10018 Babybird

Babybird – Ex-Maniac
UK: 1st Mar – Unison

Second album since the return of Stephen ‘Babybird’ Jones and their fifth album overall as a full band. Highlight from guest apperance from actor Johnny Depp guitar on track ‘Unloveable’ and also directs the video of it. The album is produced by Bruce Witkin and Ryan Dorn who are also Johnny introdued, and Unison is their own label. Ex-Maniac is as great as ‘You’re Grorgeous’ era Babybird.

Outstanding tracks: ‘Unloveable’ & ‘Like Them’.

Back catalogue: [as full band]
Between My Ears There Is Nothing But Music (Baby Bird, 2006)
Best Of (Echo, 2004)
Bugged (Echo, 2000)
There’s Something Going On (Echo, 1998)
Ugly Beautiful (Echo, 1996)

10017 The Courteeners

The Courteeners – Falcon
UK: 22nd Feb – Loog/Polydor

The Courteeners become the number one band from Manchester after Oasis’s gone. Liam Fray and the co. back with their second album, Falcon, produced by Ed Buller (Suede, Pulp and White Lies), which is an ambitious record, like what the album title is. The band absorbs some new elements such as Nu Rave influenced track ‘You Overdid It Doll’, and standalone single ‘That Kiss’ alike anthem ‘Lullaby’.

Outstanding track: ‘Lullaby’.

Back catalogue: St. Jude (Loog/Polydor, 2008)

10016 Erland And The Carnival

Erland And The Carnival – Erland And The Carnival
UK: 25th Jan – Full Time Hobby

Folk singer and guitarist Erland Cooper recurited musicians to become The Carnival, which including high profile Simon Tong (The Verve, Blur and then The Good, The Bad & The Queen) and David Nock (The Ord, The Cult and The Fireman). Most works of the band are re-arrangement of traditional folk songs in a modern song writing way.

Outstanding track: ‘Trouble In Mind’.

10015 The Sunshine Underground

The Sunshine Underground – Nobody’s Coming To Save You
UK: 1st Feb – City Rockers

Long-awaited second album from Leeds’ The Sunshine Underground. Who appeared as one of best bands in Nu-Rave movement, with a heritage from their Leeds mates The Music, The Sunshine Underground became massive in its genre. But on their new one, some ballads were found to makes the album more mature.

Outstanding tracks: ‘In Your Arms’.

Back catalogue: Raise The Alarm (City Rockers, 2006)

10014 The Soft Pack

The Soft Pack – The Soft Pack
UK: 1st Feb – Heavenly
US: 2nd Feb – Kemado

Debut album from San Diego born and LA based Indie-Pop band The Soft Pack who previously known as The Muslims, but changed name due to racist comments. Having released serveral singles and EPs under The Muslims, the band soon to get its debut out under The Soft Pack. Produced by Eli Janney, former bassist of Girls Against Boys. The album is within half an hour full of ten raw and powerful songs.

Outstanding track: ‘Answer To Yourself”.

10013 Liars

Liars – Sisterworld
US: 9th Mar – Mute
UK: 8th Mar – Mute

Sisterworld is the fifth album from NYC three-piece Liars, who have evoled into Experimental from their early Post-Punk revivial. Sisterworld is their most industrial/curious album ever, a Redsidents soudlike one.

Outstanding track: ‘Here Come All The People’.

Back catalogue:
Liars (Mute, 2007)
Drum’s Not Dead (Mute, 2006)
They Were Wrong, So We Drowned (Mute, 2004)
They Threw Us All In A Trench And Stuck A Monument On Top (Gern Blandsten, 2001/Blast First, 2002)

10012 Shout Out Louds

Shout Out Louds – Work
SE: 24th Feb – Rutan Tuta &
US: 23rd Feb – Merge

Third studio album from Swedish Indie-Pop Shout Out Louds. Different from their native Jingle-Jangle sweetheart bands, Shout Out Louds still remain powerful and passionate, gorgeous compsition with orchestral background. Work is their best work to date.

Outstanding tracks: ‘Play The Game’ & ‘Walls’.

Back catalogue:
Our Ill Wills (Bud Fox/Merge, 2007)
Howl Howl Gaff Gaff (Bud Fox, 2003/EMI, 2005)