Features>>NIN are back and why it's important

Just when it looked as though Trent Reznor would be expanding his resume with the debut EP from How To Destroy Angels this year, his brainchild and main focus, Nine Inch Nails, announced a surprise live return with sets at Fuji Rock and Rock n Heim already confirmed, alongside their UK exclusive appearance at Reading and Leeds.

Formed in 1988 in Cleveland, Ohio, Nine Inch Nails released a total of seven albums in total, plus an EP titled Broken. Reznor brought industrial rock from underneath the American underground into mainstream rock conscious. Whereas artists like Ministry or Big Black never received such mainstream exposure in the eighties, NIN were regulars at festivals such as Lollapalooza and received several Grammy nominations. Their impact helped their peers gain more recognition, with Ministry’s Psalm 69 becoming platinum three years after its release, so much so that David Bowie compared their impact to revered art rock band, The Velvet Underground. Their second LP, The Downward Spiral, a tale of a man’s destruction and suicide attempt, based around Reznor’s heroin addiction, went 4xPlatinum in the US and Silver in the UK as well as being named on several “Best Albums” lists. It spawned the track "Hurt”, which was covered by country legend Johnny Cash, before his death in 2003. The double LP The Fragile was released in 1999 as a follow up in a midst of hype, and went to number one on the US Billboard. Their most recent album , and seventh in total, The Slip, was released in 2008 and Reznor has promised work on a follow up in the next year.

Reznor has also been making a name for himself in Hollywood, after winning the Oscar for Best Original Score alongside his HTDA band mate, Atticus Ross. Their dark ambient mood for The Social Network added dramatic tension that drove the film’s urgent climax. They were later asked by the same director, David Fincher, to do his remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which saw them later nominated for a Golden Globe.

Their return to touring has been mouth-watering for many reasons. Their live reputation has grown off of the back of their phenomenal performance at Reading in 2007, with “Hurt” among the highlights. After their so called ‘farewell tour’ in 2009, which included a co-headline stop with Jane’s Addiction on the NINJA tour, it seemed always likely NIN would be back on the live front. They are simply too good to retire. Now they are back in Berkshire and Leeds, make sure you DO NOT give them a miss, they will be the set of the weekend. 

Seen It>>Desaparecidos at Electric Ballroom, 11 February 2013

Eleven years after the release of Read Music/Speak Spanish and their subsequent break-up, Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst finally brought his hardcore band, Desaparecidos, over the pond, playing three shows in London, Manchester and Glasgow. After the efforts of Detour and Songkick, Desaparecidos were able to head to the UK for their first ever shows, including the tour finale at Electric Ballroom, which was packed to the rafters to see the band who had reunited in 2012, to play a local festival in Omaha.

Oberst appeared clad in long black hair and indoor sunglasses, neither what you’d expect from punk activist, nor appropriate attire for the incumbent weather. However, new song and opener, “The Left is Right”, saw a crowd push of excited fans eager to get their first glimpse of the Nebraskan quintet. Another newbie in “Anonymous” is greeted with the fist pumping anthem “you can’t stop us, we are anonymous”, whilst “Greater Omaha’s opening chords are greeted with excited loud cheers. The relentless set vary rarely offers an opportunity for a rest, just an enthralling political noise on stage, supplemented by a passionate following within the crowd.

“MariKKopa”, written after their reunion in 2012, about a racist sheriff of Phoenix, Arizona, seemed to be Oberst’s vocal calling. They returned after the encore with a cover of The Clash’s “Spanish Bombs” and set closer “Hole in One”, which saw guitarist Denver Dalley, diving into the crowd.

Even some eleven years after they first came to our attention, the passion and message of Desaparecidos is still there to see. With youth unemployment and disillusionment still at rife, this is their time to speak. Perhaps Oberst means the truth, when he says they will see us again. This isn’t a reunion to pay the bills. 

Seen It>> Dinosaur Jr at Electric Ballroom, 4 February 2013

Nearly thirty years since their formation in Amherst, Massachusetts, Dinosaur Jr have more than enough material to fill over three shows, but their NME Awards show at the Electric Ballroom, is a trip through their career, which has seen them influence countless bands of both past and present.

Opener “Lung” is a distorted mess of noise, which gives guitar wizard J Mascis, his first chance to show off his impressive skills. But it wasn’t solely dedicated to their impressive back catalogue, last years’ I Bet On Sky, is on show with “Don’t Pretend You Didn’t Know”, “Rude” and “Watch the Corners”, showing the trio can still write tracks as good as in their late 80s heyday.

Other classics appear, such as “Feel the Pain”, complete the quiet-loud dynamic that has long been recognizable in alternative American rock, and Mascis and bassist Lou Barlow’s previous band, Deep Wound, gets an outing with “Training Ground”. They return from the encore with their take on The Cure’s classic “Just Like Heaven” and the 6 minute ear bleeder “Sludgefeast”.

The may now be longer in the tooth, but Dinosaur Jr showed that on their day, they can still compete with the youngest of mammals. 

Reviews>>My Bloody Valentine - m b v

After some 22 years of waiting, hoping, waiting some more, on-going jokes and finally, resigned belief that it would never happen, My Bloody Valentine finally released their follow up to the legendary Loveless album, with the self-titled mbv. Given the immense amount of hysteria and excitement circulating the internet ahead of the album’s release on Saturday, it was never quite going to live up to the hype. It wasn’t going to be The White Album or London Calling, it was just going to be My Bloody Valentine doing their thing, which has seen them influence countless bands in the last 25 years.

The time of the release, unfortunately, happens to be in an era loaded of fuzz, droned shoegaze bands (or the awful term ‘nu-gaze’ it’s been credited with), it doesn’t feel as transcendental and bold a statement as Isn’t Anything was back in 1989. However this is 21^st century MBV, and with the advancement of technology over the years, it is a very different beast to their previous two. It isn’t all just reverb and noise, Kevin Shields is keen to implement melody and make the songs memorable to the listener. The dreamy, “She Found You” lets the listener drift off on toward a spiritual journey, “Who Sees You” has a passing similarity to “Only Follow” with the alarming guitars, “Is This and Tomorrow” is an ambient slice of dream pop, “Wonder 2” and “In Another Way”, argubaly the highlight of the record, add a techno vibe and a different dimension.  Whilst “Nothing Is” is a thundering instrumental club anthem.

It isn’t the jaw dropping release many critics may claim it is, but it’s still a solid listen and better than the new breed of shoegazers currently out there today. Take away the 22 year wait and it’s the perfect follow up to Loveless.

7/10

Incoming>>Cold War Kids - "Miracle Mile"

Long Beach inhabitants Cold War Kids, today revealed their first glimpse into their fourth studio album, Dear Miss Lonely Hearts, with the lead track "Miracle Mile"

It is the quartet's first new release, since 2011's Mine Is Yours, and sees former Modest Mouse guitarist Dann Gallucci joining the band, replacing founder member Jonnie Russell, who left in 2012. Singer Nathan Willett said of the album: "We were shaken up, ready to let certain songs go further than before by trying new styles and arrangements, while keeping others sparse and caring more about the finished product and less about how we got there." 

"Miracle Mile" will be released on March 25.

Top Ten>> Albums of 2012

Cloud Nothings - Attack on Memory (Carpark Records/Wichita)
Japandroids - Celebration Rock (Polyvinyl)
Titus Andronicus - Local Business (XL)
Grizzly Bear - Shields (Warp)
Tame Impala - Lonerism (Modular)
The Men - Open Your Heart (Sacred Bones)
Swans - The Seer (Young God)
The Walkmen - Heaven (Fat Possum/Bella Union)
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! (Constellation)
Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city (Interscope)

Seen It>>Rancid at The Forum, 15 December 2012

Rancid were in town to celebrate their 20^th anniversary tour, with a co-headline triple-header at The Forum alongside East Enders, Cocksparrer, who in turn were celebrating their 40 years of punk anthems. On this occasion, Rancid were the “warm up”, with the bands switching roles on different nights, but judging by the passion from the crowd, Rancid looked like the main band that many inside had arrived for.

Formed in 1991, from the ashes of ska punks Operation Ivy, the quartet from Oakland, California were one of the most important punk bands of the 90s revival. But unlike Green Day, The Offspring and Bad Religion, Rancid remained underground and independent from major labels, something which has seen them retain their energetic and loyal fan base throughout their career, but not the same wider attention as those bands.

Opener “Radio” was a rapid introduction into what carnage was expected, whilst “Roots Radicals” gave Lars Fredericksen the first fist pumping sing-along of the night. Tim Armstrong’s new Charles Manson-style beard seemed to be the talking point of the tour, but their rapid stroll through their impressive back catalogue provided the main attraction on stage.

“Journey to the End of East Bay” and “Maxwell Murder”s groovy bass lines, showed why Matt Freeman is one of the greatest punk bassists around, whilst “Olympia WA”, “Fall Back Down” and “The 11^th Hour” were the comradeship that are synonymous with punk shows.

The band also previewed a new look into their next studio album, due next year, with “Fuck You”, which already looks to be a crowd favourite. Rancid returned to a rapturous welcome for the encore, with ska-influenced “Time Bomb” and “Ruby Soho” providing a chilled finish, compared to the frenetic start.

With Rancid on top form, it would be hard for even the legendary Cocksparrer to follow.