Alex Turner (frontman, vocals and rhythm guitar), Matt Helders (drums), Jamie Cook (lead guitar) and Nick O'Malley (bass and backing vocals) form the English four piece rock band. They formed in 2002 in High Green, Sheffield. The Monkeys are known as the first internet band. They were the first band to be spread online, not by the band themselves but by fans. They represented the possibility of a change in the way that new bands were promoted. AM has released 5 studio albums. Their debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, was released in 2006 and was the fastest selling debut album by a band in British chart history. Their second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare was released in 2007 and has a more aggressive sound and a more up-beat tempo than the previous album. Frontman, Alex Turner described it as, “very different from the last time.” Their third album, Humbug, under the influence of The Smiths, was released in 2009. Suck It And See followed 2 years later and the music slowed down. Their most recent album, AM was released in 2013. AM was influenced by Outkast, Aaliyah, Black Sabbath and audibly – their love for r’n’b. Arctic Monkeys changed their style of rock in each album. In an interview with Esquire magazine, John Cooper Clarke, friend of the band and poet says, “The nearest thing I can compare them to is The Beatles. They’re not trapped in style.” Laurence Bell, co-founder of Domino Records says, “ They’re the toast of the playground again, every 13-year-old loves them. But so do granddads who were into Led Zeppelin… The Monkeys are in a whole new era.” The band has been friends since they were in primary school. I found it quite interesting that when they decided to be a band none of them could play instruments. Fifteen at the time, they all asked for instruments for Christmas and band practice took place in the expected venue of a garage. Arctic Monkeys is, in my opinion, one of the most fantastic bands of all time. They produce the kind of music that instantaneously lifts your spirits from the first note. Their music is absolutely wonderful! They have produced very different styles of music, they literally have a song that matches every possible emotion and mood there ever was. I and an incredible amount of people have fallen in love their music and can't wait for their next release. Official site: www.arcticmonkeys.com
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aKing is a Bellville, Cape Town grown four piece rock band. Hunter Kennedy and Jaco ‘Snakehead’ Venter from Polisiecar joined forces with Laudo Liebenberg and Hennie Van Halen to create the wonderful band that I and many other South Africans have come to love. In early 2010 Hunter Kennedy left the band and was replaced by Andrew Davenport, friend of the band and Thieve member. aKing has released four albums. Dutch Courage (released in 2008) was their debut album. Against All Odds quickly followed and was released in 2009. Their third album, The Red-Blooded Years was released in 2011. Their most recent album, Morning After was released in late 2014. The band has said that their music has been influenced by other artists like Foo Fighters, Paul Simon, Thin Lizzy and Bruce Springstein. aKing have performed at Oppikoppi and Coke Zero Festival, they have also shared the stage with international artists such as Oasis, Snow Patrol and Panic! at the Disco. They are often heard on campus radio stations nationwide as well as 5fm and Kfm. aKing is one of my favourite local bands. Morning After is a great, energetic album. In my opinion, it is their best album yet. It combines thought-provoking lyrics with heavy riffs and fantastic instrumentals. It is an upbeat album that is sure to put you in an instant good mood. The songs are catchy and it’s the type of music that you can jam to alone as well as in the company of your friends. A good friend, Katie Tyndale-Biscoe says, “Morning After has a lot more meaningful lyrics and I love it!” aKing is yet another reason to be proudly South African. Find them on Instagram or Twitter - @akingband Facebook page: www.aking.co.za Chapter and Verse
Funeral For A Friend Released: 19 January 2015 Chapter and Verse is the 7th studio album for UK post-hardcore and alternative rock band, Funeral for a Friend. This album is a wonderfully rough around the edges and captivating composition by the band. They portray their raw and aggressive roots and soldier on through their fourteen year long career. This album has much the same rush that riddled their early material. Both the instrumentals and the vocals are amazingly attention grabbing and passionately energy soaked. “With imperfections like Matt Davies-Kreye’s voice breaking on ‘1%’ makes this album so charming. It’s gritty, emotionally-charged and occasionally sloppy stuff,” says Andy Biddulph of Rock Sound magazine. Official website: http://ffaf.myshopify.com/ Kintsugi
Death Cab for Cutie Release date: March 31 2015 Kintsugi is something for Death Cab fans to look forward to. It will be the 8th studio album by the American indie rock group. It is their first album to feature an outside producer. Chris Walla may have left Death Cab for Cutie last year but he is still with the band. He contributed to this album both as a musician and as an inspiration for the title. There are now three remaining members – Ben Gibbard, Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr. “I hope that people listen with as little prejudice as they can and try to hear the music for what it is and not what they want it to be,” says frontman, Ben Gibbard in an interview with the Rolling Stone Magazine. The album includes the singles The Black Sun, No Room in Frame and The Ghosts of Beverly Drive. I am a Death Cab fan and I think that their past albums have really been wonderful. I doubt that this album will disappoint. Official website: www.deathcabforcutie.com |