Following on from the success of our monthly playlists throughout 2014, we’re forging ahead with it this year. Each month various members of our team will submit one new track that’s been holding their attention for the past 30/31/28 days, providing a little detail as to why. If anything, it showcases the team’s eclectic taste in alternative music – ranging from the downright heavy to the twee, with everything in between.
So sit back and enjoy these 21 tracks that the team members have picked for January 2015.
Jabber â â200 Daysâ
Brilliant injection of bubble gum pop punk, Jabber reminds us of the first time we listened to Mixtapes; it’s fresh, it’s catchy and before you realise, you’ve listened to it 20 times in a row. We can’t wait to see what this Bay Area band do next. [Mark Gadong]
Hit The Lights â âFucked Up Kidsâ
After a 3-year hiatus, Ohio’s Hit The Lights are back with a track that captures the youthful abandon the band is known for. Hit The Lights are releasing a new album this spring, and from what weâve heard, it’s their best material since the departure of Colin Ross in 2007. [Jim Howes]
The Kimberly Steaks â âTicking Overâ
The Kimberly Steaks take cues from so many punk bands that you love and their execution is constantly on point. âTicking Over is a continuation of their fast-paced, humourous and direct style that The Steaks make their own. Their upcoming EP ‘Chemical Imbalance’ should be out soon – we can’t wait – and you should be excited too. Definitely one of the best bands coming out of Scotland right now. [Sam Kanal]
Light You Up â âAll Weâve Ever Knownâ
The title track from their debut album, ‘All We’ve Ever Known’ is a great slice of pop-punk from the fast rising Birmingham lads. Built around a huge chorus, it’s a hook-laden and melodic calling card that not only showcases their knack for song writing but is also likely to propel them to the forefront of the UK scene. [Chris Hilson]
Fall Out Boy â âFourth of Julyâ
Arguably the best song Fall Out Boy have released since their return, âFourth of Julyâ is propped up by a heavy, distorted bass line and hectic synth. Itâs a song that is a perfect representation of modern day Fall Out Boy. Itâs 100% pop, while the subject matter and style of the lyrics canât help but remind us that the this is still the same band who wrote the likes of âTake This To Your Graveâ and âFrom Under The Cork Treeâ. An incredible effort that will no doubt sound absolutely huge in the arenas itâs going to be played in. [Chris Marshman]
Adventures â âHeavenlyâ
Featuring 3 out of 4 members of Pittsburgh hardcore band Code Orange among their ranks, Adventures sound is a world away from the cacophony of their day job. It harks back to the time in the 90’s when guys in hardcore bands started rock bands with female singers, and brings to mind the spirit of The Rocking Horse Winner, Copper, and Project Kate. Serving as a pre-cursor to their debut album ‘Supersonic Home’, the perfect pop-rock of ‘Heavenly’ is just glorious. [Glen Bushell]
Meet Me In Montauk – ‘Juliet’
Compiling all the emo influences that run through the veins of debut album ‘Where The Grass Meets The Pavement’, ‘Juliet’ not only provides a snapshot of Meet Me In Montauk’s dedication to the genre, but also proves to be the best track on the record. Moving from a pained emo singer-songwriter affair that channels the likes of The Early November, to an unexpectedly complex indie-punk segment – ultimately ending on a haunting soundscape that The World Is A Beautiful Place… might wish they had written – ‘Juliet’ certainly keeps you on your toes. [Ben Tipple]
California X â âNights In The Darkâ
Mixing 90’s alternative rock with a sludgy, yet almost refined approach, California X’s sound may not be anything new to the ears. However, “Nights in the Dark” instantly grabbed me with its swinging melodies, emotional guitar riffs, and desperate lyrics. One would compare them to earlier Weezer, but take a listen to their full length and get back to me before you make that judgment, okay? Okay. [Mike Petrucelli]
Runaway Brother â âMothâ
Anthemic, catchy and loud. All clever melodies and chorus’ you want to scream along with “I KNOW WHY IT HURTS SO BAD”. This is aggressive, emo tinged, pop punk and it’s absolutely brilliant. A sign that this album (out on Tiny Engines soon) is going to be one of the best this year. Get it in your ears. [Maryam Hassan]
You Blew It! â âBedside Manorâ
You Blew it’s new EP Pioneer of Nothing is a show of a step in the right direction for the band. While the EP is only three songs, each holds their own weight with ease. Bedside Manor sounds as if the band were growing from their previous album, “Keep Doing What You’re Doing,” and adding perfect nuances and melodies along the way. [Daniella Heminghaus]
The Sidekicks â âThe Kid Who Broke His Wristâ
Over the years, The Sidekicks have been developing themselves into the best band not nearly enough people know about; their lack of a Wikipedia page is evidence enough for that. The new album, âRunners in the Nerved Worldâ, continues the massively successful experimental blending of genres into the unique sound that they are known for. âThe Kid Who Broke His Wristâ perfectly exemplifies that point as it starts with Steve Ciolek’s brilliant falsetto and then gives way into an infectious, 90’s alternative inspired rhythm laden with hooks and fills that are beyond catchy. Blending punk, indie, emo, and pop sensibilities into one congruent effort can’t be easy, but The Sidekicks do it so well that you wonder why more bands don’t. [Mat Stokes]
Sleater-Kinney â âNo Cities To Loveâ
Has it really been ten years since we last heard from Sleater-Kinney? This record has been a long time coming and it’s almost like they picked up where they left off without even missing a beat. The title track is definitely the catchiest, most infectious song on the record. Here’s hoping these ladies are here to stay again for a while. [Nicole Carter]
Raised Fist â âFlowâ
Back with the release of their fourth album since the turn of the millennium, Raised Fist have continued with the slightly easier-going tones present on ‘Veil Of Ignorance’. But two things are apparent on ‘Flow’: 1) They are still fucking awesome – and 2) you wouldn’t dream of telling them to their faces they’ve gone a bit softer. You would not survive to tell the tale. [Mike Scott]
Modestep â âSnakeâ
Having been off the radar for the recent past, Modestep have come roaring back with a bona-fide rock banger. This being Modestep, of course there are electronic elements, but this is at the core and heart of it, a rock tune. From the guitar intro, the pounding drums, to the insane chorus, Modestep deliver on all cylinders in this 4 minute banger. Remember Pendulum? They once said they wanted to be a ârock bandâ. Then they released âImmersionâ. Had they released something like this, they mightâve been on that track. [Adam Rosario]
Palisades â âMind Gamesâ
In case you aren’t aware of them, Palisades are a six-piece from New Jersey, and they’re not a million miles away from the likes of Issues. They are a definite guilty pleasure band, but their songs are a lot of fun so whatcha gonna do?! ‘Mind Games’ is the latest single from their forthcoming album of the same name. Rave on! [Lais MW]
xRepentancex – ‘Children Of Cain’
People have been talking about xRepentancex recently using bold phrases like ‘best new UK hardcore band’. Their blisteringly good first LP track ‘The Price Of Progression’ was revealed a few months back and more and more heads started turning. Then Carry The Weight dropped the whole of ‘The Sickness Of Eden’ to their bandcamp and the whole hardcore community lost their shit. Here’s one slice of pounding metallic hardcore that’s generally better than most things you’ve heard recently, complete with copious amounts of dive-bombs, whaling-lead guitar and unreal aggression, ‘Children Of Cain’. [James Fox]
Modern Baseball- âAlpha Kappa Fall of Troy The Movie Part Deuxâ
Modern Baseball have quickly become one of the most important and influential bands in our music scene. This song has incredibly catchy riffs and witty lyrics, such as “drank myself silly in the basement” and “is home where you lay your head or where your fake swordfish is mounted?”. Modern Baseball shows that home can be an inspiration with this indie punk song, available now via Philadelphia’s Lame-O Records as part of a six-way charity split for Cerebral Palsy. [Ally Newbold]
Roam â âOver Your Headâ
Recently signed to Hopeless Records, Eastbourne based quintet Roam have just released their new EP âViewpointâ, which is something very catchy. âOver Your Headâ is the opening track with a fast rhythm accompanying perfectly powerful guitar solos and Alex’s vocals. Just a few months away from hitting a road in America, we can feel they are up to something big. Just wait. [Kseniya Zinchenko]
The Sonics â âBad Betty
Though it’s been quite a long time since their 1967 release, ‘Introducing the Sonics,’ over 40 years later these OMG THEY ARE MY MOM’S AGE garage rockers prove they can definitely still jam. This banger, the first single from their upcoming record ‘This Is the Sonics’ (due out on March 31) would be right at home on one of their earlier releases and shows that they’re not going down yet. Garage rock and garage punk are two genres that have seen quite a bit of resurgence lately, and it’s good to see that The Sonics won’t disappear in the sea of younger bands. Three of the original members from their first two, more well-known records ‘Here Are the Sonics’ and ‘Boom’ are still in the current lineup, and the band will be touring the US in April. [Sarah Scanlon]
Don Broco â âFireâ
Even though most of us are still humming the tune to âMoney Power Fameâ and shouting “NEED IT NEED IT” wherever possible, the Bedfordshire boys in Don Broco have dropped another anthem thatâs got so many brilliant components itâs impossible to choose a favourite bit. Thereâs a really great âEYYY-OOHHHâ part, Rob Damianiâs vocals are smooth, delivering each chorus tremendously and the guitar rhythms range from beefy power chords, to intricate melody creations. It gives us all another insight into their forthcoming album, which by the sounds of things is going to have people bopping their heads and chanting an array of things in public. NA NA NA NA NA NANAAAA. [Tamsyn Wilce]
Cloakroom â âPaperweightâ
“You exist in material states/ One part paper, one part weight/ You could not decide what force is holding you down today” not only sums up the opening track from Indiana trio Cloakroom’s (ex-Grown Ups) debut album ‘Further Out’, but also the album as a whole. ‘Paperweight’ is treacle-thick, almost impenetrably so, yet there is a fragility to it too, and this contradiction is curious. Cloakroom’s work simultaneously references slowcore, alt-rock and emo, all under a wave of shoegaze – fittingly, ‘Further Out’ was recorded in Matt Talbot of Hum’s studio. This co-existence of competing styles and conflicting textures could have resulted in a simmering undercurrent of tension, but instead they are combined fluently. The result is a decidedly downcast, narcotised take on shoegaze that is utterly compelling. I could have gone with any track from ‘Further Out’, to be honest, but ‘Paperweight’ perhaps displays Cloakroom’s ability the best. [Richard Craig]