Ok, as a relatively new music fan, I have not had a lot of experience of truly outstanding bands blowing me away. But now, thanks to NME and likesounds.com, my taste in music has completely changed and drastically widened from my favourite band of two years ago (fall out boy – no laughing please) to my many favourite bands of today. I think the best of these bands need talking about, so I’ve listed my five favourite for you here so enjoy!

The Maccabees – This quintet have been around for ages, but I only really listened to them about two months ago. They write genuinely uplifting, catchy indie songs that are capable of turning that frown upside down!
Best Track – Lego [mp3] [myspace] [Colour It In - amazon.co.uk]

Foals – These oxford dropouts have been making waves on the indie scene in 2008 and have played almost every major festival this year. They make danceable indie songs that are perfect for relaxing to after a crap day at school/work/life in general.
Best Track – Cassius [mp3] [myspace] [Antidotes - amazon.co.uk]

You Me At Six – These pop punker’s have been around for a while and are still going strong, and have recently released their debut full length LP – Take Off Your Colours – (available on slam dunk records) and are touring the country as we speak.
Best Track – The Rumour [myspace] [Take Off Your Clothes - amazon.co.uk]

Kate Nash – This very talented singer songwriter, with a very unique and confident style to her singing. Currently residing with Ryan Jarman of The Cribs (definitely not making the list) and luckily, Mr Jarman’s distinct lack of vocal ability has not rubbed off on his squeeze.
Best Track – Mariella [mp3] [myspace] [Made Of Bricks - amazon.co.uk]

The Gaslight Anthem – a very talented rock and roll/punk band from America, with influences ranging from Bruce Springsteen to 1980’s Punk. Probably the only band I have ever heard of that has received 9/10 in NME and 5/5 in Kerrang! Either they have a lot of money for journalists, or are they are very, very good. I believe it’s the latter as they really are very, very good.
Best Track – Great Expectations [mp3] [myspace] [The '59 Sound - amazon.co.uk]

If you have any opinions, or bands you think should be on this list, please leave me a comment. See You Soon!

I found my self in the same room as a billionaire, and his daughter, this week. I felt like I ought to plead my case for debt relief- but then thought better of it.

The people I work for amaze me. To be able to give your daughter an apartment in Chelsea worth £10m, just like that, and to make a £25m profit on a house you’ve never lived in. Some amaze me for different reasons. An estate in London with property on their list totalling at least £2bn arguing over the cost of the most basic of things. I suppose spending money doesn’t make you rich.

Without music to soundtrack all this too I’d be lost. I’d probably worry about deadlines a whole lot more than I do currently and I’d probably meet them less than I do.

Everyone owns music that can completely change our mood. I have lots, here’s three:

The Rascals - People Watching.mp3 - [buy it]
The Maccabees - Lego.mp3 - [buy it]
Florence And The Machine - Postcards From Italy.mp3

… you see what I mean?

I’ve also taken a look at the figures for this month so far (visitors etc) and found that over 13,000 people have looked at likesounds.com since September 1st. Amazing. Thanks so much for reading this blog.

There is nothing worse than a perfect studio album that fails to deliver when you hear it live. Fortunately, ‘Colour It In‘ was both perfect in its recorded form and in its live delivery. Their debut was first offered up to us 12 months ago and now, if Saturday night’s set was anything to go by, it seems The Maccabees are on the verge of recording another superb studio album.

It felt like the band were using their homecoming gig to premiere their new material to their longest established fans. The response to these new songs was nothing short of amazing with the crowd gripped by every word lead singer Orlando sung. Guitarist Felix White took the lead vocal for ‘I’ve Seen You Show It‘ which was the best new track of the night.

Old favourites Latchmere, Lego and X-ray went down a storm while anticipation from the crowd seemed to build to the point where First Love, their final song, produced wild screams, mad random bouncing and a general feel that The Maccabees can do nothing wrong.

art.

Photograph by Emily Martin

The Maccabees - two words put together that should stop anyone who loves music dead in their tracks.
Possibly the best band of 2007 with the best album of the year, Colour It In (criticise me if you will but I dare you to listen to this album and then compare it to any other over the past year and tell me I’m wrong).
And yet, no award recognition, and barely any radio play of the seven tracks released.

With heart-wrenching ballads that leave a two second gap and then turn into an almost unrecognisable song in the same title, you can’t help but absolutely adore this band and all they do.

Read it all..