Jack's Top Ten Albums of 2018

Every year, for the past four maybe five, I’ve eagerly waited for this time of the year. This has nothing to do with Christmas celebrations, unwrapping presents, or getting stupid drunk during the day. Maybe a little with the last one. For me, December is mostly about what people in music either love or absolutely despise the most: end-of-year top 10 (20? 100?) lists. I quickly moved from using such lists as a source of inspiration, a way to make sure I hadn’t overlooked any gem, to writing my own lists for the ‘benefit’ of an unwilling and probably confounded audience on Facebook who must have been wondering the size of my ego when stumbling across these unsolicited lists full of obscure references.

Colin and Emma’s end-of-year lists – and those of the rest of the lovely people who write on this blog – have quickly become something of a measuring stick for my own tastes, which makes writing this year’s list without reading theirs first particularly challenging. Because, in fact, I usually wait until the literal last day of the year to post my thoughts on the best albums of the previous 12 months. But not this year! Would those extra 20-ish days have generated some extra discovery that would have made it into this list? I honestly can’t think about it too much or I’ll spend several more hours listening to new music and I don’t think my brain can take it right now. So let’s dive in.

One quick final note on this list: I used to include, before my yearly lists, a disclaimer saying that it was obviously based on my personal taste and musical preferences, which for the last 15 years had gravitated around California-based skate punk. I think this is increasingly less true, and in fact a fair share of the 10 albums I enjoyed the most in 2018 were not even punk. But this is Colin’s Punk Rock World, so I’ve decided to stay topical. At the end of the album list, however, I’ve included two extra features: my top 10 list of the punk songs of 2018, to recognise that there were some hidden gems even in albums that didn’t make the cut here – or indeed EPs, which I haven’t considered; and my top 10 list of the non-punk songs of 2018, just in case you’re curious about how I’ve been non-punk curious lately :D

10. Grit by No Fun At All

I never paid too much attention to No Fun At All, to my discredit. Grit is a classic skate punk sounding album that will entertain you all the way through, with a selection of proper bangers (Sucker for a Plan being my favourite from the album).

9. Entropic by Hit The Switch

Here’s another band that I had only heard about but actually never listened to. Reacting to the hype surrounding the announcement about their new album – the first after a long hiatus – I decided to give this one a go, and I have not regretted it. Entropic gives me very strong No Use For A Name vibes, with a lot of simple melodies over fast drums, all hitting the right notes. I'm definitely hoping to hear more from Hit The Switch in the future.

8. I Think We’ll Be OK by Eat Defeat

I have yet to hear a bad release by Eat Defeat. After the absolute diamond of an EP released in 2016, which sparked several European tours and even a series of gigs in Japan, with I Think We’ll Be OK the band from Leeds have reaffirmed themselves as one of the bands in the UK that does happy-sounding pop punk best, while singing of much more sombre themes such as depression and existential dread, but in a humorous and relatable way.

7. Alamort by Ducking Punches

Here’s what I thought when I listened to Alamort for the first time: this album sounds fucking MASSIVE. The guitar, bass and sounds are simply spot on, the arrangements are insanely intricate, while still fitting perfectly with the emotional vocals performed stupendously by band founder Dan Allen.

While Ducking Punches have always made music that departed away from punk rock – while having a gruff punk rock core – Alamort is probably the album where the sound has evolved the most, making it more ‘accessible’ to people who don’t listen to punk rock necessarily. That however doesn’t make it any less ‘authentic’. The song I Ruin Everything is, simply speaking, the best song – punk rock or not – to come out in 2018. It’s so honest, a fucking gut punch, so raw, and yet so mindbendingly beautiful. I can’t stop listening to it.

6. Schmaltz by Spanish Love Songs

Funny that Spanish Love Songs come immediately after Ducking Punches in this list, given that they were touring together earlier this year. But I didn’t go see them. Why? Because I had never listened to SLS until I finally decided to listen to Emma’s advice, and boy was she right!!

Schmaltz is a massively enjoyable pop punk album that follows the path laid down by The Menzingers in their 2017 hit After The Party. Hence, you can expect very personal lyrics, reflections on one’s place in the world, friendship and love, all while making you wanna dance from the sustained rhythms. The best example of what I mean is The Boy Considers His Haircut, a hilarious and yet also serious monologue about struggling with one’s own identity, fulfilling your dreams and meeting others’ expectations.

5. Cheer by Drug Church

The last of the late additions in this list (thanks Colin’s Punk Rock World crew for the tips!!), Cheer by Drug Church completely took me by surprise as I first listened to it. I would describe the album’s genre as “hardcore with catchy pop punk chord sequences”, kinda like Iron Chic but with these two components brought to the extreme. It kind of makes me wonder how this works when played live, something I look forward to finding out in the new year.

4. The Sparks That Moves by Cancer Bats

This has been one hell of a year for Cancer Bats, maybe the year they’ve established themselves as a hardcore powerhouse. The Canadian band has come to the UK at least three times in 2018, at one stretch selling out four (maybe five?) consecutive nights at the Underworld in London. Most importantly, they have released The Spark That Moves, the band’s sixth full length.

I am not a *huge* hardcore connoisseur, so maybe that’s why I don’t know any band quite like Cancer Bats. Just like all the albums that preceded it, TSTM is a collection of sludgy “mean” hardcore, infused with southern rock sounds and gang vocals that make it a beast when played live. Particularly noteworthy is the collaboration with Chris Hannah from Propagandhi in the album’s closing track, Winterpeg.

3. No Discordance by Harker

Little known fact: Harker were the first UK band I ever bought a record of. It was at the Windmill in Brixton, they were opening for Red City Radio, I had never heard of them but I was massively impressed by this punk rock ensemble where the singer is playing the acoustic guitar. It’s not something you see every day. Another little personal note: that night I decided that I wanted to get involved in the local punk rock scene, got myself a guitar, and a week after I joined Ships Down. True story.

No Discordance is Harker’s first full-length album, and Mark has now ditched the acoustic guitar and gone full electric, but the emotional rawness of their songwriting is still there. Broadly falling under the categories of ‘gruff punk rock’ and pop punk, the 10 songs on the album are in my view the best Harker have ever written. It’s not easy to identify a song that stands out from the others, but at the same time I keep going back to Caught Up, a beautiful ballad in three quarters that slowly builds up to some properly emotional “who-hoos” that I really wish would never end. A proper anthem that can only get better live.

2. Clarion Call by The Human Project

In July 2017, The Human Project released a new track, What We Always Do, announcing with it a new album, the first since Origins in 2013. Now, let me tell you one thing: What We Always Do is probably the best album concentrated of fast, technical skate punk in the past, well, five years? It showcases what writing a *perfect* skate punk song is. My point is, if aliens invaded this planet and asked me what song perfectly encapsulates 2010s skate punk – weird flex, but ok – I would probably say: “Is there a way of answering this question without all the anal probing?”, before ultimately referring them to The Human Project’s bandcamp.

The fact that WWAD was so good turned against us, however. In a cruel turn of fate, fans of The Human Project had to wait close to a year before the full length containing it, and 10 more songs, was finally released. Needless to say, Clarion Call is a blast. The Human Project are deservedly part of the UK tech-punk pantheon, but it’s a different kind of technicality that distinguishes them; there’s no frills, and the songs are mostly linear in a hugely impactful way. You actually realise how good they are when you see them live, and realise that: a) they sound exactly like in the studio; b) there’s actually a billion little details in their songs that reveal the huge amount of work that goes into them; and c) they do all of this while seamlessly nailing 3-way vocal harmonies.

It’s also not straightforward to box The Human Project in a well-defined genre. Clarion Call is in fact a multifaceted work of punk rock, ranging from more melodic, emotional tunes (like Pride Before A Fall) to angrier songs about our corrupt political system (That One Percent). The Human Project have traditionally appealed to fans of many different kinds of music, and Clarion Call has the ability to continue to do exactly so, while also representing a step up for the band in terms of songwriting.

1. Black Panther The Album (Music From And Inspired By) by Various Artists [but, like, mostly Kendrick Lamar]

Ok, I lied when I said I left out non-punk albums from this list. But I couldn’t leave this one out. Not when this particular non-punk album was THE BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR. Not when I have so many things to say about it.

Before I continue, however, let’s clear the air: there isn’t a take in music that is as lame, and boring, and superficial as saying “hip hop is the new punk”. I don’t want to spend the rest of the space available here to list the cultural, historical, and political reasons why such a take is good only for Jack White types who can’t see further from their own noses (I’m also probably not the best person to do so). I just want this to be on the record, that it wasn’t this type of sentiment that led me to include a hip hop record on a list of otherwise punk albums. I just decided to break my own rule, there’s nothing punk about that either. Just remember: hip hop is hip hop. New punk, is new punk; for better or for worse, I guess.

Imagine being Kendrick in 2016. You’ve just finished producing DAMN., a fitting follow up to the smash hit To Pump A Butterfly, but taking a rather different turn stylistically and lyrically. You’re the most in-demand artist in the world. You’re releasing the new album in February, when you’re approached by an emerging movie director about maybe doing a few original songs for a movie that’s coming out in 2018. Which movie? Oh, nothing special, just the most politically relevant blockbuster of a generation.

Now, it’s easy to see how this could have gone sour. Overworked artist, in the whirlwind of a new album release – with all the promotion and touring that normally ensues, working in a context that could have very likely turned unfavourable – a soundtrack to a Marvel (i.e. Disney) movie talking about drugs and gang violence? Get outta here! And yet, the unlikely series of illuminated choices made by executives, combined with the genius of the talent involved, have gifted us all with one of the greatest movie soundtracks of the decade, a cohesive work 14-song album – talk of a few tracks! – with a life of its own beyond the movie it accompanies (and not just because of how the songs are criminally underutilised in the film itself!).

It’s of course reductive to credit Kendrick Lamar alone for the brilliance of this album, even though he is listed as a songwriter in all of the songs. Producer Ludwig Göransson was responsible for a lot of the research that went into the distinctive sound of this album and Kendrick was joined by other world-class musicians such as SZA, Vince Staples, Jay Rock, James Blake, Anderson .Paak, Jorja Smith, The Weeknd and Travis Scott to name a few! We should also remind ourselves that this was a *monster* of a blockbuster movie, with a production budget for the soundtrack alone that would probably dwarf what has been spent to produce the top 1,000 DIY punk albums every year for the past five years. But it’s certainly not the case that every time these same ingredients – lots of money + great artists + great production and direction – are combined, the results are always so rosy.

Listening to this album, it’s impossible not to be baffled by the sequence of banger after banger that make this record. Compared to his latest solo project, DAMN., Kendrick is less concerned about following any strictly defined style, but instead each song takes inspiration from a different style of black music, alternating African rhythms (Redemption) with massive club hits (Opps). But a few words must be spent on King’s Dead, one of the singles which anticipated the album and the release of the movie. King’s Dead sounds a bit more like a ‘Kendrick’ song, stylistically – deep basses, dreamy choral arrangements mixed with heavy beats – and lyrically, where Kendrick, Jay Rock and Future sing in the voice of the villain, Erik Killmonger, boasting his riches, his conquests despite the state of oppression he was in, and laying claim to the throne. With the social themes explored in the lyrics, this album echoes the sentiment left by the movie itself: was Killmonger actually kinda right?

Songs – Punk
1. Ducking Punches – I Ruin Everything
2. Harker – Caught Up
3. Cancer Bats – Brightest Day
4. Alkaline Trio – Sweet Vampires
5. Eat Defeat – Can’t Say I’ll Miss You
6. Captain Trips – Siren Song
7. Drug Churg – Weed Pin
8. Red City Radio – In The Shadows
9. Trash Boat – Shade
10. Spanish Love Songs – Otis / Carl

Songs – Non-Punk
1. Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future, James Blake – King’s Dead
2. Kanye West (ft 070 Shake, John Legend & Kid Cudi) – Ghost Town
3. Pusha T – Come Back Baby
4. Mac Miller – Ladders
5. Parsonsfield – Santa Monica
6. Travis Scott – Sicko Mode
7. Frank Turner – Be More Kind
8. Childish Gambino – Feels Like Summer
9. Arctic Monkeys – Four Out Of Five
10. Cardi B – She Bad
*Bonus: A-ha // Kendrick Lamar – Take On Backseat (n04h Mashup)

This top ten was written by Jack Genovese.

Gig Review: Manchester Punk Festival 2017 Day One 20/4/17

It's crazy to think that the Manchester Punk Festival is already in its third year. It's also crazy to think that the Manchester Punk Festival is only in its third year. The festival has very quickly become a staple in the calendar of fans of punk music not just in the UK but now all over the world. I was fortunate enough to attend the first year in 2015 and had Emma with me at the 2016 edition of the festival. This year we were back in Manchester for the festival which has grown inexplicably quickly since its beginnings. This year the festival organisers, who are local promoters from TNSrecords, Moving North and Anarchistic Undertones, have really outdone themselves. Now featuring seven different venues as well as adding a punk cinema, food stall and distro area, the festival really is bigger than ever. With an incredible line up of bands from all other the world this weekend was certain to be a special one!

The first night of MPF took place between two central Manchester venues, Retro Bar and Zombie Shack. As with last year, wristband collection (for the Thursday, at least) was upstairs in Retro Bar while the festival kicked off downstairs, then continued at Zombie Shack later in the evening. We got down early to ensure that we’d catch all of the first band’s set and that first band were Bolshy, a seven-piece ska band from Liverpool. Bolshy are a band whose name I’d heard before but hadn’t actually gotten around to checking out – and that’s exactly what a festival like MPF is good for, checking out new bands. From the first song of their set I was sold and seemingly so were those around me, as Bolshy got the crowd moving. I was reminded of Streetlight Manifesto, by the Bolshy horns parts in particular, but Colin said he thought they sounded more dubby, either way we really enjoyed their performance – a fine start to Manchester Punk Festival 2017.

Lancashire's Iron Drugs offered something completely different to Bolshy. The four piece played one of the heaviest sets of the entire weekend, definitely the heaviest I saw. The band came with clearly no intentions of messing around, just getting in, playing loud and hard and getting out again. After the excitable upbeat nature of Bolshy, Iron Drugs were a bit of a shock to the system at the start of their set but soon grew on me with some in-your-face hardcore punk, with more than a little melody snuck in for good measure.

Queen Zee & The Sasstones were the next band to take to the Retro Bar stage, a band that, like Bolshy, were also from Liverpool. We were only on the first day and the third band of the festival but already the bands were proving to be greatly varied – another great thing about MPF. The variety within the genre of punk rock is something that I don’t think people from outside of the punk scene quite understand. I know a lot of people just think of the Sex Pistols or Green Day when you say ‘punk’ but it’s so much more than that. If you think of punk as being the music that represents having the freedom and the guts to do whatever you want, how you want, then Queen Zee & The Sasstones are the epitome of punk. Queen Zee in particular was full of enthusiasm and aggression in equal parts while the band wholeheartedly reinforced that.

After leaving Retro Bar we made our way to the awesome Zombie Shack venue that's above the Thirsty Scholar. Last year Zombie Shack became one of my favourite venues I've ever visited - the zombie themed tiki bar is just a wonderful place to be in. First up were The Crash Mats from Oldham. The MPF program described the three piece as "stupid idiotic ska punk rock." This sounded completely up my street. Opening up with a song about legendary professional wrestler Ric Flair it was clear from the beginning that The Crash Mats are a band that don't take themselves too seriously and I absolutely loved them for that. This was loud, boisterous and fun punk rock that is impossible not to enjoy. With song topics such as legendary wrestlers, smoking weed and the travesty of Channel 5 potentially cancelling Neighbours, The Crash Mats opened up Zombie Shack in fantastic fashion. MPF was going to be a weekend long party and The Crash Mats did a brilliant job in helping to get things started.

Following on from The Crash Mats was going to be a difficult job but I was pretty confident that Crocodile God were more than up for the task. First forming in 1992, The Liverpudlian band are hugely influenced by 90s American pop punk - one of my favourite eras of punk rock, so Crocodile God were going to be a very enjoyable half an hour of my life. I was instantly reminded of The Ergs! as soon as Crocodile God began their set and felt myself wanting to sing along with the fast paced lyrics but unfortunately I didn't know any words. Crocodile God were a great new find for me despite being around on and off for twenty five years now.

The penultimate act of our evening was The Human Project from Leeds. Zombie Shack was now getting very busy for one of the most popular bands in the UK punk scene. The Human Project's brand of melodic skate punk immediately got the MPF crowd going nuts. So much so that Emma and I had to retreat slightly so not to get caught up in the mayhem. I've seen the band a few times over the years and they've always been tight but this has to be the best time that I've seen them. Playing a selection of songs from their debut album, Origins, as well as a few new ones, The Human Project were absolutely class on stage - clearly revelling in the chaos that was unfolding in front of them. Earlier in the day The Human Project announced that this would be their last show for ages so they clearly made the most of it with a stellar performance.

The task of closing the Thursday of Manchester Punk Festival fell to one of the UK’s most loved pop punk bands, The Murderburgers. I’d only seen the Scottish three-piece once before, back when they supported Masked Intruder on their UK tour in 2015 – a band that Fraser Murderburger has since stepped in as a touring member of (when Green was ‘in prison’!) and recorded with. I enjoyed them the first time time around and I enjoyed them for the second time, despite being pretty exhausted by this point (having had a gig in London the night before, getting up early to go swimming, before driving 170 miles to Manchester) and standing near the back. They really are a band that is best seen live to fully appreciate what they have to offer – packed with enthusiasm and energy. Zombie Shack was packed with enthusiastic punk fans by this point, including those that had arrived after seeing Menzingers/Flatliners at the Manchester Academy, and they adored The Murderburgers. It wouldn’t be a DIY punk festival without a few technical hiccups and there were a few of those when Fraser’s amp blew up (technical term) but it didn’t taint the band’s set too much. All-in-all it was an excellent first night of Manchester Punk Festival 2017.

We headed off to our hotel for some much needed rest ahead of the next two jam-packed days of punk rock. Already MPF 2017 was proving to be just as good, if not better, than 2016.

This review was written by Colin and Emma.

Album Review: Clarion Call by The Human Project (by Brett Coomer)

2018 has been an amazing year for me. Attending MPF, seeing Propagandhi twice, being introduced to a ton of new bands, and getting married are just some of the highlights. Since becoming friends with Colin and Emma two years ago I am happy to say that the amount and variety of music that Robyn and I get exposed to has increased exponentially. Not being familiar with The Human Project before this year, Robyn ordered me to listen to them after hearing the other members of CPRW hyping up the new album.

The Leeds band are known for playing fast melodic punk with politically-charged lyrics so I was quite surprised I hadn’t heard of them before, but not at all surprised at how much I loved what I heard. It was love at first listen and I immediately added their debut album Origins to my library. Fast forward a couple months and the wait was over, Clarion Call was released into the world.

Defined as a strongly expressed demand or request for action (thanks Google), Clarion Call is the perfect title for this album which feels like the band letting out their frustrations at the world’s current socio-political environment. There are so many moments that make you want to get up, raise your fist in the air and yell along to the lyrics. The band have been able to aptly articulate what a lot of people around the world, and especially in Britain, must be feeling using eleven songs over thirty-one minutes.

The album kicks things off with some quiet piano and clean guitar, describing a bleak world not too far from the one we live in right now, questioning the role we’ve all played in getting there. Desperate Times builds anticipation and provides a taste of what’s to come with a furious final minute before pick sliding into the next song. Desperate Measures feels like it’s directed at the apathetic and complacent people who sit back and watch injustices happen while critiquing anyone who stands up against it. That One Percent and The Rhetoric take aim at the rich politicians and businessmen who control so much of how the world operates, but only care about the bottom line regardless of the cost. After four political tracks, Knocked for Six is a more personal song about getting back up after being knocked down by an ending relationship. It provides a break from the political theme and features some great hooks and an impressive breakdown.

With its atmospheric interlude, Carrion provides a short opportunity to breathe before cranking up the energy level again with What We Always Do, which drives home the message that we shouldn’t sit back or give up, but continue to push for the change we want to see in the world in spite of all opposition. The next two tracks, Blame and Pride Before a Fall, offer more personal touches to the album with the latter song dealing with empathy towards other human beings. Everyone lives in the same world but we all experience it differently and you can’t know what somebody is feeling regardless of their outward appearance or social status.

A Debt to Society features some excellent guitar work with great melodies and a catchy chorus, describing the current state of the world where the decisions made by the controlling minority to further their goals are sold to society as selflessness and as being the best for everyone. Clarion Call brings the album to a close with an epic four + minute challenge to everyone listening to come together and fight for a world that benefits us all rather than a select few. The song asks the question “Are we still dangerous?” and if inspiration is taken from the album as a whole, the answer is a resounding yes.

The production on this album is top notch, highlighting the technical aptitude of all the band members and letting every aspect of the band shine through equally. The vocal harmonies, dual guitars, driving bass, and hard-hitting drums are all on point. Clarion Call is a bit more polished compared to Origins, but not to the detriment of the overall sound and it definitely fits in with the best of the genre. This album should serve as a blueprint for melodic skate-punk albums to come.

2016 brought us The Revenge of The Fifth and Remember Death, 2017 gave us Victory Lap and Bonsai Mammoth and with so many great releases this year already, I can safely say Clarion Call will make a few top ten lists including mine. If you’re a fan of Mute, This Is a Standoff, Belvedere and melodic punk rock in general this is a must have album. And if you have the chance to catch them live – do it!

Buy Clarion Call here: https://thehumanproject.bigcartel.com/

Like The Human Project here: https://www.facebook.com/thehumanprojectuk/

This review was written by Brett Coomer.

Top Tens: Colin's Top Ten Bands To See At Manchester Punk Festival 2017

This year's Manchester Punk Festival is fast approaching and it's safe to say that Emma and I are quite excited to attend for another year. Over the past few months the organisers, the fine people from TNSrecords, Moving North and Anarchistic Undertones, have been putting together a fine roster of bands for the festival to make it bigger than ever. The calibre of bands that they've managed to book this year is ridiculous, especially considering this is only the third year of the festival. Over the next two weeks Emma and I will pick ten of the bands that we are most looking forward to seeing. Here's my top ten.

Strike Anywhere

I was so pleased when Strike Anywhere were announced for MPF. I was hoping to see them at The Fest last year but sadly missed out due to clashes. I'll make sure that's not the case at this festival. It's the legendary Richmond, Virginia bands first trip to the UK in seven years and you know it will be well worth the wait.

Brutal Youth

Canadian hardcore band Brutal Youth had a massive year in 2016 following the release of their new album Sanguine and look set to continue the wave of momentum that they are riding into 2017 with a tour of Europe. Being one of the most talked about bands of the moment, it's pretty clear that Brutal Youth will be one of the not to be missed bands at MPF.

Clowns

I think I'm right in saying that Clowns are the first Australian band to play at Manchester Punk Festival. I've been listening to a lot of punk from Australia recently and Clowns are one of the bands that really stood out. Their fast paced, aggressive hardcore really catches your attention and I'm sure that the energy that explodes out of the recordings will translate brilliantly to the stage.

The Filaments

Essex's finest The Filaments are returning to Manchester Punk Festival for the first time since headlining the first festival in 2015. I believe that it will be my first time seeing them since that festival as well, so it will be well overdue. The ska punks have been going for years now and have earned a reputation for being one of the most ferocious live bands around, whilst keeping a lot of their Essex charm.

Sweet Empire

Dutch punks Sweet Empire make a welcome return to the UK. The four friends started Sweet Empire in 2008 and have since gone on to create some of the most unique sounding tunes in the world of skate punk. There is also a big socially aware side to Sweet Empire with topics of abortion, religion, the environment and politics all raised in the band's music.

Belvedere

Last year these legendary Canadian punks released what was considered by many to be an album of the year contender. A pretty good achievement from a band that had actually split up in 2005 and only decided to start writing music together again in 2014. Revenge Of The Fifth is already considered a classic by their fans and this chance to see the band reunited, and seemingly at the top of their game, is not one to be missed.

Jakal

Jakal are a ska, punk, reggae, dub band from London who I've been aware of for years but have never gotten around to seeing - this will finally change at MPF! Something that really helps set Jakal apart from many of the other fantastic ska bands in the country is the dual vocals of Plug and Tali. If you like bands such as King Prawn, Operation Ivy or Sublime you're going to love Jakal.

ONSIND

ONSIND are a long time favourite of mine and any chance to see them live is not an opportunity to miss. The duo are celebrating their tenth year as a band in 2017 so a first time appearance at Manchester Punk Festival seems appropriate. Expect sing-a-longs so loud that you won't actually be able to hear the band when you go to see ONSIND.

The Human Project

The Human Project are one of the stand out bands in the burgeoning UK melodic punk rock scene. Returning this summer with a brand new album, the Leeds four piece look set to have a massive year in 2017. One of the most exciting live bands on the circuit, The Human Project's technical skill is only matched by their energetic performances.

The Living Daylights

No festival is complete without a reunion set and MPF has one from Lincoln's The Living Daylights. After splitting in 2012, The Living Daylights are back with two special shows to celebrate ten years since the formation of the band. I love the nostalgia that a reunion show brings and hearing so many great The Living Daylights songs again will put a great big smile on my face.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR MY THIRD MANCHESTER PUNK FESTIVAL!

For more information about the festival go here: https://manchesterpunkfestival.co.uk/

This top ten was written by Colin Clark.

Top Tens: Robyn's Top Ten Bands To See At Manchester Punk Festival 2019

Despite all the curveballs that life has thrown at me in the past few months, the stars have finally aligned and the punk gods have smiled upon me, and I am going to Manchester Punk Festival this year! My experience of the festival last year was just phenomenal. Brett and I were both really impressed by the smooth organization of the event, the awesome musical acts, and the lovely people of the UK DIY punk scene. There were so many standout performances last year that I don’t think I could pick a favourite, but another big part of what made MPF 2018 so great was getting to hang out with Colin and Emma, so it’ll also be awesome to see them again. This year, MPF boasts another stellar line-up and these are just some of the acts that I’m really excited to see.

Suggested Friends (Friday at The Bread Shed 14:30–15:00)
One of the first bands opening up the weekend on Friday is Suggested Friends, a self-described “small choir of mostly lesbians” who play bright indie-pop-punk jams with catchy melodies and sincere lyrics. There was always a good chance I was going to like this band considering their Harry Potter and cat inspired song titles (both ‘I Don’t Want to Be a Horcrux For Your Soul’ and ‘Menagerie of Cats’ are excellent tracks off of their self-titled album), but their warm and playful music is also highly enjoyable and this set promises to be an excellent start to the MPF weekend.

Big Joanie (Friday at The Bread Shed 16:10–16:40)
One of the scheduling dilemmas I’m really bummed about is the clash between Big Joanie and Call Me Malcolm. People of colour are still a rarity in punk bands, and when I found a band headed up by three black women who speak proudly about the space that punk opens up to clap back at white patriarchy and explore black feminism I knew I had to check them out. I was really impressed with their debut album Sistahs, which I’ve been listening to for a while. The songs are self-assured and uncompromising, with a raw and slightly disjointed sound. I’m going to try and catch the beginning or the end of this set, and you’ll definitely find me at the merch table to pick up a shirt and hopefully a copy of the album.

Call Me Malcolm (Friday at Gorilla 16:10–16:40)
I think it’s safe to say that Call Me Malcolm’s I Was Broken When You Got Here was one of the best albums released last year, and I am so ready to skank and twirl along to these songs live. I know that Colin and Emma are also stoked for this set, and I’m anticipating a sharp pang of happiness when we all get to sing along to Call Me Malcolm’s runaway single ‘All My Nameless Friends’. Even if this song has managed to fall out of their set, I’ll be so happy to see these guys play.

Above Them (Friday at Rebellion 23:00–23:30)
After parties are a big part of MPF, and this year Rebellion will function solely as an after party venue. First up at Rebellion on Friday is West Yorkshire band Above Them, who play just my kind of gritty melodic punk and are reforming to play the festival. The band’s recorded sound is pretty raw and full-bodied, so I’m expecting a similar live experience. Specialist Subject Records also recently re-released their album Water Lane on vinyl, so I’m sure there’ll be a few spare copies lying around.

Tom May and Roger Harvey (Saturday at Brickhouse Social 18:30–19:30)
Tom May is usually known for playing guitar and sharing vocal duties with Greg Barnett in The Menzingers, but he’s coming to MPF on his own and teaming up with fellow Pennsylvanian Roger Harvey (of White Wives) to play a unique set ‘of songs and stories’ at Brickhouse Social. Many years ago, before On The Impossible Past had even been released, Brett and I narrowly missed out on seeing Greg and Tom play an acoustic show at Fest 10 (because, exhaustion). So, it’s great to get another chance to see Tom play in a more intimate setting and I’m really keen to see the performance that he and Roger have put together.

Smoke or Fire (Saturday at The Union 20:10–21:00)
The announcement that Boston punks Smoke or Fire would be playing MPF this year was a lovely surprise. I’ve only seen them once before, at Fest 10, where they put on a fantastic show at the Florida Theatre. The band really established itself with the album Above The City and the single ‘California’s Burning’, but they’ve gone on to have many other hits and their 2007 release This Sinking Ship is easily one of my all-time favourite albums, so I’m super excited to see them again.

Cheerbleederz (Sunday at Gorilla 14:30–15:00)
Cheerbleederz is a bit of a supergroup, comprised of Phoebe Cross from Happy Accidents, Kathryn Woods of Fresh, and Final Flag’s Sophie Mackenzie. This new project has been on my radar since Cheerbleederz released their first single ‘Cabin Fever’, and their debut EP Faceplant has been on repeat in my car for weeks now. It’s clear that these three pals really enjoy playing music together, and I love the contrast between the angsty song lyrics and the band’s cheery pop-punk sound. So, this set is a definite must-see.

Cherym (Sunday at Gorilla 15:20–15:50)
Cherym are another female pop-punk trio, this time from the North of Ireland, and they are probably my favourite MPF find. I stumbled across their single ‘Take It Back’ on an MPF playlist, and since then I’ve been jamming to every Cherym song I can get my hands on. Their Mouthbreathers EP is excellent (I especially like the track ‘Telepathic Kelly’) as is their new single ‘Super Queens’, with all of their songs delivering gorgeous bass lines, sharp riffs, and punchy vocals. Cherym play right after Cheerbleederz at Gorilla on Sunday, so I also have the added bonus of not having to change venues.

The Human Project (Sunday at Gorilla 18:50–19:30)
Going into this year’s MPF, I was easily the most hyped about seeing The Human Project, followed closely by Fresh. So, I’m devastated that these two bands end up clashing and I am silently cursing my relatively diverse taste in music (I doubt the choice between Fresh and THP will be that difficult for many other people, so I do understand why the organisers would put these two bands on at the same time, even if it does make me sad). I will have to make some serious choices about how much of each band I can realistically catch, but for the sake of this top ten I’m going to write about both.

The Human Project play some truly lovely melodic hardcore punk. I liked their first album Origins, but I really fell for this band when they released Clarion Call last year. Their music is fast and high-energy, with great hooks and vocal harmonies (as well as a few shouty bits), and their live show promises to be so damn good that I’m not sure that I’ll be able to bear missing out on any of it.

Fresh (Sunday at The Union 19:10–19:50)
Fresh are starting to feel a little like my unicorn: the band I really want to see, but somehow it just doesn’t work out. Last year, Fresh clashed with Roughneck Riot and I decided not to see them because they’re a London-based band and I figured I’d have a better chance of seeing them in the future. Then they were announced for this year’s MPF, and I was determined to see them this time around. Alas, scheduling luck was not on my side and they’re on at the same time as The Human Project. But, I’m still hopeful that I might catch at least 10 minutes of Fresh’s set if I can move quickly between venues. Their self-titled album is full of songs that are jaunty but urgent, pop-punk but stripped-back and without any sugar coating. I’m sure the band will also be looking to play a new song or two from their upcoming album Withdraw, which is out on 7 June via Specialist Subject Records.

Sneaky 11th entry: The Poetry Stage at The Thirsty Scholar
In addition to all of the awesome bands playing MPF, I’m also really excited about the poetry stage that will run alongside the comedy stage at the The Thirsty Scholar every day from 1–6pm. There is a long tradition of punk performance poets and storytellers, because of the ways in which performance or spoken-word poetry provides a platform for marginalized voices to give expression to their experiences. At these performances, you can expect cutting rhymes, fast rhythms, clever witticisms, and intense emotions. I’m particularly interested in seeing Suky Goodfellow, who describes herself as a Hufflepunk whose genres include Rap Tomfoolery and Queer Unicornism, and Henry Raby, an energetic Nerd Punk from York who focuses on politics. Both are on in the early afternoon on Sunday, but you can check out the full list of poets who will be performing on the MPF website.

This top ten was written by Robyn Pierce.

Album Review: Manchester Punk Festival Volume 4

The Manchester Punk Festival is now only nine days away and the organisers have now released the fourth instalment in a series of compilation showcasing more of the amazing acts playing on the 17^th and 18^th of April.

The compilation begins with festival head-liners The Filaments. This punk/ska/hardcore troupe from Essex have been going since the early2000's and are now seen as legends in the scene. The song Once In A While is taken from 2013's excellent album Land Of Lions and I'm looking forward to seeing many of the songs from this release live for the first time as well as classics from The Filaments back catalogue. Blackpool's Boston Manor are one of the newer bands on the scene and are rising fast. The song Peach State has the pop punk/emo sound that is getting more and more popular with the kids these days, even though I'm not a massive fan of the sound it's clear that Boston Manor do it better than most of their contemporaries. One band that's sure to draw a massive crowd are Warrington folk punks Roughneck Riot. This group of superbly talented musicians have been a band for ten years now and have spread their own brand of punk and folk all across Europe, earning legions of fans along the way. Sure to be one of many highlights from the festival. For some reason Vanilla Pod's song Best Intentions makes two appearances on the compilation series. Not a bad thing as the song is a cracker but I am far too lazy to review it twice. They are awesome, check them out!

In my humble opinion Apologies, I Have None are the very best band in the UK. Combining massive choruses with smart and brutally honest lyrics I'm pretty sure it's impossible for them to write a bad song. Live, there aren't many bands that hold a candle to them either, passion and energy pours out of their performance which will make the Manchester crowd lose their heads. Great Cynics front man Giles Bidder is playing acoustically at the festival. Weirdly I have seen him perform solo more times than I have seen Great Cynics live and I always come away feeling upbeat and smiling. Playing a mixture of GC songs as well as his own Giles performance is filled with infectious enthusiasm as he shows why he is one of the best songwriters in the scene. From the ashes of Hated Til Proven come new hardcore band Jenkem from Warrington. The song Internal Warfare is a politically charged hardcore onslaught. Playing the after party at Joshua Brooks Jenkem are definitely a band to watch out for. Creeper are having the year of their lives, after forming after the demise of Our Time Down Here they have become one of the most talked about and fastest rising bands in the scene. The song Gloom comes from their debut self titled EP and the video for the song recently got some airtime on Kerrang TV. Live the band are superb with front man Will being the one of the most watchable and charismatic people I've ever seen take to the stage. Creeper are headlining Sound Control on the Friday night.

AcidDrop are another band high on my list of must see's at the festival having been a fan for a number of years now. Mixing together the best parts of skate and street punk with a hint of ska Acid Drop have put out some fantastic releases over the past few years, the latest being the excellent The End Of Days on TNS Records. If you like The Briggs you'll love Acid Drop. The Human Project are another band really making a name for themselves throughout the scene. This Leeds based brand on skate punk and hardcore has seen them rightfully become one of the most highly respected acts in the UK's underground. Technically they are superb, playing some of the most complicated guitar riffs in punk rock combined with some huge fist in the air choruses. Fair Do's are another technical hardcore punk band, this time from Manchester. Musically they will draw many comparison's with The Human Project, but this is by no means a bad thing. Musically they are quite similar but vocally Fair Do's are more aggressive compared to the Human Projects more melodic style of singing. The song innuendo is taken from their debut EP Trying Times. The compilation is ended by folk, blues and punk singer Sammy H Stephens. This performer from Cheshire offers something slightly different to many of the acts at the festival. Performing with an acoustic guitar, harmonica and stomp box Sammy will thoroughly entertain the audience at the acoustic stage. 

Stream and download the compilation here: https://manchesterpunkfestival.bandcamp.com/album/manchester-punk-festival-vol-4 

Buy tickets and get all the information you need about the festival here: http://manchesterpunkfestival.co.uk/site/ 

Now listening to Still Remains by Buck-O-Nine 

Gig Review: Random Hand at the New Cross Inn 2/7/15

The UKs ska punk scene has a fantastic knack of consistently churning out amazing ska punk bands. Over the years we've had the like of Capdown, Lightyear, King Prawn, Sonic Boom Six and [Spunge]. Another of those fantastic bands are Random Hand from Keighley who sadly announced they would be putting a halt on being a band for a while earlier this year. Thankfully not before one final album and tour. Wanting to make the most of seeing one of the finest live bands in the scene before they go away I have tickets to three of their final shows. This past Thursday was the first of the three, at the New Cross Inn in London. Here's what happened.

This would be my first time visiting the New Cross Inn and I have to say as soon as I walked in I knew that this would be a great venue for live music. The stage, whilst not being massive was a decent size and it was low so felt very inclusive. The floor area was also a decent size considering The New Cross Inn isn't a very large place. The first band up were The Popes Of Chillitown who recently released the excellent To The Moon (reviewed here). The Popes are without a doubt one of the most exciting new bands on the scene, their music and live performances giving out the kind of relentless energy very few bands can display. Despite the early start it was great to see the band put so much into their performance and they clearly just love performing together as a band. Excellent stuff.

Up next were Call Me Malcolm. I have to admit I hadn't ever listened to Call Me Malcolm before and kind of expected a Less Than Jake style of ska punk. I was quite wrong. The horn section was absolutely fantastic, really carrying the sound of the band forward. Like bands like Streetlight Manifesto the horns provided most of the melody to the songs rather than just added brass riffs throughout the track. Like the Popes Of Chillitown before them the energy of the set was immensely high, which is commendable when you consider just how warm the room was becoming. A highlight of the set was a brilliant cover of Metallica's Enter Sandman. Call Me Malcolm taken one of the biggest metal songs ever and turned it into one hell of a ska song. Definitely a band to keep an eye on.

Leeds based melodic skate punks The Human Project were the next band to take to the New Cross stage. I thought they probably had the hardest job of the three opening bands tonight. Being the only non ska band on the bill you might think it would be a bit of a fish out of water scenario but happily that wasn't the case at all. They played a set that was fast and furious with the intensity seemingly increasing with each song. The Human Project are a band that are so highly thought off in the punk scene and after finally seeing them live I can see why. Musically they were so tight and I loved that vocals were coming from everywhere. After finally seeing them live I understand fully what the fuss is all about and will make sure I pick up their CD very soon. You should as well.

Now it was time for Random Hand. Legends in the scene. As soon as front man Robin Leitch blasted out his first trombone riff the crowd was moving and it didn't stop until the very end of the night. At one point during the set I could actually feel the floor shaking beneath my feet such was the level of dancing. Impressive considering there was only about 100 people at the gig. This felt like a proper punk rock show, it was hot and sweaty and everyone was having the best time with a band that is so loved. The stage at New Cross was great for a punk rock show as well. It's lowness put the band on the same level as the crowd an makes the whole thing feel like a collaborative effort. This was my seventh time seeing Random Hand and I can't think of a time when they've been better, and they've always blown me away. Maybe because they know they won't be doing this much more for a long time but it felt like they really gave it the full beans on that stage. This made the crowd respond magnificently but there was one gentleman in particular I want to talk about. He was someone who clearly didn't know any of the bands that were playing the gig but he lost his bits to every single one of them. During Random Hands set he got on stage, stage dived and crowd surfed and looked as if he was having the best night of his life and that was fantastic to see. Random Hand played quite a varied set of classics and songs that I haven't heard them play in ages plus one brand new song which was a real hard hitting punk rock jam. It's the biggest shame that Random Hand will be taking the hiatus soon as they are the very best at what they do.

Now listening to A Man Like Jack McCall by Bangers

Brett's Top Ten Albums of 2018

It’s been said before and will be said again, but 2018 has been a great year for music. The amount of new music I have been exposed to thanks to the CPRW team, Facebook groups, and festivals like MPF has made choosing a top 10 albums of the year really difficult. The albums released this year that I’ve felt connected to far outnumber the limit of 10 required for this list. Fair Do’s, Spoilers, Spanish Love Songs, and Alkaline Trio all released amazing albums this year and only just missed out on making my list. For this I am sorry, but I do hope they make it onto some other best of 2018 lists. The Lawrence Arms collection almost made my list until I decided to exclude compilation, split, and cover albums. I haven’t listened to nearly enough EPs this year but Petrol Girls, Red City Radio, and Forever Unclean were standouts for me.

10. Entropic by Hit The Switch

As a young punk living in South Africa, I’d have to rely on the thank you lists in liner notes of albums and record label mailing lists to find new bands to listen to. I would then connect using our dial-up internet to a website like mp3.com or Yahoo (yes, I am old), spend hours waiting for songs to download just to find something new to fall in love with. As the internet has got faster, and the way in which I consume music has changed drastically, so has the manner in which I find new bands. Hit The Switch arrived on my radar when I received a Bandcamp notification from Bird Attack Records, sharing their newest album called Entropic. I quickly swiped left and searched Apple Music for this band I had never heard of, trusting the reputation of Bird Attack and believing that if it was worth a notification, it’s got to be worth listening to at least once. Clean, high-toned vocals combined with harmonized guitars, the odd shred-solo, and some tight drumming all make for an album worthy of the Bird Attack lineup and any melodic skate punk collection. The pace is set to fast from the first track and never really subsides until the end, although the more melodic songs like ‘North Star’ and ‘Manic Heart Disease’ are probably my favourites on the album.

9. I Think We’ll Be OK by Eat Defeat

Another band brought to my attention thanks to the MPF lineup and suggestions from Colin and Emma. After listening to their 2016 EP Time & Tide on repeat and seeing them open the Saturday of MPF, I was waiting for their second full-length with a high level of anticipation. I was jealous that Colin was able to get an early preview of the album and his statement that “Eat Defeat have probably won pop punk in 2018” didn’t make the wait any easier. While my title for pop punk of 2018 may be disputed and closely contested, the fact remains that I Think We’ll Be OK is one of the highlights of the year. From the opening chord, the band draw you in with songs that will be stuck in your head for days and are sure to make you feel better no matter the mood you find yourself in.

8. True Capacity by Astpai

One of my most anticipated albums of 2018, I pre-ordered True Capacity the moment it was announced. Astpai take influences from hardcore, melodic and pop punk and have managed carve out their own sound, refining it with each release. True Capacity takes the listener on a journey through the Astpai formula without ever getting too predictable. The album is full of powerful sing-along moments provided by songs like ‘Rotten Bait’, ‘Falling Trees’ and my personal favourite ‘No Hero’, which builds you up, brings you down, and builds up again with a great melody and super catchy chorus. There are also songs like the title track that remind you of the band’s hardcore roots with hints of a Refused influence, while still fitting in with the rest of the album easily. When deciding on a top 10, I look at the albums I’ve listened to the most over the last year and True Capacity has been a favourite of mine on the drive to work and back since its release. This is Astpai at their best.

7. Everything But The Here And Now by Happy Accidents

When Robyn and I made the decision to attend MPF 2018, we had no idea that our world of music would be blown open. Way back in November of 2017, Colin described Happy Accidents as a “London indie pop punk act” and “cheerful types”. After testing the water with their first album I agreed with Colin’s description and was excited to get the chance to hopefully (schedule permitting) catch them at MPF. I was lucky enough to travel to London in March for a conference and Happy Accidents announced a launch show for their new album. It was right in the middle of the crazy snow storms and I had jet lag in a new city but pushed through to attend one of my favourite gigs of the year. I remember telling Robyn after the show that Happy Accidents had become an absolute must-watch at MPF. With Everything But The Here And Now, the band push their unique genre of pop punk to new places and the talent of each member is highlighted throughout the album. The sincerity of the songs combined with genuine talent and some slick production make this one of the unmissable albums of the year. If this is what London 2018 pop punk sounds like, count me in!

6. Capture The Flag by War On Women

Following up War On Women’s amazing 2015 self-titled album was never going to be an easy feat. The band has taken the challenge head on and stepped up to deliver one of the best hardcore albums of the year. I believe that Shawna Potter is one of the best vocalists in hardcore and the talent she has for combining beautiful melodic moments with brutal emotion with her voice is second to none. With this album, it feels like War on Women have taken their anger and frustration to new levels musically with more dynamic songs than featured in their previous work. Capture The Flag is filled with passion and aggression, and songs featuring topical themes such as gun-control, LGBTQ+ rights, racism, and women’s reproductive rights. These topics should be brought into the spotlight and discussed not only through music but in all aspects of life, especially (although not exclusively) because of the Trump-era mess the planet finds itself in. Bands like War On Women help to bring these topics to the forefront and it’s easy to see how much they care about the battles we should all be fighting.

5. Self Care by We Are The Union

One of the later entries into this list, We Are The Union had faded into the background of my music library since seeing them live at Fest 10 in 2011. Sure, they put out You Can’t Hide The Sun in 2012 but it never really grabbed me in the same way as their earlier releases. Six years later, Kickstarter and the stars (or whatever) have aligned and We Are The Union have been able to release a crowdfunded album that feels like a collection of letters express-delivered to people that could use a pick-me-up. It’s ok to feel sad sometimes, you’re not alone. It’s ok to feel frustrated with the state of the world, you’re not alone. It’s ok to feel alone sometimes, you’re not alone in that either. After a pretty rough year at work, this album arrived at exactly the right time for me and has been in regular rotation since its release. The horns are more prominent again, the mix is perfect, and the songs are fun. I regret not catching the band at Fest 15 but I do hope to get the opportunity to see them live again, and thank them for an album that made me feel better when I really needed it.

4. MxPx by MxPx

 
MxPx have been around for a long time and have released a lot of music. Some I’ve loved, some I’ve liked well enough, and some I’ve only ever listened to once. I enjoyed 2012’s Plans Within Plans, but it still felt as though the band would never reach the highs of Life In General or Slowly Going The Way Of The Buffalo. When the band announced the Kickstarter campaign to release the self-titled album on their own, their enthusiasm was impossible to miss and they have delivered an album that is their best in decades and which has reignited my love for the band. The first 4 songs of this album easily rank as one of the best first sort-of-halves of any album in recent memory. The songs on this album emanate fun and remind us how great MxPx can be when they’re having as much fun as the listener.

3. Body Feel by Shook Ones

It’s always going to be a great year in music when it involves new Shook Ones. I had regarded the band as pretty much broken up after having heard almost nothing from them for almost 10 years. But after a member of the Fest Friends Facebook group shared the news of a new Shook Ones album and a new song, it was an easy decision to pre-order and put the song on repeat for a few days. I am a big fan of Kid Dynamite and Lifetime, and considering the influence of these two bands I’ve loved everything put out by Shook Ones almost immediately. Nearly a decade since their last full-length, Shook Ones have managed to mature their sound enough to keep things fresh while staying true to the formula that made it so easy to enjoy their releases from the past. Some might argue that the songs have gotten slower but the crunchy guitars, Shevchukesque vocals and melodies delivered with energy don’t feel slow. Although comparisons to Kid Dynamite, Lifetime, and None More Black are never far away, Shook Ones have managed to release an album that fits right into their already excellent catalogue of music and one which sounds more like the best Shook Ones rather than any other influential band.

2. Clarion Call by The Human Project

Thanks to Robyn’s recommendation, I first listened to The Human Project around May of 2018, shortly before the release of their second album Clarion Call. Thank goodness I didn’t have to wait too long for the new album, even though I feel like it would have been worth the wait regardless. This is fast, technical, and melodic punk rock done right, with thought-provoking lyrics and music that makes you want to get up and take action. Given the style of music and way in which it is delivered here, there was never any doubt that Clarion Call would be a long time favourite of mine.

1. How To Socialise & Make Friends by Camp Cope

I wasn’t super familiar with the Melbourne trio before 2018. I had heard of them touring with the likes of Against Me! and Worriers, and after listening to a few songs from their debut album and the Audiotree Live EP I was keen to hear more. My interest culminated in November 2017 when the band released the first single from How To Socialise & Make Friends into the world. ‘The Opener’ immediately drew me in with its brilliantly catchy bass lines and infectious melody. The lead single highlights the hypocrisy and misogyny occurring within the (punk) music scene, and was met with acclaim. In March of 2018, the full album was released. Not only did it live up to my expectations, it completely blew them out of the water. The album does not contain a single bad song; it’s full of personal and honest lyrics, beautiful melodies, and perfect bass lines that sound deceptively simple. Everything is put together so well: the songwriting, structure, musicianship, and production are all perfect. From the very first listen and despite being released so early in the year, I knew that the album would rank highly in my top 10 and Camp Cope are right at the top of my must-see-live-one-day list.

This top ten was written by Brett Coomer.