TRAAMS – A House On Fire

The wonderful TRAAMS follow up the recently released Slipping and Penguin with a third track titled A House On Fire. It is another of the band’s more epic songs, clocking in at just under nine minutes of krautrock inspired grooviness. The band explain: “A House On Fire has only been played live a couple of times so far. It’s been in the set for our … Continue reading TRAAMS – A House On Fire

Nine Songs You Should Have Heard This Week

It’s a big week of new releases in the Mad Mackerel world – new tunes from Foxygen, Cloud Nothings, the wonderful Traams and Blossoms to name but four. Add to that songs from James McMurtry, Weyes Blood, TOY, and long standing MM faves Trance Farmers and Estrons and we’ve had a bonanza seven days. Nine songs for you. Enjoy. Cloud Nothings – Modern Act Foxygen – America Traams – Slipping … Continue reading Nine Songs You Should Have Heard This Week

The Great Escape – Day 3

A final day building up the step count trudging between venues. This time choosing to start at a free all day gig at Bleach which was not an official GE event, and was nearly 3,000 steps away, but worth it all the same for Nots and Nap Eyes. The former, a blistering all-female foursome from Tennessee, peeled what paint was left from the walls and the … Continue reading The Great Escape – Day 3

Video Round-Up

It has been far too long since we posted any videos. We’re righting that wrong today with an excellent collection culled from our in-box – some old(er), some new, some borrowed and some blue(s). So sit back, relax and enjoy musical films from Big Thief, Great American Canyon Band, Fidlar, M.Ward, On Dead Waves, All Them Witches, Impulsive Hearts, Bleached, Traams, and Holly Miranda.   … Continue reading Video Round-Up

MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: MAD MACKEREL’S TOP TWENTY SONGS

And so here is the final personal Top Twenty of the year. This time it is my turn! Another twelve months neatly wrapped up and delivered for your listening pleasure and here’s to 2016… 20. Quiet Hollers – Mont Blanc An apocalyptic, “end-is-nigh” rolling, country rock anthem. Pure poetry with the best coda to a song I heard all year, “shed a tear for the books … Continue reading MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: MAD MACKEREL’S TOP TWENTY SONGS

MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: CHRIS T POPPER’S TOP TWENTY SONGS

Our third personal Top Ten comes from ever-present contributor Chris T Popper… Another set of mighty fine tunes…   20 Telegraph Canyon – Why Let It Go 19 Songhoy Blues – Soubour 18 Assed Out – Bueno 17 Houndmouth – Sedona 16 Kurt Vile – Pretty Pimpin 15 Abandoned Delta – I Never Lived In New Orleans 14 Tallest Man On Earth – Sagres 13 … Continue reading MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: CHRIS T POPPER’S TOP TWENTY SONGS

MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: THE ITALIAN JOB’S TOP TWENTY SONGS

Following Barry-Sean’s welcome return to the MM bosom yesterday, we are equally delighted to now introduce The Italian Job’s debut entry into MM’s Best Of annals (and don’t try saying that when you’ve had too much eggnog). Providing us with a welcome European flavour, and writing better in her second language than we can in our first, we invite you to sample her pleasingly punk-tinged favourites … Continue reading MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: THE ITALIAN JOB’S TOP TWENTY SONGS

MM’S BEST TRACKS OF 2015: 25-1

Here we go then, our final countdown of our favourite tracks of 2015, with no fewer than three artists managing two entries in the top 25 this year! And don’t forget you can see the other 75 choices here (100-75), here (75-51) and here (50-26). Enjoy. 25 Ghostpoet – Off Peak Dreams   24 Tracy Thorn – Goodbye Joe (2015 re-issue)   23 Calexico – Follow … Continue reading MM’S BEST TRACKS OF 2015: 25-1

MM’S BEST TRACKS OF 2015: 50-26

It’s the third instalment of our end of year list of our favourite tracks of 2015. Today we enter the top half of the chart with numbers 50 through to 26.   50 Mutual Benefit – Not For Nothing   49 Rats On Rafts – Last Day On Earth   48 Slaves – Ninety Nine   47 Diet Cig – Harvard   46 Decemberists – The … Continue reading MM’S BEST TRACKS OF 2015: 50-26

MM’S BEST ALBUMS OF 2015: 30-16

As we’re halfway through our tracks of the year (see 100-76 here, and 75-51 here) which resume on Monday, it felt like a good time to break things up with our choices of our favourite albums of 2015. Here then are numbers 30 through to 16. 30 Sarah Cracknell – Red Kite   29 Desaparecidos – Payola   28 Kodiak Deathbeds – Kodiak Deathbeds   … Continue reading MM’S BEST ALBUMS OF 2015: 30-16