Jimmyjack Toth – Toth’s Law Volume 4

Though it pains me to say it, I was unaware that longstanding MM favourite Wooden Wand had permanently given up the moniker and is now simply Jimmyjack Toth. Even more so when I realised that he had just released a fourth volume of Toth’s Law – after a gap of just over three years. The digital liner notes (if such a thing can exist) on … Continue reading Jimmyjack Toth – Toth’s Law Volume 4

The Top 200 – Mad Mackerel’s favourite songs of the last ten years (Part 14)

So here we are, the penultimate day of our countdown of our favourite 200 songs marking ten years of MM. Today, we’ve hit the top twenty…   20 The Dutchess & The Duke – Reservoir Park (2008) Wonderfully rootsy swagger of earthy, organic folk-rock set to a loose Stones like honky tonk rumble.   19 Wooden Wand – Winter In Kentucky (2011)   Set against … Continue reading The Top 200 – Mad Mackerel’s favourite songs of the last ten years (Part 14)

The Top 200 – Mad Mackerel’s favourite songs of the last ten years (Part 6)

Halfway through. Here are tracks 100-91 100 Cabbage – Celebration Of A Disease (2017) Simply the ultimate mix of mutated groove and indie rock. With a lineage that stretches back to the Fall and takes in The Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses, it is the latest addition to a long line of infectious, sing-along Manchester anthems.   99 Felice Brothers – Lincoln Continental (2012) The … Continue reading The Top 200 – Mad Mackerel’s favourite songs of the last ten years (Part 6)

Mad Mackerel’s Tracks of the Year 100 – 76

100 Anna St. Louis – Fire   99 Deep State – No Idea Pt. II   98 Ron Gallo – Really Nice Guys   97 Wooden Wand – Aurora   96 Diet Cig – Sixteen   95 Prism Tats – The Liar   94 Julie & The Wrong Guys – Love And Leaving   93 Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile – Continental Breakfast   92 … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Tracks of the Year 100 – 76

Wooden Wand – Toth’s Law Vols 2 & 3

We’ve been remiss in sharing details of Wooden Wand’s Toth’s Law recordings. Volume 1 came out back in June, which we did cover, but Volumes 2 and 3 have followed since then. They are collections of outtakes, demos and songs that never, for one reason or another, made it onto his other recording output. Nevertheless the collection contains songs that frankly, other singer-songwriters would be … Continue reading Wooden Wand – Toth’s Law Vols 2 & 3

Wooden Wand – Toth’s Law

After waiting a goodly while for Wooden Wand’s excellent new album Clipper Ship, James Jackson Toth has surprised us with a second full length release, Toth’s Law. It is a collection of songs which were, for one reason or another, not included on previous releases. Not because they weren’t good, but because according to JJT ” I think of every album as a fish tank. As … Continue reading Wooden Wand – Toth’s Law

Wooden Wand – School’s Out

Wooden Wand has shared another single off his upcoming album, Clipper Ship. Of School’s Out, James Jackson Toth says it “uses summer vacation as a metaphor for a lifetime spent on Earth: existence as a brief event occurring between one unknown darkness (the end of one school year, birth) and another (the beginning of a new school year, death). Present throughout are the themes that run … Continue reading Wooden Wand – School’s Out

Wooden Wand Returns

After what seems like an uncharacteristically long silence, longstanding MM fave Wooden Wand has shared details of a new album, Clipper Ship, to be released on the 5th May. The first taste from it is Mexican Coke, a typically understated, gently strummed and elegant folk song that reminds us all of what we’ve been missing these past months. Lyrically there are few who can match … Continue reading Wooden Wand Returns

Best Of The Year – Chris T Popper’s Top Twenty

20) Natural Child – Dancin’ With Wolves . 19) Hamilton Leithauser – 11 O’Clock Friday Night . 18) Faces On Film – Percy . 17) Early Winters – A Thing For You . 16) Sleaford Mods – Routine Dean . 15) Eels – Mistakes of My Youth . 14) Chimes – Total Sunflower . 13) Dust From A 1000 Yrs – Smoke Em Up .  … Continue reading Best Of The Year – Chris T Popper’s Top Twenty

Mad Mackerel’s Favourite Albums Of 2014 (Part 1)

Following our countdown of favourite songs of the year, here is part one of MM’s selection of the forty albums we most enjoyed throughout 2014. 40 The Orwells – Disgraceland . 39 Iceage – Plowing Into The Field Of Love   38 The Cult Of Dom Keller – The Second Bardo .  37 Mark Lanegan Band – Phantom Radio . 36 Hamilton Leithauser – Black Hours … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Favourite Albums Of 2014 (Part 1)