Yes, we are back! Back at uni, back to 'more regular posts' and back to our lives post-festival season.
After how well received last years university playlist was, we decided to make another featuring brand new tracks, new artists and some old favourites.
We call these our 'uni playlist' because we've written up both playlists during lecturers. It doesn't matter whether you're in your second year like us or are just starting first year or you're still at high school about to write your dreaded UCAS statement or not in education at all.
Whether you want to drown our your lecturer, want something to aid your procrastination, want something to play loudly and annoy your neighbours with or just want help in creating your reputation as the person who always plays good music, this playlist is from us to you. Enjoy.
In a small crowded room in Glasgow, I watched my favourite band take to the stage. The same band who I had spoken to earlier in the day, were about to play in one of the most historic music venues in the UK.
To be honest I have no idea where half of this year has went. It has been a huge year for music with so many new releases and debut albums. After the somewhat success of my first summer/holiday playlist I decided it was time for another.
Even when leaving, 'the Golden Coast' taunted me with its abundance of
skateparks and sunshine and in a time zone eight hours behind my home, I
decided that would be the final name for my collective playlist.
This time next week Catfish and the Bottlemen's second album will be released. The 27th of May has been a date in my diary for a very long time. Just like with the debut, I have it pre-ordered and will possibly again shed a tear when it arrives.
Quiet recently I was asked if I want another album from the band. At first I was sort of in shock from the question. Of course I do, was my obvious answer. I was then asked 'would a second, third or fourth album ever top 'The Balcony'?' That's when I fully understood the questions.
I have said it before, The Balcony is one of my all time favourite albums. In a (good) way it shocked people. The small Welsh band with the funny name from Llandudno produced this incredible debut album which competes very easily with some other musicians second and third albums. Nothing will be better than The Balcony for me. The Ride may be an incredible album but The Balcony is special, to me, beyond the music engraved and encased on every CD and vinyl.
There's not much I can say about 'The Ride', mainly because it isn't
out yet, but so far from tracks like Soundcheck and Twice, I'm looking
forward to it. It won't be The Balcony but it will resemble it somehow and I'm pretty excited for it. In a way I would love for it to be 'different'. A bit more experimental and not just an extension of The Balcony.
I've always written about how genuine this band are. There's the
running joke that it isn't a Catfish and the Bottlemen concert if Van
McCann doesn't say thank you 100 times accompanied with a long speech
and some sort of mention of Ewan McGregor (viably or audibly). I just hope their genuineness and love for music isn't lost.
They have this passion for music which at very gig creates an atmosphere which is second to none. There are moments during their gigs where the crowd goes mental, from the start of Pacifier all the way through Cocoon to the very end of Homesick. There is a rawness and a shared excitement reverberated in the crowd being happy to completely loose themselves. However, when the crowds calm down, when Hourglass starts and all the camera lights and lighters come out, that rawness is still there. That excitement still exists, just softened and put on hold by McCann playing acoustically. A new album is great but to really know it and love it, you need to hear it live. (Yes I'm hoping for another UK tour at some point soon.)
The day 'The Balcony' was released I played every Catfish and the Bottlemen song I owned. There were only six songs. Six songs I adored. Six songs which made me put so much faith in this band. Six songs which won me over. This time next week, when waiting for 'The Ride', I won't have six songs to listen to. I will have an incredible debut album which went gold. An album which has won so many people over. The album which changed everything. The Balcony.
While spending my summer on Soundcloud, I came across Ravellas. I
fell in love with this bands only single at the time, 'Momentos and
Coke', and since then every release has been perfect.
I've
had a rant a couple times about this band and earlier this week I had
the
absolute joy ofMac,
lead vocalist, guitarist and 'chief', take me through the pre-chaotic
world of Ravellas, which consists of S-club 7 fused with the Arctic
Monkeys and a lack of Liam Gallagher.
BBC Introducing is special. This year more than ever, Introducing has came into its own, and maybe its the 'real way forward.' What started in Britain may be able to expand the music industry, far beyond our weather-beaten shores.
Every year the Q awards highlights the best talent in the music industry. The 2015 awards however will be tough as it has been an incredible year of music.
September is usually a good month for music, whether its past releases or new albums and this September is no difference. Last year saw the release of two albums I still love and earlier this month Bring Me The Horizon released their incredible fourth studio album 'Thats The Spirit'.
The album itself is different from the bands previous work but it is
absolutely incredible. Yes it isn't typical Bring Me The Horizon but it
is incredible sounding. Its a new sound, more electronic and less
screaming but Sykes vocals are still impeccable. It isn't like Sempiternal, its different which seems to have divided their fans as some people have embraced the new sound, preferring it to the old style, whilst others adored the old style and don't like the newer sound.
Personally I like both. Sempiternal was a pretty special album at the time, however now it is also a turning point in the bands style. I don't hate the new or older songs, its all just part of the band growing up, whether it be for the better or for the worst.
Last year two debut albums were released which to this day I am still in love with.
The first was Lonely The Brave's debut album 'The Days War'
which is a beautiful sounding album. Their a band who's different in a good way. Lead singer David Jakes shys away from the attention of the crowd, which in itself is something pretty special. If he is happier to be out of the spotlight whilst having incredible vocals for the bands music, why should he be thrown into a place where he doesn't want to be ? After seeing the band twice since the albums
release, it still sounding utterly incredible. With soaring vocals and a
pretty unique sound, Lonely The Brave still have so much more to come.
My second debut album I still adore is pretty obvious one if you've ever came across this blog before.
Catfish and the Bottlemens debut album 'The Balcony.'
If you follow Catfish and the Bottlemen on any social media, you've probably saw 'The Balcony's' first birthday posts, where as usual lead singer Van McCann is hugely thankful to the bands fans who have put them where they are in the world today, as one of 2015 biggest indie bands.
My favourites from Soundcloud this week are a band from Chicago called Twin Peaks. A few months ago I came acorss them but never really posted about them, and then they reappear once again on Soundcloud, and I just have to write about them because their just incredible.
They make good music. Theres no simpler way to say it. They make good music. Their definitely a band to watch out for because I think they will definitely be big.
Young Mammoth. Probably one of the most promising bands I've heard this year. If their self-title EP is a glimpse of what’s to come, they could possibly become one of the biggest bands in the world.
Reading and Leeds 2015 looks to be another great summer festival with an unbelievable line up including Baltimore's All Time Low, Fort Hope, Frank Turner, the Liverpudlian Circa Waves, PVRIS, Modern Baseball, the new Welsh festival favourites Catfish and the Bottlemen, While She Sleeps, the Wombats, the amazing Nothing But Thieves, We Are The Ocean, Pierce The Veil on the lead up to their new album, the incredible Eliza and the Bear, Little Comets and many more.
Before 'The Balcony' was released Catfish and the Bottlemen had already sold out their huge UK tour. This year, the news of a new album and a new tour can only worsen the public’s love affair with them.
It would be preposterous to think of the British summer without music festivals. Its something that has weaved itself into our way of life. T in the Park. Reading and Leeds. Glastonbury. Huge recognisable events. And Radio One' Big Weekend is quickly becoming a favourite.
Radio One's Big Weekend is huge and this year its in Norwich. Its a showcase of the worlds biggest artists and the biggest upcoming bands. Its Europe’s largest free ticketed festival with a star studded line up every year.
Last year Katy Perry, Kings of Leon, the 1975, Jake Bugg, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay graced the main stage in Glasgow and this year the line ups even better.
Welsh indie-rock quartet Catfish and the Bottlemen are going from
strength to strength. After two sold out UK tours and a debut album in
the UK's top 10.
However, in the last six months this band
have become one of the biggest upcoming bands in the world, touring
with the Kooks in Australia, going on a tour in the US with over 20
shows, appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman and now they've levelled up again.
The Barrowland's isn't a normal venue. Catfish and the Bottlemen aren't a normal band. So a not normal venue plus a not normal band creates one incredible concert.
With a starry painted ceiling and springy , wooden dance floor filled with hundreds of half drunk Glaswegians nearly rioting to the the band's entrance music, it was clear from the start this would be a good night .
