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Chubby and the Gang
And Then There Was…
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CHUBBY AND THE GANG – AND THEN THERE WAS… – ALBUM REVIEW
Chubby and the Gang are another one of those fateful acts that made their mark at the wrong time. History will show any band releasing their debut album in early 2020 were given a rather big hill to climb, but whereas many have subsequently disappeared – Charlie Manning aka Chubby still drives forward with this one.
Despite a few false starts, the band are now sharing their third studio album, ‘And Then There Was…’, and it’s another hefty mix of attitude, swagger, rage, reflection and vulnerability.
Sonically the sixteen tracks encompass a plethora of punk sub-genres which are tied up with a pub rock style bow. This helps to make Chubby and his Gang connect with the working classes in our constant struggle to survive.
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You do get the likes of the slow burning ‘To Fade Away’ in that mix to provide a little relent from the punk rock onslaught but in the main this is another set of ready-made punk anthems. Not paint-by-numbers by any stretch, but there is obviously a formula to Chubby and the Gang and hey, if it’s not broke then why fix it!
It does just feel like Chubby is having fun and that adds a lot to the brash charm of this album. It probably is a tad long in terms of both runtime and track volume but then it’s not like Chubby and the Gang are trying to win the Mercury Prize.
This album doesn’t need to be perfect. These songs will get audiences moving at shows, which is ultimately what you feel they are designed to do, and that makes this collection a resounding success!
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Trash Boat
Heaven Can Wait
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TRASH BOAT – HEAVEN CAN WAIT – ALBUM REVIEW
In 2021, Trash Boat surprised many with the direction and quality of their third album, ‘Don’t You Feeling Amazing’. Gone were the nostalgic skater punk anthems and in were the darker, more ambitious modern rock ragers.
Now with their fourth studio effort, ‘Heaven Can Wait’, the band are doubling down on their ambition with another stunning collection of scream from the rooftop rockers. Wearing their influences on their sleeves the band have completed their shift from Sum 41 and Blink 182 pop punk to Linkin Park and Deftones alt-metal.
Perhaps what makes these songs so damn catchy though is the ultimate merger of those influences into an accessible but still interesting sound which should serve the band well as they continue their ascent.
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Cooler riffs and catchier melodies jump out on the likes of ‘The Drip’ and ‘Break You’, as the group seemingly perfect their sonic identify. It’s also great to hear singer Tobi Duncan pushing himself on these tracks and the Chester Bennington channelling scream in ‘Are You Ready Now?’ is testament to his vocal power.
Lyrically the band also continue down an assured, serious path as they embrace their beliefs and unashamedly stand by their convictions. This really does sound like a band more comfortable than ever in their own skin and this album truly benefits from that confidence.
‘Heaven Can Wait’ may just be the album which pushes Trash Boat to that next level, it certainly deserves to be!
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Coldplay
Moon Music
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COLDPLAY – MOON MUSIC – ALBUM REVIEW
Coldplay are megastars, their legacy is set in stone, their standing is unwavering, and they can apparently sell out Wembley Stadium ten times over with the snap of a finger!
The tenth album of any band is always a milestone, but with Coldplay enjoying this untouchable status and riding the crest of their Glastonbury headlining wave, ‘Moon Music’ lacks a little of its own impetus.
Acting as the second part of ‘Music of the Spheres’, the record is another shot of modern Coldplay and is packed with bells, whistles, samples, guests and an overarching sense of the grandiose. Hyper-produced and extremely polished these ten tracks represent everything that is great and everything that is wrong with the band in 2024.
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The record will undoubtedly be another enormous success in terms of sales and streams, but you have to ask given the alleged budget for the album – is it really as good as ‘A Rush of Blood to the Head’, ‘Viva la Vida’, ‘Mylo Xyloto’ or even it’s predecessor? You’d have to arrive at the simple conclusion that it’s not.
Musically this album is as ambitious as you’d expect, but you just have feel to that this collection is missing it’s standout moments. Collectively these songs will make great ambient music for restaurants and elevators, but you’d be surprised to see any make a best of release compiled from these first ten albums.
Indeed, Coldplay aren’t setting any worlds on fire with this tepid collection of love songs, less moon music and more mood music! That said though, you know that the band will make those Wembley shows magical and perhaps it’s in that realm now that Coldplay stand the best chance of furthering their glowing reputation.
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Full Pelt Magazine
Vol. 53
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Maximo Park
Stream of Life
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MAXIMO PARK – STREAM OF LIFE – ALBUM REVIEW
Maximo Park always have stood apart from their contemporaries as indie for intellectuals and, at a time when indie rock is noteworthy once again, their new album, ‘Stream of Life’, serves as a timely reminder that there is more to the genre than Britpop and landfill-era big hitters.
Once you delve deeper into the genre you can find some quite sublime offerings from artists more concerned with integrity then popularity. That’s not to say that Maximo Park don’t have their own collection of bangers in their catalogue, but you know you’re in for a fuller experience than a cookie cutter record that many opt for.
‘Stream of Life’ is the first album the band have recorded together in person since 2016, after recording their pandemic-era album, ‘Nature Always Wins’ in isolation. They team up again with producer Ben Allen along with Burke Reid and you can hear the band pushing themselves further once more.
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They’ve always been musically ambitious, and they are audibly striving for something a little grander on this, their eighth studio album. Perhaps the great pitfall for a band respected for their willingness to experiment is staying true to your core sound, but somehow the group have always managed to get that balance right.
Again, with this album it’s more than familiar enough to engage their long-term fans. There are plenty of classic Maximo Park tracks on here, alongside a couple of bangers and some good fun like ‘Quiz Show Clue’.
It’s all very uplifting and enjoyable even when straying into more serious topics. When the world is heavy, it’s good to keep things light and again Maximo Park have summoned a collection of enjoyable indie rockers which go down as easily as that first Friday night pint!
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Light Grey
NIGHTM@RES
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LIGHT GREY – ‘NIGHTM@RES’ – ALBUM REVIEW
After forming Light Grey in 2017, Ciaran Nevin and Mikey Connolly have won over fans and luminaries alike with their take on the new wave of pop punk. Now they are finally read to unleash their full-length debut album, ‘NIGHTM@RES’, on the world.
The collection takes the energy of their early singles and turns it up to eleven with a highly engaging sound ready for the rumoured return of the Warped Tour!
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Thematically the album is an ambitious conceptualisation of the protagonist’s escalation of dreams which gradually develop into the titular nightmares. Pulling on some highly relatable topics across the eleven ebbing and flowing tracks makes this a very connectable catalogue of familiar pop-punk goodness.
A record rooted in that nostalgic pop punk sound but brought to life by modern rock sensibilities, ‘NIGHTM@RES’ is an enormous debut from a band capable of capturing your heart. Indeed, if you long for a catchy hook and some memorable lyrics then Light Grey certainly have you covered with this release.
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Watch Episode 73 of our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast with guests Light Grey
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Pale Waves
Smitten
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‘Smitten’ represents the fourth Pale Waves album in the past six years, which in this day and age is nothing short of prolific! Each album has benefited from its own identify with the band clearly willing to double down on a sound or concept when it arises.
The theme this time around comes from youthful romantic learnings and exploration as frontwoman Heather Baron-Gracie reflects on her own experiences as she learnt more about herself and the pitfalls and positives of love.
Musically the band have left behind the pop-punk sound which dominated ‘Unwanted’ and embraced a dream pop ambience over the course of these delicate twelve new tracks. ‘Smitten’ is certainly another carefully curated sonic soundscape from the group.
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Whilst some may criticise the band for wearing their influences on their sleeves, the cohesion that they manage to achieve on each record is truly impressive. You can feel the love and passion that they put into each album and ‘Smitten’ is no different.
Pale Waves always appear in a constant state of evolution as they explore their creative abilities, taking elements from those influences and adding new layers with each new album. Again, for a band to hit this level of consistency out of the career gates is mightily impressive.
In many ways Pale Waves are something of a throwback, and again they’ve managed to create something which both old school indie pop fans and the new generation of music lover will be able to get behind.
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October Drift
Blame The Young
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OCTOBER DRIFT – BLAME THE YOUNG – ALBUM REVIEW
October Drift released their debut album in January 2020… which historically wasn’t a great time for such a milestone event. Not deterred by this momentum killer, the group crafted what is a classic pandemic album, ‘I Don’t Belong Anywhere’, which captured many of the feelings we all felt at this time.
Now though with their third album, ‘Blame The Young’, the band have another opportunity to capitalise on their ever enhancing live reputation without any lingering covid hangovers in place. Indeed, this album resolutely throws of the shackles of loneliness and fear and explores what comes next.
Focusing on the strength found in a caring support network, ‘Blame The Young’ takes the listener on a ride of discovery and growth with the likes of ‘Demons’ and ‘Everybody Breaks’ showing the band at their emotive best.
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Sonically the album feels like a trip into the depths of the band’s creative library. There are some familiar classic reads, but as you journey further into the collection, you’ll find some more intense and interesting offerings which go to make the whole record even more rewarding the longer you spend with it.
It’s refreshing to see a band growing with each release whilst remaining true to themselves. This album is a celebration of the journey of life and those that help us to survive. As ever, October Drift manage to get you thinking, get you feeling and ultimately get you dancing!
Having survived through what are tough times for young, self-reliant bands, it’s a testament to the imagination of this special group that you feel that somehow the best is yet to come.
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Full Pelt Magazine
Vol. 52
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