Music Reviews

Steel Panther - Balls Out
1 November 2011

Album Review: Steel Panther - Balls Out
Building on the over-the-top, hair metal ideals introduced on debut effort Feel The Steel, Panther get their Balls Out on a record packed with catchy melodies, huge choruses and hilarious ...

Justin Bieber - Under The Mistletoe
1 November 2011

Album Review: Justin Bieber - Under The Mistletoe
It seems the music industry is keen to gently usher us towards Christmas - Michael Buble released his festive album last week, and now it's Justin Bieber's turn. Where Buble's benefitted ...

Katy Perry
1 November 2011

Live Review: Katy Perry
Katy Perry brought the California Dreams Tour back to Manchester last night in what was a truly triumphant return. It was a concert that, like Alice Cooper's recent Halloween Night of ...

Funeral For A Friend
31 October 2011

Live Review: Funeral For A Friend
With a great reputation and a lot to live up to, Funeral For A Friend returned to Manchester on Friday night. Supporting their latest record Welcome Home Armageddon, plus brand new ...

Alice Cooper
31 October 2011

Live Review: Alice Cooper's Halloween Night Of Fear
Alice Cooper brought his Halloween Night of Fear tour to the Manchester Apollo last night, putting on a highly theatrical, camp and utterly fantastic stage show. Before the glam rock icon ...

Bowling For Soup
28 October 2011

Live Review: Bowling For Soup
Bowling For Soup returned to the UK for their almost-annual trip, this time joined by pop-punk band Orange and ska act Suburban Legends. As with all BFS tours in the UK, ...

Kelly Clarkson
27 October 2011

Album Review: Kelly Clarkson - Stronger
Kelly Clarkson is back with her fifth record, one that manages to remain solid and interesting without being a big departure. Stronger sees the slightly dark pop of songs like 'Since ...

Michael Bublé - Christmas
26 October 2011

Album Review: Michael Bublé - Christmas
It might seem too early to even be mentioning Christmas, but Michael Bublé is already in the festive spirit with his new album. In what is sure to be a perfect ...

Ronan Parke
25 October 2011

Album Review: Ronan Parke - Ronan Parke
13-year-old Ronan Parke surprised everyone on Britain’s Got Talent earlier this year, starting off with a fantastic audition singing ‘Feeling Good’. He was the runner-up on the show, but was still ...

Erasure
24 October 2011

Live Review: Erasure
It is a common misconception that the first thought of 80s icons Erasure touring is ‘Oh, have they got back together?’ The truth is that they have never been away, in ...

Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
24 October 2011

Album Review: Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
Coldplay are back with Mylo Xyloto, the follow-up to their much-praised fourth record Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends. Whilst this reviewer will be the first to admit ...

Sonic Boom Six
24 October 2011

Live Review: Sonic Boom Six
Manchester's ska/metal/punk/dub rockers Sonic Boom Six took over Preston's 53 Degrees in an interesting environment, one they grew into and eventually excelled in. Due to Hard-Fi playing the small club stage, ...

Darren Hayes - Secret Codes And Battleships
21 October 2011

Album Review: Darren Hayes - Secret Codes And Battleships
Darren Hayes has returned with his first record in four years, and it's an album that will add further longevity to an already impressive career. Raising to prominance with Savage Garden, ...

Matt Cardle - Letters
19 October 2011

Album Review: Matt Cardle - Letters
It's been a long, frustrating time coming for Matt Cardle, but he finally released his debut full-length this week. From having to wait for runners-up One Direction to release their album ...

Officers - On The Twelve Thrones
18 October 2011

Album Review: Officers - On The Twelve Thrones
Officers are a band sitting just off the radar at the moment, but poised to make a name for themselves with their debut record. On The Twelve Thrones is an album ...

City And Colour - Dallas Green
18 October 2011

Live Review: City And Colour
Dallas Green brought his City And Colour project back to Manchester last night for an ambient, relaxed evening that cemented Green as a very special talent. From the opening of 'We ...

Patrick Stump - Soul Punk
17 October 2011

Album Review: Patrick Stump - Soul Punk
Former Fall Out Boy front-man Patrick Stump has taken a huge step away from his rock roots with solo debut full-length Soul Punk. Whilst the soul, R'n'B sounds may seem like ...

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
13 October 2011

Album Review: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Noel Gallagher is launching his solo, post-Oasis career with Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, a record that stands out, despite wandering into realms of familiarity. Noel has started his solo career ...

Transit - Listen & Forgive
12 October 2011

Album Review: Transit - Listen & Forgive
This week, Transit released Listen & Forgive, their third studio album in as many years. It concludes a busy year for the pop-punk band, who've had a 9-track "EP" and two ...

You Me At Six
11 October 2011

Live Review: You Me At Six
Saturday night was You Me At Six's first ever show in Preston, and the atmosphere in the sold-out venue reflected the special occasion. Lower Than Atlantis opened the show strongly, in ...

Enter Shikari
10 October 2011

Live Review: Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari took over The Ritz in Manchester on Friday night to stake their claim as one of the country's most thrilling live bands. The evening kicked off early with U.S. ...

Jack's Mannequin - People and Things
6 October 2011

Album Review: Jack's Mannequin - People and Things
Now on their third studio album, it's hard to decide where Jack's Mannequin are in terms of genre or popularity. Their first two full-lengths performed fairly well in the US charts, ...

Lady Antebellum - Own The Night
6 October 2011

Album Review: Lady Antebellum - Own The Night
Country-rock trio Lady Antebellum are back already with Own The Night, the follow-up to last year's huge album Need You Now. This, the trio's third album, is sure to capitalise on ...

Evanescence - Evanescence
5 October 2011

Album Review: Evanescence - Evanescence
Evanescence and Amy Lee are in an interesting, albeit odd, place in their careers. Their new self-titled album is only their third in eight years, and fans have been waiting for ...