My albums of the year 2014

2014 has been a huge year in the music industry and just before the year ends I decided my albums of 2014 had to be written somewhere .

Their not the most perfect albums , or not the shortest named.  A lot of them are début albums, but I prefer all of them to bands who are maybe on their fourth studio album turning out the same music year on year .

The Music World : 2014

This year has been incredible for new music, emerging new artists and unbelievable debut albums.

The year saw George Ezra's incredible debut album 'Wanted On Voyage', along with Royal Blood's sensational self titled debut and Sam Smiths number one debut 'In the Lonely Hour'. Ed Sheeran's second album 'X'(multiply) which became number one 12 countries.

San Cisco 'Run' offical video

San Cisco, my favourite aussie-indie four piece have released the offical video for their single 'Run'. 

 

Hopefully this might lead to a new album, moving on from their 2012 self titled debut album. 

Zane Lowe's 100 Hottest Records In The World 2014

This year so far, although now nearly over, has turned out some of the best new music compared to the last few years.

Artists like Sam Smith, Catfish and The Bottlemen, The Vamps, 5 Seconds of Summer, James Bay, Indiana, Lonely The Brave, Jess Glynn, Josh Record, Jamie T, George Ezra, Ella Eyre, Coasts and Royal Blood, along with so many more, have exploded from their background residency of last year into this years spotlight.

 
 

Catfish and the Bottlemen Live at the Classic Grand, Glasgow

Opened in 1915 the Classic Grand was one of Glasgow city's newest cinemas. Its closure as a cinema in 1992 saw a new start for the building as an intimate space for incredible live music.

Last night, the Classic Grand bared witness to one of the worlds best live bands of the moment, Catfish and the Bottlemen.

Ed Sheeran Live at the SSE Hydro, Glasgow

Small, live, intimate concerts are great for discovering new artists and helping bands establish themselves. Huge, nationwide arena tours put somethings back into perspective.

Introducing Sivu ...

James Page is a Finnish songwriter and singer, now living in London. His music is just beautiful. It's unique ethereal sound is a joy to listen to. His debut album 'Something On High' is a showcase of this artists talent and what a talent it is. 

Sivu's incredible single Miracle (human error) is iTunes single of the week (uk). 

Drown by Bring Me The Horizon

Sempiternal, the bands fourth studio album, which won both Alternative Press' and Kerrang's best album award, has became a turning point for Bring Me The Horizon. That album added to and finalized the bands definitive sound. Now however a new sound is emerging, but this time Sykes screams have become melodic vocals, or so the bands latest single 'Drown' suggests.

In July at the Alternative Press Music Awards Sykes accepted the award for 'Best Album', for Sempiternal, and in his acceptance speech Sykes spoke about his time in rehab and also his support from family, friends and fans.

Sykes said “No one fucking knows this, but I went to rehab for a month, and through that time, you guys had no fucking idea that I was in rehab. But you were sending me letters. You were sending me text messages. You were sending me fucking emails. When I got out of that rehab, I didn’t wanna fucking scream anymore; I wanted to sing it through the rooftops, and it’s all thanks to you. So thank you very much.”

The band release 'Drown' on the 7th of December and are planning to go back to the studio early next year for their next album.

Syke's screaming days may be over for now, thats not to say however they won't resurface again, coming back over the horizon.

Bones by Josh Record

I honestly adore this song, Bones by Josh Record. Records voice sounds incredible and it is just genuinely a beautiful song and an former iTunes single of the week. This is definitely a name which will appear alot more in the new year.

 

The beautiful single Chasing Rubies by Hudson Taylor

Since this song has came out I haven't had it off repeat. I honestly hope the very best for this band. Their musics original and genuinely beautiful sounding.

Hudson Taylor could easily steal your heart.

The singles out in the UK now, available on iTunes.  

Stirlings New Indie Music Festival: Strange Behaviours

Festival season doesn't have to stop in August as this year's Strange Behaviours festival proves.

The central belt of Scotland has a strong music history, with the countries two biggest cities (Glasgow and Edinburgh) acting as culture collators. Adding to our wealth of local talent this year is Stirling's Strange Behaviours festival.

With a lineup including our favourites in Pronto Mama and Model Aeroplanes, Strange Behaviours may quickly become one of the best indie festivals for emerging local talent.

Strange Behaviours Poster 2014. Designed by Anna Kraay.

Taking place at Stirling's Tolbooth, the festival runs between Friday the 21st and Saturday 22nd of November.

If you love King Tuts Summer Nights - the legendary venues week-long event celebrating the best new and upcoming artists - Strange Behaviours may a strong competitor for your favourite 'new music celebration' event.

Catfish and the Bottlemen finally release video for Pacifer

In 2013 the single Pacifier was released as a single and also part of the 'Kathleen and the Other Three' EP (along with Homesick, Rango and Kathleen).


The single was then released in 2014 as part of the bands debut album The Balcony which went to number 10 in the UK charts and number 1 in the Itunes Alternative charts.

The video for Pacifier, released earlier today, is the bands sixth music video featuring the full band, the bands beloved roadie Larry and even Steve Lamacq.

Hudson Taylor 2015 UK and Ireland Tour

Hudson Taylor caught alot of peoples attention through supporting Jake Bugg on his UK tour. Now however they become the main act in their huge tour through the UK and Ireland.
  On January 31st the due are playing in Glasgow's Oran Mor supported by Southern, not part of the tour which kicks off in Edinburgh and finishes a month later in Cork.

 

Tickets go on general sale on the 3rd (tomorrow). 

The End of Canterbury

Yesterday Canterbury dropped a bombshell. The announcement of their break up.

Nine months ago, in January, the band released their third album 'Dark Days', which is one of my favourite albums of the year so far. Its honestly amazing. No part of the album was weak sounding. It didn't sound like it came from a band about to break up. The album was my favorite album at the start of the year and still is one of my favorites. A day after its release I wrote 'We've waited two years for this new album, after the initial love affair sparked by the debut album 'Thank You' in 2009... This album hopefully will be a triumph for the band. I cannot wait to see what else comes from this band - hopefully festival main stages, huge arena tours filled with screaming fans...' Now

Yesterday the band wrote  

'Dear all.
      We take this opportunity to say Thank You. Thank you to everybody who has at any point over the last 7 years, considered themselves a fan of our band 'Canterbury'. We have lived, breathed, and literally poured our entire existence into this musical adventure for the last 7 years, and that is why we feel great thanks are in order for everyone who has made it possible for us to make it work for so long. 
It is with heavy, but extremely proud and high-held hearts, that we are announcing there are no plans to write, record and release another Canterbury album. 
    The three albums we have released, and the hundreds of shows that we have played as Canterbury, have given us years of joy, and the feeling of being able to have left a mark in musical history, as a band that started when we were just school mates, is a blissfully satisfying one.
It's been an unforgettable journey since the very beginning, and although it might not have not got us to where we wanted to be, we have the satisfaction of knowing we did everything we could, the way that WE wanted to, with the utmost integrity, and the music will endure.
    We never want to say never, but for now, it is time for us to put this chapter behind us.  We are all the very best of friends, and we are all still very much musicians. 
Once again, we want to take this opportunity to say thank you. Thank you to everyone who gave it their all behind the scenes, thank you to the bands who took us on tour, thank you to the people who came to our shows. Those who stood at the back if the room and nodded along, and those who sung their hearts out. Thank you to everybody who has ever been a part of supporting Canterbury.
   We are playing 3 very special shows at the end of the year; we would be very pleased to see as many of you as we can at them. We won't be announcing any more, it's just these 3, so if you can make it to one, please do.
    We will finish off in London's Islington Academy, and we fully intend on this being an absolute celebration of all that we have done, and everything we are about. That will be made possible with your help. The last thing we will ask from you as fans of our band. 
   There is so much more that we could, and will say, but for now, just one last time, Thank You. 
Canterbury. '

Definitely this band could have went on with their huge supportive fan base, and undoubtedly the band will be missed. Those who have saw the band live are among a very lucky minority.

However the band couldn't leave us without some type of farewell tour. Birmingham, Manchester and London are being blessed with this tour in December. It will definitely be sad, but will be a sweet and fitting finish for an incredible band.

The pre-sale starts in ten minuets (10 am) and general sale starts on Saturday (4th of October) at 10 am.

Catfish and the Bottlemen The Balcony a week on...

Last week I was ecstatic because Catfish and the Bottlemen's incredible debut album 'The Balcony' was released.

It seems I wasn't the only one who was desperate for the album. The official charts company released that 'The Balcony' entered the chart at number 10. It was number one on the Itunes Alternative chart and also was the number one record bought physically in stores this week.


All of this and the albums been out only 7 days.

This band seem to have some addictive quality no other band has. The minuet you hear them, you love them and your hooked.

Catfish and the Bottlemen - The Balcony Album Trailer

This album already has to be my album of the year. It came out on Monday and already so many people adore it. Album trailers don't always do justice for the album or they make them look better than what they are. This video manages to promote the album beautifully, it promotes the band incredibly, even 'Little Comets' - another incredible band- get a bit of promotion along with the band at festivals like Reading and Leeds and even some of the bands weird intimate social networking site videos.

This video will persuade those who aren't sure about buying this album to buy it. It is beyond incredible, the guys are lovely and deserve all the support they get.

Possibly the album of the year .. The Balcony by Catfish and the Bottlemen

The date the 15th of September has been in my mind constantly this full year.

Only a week ago Lonely the Brave released 'The Days War' and I have been in love with it ever since. Monday is a new week, and this particular week is pretty important to me.
 

 

On Monday, my most anticipated album of the year is released...

Catfish and the Bottlemen's debut album 'The Balcony'.

This album isn't just a debut album where a band collates some early work and releases it. This debut album is a statement. This debut album changes everything.

Mallory Knox new single Shout At The Moon

"Shout At The Moon" is Mallory Knox's second single taken from their new album Asymmetry which comes out on the 27th of October. (UK)

News : Royal Blood release their incredible self titled debut album

Yesterday, British rock duo Royal Blood released their incredible self-titled debut album 'Royal Blood'.

 

Last year and the start of this year, Royal Blood were one of my favorite upcoming bands.

Their set last July at Glastonbury was astonishing and the set showcased their talent. In spring the duo played South by Southwest in Texas. At Reading this year their crowd was huge and they blew everyone away, playing singles from their new album including their two UK rock chart no. 1 singles 'Out of the Black' and 'Little Monster'.


Royal Blood are up there with the huge rock bands like You Me At Six, showing you don't need a four piece band to sound good.

I think this is an incredible album but my favourite song sill has to be 'Little Monster' because this is the song that got me hooked on this band from the start.

This being the bands debut album makes this album even more astounding for me because this is just the start.

Royal Blood Official Site

Image from www.royalbloodband.com

News : Vevo Dscvr Catfish and the Bottlemen

If you have ever read any of my other posts you'll quickly learn that one of my favourite bands over the last two year is Catfish and the Bottlemen.

Yesterday, Vevo posted the below video where they had the chance to sit and talk to the bands lead signer, Van Mccann - which I am extremely jealous of.

Van discusses the bands unique formation, his first music memory and what the rest of the year looks like for the band.

Lead up to Reading and Leeds 2014 ...

Reading and Leeds has become one of Britain's biggest music festivals and its this weekend. The festival annually brings some of the biggest names in music to the UK for three days to create an incredible line up. 

In Love With .. This Wild Life

This Wild Life are two friends from Long Beach, California who met during work. The band consists of two guitars and two guys, a pretty simple ratio. What isn't as easy to understand is their style of music. Its all acoustic.

News : Even More Music Month on BBC Radio One

 Even More Music Month is back on Radio One this year, and the line up could not be better.

News : The return of Young Guns

Zane Lowe's 'Hottest record in the world' : 

'I Want Out' by Young Guns

Last night, Young Guns made their come back releasing 'I Want Out.' In 24 hours since its release it has saw over 12,000 views on Youtube and went to number one on Itunes rock chart in the UK.

This is their first single since their 2012 album 'Bones' - which topped the US Billboard Active Rock chart - and alot of people seem excited about the new album due out next year.

News : The Return of Ben Howard

Zane Lowe's 'Hottest record in the world' : 

'End Of The Affair' by Ben Howard

'End Of The Affair' is taken off of Ben's awaited new second album, leading on from his debut album 'Every Kingdom.'  His fans reacted at the singles first play, instantly going on twitter and in minuets had 'End of the Affair' trending worldwide.

I  adore 'Every Kingdom' and I can not wait to see what this new album has to offer, as a follow up to his debut.

Ben Howard Official Site

In love with ... Morain

 Morain. The band from Wakefield who are taking peoples breath away with amazing live shows, incredible singles and an unbelievable EP.

In Love With ... Southern

Southern are a two piece indie-alt-folk band from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Its an ironic name for a band from the north of Ireland, but all the same their a good band. They're brother and sister who work incredibly together and make good sounding music.

Introducing .. George Ezra

In 2013 George Ezra played at Glastonbury at the BBC Introducing Stage and played an incredible set. In the last few weeks he has become a household name, with his single's 'Budapest' and 'Did You Hear the Rain ?' being played a lot on the radio. His single 'Budapest' went to number one in New Zeland and Austria.

News : Video for 'Cocoon' by Catfish and the Bottlemen

Last night, Catfish and the Bottlemen's new single 'Cocoon' was first played on BBC Radio One. As usual it was named the 'Hottest Record In the World.'

News : Catfish and the Bottlemen new single 'Cocoon'

The 'Cocoon' is the sixth single to come off Catfish and the Bottlemen's debut album 'The Balcony' due out on the 15th of September in the UK.

In Love with .. Driver Friendly

  I first came across this band in October 2012 when their single 'Messidona' was released through Hopeless Records, who the band had just signed with. I instantly fell in love with the band and their music. Ever since I have had them on my playlists and have learned the lyrics to most of their songs.

Review : Latitude Festival 2014

Last weekend, Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk came alive as the Latitude Festival returned. The festival started in 2006 and is on its eight year featuring live musicians, theater performances, cabaret digital arts while showcasing upcoming artists. The line up this weekend was again incredible alike every year. 

News : Catfish and the Bottlemen Huge UK announced Tour and Debut Album

On the 19th of June Catfish and Bottlemen announced the news many people have been dying to hear. Their debut album is coming out on the 15th September in the UK. I have honestly been waiting since the very first time I heard 'Homesick' last June. It doesn't sound that long but it has felt like a lifetime.

News : Lead up to T in the park 2014

1 week till T in the park, Scotland's largest music festival and one of Britain's most loved summer music festivals.

News : Mallory Knox 'Asymmetry' ...

In 2013 Mallory Knox created an impression. They released their debut album 'Signals' and blew everyone away with their music. Since, they've set everyones expectations higher and in October their going to deliver the follow up, the second album.

News : Mallory Knox new single 'Ghost In the Mirror'

Zane Lowe's 'Hottest record in the world' tonight : 

'Ghost in the mirror' by Mallory Knox

In love with .. Fort Hope

Fort Hope. This band blew me away with how amazing their music is. Every lyric and every note are hit perfectly every time, creating something truely special.

In Love With.. Mallory Knox

Although Mallory Knox could sound like a womans name, theres nothing feminine about this band. Their love for music is apparent with ever single and live show and their loyal crowd's love for the bands music is shown the minuet they come on stage.

News : Fall Out Boy release 'The Young Blood Chronicles'

'Save Rock and Roll' was Fall Out Boys long awaited return. 

In Love With... Lower than Atlantis

Lower than Atlantis have never left fans waiting long. Every so often they're back in the studio. By the end of this year the world's going to have another incredible album.

News : Catifsh and the Bottlemen Debut Album ..

Catfish and the Bottlemen. Pure, old fashioned indie rock.

After their announcement yesterday I was dying of anticipation, in the hope that todays announcement would be what I have waited a long time for.

Review : Bombay Bicycle Club's fourth album 'So long, see you tomorrow'

Bombay Bicycle Club might have borrowed their name from an Indian restaurant but everything else about them is completely original.

News : Lower than Atlantis and Mallory Knox new releases ..

When new music is released by a band theres a general sense of excitement. When two bands announce that their singles will be first played on the same station half an hour apart and releasing their new singles on the same day, generally I'm stuck to the radio the full night.

In Love With ... Lonely The Brave

Four years ago the Cambridge five piece, Lonely The Brave, formed and since then have been creating rock music being compared to We Are the Ocean and Biffy Clyro.

News : Brothers and Sisters by Twin Atlantic

Zane Lowe's 'Hottest record in the world' : 

Brothers and Sisters by Twin Atlantic

News : The end of the Adelines ...

Last year the Adelines played at T in the Park, SWN festival, the Great Escape and alot more different festivals. They're an indie quartet driven by guiatars and soft lyrics from Swansea, England and looked amazing live at T in the Park.

In Love With ... Model Areoplanes

Model Areoplanes. The young Indie Dundee band who blow away all expectations.

News : Catfish and the Bottlemen 'Fallout' ..

Probably one of my favourite bands, Catfish and the Bottlemen released their fifth single, 'Fallout'.

In Love With ... Of Monsters and Men

Of Monsters and Men . The Indie-folk Icelandic band who make beautiful music with a multitude of instruments.

Lead up to BBC Radio 1's Big weekend in Glasgow

Open air festivals are common in Britain. Europe's largest free ticketed festival, Radio Ones Big Weekend, isn't like most festivals. It moves and this year its in Glasgow.

In Love with ... The Youth And Young

On Bandcamp theres a lot of different music. Most of the time all the artists I come across are from far a field. From amazing places like New York and California. So when an amazing sounding band are from Edinburgh I'm instantly going to listen to them, because they're closer to home and are brave enough to say their from Scotland in the first place.

In Love With ... Giants at large

When someone says publicly that their an unsigned artist it says a few things about them. Not that their a bad musician but that they love their work and that the right people haven't heard them yet. In a sense its better to hear an unsigned band because when they get signed and famous you've supported them from the every start. That's one reason why I love this band so much.

Review : Fort Hope debut album 'Courage'

Fort Hopes soaring vocals may just impress everyone you know.

In Love With ... All the luck in the world

'All The Luck In The World' might sound like a nice way to say goodbye and good luck to someone but its also the name of one of Irelands most beautiful indie-folk bands.

News : Twin Atlantic Heart and Soul

Yesterday Twin Atlantic's official video for 'Heart and Soul' was released on Youtube. Its a bit bizarre to say the least.

Review : You Me At Six Live in Glasgow

The Glasgow O2 Academy. An old cinema made into a music venue where last night You Me At Six kicked off their UK Spring Tour 2014. The supports couldn't have been better, the amazing Young Kato and the hyper looking Don Broco.

Review : Fall Out Boy Live In Glasgow

I can't compare any other band to Fall Out Boy. Their story, their music, their lyrics are so unique and personal, shared with millions of their fans. Last night I saw for myself just the impact the band has had on so many people.

Review : Kodaline Live In Glasgow

 Kodaline, the lovable, indie-rock four piece from Dublin, played live last night in the hallowed Barrowlands, Glasgow.

News : Catfish and the Bottlemen new single Kathleen

Catfish and the Bottlemen new single Kathleen is Radio Ones 'hottest record in the world' and a deserving one at that. Every song by them is unbelievable, this being no exception.

In Love With... Catfish and the Bottlemen

 Catfish and the Bottlemen . An indie band from Llandudno, Wales, who could possibly change the world .

Canterbury's new album 'Dark Days'

Yesterday Canterbury, Hampshire's incredible alternative rock creation, released their third album 'Dark Days'.


We've waited two years for this new album, after the initial love affair sparked by the debut album 'Thank You' in 2009 and only furthered by 'Heavy In The Day' from 2012.

In Love With ... Bastille

If I had to sum up Bastille in a sentence it would be "The band who have their own sound which the world has fallen in love with."