Monday Music Spotlight: English Americana

Whether you like it or not, American culture is incredibly potent and infectious. Without anyone realising it, America has slowly but surely managed to seep its way into every corner of the world.

Even huge bands, like the Arctic Monkeys, a four-piece which has managed to become synonymous with Northern iconography, and the mid-noughties revolution of bravely utilising your accent, have had a bit of an American twang to them as of late. 

Call this scepticism, or Alex Turner's unique brand Americana (via Sheffield, of course), but it seems that national pride has took a bit of a holiday when it comes to British music. 

But this isn't a new phenomenon, certainly not. Local bands have been trying to emulate their stateside cousins for a long time, and it's an epidemic which isn't merely isolate to a particular genre. God help us all. 

Teenage Fanclub - What You Do To Me

I remember seeing these guys last year as a support act for the Foo Fighters in Manchester. In an ideal world, I would've gone to Sunderland instead, (who got support from The Strypes and Kaiser Chiefs), but then again, we don't live in a perfect world. Along with a peculiar two-piece by the name of God Damn, these guys got an introduction by Dave Grohl himself, telling us how he'd been a fan of them for years, and that they'd been going since the nineties. 

They're a band who've been going for ages, and with a lengthy list of accomplishments. Hell, they've been called the second best in the world by Liam Gallagher, and they're on the verge of releasing their tenth studio album. 

Their inoffensive mixture of pop, indie and a dash of alternative have ensured their longevity, but you can tell by their fan-base that they tend to cater to a predominantly American audience, sounding reminiscent of the Beach Boys as opposed to anything from this side of the Atlantic. Their music certainly is a far cry away from their native Bellshill, in Scotland. 

Mumford and Sons - Hopeless Wanderer

These guys have managed to fool everyone; when they exploded in popularity a few years ago, it was like no-one had heard folk music before. With parts of vintage-bluegrass and country music impeding on their work, the London-based four-piece have imported Americana to the UK and capitalised on the unfamiliar sound massively.

Their debt to American roots music is evident, and although the band is trying to break away from their origins with their latest album, the initial wave of double bass and acoustic guitars which they promoted won't be forgotten anytime soon. 

The Zutons - Valerie

Unfortunately, The Zutons only really became popular due to one particular cover, and the band didn't gain much recognition outside of it. That being said, the bassist did go on to join Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, so make of that what you will. 

It's truly a shame, because I remember the infectiously catchy nature of this song when it was released, becoming one of the instant indie classics alongside the likes of 'In the Morning' or 'Chelsea Dagger'. It's one of those tunes which has about 80% chance of being played in any indie club. 

Much like the aforementioned Teenage Fanclub, The Zutons seems keen to disregard their Scottish identity, making use of an accent which sounds nothing like, say that of Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil. It's comparable to the American twang of Alex Turner; it's not an absolute game-changer, but you can't help but feel a bit remorseful when you recognise it. 

See what I mean? This gradual disease can't be stopped, and it's only contributing to the Americanisation of absolutely everything. Ah well, I'm sure we'll have an influx of indie bands who aren't afraid to represent their homeland. 

Monday Music Spotlight: Intoxicating Ballads

This post is a terrible idea. 

For one, this list is rather extensive, and simply cannot be contained by a petty blog. It demands something worth sharing, something a bit more involving to the audience. I've got to pick three of my best drunk tunes, and that is a very difficult task.

In an ideal world, I'd be ramming out dank playlists on Spotify every week for your hearing pleasure, but such a feat would require multiple things; an increasingly extensive knowledge of multiple music genres, the patience to create a cohesive and varied series of playlists, and you know, dedication. 

Even if I had the resolve to construct a list of around ten songs every week, some of them just won't suffice for you. We all have our own favourite alcohol-fuelled anthems, and me throwing some recommendations your way isn't going to change that.

Ah well. Here's a few tunes to get you in the drinking spirit. At least until you get into the club and are overwhelmed with the smell of cheap aftershave, WKD and depressingly predictable musical choices.

Gay Bar - Electric Six

I find this tune is an ideal anthem to try and pull to. If your obviously top dancing doesn't do the trick when it comes to courting a chosen individual, you can always attempt to sing/shout the lyrics really loudly within an uncomfortably close proximity to the other person. I mean, it worked for me.

Alternatively, you can sing the lyrics with a sense of irony. If you're a drunken male youth attempting to entertain a potential lady-friend, you obviously wouldn't want to take her to a gay bar, would you? 

Possibly not, I hear Spoons has some wonderful deals, but what if she says "Aye, can do"? The good folks at Electric Six just got you a date without even trying, and you're welcome.  

As a last resort, you can sing and dance to this catchy riff with anyone. Sing to the reluctant bar staff, dance with your mates as to not appear like boring sods, and probably avoid screaming the lyrics at the bouncers, you know, just in case. 

This song also taught me that using the phrase 'nuclear war' is apparently to shy away from. I guess you learn something new everyday. 

Rock & Roll Queen - The Subways

Presenting to you, that one song from around 2005 that everyone knew, and was played absolutely everywhere, in games, TV adverts, and film trailers; although no-one ever knew who made it. 

Well you can now rest easy, as it was The Subways, (not that sandwich shop) who gave us this remarkably simple track with only three chords, so you can tell it stemmed from an indie/punk artist. 

Thankfully though, the few lyrics that the song has are repeated almost endlessly, with only the odd deviation between verses. Even in your most darkest, drunken state, you'll still be able to remember the words rather than humming some gibberish really loudly. 

Despite its simplicity, the lacking lyrics and minimal notes do just what the song requires. It makes everyone think they can play guitar, and if there's one in the vicinity, they'll probably have a go. It's probably best to hide your musical instruments while this song's on. 

Supersonic - Oasis

When I rocked up to uni for my inaugural freshers week, I made an effort to portray myself as a man of different tastes. I don't mean that in a weird way, oh no. It's just while everyone else seemed content with listening to the same old tag-team of 'When the Sun Goes Down' and 'Mr. Brightside', along with a plethora of generic pop hits, I liked to act somewhat nostalgically. 

Obviously, I'd have to enduldge in the odd Arctic Monkeys tune, but it certainly wasn't anything worthy of traditional radio airtime. Rather than 'Fluorescent Adolescent', it was instead 'If You've Found This It's Probably Too Late', a mental tune oozing of early Monkeys sound, and belting through its less than two minute duration. But ultimately, I needed a band to anchor in this new portrayal of myself, and what better than the swaggering rose-tinted perspective of the Gallagher brothers and Oasis. 

Gloss over the irony of me singing "I need to be myself / I can't be no-one else" from my newfound student perspective, and you've got arguably the best single that the Manchester band ever produced. So at pre-drinks, I'd turn into your typical Roses and Oasis dad-fan, arms wide open and singing along too loudly. But at least I picked the right song to do it to. 

Alternative Oasis selections are varied and extensive; points are awarded to anyone who would've also picked any live version of 'Supersonic', 'Morning Glory' and 'Live Forever'. So it may be an idea to create a purely Britpop pre-drinks playlist, just make sure everyone's aware of at least one Pulp tune. Although be warned, the party may be overwhelmed by 40 year-old football fans who exclusively drink Amstel, (not that it's a bad thing). 

Best of luck out there, don't make yourself too much of a tit when listening to these absolute bangers. 

Monday Music Spotlight: Inspired by Arctic Monkeys

The four-piece hailing from High Green, known as the Arctic Monkeys, have done a fair bit for British indie music. They've inspired and subsequently kick-started a whole heap of similarly-minded bands.

Since releasing their debut album around ten years ago, they've managed to leave quite a legacy in a relatively short space of time; a legacy which seems to have gotten people from across the country to get together, play music, and most importantly, sing in their native accents.

With the best Yorkshire band of all time taking a lengthy hiatus since the end of their AM album tour, it seems that the world is in dire need of some audio delights to temporarily replace the band formerly known as Death Ramps. Cracking name, that is.

Without further ado, here are three tunes to hopefully fill your Monkeys appetite before they start recording again, (which won't be any time soon, I'm afraid).

The Blinders - Murder At The Ballet

I swear these guys must've been a Monkeys tribute band in a former life, although looking at their SoundCloud profile and their live videos, you certainly wouldn't think it. 

Originally from Doncaster, (not too far from Sheffield), but now based in Manchester, The Blinders are a three-piece aiming to mash together elements of both punk and psychedelic music, resulting in a sound reminiscent of Arctic Monkeys. 

I mean, a bit of subtlety wouldn't kill lads, but it's still another cracking tune. The above 'ICB Blues' starts off by giving you nostalgic throwbacks to earlier Arctic Monkeys' tunes, but then proceeds to evolve into an entirely new and original animal. And this is the perfect way to justify sounding like another band; roping people in, and then showcasing your true potential when you've got the audience. 

This isn't to say that this is what The Blinders are doing, certainly not. It's just that the parallels in the sound of the two bands definitely has some overlap, appealing and enticing listeners who may not have immediately enjoyed their efforts.

Their debut EP includes tunes which sound like both 'Favourite Worst Nightmare', and 'AM', the aforementioned 'Murder At The Ballet' giving you a vibe like the last Monkeys' album. 

It's dark, sinister, and it goes from a slow, plodding pace, into a tastefully mental breakdown. It's all lovely stuff indeed. 

Milburn - Send in the Boys

Ah yes, the curious case of Milburn. They've been going since 2001, and split up in 2008, only to start a reunion tour at the start of this year. 

They never really got anywhere in the indie scene, but they're legendary status as part of Sheffield's prestigious music heritage has kept them in prominence, at least locally. Hence, if you're outside of the steel city, you've probably never heard of them. But if you're a native of Sheffield, you'll know that they're immensely popular.

Swept up around the same time that the Arctic Monkeys exploded in the mid-noughties, Milburn have been accused of being overrated, being signed in an array of post-Monkeys hype due to their similar sound. 

I'll let you make up your own mind on the matter. While I'm indifferent to the band, their seemingly familar sound is somewhat undeniable. You get a sense that an excess of Monkeys fans found solace in Milburn's offering of clean, memerable riffs and an invitation to go mental at a number of opportunities during their songs. 

Either way, they've got a significant following and a remarkable live atmosphere, so they must be doing something right. 

Reverend and the Makers - Mr Glassalfempty

Reverend and the Makers have quickly become one of my favourite British bands over recent years, showing a great progression between their albums. Of course, the most progress has been made along with their latest album, the stellar 'Mirrors', which has been acclaimed by the older Gallagher brother, no less. 

If you're a fan of the Arctic Monkeys, then honestly, you've probably already found this band. I mean, Monkeys frontman Alex Turner has worked with them previously, and the Makers even supported their mates on their debut tour.

That being said, these two Sheffield bands have grown in very different ways; Arctic Monkeys have created a fine balance between their roots, and modern day pop infused with guitars, whereas the Makers have gone for a mixed 70s concept album, taking them through a multitude of genres in the process. 

But more importantly, what should you expect from this particular song? Well, a bit of The Clash and Noel Gallagher, mostly, with their own original and extensively developed sound. 

If you're a fan of 'Mr Glassalfempty', just treat yourself and have a look at the entirety of 'Mirrors'. It's an album that demands a play from start to finish.

Still after more tunes that sound like Arctic Monkeys? Well, apologies, I'm all out of ideas. Hopefully for the next instalment, I'll manage to stop rambling on about Northern bands. Although I wouldn't get your hopes up, if I were you.