So after much deliberation, head scratching, discussion, and more head scratching, we have MM’s favourite albums of 2010. And we choose our words very carefully here, because we would not presume them to be the best, only those that have given us the most pleasure and enjoyment, records that we have returned to again and again, and for whatever reason have captured a moment or … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Albums of the Year
Here at MM we like the Vivian Girls and we like The Woods, so a collaboration between Cassie of the former and Kevin of the latter under the moniker The Babies was always likely to find favour with us. Run Me Over, the rather charming, fuzzed up, doo-wop drenched opener comes from their forthcoming debut album out on February 11th next year. Makes you yearn … Continue reading The Babies ready debut album
After the release of his Graceful Bow EP, and in particular the track Bless You, Jason Ward is a firm favourite of Mrs Mackerel, and so we were pleased to get details of his new single Okay which is released via iTunes on Tuesday. The single is purposefully more of an upbeat and insightful song, and while the singer/songwriter or even folk labels are still … Continue reading New single from Jason Ward
Here is the best of our November posts, a perfect mix tape to kick off the festive seasons and a nice reminder before we all get immersed in all those end-of-year top tens/twenties/fifties etc. And as always a couple of new ones too. Twenty five great tracks. Enjoy. Download Outer Minds – Until You’re Dead mp3 Pristine nugget of 60s inspired garage rock, twangy rough-cut … Continue reading MM’s Best of the Month: November
Here again is a short round-up of some of the better new releases we’ve come across recently. Once again, they all deserve more in the way of a narrative, but time can be a hard taskmaster on occasion. First up is the rather strangely named EP’s Trailer Park and their strangely compelling folk song tribute to Mario Vargas Llosa – this year’s Nobel Laureate in … Continue reading New Releases Round Up
Air Waves debut LP is titled Dungeon Dots and is being released through Underwater Peoples on November 30th. Nicole Schneit wrote all the songs and plays guitar throughout the album. Her soft, clear voice careens across walking bass lines, big cymbals and brassy guitars and the songs tread a confident, but careful path from warm and inviting to a more bittersweet and even acidic. While … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…Air Waves
Two bands from two different parts of the world have joined forces to give you the next free single in our digital singles series at EardrumsPop. The Very Most from Boise, Idaho, and The Hermit Crabs from Glasgow, Scotland, have collaborated under their project Baffin Island to make a new single for your listening pleasure. Baffin Island is the exact midpoint on the map between … Continue reading Introducing…Baffin Island
As well as the nice videos that have been coming our way, there have been some decent cover versions too. Always a dangerous occupation we think, especially if you murder the song (looking at you Paul Young), but here are four worth some ear time that have been floating around… Add It Up is a stonewall classic, one of those songs that gets those of … Continue reading Cover Me…MM’s Going In
Underwater Peoples is one of our favourite labels and so we were delighted to recently receive an e- mail from them about Spectrals and their forthcoming new EP. Hailing from the small town of Heckmondwike, 10 miles south-west from Leeds, Louis Jones is softly spoken with a shock of ginger hair. He was brought up on a mixture of soul, Motown and doo-wop, and as … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…Spectrals
Ah, how we love the downtempo indie (and sometimes downright miserablism) of The War Crimes. They have sent us their latest offering which came with just one line of introduction: “to celebrate the birth of my daughter, Juno, I’m feeling the pinch so may I interest you in The Cost“. So firstly to them we say hearty congratulations from the Mackerels. And secondly, to you, … Continue reading The War Crimes Return
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