and 'Things'll Never Be the Same' contrast minimalism with maximalism, creating a layered, immersive experience. Spacemen 3's genius lies in their ability to craft a drug story like no other, blending minimal chord changes with a sheer amount of sound. A timeless, sonically amazing achievement when it dropped in 1987 - things were never the same after this.

Review: Formed in the Annan, Dumfries/Cumbria no man's land of English/Scottish borderland in 1978 before dissolving in the early 80s, The Limps are another case of a forgotten punk gem who never truly received their flowers. Releasing only a handful of singles during their short-lived tenure, which managed reliable spins from legendary DJ John Peel, this compilation collates every known recording of the band's output onto one singular slice of wax, including cuts taken directly from their Peel Sessions. The much anticipated pressing also comes just as the band are enjoying somewhat of a resurgence due to the use of their track 'Someone I Can Talk To' in the 2024 teen comedy Snack Shack. According to guitarist and songwriter Andy Septic (nowadays known as Cumberland Council's councillor and former mayor of Cockermouth Andrew Semple) - "John loved the second record saying it was a 'considerable improvement' from the first. We recorded his show on tape then years later we put it on YouTube and that's where the film director heard us", before humorously clarifying, "We've received a bit of money, but there's not much when it's got to be divided between four of us". Don't sleep as this small batch or rarities won't stick around long.

Review: Primarily known for his sprawling LA-based psych/garage/punk/all of the above work as Osees aka Thee Oh Sees aka Oh Sees, John Dwyer links up with experienced percussionist Dave Barbarossa (Fine Young Cannibals, Adam & The Ants) for the retro bratty glam-punk experience of the year - Chime Oblivion. Their self-titled debut is packed full of squelchy synths, jagged minimalist guitar lines and high-pitched eccentric vocals, paying clear homage to classic acts such as The Slits and Bow Wow Wow. Chock full of bite-sized bangers including 'Neighbourhood Dog' and 'Kiss Her Or Be Her', both of which scoff at the notion of a three-minute track, this is retrofitted throwback dance-punk in the stylised era before it even had such a moniker.

Review: After recording sessions for their legendary fifth LP Combat Rock would come to a close at the end of 1981, punk heroes The Clash embarked on a six-week jaunt across Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand (where they shot the iconic cover for their forthcoming record) and Hong Kong. Hitting the city of Kowloon on 25th February only a few months out from record release, this was an era when Hong Kong was still a colony of the British Empire (the last existing dependency of any significance at this time) and enjoyed less government interference in personal freedom, yet there had never been an act as bold as The Clash over to visit. With a setlist that reads today more like a greatest hits including the signature opener 'London Calling' along with bangers galore from 'The Guns Of Brixton' to 'I Fought The Law', '(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais' and 'Jimmy Jazz', with the band even treating the crowd to an early earful of Combat Rock lead single 'Know Your Rights' more than two months before official release (a time when no one had smart phones to film and throw up on YouTube or include on Setlist.fm as "New Song"), this performance and tour would also be one of the final to feature drummer Topper Headon, who would be fired due to his heroin addiction just a few months down the line, marking the end of the original line-up.

Review: Following on from last year's triumphant return to pop-punk glory that was Blink-182's ninth overall full-length One More Time (yet seventh with original vocalist/guitarist Tom DeLonge and first since 2011's Neighbourhoods), the band return to remind fans that the extensive good will they've been awarded by their devout followers on this comeback is very much reciprocated. Too early to drop another full-length, yet clearly rejuvenated to the point that new material keeps rearing its head during their continuing global tour, the trio opt to meet themselves in the middle with One More Time Part 2, which is essentially a mega deluxe version complete with ten bonus tracks, adding an additional half hour of new material (a new album in pop-punk terms). Boasting refined anthems such as 'No Fun' and 'All In My Head', while making room for darker synth-laden moments such as 'Can't Go Back' and even more Box Car Racer indebted buzzsaw post-hardcore in the form of 'Everyone Everywhere', this definitive collection offers far more than a forgettable batch of cutting room floor B-sides, and provides a comforting notion that this (one more) time around, Blink are back for themselves and the creative reward as much as for the fans and the payday.

Review: Neil Young's Ragged Glory is a masterful return to form, blending raw power with a grungy edge that solidified his status as the "Godfather of Grunge." Released in 1990, this album with Crazy Horse is one of his most distortion-heavy works, offering a gritty, jam-packed sound that contrasts sharply with his earlier folk and country rock roots. Songs like 'F*!#kin' Up' and 'Over and Over' showcase Neil's ability to lock into extended grooves, delivering music that's both intense and heartfelt. One of rhe album's standout tracks, 'Mansion on the Hill,' carries a nostalgic weight, while 'Country Home' evokes warmth and memories of simpler times. The instrumentation is where Ragged Glory truly shines. Each track, is loaded with powerful guitar solos and heavy riffs. Neil's collaboration with Crazy Horse is unfiltered, spontaneous, and fiercely alive. With the closing track 'Mother Earth (Natural Anthem)' closing the album out in style, Ragged Glory remains a triumph. Its a raw, unapologetic album that shows Neil Young at his grungiest best.

Review: Xiu Xiu's latest release, 13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips, is a striking exploration of sonic chaos and emotional depth, reflecting the band's continual evolution and fearless creativity. The album, which marks a departure from previous aesthetic boundaries, showcases the unique talents of Angela Seo and Jamie Stewart. Recorded with the renowned John Congleton, known for his work with Chelsea Wolfe and Swans, this LP delivers a raw, visceral experience that challenges. The record's nine tracks feature their commitment to pushing musical limits. The name itself evokes a sense of edgy rebellion, mirroring the album's content which embraces randomness and disruption. From the unsettling ambiance of 'Veneficium' to the potent intensity of 'Common Loon,' each song confronts the listener with its own distinctive narrative and sound. This album is an audacious mix of industrial churn and psychedelic textures, wrapped in a framework of democratic, experimental ethos. Xiu Xiu's recent relocation to Berlin has infused the music with an urgency and defiant spirit, underscoring their desire to stay ahead of disaster. In 13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips, Xiu Xiu offers a profound and unsettling journey, a vivid reminder of their enduring relevance and creative audacity.

Review: NOW 12? 80s: 1983 - Part Two is a jam-packed for fans of extended mixes and 80s nostalgia. This 4CD set brings together 49 tracks, offering a mix of iconic hits and lesser-known gems, all in their extended or remixed forms. From Wham!'s energetic 'Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do?)' to the undeniable groove of New Order's 'Blue Monday', this compilation is filled with dancefloor-ready anthems. The set excels in its variety, mixing familiar chart-toppers like Spandau Ballet's 'Gold' and Lionel Richie's 'All Night Long' with deep cuts like Joe Jackson's atmospheric 'Steppin' Out' and Tracey Ullman's playful 'Breakaway'. Glamorous pop sits alongside punk-infused tunes, with bands like Public Image Limited and Echo & the Bunnymen adding a post-punk edge to the lineup. While the tracklist is dominated by pop and synth-heavy hits, the inclusion of disco classics like KC & The Sunshine Band's 'Give It Up' and Divine's 'Love Reaction' adds a touch of 80s dancefloor magic. This collection is a great snapshot of the era, featuring extended versions that give these songs even more room to shine. Affordable and well-curated, NOW 12? 80s: 1983 - Part Two is perfect for the fans of the deacde.

Review: Every once in a while, you get a band emerge from the vibrant London music scene that you notice aren't like all the other bands. You sense they have something a bit special. BC, NR are like that - they offer something so rich musically that it appears immune to any potential threat that could come from changing trends. This third studio album of theirs comes under what looked like difficult circumstances from the outside. Their lead singer and songwriter Isaac Wood left the band shortly before the release of their second album. But they've withstood the pressure incredibly and are on top form here. There's more emphasis than ever on sharing the role of frontperson so the album is like a smorgasbord where you sample different voices and songwriting styles that exist within the group. Lead single 'Besties' is violinist Georgia Ellery's. It thrives off of its dynamism with explosive Phil Spector-esque wall of sound moments set in alongside elegant indie folk. A truly massive chapter awaits.

Review: The Sound's second album, From The Lions Mouth, solidified their stature as post-punk legends, despite their lack of mainstream recognition. Produced by Hugh Jones, the album exhibits a fuller sound compared to its predecessor, Jeopardy, while maintaining the band's atmospheric edge. Tracks like 'Winning' confront life's challenges with resilience, setting the tone for the album's introspective yet determined themes. The record effortlessly navigates between dynamic tracks like 'Fatal Flaw' and the atmospheric 'Silent Air,s shows the band's versatility and emotional depth. Adrian Borland's songwriting evokes a sense of loneliness tempered with a glimmer of hope, resonating with listeners even decades later. From The Lions Mouth stands as a timeless masterpiece of the new wave era, offering a poignant exploration of personal struggles and resilience. Despite their lack of commercial success, The Sound's influence on the underground music scene remains undeniable, cementing their place among post-punk icons. The album's reissue, with its spectacular sound quality and subtle inclusion of hidden gems like 'Hothouse,' pays homage to Borland's vision and the band's enduring legacy.

Review: The Pumpkins' sophomore effort, originally released in 1993, remains a masterclass in balancing raw emotion with lush, layered production. Opening with the iconic 'Cherub Rock', the album immediately asserts its originality, blending Billy Corgan's searing guitar work with Butch Vig's pristine production. The track's dynamic shifts and explosive energy still sounds like nothing since. 'Today', with its deceptively upbeat melody and darker lyrical undertones, became a radio and MTV staple, while 'Disarm' showcased the band's range, swapping distortion for orchestral strings and highlighting Corgan's vulnerable songwriting. For longtime fans, 'Mayonnaise' often emerges as the album's hidden gemia track that marries melancholic melodies with cathartic, crashing crescendos. Throughout the album, Jimmy Chamberlin's drumming is nothing short of phenomenal, adding weight and complexity to tracks like 'Geek U.S.A.' and 'Soma'. Siamese Dream still resonates with the same potency, blending anthems of adolescent angst and shimmering beauty. A reissue that reaffirms the album's enduring legacy as a cornerstone of its genre.

Review: 11 years after it first appeared in stores, sometime Kill Laura amd Misty Dixon member Jane Weaver's sixth solo album Silver Globe has been given the reissue treatment. This is undoubtedly a good thing, as it remains one of Weaver's most magical and consistent full length excursions - an inspired blend of neo-psych-folk, Elizabeth Fraser style vocals, kosmiche-influenced "motorik" grooves and cosmic effects. Lightly conceptual, it's packed with highlights, not least the driving and spaced-out 'Argent', the twisted cosmic pop meets jangly indie-pop of 'The Electric Mountain', the dubbed-out and densely layered 'Arrows', the glassy-eyed lo-fi dream pop of 'Mission Desire' and the effects-laden pastoral dreaminess of 'Your Time In This Life is Just Temporary'.

Review: One of the most beautifully constructed and hugely acclaimed albums that was first released in the late 1990's is reissued here and is a reminder of a magnificent selection of music by Mercury Rev that the listener can never tire of. From the sweeping orchestral opening track Holes all the way through to the bouncing Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp this album provides songs the listener will fall in love with one by one and never turn their backs on. Following on from the brilliant shambolic early releases by the band, Deserter's Songs was made by the band as a swan song of sorts. They were a chaotic outfit at the time with a changing and insecure line-up that finally managed to settle themselves down after the release of this and to end up with a new beginning and an existence that still remains today. Hints of jazz, folk and 60s psychedelia can be found hidden modestly within these melancholic tracks that have influences that can commonly be heard in a lot of albums other bands have released since this first came to the public's attention. Sweet, sad and tender vocals provided by founder member Jonathan Donahue make this an easy listening lovable album that deserves to be in everyone's collection and it's one that once there is guaranteed remain for years to come.
Produced by original bass player and founding member Dave Fridmann this album was recorded around the same time and in the same building as The Flaming Lips legendary Soft Bulletin album (also produced by Fridmann) and albeit a slightly different sounding album to Deserters Songs marks that period of time in The Catskill Mountains (100 miles NW of New York) as one of the most musically rewarding moments of time during the 1990's.
Goddess on a Highway was first conceived by front man Jonathan Donahue almost a decade earlier whilst he was a member of The Flaming Lips and the song was resurrected from an early demo he dug up. The songs' chorus of 'I know...it ain't gonna last' was probably the only thing they got wrong with this masterpiece. This album sounds just as fresh as it did three decades ago. It's been said that Deserters Songs could be one of the best albums ever made. Who are we to argue?