The RoomThirteen staff let us have a peek into their personal collections again, this months selection is as eclectic as always and full of juicy tidbits to get your teeth into:
Andrew Latham
Steven Wilson - Insurgentes
Not as instantly accessible as his Porcupine Tree or Blackfield output but well worth it once you get beneath the surface. Somehow he manages to make music that sounds simple and complicated at the same time! I don't know quite how he does it but I'm glad he does.
Eloy - Dawn
Fabulously lush progressive rock from the 70s. Eloy are something of a well kept secret but they have a big back catalogue waiting for you to discover it and you'll be glad that you did. Great melodies and incredible musicianship make for a heady mix of indulgent and beautiful tunes.
Citizen Fish - Flinch
One from the 90s and still my favourite album from this Subhumans spin off; mixing ska with punk in a far more inventive and intelligent way than you usually get. There are some absolutely killer tracks on this album and at the time I felt it really raised the bar.
Richard Ounsworth
A Day to Remember - What Separates Me From You
The latest album from the pop punk/hardcore heroes is a great album to listen to if you're feeling pissed off or hugely happy. The Florida guys show a kind of nerdy side with this album, with songs called 2nd Sucks and You Be Tails, I'll Be Sonic Let's face it no one ever wanted to be Tails. Even their video for 2nd Sucks was very video game inspired as they took on the boys from Four Year Strong to achieve dominance. A great album through and through, just need another UK tour.
Enter Shikari - A Flash Flood of Colour
As a long time Enter Shikari fan I was very sceptical about this album, I heard SSSNAKEPIT as a single and thought 'this isn't quite Shikari' but in the words of Alexisonfire 'times change and people change with them' this album more than anything shows that these aren't the playful boys that gave us Take to the Skies but men who have an agenda to shout from the rooftops what they think is wrong with the world but when you mix it with rock and dubstep, it's more than a message, it's a calling to unite and take a stand and demand something change because 'We're sick of this shit!'
Falling in Reverse - the Drug in Me is You
Imagine at the age of 21 you're addicted to all the drugs under the sun and then go to prison just as your band is taking off and then they carry on without you while you sit plotting your comeback. The result is Falling in Reverse, Ronnie Radke's new band, obviously they would always struggle to get out of Escape the Fate's shadow but they do it well with catchy songs with raw honest lyrics. The Drug in Me is You is a masterpiece.
William Cross
Lostprophets - Weapons
The boyos are back with a HUGE return to form; this is a genuine grower that once under your skin will truly unveil its many charms. Lostprophets are one of the best we have and this will remind you why.
No Trigger - Tycoon
Absolutely killer melodic punk rock, this is packed with tunes that have as much vitality as they do heart. Reminiscent of Lifetime as much as they are of New Found Glory, if emo, straight-up punk rock or anything remotely pop-punk is your bag get in on this band early!
Lostprophets - Start Something
Alright I've put them in twice but this is genuinely never really off my stereo or Ipod along with its older brother Thefakesoundofprogress but its been getting extra caining treatment ahead of their London show at the Brixton Academy and to say I'm gutted that I missed them play this in its entirety at their Cardiff date would be a giant understatement.
Bruce Cousins
At the Drive-in - This Station is Non-Operational
Normally I would say best of compilations are a bad thing, and to newcomers I would say pick up Relationship of Command, but I own their entire back catalogue so I allow myself to listen to this. It houses some great covers, b-sides, and live tracks. A highlight being the inclusion of BBC live session recording of Initiation, which is arguably better than the studio version which appears on debut album Acrobatic Tenement.
James Iha - Let it come down
Solo effort from ex-pumpkins guitarist recorded and released around the time of Adore. This will surprise many pumpkins fans as it is more country than alt-rock. His voice is sweet, smooth and relaxing and the main reason I keep coming back to this record.
Jim Ody
Hollywood Undead - Swan Songs
This is the band's first album that is slightly heavier than last year's follow up American Tragedy. The band are made up of 5 mask-wearing rappers and a singer who also play instruments producing songs that have Linkin Park type hooks and choruses with more x-rated rap verses. The co-founding member and band singer/screamer Deuce then fell out with the band and was replaced before the second album. Deuce's first solo album is released next week and is very similar in style to this album. Hollywood Undead are due to release their third album this summer but don't expect them to tour with Deuce as there is still bad blood between the two.
White Zombie - La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Volume 1
We go back to the early/mid 90's: Glam Rock has died a death; Grunge has peaked and now is on the decline; Nu-Metal is misunderstood; Guns'n'Roses now hate each other; & Gangster rap is filling the airwaves, however suddenly up springs a band that sounds like no other. Personally future releases never produced anything as good. The production is brilliant with the cleanest drum sounds on any album, and it also sees the Horror B-Movie influences of artwork, lyrics and film snippets between and within the songs. It's a brilliant album that stands the test of time and proves that before scaring the bejesus out of folks at the movies, Mr Zombie was a pretty good musician - even if he did look like a local wino.
New Found Glory - Radiosurgery
Along with Good Charlotte's Cardiology, I'm not sure whether this is the beginning of a new genre of Medical Rock, however is a nice fun, bouncy Pop Punk album. Arguably the band's best album to date, it does sound very much like Texan Pop/Punkers Bowling For Soup. Summer tunes for nice sunny summer weather.
Emma Gould
Cloud Mouth - That Ghost Is Always With Me
I initially reviewed this as a digital promo from those lovely people at Count Your Lucky Stars Records and liked it so much that I bought it on vinyl, unfortunately Cloud Mouth are no longer with us but this abrasive, melodic, noisy, punky record lives on and is on my turntable non-stop.
Ragweed - That's Where Babies Come From!!
Ragweed's mix of scratchy, surf-rock scuzz and angry punky-indie-rock is addictive, they have some cracking melodies under the fuzz making their sound noisy but danceable. I recently reviewed their new five track EP and haven't been able to stop listening to it ever since.
Ross Pike
Black Breath - Obey
On the whole Sentenced to Life builds on the recognisable Black Breath sound of blackened hardcore propelled by furious d-beats by adding deeper grooves and shades of classic rock. Obey shows off this feat of alchemy with massive yet atmospheric riffs and lacerating guitar solo coda.
High On Fire - De Vermis Mysteriss
It's fair to say Matt Pike and co know their way around a riff and over their short but prolific career they've continued to churn out memorable guitar sounds at will on their new record. King of Days in particular is a bong fuelled lesson in cosmology and worthy of repeated head nodding listens.
Messhuggah - The Last Vigil
Usually the Swedes are about oppressive, complex songs so the closer The Last Vigil on latest album Koloss is a welcome change and demonstrates the musicianship in a more meditative, looser framework.