Sleepy Eyes - Empty Shells & Plastic Smiles

4th September 2015

Chesterfield based Sleepy Eyes may have released their debut EP Empty Shells & Plastic Smiles back in November 2014, but they are still a band to get excited about! For a relatively new band, this EP comes across as a well rehearsed piece, full of thought and practice. However, there is still a lot of work yet to be done in the recording studio, as sometimes it feels like the vocals, although good, drown out most of the rest of the band, with the exception of the bass drum, which takes over during the song "Thanks For Everything." That being said, all is made up for quickly in the third track "It's Always Sunny In Surrey," a sadder song than the previous two, the occasional addition of harsher backing vocals during the chorus gives this particular song a real boost, setting it up as the uncontested best track of the whole album. Sadly, the next song up "Le Douche" (also released as a single with accompanying music video) goes in the opposite direction, with the vocals seeming very strained, and, despite being 3minutes 43seconds long, comes across as very repetitive, drawing the track out. However, a redeeming feature is a quasi-breakdown (yes, pop-punk has breakdowns too sometimes) towards the end. Empty Shells & Plastic Smiles is rounded off brilliantly though, with the final track, which shares its name with the EP, sounding like the beautiful love child of Funeral for a Friend and Brand New. The gang vocals halfway through really gives it a sense of emo pop-punk of old, before bursting into a heavy ending section to conclude an interesting journey through this EP.

3/5

Tracks to check out:

- "It's Always Sunny In Surrey"
- "Empty Shells & Plastic Smiles"

(Both of these tracks make the EP worth a listen)

Sam Muckley
@s_muckley

The Wonder Years - No Closer To Heaven

4th September 2015

This sextet band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania may have only released The Greatest Generation two years ago, but it has felt like an eternity waiting to find out what else was in store for the fans; and The Wonder Years have not disappointed with No Closer to Heaven. The album starts off with the calm "Brother &," gradually building up before linking into "Cardinals," which quickly sets off the album with The Wonder Years usual pent up, pop-punk rage, brilliantly balanced with background gang vocals. Next up, we move on to the much calmer "A Song For Patsy Cline" harking back to the classic "I've Given You All" (from 2011's Suburbia I've Given You All And Now I'm Nothing), except with more fire injected into it courtesy of electric guitars and heavy drum beats. We burst back in to classic, high speed pop-punk with "I Don't Like Who I Was Then" as we witness the full range of Dan 'Soupy' Campbell's incredible vocal talents, as Campbell shouts his way through a chorus of 'If I can manage not to fuck this up,' before the album takes a short break with a much more serene feel provided by "Cigarettes & Saints." The words 'Put out the light' now come blaring out of the stereo as we get another dose of untreated pop-punk genius as "The Bluest Things On Earth" once again leaves us astounded with how much energy The Wonder Years can put through just one track, with amazing lyrics that could have easily been turned into an acoustic song instead. We are next treated to choir harmonics to kick start "A Song For Ernest Hemingway" into life with typical The Wonder Years variation throughout, ranging from harsh to soft stages, with well placed place gang vocals also making appearances. No Closer to Heaven continues relentlessly with "Thanks For The Ride," a beautifully written tribute to a friend of the band who sadly passed on after a car crash, and it is delivered perfectly, bringing comfort to anyone who has been in a similar situation. "Stained Glass Ceilings" is one of those tracks that could be placed anywhere on an album, and it would just feel right. It builds up seamlessly well, beginning soft and slow, but then the pace picks up, and we are brought into a heavier middle section, whilst still maintaining a sincere lyrical structure, before reaching the closing stages, with a contribution of more aggressive vocals adding a touch of hardcore to the record. We have moved back into pop-punk territory with "I Wanted So Badly To Be Brave" with its rapid guitar sections, even more lyrics to emotionally move you, a well positioned tranquil section, before a build up of palm-muted chords leading up to the climactic ending. As if our heart strings have not been tugged at enough already though, we now move into "You In January" which could be considered  somewhat of a love song in The Wonder Years fashion as Campbell proclaims 'you were the one thing I got right.' After this, we are now into the final stages of this magnificent record, and there is a sense of leaving the best until the last with "Palm Reader" which comes across heavier than usual for a pop-punk act. Once again, the lyrics and vocals are superb along with the rest of the album, however, the guitar pieces throughout this track add an unprecedented amount of weight, pushing it forward, possibly making it the best song on the whole album (if not, certainly in the top three). Of course, it would not be a The Wonder Years record if there was not a full acoustic song, and closing track "No Closer To Heaven" does not disappoint on this tradition, rounding off the album with a sheer touch of class. No Closer to Heaven is a real contender, in my opinion, for album of the year so far. It has everything you could ask for, and The Wonder Years have truly out done themselves once again. The bluest things on Earth may not know sh*t about the blues, but The Wonder Years certainly know a thing or two about making an exceptional album.

5/5

Tracks to check out:

- "Cardinals"

- "The Bluest Things On Earth"
- "Palm Reader"

Sam Muckley

@s_muckley

AS IT IS - Never Happy, Ever After

1st September 2015

Released earlier this year (April 2015), Never Happy, Ever After is definitely an album that quickly grows on you. The catchy chords and beautiful vocals that American born Patty Walters provides slowly brings you in for more helpings of this emo infused pop-punk record by the Brighton based band. On the first listen through, it may seem like another generic band that made the alternative scene 5-10years ago, but after a few more runs, its something so much more than that. AS IT IS may have heavily emo inspired lyrics, but they are so well written and thought through, seamlessly linking with the rest of the music featuring on each track, with the drums adding a touch of hardcore to each track. Song 5 off of Never Happy, Ever After "Dial Tones" is by far the best track of the bunch with the fantastic vocals sending you on a roller coaster ride of emotions; one minute 2-stepping your heart out; next, throwing a lighter into the air from side to side; and finally, grabbing a random stranger in the crowd to sing a long until your voice is hoarse with (and I challenge anyone to fight the urge to join in singing "all we ever share are dial tones"). "Concrete" is another song that will make you want to get up and shake a leg like tomorrow will never come, once again largely due to some amazing guitar work, but the backing vocals from Benjamin Biss has a HUGE influence over this track. Altogether, Never Happy, Ever After has the perfect amount of crowd pleasing tracks to mosh away life's problems, venue sized sing-alongs, and chilled acoustic songs for when you are alone and need some 'me' time. Overall, a good effort for a first full length album, but hopefully AS IT IS have got a lot more to give in the future, and I look forward to seeing what is next to come from them.

3/5
Tracks to check out:

- "Speak Soft"
- "Cheap Shots & Setbacks"
- "Dial Tones"
- "Concrete"

Sam Muckley
@s_muckley

WSTR - SKRWD

1st September 2015

The Liverpool based pop-punkers WSTR release their debut EP SKRWD on the 4th September, and at a first glance, ITS INCREDIBLE! With catchy lyrics and riffs to get you hooked on the first round of listening, WSTR seem to have got themselves off to a flying start here, even sticking to the old ways of pop-punk veterans such as blink-182, they even have entertaining and humorous music videos to accompany the two leading tracks. "Fair Weather" is easily the soundtrack to any 20-something's life, as it slowly wastes away into "proper" adult life, as well as featuring what is simply one of the greatest lines heard, not just on the EP, but for quite some time; "my friends are dicks but I would never have it any other way." The third track to feature on the amazing SKRWD EP is the more heartfelt, but just as energetic, "Graveyard Shift" which will, as the title suggests, speak to anyone that has found themselves stuck in a dead end and meaningless job, despite still having a healthy amount of teenage angst yet to shift. SKRWD may only be 6 tracks long, but its 6 of the very best, and WSTR are a band that surely must have a lot more to give to the music scene! Make sure you catch them on the "Hi There" tour with Best Years this month at all costs.

5/5

Tracks to check out:
- "Fair Weather"

- "Brainsick"

Sam Muckley

@s_muckley

David Hall Cain - Eyes Wide Open EP

Now, I’ve known David since I was about 6/7 years old, so I was a little anxious about reviewing him, just in case I had to be brutal; I had nothing to fear. Eyes Wide Open is a nice, chilled EP consisting of four tracks that are really easy on the ears. What we basically have here is David involved in his own jamming session, and it works beautifully. It’s the sort of EP you’ll play on a Sunday afternoon when you need your music fix, but you definitely aren’t prepared for anything too heavy. It’s almost like you’re sat in the room together and he’s serenading you. Anyway, enough soppy stuff, get it listened to, and definitely keep an eye on him for more!

5/5

Tracks to check out

-“Time To Kill”

Mike

@SmilerBray180

Fightstar - Animal (Single)

1st September 2015

Fightstar's latest edition to their already massive roster of mosh pit starting tracks, "Animals" starts off with a calm back drop of drum beats before front man Charlie Simpson's voice explodes into action, reminding us all of what we have been missing out on these past 5 years. Perfectly synchronising, once again, heavy screamo vocals with melodic ones, it takes this fan back to 2007's extremely powerful "Deathcar." Backed with a sprinkling of synths, adding to the power unleashed in this single before Simpson bellows out the chorus; "kill me now, becasue I'm an animal!" It looks like Fightstar could be on to another winner in the build up to up coming tour and album Behind the Devil's Back (scheduled for release on the 16th October 2015), depite, from first glance of the track listing, "Animal" will not be making an appearance. Unless there is some last minute changes with the track listing, which is highly doubtful this late on, it is a real shame that "Animal" fails to make its way on to the album, but if the songs that do feature on the aforementioned record are nearly half as good as this single, Fightstar fans are going to be in for a real treat! 

4/5

Sam Muckley

@s_muckley

Throwback Thursday - Simple Plan

Our first TBT takes me back to my school days, when I was just so misunderstood, and the entire world was against me. About the time I hit 13, I needed music to speak to me, and only one band delivered with their debut album: Simple Plan with ‘NO PADS, NO HELMETS…JUST BALLS’. Easily one of Canada’s most successful pop-punk exports, these boys seemed to capture the heart of every moody teenager; be it the girls who hugged their pillow wondering why the boy they ‘loved’ so much wouldn’t speak to them, or the lads who couldn’t understand why their voice had to change to a ridiculous pitch just when they started to notice how awesome/devastating girls could be. Merely looking at the titles of some of the songs from the album will tell you exactly why my teenage self just hit repeat and threw himself on the bed, with ‘I’d Do Anything’, ‘I’m Just A Kid’ and ‘Perfect’ just screaming “I HATE EVERYONE” for the world to hear (oh we all did it, don’t judge me!).

‘I’d Do Anything’ kicks the album off, and why shouldn’t it? It has Mark Hoppus (of Blink 182 fame, for those living under rocks during the early 2000’s) providing some guest vocals! For me, it perfectly captures the young love phase we all go through, from wanting to run away, to literally wanting to do anything just to get noticed by the right person. 'I’m Just A Kid' has a title that tells you all you need to know, many a teenager will have most likely quoted this on MySpace or even tattooed some lyrics onto their arm with a biro. 'When I’m With You' and 'Addicted' are perfect if you just found out that the girl you like from the year above is secretly sleeping with a bloke who doesn’t go to your school; and then 'Perfect' rounds the album off nicely, a good old fashioned ‘I’m angry with my Dad’-type song that definitely needs to be blared out.

As far as debut albums go, Simple Plan, without question, hit the ground running back in 2002. It’s pretty clear why they were so internationally recognised. 4/5 (my 15 year old self just cried a little, but come on, it’s pretty downhearted stuff).

Tracks to check out:

-       “I’d Do Anything”

-       “I’m Just A Kid”

-       “Perfect”

Mike Bray

@SmilerBray180