"Forget The Last Year" - Tonight We Live

I thinks it's about five or six years I've had a question on my mind. You know, one of those little "brain-itches" that just can't be scratched, one of those things you don't know and are afraid to ask in case you look stupid? Yeah, well I've had one of those and for a few years it's been itching me. And that question was; "What the hell happened to WarGarden?"

Tracklist:

1. Forget The Last Year

2. Writing Empty Pages

3. It's A Lesson At Least

4. Spirits And Sob Stories

Now granted, only a couple of people reading this will probably have an idea of what that meant but even if you didn't, it doesn't matter. This is 'Tonight We Live' and the Youster lads are back with a vengeance (and a pretty spiffy website might I add). This new Kildare-based, four-piece rock ensemble have certainly put a lot of time and effort into this debut EP "Forget The Last Year" and you can just feel the effort that went into it with each track.  It is very slick and very well produced. One of the best debut releases I've heard.In a break from tradition, I will not be doing a track by track review of this EP. The reason will become apparent.

None of the songs sound too different from each other, definitely staying within ranges of a style of music that is not out of place when blasted from the Skull Candy headphones of a teenager with skinny jeans and more piercings than their age with a predisposed taste for Bring Me The Horizon, Paramore and Medina Lake. And to a newcomer, all the songs sound the same.

Not that that's a bad thing.

It's a strategy which works very well for some of the most successful rock bands out there (AC/DC, ZZ Top, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bon Jovi etc.) For an up and coming band, it can be a very safe strategy as new fans won't feel intimidated by the track variety as they'll know what to expect after the first song (this is also the reason why I haven't listened to more than 3 songs by Radiohead.) For these guys, it looks like it's going to be a good move in order to get as large a fanbase as possible. It's just a shame to see a new band come out with such a conservative and crowd-pleasing approach from the word go. Usually we'd see a band sign up with a record company before they're forced to get on their knees and say "Ahhh" but it doesn't look like there's any forcing going on here. Judging by the slick production, website, appearance on Kildare TV, these guys are obviously hungry for the...success.

Definitely a strong and enjoyable release for those who don't want to listen to hard and just want some good, solid rock. "Forget The Last Year" is kind of like the Michael Bay of EPs. Just turn your brain off for a while and enjoy. 


You can listen to and download "Forget The Last Year" at TonightWeLive.com

DOCTOR'S RATING: 7/10

"Forget The Last Year" - Recommended by the good doctor

Portarlington RFC's Battle of The Bands

Ok, this review is a bit late coming. Today, as I write this, it is currently Tuesday the 10th of May. This gig happened on Sunday, April 24th. I lost the notepad with the notes in it, ok? Anyway, luckily, I found it again. Hurray!

And this is a picture of the band that won. Not the three lads in the back, they were the judges. But bless them all the same, it doesn't even look as though the body of Christ has hardened to the roofs of their mouths yet after their first holy communion. They're so small! But we'll get back to them later. Here's a list of who played and a brief summation of how they played on the night. I won't know every song that was played because keep in mind, as this night went on, I was consuming more and more Budweiser. Good times. 

ACT 1: Seán Murphy 

Is the second or third time this guys been mentioned here? I dunno. I've a feeling it won't be the last either. Seán decided to open his set and the night with an original of his called "Too Old". I wanted to kill him when he  started playing it because it's always stuck in my feckin head. But he played it brilliantly, nice and lively, despite being taken aback by the amount of echo he had on his vocals (well, to be honest, we were all taken aback a bit). 

It was during his next song that Seán really played up to the crowd with a Coronas cover, "San Diego Song". Once again, he was in top form and everybody loved him. As usual. Although once again, he seemed shocked and surprised at the echo of his own voice. It was actually kinda funny watching him. He had that expression on his face like a dog has when it meets a remote control airplane for the first time.

ACT 2: Simon O'Driscoll 

I love how a battle of the bands opens up with two solo artists. Weird. But anyway, this guy was epic. He opened up with a Bruno Mars cover singing "Grenade" and was damn sight to listen to (yes, that does make sense. Think about it.) Everyone listening to him was just blown away because, oh yeah, did I mention he was playing a MUTHERFUCKIN UKULELE??? This guy was owning the shit outta thing like a BOSS with his simple but funky tropical sound. Badass. Simply badass.

ACT 3: ATN

Pretty much all the people in this band were people I knew who used to go to the same school as me (a year or two younger maybe) and yet I didn't know any of them were in a band, let alone could play any instruments. So this was going to be interesting. I was hoping for that kind of situation when the school bully picks on the nerdy guy in the hallway and Dexter there pulls out a freakin judo chop and everyone's all  like "huh, didn't know he knew ju-kung-fooey". 

And I got that. Kinda.

ATN opened with the age old Fratellis tune, "Chelsea Dagger" and I gotta hand it to them, they played it pretty good. Except for the drumming. The drumming was fierce dodgy altogether. Poor old Tadhg sounded like he was nervous didn't really seem to be able to keep it all running nicely but he pulled through in the end without too many people noticing. 

The second song they pulled out was a Killers' tune, "Mr. Brightside". Very good but same criticism as last time on the drumming and was it just me or was that song played awefully slow? I put it down to nerves on the night.

ACT 4: Screamin Vegas

Y'no, I'd seen these guys play before and they were good. Damn good. They could be a headlining act. So I decided to sit back, relax, enjoy my third can and just say "time to chill, these guys got this shit".

How right I was.

Screamin Vegas were not only on top form but I'd swear they had gotton better. They opened up with an original rock tune called "Sweet Love" (I'm nearly certain that's what it was called). This song had it all; Call and response on the vocals, synchronized movements, sharp as nails solo and a heavy-as-my-girlfriends-tits breakdown. What. A. Tune.

The followed that up with a cover of Twisted Sister's "I Wanna Rock". It was a very loyal and accurate cover but I'd say out of all they time they were on stage for this song, they spent half of it on the crowd participation and it was a really winner of a move. The crowd loved them. 

ACT 5: Perception

When I found out that the guitarist for this band was my current girlfriend's ex boyfriend, there was certainly a temptation to go off on one on these guys and just call them shite but I'd be lying through my ass. Having said that, I have one HUGE criticism of them which made them a bit shite. But I'll save it for the end so as not to cast the rest of the review in a dark light.

I didn't catch the name of their first song but it was an original and it was pretty good. I know one of the more persistent lyrics in the song was "blow your mind" so if anyone knows the song, there ya are now. It was great craic aswell to see Seán (mentioned previously) and Claire Hyland get up and start dancing with the band. 

The second song was a Doors' cover, "Break On Through (To The Other Side)". It was a good cover except Declan (the aforementioned guitarist) messed up the intro but made a decent recovery. 

As for that one criticism; they had no bassist. Without a bassist, both songs just sounded tinny and incomplete like someone decided to play bass on Rock Band but then fell asleep for the whole song. However, major thumbs up to Jack on the keyboard. That guy was epic win. 

ACT 6: Cramptown Spaces

Ahhh....Cramptown spaces...yeah ok, I'm gonna be honest, I tried to take down notes on them. But I was pretty mashed at this stage so forgive me if I can't make out my own handwriting. But yeah, from a group of lads who look as though they had only just stopped being breastfed, they had an unreal sound to them!! If you want a comparison, think Two Door Cinema Club in 1st Class at school. Ok, I joke, they weren't THAT young. They were somewhere in the line of 13 - 15yrs but still, that's freakin young!! Their singer was a bit out of tune or flat, or off key or something but once again, I'm gonna put that down to nerves or something. If there was any doubt that guys might not have won the gig, it was gone when the broke out the "Boats and hoes" reference. If you are unfamiliar with it, go home. Just...go. Now. 

ACT 7: INdium

This left me reeling when I found out they were playing. INdium?? Together again? It couldn't be! My favourite local band playing a gig? I was there. I was slightly disheartened to learn that Chris and Jack (drummer and bassist respectively) wouldn't be playing but was delighted to see who replaced them; David Harte and Sean Costello of Small Town Heroes! Yay! Ahem, anyway, moving on. 

First song to open their set was "Roadhouse Blues", the old Doors favourite, as well as INdium's. An expected  cover from the likes of Gav but certainly a comforting one. Remember that feeling I described earlier that just makes you go "yeah, they got this shit"? This was that feeling all over again. The second song was an Audioslave cover and I gotta say, with David on the 5 string bass, Gav with the bluesy vocals, Sean keepin the beats steady and Elliot in top form on the gee-tar, these guys were as good as could be expected. I was only dissapointed with  the lack of crowd participation which some of the earlier bands were able to come up with but from my knowledge of INdium, that may have been a bit outside their comfort zone. Ah well, good as ever!

ACT 8: Negative One

Another band from me hometown of Portarlington. I had seen them play before and I was let down back then but woah, had they freakin improved or what?? They opened up with "Hands Open", a Snow Patrol cover and they nailed it. The second song was "Kids", originally by MGMT. This was certainly a crowd pleaser and they played it perfectly. These lads were great on the crowd participation (which I'm trying to emphasize as it was a factor the judges were judging on) and I have to compliment their drummer. That mutherfucker knew his shit.

ACT 9: Bebop & Rocksteady

Emmm....ok, I'll be honest here, they were meant to play! But Shawn (lead singer) went and broke his hand that day. So Bebop didn't play. ;(

So that was all the bands. I'm going to try and read my handwriting here from my notes at the time to try and tell you what happened from the semi finals on...

Ok, it was Screamin Vegas and Cramptown Spaces who made it through to the semi finals and fair juice to them, they both deserved it. For Screaming Vegas, I had written down as follows:

"Screamin V.
 - Crowd Interaction
 - Top Form
 - Slick "

I think that about sums them up.
For Cramptown Spaces, I wrote:

" "You Look Good On The Dancefloor"
V good
Accurate/legal
cover.
Better than 1st
performance"

Yeah, I'm just as confused as you are as to why I called it an accurate and legal cover, but hey, that's what 5 cans of Bud will do to ya. Anyway, it was Cramptown Spaces who won in the end and kudos to them (although I think it was the cute factor that got them through).

"Walls of Magic" - Black Eagle Charm

"Black Eagle Charm are an exciting new Dublin band on the Irish Music Scene. Having formed in the Summer of 2007, the band have excited fans in venues all over Dublin. Having appeared on the IMRO New Sounds Stage at Oxegen ’08, they are now promoting their long awaited EP ‘Walls of Magic’. Best described as combining Ripping Riffs, keyboarding bass, haunting vocals and skilled drums, Black Eagle Charm are on the rise." 


This is what their MySpace page will lead you to believe.


And dya know what? It aint too wrong.

Tracklist

1. Soul So Fine

2. Walls of Magic

3. Hole In The Moon

For an EP or a demo or whatever ya wanna call it, it's a nifty little record. "Soul So Fine" is a good, strong opener. Couldn't ask for anything better. There really is this sense of a kind of blues influence that's not hard-rock orientated. This comes out in "Soul So Fine" and this song rears it's hard-rock head with that sharp, on-the-ball lead guitar and fat riff over the top.

The title track, "Walls of Magic" is a lot more laid back. In fact, I'm dissapointed to be honest. It's a wee bit longer than the previous song but it seems like a short little doodle on the Picasso of this record (I can sound like an arsehole whenever I want and I shall now exercise that right). It doesn't really progress anywhere...to hell with it, I thought it was shite. There, I said it.

"Hole In The Moon" is a feckin quality choon! With an opening riff like that, it'll cut the bollox off ya if you're not careful. Or maybe not, yno, being just music. But still, it's a bleedin step up from that little middle track! Kinda in the same vein as "Soul So Fine", "Hole In The Moon" is an awesome choon. Ya have ta hear it to get a proper feel for it. When I can think of a band to compare it to, I will. Until then, just go listen.

Listen to what? This is a link to their MySpace page which has all of their info and you can listen to their tunes there (among loads others).

Seeing as how there's only three tracks on this record, no song highlights like I did in previous reviews but as a rating out of ten...

Doctor's Rating: 7/10

"Walls of Magic" - Recommended by the Good Doctor

"Connect One" - Laois Music Connect *

 This is one hell of a compilation album. Remember the review on the IYMA Boys & Girls album? This is very much in the same vain but quite possibly with some bigger names. We've got James O'Conner with Audrey Trainor along with Nova Static and Adela Meally who all played Electric Picnic. All in all, this album is one of the most original releases I've heard in a long time and gives the listener only a small notion of the kind of musical talent in the best county of all, Laois. 

Traclist:

1. The Little Smoke - "Run Through These Streets"
2. Beresque - "Invaders"
3. Nova Static - "Heart In A Landslide"
4. James O’Connor with Audrey Trainor - "Second Hand Time"
5. Billy Kenrick - "Where The Red River Flows"
6. Ceolaire - "Freeweigh"
7. Burningboy - "Tenderheart"
8. Kevin Healy - "Stand Up"
9. Emer Dunne - "Breaking Me"
10. Dave Morrissey - "Mother Nature Says"
11. Eva Queen - "P.I.L.L."
12. The Keepers - "Little Bird"
13. Global Trad Underground feat. MC Sybil - "The Dream Of The Eastern Clan" feat. MC Sybil
14. Adela and The Meanits - "Cavan Fever"
15. Bebop & Rocksteady - "Isolation"
16. Dog Star Shine - "Still Breathin’"
17. Rapunzels Wig - "Panic Push Shove"
18. The Perfect Skins - "Waiting For The Night"
19. Jay Skelly and Rollie Feat. Sinead Boomsma - "Night Away (Radio Edit)"

The Little Smoke
- "Run Through These Streets"
Very professional, pop sound. Funky bass with nice light guitar sounds. Certainly dance worthy. Could easily imagine a choon like this at Oxegen or Electric Picnic.  A true anthem.

Beresque
- "Invaders"
Very nice reggae fusion choon. VERY original, very listenable. Luvin the synth in the background. Repeat button, prepare to get raped. I want to listen to this choon while dressed like the lads from Daft Punk on a beach while drinking some Malibu.

Nova Static
- "Heart In A Landslide"
Very dance rock. Think Two Door Cinema club if their balls had dropped. Some awesome bass riffage going on.

Jason O’Conner with Audrey Trainer
- "Second Hand Time"
Drums, bass, guitar…yeah…and then some MUTHERF****N  strings. A very melancholic song. VERY original in style with some clever lyrics (the title being one of them). Some pretty dark chord progressions in there to add a downbeat bite to it.

Billy Kenrick
-"Where the Red River Flows"
Very trad sound with a nice flowey bass in the background. Nice original style vocals there, kindof Sean-nós, kinda not. A very ominous sound is created on (what sounds like) a bigass brass instrument.

Ceolaire
- "Freeweigh"
The intro to this song is just awesome, very inventive. My one critisism is that the singer is either off tone, out of tune, off key or just flat most of the time but he gets better the more the song progresses. It’s a fantastic tune, very original and slightly downbeat. I’m luvin the drums aswell. I’d love to be able to play drums like this and still keep in time.

Burningboy
- "Tenderheart"
Melancholy, sad. The perfect song to listen to while lying back on your back and staring at your bedroom ceiling. Very emotionally evocative if one is prone to that sort of that thing. However, the guitar thrown in towards the end is the muddy welly footprints on the Mona Lisa. Not only should it not have been including but it sounds SHITE. Was there a monkey let at the amp?

Kevin Healy
- "Stand Up"
The only words I can describe this tune are uplifting blues. This is the upbeat kinda sound I was looking for on this album after a few downers there. This song is almost literally a breath of fresh air. I don’t mean that literally, obviously. That would be silly.

Emer Dunne
- "Breaking Dunne"
Oh this is good. Very good. Kinda downbeat, singer songwritery stuff again but once again, the grungy-guitar-wielding-out-of-place monkey makes his return. What’s with these grungy out of place guitars? It doesn’t fit MY taste for a song like this, maybe yours though. This is a very good song.

Dave Morrisey
- "Mother Nature Says"
Singer-songwriter stuff again. Nice harmonica (luv me a bit of harmonica). I’m reminded of Seán Murphy on the IYMA album but mostly of Eoin Boyle from a previous review. Very nice kinda choon. I’d listen to this on the bus home from a shite day at college/work/school etc.

Eva Queen
- "P.I.L.L"
Kindof a dark, hurdy gurdy, carousel tune. It’s very akin to avant-garde lounge music. Well, maybe not lounge, I don’t know…it’s very original. Then the slow, piano section with the narative lyrics and what I can only describe as the monkey on the drums leading back into the main melody. The creepy laughter? Creepy. F**king creepy.

Keepers
- "Little Bird"
This is a beauty of a song. Very trad in sound yet still modern. This is a tune to listen to on a journey out to the west of the country.  I find the drums to be a bit intrusive but much praise to the tin whistle. Just over halfway, the tune breaks out into an old Irish tune I know (but seem to have forgotten the name).

Global Trad Underground
-  "The Dream Of The Eastern Clan"
This is a brave song to do. It’s nothing short of ambitious and could have gone so wrong but these guys pulled it off. It’s got everything. Even some nice conga playing. It’s a fantastic song. Pure brilliance. Possibly THE most original thing on this album. I can’t even class it as anything specific. Ethnic? Yeah, ethnic comes kinda close.

Adela and the Meanits
- "Cavan Fever"
This is the first time I’ve ever heard Adela Meally and I’m just as impressed now as I was then. This girl only went from strength to strength. This is another one of those original songs which fans of Adela have come to know and love now. I'm strongly reminded of a band called Diablo Swing Orchestra and Adela seems to fit that mould perfectly: Jazzy swing stuff with some bouncy happiness. A little too happy? NEVER.

Bebop & Rocksteady
- "Isolation"
Ah Bebop. Long time no see. We last saw these guys on the IYMA compilation CD review. This is possibly their strongest song I’ve heard in a long time with some beautiful progressions, hard rock sound and a motherf**kin cello. Once again, I’ve fallen for David Hart’s bass playing. That kid is GOOD. This is an unreal song.

Dog Star Shine
- "Still Breathin’"
I like it. Uplifting rock. Want a comparison? Take 30 Seconds to Mars but with less oestrogen. Now, as good as this song is, I honestly don’t think that singer is able to tackle some of those high notes. He just winds up going flat. Still, an amazing tune.

Rapunzel’s Wig
- Panic Push Shove
Hmmmm. This tune started off very promising. A darker mood than we’ve previously heard and the music is fantastic. The bass is a wee bit intrusive in places the band needs a new singer. I’m sorry, but my ears and killing me musically during that song. The rest of the band however…top notch. Very dark and funky.

The Perfect Skins
- "Waiting For The Night"
This is another one of those songs I can imagine out at an open air festival or something. Those vocals don’t seem to match the style of music but funny enough, they go together lick cracker and cheese. This a very cheerful sounding song, with some expert song writing. I’d listen to it again. In fact, I think I will.

Jay Skelly & Rollie Ft. Sinead Boomsma
- "Night Away (Radio Edit)"
This is good, this is very good. Dance music. On an album dominated by groovy bass lines, bluesy voices, trad guitars, some ethnic styles aswell, a nice techno tune is very much appreciated. This is the song I want playing while driving around the town, doing laps, in me micra, goin outside nightclubs to fight boys in Suburu Jackets. Anyone get the reference? No? Maybe? Whatever. Although this song certainly a break away from the rest of the album, there’s not a whole lot going on besides the same tune played over and over again with varying percussion and the odd “ooooooh” in the backround.

So yeah, that's pretty much it. The single most original release I've reviewed so far and I've a feeling it'll retain that lofty privelige for a long time with it's erratic combination of trad, ethnic, dance, rock, depressing, hopped-on-coke happy, grungy vibes. The hopped on coke bit was metaphorical. I feel sorry for the people I had to spell that out to. But seriously, this is an amazing release and is a god-damn steal at €10 from Anthem Music and Trax in Portlaoise. Alternativly, you can buy it from Tower Records in Dublin but I think you might have to order it in at this stage.

Here's the link to buy it at Tower Records anyway. Go. Buy it now.

Song Highlights

"Second Hand Time"

"Cavan Fever"

"The Dream Of The Eastern Clan"

"Isolation"

Doctor's Rating: 10/10

"Connect One" - Laois Music Connect - Recommended by the Good Doctor

*This post is up twice due to complications with the tags. I know, it's stupid.

"Connect One" - Laois Music Connect

This is one hell of a compilation album. Remember the review on the IYMA Boys & Girls album? This is very much in the same vain but quite possibly with some bigger names. We've got James O'Conner with Audrey Trainor along with Nova Static and Adela Meally who all played Electric Picnic. All in all, this album is one of the most original releases I've heard in a long time and gives the listener only a small notion of the kind of musical talent in the best county of all, Laois. 

Traclist:

1. The Little Smoke - "Run Through These Streets"
2. Beresque - "Invaders"
3. Nova Static - "Heart In A Landslide"
4. James O’Connor with Audrey Trainor - "Second Hand Time"
5. Billy Kenrick - "Where The Red River Flows"
6. Ceolaire - "Freeweigh"
7. Burningboy - "Tenderheart"
8. Kevin Healy - "Stand Up"
9. Emer Dunne - "Breaking Me"
10. Dave Morrissey - "Mother Nature Says"
11. Eva Queen - "P.I.L.L."
12. The Keepers - "Little Bird"
13. Global Trad Underground feat. MC Sybil - "The Dream Of The Eastern Clan" feat. MC Sybil
14. Adela and The Meanits - "Cavan Fever"
15. Bebop & Rocksteady - "Isolation"
16. Dog Star Shine - "Still Breathin’"
17. Rapunzels Wig - "Panic Push Shove"
18. The Perfect Skins - "Waiting For The Night"
19. Jay Skelly and Rollie Feat. Sinead Boomsma - "Night Away (Radio Edit)"

The Little Smoke
- "Run Through These Streets"
Very professional, pop sound. Funky bass with nice light guitar sounds. Certainly dance worthy. Could easily imagine a choon like this at Oxegen or Electric Picnic.  A true anthem.

Beresque
- "Invaders"
Very nice reggae fusion choon. VERY original, very listenable. Luvin the synth in the background. Repeat button, prepare to get raped. I want to listen to this choon while dressed like the lads from Daft Punk on a beach while drinking some Malibu.

Nova Static
- "Heart In A Landslide"
Very dance rock. Think Two Door Cinema club if their balls had dropped. Some awesome bass riffage going on.

Jason O’Conner with Audrey Trainer
- "Second Hand Time"
Drums, bass, guitar…yeah…and then some MUTHERF****N  strings. A very melancholic song. VERY original in style with some clever lyrics (the title being one of them). Some pretty dark chord progressions in there to add a downbeat bite to it.

Billy Kenrick
-"Where the Red River Flows"
Very trad sound with a nice flowey bass in the background. Nice original style vocals there, kindof Sean-nós, kinda not. A very ominous sound is created on (what sounds like) a bigass brass instrument.

Ceolaire
- "Freeweigh"
The intro to this song is just awesome, very inventive. My one critisism is that the singer is either off tone, out of tune, off key or just flat most of the time but he gets better the more the song progresses. It’s a fantastic tune, very original and slightly downbeat. I’m luvin the drums aswell. I’d love to be able to play drums like this and still keep in time.

Burningboy
- "Tenderheart"
Melancholy, sad. The perfect song to listen to while lying back on your back and staring at your bedroom ceiling. Very emotionally evocative if one is prone to that sort of that thing. However, the guitar thrown in towards the end is the muddy welly footprints on the Mona Lisa. Not only should it not have been including but it sounds SHITE. Was there a monkey let at the amp?

Kevin Healy
- "Stand Up"
The only words I can describe this tune are uplifting blues. This is the upbeat kinda sound I was looking for on this album after a few downers there. This song is almost literally a breath of fresh air. I don’t mean that literally, obviously. That would be silly.

Emer Dunne
- "Breaking Dunne"
Oh this is good. Very good. Kinda downbeat, singer songwritery stuff again but once again, the grungy-guitar-wielding-out-of-place monkey makes his return. What’s with these grungy out of place guitars? It doesn’t fit MY taste for a song like this, maybe yours though. This is a very good song.

Dave Morrisey
- "Mother Nature Says"
Singer-songwriter stuff again. Nice harmonica (luv me a bit of harmonica). I’m reminded of Seán Murphy on the IYMA album but mostly of Eoin Boyle from a previous review. Very nice kinda choon. I’d listen to this on the bus home from a shite day at college/work/school etc.

Eva Queen
- "P.I.L.L"
Kindof a dark, hurdy gurdy, carousel tune. It’s very akin to avant-garde lounge music. Well, maybe not lounge, I don’t know…it’s very original. Then the slow, piano section with the narative lyrics and what I can only describe as the monkey on the drums leading back into the main melody. The creepy laughter? Creepy. F**king creepy.

Keepers
- "Little Bird"
This is a beauty of a song. Very trad in sound yet still modern. This is a tune to listen to on a journey out to the west of the country.  I find the drums to be a bit intrusive but much praise to the tin whistle. Just over halfway, the tune breaks out into an old Irish tune I know (but seem to have forgotten the name).

Global Trad Underground
-  "The Dream Of The Eastern Clan"
This is a brave song to do. It’s nothing short of ambitious and could have gone so wrong but these guys pulled it off. It’s got everything. Even some nice conga playing. It’s a fantastic song. Pure brilliance. Possibly THE most original thing on this album. I can’t even class it as anything specific. Ethnic? Yeah, ethnic comes kinda close.

Adela and the Meanits
- "Cavan Fever"
This is the first time I’ve ever heard Adela Meally and I’m just as impressed now as I was then. This girl only went from strength to strength. This is another one of those original songs which fans of Adela have come to know and love now. I'm strongly reminded of a band called Diablo Swing Orchestra and Adela seems to fit that mould perfectly: Jazzy swing stuff with some bouncy happiness. A little too happy? NEVER.

Bebop & Rocksteady
- "Isolation"
Ah Bebop. Long time no see. We last saw these guys on the IYMA compilation CD review. This is possibly their strongest song I’ve heard in a long time with some beautiful progressions, hard rock sound and a motherf**kin cello. Once again, I’ve fallen for David Hart’s bass playing. That kid is GOOD. This is an unreal song.

Dog Star Shine
- "Still Breathin’"
I like it. Uplifting rock. Want a comparison? Take 30 Seconds to Mars but with less oestrogen. Now, as good as this song is, I honestly don’t think that singer is able to tackle some of those high notes. He just winds up going flat. Still, an amazing tune.

Rapunzel’s Wig
- Panic Push Shove
Hmmmm. This tune started off very promising. A darker mood than we’ve previously heard and the music is fantastic. The bass is a wee bit intrusive in places the band needs a new singer. I’m sorry, but my ears and killing me musically during that song. The rest of the band however…top notch. Very dark and funky.

The Perfect Skins
- "Waiting For The Night"
This is another one of those songs I can imagine out at an open air festival or something. Those vocals don’t seem to match the style of music but funny enough, they go together lick cracker and cheese. This a very cheerful sounding song, with some expert song writing. I’d listen to it again. In fact, I think I will.

Jay Skelly & Rollie Ft. Sinead Boomsma
- "Night Away (Radio Edit)"
This is good, this is very good. Dance music. On an album dominated by groovy bass lines, bluesy voices, trad guitars, some ethnic styles aswell, a nice techno tune is very much appreciated. This is the song I want playing while driving around the town, doing laps, in me micra, goin outside nightclubs to fight boys in Suburu Jackets. Anyone get the reference? No? Maybe? Whatever. Although this song certainly a break away from the rest of the album, there’s not a whole lot going on besides the same tune played over and over again with varying percussion and the odd “ooooooh” in the backround.

So yeah, that's pretty much it. The single most original release I've reviewed so far and I've a feeling it'll retain that lofty privelige for a long time with it's erratic combination of trad, ethnic, dance, rock, depressing, hopped-on-coke happy, grungy vibes. The hopped on coke bit was metaphorical. I feel sorry for the people I had to spell that out to. But seriously, this is an amazing release and is a god-damn steal at €10 from Anthem Music and Trax in Portlaoise. Alternativly, you can buy it from Tower Records in Dublin but I think you might have to order it in at this stage.

Here's the link to buy it at Tower Records anyway. Go. Buy it now.

Song Highlights

"Second Hand Time"

"Cavan Fever"

"The Dream Of The Eastern Clan"

"Isolation"

Doctor's Rating: 10/10

"Connect One" - Laois Music Connect - Recommended by the Good Doctor

"The Diesel Dreams EP" - Indium

I knew the singer in playschool. Met the lead guitarist in primary school. Learned to play the djembe simply from watching the drummer do it at a youth group and i knew the bassist as a child in a creative writing group. Yes, Gavin, Elliot, Chris and Jack are Indium. It was a matter of time before these guys all appeared here on this blog. 

"The Diesel Dreams" is an EP that has to wear wellies because it's knee deep in grunge (if you get the reference...yeah I know, it was cheesey). If you can imagine the bands Alice In Chains and Pearl Jam got together and had a huge orgy, Indium would the (miracle and biological wonder...?) love-child. The artwork below isn't the actual EP artwork but I couldn't track down the actual cover. This is their more well known logo however.

Tracklist

1. "Make Me/Break Me"

2. "Flush"

3. "Bones"

4. "Justified"

5. "Generation"

The EP opens up with "Make Me/Break Me". This is the confident intro song you want. The intro begins atmospheric, sounds like someone knocking on a door and goes into this pedantic, ominious heavy rythm before the main riff. I gotta tell ya, it's one hell of a memorable and catchy riff that goes throughout the whole song. I like this song the same way I like my hookers: Bouncy and dirty with the just the right application of fingerwork. "Make Me/Break Me" is certainly one of the bands deal-breaker songs.

Next up on the tracklist is "Flush". This is the first song I ever heard from these guys and it's stuck with me since. It begins nice and mellow until the drums really pick up and the guitar suddenly goes from mellow to rearing it’s ugly head in some heavy riffage before you can say “Holy shit”.

Now, for me, there are two songs on this EP that stand head and shoulders above the rest. "Make Me/Break Me" was the first and "Bones" is the other. The intro is edgy, nerve-setting until that kick-in-the-arse, catchy-as-herpes riff. The breakdown-buildup into the solo at the cry of “Die alone!” from Gav Shortall, for me, is the highlight of the EP.

After this, we are led to believe that the EP has given it's all and is about to just chill out til the end with the easy going startoff in "Justified". It's so mellow and sounds like it's being heard from underwater. However, when it picks up, it becomes akin to "Freebird" on weed…in only a good way. One can really hear the Alice In Chains influence here, like something off of “Dirt”.

And finally, we're left "Generation". The intro melody isto this song is always the first thing to come to my mind when someone mentions Indium. This is a real unsung hero of the EP and perfectly describes Indium as a band: a combination of the sounds of Alice In Chains with Pearl Jam. A perfect finisher to the EP.

Now these guess have been innactive for a while do to personal circumstances but a certain little lead singing birdy told me down the pub that they're hoping to do a bit of recording this summer. This is certainly not the last we've seen of these guys. 

Now as I've said, they've been innactive for a while but here is a link to their Myspace page where you can listen to all the tunes on the EP along with a few bonus ones (such as their cover of Alice in Chains "Rooster" featuring the now defunct No Punk Intended. I know, an Alice in Chains cover, who coulda seen it coming?)

Song Highlights

"Make Me/Break Me"

"Bones"

"Generation"

Doctor's Rating: 8/10

"The Diesel Dreams EP" - Recommended by the Good Doctor

"Click On Start" - Eoin Boyle

I had never heard of Eoin Boyle before 2 months ago I think. He was performing at a wedding in the hotel where I work, walking around with his badass cane like he's Hugh Laurie on House (rockin' the look) and he had free copies of his debut CD "Click On Start" at the front desk the next morning. New music? Uhh, yes please.

Eoin Boyle is a singer/songwriter from Dublin. Oi, OI! Get your cursor away from that X button. I know I said singer/songwriter but this guy isn't you're usual run of the mill nobody with a guitar who thinks they can play, write lyrics and just belt them out. No, no. This guy CAN play, he sure as hell writes damn GOOD lyrics and has a fantasticly clear, distinct-with-a-hint-of-rough-sided voice. But that's not all. No. There's piano, harmonica, percussion, strings and even a motherf**kin organ in there.

Tracklist
1. "Sister"
2. "Best For Her"
3. "Home"
4. "Change"
5. "Minnesota Love"
6. "People In Demand"
7. "Blood Runs Thicker"
8. "Australia"
9. "All 4 U"
10. "St. Brigid"

The first track is "Sister". It's a good, strong icebreaker of a tune. There's a certain confidence oozing out of it in the simple piano/guitar melody. Quick on it's heels is the song "Best For Her", a bouncy, cheery song with a bit of a hurdy-gurdy feel to it. Because of the addition of the banjo in there, I can only describe this as a daisy-picker of a tune. If you listen to it, you'll know exactly what I mean.
At this point now, the album takes an emtional right turn in "Home", with it's solemn melody and nostalgic lyrics but with an absolutly uplifting chorus. The piano and the strings simply add to the feel. "Change" is an easy going song, tinged with a hint of sadness and regret with a rhythm that makes it akin to "Sister" if slightly simplified. Eoin subtly introduces the synthesizer around the halfway mark. Although clearly noticable, it is in no way intrusive but when it comes in, it sounds as though it was always meant to be there.
"Minnesota Love" is a simple song. Simple, nothing fancy but it works. It's all too easy, however, to lose yourself in the world painted around you by his artfully simple lyricism. Following "Minnesota Love" is "People in Demand". Once again, nothing fancy but this is one of my favourite tracks on the album. There's a nice return of the harmonica, a gentle dominance of the piano and the afformentioned organ almost unnoticably comes in, like a late straggler at mass who shows up, slots in with the rest of the men standing at the back and chants along the prayers like he was always there.
"Blood Runs Thicker" is a gentle deceleration of pace. A sincere song, laced with a hint of melancholic lamenting, featuring more of that humble harmoinca playing we've grown to love at this stage in the album. "Australia" is a beautiful, soft song of a departed love. The sincerity and emotion in Eoin's music is at it's stongest in this track.
A  much welcome change of scene comes in with "All 4 U". This is much more upbeat song with nice user of that synthesizer again and the overdubbed chorus's towards the end really pick the song up.
To finish off the album, we're brought to "St. Brigid". This is very much in the same vein as "Australia" which leaves the listener emotionally satisfied. There's also a beautiful little guitar ditty at the end to bring the whole thing to a close.

This album is certainly a work of art.  "Click On Start" is a tender yet confident collection of songs which explore change, lamenting, memories, nostalgia, hopes and fears. And speaking of "Hopes And Fears", if you were in any way a fan of Keane's debut album, you'll love this.

Song Highlights
"Minnesota Love"
"People In Demand"
"Australia"

This the album "Click On Start" on iTunes. Well worth the money.

Doctor's Rating: 10/10 

"Click On Start" - Recommended by the Good Doctor