THE MACCABEES

ALSO THIS WEEK: FOSTER THE PEOPLECOLDPLAYSKRILLEXNIKI + THE DOVEAZEALIA BANKSAND MANY MORE

‘it’s just going to be a lot better’THE ECCEN-TRIC BRIGHT-ON BAND PREPARE TO RELEASE THEIR THIRD STUDIO ALBUM, READ THE REVIEW HERE.

09/01/2012

06.02.201206.02.2012

04 - THE MACCABEES

06 - TRACKS YOU HAVE TO HEAR

07 - SINGLES REVIEWED

08 - BBC SOUND OF 2012

09 - WHAT’S ON AND WHERE

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Hello and welcome to the first ever issue of Shuffle. I am Sean, I’m a graphic design and i’ve just started my degree, for my first project we had to make a digital magazine ao-but some topic which didn’t really interest me, however the whole con-cept of a digital magazine is fantas-tic. You can create something and upload it onto the internet for mil-lions of people to see and it doesn’t cost them a thing. As you will tell, my other passion is music, I adore all genres and could sit and discuss my favourite tracks or albums for hours.

So after creating a few music review blogs online as a break from Uni magazine, I suddenly realised why not compile a digital magazine shar-ing tracks and albums that i am re-ally loving this week and also looking at the newest releases, it also looks fantastic in my portfolio which is al-ways a plus. This week I’ve looked at The Maccabee’s newest release, reviewed some of the latest singls from the likes of Coldplay and Tribes and also reviewed the BBC’s choice for the sound of 2012.

Follow my twitter - www.twitter.com/Seany_Ward

THE BAND RETURN WITH THEIR MOST EXPERI-MENTAL ALBUM YET,

WITH TRULY STARTLING RESULTS.

likeness to some of Bombay Bicycle club’s early work. ‘Pelican’ deserves a men-tion as it has festival closer written all over it, a fantastic track for the band to put out to show people how they have grown as a band. The opening track ‘Child’ is a dreamy and trippy which is beautifully chilled without falling into dull, predictable grounds i.e The Kooks. Sixth track ‘Forever I’ve Known’ is another example how the band’s sound has evolved, they have a unique sound and it seems to really suit the market. They have not tried to over commercialise their sound, they have stayed true to their roots and the fans are going to adore it.

One of Britian’s most unique and original indie bands are back this January with their most exciting and antici-pated album to date. Their first two albums gained the band a cult following with tracks such as ‘Toothpaste Kisses’ and ‘Love You Better’ becoming classic indie an-thems. Their second album placed just outside the top 10 so their third album has been given more publicity than ever, the lead single ‘Pelican’ was placed on Radio 1’s A list. This album is full of true indie gems, the ninth track ‘Went Away’ is a slow builder with a mini-malistic backing track made by Orlando Week’s sooth-ing vocals, it definitely has a

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09/01/20125

The Maccabees have once again created a

fantastic collection that does not show any sign of the band losing their

fantasticallly unique sound which fans fell in love with on their very

first album.

Download ‘Child’ ‘Glim-mer’ ‘Pelican’ ‘Forever

I’ve Known’ ‘Go’.

8/10

TRACKS I’M LISTENING TO

‘POSSIBLY THE

GREATEST CLOSING

TRACK TO AN ALBUM... EVER’

BAT FOR LASHESI SAW A LIGHT

FUR AND GOLD

I recently rediscovered Bat For Lashes’ Mercury nominated debut. After hearing ‘Two Suns’ first it’s a slight shock to hear the plinky instrumental and unpolished production values of a number of tracks, however on a whole I adore the album’s rawness and the lyrics are second to none. However, the real gem of this album is the closer ‘I Saw A Light’. a haunting ballad that makes you stop and re-evaluate life, the lyrics are heartbreaking, Natasha’s voice is incredible and it finishes off this fantastic album perfectly.

THE VACCINESWETSUIT WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?This song really reminds of Summer, it’s cleverly written, fantastically delivered and was an overlooked single.

The Vaccines are a fantastic live band who will undoubtebly pull huge crowds to whatever stages they are headling ing next year with this flawless debut. This should definitely be their encore song along with ‘All In White’.

THE JOY FORMIDABLEOSTRICH

A Balloon Called MoaningEver since seeing the band live in October I have become obsessed with this track, it’s one of the best that the band have

ever wrote, with awesome instru mentals and a pounding beat. You can only get it on the bands very rare mini album, I feel it should definitely have been included as a superb thirtheen track to the band’s official debut ‘The Big Roar’.

THE KILLSTAPE SONGNO WOWAnother album that I rediscovered this week is The Kills’ pheunominal second LP ‘No Wow’. This album is full of punchy, hyped up rock songs with more attitude to spare. The track that I am crazy about right now is ‘Tape Song’, it is so simplistic but that is part of it’s brilliance. Fantastically harsh lyrics over a beat that is more infectious than swine flu, this has been on repeat on my IPod and in my headfor days.

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TRACKS I’M LISTENING TO

COLDPLAYCharlie Brown

XYLO MYLOTOIt’s time for another single from the apparent biggest act in the world

today, Coldplay. If you thought they couldn’t out do the repitive-

ness of dreary ‘Paradise’ then you must hear this. Nonsensical lyrics droned over the typical guitar

riffs, it has a No.27 hit written all over it. You may feel that I’m be-ing a little harsh on Coldplay, but they shot theirselves in the foot by releasing the masterpiece ‘Viva La Vida’ and then following it up (five years later) with a dull, mundane album that is ‘Mylo

Xyloto’. It doesn’t help that the lead single was such an incredible tune, my high hopes are truly dashed with this single.

FOSTER THE PEOPLEDON’T STOP (COLOR ON THE WALLS)

TORCHES

THIS WEEK’S SINGLES REVIEWED

I don’t quite know if it’s the controlling lyrics or the demonic child’s laugh that makes this track quite so strange. However, it is a fantastic single, a catchy beat and packed full of Indietastic vocals. The band seem to have created their own genre, in a way that any of their tracks could sit proudly in a pop chart yet they could also be played in clubs and they have enough guitar and drums to keep your modern indie kid happy who won’t listen to anything if they don’t think it has been inspired by The Smiths in someway.

‘FOR SUCH AN UPBEAT BAND, THIS TRACK IS

REALLY CREEPY’

NOAH AND THE WHALEGIVE IT ALL BACKLast Night On EarthNoah and the whale return with hopefully their final single from the sleep ‘Last Night On Earth’. This track is yet another whingey story of past times which you expect to pick up, yet never really does. It is definitely the weakest track so far, and does not not stand up against the quite catchy ‘L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N’. This band had a lot of pressure with this album, the first was only noticed for one single, so although they have been given a larger platform and more acknowledgement, they don’t quite have the ability to put out four or five killer singles.

TRIBESWE WERE CHILDREN

BABYThe first single from the

Camden band is a really exciting track as it shows

us what this group’s debut album could be like.It is a

track packed full of indie attitude with kick ass guitar riffs and soft, silky vocals. The perfect song to ac-

company a Summer road trip. Keep an eye on this band, I predict huge things for them in 2012, we may have a new Friendly Fires or Foals on our hands. The

band already have a cult following and after put-ting out a killer track like this , their fanbase is bound

to increase.

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Soul singer Micheal Kiwanuka is named BBC’s Sound of 2012 Winner

The American Rapper finishes in second Outspoken Azealia is third

Dubstep producer Shrillex is fourth Swedish duo Niki + the Dove make fifth

BBC SOUND OF 2012

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Indie rockers Snow Patrol embark on their largest UK tour at the end of this month, they will play several dates at arenas in Glasgow, Birmingham, Liverpool, Lon-don and many more. It will be the first time that fans will really get a chance to hear tracks off their latest album‘Fallen Empires’ live as the band shyed away from the festival circuit last Sum-mer to concentrate on fin-ishing the new LP. Tickets are still available at www.ticketmaster.co.uk, It is not certain when the band’s next tour will be so don’t waste this oppurtunity.

American pop punk band All Time Low are also visiting the UK at the end of the month for their sold out tour. The band have really gained a cult following over here so it was no surprise that they are embarking on their largest tour to date which includes show in Birmingham, Not-tingham, Cardiff, Bris-tol and three nights in London. Their latest album ‘Dirty Work’ hit the top 20 and now the band are ready to perform these tracks to an army of fans. Get your tickets at www.ents24.com

UPCOMING GIGS

THE VERY BEST OF 2011, OUT NOW.