Page 51 - Black Velvet Issue 88

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familiarity about them, al- ing behind the pop-punk you’re guaranteed to have ever, and 'The Sun Never
though M.I.C. are very and headed more into pure a good time at a Less Than Sets', another catchy tune
much contemporary. pop territory. ‘Drive’ is a Jake show. You can tell it’s which showcases Daxx's
Opener ‘Time To Rock & bubblier song with a funky quite an old recording as impressive talents. There is
Roll’ is a great introduction. chorus while the soulful Chris asks to see ‘lighters also a noteworthy rocked-
It’s upbeat and goes with a ‘We Are’ is the band speak- in the air’ (as opposed to up cover of the 60s classic
swing, promising a good ing up for the environment. cell phones). We’d person- 'The In Crowd', a slightly
time to come. ‘Blast Off To “They’re not gonna change ally rather hear a more cur- unusual choice but is obvi-
Mars’ has a heavier rock the world, we are. They’re rent live show but if you like ously one which the band
flavour with guitars cranked not gonna save the world, reminiscing, this release is love as they certainly do it
and a decent if short-lived we are,” Jenna inspira- a good one with which to justice. With Cheap Trick
THE ROCKET SUMMER guitar duet, while slower tionally sings. ‘Limitless’, as do so. being inducted into the
ZOETIC tempo ‘Never Break Away’ a whole, allows its audi- YYY Rock And Roll Hall Of
(AVIATE) goes down the raw-edged ence to feel liberated, in- SBV Fame, on the basis of this
With new album, power ballad route. Stand- spired and free, as it brings album alone they truly de-
‘Zoetic’, Bryce Avary has out track, though, is ‘Ru- forward admirable themes CHEAP TRICK serve that honour.
made his most experimen- mours’. From the grinding of positivity and reconnec- BANG ZOOM CRAZY... YYYYY
tal album to date. The guitar intro, through the re- tion. The album teaches lis- HELLO! Ian Trigg
album begins with beats, lentless thumping drum teners to feel fearless and (BIG MACHINE)
breaths and funky tones. beat and strong vocals, to unbreakable through the Legendary pop-rockers
The flamboyant purple the sparkling, soaring and track ‘The Greatest’. This is Cheap Trick return with the
Prince comes to mind in echoing guitar solo, it has a song which brings the bizarrely titled 'Bang Zoom
places on ‘Cold War’. all the ingredients for a album to a lyrically beauti- Crazy... Hello!', their 17th
‘Same Air’ was the first sin- high-class rocker. M.I.C. ful close. The band have studio album. It's their first
gle to be released from the may not be hugely innova- definitely stretched them- since 2009's excellent 'The
album. Sadly, this single tive, but they can write well, selves and will no doubt Latest', and also their first
went a little over our heads, the execution is as tight as win new fans with this re- without longtime drummer
particularly the hazy instru- a drum, and ultimately ‘6th lease. Bun E. Carlos, who left
mentation of the chorus, Sense’ is a quality album. YYYY under rather acrimonious
which brings to mind some What more can you ask Stella Bibb circumstances six years
sort of dayglo drug-fueled for? ago. He was replaced by ROYAL REPUBLIC
rave. ‘UNI’ is a bit more like YYYY guitarist Rick Nielsen's son WEEKEND MAN
The Rocket Summer that Clare Huckett Daxx, who has been play- (VERTIGO)
we know and love. Less ing with them ever since. After a four year wait,
experimental and more just He revitalised the band on Swedish garage rockers
jamming out. ‘White Fire- stage and now they have Royal Republic are back
works’ is another fave for returned to the studio to with ‘Weekend Man’, the
having a regular pop-rock produce one of their finest next instalment in their line
sound. Like ‘FL, CA’, ‘Get albums to date. Next year of fun, care-free, good-time
Over It’ has lots of vocal sees the 40th anniversary rock albums. 'Here I Come
sounds. Bryce brings his of the release of Cheap (There You Go)' gets the
beatbox experimenting to
LESS THAN JAKE Trick's debut self-titled party started in style, with a
the fore to show more of LIVE FROM ASTORIA album but 'Bang Zoom...' killer hook, soulful shake
the different sounds he can (RUDE) shows a band who have and catchy lyrics. The fast-
add to an album. In ‘You ‘Live From Astoria’ is a just as much energy, paced ‘People Say That
Are, You Are’ Bryce reveals TONIGHT ALIVE ‘new’ live album from ska hunger and commitment as I’m Over The Top’ is a high-
honesty, singing about
LIMITLESS punkers, Less Than Jake. they had way back then. light, with dirty riffs and
voices in his head, while (SONY) We write ‘new’ in inverted 'Heart On The Line' kicks gritty vocals from Adam
‘Rule Of Thirds Kind Of Tonight Alive’s new commas as interestingly, off proceedings, it's an old Grahn. It’s already appar-
Life’ has a frantic, cacoph- album, ‘Limitless’, invites the recording is from 2001 reworked demo of theirs ent that Royal Republic
onic intro but does settle listeners into a world of en- – 15 years ago, on the third which really should have haven’t changed over the
into a catchier chorus and couragement and free- night of a three-day run at seen the light of day years past four years; they’re still
decent song. This is defi- spiritedness. The vivid blue the London Astoria. The ago, as it's a storming, up- writing silly, ridiculously fun
nitely a very experimental colour washed over the venue closed in 2009 and tempo rocker which serves songs with no multi layered
album and considering album’s artwork mirrors the has since been demol- as a fine mission statement meaning. It’s in no way a
Bryce plays all instruments soft atmosphere featured ished. On this live album, for the rest of the album, it bad thing though, ‘Uh Huh’
himself, he does amazingly within each track. The Less Than Jake sound like shows that the band really knows it’s silly but it doesn’t
well. Sadly, sometimes less album opens with the em- they’re doing the demolish- mean business this time. care, and it’s the incredible
is more, and we’d have powering ‘To Be Free’, ing as they jump, bounce 'No Direction Home' fol- silliness that wins you over.
preferred a slightly more which sees Jenna Mc- and skank their way lows, another strong up- ‘Baby’ is glorious and is
cohesive, if a little less ad- Dougall repeat ‘I am limit- through staples such as beat number which was sure to bring a smile to
venturous sound. Bryce is less, I am limitless’. ‘Magnetic North’, ‘My Very released as a download a your face, while ‘American
very talented though and ‘Oxygen’ pushes for a Own Flag’, ‘Nervous In The few months ago to wide- Dream’ achieves the per-
even if this album is not sense of escape. The lyrics Alley’ and ‘Johnny Quest spread acclaim from fans fect balance between being
your cuppa tea, he’s worth float weightlessly on top of Thinks We’re Sellouts’. It’s and critics. The album uplifting and mellow. Every
going to see live. a subtle yet catchy beat. ‘I interesting how a lot of quality is consistent all the track is oozing with fun and
YYY stare my fears in the face’ these same songs are still way through, from first sin- laughter, and the talented
SBV sings Jenna in this very in today’s setlists. The gle, the moody, laid back musicianship does not go
pop-influenced track. band joke around in be- 'When I Wake Up Tomor- unnoticed. These guys def-
M.I.C. Jenna shows that this tween songs. Frontman row' to the irresistibly initely have a talent for cre-
6TH SENSE album has grown along Chris DeMakes jokes catchy 'Blood Red Lips', ating music that never gets
(M.I.C.) with herself. ‘Limitless’ pos- about going to a sperm which has an early 70s old; ‘Weekend Man’ is the
M.I.C. have a stripped- itively interacts with listen- bank and donating sperm. glam rock-feel, the stomp- kind of album you can hit
down, blues-rock sound ers of all kind but sees a It gets a bit chaotic in ing chant-along 'Long Time repeat and enjoy for hours
reminiscent of the 70s and more mainstream pop songs such as ‘Just Like No See You', the awe- on end. They are Royal
early 80s, a sound they sound. The band scrapped Frank’. The album shows some, heavy blues-rock of Republic, and they’re the
capture so well that this their initial album to go that Less Than Jake aren’t 'Do You Believe Me?' perfect soundtrack to your
album feels like the return back into the studio and the best singers or players which sees Rick Nielsen next summer party.
of an old friend. The classic challenged themselves to in the world but they are letting loose on one of his YYYY
rhythms have a feeling of change their sound, leav- one of the most fun and longest solos on record Carissa Thorne

ALBUMS