We know very little about Savaging Spires – their e-mail to us had no information other than a request to listen to a track, Bending The Rules For Brian. We did, firstly, who wouldn’t listen to a song with a title like that, and secondly it is taken from their debut eponymous album which is due out in September on Critical Heights – this is the … Continue reading Introducing…Savaging Spires
Probably like most blogs, there are a handful of bands out there for whom the mere mention of new material can cause great excitement. The Roadside Graves are one such band for us here at MM. Ever since we fell for the brilliant My Son’s Home album in 2009, and particularly the wonderful Far And Wide (which is simply one of our favourite songs of … Continue reading New Album From The Roadside Graves
We are loving Joyful In Song We Are by Mr Plow. It is the band’s second album following on from 2009’s Book Of Common Despair. This latest collection of twelve self-penned tracks are what MM loves best: dark country, tragic tales interspersed with dry, black humour. Mr Plow’s rich baritone voice lingers over a backdrop of twangy Gretsch guitars, shuffling drums and zinging flat top … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…Mr Plow
We could have called this no sleep til Hoxton, being that MM and I were so severely short of shut-eye by the time we arrived at the London Hoxton Bar and Kitchen last night. Never mind though, all was well because we were there to see the Cave Singers on the only UK date of their European tour. If we were tired, the band could … Continue reading Live Review: The Cave Singers, Hoxton, London 23/5/11
Bahamas is singer-songwriter Afie Jurvanen who is also the touring guitarist for Feist as well. Already Yours is from his solo album Pink Strat which has been around a while apparently, but has started to pick up a lot of interest and buzz recently. Having given the track a couple of spins it is easy to see why and we’ll be adding him to our (admittedly … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…Bahamas
Up Up Up, from debut album In Light, is to be the debut release from the Deep South’s ebullient purveyors of melody, rhythm and anomalous harmonies, Givers. It’s a bouncing ode to resilience featuring a celebratory home-grown exoticism as the band mix afro-beat, Cajun and Zydeco into something new and unashamedly joyous and uplifting. In Light, will be released July 4th on Glassnote/ Island Records. … Continue reading Introducing…Givers
We were big fans of LA four piece The Blood Arm’s debut album Bomb Romantics and their 2007 follow up Lie Lover Lie, so after a pretty long gap it is good to hear their third album Turn And Face Me will be released in the UK on the 4th July. For those who don’t know them, they mix an explosively catchy blend of tribal … Continue reading New Album From The Blood Arm
We first got to know Pearl & The Beard via their excellent album God Bless Your Weary Soul, Amanda Richardson which contained some spitting and crackling folk tunes, prime amongst them the awesome Slow Motion Machine Gun – one of our favourite tracks of 2009. A few days ago they released the follow up, Killing The Darlings via label The Family Records. We’ve only just found out, … Continue reading New Album From Pearl & The Beard
The excellently named Adultery Brothers got in touch with a couple of songs they all too briefly described as “catchy guitar-driven pop songwriting“. Well they were right, Something In My Drink particularly calling to mind the effervescent top-tapping drive of the Generationals. If you like what they have to offer below you can pick up the whole album Let Me Think completely free from their … Continue reading Introducing…The Adultery Brothers
It’s that time again. A few gems gathered from some of our favourite blogs and a couple of the blogosphere’s favourite big hitters with some new material. Pick ‘n’ mix time! The Black Lips follow the rather splendid Modern Art with another slice of premium garage rock from their new album Arabia Mountain, with New Direction. Thee Oh Sees also mine a rich seam of … Continue reading New Releases Round Up
