YEAR OF THE MONKEY-P: TOP 10 EXTENDED PLAYS OF 2016

So, here we are on the final day of a year which has been one of the most emotionally polarising mixed bags in my 22 years on this earth. Despite Brexit, Trump and the deaths of Bowie, Tom Searle and Princess Leia, it has also fortunately been one of the best years in recent memory for new music. 

I've obviously already spoken at borderline unecessary length about the best albums of 2016 (of which there were many) alongside George Phillips and Joey Ashworth on the latest episode of Bitchin' Brew, which you can still check out on ITUNES, SOUNDCLOUD and ACAST. 

I could've very easily included EPs in my list this year, as they sometimes merit the same amount of praise as a record twice its length, but I figured: why not give the EPs their own moment to bask in the spotlight? 

There have been so many great extended plays, mini-albums and double A-sides put out in 2016, so even whittling these down to a Top 10 was a struggle. That's why I've kind of cheated by listing <just a few> honourable mentions at the bottom. 

However, without further ado, here are the 10 EPs that really took the yule log (and yes, I'm still feeling festive) this year...

10. CHENTI - CHENTI

My old hometown scene at the turn of the decade has been given the odd shout-out here and there on Randon's Reviews in the past. Even though they stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the abundance of local pop-punk and breakdown-core bands, one band from that Sussex circuit that never got the amount of praise they were due was Pirate & Cobie. It's great to hear the P&C guys (well, 3/4 of them, with the awesome addition of Pip O'Neill on vocals and electronics) going back to making meticulously crafted and deeply alluring math-pop in CHENTI, not to mention the fact that this is just one of the many brilliant records produced by the Southampton supremo that is Neil Kennedy this year. Big up that man.

9. SAD BLOOD - LEGION OF GLOOM

Here's one for all you drunk punx out there (and the straight-edgers too, I guess). You can read a fuller, slightly more coherent review of SAD BLOOD's second EP by clicking HERE, but allow me to give you a quick breakdown of it here: it's fucking ace. Little more can be said, but for the sake of half-decent music journalism... LEGION OF GLOOM is five tracks of jovial power-pop awesomeness with more than its fair share of melancholic lyricism; from the swooning sincerity of 'Ten More Years' to 'Heavy Petting Zoo', one of the most outrageously catchy moments of the year. It's short, sharp and #ohsorelatable.

8. TURNOVER - HUMBLEST PLEASURES

After the drastic change from their debut album Magnolia to the highlight of 2015 that was Peripheral Vision, everyone hedged their bets on guessing what the fuck TURNOVER would sound like on their next musical output. Fortunately, HUMBLEST PLEASURES is far less of a drastic shift from Peripheral Vision's serene dream-pop vibes, and yet somehow, they made it even catchier?! The title track picks up on the elaborate guitar melodies and oddly sing-a-long harmonies that the preceding record heavily hinted at, while the flipside track 'Change Irreversible' sees Turnover reach unprecedented levels of chill. Heavenly stuff, once again.

7. ITOLDYOUIWOULDEATYOU - I AM NOT YOUR FAULT

The only thing that's harder than keeping a tally of how many members ITOLDYOUIWOULDEATYOU have in their line-up is keeping a tally of how many moments of heart-wrenching brilliance are on their second EP (SPOILER: there's a fair few). This London howevermanythereare-piece have made outstanding progress from their earlier works in refining their enigmatic, math-rock intricacies, but I AM NOT YOUR FAULT is far from being a cold and over-calculated EP. The soaring choruses and layered instrumentation add more dimensions than other bands of this ilk could only ever dream of staking a claim to.

6. EAT ME - MELON ENEMA

As we already established on the Albums of 2016 special of Bitchin' Brew, Venn Records are right at the top of the British indie labels that have made done their best in making 2016 a better place. They've put out cathartic anthems from Nervus, sheer punk rock fury from Youth Man, but most importantly, they snapped up EAT ME: a band with the rare gift of capturing their onstage sense of humour on record without straying anywhere near 'comedy band' territory. MELON ENEMA is a joyfully juvenile affair that seldom lets up on its catchiness. As if that wasn't enough, there's the guitar solos which would put Rivers Cuomo to shame. That's bold stuff.

(Bonus S/O to Nick Suchak of Anabasis Media for the hilarious video for 'Liar' above)

5. WEATHERSTATE - DUMBSTRUCK

The biggest trap for a music critic to fall into is not allowing a record to really sink in before you're required to write your review. It always leaves you with a slight sense of shame when you look at your 3/5 review and go 'actually, that record deserved so much more'. WEATHERSTATE were sadly the most tragic victims of that circumstance this year. As the year has ticked on, their snarling punk rock has only gotten more and more infectious since I reviewed DUMBSTRUCK for Upset (if you really must, you can read my initial judgement HERE). The EP is a sterling progression from the band's Dead Ends EP; with tracks like 'Ill' and 'Stuck In A Hole', it's faster, it's leaner, and it's fucking badass. Sorry lads, I seriously misjudged you.

4. CAN'T SWIM - DEATH DESERVES A NAME

A lot of the list has comprised homegrown talent, but the international circuit of new punk talent has certainly had something to shout about this year, particularly Australia and America. It's been a while since a band from whatever scene you would undeservedly lump a band like New Jersey's CAN'T SWIM into have made an EP that's as intense and as DEATH DESERVES A NAME. Once again, it's a very multi-dimensional affair that dodges being pigeonholed into a single genre extremely well. There's the headfirst entrance of 'Your Clothes' that brings hints of menace with its pacy, offbeat rhythms, and then there's the arms-aloft choruses of 'Come Home', and then there's the sprawling, Americana-tinged title track. As confirmed by the follow-up track 'Stranger', there's serious potential in Can't Swim as we segue into 2017.

3. RAIN - SYMPHONY PAINS

What can be said about RAIN that I haven't already spewed out on this blog throughout the year? SYMPHONY PAINS made a bright and early claim to be one of the biggest releases of Britain's DIY's scene overall in 2016, on account of it being sonically mahoosive. This expansive trilogy of songs takes on the trend of channelling nostalgic vibes of 90s alt-rock, but it hurdles over the obstacle of sounding mollycoddled or completely drowned in an ocean of reverb. There sure is a lot of reverb throughout, but the punch that is perpetually packed by the rhythm sections gives tracks like 'Slur' and 'Dandelion' a stratospheric amount of oomph.

2. PUPPY - VOL. II

You thought that Can't Swim were a genre-dodging band? Fucking hell, you're in for a treat with PUPPY. Quite how a band can sound like Black Sabbath and Pantera, while also sounding like the Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer and Deftones, eludes me to this day. On VOL. II, Puppy don't only do that, but they've certified themselves as one of Britain's most exciting new bands in the process. If the barrage of riffs that form the sturdy framework of 'Entombed' and 'Arabella' doesn't rattle your brain around in your skull, then you're either deaf or a Vulcan. Puppy will be the band to unite generations in 2017 for their batshit melding of tones and influences, and what a brilliant precedent that sets for the year in general.

AND THE #1 EP OF 2016 IS...
CREEPER - THE STRANGER

Well, this is hardly a surprise. By the time their self-titled EP settled in, CREEPER were one of the country's most exciting new bands. Once they stepped it up with The Callous Heart EP, they were one of the most intriguing. Now, with THE STRANGER EP under their belts, they're one of the most important. 

It's one thing to bring the more grandiose stylings of Bowie and Meat Loaf to your sound, but it's an achievement in its own right to sound energetic and vibrant and punk as fuck at the same time. When it seemed like Creeper had ticked all the boxes by the time 'Black Mass' rang out, they happened to pull out what will be the 'Welcome To The Black Parade' of its time with 'Misery'. Oh yeah, and then there's the absolutely devastating finale of 'Astral Projection'. 

The Stranger is an astonishing gateway into an expansive and fascinating concept that no other band of Creeper's stature would have the gall to try to pull off...

(A SHIT-TON OF) HONOURABLE MENTIONS

CHEAP MEAT – THE PARTS THAT SHOW
THE HARD ACHES – I FREAK OUT
KAMIKAZE GIRLS – SAD
FAUX – INHALE
WACO – UPRISE
RORY INDIANA – RULING CLASS CROOKS
WARHORNS – WARHORNS
SORORITY NOISE – IT KINDLY STOPPED FOR ME
GUILT – EVERBLUE / LOW SCENE
MURDERHOUSE – SELF HELP
ACID TONGUE – BEAUTIFUL DISASTER
FRUITCAKE – TOTALLY ORIGINAL SONGS
TERRIBLE LOVE – CHANGE NOTHING
YOUTH MAN – WAX
LONELY THE BRAVE – DUST & BONES
NO BETTER – ...FORGET ME NOT
GRIEVING – DEMONSTRATIONS
GRADER – WHOLLY
SWEDISH DEATH CANDY – LIQUORICE
HUNGOVER – WILT
SHIT PRESENT – MISERY + DISASTER
SLØTFACE – EMPIRE RECORDS

Thanks for making 2016 bearable, pals. Here's to a rad 2017...

Danny

BITCHIN' BREW #006: ALBUMS OF 2016 SPECIAL WITH GEORGE PHILLIPS & JOEY ASHWORTH - OUT NOW

IT'S BEEN A WHILE...

I know you’ve all really missed me the last couple of months, but I guarantee that I’ve missed you all so much more.

To spare you the sob story on here, you can WATCH MY FACEBOOK LIVE BROADCAST to get the lowdown on why I’ve had a bit of time off from RANDON'S REVIEWS. It really does suck to have been absent for that long, and I don’t know what the future holds for the blog and for my podcast, BITCHIN' BREW, but let’s focus on the positives right now.

Put simply, 2016 has been one of the best years for new music in a long, long time. Being that this is the first year that Bitchin’ Brew has been in existence, I wanted to share my passion for some of the year’s many brilliant albums with some equally brilliant people through the podcasting medium. That way, you get something far more authentic and entertaining than you would if I just shared my Top 10 in a listicle.

So, I invited two of my favourite people from the UK punk/emo scene, GEORGE PHILLIPS from SAD BLOOD/FRESH and JOEY ASHWORTH from ITOLDYOUIWOULDEATYOU/EDUCATION/FAKE FUR to a Wetherspoons for an epic countdown of our respective 'Top 10 Albums of 2016' lists.

It is hands down one of the best things I’ve ever felt proud to put my name to, and you can hear it right now through THREE different platforms:

1. SUBSCRIBE TO BITCHIN' BREW ON ITUNES

2. LISTEN TO BITCHIN' BREW (AND THEN SUBSCRIBE) ON SOUNDCLOUD

3. STREAM BITCHIN' BREW (AND ONCE AGAIN, SUBSCRIBE) ON ACAST

Thank you to EVERYONE who has supported Randon’s Reviews, and of course Bitchin’ Brew, this year. I’ve had such a blast working on them, and the feedback you’ve been kind enough to send my way has really got me through a fairly mixed year.

FYI: I did record an episode of Bitchin’ Brew way back in September with the lovely KATE COULSON of ABOVE THE WAVES PROMOTIONS, and I know a few of you (including Miss Coulson herself) are wondering where the fuck that is. Trust me, it is coming and I can only apologise for the delay. As mentioned at the start of this podcast, the editing process is proving quite lengthy due to poor audio quality, and so I’ve only just found the time now to start working on it. Thanks for being so patient, y’all.

Much love forever, and if I don’t see you again before, here's mine, George and Joey's official Christmas card to you all...

Glad tidings, motherfuckers.

Danny

10 ACTS I'M STOKED TO SEE AT SOUTHSEA FEST

After a year off, I'm pumped for the return of Southsea Fest in Portsmouth tomorrow. My debut encounter was in 2014, and I'd never experience anything of its kind. Whether you liked pop or metal or blues or punk or jazz or dance, there was (for lack of a less wanky phrase) something for everyone crammed into Albert Road. 

With more venues than ever, and a notable appreciation for the underground punk and alternative scenes on a local and national scale I'm set for a very, very busy and very, very awesome day. Here are <just a few> of the bands and artists I'm stoked for...

BLACK FOXXES - THE LOFT AT THE KINGS @ 10.00PM

Black Foxxes have seriously upped their game with their debut album, I'm Not Well. The hooks are ballsier, the choruses are of stratospheric proportions, and there is a writhing tone of catharsis that gives it that extra push of organic power. If it transforms live, Black Foxxes will become a band with ridiculous - if not scary - potential.

LONELY THE BRAVE - WEDGEWOOD ROOMS @ 7.15PM



Lonely The Brave's live show these days is rarely short of mesmeric. Not in its production or its pizazz, but in its authenticity and its musicianship. While David Jakes remains one of the best vocalists that Britain has to boast, the focus has finally become more of an even spread between Jakes' introverted presence and his sensational bandmates. It's about fucking time.

DOE - THE HONEST POLITICIAN @ 8.30PM



The socially conscious crop of DIY indie-punks have had a lot to shout about this year, and rightfully so in Doe's case. They're a bit grittier and occasionally more off-kilter than some of their peers, but their debut album, Some Things Last Longer Than You, has more than its fair share of simple and outrageously catchy moments.

ITOLDYOUIWOULDEATYOU - THE ATRIUM @ 5.00PM

The wistful lyricism, the noodling math-rock melodies, those little pepperings of brass in the verses... I know what you're thinking. But what itoldyouiwouldeatyou have to show for themselves which is a brilliant rarity of advancing so effortlessly from those mathy intricacies into massive choruses and endearing emo sing-a-longs.

JOHN - EDGE OF THE WEDGE @ 6.00PM

You really think that Slaves make the most noise possible for a two-piece? You're so not ready for JOHN. If you start to feel that teatime lull after walking from venue to venue, then this duo will wake you up in the most appropriate of fashions: by ripping off your ears and jamming them down your throat (in a good way, obvs).

FUGITIVE ORCHESTRA - THE ATRIUM @ 8.00PM / WINE VAULTS @ 5.00PM

Oh look, it's another singer-songwriter with two mics, a guitar and a loop pedal... WRONG. James Tattington (AKA Fugitive Orchestra) is as charismatic a proposition as you can get, bringing quirky yet esteemed undertones of blues and jazz. Plus, he said on Twitter that if I came and watched one of his sets, he would pull out his cover of Blu Cantrell and Sean Paul's 'Breathe'. Trust me, it's nothing short of brilliant.

NOYO MATHIS - THE HONEST POLITICIAN @ 12.45PM

Earlier this month I had my first encounter with Noyo Mathis at a punk all-dayer at The Joiners in Southampton. I'm still struggling after two weeks to articulate how encapsulated I was by a band with so many technical nooks and crannies in the sound, but who still leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

SAINT AGNES - THE BIRDCAGE AT THE FESTING @ 6.25PM

Here's one for you lovers of classic rock, as I am shamelessly so. If you dug that hip-shaking, seductive, whiskey-drenched, slightly psychedelic sound of the last couple of Rival Sons (as I have shamelessly have), mixed with the theatrical mystique of Purson, then Saint Agnes are right up your sunset boulevard.

KAMIKAZE GIRLS - THE HONEST POLITICIAN @ 3.45PM

Thank fuck there are some great people out there doing something to spread awareness about mental health through music - whether it's blogging and podcasting about it like the dudes at Don't Fret Club  (more on them another time), or writing heart-wrenching lyrics and backing them with poignant, get-your-feels out alt-rock; something which Kamikaze Girls do exceptionally well.

MINQUE - WINE VAULTS @ 9.15PM

Being a pop apologist feels like a far less guilty admission from a rock journalist's standpoint over the last few years. That's thanks to artists like Minque, who swirl soothing, soulful vocals into ethereal and funky electronica. That's a very verbose way of describing what Minque does, but she's basically just got a fucking good voice.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

TELLISON (Edge Of The Wedge @ 10.00PM)

TIGERCUB (Edge Of The Wedge @ 9.00PM)

PERSONAL BEST (The Honest Politician @ 7.30PM)

SHIT PRESENT (The Honest Politician @ 6.45PM)

EAGULLS (Pyramids @ 6.45PM)

BLACK HONEY (Wedgewood Rooms @ 6.15PM)

HAPPY ACCIDENTS (Edge Of The Wedge @ 5.00PM)

AVIV & THE EUNUCH HORN (The Fat Fox @ 5.00PM)

HANNAH LOU CLARK (The Loft At The Kings @ 5.00PM)

FIZZY BLOOD (Pyramids @ 3.30PM)

NIGHT OWLS (Edge Of The Wedge @ 3.00PM)

If you see me at Southsea Fest, come say hi/buy me a beer. The struggle continues.

Danny

BITCHIN' BREW EPISODE #005 WITH CONNOR P LAWS (FAILURE BY DESIGN RECORDS) - OUT NOW!

HERE WE ARE YET AGAIN MY FRIENDS, with another episode of BITCHIN' BREW that I've been dying to unleash upon the world for some time now.

And what a Bitchin' Brew it is. Episode #005 of the award-winning* podcast features none other than CONNOR P LAWS, co-founder and self-professed 'top lad' of UK independent label FAILURE BY DESIGN RECORDS.

It was a delight to sit down with Connor a little while back to chat about the founding and history of Failure By Design over a cup of Twinings gingerbread green tea (thanks to Kate Coulson at Above The Waves Promotions for hooking me up). As you'll learn as you listen to this episode, Connor has a very keen intellect when it comes to running a label, developing a brand and finding its place within the industry.

It would be almost derogatory to call Failure By Design a 'punk' label, because even in their infancy, they've worked with a smorgasbord of brilliantly diverse artists; from ACID TONGUE and GUN SHY to BOSTON MANOR and WEATHERSTATE, it's nigh impossible to pin FBD down when it comes to genre.

There'll be much more from me about Failure By Design's back catalogue with a brand new feature starting on this very blog later this week. Introducing... A NUMBNUTS' GUIDE TO [INSERT ELLIPSIS FOLLOWED BY SUBJECT'S NAME HERE] - I'll be looking at some of the key moments in FBD's history as well as breaking down their roster of artists past and present, compiling a playlist of the Top 10 FBD tracks.

In the meantime, you can enjoy Bitchin' Brew #005 on iTUNES and (due to popular demand) ACAST, or by streaming below via SOUNDCLOUD...

 

Click on FBD's mask-wearing mascot (affectionately known as Frank) below to go to the label's website, where you can find everything you need from music to merch.

As ever, cheers for listening. If you like what you hear, subscribe and tell all your friends. Your contributions to this podcast, no matter how small, are vital and I love you all for it.

* Bitchin' Brew has never actually won any awards, but if you leave a nice comment on iTunes, it might not be out of the question. Maybe.

Danny

THE RR PLAYLIST VOL. IV: THE SUMMER OF SCUZZ

OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, Mother Nature (AKA the most basic of bitches) has decided to curl up on her sofa with a big tub of half-price Ben & Jerry's (Cookie Dough, obvs) and not know what to do with her fucking life. It's been sunny. It's been overcast. It's been raining. It's pretty much been humid the whole time, and I just want my summer. This shitty mixed bag of weather is getting ridiculous.
I figured that if Mother Nature is going to be a dick like that, I'll just try and enjoy my summer through other means, and what better way to do that than to make an RR PLAYLIST featuring some of the biggest, grungiest, scuzziest summer bangers on offer across punk, indie, and alt-rock right now.

There's appearances on Volume IV of The RR Playlist from the likes of WEEZER and TURNOVER, plus some old blog favourites like MILK TEETH, RAIN and MUSKETS, but allow me to take you through some of the bands not previously touched upon on the blog, amongst whom you might just find your new favourite band for the (not so) summer holidays.

BLACK FOXXES have made serious strides with their debut album I'm Not Well (which lands this Friday), finally unlocking their potential to throw out massive, distorted and often cathartic rock 'n' roll.

If you're like me and you dig the raw production that I've been smitten for since the day I first heard MC5's Kick Out The James, then WACO will gladly scratch that itch for you. If the joyous background cheers in the bridge on 'Se17' don't want to make you air-punch seven shades of shit out of the sky, then you might as well just call it quits and spend the rest of your miserable existence with Dire Straits' greatest hits.

If you're big into what Drenge were doing on their first album, then NIGHT OWLS are another duo whose distortion-drenched sounds will plough into your ears like a mischievous juggernaut. For those of you that like the hardcore crossover appeal of Turnstile, but would rather swap the Metallica nuances for something a bit cooler and college rock-y, then you'll go head over heels for ANGEL DU$T. I read a review recently which compared them to both Bad Brains and The Lemonheads, and that's about as dead on the money as you can get.

Thanks to spending the first half of the year in full-time education with no income, my festival attendance in 2016 has been below par. When my mum returned from Truck Festival and said that she enjoyed HAPPY ACCIDENTS, I had to do a double take. Check them out if you like the idea of spritely indie-pop with a sharp lyrical twang in the vein of Jamie T. As for MARTHA, I don't much more can be said about them apart from the fact that they are the best band to do a similar sort of thing in the DIY punk scene, and they've made one of the standout records of the year with Blisters In The Pit Of My Heart.

Fans and members of the Brighton punk contingent, on top of Muskets we've also got MURDERHOUSE and FRUITCAKE to fling your way (not in an aggressive way). While Murderhouse emulate the somewhat adorable self-deprecating charm of early Modern Baseball in their ramshackle bedroom-demo punk, Fruitcake are a little bit more frantic with loads of influence from early-early-EARLY blink-182 and a wicked sense of fresh-faced urgency.

Over on the other side of the pond, we have two bands who have the scene eating out of their palms with the enticement of potential in their upcoming records. BEACH SLANG put out one of the most fun-sounding albums of the last few years in 2015, and from the sound of things, they're roaring along the same track of writing songs that are perfect for singing your heart out to after a few too many beers and ill-timed stagedives.

JOYCE MANOR are one of the best bands around right now when it comes to writing short, sharp and frustratingly catchy power-pop songs with great humour in their lyrics and casual ingenuity in their melodies. If the rest of their new record, Cody, is as good as the first track from it, then they are firmly in the running for Album Of The Year.

As we wind down into the last couple of tracks which are perfect for your summer evenings, GRIEVING ease themselves into their debut EP, Demonstrations, with melancholic vibes of 90s emo. 'My Friend, The Ghost' is the most beautifully lackadaisical track they have to offer, before delving in to a spikier pit of alternative rock.

HONOURABLE MENTION goes to EAT ME, whose sounds are not yet on Spotify and therefore cannot be 'officially' included in The RR Playlist. They take that Rivers Cuomo philosophy of writing really simple songs and making them even more effective with undeniably cool guitar licks. Check out 'Melon Enema' below on YouTube because its way too good to ignore for not being on Spotify, and the video is fucking gold:

As ever, if there's a track that you think deserves a place on this playlist, feel free to hmu on Twitter, or on the RR Facebook page.

Episode #004 of BITCHIN' BREW featuring CONNOR P LAWS, co-founder of FAILURE BY DESIGN RECORDS is coming soon. Before then, I'll be giving you a rundown of FBD's finest moments in the first instalment of a new label-based feature on RR called THE NUMBNUTS' GUIDE TO... *INSERT LABEL NAME HERE*

Stay tuned for that, and loads of other cool shit too.

Danny

BITCHIN' BREW EPISODE #004 WITH MILK TEETH - OUT NOW!

THE DOPEST PODCAST GANG YOU'LL EVER HEAR. CLOCKWISE FROM FRONT: ME, BECKY BLOMFIELD (VOCALS/BASS), BILLY HUTTON (VOCALS/GUITAR), CHRIS WEBB (GUITAR), OLI HOLBROOK (DRUMS), AND NICK SUCHAK (ANABASIS MEDIA/PHOTOGRAPHER EXTRAORDINAIRE)

FINALLY. After having to take a (thankfully brief) hiatus to focus on finishing my journalism diploma, I'm stoked beyond words to be returning to Randon's Reviews, and to my podcast, BITCHIN' BREW. The 5 months I spent on my journalism diploma were undoubtedly fulfilling, and through learning so much about journalism in a broader sense I have already bagged myself a full time reporting job (which I start tomorrow), but I can't lie when I say that it was intense, mentally testing and, at times, just downright excruciating. The worst part of it was the fact that I recorded episodes #004 and #005 of Bitchin Brew all the way back in May and I couldn't find the time between revision sessions and shorthand practice (READ: I still hate shorthand) to get them out into the world. But enough 'woe is me' chat for now, let's get stuck back in...

Bitchin' Brew Episode #005 is with MILK TEETH, who are undoubtedly one of the UK's best bands of the last few years, and a group of people I love and respect dearly. Like with me, 2016 has been a year of transformation and progression for the band: from refining their sound to embrace poppier roots (while still sounding noisy and punk as fuck) on their phenomenal debut album, Vile Child, to the integration of new guitarist/vocalist Billy Hutton after founding member Josh Bannister's exit from the band. Bitchin' Brew #005 also features special guest NICK SUCHAK, Milk Teeth's touring photographer and the (gorgeous) face behind ANABASIS MEDIA. Just look at how many chocolate chips are in his Maryland cookie...

As a 'Yankophile' who longs to explore a lot of the Land of the Free and the Home of the Trump, I also encouraged loads of talk about Milk Teeth's first US tour earlier this year with Sorority Noise, Turnover and Citizen. From there you can expect chat about blind dogs, chugging 2-litre bottles of wine for breakfast, hanging out with Mark Hoppus, bumping into 2 Chainz at SXSW, crippling addictions to Chipotle and grape soda, and the lost hardcore mashup EP...

BITCHIN' BREW EPISODE #004 IS NOW AVAILABLE TO STREAM AND DOWNLOAD FOR FREE. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES OR LISTEN VIA SOUNDCLOUD BELOW:

Thank Jeebus you won't be waiting so long for Bitchin' Brew #006, which features CONNOR P LAWS, co-founder of FAILURE BY DESIGN RECORDS, one of my favourite UK labels out there at the moment.

Big up.

Danny

RECORDS OF THE WEEK: APRIL - JUNE 2016

I know I said I'd be gone for a little while, but posts like this take 5 minutes and I feel like I need this to stop myself from jamming a biro into my temple while revising for my Public Affairs exam.

If you like Randon's Reviews (or even just tolerate it), you should really LIKE THE RR FACEBOOK PAGE, because I often post stuff on there that doesn't air on here... until now, of course. Every Sunday I reveal my RECORDS OF THE WEEK, and seeing as I did a playlist for the ROTWs spanning January to March, I've gone and done the same for April to July so you can get a taste of all the rad shit that has soundtrack this transitional period of time for Randon's Reviews, and my life in general.

It's even more of a clusterfuck than the last one, but in that regard there's a bit of something for everyone in there, and it's really just testament to the incredible half-year it's been for new music. Just incredible. 

Any records/podcasts/stuff not represented in the Spotify playlist for whatever reason are marked with an *, and there'll be alternative links to hear them - I especially recommend the GOING OFF TRACK podcast if you like the conversational tangents I go off on with my guests on BITCHIN' BREW. Meanwhile, MUNCIE GIRLS have also done a really fucking awesome cover of Iron Maiden's 'THE WICKER MAN' too (I'm sure that if you ask them really nicely, they'll play it at a show sometime - don't quote me on that).

Without further ado, here's a week-by-week breakdown of April to July's Records Of The Week:

WEEK 10 (03/04/16): WARHORNS - WARHORNS (EP); BOB MOULD - PATCH THE SKY; SEAWAY - COLOUR BLIND; RORY INDIANA - RULING CLASS CROOKS

WEEK 11 (10/04/16): WEEZER - WEEZER (THE WHITE ALBUM); BLACK PEAKS - STATUES; FAITH NO MORE - SOL INVICTUS; THE NEW TUSK - SLOOM

WEEK 12 (17/04/16): DEFTONES - GORE; MOOSE BLOOD - I'LL KEEP YOU IN MIND, FROM TIME TO TIME; SYSTEM OF A DOWN - TOXICITY; GOING OFF TRACK PODCAST *

WEEK 13 (24/04/16): CAN'T SWIM - CAN'T SWIM (EP); THE WINTER PASSING - A DIFFERENT SPACE OF MIND; NECK DEEP - LIFE'S NOT OUT TO GET YOU; PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION - PURPLE RAIN *

WEEK 15 (08/05/16) * : ROB ZOMBIE - THE ELECTRIC WARLOCK ACID WITCH SATANIC ORGY CELEBRATION DISPENSER; THE SMASHING PUMPKINS - MELLON COLLIE & THE INFINITE SADNESS; GUILT - EVERBLUE / LOW SCENE (SINGLE); ASH - 1977

* APPARENTLY I MISSED A WEEK BECAUSE I'M A DICK LIKE THAT

WEEK 16 (15/05/16): NOTHING - TIRED OF TOMORROW; SAD BLOOD - LEGION OF GLOOM (EP); THE DRUMS - THE DRUMS; ACID TONGUE - I DIED DREAMING (EP)

WEEK 17 (22/05/16): MODERN BASEBALL - HOLY GHOST; LONELY THE BRAVE - THINGS WILL MATTER; THE MENZINGERS - RENTED WORLD; ANGEL DU$T - A.D.

WEEKS 18 + 19 (29/05/16 + 05/06/16): THRICE - TO BE EVERYWHERE IS TO BE NOWHERE; ARCHITECTS - ALL OUR GODS HAVE ABANDONED US; SHE CRAZY - SURFING U.A.E. (SINGLE); PUP - THE DREAM IS OVER; EVERY TIME I DIE - THE BIG DIRTY; RIVAL SONS - HOLLOW BONES; SEAFOAL - LUCID LIVING (EP); RAIN - SOLIS (SINGLE); NEW FOUND GLORY - CATALYST

WEEK 20 (12/06/16): CANE HILL - SMILE; LETLIVE. - IF I'M THE DEVIL; BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB - A DIFFERENT KIND OF FIX; VARIOUS ARTISTS - MAIDEN HEAVEN VOLUME 2: AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE TO IRON MAIDEN (AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVE IN KERRANG!) *

WEEK 21 (19/06/16): GOJIRA - MAGMA; THE HOTELIER - GOODNESS; OCEANS OF SLUMBER - WINTER; SWEDISH DEATH CANDY - LIQUORICE (EP)

WEEK 22 (26/06/16): MARTHA - BLISTERS IN THE PIT OF MY HEART; GREYWIND - CAR SPIN (SINGLE); WEATHERSTATE - DUMBSTRUCK (EP); GALLOWS - GREY BRITAIN

Like what you see? Check out the playlist below, and SUBSCRIBE TO RANDON'S REVIEWS ON SPOTIFY for more kick-ass sequences of noise.

Soon...

Danny

WHITE-HOT NOISE: SHE CRAZY BRING BEACH VIBES TO BATSHIT ROCK 'N' ROLL ON 'SURFING U.A.E.' (TRACK PREMIERE)

I'll always remember the night Brighton garage-punks SHE CRAZY crashed headfirst into my life. Opening for the absolute dudes in Tied To The Mast at Sticky Mike's Frog Bar (an awesome Brighton spot which you should all go and see a show at) in 2013, they played like they owned the place, dragging a limbo pole out into the audience and changing the sole lyric of their song 'YEAH!' rather appropriately to 'LIMBO!'. Suffice to say, when they do that twice in the same set, it's very hard to get both the song and the scenes out of your head.

Their new single 'SURFING U.A.E.' (which you can stream exclusively on Randon's Reviews by scrolling down) takes their raucous rock 'n' roll style and gives it infectious-as-fuck substance.

Just don't let the title fool you into thinking that this is just a satirical cover of The Beach Boys' summertime class 'Surfin' U.S.A.' - this is far from a homage to Brian Wilson...

"'Surfing U.A.E.' is all about the kind of wild, booze-fuelled madness that often goes down on holiday with your mates: shots, heartbreak and sex (wax)!" jokes singer/guitarist Dan Grace.

"We are about -10% influenced by The Beach Boys - ['Surfin' U.S.A.'] happened 50 years ago, we're just pointing out how times have changed."

From the massive radio-rock (but far from radio friendly) chorus which exemplifies yet another cracking production job from Neil Kennedy at The Ranch Production House in Southampton, this sounds far more polished than anything from She Crazy's self-titled debut EP from last year (which you can download for free on their Bandcamp). However, the unrelenting punk rock finale they cascade into seeks to remind everyone why they're one of the most buzzed-about bands on their circuit.

"We've experimented a lot with our recordings," explains Dan. "Working in different studios with different producers, and trying to find a sound that best reflects what we hear in our own heads and is closest to how we sound live."

"'Surfing U.A.E.' is the first track that we mixed ourselves. We revisited the mix a few times, which probably explains why it's more polished than our previous efforts."

"I don't think we've reached a point yet where we're all 100% satisfied, [but] then that's all part of the fun - Aiming for something you can't reach!"

There's no doubt that 'Surfing U.A.E.' (plus its b-side, 'Do Or Die') will tide you over (arf arf) while She Crazy are working on their second EP. If that's still not enough for you, you can catch their mental live display when they open for Blackhole and Brawlers at The Hope & Ruin in Brighton on Tuesday 7th June, and at a FREE show at The George Tavern in London on Thursday 16th June.

For more details on upcoming shows, go to the band's Facebook page or follow them on Twitter: @damn_shecrazy

FFO: THE WILDHEARTS; THE BRONX; METZ

LIMBO!

Danny