The Broken Family band formed in 2002 and quickly put an eclectic variety of records. Never wanting to be put down in to one category The Broken Family Band have been Counry, Folk, Rock, Pop and Indie.
The band formed for fun and never intended to play more than a few gigs. On top thier diverse mix of songs the band also manage to inject a fun in to most of there songs. Never taking them selves to seriously gives there genre hopping songs a certain charm.
Tigers That Talked are great band from Leeds with a nice fresh sound. They have been a favourite of the festival scene since the band started in 2006 and have played as far and wide as Texas, USA.
The bands latest album ‘Merchant’ released in November last year received glowing reviews from established radio Djs like Zane Lowe and Colin Murray, but never seemed to make many waves in the general public.
Which is a shame, because Tigers That Talked happen to be one of the best bands of the year.
Tigers That Talked - Live
Tigers That Talked latest single ‘Holy Saturday, Gloomy Sunday’, is a fantastic track that is the absolute cream of the rock/folk crop. Lending from poety and history for lyrical influences it rests nicely on a bed of guitar and violin.
Holy Saturday, Gloomy Sunday - Tigers That Talked
This track sums up the rest of the album, quality layered tracks, that ricochet between soft, melodic folk and a steady rock/indie sound. Merchant is one of the best albums of 2010 and deserves much more recognition.
Taking a look at TTT three other album releases, including one with a video shot in my very own Blackpool, we see a band that is much more developed and talented than most of the bands pumped over the airwaves 24/7.
Black Heart, Blue Eyes
Shot in and around Blackpool, the song could almost be about the town itself. ‘See these harbour towns, slowly reveal themselves, darkest of society, darkest of company, darkest of company reveal themselves.’
The track sits somewhere between sweet and mellon collie, a great track with a catchy chorus, but utterly depressing lyrics.
23 fears (summer ‘10)
23 fears was released as a double single with Black Heart, Blue Eyes and is arguably the better of the two. The songs boasts a great instrumental backing track that builds to a sweet climax. It manages to come across as a calmer, nicer song despite having equally depressing subject matter as Black Heart, Blue Eyes.
Artificial Clouds
This is one of the most beautifully arranged songs produced in a while, the instruments work so together well, the composition beautifully complements Jamie Williams sweet voice. The entire song has a genital feeling to it that makes it easy and a joy to listen to.
One of the major problems with the band is that they don’t seem to have a brilliant range, on some of the album tracks its easy to slip from one to the next without noticing that the song has changed. But in spite of this they do what the do so well is doesn’t seem to matter.
Tigers That Talked are one of Brittan’s most under rated bands and are defiantly one to watch.
If you liked Tigers That Talked be sure to check out The Limes
Starting your musical career as an alcoholic, homeless street musician Isn’t always the done thing, but it worked for Daniel Mustard.
An alcohol dependency destroyed Daniel’s life and left him destitute and alone. For years he earned his money singing and playing guitar on the streets of New York, but over the years he managed to get himself clean and is now selling his music world wide.
Daniels rise to fame started when he walked in to The Opie & Anthony studio, a New York radio station, on a Christmas event. He mentioned in passing that he played music and wowed the staff with one of his own songs.
He was asked to perform a cover on the Opie & Anthony Show, and this is what he did...
With over 3,000,000 Youtube hits, Daniel was becoming a celebrity but still slept on the street. It wasn’t until three years later that Daniel received a record deal from Story Records. His first E.P was recorded in the cheapest manner possible to make the most profit for ‘Homless’ Mustard, but it is still really well produced. Lets take a look at some of Mustard's original tracks.
Impulse to my Addiction
Impulse to my addiction is the single from ‘Homeless’ Mustard’s E.P. and is about his years of substance abuse lead to him to lose his house. The sound might be a little rough and it might sound a little cheesy and American, but it shows he has hell of a lot more talent than most of the artists being played today.
Apparently the story behind the single is that he used to blame his alcohol/drug problems on one of his friends, labeling him the impulse to his addictions.
The really great thing about this track is that when some singers write about problems its purely invented, but when 'homeless' Mustard talks about pain he really is talking about pain. Its that pain that gives this song its passion.
Evacuating to Mars.
This is a more upbeat tune, and shows off Mustard’s vocal range really well, but once again comes off a little corny. The song has a nice hook that helps to make it memorable and catchy, and over all isn’t a bad track.
One Day at a Time.
One Day at a Time is about Mustard’s time living on the street. The intro makes great use of bluesy guitar and the lyrics ‘I don’t own this guitar, don’t even own these clothes.’ The song manages to be sad without being bitter and hold a hopeful vibe it.
Daniel is an amazing artist to take years of heartbreak and loneliness and craft something beautiful out of it, and although his tracks sometimes can be a little cheesy for my English sensibilities he is still a really amazing artist. as always you can pick up any of his tracks from the link below, and you probably should, he needs the cash.
With enough balls, insanity and creativity people can take everyday objects and instruments and create something incredible. Unlabeled is now going to bring you the five best sounds that come from using everyday objects in the wrong way. Some are brilliant, some are odd, and one is just mental.
1) The Tesla Coil
The Tesla Coil
Using two twelve foot Tesla Coils, ArcAttack utilise the power of lightning to make music. As an affront to Zeus himself, two 500,000 volt electrical arches that resonate to make musical notes (or something).
If you’re wondering what sound two huge arcs of killer electricity sounds like we, have a clip.
Harnessing one of the worlds most terrifying forces to gratify your acoustical wonder is one thing, but to then have that ONE MILLION volts of deathtricity run down your body for no reason other than to put on a show is something else entirely.
Tesla coils range from a few inches to a few hundred feet, and can be built using equipment bought in almost any electrical store, so its not hard to imagine bored nerds have built them to play their bored nerdy songs. Want the Mario theme tune? We have that! Legend Of Zelda? Boom, done. The Imperial March? You’re goddamned right we have the Imperial March.
Dr. Doom
The Tesla coil was selected for its misuse of electricity.
2)The Pyrophone
The Pyrophone, also known as the fire or explosion organ uses the power of explosion and rapid combustion shot up glass tubes to create a singing effect.
a pyrophone.
The instruments are popular displays at festivals and events all over the world, mostly because they make such a badass spectacle.
This is the Juggernaut Pyrophone, the worlds largest fire organ currently in operation. Try to imagine it like a pan flute, only upside down, giant and powered by explosions.
The Juggernaut is a huge visual display of firey goodness, but the pyrophone also comes in a smaller version.
proving once and for all, unless they are terrifying, experimental instruments are mostly awful. Awful, as in it sounds like a depressed whale.
The pyrophone was selected for is misuse of fire.
3) The Bassoforte
The bassoforte is brain child of Deigo Stocco, a musical inventor who also pioneered the experibass and recorded a song on a bonsai tree.
Using a similar video technique to the band Pomplamoose, Stocco uses parts of a pianoforte, parts of a bass and the pickups of a guitar to create an entirely new instrument.
Amazingly this home made instrument makes really catchy tune and plays pretty well. The sound might be a little rough but for a contraption made in some guys back yard it is pretty amazing.
The basso forte make this list for its fantastic misuse of both the piano and the bass.
4) Radiohead played on old computer parts.
Created by James Houston, a student from Glasgow, this remix utilizes outdated technology to create sounds eerily close to Radiohead’s Nude.
Using a printer, an oscilloscope, an old scanner, a spectrum and a host of old hard drives, Houston creates a haunting rendition of Radiohead’s classic.
Originally built to enter a competition from the band, James missed the deadline by only a few days but became an instant internet hit.
His version has been played on radio stations across the world and received over 100,000 Youtube hits.
This made the list thanks to its misuse of electronics
5) Fluteboxing Fluteboxing is the unlikely combination of fluting and beatboxing with astonishing results.
This fantastic clash of musical styles was pioneered by Nathan ‘Flutebox’ Lee, but only rose to popularity when he caught the eye of world famous DJ Beardyman.
The captivating thing about fluteboxing is the mix of the classic sounding melodies of the flute and the ultra-modern rhythm of beat-boxing. The ensemble sounds like a band on it own, merging both percussion and wind in to one handy tube.
Fluteboxing found its to the top of the list for misusing the flute and making it sound incredible.
After Unlabeled's last review of heavy metal band Hostile Rising, we felt like it was time to relax, well imagine how happy we were when we stumbled upon Matthew P.
We found Matthew P. from the last weeks channel 4 advert for the film Watchmen, which featured a great track from Matthew's latest album called End Of The World.
Hostile rising are one of those bands that are best enjoyed loud. I would advise anybody out there to turn your speakers up before you press play on any of the following tracks.
Hostile Rising formed in 2008 in Leeds and quickly rose to the top of the local music scene. Hostile Rising will be playing this years Bloodstock festival with bands like Motorhead and Rhapsody of Fire.
Rob Littlemore - vocals
The demos and E.P kicks-ass with driving guitars and mental drums, the whole unit seems completely manic some of the best guitar solos that local music has to offer, as guitarist Kenneth Belsham kindly demonstrates in this video. The audio quality isn't great but it gets to a point that it doesn't really matter. If you are in to metal guitar you have to check this out....
Hostile Rising's latest self titled E.P is guaranteed to make even the most soft-hearted of you out there to head bang a little. It carries with it every thing a person could want from a metal band. Distorted and thrashing Guitars, complex, pounding drums and passionate, screaming vocals. If you are wondering what that might sound like, its kind of like this....
Hostile Rising - Impropaganda
Impropaganda, the title track from Hostile Risings latest E.P is brilliantly composed and put together, the highlight kicks in at around 2.10, when guitar and drums kick in simultaneously to create an epic moment of tension and release.
Hostile Rising - City Upon A Hill
City upon A Hill is great song, but the highlight is the vocals, both gritty and unrelenting. This is how metal should be done.
Kenneth Belsham and Robert Burns
As good as the tracks are Hostile Rising are best as a live band. The band are self-professed gig lovers, and from there youtube page its not hard to see why. as much as metal is about distortion and drums, it is essentially a performance art, and these guys have got it down.
Hostile Rising - Vendetta
If you are looking for book these guys or want to find out more check them out at:
You may have heard of this little band from New York. The Strokes latest album, Angles, sold over 90,000 copies in its first week alone. And songs like ‘Last Nite’, ‘Juicebox’, and ‘Hard to Explain’ have rocked the charts on both sides of the Atlantic since the band’s first album in 2001.
But what many people do not know is that prior to the debut album This is it, the band recorded The Modern age EP, which included the songs ‘the Modern Age’, ‘Last Nite’ and ‘barely Legal’, all of which would be re-recorded for there first album, along with a handful of other rare demos and B-sides that people rarely get to hear.
The Modern Age EP
Some of the songs that The Strokes chose not to include on there albums far exceed the ones they did. These are just my top 5, but there are many others floating round the internet.
Top 5 Strokes B-sides and Demos
5)In Her Prime (demo) One of the major criticisms that the Strokes latest album received was that was that they seem to have lost there edge. Where as at one point they were shaping the face of pop music at the time with songs like ‘Last Nite’, now it seems that they are more bowing to the conventions of modern music.
If you felt that the latest album was a bit soft, a bit too electronic and not rock enough then ‘In Her Prime’ is exactly the song to bring back that original strokes feeling. You know the one… the feeling that kicked ass.
‘In Her Prime’ brings back feeling and the sound the guitar driven songs that launched the strokes in to fame. It’s a great song that reminds us why so many fans are devoted to the band. Why they decided to never release this on an album we will never know.
4) rhythm song (Demo) The song is called rhythm song, and when you listen it you will see why the song is called rhythm song. If you are a guitar lover then this is the track for you, Albert Hammond, jr’s heavily distorted guitar makes a great backing for Nick Valensi’s awesome solo towards the end of the track.
When listening to this its hard not to wonder if Julian Casablanca was deliberately trying to channel Jim Morrison. Listen to this song, then listen to either Peace Frog or Roadhouse Blues by The Doors, then listen to a song from the latest album, then listen to The Doors again. Its almost uncanny, or is it just me?
The strokes... in some sort of woodland, for what I'm sure is a very good reason
3)Take A Walk On The Wild Side. (live cover)
speaking of the strokes sounding like bands from the 60's, here is The Strokes doing a cover of Lou Reed's Take A Walk On The Wild Side. And it is exactly as awesome as you would expect...
Yes, that was what you just heard.
Covering an artist as influential and revered as Lou reed is a ballsy move, but the strokes took it and just wiped the floor with it. Everything about this song is incredible, Julian’s vocals fit the track almost better than Lou’s did and the rest of the band back him up perfectly.
It may have lost a certain grace and looseness that the original track that made the original song so great, but with this being a live track that is forgivable. A studio version would make a fantastic bonus track for the strokes upcoming fifth album.
2)Hawaii Aloha (B-side)
The strokes latest album received mixed reviews. Part of the reason that people found the new album so hard to digest is that Julian Casablanca wrote almost all of the first three albums, where as the fourth album was more of a collaboration from all members of the band. When Julian writes the songs it sounds much more like this…
Hawaii Aloha is pure Casablanca, it brings us back to his brilliant lyrics and composition. The rest of the band are very talented, as we saw from guitarist Albert Hammond Jr’s solo album, but it is Julian who really has the talent for lyrics and song composition, and this song is a perfect demonstration of this
‘Whether you're drunk or stoned
or we're sober and old,
If I'm with you
I'm a happy man.
if you feel safe and cold
while you count your gold.’
1)I'll Try Anything Once (Demo and B-side)
A version of this song eventually did get recorded for First Impressions of Earth, as the song You Only Live Once, and it was first released as a B-side on the Juicebox single.
This slow and beautiful song really shows off how poetic the band can be. Its so far removed from any other of the songs, and demonstrates how big the bands range its.
Its not guitar-driven like the first three albums and its not electronically-driven like the latest, its simply Nick Valensi on the keyboard while Julian Casablanca sings a beautiful and touching personal song.
as always you can pick up strokes tracks from just below.
