LIVE/ FOLK CLUB

There are some strange folk hiding in the bush of Brisbane's Alexander Hills.

VIRAL/BIG SCARY

'Autumn' by Big Scary

Although we are now into the frostiness of winter, take a trip back a couple months to experience autumn with Big Scary. Well... what it's like in more seasonal places than Brisbane.

PLAYLIST/ DRIVING

Five songs to crank when you hit the highway leaving a trail of dust in your wake.

Q+A/ THE JOHN STEEL SINGERS

The John Steel Singers are a six piece from Brisbane, known for their catchy pop tunes and outlandish tales.

VIRAL/ TOUHOU

'Bad Apple!!' by Masayoshi Minoshima

A game for little girls is a Juggernaut in creating music, remixes and memes

Q+A/ FRACTIONS

If you haven't already seen Fractions (no 'the'), you most probably will.

VIRAL/ MYSTERY JETS

'Flash A Hungry Smile' By Mystery Jets

Mystery Jets jump on the ever-popular psychedelic bandwagon with this new song from their upcoming album Serotonin, to be released in July.

Q+A/ DEAD RIOT

The Living End may still hold the Australian punk rock crown but these guys are next in line for the throne.

VIRAL/ SA DINGDING

"Ha Ha Li Li"by Sa Dingding

Sa Dingding calls herself a Buddhist but, in her latest video, she's abandoned her religious roots.

RETRO/ RADIOHEAD

Hail to the Thief 
(2003, Parlophone)

Your ears are the test subjects, Radiohead are the mad scientists and Hail to the Thief is a morally questionable experiment for the betterment of mankind.

FRESH/ CASTAWAY

 They haven't been around for long but this hardcore/punk band are hitting the Brisbane music scene like a punch to the face.

VIRAL/DARWIN DEEZ

'Radar Detector' by Darwin Deez

A guy with weird, curly hair and a mustache delivers an incredibly addictive tune.

Q+A/ MY POLAROID HOLIDAY

My Polaroid Holiday are a band devoted to the idea that making music should be all about having fun and not much else.

ALBUM/ BRITISH INDIA

Avalanche
(Shock)


















The latest effort from local indie rockers, British India, is full of punch and grunt.  But is it enough to make them stand out from the plethora of up-and-coming Aussie rock acts?

Q+A/ PROJECT 62

Toowoomba rock outfit Project 62 are on the war path.

VIRAL/ KATY PERRY

'California Gurls' by Katy Perry

Katy Perry returns with this leaked single from her sophomore album, where she moves from kissing girls to having sex on the beach.

ALBUM/ SADE

Soldier of  Love
(Sony)

Sade shows us that love, even when lost, is still sweet.

FRESH/ VLADA EDERIDGE

Local singer/songwriter Vlada Ederidge sings the blues softly and sweetly, in a way that's sure to melt your heart.

ALBUM/ EMILIE SIMON

The Big Machine
(Universal)

French goddess Emilie Simon markets her wares to Oz. So Frenchy, so chic, charming and just plain cool.

Q+A/ IRUKANDJI

"We generally like being assholes and just want to have fun as a band."

ALBUM/ TORI AMOS

Midwinter Graces
(Universal Republic)

What is Tori Amos, a reverend's daughter who sings "God, sometimes you just don't come through", going to do with a Christmas album?

Q+A/ TIM NELSON

Tim Nelson's the vocalist and main man of Brisbane indie pop outfit, Tim Nelson and the Cub Scouts.

VIRAL/ THE BLACK KEYS

'Next Girl' by The Black Keys

Girls in bikinis and a dinosaur hand puppet, what more could a music video need?

LIVE/ LADY GAGA

@ Brisbane Entertainment Centre
27 /3/10

“This is the most amazing and smart live concert I have ever seen!!!”

VIRAL/ M.I.A

'Born Free' by M.I.A

M.I.A has an uncanny knack for generating attention and the controversial video for her new single is no exception.

ALBUM/ JÓNSI

Go
(Parlophone)

This album, and Jónsi himself, is reason enough to spend half-a-grand to see him at Splendour, hell maybe even worth a whole grand.

LIVE/ YVES KLEIN BLUE

@ the Old Museum

17/4/10

A chance for hundreds of 15-year-old girls to stare into the "dreamy" eyes of Michael Tomlinson.

RETRO/ JAY CHOU

November’s Chopin
(2005, Alfa)

You may not understand Chinese, but don't let that stop you from listening to this record from Taiwanese pop star, Jay Chou.

FRESH/ CASTLES SUNK BELOW THE SEA

This unsigned foursome have provided their MySpace listeners with only two songs, yet their experimental music is uniquely powerful.

VIRAL/ DAKOTA FANNING

'Cherry Bomb' by Dakota Fanning feat. Kristen Stewart

  

Dakota Fanning will eternally be eleven in my eyes, and Kristen Stewart will always be from Twilight. Sex them up, and make them play rock chicks and it's just embarrassing for everyone involved.

RETRO/ THE STROKES

Room on Fire
(2003, RCA)

Pretentious, self obsessed and utterly phenomenal. The Strokes second album proved that the group had a reason to be so narcissistic.

ALBUM/ EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING

Rush to Relax
(Suppression/Shock)

Your oasis of brash garage punk in today's desert of pretentious prog pop.

LIVE/DELTA MONARCHS

@ The Zoo
15/04/2010

Brisbane boys, The Delta Monarchs set is tight and well-polished - it's just a pity Thursday night crowds are non-existent. 

VIRAL/ THE DEAD WEATHER

Die By The Drop

Jack White's latest project kick off their second album with a clip that's as grisly as its' title suggests.

VIRAL/ DELPHIC

'Doubt' by Delphic

How come we can get behind the mediocre old Presets but we barely pay any attention to Delphic?

ALBUM/ GOLDFRAPP

Head First
(Mute Records)

The fifth studio release for the duo is a 40-minute nod to trashy 80's synth that feels a few decades too late. 

VIRAL/ THE TEMPER TRAP

'Love Lost' by The Temper Trap

Let The Temper Trap take you for a nice, dirty and sweaty run.

LIVE/ THE HONEY MONTH/ PARADES

@ Cubby Hole
1/04/2010

Parades gave the Cubby Hole's Thursday audience a short, sweet set, while at times The Honey Month had too much energy.

FRESH/ RAN JACOBS

Local lass with a sweet, earthy voice that makes Joanna Newsom sound like a grizzly transvestite.

VIRAL/ JONAS BROTHERS

'Paranoid' by Jonas Brothers

Ever wondered what the Jonas Brothers would sound like in the death metal genre?

LIVE/ THEY ARE SPIES / THE FAZE / THE NATHANAEL MARC EXPERIENCE / FASTTRACK EUPHORIA

@ The Zoo
27/03/10

This is a modified version of a review I wrote for Press Record Online.  You can see the original piece here.

ALBUM/ MGMT

Congratulations
(Sony/Columbia)

MGMT make a somewhat anemic and forced return with a less punchy second album.

FRESH/ THE BELLIGERENTS

Do we really need more dance rock?

VIRAL/ SHE & HIM

'In the Sun' by She & Him

If Britney Spears was aware of how shocking her dance moves in the clip for 'Baby One More Time' were, it would have looked a little like this. 

RETRO/ HANSON

Middle of Nowhere
(1997, Island/Mercury)

Who could ever forget the beautiful Hanson brother trio? Or their luscious shoulder length hair?

ALBUM/ GORILLAZ

Plastic Beach
(Parlophone and Virgin Records)

Gorillaz return to the public consciousness with an album more complex and layered than their previous two.

VIRAL/ THE VAUDEVILLE SMASH

'Hey' by The Vaudeville Smash

Probably the happiest song you'll hear this year.

RETRO/ MUSE

H.A.A.R.P

(2008, Warner Music Group)

 
















The kings of experimental rock craft a modern classic in one of the world's biggest stadiums.

RETRO/ SO FRESH

So Fresh  - Hits of Winter 2002
(Sony Music)

We discover So Fresh compilations taste even worse (read: better) a decade stale.

FRESH/MAJOR CHORD

Folk musician Major Chord uses a "hodge-podge" of percussion from "all corners of the world".