Features 5/9

Reviews and Features

New song and album reviews, featured articles and opinion from indie and alternative.

Is it now ok for indie fans to like Harry Styles?

Following the release of Harry's House, it's time to stop feeling guilty about liking the former One Direction singer.

Neil Renton

May 27, 20223 min read

The Black Keys stick to their winning formula on 'Dropout Boogie'

The Black Keys are never going to invent the wheel. What they will do though is make it go in a partially enjoyable direction. The Black...

Neil Renton

May 24, 20222 min read

The Smile: Debut album sounds like a terrific Radiohead album

Thom Yorke's latest side project is enough to starve off the impatience of the Radiohead fanbase.

Matthew McLister

May 18, 20223 min read

Arcade Fire: New album 'WE' is worth the five-year wait

WE is bookended by anxiety and positivity, a journey through isolation, claustrophobia, euphoria and landing on hope.

Matthew McLister

May 12, 20225 min read

Fontaines D.C.’s 'Skinty Fia' rights the wrongs of 'A Hero’s Death'

The Dublin post-punk band’s third album progresses the unease and bleakness of their last, though the end result is far greater.

Matthew McLister

May 5, 20225 min read

'King of the Arts' - a poem in thanks to music

A thank you poem by Josh Robinson to music and his favourite artists who helped him get through lockdown.

Josh Robinson

Apr 27, 20223 min read

'Favourite Worst Nightmare': Arctic Monkeys underappreciated second album

How can an album that gave us so many classics not have the same respect as other AM records?

Matthew McLister

Apr 19, 20222 min read

Wet Leg: Debut album from 2022's most hyped band is a whole load of fun

A review of the debut album from Isle of Wight indie rock duo Wet Leg - the end result of a year's worth of fever pitch acclaim.

Matthew McLister

Apr 8, 20224 min read

Sea Girls: ‘Homesick’ review

The London indie-pop band's second album is a modern soundtrack to teenage nights out and romantic endeavours.

Josh Robinson

Apr 6, 20226 min read

Interview: Mount Famine talk dream festivals, lockdown challenges and new single 'Distance'

We caught up with Martin Stanier, the frontman of Derbyshire indie synth-pop band Mount Famine.

Matthew McLister

Mar 31, 20223 min read

The Shed Project: The Curious Mind Of a Common Man (first mix) review

The middle-aged Boltoners go against the rock 'n' roll grain to produce a debut that ought to be given a lot of exposure.

Nick Dale

Mar 17, 20223 min read

The output of female bands is the best it's ever been

The experiences of female indie bands in the 1990s/2000s make for grim reading, thankfully a lot of progress has been made since.

Matthew McLister

Mar 10, 20226 min read

February indie review: alt-J, Gang Of Youths, White Lies, Sea Power & more

A look at the best albums released in February 2022 from Bastille, Sea Power, SPINN, Mitski, NewDad, Black Country New Road and more.

Matthew McLister

Mar 1, 20226 min read

Bastille: ‘Give Me The Future’ review

The London indie-pop band's fourth studio album has the ability to win over those previously lukewarm to them

Josh Robinson

Feb 23, 20224 min read

Wet Leg: Viral singles, quirky songs and BBC Sound of 2022 predictions

The Isle of Wight indie-rock duo’s carefree sounds have seen them reach levels of unimaginable hype. Is 2022 their year?

Matthew McLister

Feb 21, 20225 min read

Black Country New Road: 'Ants From Up There' is a chaotic masterpiece

Stacked with poignancy, the Cambridgeshire band have delivered a beautifully messy album far more accessible than their debut.

Neil Renton

Feb 17, 20223 min read

Alt-J: Fourth album 'The Dream' sounds like a hopeful nightmare

The Leeds band's new album is American-focused and ambitious, proving, again, why they're one of the most unique bands around.

Matthew McLister

Feb 15, 20223 min read

Five hot takes from the BRIT Awards 2022

From the banality of Adele to the class of Sam Fender, here's a look at the awful and the good from Tuesday night's music ceremony.

Matthew McLister

Feb 9, 20225 min read

Liam Gallagher: 'Everything's Electric' is Oasis singer's best single yet

Co-written with Dave Grohl, Liam's new song is a majestic, swagger-filled highlight of his solo career to date.

Matthew McLister

Feb 8, 20223 min read

Yard Act: Leeds band fall short on highly anticipated debut

The post-punk band's debut The Overload may have charted at number two, but there's too much that disappoints.

Josh Robinson

Feb 2, 20226 min read