July 30th, 2012

JD McPherson and his band are the epitome of 50s good-time rock ‘n’ roll; the pure essence of country-flavoured R&B bottled at source.

Read our review from his Camden Dingwall gig. Photos © Andy Crossland, Live4ever Media

Morrissey couldn’t resist a little dig at last week’s London Olympics opening ceremony during his homecoming show at Manchester’s MEN Arena, reports The Telegraph.

Spector have announced a large tour of the UK to begin later this year with their debut album ‘Enjoy It While It Lasts‘ due for release next month.

For the uninitiated, Angus Stone is one half of Australian brother-sister folk duo, Angus and Julia Stone. While his first solo album, ‘Smoking Gun‘, was released under the moniker Lady of the Sunshine, this time his name is proudly emblazoned on the front.

From that alone, one can assume ‘Broken Brights‘ is more than just a few songs Stone had lying around.

Solo records are often bold declarations of musical freedom and discovery. That can lead to inspired work, as the artist in question breaks from the shackles of overbearing and over-conservative band mates. But it can also mean quality control is thrown out the studio door with the removal of the last barrier between questionable material and the public.

On ‘Broken Brights’, Stone experiences the pros and the perils of being on his lonesome. Still, anyone expecting a wild departure from earlier work will be disappointed. One glance at the cover – its colour palette spans different earthy shades of brown, say from The Band to Harvest– would be enough to know Broken Brights is rooted in Stone’s usual earnest folkisms. Indeed, the thirteen songs on ‘Broken Brights’ are what you’d expect – well written, melodic folk songs.

Arctic Monkeys‘ cover of The Beatles‘ 1969 track ‘Come Together‘ is proving popular on the iTunes singles chart after being included on the London Olympics’ official opening ceremony album.

The annual Underage festival, which is held exclusively for 13-18 year olds, will not take place this year, with organisers citing ‘production problems’ as the main cause of the cancellation.

Slash will return to the UK later this year after recently completing a European tour which included a stop off at the Download festival last month.

New Jersey band The Gaslight Anthem‘s new LP ‘Handwritten‘ has debuted at number one on this week’s UK Record Store Album Chart, which is compiled entirely from sales registered at Britain’s independent record shops.