Album Review: The Cribs - Ignore The Ignorant

Album: Ignore The Ignorant
Artist: The Cribs
Singles: We Were Aborted (free download), Cheat On Me

"The New Fellas" and "Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever," the previous two albums from the Cribs, were both works of genius. But even with a master guitarist, Johnny Marr of the Smiths fame, this album does not reach the heights their previous efforts reached.

We Were Aborted
The opener is brought in with a powerful guitar riff, starting things off with a bang for this album. It's one of the better songs on the album, and a well deserving opener.

Cheat On Me
When I first heard this song, I hoped there would be better songs than this on the album. Nevertheless this is still a great track, with some great guitar parts and a chorus that makes you feel like singing along as Ryan Jarman screams "cheat on me..."

We Share The Same Skies
This song has one of the best choruses on the album, and is quite catchy. The album is still upholding high standards here.

City Of Bugs
A long track at over six minutes. It doesn't drag on, which is a good thing. It features an almost military drumbeat, and is a very new sound for the Cribs. A successful part of the album.

Hari Kari
This has to be the second single; it is full of greatness on all accounts, and the chorus is another great. "It was years ago, it was years ago..."

Last Year's Snow
At this point, the album looks great. But from here on in, it just drops in quality (bar one or two songs). This is not a memorable track at all, and I think it is the weakest on the album.

Emasculate Me
Except for a quick beat, this song doesn't leave a great impression. Nothing stands out as amazing here.

Ignore The Ignorant
The title track has a catchier feel to it than the rest, and the chorus is another sing-along affair, but the album hasn't picked up enough to be a success yet.

Save Your Secrets
A slower song, and a slightly better one than the previous three, but still there's nothing to excite me enough to want to play it over and over.

Nothing
There is a more powerful guitar part on this track, and that's the only really good part of this song. Parts of the chorus remind me of early Cribs tracks.

Victim Of Mass Production
This one returns to former Cribs glory. It flows fantastically, it was great live and they've made it great here.

Stick To Yr Guns
Well, at least they know how to end an album. A slow, five minute song rounds it all off, and it's one of the slightly better sides of this mostly unexciting album.

Generally, I'm disappointed with this album. There's nothing that excited me as much as when I first heard songs such as Mirror Kissers, Martell, Men's Needs or Don't You Wanna Be Relevant? But there are some good songs here, such as the opening quintet and Victim of Mass Production. Other than that, nothing grabs me instantly, and nothing shows signs of growing on me.

For the record, their previous albums: The Cribs (6/10), The New Fellas (8/10), Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever (10/10)

Hear Ignore The Ignorant Now

You can hear the new Cribs album in full here.

First Single From Waking Up

The first single from OneRepublic's second album, Waking Up, will be called All The Right Moves. More details to follow.

Second Single From Only Revolutions

Biffy Clyro's second single from their fifth album, called The Captain, will get its first play sometime next week. It is the opener to their upcoming album Only Revolutions. According to various sites, it will be released on October 26.

One Night Only Are In The Studio...

...working on their second album. You can look through some of their "ONO Wednesdays" videos on YouTube to hear some of the new songs. Sounding great.

Album Review: Arctic Monkeys - Humbug

Album: Humbug
Artist: Arctic Monkeys
Singles: Crying Lightning

The long-awaited third album from Arctic Monkeys has finally landed. And it is not a disappointment. Some fantastic dark, brooding rock mixed in with some lighter elements, with some odd but interesting ideas here and there.

My Propeller
The album kicks off with an innunedo-filled dark-sounding rock song. It's the way an opening track should be, drawing you in to the wonders of the rest of the album. The first half of the album seems to follow this heavier sound that what we have heard from the Monkeys in the past. But no worries, it's great.

Crying Lightning
The first single fits in well here, with its odd lyrics - first sexual innuendos, now Pic 'n' Mix? What the hell inspired this? (Please note: The lyrics are great, just... odd.) It was a well deserved choice for first single; it seems to show the better parts of the album.

Dangerous Animals
A creepy start with the words "Pinned down by the dark..." as we are led into another heavy-ish new track. The guitar parts are great, the chorus is great, the song is great. And just as a note for those who think he's singing dangerous without the E, listen carefully after the G. The song turns into the first example of some fantastic drumming from Matt Helders. More of which to come.

Secret Door
A quieter start here, but soon settles in with a great rhythm and a heartfelt chorus, reminiscent of the brilliant closer 505 from their second album. It shows a far more mature Arctic Monkeys.

Potion Approaching
This song is not them at their best, and is the weakest on the album. It sounds juddering, and features a rather uneventful first couple of minutes before it gets into a slow, bouncy rhythm, before ending with some more juddering guitar and the line "Would you like me to build you a go-kart?"

Fire And The Thud
A beautiful song, with some eerie voices going "oooh..." before Alex Turner comes in with some of his best lyrics yet. The ending is amazing, with some brilliant supporting vocals that makes it sound so epic.

Cornerstone
You can tell this went with Secret Door when it was recorded. It's another slower track, and it builds up very slowly and subtly, before launching into a brilliant finale: "I saw your sister in a cornerstone...." before fading out, leaving you wanting more.

Dance Little Liar
A slow, eerie beginning, the darkest on the album, but equally as brilliant. It sounds like a song for the desert (whatever the hell that is - I just can't really describe it) and features some great guitar riffs at the end.

Pretty Visitors
My favourite. A slow organ intro can fool you into thinking that's the premise of the whole song, but then it bursts into some super-fast rock, with lyrics spat out at lightning speed (I'm surprised he could remember all those) before launching into the best chorus of the album, as it slows down the speed and Alex sings "All the pretty visitors came and waved their arms and cast the shadow of a snake pit on the wall" while Matt smashes the hell out of the drums (it's him by far at his best), establishing him firmly as one of the greatest rock drummers ever.

The Jeweller's Hands
What? Final song already? - my first thoughts on realising where I was on the album. It sounds a bit like a hip-hop track at first before it launches into arguably their best closer yet. (It goes up against A Certain Romance and 505, both great closers themselves). It's brilliant.

This album sounds mature and wonderful. It is a well-conceived departure from their old material. I am only critical of two things. One is "Potion Approaching", which costs the album the full marks, the other is how fast the album goes by! (It shows it's a good album, but it's all over too quickly.) However, this just might be their best one yet, although many fans will disagree.

For the record, their previous albums: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (8/10), Favourite Worst Nightmare (9/10)

A Lot Of Editors News

1. Papillon artwork; the most colourful artwork they've ever done!


2. A listening session of the album confirms No Sound But The Wind is not on the album. :(
3. Papillon will be played on Radio 1 at around 1930 GMT tonight, and will feature an interview with Tom about the new album.
4. The Cuttings 2 disc coming with the album will feature these five tracks:

• This House Is Full Of Noise
• I Want A Forest
• My Life As A Ghost
• Human
• For The Money

5. And finally, the lengths of the album tracks (I don't have the Cuttings 2 lengths)

• In This Light And On This Evening 4.23
• Bricks And Mortar 6.23
• Papillon 5.26
• You Don’t Know Love 4.41
• The Big Exit 4.46
• The Boxer 4.42
• Like Treasure 4.54
• Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool 4.55
• Walk the Fleet Road 3.47

Total Time: 43:57 (if my maths is correct)

Now all we need is 30 second previews from iTunes....

Preview Ignore The Ignorant

You can hear 30 second previews of the Cribs' new album, Ignore The Ignorant, on iTunes now.

OneRepublic Album Title Revealed

The band's second album is to be called Waking Up, rumoured to be released September or October 2009.

Potential tracks:

• All The Right Moves
• The Other Side
• Missing Persons 1 & 2
• Today
• Everybody Loves Me
• Secrets
• Waking Up
• Fear
• Good Life (last song on album)

The first single will be put on their MySpace page soon.

Single Review: Editors - Papillon

Single: Papillon
Artist: Editors
Album: In This Light And On This Evening

Incredibly catchy, an unforgettable synth riff, a completely unexpected yet at the same time wonderful departure from their old stuff. Probably the best song I've heard all year. This new album can't come fast enough. (55 days until it comes out as I type this.)

10/10

Preview The Resistance

Listen to 30-second samples of Muse's new album, The Resistance, on iTunes now.

I am loving the sound of it. Undisclosed Desires and MK Ultra sound bloody amazing.

And I really really can't wait for Exogenesis.

Editors News... Again

I seem to be full of Editors news recently.

• First, the artwork.
• Second the first play of Papillon was moved... which leads me to item 3 on the Editors agenda:
• Papillon was played [:)] but I didn't hear it [:(] and it wasn't on Radio 1, it was on Irish radio station Phantom. Well, it's out there so maybe radios will start to properly play it.
• Item 4: For those doubters complaining that the album's too short, there will be an extra five tracks on a bonus EP called Cuttings 2. (The Back Room had Cuttings 1)

Well, that's a lot. What next? A free download? (Hint, hint...)

Single Review: Hadouken! - M.A.D.

Single: M.A.D.
Artist: Hadouken!

This new single starts off very promising, with a very catchy beat, and the line "bring it on, you can bang the drum..." sounds like they are prompting you to sing along. Same story at the end of the song. But the middle section seems a little out of place, as it all slows down for a bit. Anyway, I'm glad to hear that the band still seem up to making a good tune.

7/10

Papillon's First Play Moved

Damn. The first play of Editors' new single, "Papillon", has been moved back to 24th August.

In This Light And On This Evening Artwork

Editors' third album, In This Light And On This Evening, will be released 12th October.

Well This Was Unexpected...

For those who like Pull Tiger Tail, they are releasing their debut album... TWO years after it was finished. Due to overcoming ridiculous legal problems, they are finally getting it out!

It will be called PAWS.

Tracklist:

1. For No One
2. Mr. 100 Percent
3. Loki
4. Let's Lightning
5. Hurricanes
6. Animator
7. Even Good Kids Make Bad Sports
8. Eugene
9. I Call It It
10. Air Born
11. It's About Destruction

Artwork:

The album will be out 14th September.

The band has put out four singles already from this album: Let's Lightning, Hurricanes, Animator and Mr 100 Percent. It's about time we had a full album!

New Track From Hadouken!

The new release from Hadouken! will be released on 14th September.
It is called M.A.D and will feature the following tracks:

1. M.A.D
2. Something Very Bad
3. Ugly (Dub Mix)
4. M.A.D (Detboi Remix)
5. M.A.D (Plastician Remix)
6. M.A.D (Phace Remix)

The track M.A.D. will be available as a free download from the 14th September for one week only.

M.A.D. stands for Mutually Assured Destruction.

The track will feature on the band's upcoming second album, details of which are currently unknown.

And finally, the slightly disturbing artwork.

The Resistance Artwork

This is the artwork for Muse's fifth album, The Resistance, which will be released 14th September.

Single Review: Muse - Uprising

Single: Uprising
Artist: Muse
Album: The Resistance

I couldn't imagine a better lead single from Muse. Their recent download of United States of Eurasia was good enough, but it pales in comparison to this monster of a song. The Doctor Who-esque synths and the powerful drums are immensely catchy, and the chanting and the chorus will sound awesome live. If this standard is kept up, the band's fifth album will be album of the year.

10/10

Cheat On Me Surprise Release

Cheat On Me, the first single from The Cribs' fourth album, has surprisingly been made available to download four weeks before the physical release.