If you don’t know Cults, it’s time you did something about that. If you asked me what are my top three one-girl-one-guy bands, it would definitely be Blood Red Shoes, The Kills and Cults, hands down.
In close fourth would be The White Stripes, but only because they haven’t put anything out since Icky Thump which is a fucking killer album but that was what, 2007?
Anyway, Cults only have two albums out so far, their self-titled debut from 2011 and Static which dropped a couple weeks back and both albums are really solid. Vintage indie loaded with nostalgia, slick hooks and mesmerising vocals.
Check it. Here’s the amazing black and white video the band shot for the single “High Roadâ€:
That’s right boys and girls, your Tiger pal’s been busy putting together another suh-lick 8Tracks mix to blow your fragile little minds clear into the weekend, ffffffffffuck yeah!
This time around I thought I’d focus on the fairer sex because in my humble opinion there is a fuckload of very cool, fresh and genuinely incredible rock music being made by girls at the moment.
So here are 18 tracks from a whole buncha bands you may never have heard of (Anna Calvi? Cults? Marissa Nadler? Savages? The Kills? Hello? Is this thing on?) because I’m rad like that and I think you guys will really like this stuff.
So put your headphones on, throw some whisky from that hipflask I know you keep under your desk into your morning coffee and let’s get this muthufukkin party started.
Slicky-T’s back with some more sick-ass videos he’s stolen shamelessly from the infinite grab-bag that is the interwebs and holy balls! We got us some primo content right here boys and girls, proper industrialstrengthshit.
This week I’m featuring the new Hives video for “Go Right Ahead†(the track that 5FM are murdering the fuck out of as we speak), as well as a seriously low-budget video from a band called The Unkindness Of Ravens featuring a blonde with a duct tape fetish 0_o
There’s also the new Blood Red Shoes single “Lost Kids†(a little obsessed with them at the moment) and to kickstart your weekend in the best possible way, a Super Mario 3 Medley that is guaranteed to warm the cockles of your cold, black heart.
So let’s get to it, shall we?
Dig this next one, it’s The Unkindness Of Ravens. Not sure if I’m totally sold on this track just yet, it hovers in that grey area between being utter shite and kinda cool.
I like the fact that the production (both of the video and the song) is super low budget. No digital gimmickry going on here, this shit’s rougher than a goat’s knee.
Thoughts anyone?
Ahh the Blood Red Shoes. This band can do no wrong in my eyes (ears?). I’d rate them right up there with Silversun Pickups when it comes to newish rock bands that are blowing my hair back.
And now you just gotta kick back, close your eyes and get lost in the following vid. If I had to take guitar lessons again, this is the kind of shit I’d want to learn.
Watching those songs played like that makes you realise how fucking well-written they actually are. Mario 3 was always the best one, basically everyone knows that.
Have a killer weekend party people, see ya’ll on the other side
Blood Red Shoes’ first two albums, 2008’s Box Of Secrets and 2010’s Fire Like This were packed with huge, aggressive punk-pop hooks that surged with energy and kicked like a mule.
Now this Brighton-based duo are branching out with In Time To Voices on which, singer/guitarist Laura-Mary Carter and drummer/vocalist Steve Ansell tone things down considerably.
It takes some getting used to, and fans of their acerbic brand of punk-pop will find the album lacking the punch-to-the-gut force of Box Of Secrets and Fire Like This, but to be perfectly frank another album like the first two would have buried this band as surely as Billy Talent’s last effort buried them.
It’s the golden rule of writing albums. Find a sound that works with the first one, hone that sound on the second and change it on the third. In Time To Voices follows this formula and in doing so, breathes new life into this band.
Killer Tracks:
The first single off In Time With Voices, “Cold†is definitely one of the finest tracks on the album. From Ansell’s throbbing double bass pedal drumming to Carter’s lurching power chords, it’s a track that smacks of grungey goodness with a healthy dose of anthemic pop-punk thrown in for good measure.
The tension in the verse of “Lost Kids†builds quickly, exploding in the chorous with Carter and Ansell singing “Let it all come undone / cut it down, down to noneâ€.
“Night Light†wanders into full on Smashing Pumpkins Ava Adore territory. It’s a track rich with acoustic melodies interwoven with melancholy piano parts that really drive home the chorous line “It’s the ghost you made of me…â€
“Stop Kicking†and “Slip Into The Blue†are both tight, deceptively infectious tracks that Carter and Ansell play like hidden aces near the end of the album.
Their vocal interplay has never sounded sweeter than it does on In Time With Voices. Ansell in particular has taken on more of the vocal duties which, considering how intense his style of drumming is, might not have been the best call for their live performances, but I’ll reserve judgement on that one until some kind benefactor and reader of this site sponsors a flight to the UK so I can watch them live.
Should You Give A Shit?
Are the Kennedys gun-shy? Of course you should give a shit! It’s a crying shame how many people don’t give a shit about this band.
My advice is buy all three of their albums so you can track just how much this band has blossomed on In Time To Voices and then let’s have this conversation again.
In the meantime, here’s “Slip Into The Blue†to get you in the mood.
I used to write this weekly feature on www.pulpmag.co.za called “Tiger Bites†that got some decent traffic.
It was a weekly round-up of everything going on in the music world. I used to bust my balls to find to best content from the music sites I trawl and then mix it all into one post. It melted faces.
So here’s something in a similar vein. This week it’s new tracks from the Blood Red Shoes, Temper Trap, Garbage (yes they’re dropping a new album and yes, the single is SICK) and The Shoes with their video for “Time To Dance†featuring Jake Gyllenhaal.
Dig it.
Fair warning before you play this next one. It’s fucking badass, got my hands on it courtesy of my man Nick Bouwer. Check his site out for more good shit.
Have a killer weekend party people! See y’all on the other side
A good buddy of mine flew in from Scotland this past weekend, goes by the name of Ricky T.
He’s one of the oldest friends I have (we go back nearly twenty years) and the man has impeccable taste in music so if he recommends a band, I’m on it like white on rice.
So when he told me to check out Blood Red Shoes I bought both their albums straight up and man! You gotta hit the “read full post†link to hear this band…
I guess you’d call it underground alternative/punk with a nice grungey flavour. It’s definitely not indie, which is a refreshing change from most bands these days that all seem to play some variation of that genre. Vocal duties are shared between frontlady and guitarist Laura-Mary Carter and drummer Steven Ansell who pretty much make up the band.
What’s seriously impressive is the fact that Carter’s jams are tastier than she is which is saying a lot because a) just look at her, she’s a total hottie! And b) a girl?!? Playing guitar?!?
Look, don’t get me wrong, I’m well aware that girls can play the guitar (sort of), but not like this. The things this lady can do with an axe turn my legs to jelly. It’s beautiful, really, it’s like watching Cinderella punch a swan.
To perfectly demonstrate what I’m talking about, here’s a track called “Heartsink†off their second album Fire like This for you to sink your teeth into.
Just fucking dig that crunchy, blunt-force tone in the chorous, FUCK YEAH! BEEYATIFUL!
Go get both their albums right now, Box Of Secrets and Fire Like This and don’t thank me.
If you don’t know Cults, it’s time you did something about that. If you asked me what are my top three one-girl-one-guy bands, it would definitely be Blood Red Shoes, The Kills and Cults, hands down.
