January Round Up

As starts of years go, 2012 has started with a bang in the musical world.


 

January saw some major shifts in the ways people listen to music, with the proposals of US congressional bills SOPA and PIPA dedicated to eradicating internet pirates illegally uploading copyrighted material, which in fact threatened to damage blog and mixtape culture significantly. Luckily the act wasn't passed, but the removal of major file-sharing site Megaupload came as a shock to the system.


The internet also received (and continues to receive) significant backlash over the hyping of one Lana Del Rey. It's been well documented, the sudden rise of signature track Video Games leading to slanderous comments on Lizzie Grant's image, background and her less than thrilling Saturday Night Live performance. If anything, this shows how powerful the internet has become with influence over new artists, Lana Del Rey acting as an unwilling puppet to demonstrate the brutal nature of the modern hype machine. 

Elsewhere, legendary singer Etta James saddened many with her passing, Michael Stipe of REM kicked up a fuss about Youtube's removal of the tastefully homo-erotic Perfume Genius album promo, Michael Kiwanuka surprised many by scooping the BBC's sound of 2012 poll giving hope for boring lounge music everywhere and Disney got hipsters hot and bothered over a badly judged Joy Division t-shirt.


In terms of album releases January hasn't been too shabby either. Here are some choice picks we at Sound Influx have been particularly enjoying:

The Maccabees - Given to the Wild 
"This should be the album that catapults The Maccabees to greater things, whether it’s higher chart placements or bigger festival crowds, it will guarantee one thing; more fans of this beautiful music."
Check out Calum Stephen's full 9/10 review here




Islet - Illuminated People 
"But for all its failures, Illuminated People remains a ferociously sturdy and confident debut, because it isn’t really a debut at all, it’s the logical next step in Islet’s story. And that’s the album in a nutshell, a ball of frenetic contradictions and clashing ideas. This isn’t the first message to the world, this is them having a shot at mass communication and telling people to get ready, because no-one knows where they’ll go next, not even themselves."
See Ned Powley's full 8/10 review here


Lana Del Rey - Born To Die
 "Already developing into a major artist on the strength of her first two singles alone, Born To Die will push her further into the spotlight. The only question is whether she’ll thrive or squint her eyes and hope for a moment of darkness."
Read Aurora Mitchell's 8/10 review here



Howler - America Give Up
"Howler have crafted a very promising record, which will no doubt strike a chord with many due it's undeniable sense of fun and Jordan's witty and wholly likeable lyrics and personality. Howler have dealt with the threat of hype impeccably and the Rough Trade signed band are certainly worth investigating."
 Read Toby McCarron's full review here


Roll on February!


By Toby McCarron

Howler - America Give Up

It's become pretty common knowledge that beginning of year hype, particularly for guitar bands, can be a poisoned chalice. Just look at some of 2011's buzz proprietors, names like Mona and Viva Brother fading into obscurity quicker than past X factor winners.

Howler are a Minneapolis group, who following the praise lauded onto their debut EP 'This Ones Different', have been the recipient of many a tip from 2012's almighty taste makers. Thankfully though, Howler's debut full length lives up to the hype and indicates signs that Howler may be in this game for the long haul.

The album is concoction of heavily Strokes inspired quick-fix indie hits and more rock-centred romps, themed around typically teenage subjects (Girls & Drinking) but also with some slightly more unexpected twists. Opener 'Beach Sluts' is one of the aforementioned, classic indie tracks in waiting. The track's basic guitar model, accompanied by Jordan Gatesmith's tales of "drinking in the afternoon" and smoking cigarettes aren't exactly breaking new ground, but are delivered with enough urgency and cheeky rebellion to make even the most bitter cynic succumb to it's youthful charms. Notions from the first track, that the album will be more of the same are instantly shattered with the thrilling 'Back To the Grave'. Jordan's vocals sound more foreboding than moaning, as he creepily poses the rhetorical question "Where will you be in 2023? In someone else's arms and not with me" with knowing pessimism. With ghostly "woos" from his band mates echoing in the background over feedback heavy guitars, it's an absolute joy, in an album that could have been so formulaic.

'America Give Up' also features the three best songs from the EP, most notable of the three being the newly titled 'Wailing (making out)' a slightly more literal title than the previous 'You Like White Women, I Like Cigarettes'. Again it's borderline impossible not to compare it to some of The Strokes earlier work as Jordan wails "I'm so tired of making out!" No doubt there'll be plenty more offers of making out for Jordan from female fans, as the lad pretty much embodies the stereotypical indie poster boy.

Another standout track is undoubtedly 'Back of Your Neck' a rockabilly explosion of fun, that along with 'Told You Once' give Howler two future anthems that are literally begging to be screamed back at them by adoring fans in whichever enormo-dome or major festival slot they could be inhabiting in years to come.


This said, the record isn't perfect though by any means, 'Too Much Blood' is a slow-burner that ends up chasing it's own tail, and detracts from the more boisterous cuts elsewhere. And the least said about the largely boring 'Free Drunk' the better. But these blips aside, Howler have crafted a very promising record, which will no doubt strike a chord with many due to it's undeniable sense of fun and Jordan's witty and wholly likeable lyrics and personality. Howler have dealt with the threat of hype impeccably and the Rough Trade signed band are certainly worth investigating.

7/10

By Toby McCarron

Howler - Back Of Your Neck

I'll get this out of the way straight away, it's been mentioned before but it's nigh on impossible not to comment on the fact that Howler sound a lot like American indie poster boys The Strokes. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing on this new cut from their forthcoming excellently titled debut LP 'America Give Up'.

It's the sort of song you don't quite want to like, as Howler's rise to adoration is going to be almost unavoidable next year following extensive coverage in magazines like the NME, and touring with fellow benefactors of hype driven success The Vaccines around the UK this year. But anyway, 'Back Of Your Neck' is indeed promising and bounces with carefree rebellion. Singer Jordan Gatesmith's drawl is a moodier teenage impression of Julian Casablancas, and the guitars that simmer behind it are basic yet gloriously infectuous and slightly rockabilly. It's a short, sharp adrenaline dose, and the album looks set to be the most harmless fun indie music will have in 2012.  

By Toby McCarron

Howler - This One's Different EP

The name of Howler’s debut EP is both correct and slightly misleading. With these five songs the band have taken a sound which is not very different at all, reminiscent of many bands, most notably the Strokes. But the latest signings from Rough Trade have twisted it into something undeniably more original than that. Howler are a five piece from Minnesota and they’re not short on press in Britain either, having just been named the number one band in the NME’s “Top 25 acts you need to hear”. With most of the songs under three minutes, there is a catchy, punky vibe to the EP. The raucous ‘This One’s Different’ and ‘I Told You Once’ demonstrate Jordan Gatesmith’s cocky vocals while the very Strokes-esque ‘For All Concern’ leaves Gatesmith sounding broody and menacing as he sings “I’m easy to love/and I’m easy to hate”

“You Like White Women, I Like Cigarettes” holds no pretence as the band soundtrack Gatesmith’s moans until he roars “I’m so tired of making out”. But the oddity of the EP is “14 Days” which takes a totally different direction to the rest of the tracks. The pulsing drum beat pushes the song forward but the guitars are swathed in distortion and it is here where it becomes clear that Howler are not just the newest American guitar band.

As finishing touches are being put to the new album, it is a very promising start from America’s most recent export. Just don’t say they’re the new Strokes. 

8/10

By Jessy Parker