The Courteeners - That Kiss, That first album, That it...?

Now let there be no doubt about it - Liam Fray is a fucking great song writer. I believe the majority enjoyed his yearning penned tales of love, loss, lust and the like. And here, the self-proclaimed musical saviour has taken a step away from St Jude to present that nation with a track not featured on the album, and good on the boy! St Jude has only been out a number of months and the fact that Fray and his lesser known band mates are producing songs not featured on their debut is a productive step forward.

“That Kiss” is a delicate indie ballad, once again, encapsulating Fray’s lovable topic, the hot potato of the broken soul - A man tortured by the unknowing female race who simply continue their business unaware of the catastrophic damage they are causing. And as women continue to break hearts like cheap toys in a problem child’s bedroom, Fray continues to pen his sensitive misdemeanours down…song after song.

There are certain song highlights. Once again Fray shows his capability as a true poet in the urban jungle of house parties, ASBO’s and under drinking and blasts in with lyrical hop-scotch which runs so smoothly of the tongue…”If he only knew what you thought/ The lust, the lack of trust and temptation you fought” entwined into the ever self-reassurance of his personal conversation, “It meant nothing/ It meant everything” proves itself to be a real relationship bust-up anthem.

But here is where the problem lies. Despite the clear lyrical wisdom it seems that this is hardly a step forwards for The Courteeners. Sure it’s not on the album, but “Please don’t” is. A lazy comparison maybe…But a comparison that makes utter sense in the circumstance. And as the brilliant Fray, and I do mean that, continues his soul aching ramblings of “He’s just a passing fashion/ And he’s on his way out” I cannot help but ponder the same thing. A great debut, but with a great debut must come more greatness…that is if Liam isn’t to fall victim to his own written work.

CHECK OUT THE NEW VIDEO HERE - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8R6oSOidiI

Sergeant - Top notch guitar pop

Scotland’s latest export, pop prodigies Sergeant, have unleashed a three track E.P. The melody rammed, limited edition record is filled to the brim with youth-defining tales. “Our lives are all about living for the nights we can’t remember” yaps front man, Nick Mercer, in the most sincere and profound manor.

Chirpy indie guitars are strung along by the metaphoric daisy-chain of harmonic Scottish vocals, all of which is accredited by the prolific licks and riffs of a very La’s-esqe swagger. Now comparisons will fly, lazy comparisons which may mention their Dundee counterparts - The View - But let it be known! The Glenrothes four are floating high above the fields of the norm, as here they have created a tip-top pop E.P which dangles strangely close to perfection.

The Mouth - Lost and Lonely

After a small gap The Mouth have returned with a taster of things to come. And if this is just the taster then the world better make way for a new set of heroes.

Despite my bias, there is something special about The Mouth which i am unable to put my finger on. Every listen fills me with a sort of smokey-urban hope as the enigma of their sound radiates and drips into the atmosphere like the unexplainable feeling of happiness which fills your soul when you know something is so special, so real, so heartfelt and yet so untouched!

"Lost and Lonely" bleeds a sound that can only be hailed as spiritual and invulnerable, simply impervious to any attack as a chorus of chant-like perfection kicks in before the bridge of "the tender themes" and the washing of souls in the urban water of London's undiscovered rock stars.

(PICTURE - Dingy sorroudings are branded by The Mouth and light shines through)

Conor Oberst - The self titled master piece.

Conor Oberst, the troubled soul who gave us Bright Eyes, has once again returned from the bottom of his whiskey bottle with a new producer and an eclectic country branded group of friends - The Mystic Valley Band.

Followers of Bright Eyes will know that Mr Oberst is capable of churning out songs without even barely thinking. His current library boasts countless minimal country tales, duet ballads of lyrical perfection and depressive monologues depicting the mindset of a weary love seeking soul, and now, without fail, Oberst has produced yet another album of top-notch quality with high calibre song writing.

Throughout the record there are sprinklings of his pessimistic and unhealthily depressive ethos. “I don’t want to die (in the hospital)” is rife with such ill penned vocals of the cold grasp of death in an even colder and artificially crafted environment. But such songs can appear misleading. The upbeat tempo of this urban-country ballad is a smiley cover-up for the suicidal and seemingly cathartic ramblings of a tortured individual who is scared of death and even more scared of dying under the watchful eye of doctors and nurses.

“NYC -Gone, Gone” is a short, sharp shot of distortion with a foot stomping tempo, while “Milk Thistle” switches up the melody into a pool of chord plucking warmth which hugs you like a past Bright Eyes anthem. Graceful like an urban Townes Van Zandt and ruthless like the dispirited fables of Leonard Cohen, Oberst exasperates his range in music making to an untouchable potential that stretches from an ear to ear grin to the deleterious scriptures of a manic depressive.

NOAH AND THE wHALE - Brighton great escape festival

The Great Escape Festival in Brighton is home to a number of great bands, it is also home to a number of bands who should probably not only not be a part of the line but should quit all together, but thankfully the urban-folk tales of Noah and the Whale do not fall into the latter category.

If there is warmth in a voice then Noah and the Whale are the central heating of bands. A lovable romanticism which may seem a little old fashioned is present voice of Noah and his odd looking instrument wielding band members.

It appears that not all the hope in the world is lost. Songs like “Two bodies and one heart” and “Five years time” are rife with a longing to be loved, remembered and to feel belonged. And perhaps more importantly, amidst the tweak of the ukulele and five person harmonies that love is lurking, and it is real.

Glasvegas - Geraldine

The hype surrounding Scotland’s leather clad rockers has reached monumental peaks recently. They have been praised the next big thing by many publications and their new single, Geraldine, is nothing more than a solid confirmation of this hear-say.

The eruption of sound sculpts the curious tale of a social worker and their unstable patient. The lyrical perfection hides a dark story behind the wayfairers of front man James Allan, who almost seems emotionless and content in the shadows of an untold and illegitimate love.

Top to toe in black they seem featureless and sombre but a passion does lurk, and it is slowly beginning to emerge from the pockets of their t-bird reject jackets and from the soles of their neatly polished shoes. "I will be the angel on your shoulders, My name is Geraldine i'm your social worker" crafts a relationship of trust amongst the harmonic melodies to backing vocals from John's brother. A melodic ballad from the Scottish working class who have clearly been working very fucking hard.

Serious lack of anything!

Now is the time i pull my finger out.

There are a few things coming up on the site asap! Fleet Foxes review, The Music review and some New Street Adventure related things. But below are a few new mouth logos, who have been in the studio for a while now. I imagine that we are in for quite a spectical when they emmerge!