Tag: Manchester

You Didn’t Know You Needed More Fall… But You Do

British indie label Cherry Red has been steadily releasing generously expanded editions of assorted albums by The Fall from throughout the group’s existence. In other words, the bewilderingly extensive catalog of that esoteric, acerbic Manchester assemblage, constantly led by Mark E. Smith from their 1976 formation until his death in 2018, keeps on growing. The… Continue reading You Didn’t Know You Needed More Fall… But You Do

New Order’s Power, Corruption and Lies Repackaged

Power, Corruption and Lies, the second full-length album from New Order, will enjoy the deluxe reissue treatment on Oct. 2 through Rhino Records. The “definitive edition” will include the 1983 album remastered from the original analog tapes, along with a CD of demos and a John Peel BBC session, plus two DVDs of various concerts… Continue reading New Order’s Power, Corruption and Lies Repackaged

Crywank – Fist Me ‘Til Your Hand Comes Out My Mouth

A last hoorah if there ever was one. Crywank are James Clayton and Dan Watson, two anti-folk mad hatters from Manchester. Being self-managed and having virtually no coverage, they’ve made DIY ripples around the world with their sound. They decided sometime last year that they would break up after one last world tour. Said tour… Continue reading Crywank – Fist Me ‘Til Your Hand Comes Out My Mouth

Pins Spin Again on Hot Slick

Prepare to be treated to a fresh poke in the earhole from Pins. The Manchester post-punk group – now a trio following the departure of their original rhythm section – will unveil their third album, Hot Slick, on May 29th. Based on the samples released so far – the official first single and video “Hot Slick”… Continue reading Pins Spin Again on Hot Slick

Morrissey – I Am Not a Dog on a Chain

Have you heard the news? Everyone is racist! 2020 is so batshit-crazy-insane that now even Morrissey is a racist. Yes, that Morrissey – ya know, that dreary, crotchety, get-off-my-lawn, Meat is Murder, hardcore-vegan crooner. He called some social justice morons “social justice morons” and you can’t do that if you’re a “free thinking” artist (because… Continue reading Morrissey – I Am Not a Dog on a Chain

Black Swan Lane

Time Can Never Lie: Black Swan Lane Stares Down the Other Side “The music, to me, is pretty uplifting,” notes Jack Sobel, concerning his musical endeavor of over 13 years, Black Swan Lane. He pauses, then adds: “The lyrics themselves change that… My stuff has always been really dramatic… But then… people [write me] every… Continue reading Black Swan Lane

Elbow – Giants of All Sizes

After a couple of albums where their fire seemed to cool somewhat, on Giants of All Sizes, English post-Britpop band Elbow have returned to form, displaying the kind of sweeping melodic sensibilities and insightful lyrics that first won them acclaim with their debut, 2001’s Asleep in the Back. It’s good to hear that middle age… Continue reading Elbow – Giants of All Sizes

Oh Shit! Pete Shelley Dead

Add Pete Shelley’s name to the depressingly long list of seminal rockers to have passed away recently.  The longtime Buzzcocks frontman suffered a severe heart attack the morning of December 6 in Estonia, where he had been living. Shelley (real name: Peter McNeish) was 63. Buzzcocks were not only linchpins in the UK punk scene,… Continue reading Oh Shit! Pete Shelley Dead

A Certain Ratio Gathers the Strays

Post-punk/pop-funk outfit A Certain Ratio have announced the release of acr:set, a career-spanning compilation coming Oct. 12 on Mute Records. The collection includes rare 7” and 12” mixes of many of the songs. Two new songs are included: “Make It Happen” and “Dirty Boy,” the latter of which featuring vocals from Barry Adamson (ex-Magazine/Bad Seeds)… Continue reading A Certain Ratio Gathers the Strays

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Who Built the Moon?

Noel Gallagher’s third album with High Flying Birds is his most creative, original, and ambitious post-Oasis effort to date. Perhaps the sibling rivalry lit a fire under Noel’s ass and made him pull out all the stops. After all, Noel was the creative force that wrote all the Oasis songs that so many fawned over… Continue reading Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Who Built the Moon?

The Queen is Still Dead

A newly remastered and expanded version of The Smiths’ finest long-player, The Queen is Dead, is slated for an October 20th release through Warner Bros./Rhino. Actually, make that three different deluxe editions coming out. A 3-CD/1-DVD version contains the newly remastered 1986 album, a disc of rare B-sides and previously unreleased demos, a third CD… Continue reading The Queen is Still Dead

Peter Hook

The Pleasure Principle: Peter Hook Sees The Light With a distinctive style that stands out to this day, those prominent, throbbing basslines sticking in your noggin for perpetuity, Peter Hook was one of the primary architects of the essential post-punk sound. With the short-lived but tremendously influential group Joy Division, the interzone where his upfront… Continue reading Peter Hook