The Everglows - Amanita

Good afternoon. It's Sunday. It's the Sunday before Christmas, which doesn't technically have a name but given the number of things that have gone wrong in thegeneral's house today, it might well now be termed "Fuck The Fuck Off Sunday".

Anyway, bad luck and household woes aside, I've got some more brilliant new music to share with you and I'm happy to be doing so.

If you read these pages regularly you'll know that The Everglows have, over the last few months. become something of a fixture on the blog and I'm really pleased that they got in touch with me again to share their latest song - which is literally and actually out literally today. If you'd like to, you can read my previous posts on the band HERE.

However, ye can hear the new song by clicking on the link to their soundcloud page here:

soundcloud.com/theeverglows/amanita

"Amanita" is another soup-herb track, and continues their psychedelic excellence apace. There's also something slightly punky about this too - it's got a fab rough around the edges, discordant feel to it, which the band really do so well. It's also one of those kind of songs that you only really need to listen to once before you can sing along - or in my case, have it stuck in your head all day - always the sign of good tunesmithery in my book.

If you're after new music this festive season which isn't festive or...er...of the season, then give the new track by The Everglows a whirl. You need it in your life!

Whitemoor - The North Wind

Well, here I am with a second post to whet your musical whistles on this grey and dreary day. We all need some musical sustenance on days like this.

What can I offer you? I can offer you another band that I've happily featured on these pages before and am equally happy to be featuring again.

Step forward Whitemoor. If you like, you can read my previous post on them HERE and I highly recommend you do.

Now then, they have a new single, due for release on the 13th December, and it's called "The North Wind". It will be available for download from their site:

http://www.whitemoor.co.uk/

and you'll also be able to preview it from here:

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-north-wind-single/id941279875

I've been lucky enough to have a sneak peak of the single and I can say that it's very very well worth a listen and, when the time comes, a download.

"The North Wind" is a stunning track, it's very stripped back and the band are, for want of a better phrase, laid bare for the first time. It's a step in a different direction for the band, after their last album and is more ballad-like. It allows the strength of their lyrics to shine through and also shows that they're a group of great depth. The video, which accompanies the single (and I'll update the page with this when the time comes for it to be released officially) is wonderful in its simplicity and it marries with the song very well indeed.

If you're after something gently lulling and emotional to listen to as we head into December, then look no further than this wonderful record. I hope that the band allow this side of their musical personality to come through more in the future.

The Whereabouts - I Don't Care

Two blog posts for the price of one. You can't say fairer than that of a weekend, can you? Thegeneral is actually in swinging sixties mode today, so following on from the brilliance of The Everglows, I'm keeping up the theme and bringing The Whereabouts to your attention.

I was genuinely really excited to get be contacted and asked to review these guys. They've been on my radar for a little while after the release of their initial recordings last year and their new EP "I Don't Care" has just been released. You can buy it by clicking on the following link:

i-dont-care/id914085170

The Whereabouts are a genuinely exciting prospect for the future. First of all, they've got real raw, musical talent. "I Don't Care" is a massively exciting EP. It's easy to see who their influences are, and who they take inspiration from, but there's more to them than just being a "painting by numbers" copycat band. Their songs are original, really interesting and solidly constructed. If the opening track to this collection of songs does not hook you in with it's awesome kick arse riff, then you have no soul. NO SOUL, I TELL YOU - AND WE CANNOT BE FRIENDS. SO THERE.

I mentioned in my last review of The Everglows, there were flashes of early *whispers* Status Quo. Here, in this EP, particularly in track two "Money and Fame" the guitars have that same feel, that same, real force and power, the same type of catchy hooks.

There simply isn't a bad track here. Every one of them will draw you in, in some way. The Whereabouts are an exciting, fresh act - with a real genuine energy to their music and their approach. Thegeneral cannot wait to see what they come up with next and in the meantime, spend some of your hard earned pennies on buying "I Don't Care".

The Repeat Offenders - Lose Control

Good Tuesday evening to you. Almost at the mid point of the week and not killed anyone yet, so all in all I'd say that's pretty good going (there's time yet, so don't piss me off, or if you do piss me off you can placate me with tea and send an androgynous house boy round to serve it ).

So, what, dear readers can I offer you?

Something really special. But then don't I always? I'm so good to you - you really don't deserve me.

The Repeat Offenders are a band that have been on my radar for some time now and they're a band of real merit, therefore I'm massively pleased to be able to review their new single, which they were kind enough to send to me today.

Have a look at the band's website, where you'll find a link to the video for the song - called "Lose Control" and also details of where you can download/buy a CD copy from:

therepeatoffenders.co.uk/

I have to say, I'm massively baffled as to why these guys are not much bigger than they are - they've got a really solid, edgy sound and a fantastic look and this new single is a prime example of all of these things coming together beautifully. They're a great mixture of cool mod sixties vibes laced with late 80s Madchester bands like The Stone Roses - but yet they still retain plenty originality to set them apart from everyone else.

"Lose Control" is an epic song from start to finish, it's a rollercoaster of rock, with a brilliantly catchy hook, a vocal which is alive with power and filthily delightful guitars. One of those songs that I instantly felt I'd be able to sing along with  after one listen - and after two it was jammed in my head, in the nicest possible way. In fact I've actually been singing it all afternoon. So if you're one of my neighbours and you're reading this, I'm sorry (I'm not sorry).

The B Side, available if you buy the CD single is an acoustic number called "In My Way". Acoustic to some might mean a delicate little wisp of a track that is instantly forgettable - not with The Repeat Offenders, this is just as powerful as "Lose Control" and every bit as stirring and beautiful to listen to. It's got a raw emotional power to it.

These guys have got proper attitude, they've got an acute sense of style and a sound that really should be filling stadiums. Make their new single one of your early Summer musical must haves - and that's an order from me.

Menswe@r - Crash

I haven't been this excited since they bumped my pocket money up to £3.50 in 1994. (£4 if I did the pots on Tuesday nights). Happy Saturday, by the way, and welcome to a new blog...a blog which in all honesty is going to be filled with much squeeing and giggles of helpless delight. "Why?" I hear about one and a half of you cry. Well, I'll tell thee...

Menswe@r are back. YES, you read it right. Menswe@r - and this pleases me greatly. 

It's actually just nearly floored me to find out that it's almost 20 years since "Daydreamer" came out - probably the song that everyone associates them with. I vividly remember hearing it all the time on the radio and singing it at school (for I was in the middle of my GCSEs when it came out) at the back of my Economics class (I was more interested in Johnny Dean than Supply and Demand of GDP or whatever it was we were doing or something or nothing). 

But times change, and although the band split and moved in different directions - Johnny's been very honest and forthright about his experiences during that time - that song always did stay with me - as did their album "Nuisance" which I still think is a bit of an under-rated Britpop classic - and if you don't agree, tough, it's my blog so shut up and go away. 

So colour me fucked when I found out a new single was in the pipeline - and I've been lucky enough receive it to review for you all. Yes. 

"Crash" is, all being well, released on June 2nd and my GOD it's a corker. You can pre-order it from Post Pop Records here:

postpoprecords.bandcamp.com/album/crash

And, if you're a self respecting Menswe@r fan, I suggest you do. The line up may be different, but the sound is still just stunning and Johnny - well, be still my beating heart, you've still got it...

It's sparky, it's full of energy, it's punky and it feels exciting. It feels actually like being a teenager again - it literally did fill me with delight hearing it for the first time. Of course, everyone's older now - we all are, but there is something so enticing about hearing a song like this you can't help but want to shake your hips and sing along. This is indie pop as it should be. The guitars and vocals work well together and seem to "sing" with each other in a lovely way, it's almost like a question and answer between the two. Johnny, for me, did always have one of the more distinctive voices of the 1990s and yeah, it's so great to hear him again and know he's at his best. It's a, pardon the pun, very driven record - it feels alive, alert and I can only hope there's a lot more to come...

"Crash" is getting some good airplay at the moment and justifiably so - thegeneral has added it to her list of songs that are going to be with her throughout the Summer. If you've got any sense, you will too.