Stereo Brain // Album Of The Year Longlist

Andy Hull & Robert McDowell // Swiss Army Man Soundtrack
Genre: Soundtrack
Label: Lakeshore Records
Released: 24th June
Verdict: Something that's just a bit different - interesting and inventive musically while still capturing the essence of a movie of the same irk.

Architects // All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us

Genre: Metalcore

Label: Epitaph Records

Released: 27th May

Verdict: Loud, in your face and yet incredibly intricate. Certainly Architects best work to date.

Black Foxxes // I'm Not Well
Genre: Alternative
Label: Spinefarm Records
Released: 19th August
Verdict: An album that demonstrates the potential that Black Foxxes showed from early on. Emotional, guitar driven and a must for any list.

Black Peaks // Statues

Genre: Rock

Label: Sony

Released: 8th April

Verdict: Seen by most as the most exciting rock album for years and I couldn't agree more. Anthemic and interesting - it was once described to me as "the math rock early Foals meets the heaviness of Deftones". Incidentally this album is the reason Deftones' record didn't make it on the list

Blossoms // Blossoms
Genre: Indie-Pop
Label: Virgin EMI
Released: 5th August
Verdict: Modern day indie-pop meets 80's in Blossoms' debut album. This album was a hit and made it to UK number 1 for two weeks.

Biffy Clyro // Ellipsis

Genre: Rock

Label: 14th Floor Records

Released: 8th July

Verdict: It's been a big year for Biffy and this album showed what they're still capable of. 'Wolves of Winter'' was one of the songs of the year and it's backed up by a brilliant album.

Daughter // Not To Dissapear
Genre: Indie
Label: Glassnote Records
Released: 15th January
Verdict: Delicate, quiet and thoughtful are words that spring to mind when you listen to Daughter's latest outing. It's pleasant and comfortable listening all the way.

Frightened Rabbit // Painting Of A Panic Attack

Genre: Indie

Label: Atlantic Records

Released: 8th April

Verdict: After making fans wait over 3 years for album number five, scottish indie rock powerhouses Frightened Rabbit did not disappoint. Their latest album shows a new side to the band while maintaining their distinctive style.

FULL REVIEW

The Hunna // 100
Genre: Indie Rock
Label: High Time Records
Released: 26th August
Verdict: A band that only began in October 2015, they've taken social media by storm and created a large fan base of young music fans. The release of their debut album demonstrates how they've managed it - catchy songs, meaningful lyrics and dancy riffs all carried a long with persona of rock stars.

Joyce Manor // Cody

Genre: Emo-Grunge

Label: Epitaph Records

Released: 7th October

Verdict: Joyce Manor's latest outing is that little bit less grunge and a bit more emo than their previous records. This is nothing but a good thing however - it's an album that feels much more open and inviting while maintaining the bands recognisable sound.

FULL REVIEW

The Lion & The Wolf // The Cardiac Hotel
Genre: Indie

Label: Xtra Mile

Released: 7th October

Verdict: After his beautiful debut, The Lion & The Wolf develops his sound on this new record. With more depth and more emotion this one hits right in the feelings.

Modern Baseball // Holy Ghost

Genre: Emo

Label: Run For Cover/Big Scary Monsters

Released: 13th May

Verdict: Their best record to date, on 'Holy Ghost' Mobo look at so much more than bad luck with girls and go much deeper into their own lives in a truly personal album.

FULL REVIEW

PUP // The Dream Is Over

Genre: Punk Rock

Label: Royal Mountain Records

Released: 27th May

Verdict: Listening to this album is like an angry jolt back to reality.

Panic! At The Disco // Death Of A Bachelor

Genre: Alternative

Label: Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen

Released: 15th January

Verdict: I initially described this album as 'pop punk meets Michael Buble' - this was meant as a bad thing but overtime this record has really grown on me and shown what it's really about to become one of my favourites from this year.

Radiohead // A Moon Shaped Pool

Genre: Indie

Label: XL Recordings

Released: 8th May

Verdict: Delicate and experimental. This was Radiohead at their finest. AN utterly beautiful album

Rusty Shackle // Dusk

Genre: Alt Folk

Label: Get Folked Records

Released: 25th March

Verdict: A mix of bouncy fun folk and serious musical talent comes together on the welsh bands finest record to date.

FULL REVIEW

Slaves // Take Control
Genre: Punk
Label: Virgin EMI
Released: Slaves
Verdict: Last years winners come back with a punk-ier and less apologetic follow up to Are You Satisfied?. The record screams potential and the future if Slaves' sound.
FULL REVIEW

Spring King // Tell Me If You Like To

Genre: Indie Rock

Label: Island Records

Released: 10th June

Verdict: One of the best debut records of the year and also features one of the catchiest alternative tunes of they year - 'Demons'

Tigercub // Abstract Figures In The Dark
Genre: Rock
Label: Alcopop!
Released: 11th November
Verdict: Imagine a darker and grungier Queens Of The Stoneage and you have this record. It's musically brilliant and a really great listen.

Viola Beach // Viola Beach

Genre: Indie Rock

Label: Fuller Beans Records

Released: 29th July

Verdict: A posthumous inclusion for one of the UK's most promising bands. Released shortly after their and their managers deaths to commemorate them. Coldplay even covered their song as they headlined Glastonbury.

YAK // Alas Salvation
Genre: Rock
Label: Octopus Electrical
Released: 13th May
Verdict: Loud, unapologetic and grungy. Yak burst onto the scene this year with 2 tours plus a stint supporting The Last Shadow Puppets - all in all it's been a great year for them.

Stereo Brain // 2016 Awards Lists Part 1

Album Of The Year
Andy Hull & Robert McDowell - Swiss Army Man Soundtrack
Architects - All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us
Black Foxxes - I'm Not Well
Black Peaks - Statues
Blossoms - Blossoms
Biffy Clyro - Elipsis
Daughter - Not To Dissapear
Frightened Rabbit - Painting Of A Panic Attack
The Hunna - 100
Joyce Manor - Cody
The Lion & The Wolf - The Cardiac Hotel
Modern Baseball - Holy Ghost
PUP - The Dream Is Over
Panic! At The Disco - Death Of A Bachelor
Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool
Rusty Shackle - Dusk
Slaves - Take Control
Spring King - Tell Me If You Like To
Tigercub - Abstract Figures In The Dark
Viola Beach - Viola Beach
Yak - Alas Salvation

Debut Album Of The Year
Black Peaks - Statues
Blossoms - Blossoms
Hacktivist - Outside The Box
The Hunna - 100
Jack Garratt - Phase
Milk Teeth - Vile Child
Spring King - Tell Me If You Like To
Tigercub - Abstract Figures In The Dark
Viola Beach - Viola Beach
Yak - Alas Salvation

EP Of The Year
Cassels - You, Us And They EP
Chroma - Chroma EP
Creeper - The Stranger
Estrons - She's Here Now EP
Heart Of Oak - E.P. | One
The King Blues - Off With Their Heads
Montreux Fires - Trying For The Sake Of Trying
October Drift - This Is Nowhere EP
Parcs - Traces
VANT - Karma Seeker EP

Stereo Brain: Top 10 Albums of 2016 So Far

10. Rusty Shackle // Dusk

Brilliant alternative folk. FULL REVIEW

9. Andy Hull & Rober McDowell // Swiss Army Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

An unusual inclusion however this a beautiful and musically brilliant original soundtrack the kind of which has been missing from modern film.

8. Black Peaks // Statues

The kick in the teeth the british rock scene needed. What an album, what a band!

7. Catfish & The Bottlemen // The Ride

Second albums are difficult, Catfish & The Bottlemen have found that out the hard way and despite it being a great album, they still havent got that 'Wonderwall'

6. Lonely The Brave // Things Will Matter

An example of a brilliant second album; dark, mysterious and everything you could have wanted from this band on the rise. FULL REVIEW

5. Heart Of Oak // EP | One

Delicate, thoughtful and brilliant, this unknown Southampton artist has unwittingly produced one of our favourite albums of the year so far. FULL REVIEW

4. Radiohead // A Moon Shaped Pool

Pure genius, a polished yet experimental Radiohead came out to play and they produced one of the albums of the year.

3. Spring King // Tell Me If You Like To

A debut to remember for this indie-punk band. With tunes like 'Rectifier' and 'Demons' as well as an allround brilliant album, this could propel them up the musical ladder at an alarming rate.

2. Modern Baseball // Holy Ghost

The Philadelphia band return for a 3rd time with an honest and open album. Personal and musically brilliant - a lethal combination for any band. FULL REVIEW

1. Frightened Rabbit // Paintng Of A Panic Attack

The Scottish bands 5th LP takes them to new heights. A reinvigorated and slightly different band comes out in this LP and yet the brings the greatest hits of previous albums. FULL REVIEW

Review: Modern Baseball // Holy Ghost

Modern Baseball are affectionately called MoBo by fans

A lot of people treat pop punk as blanket term for generic songs about hating your home town and missing your girl/boyfriend. It's the term people associate with 'Teenage Dirtbag', Blink-182, 'In Too Deep' and scrawny guys wearing tank tops and snap-backs. It's even a phrase which has become synonymous with pizza....

"He's been haunting my dreams at night....."; Modern Baseball's new record 'Holy Ghost' opens with a slow, sombre title track which band member Jake Ewald wrote about the death of his grandfather - not your typical 'Pop Punk' song. That's what initially strikes you about this record, it's pop punk but not as we know it, the sound and style is there but gone is the generic lyrics and strong themes designed to help the listener connect. Instead this is a very personal album from the boys from across the pond, not dealing in the vague and relatable but instead in the specifics.

With the LP split in two with the first half written by Jake Ewalds and the second half by Brendan Lukens each portion has its own unique qualities and personal touches and yet comes together brilliantly as a whole.

In songs 1 to 6, Jake takes the reigns steering the album through the style synonymous with the bands first 2 albums but a lyrical style that comes across as more personal than reflected on previous outings. The song 'Holy Ghost' feeds into 'Wedding Singer' which is what one would call a 'classic' MoBo song. The subject of the first music video of the album, the song (and video) reflects one part of the theme for Ewalds half of the album - finding someone. The rest of Ewalds half follows suit with building on a sound which the band had previously cemented as their own.

On the B-side Lukens takes over and introduces a slightly 'thrashier' sound to the band which has only been seen in glimpses on the previous albums. Each song is a short burst of a dark room, lonely night shout along. Last year MoBo cancelled a series of dates so that Brendan could go to rehab having being diagnosed with bipolar disorder - a subject which is covered in their documentary 'Tripping In The Dark' - and the struggles he has faced are covered in the second half of this album. This comes through clearly in the last song 'Just Another Face' which attacks the subject in a refreshingly honest and frank way - opening with "I'm a waste of time and space / Drifting through my selfish ways" - the song reflects how difficult it was for Lukens to open up about the subject and how facing his problems effected him and the band.

Despite Lukens and Ewalds attacking different themes in each side of the record, it somehow comes together as a whole and becomes a musical biography for the band since the release of 'You're Gonna Miss It All'. Each personal touch on this record dispels the theory that something must be generic to be relatable and will, without a doubt, grow Modern Baseball's already substantial following.  - (9/10)

-Luke

Mental Health Awareness Week // Stereo Brain

For more information on Mental Health Awareness Week, go HERE

From the 16th to the 22nd of May 2016 it's Mental Health Awareness week and It's something I want to talk about. I know this is primarily a music blog but in my experience the two things go hand in hand.

Many of you who read this blog will be unaware of the origins of 'Stereo Brain'. The name, in fact, comes from the idea that there is a link between mental health and music and for me that's true. In my darkest moments and toughest days I've always turned to music for comfort and that's where 'Stereo Brain' began. 

Escaping from the world and losing myself in an album, a gig or even writing a piece became a primary way of coping with the things inside my head about 3/4 years ago and to this day partly fuels my passion for music. There's something about being able to switch yourself off and lose yourself in music that appeals to me and many other people that suffer from mental health issues which makes it an important topic to discuss.

Many people who suffer from mental illnesses turn to music as not only an escape but an outlet for their feelings. Brendan Lukens from Modern Baseball, for example, suffers from bipolar disorder and it's something which he covers in his songwriting in their new album. Frank Turner, also, is known for discussing coping with self harm and depression in his work and these are not isolated examples.

I'll talk more about this later this week in a series of articles we're writing to raise awareness of mental health and it's connections with music. In the meanwhile I want to talk about '#PickCardiffUp'.

This was an idea we launched last week in which people send us their 'pick me up' playlist/song/albums to spread the word about mental health and hopefully but a smile on people's faces at the same time. If you wish to contribute tweet us (@stereo_brain) with a link to your song or playlist and we'll add it to the playlist! So far we've had contributions from Team Up Cardiff, The Young Promoters Network and Cardiff based bands; The Broadcasts, Chroma and The Fused - check out the full playlist below.

Mental Health Awareness Week Site - HERE

Reading & Leeds 2016: Who We Hope To See

So today the next part of the Reading & Leeds line-up was announced with the likes of Foals, Disclosure, Nothing But Thieves and Two Door Cinema Club announced. But who else is going to be announced? We have no idea but here's who we want to be announced!

Frightened Rabbit
Okay this ones a bit on me. One of my favourite bands of all time, releasing their 5th album this year would them to be booked (hint hint festival organisers)

Frank Turner
If Frank showed up this year it would be his 10th year in a row and after headlining the Festival Republic stage last year we can only hope he goes further up the order again this year!

The Milk
Another one I'm being slightly optimistic for, but after their stunning album received huge critical acclaim last year making it as one of BBC 6 Musics albums of the year, who would blame the Festval organisers for booking them!

The Last Shadow Puppets
With a new album due in April and their new single 'Bad Habits' reviving memories of their epic 2007 debut hopefully Miles and Alex will make an appearance at this years festival.

Fat White Family
Another band with a new album due and going on tour in March could they be bringing their roudy set to R&L

Modern Baseball
After being announced last year but unable to play due to illness and with a new album on the horizon, they;ll hopefully be able to make it this year!

Wolf Alice
After storming 2015, it seems the next logical step is for Wolf Alice to be bumped up the order a bit at R&L. With huge UK, EU and US tours coming up we can only hope they end their summer ar Reading & Leeds.

Tame Impala
The huge success of the album Currents as propelled Tame Impala far up the musical pecking order and hopefully into the forefront of festival organisers minds.

Jack Garratt
After winning BBC's Sound Of 2016, it does look like 2016 could be Jack Garratt's year. I saw him perform at last years festival and he was stunning and with his album 'Phase' due in February, hopefully he'll make an appearance at R&L again this year.

Catfish & The Bottlemen
After a stunning, tent filling performance in 2015, Catfish look set for a bigger slot this year, especially with a new album rumoured to be on the horizon, we can't wait.

Bloc Party
Headlining the NME awards tour in 2016, Bloc Party look dead set to play the NME stage at R&L/