#Review: Sea Girls – Homesick

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Sea Girls are a UK-based indie rock band that formed in 2015, consisting of four members: Henry Camamile (vocals and guitar), Rory Young (lead guitar), Andrew Dawson (bass) and Oli Khan (drums). Since their formation, the band have become known for their high-energy shows and big indie anthems. With a string of EPs and a debut album behind them already, 2022 sees the release of the band’s sophomore album, Homesick. Here’s what we have to say about it…

Sea Girls - Homesick

From the outset, it is clear that this band have worked hard to create an album packed with anthemic chorus and catchy hooks that are begging to be sung along to in big arenas.

Album opener, ‘Hometown’, serves as an epic introduction to the record with its euphoric, stadium-filling sound, before leading into single, ‘Sick’ – the rhythm chugs throughout, whilst vocalist, Henry Camamile, sings about all the things he’s “sick” of and how he wishes he could turn back time to when he was a child and times were more innocent.

Next is ‘Lonely’ – another big song with its eerie whistling (like something you might expect to hear in an old Spaghetti Western) and a massive chorus about the loss of an old flame.

There’s so much to love about the record, but some of the best tracks on the album include: ‘Someone’s Daughter Someone’s Son’ – a song that starts with a deep vocal before picking up the pace and launching into some serious feel-good vibes to the beat; ‘Paracetamol Blues’ with its upbeat, The Killers-esque vibes; and the incredibly danceable ‘Higher’ that features processed beats (in parts) and has a very Walk The Moon-type feel to it.

Homesick is an album that brilliantly cements Sea Girls as giants of the British indie music scene.

‘Sleeping With You’ sees Camamile singing of remembering an old love whilst sleeping with someone new, ‘Again Again’ has a big stadium feel to it and the wonderfully appreciative ‘Lucky’ looks at how “lucky” they are for the things they have in their lives and the time and place they were born into.

‘Cute Guys’ stands out (not necessarily for the right reasons) as an other-worldly song that starts with acoustic guitars, spacey-sounding synths and cracking vocals before descending into a chaotic, shouty and altogether quite horrifying track that’s so different from the rest of the record.

The album closes with the nostalgia-infused ‘Friends’ that’s calling out for members of the crowds at their live shows to put their arms around one another and embrace a shared experience.

Homesick is an album that brilliantly cements Sea Girls as giants of the British indie music scene. It’s eclectic, interesting, poetic and packed with songs that will have you coming back time and again. There are clear inspirations taken from bands before them, but they have used these influences to craft something wonderful. For those who are already fans of the band, this is going to prove a real treat to listen to. Whilst others who are new to their work, will find this a great starting point to get excited about them and is sure to have you delving into their debut album too. All I know is that it’s left me excited to see what direction they will take next.

Rating
4.5


‘Homesick’ is out now and can be downloaded from iTunes – https://music.apple.com/us/album/homesick/1579054914


Homesick on Spotify

Sick (Official Video)

Lonely (Official Video)


We hope you’ve enjoyed our review! What do you think of the band’s second album? Are you as much of a fan as us? What would you rate it out of 5? Please leave your thoughts in a comment or via our social media.


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#TunefulTuesday: Pale Waves – ‘Easy’

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Pale Waves are an English, indie rock/pop band from Manchester, who formed in 2014. To date, the quartet have released an EP and their debut album, My Mind Makes Noises (through Dirty Hit) and are currently gearing up to release their sophomore album, Who Am I?

‘Easy’ is a melodic, dream pop anthem taken from their upcoming second album, and is a track that is just crying out to be sung along to.

It’s actually got a certain, 2002 Avril Lavigne feel to it, somewhere along the lines of Complicated‘Anything But Ordinary’ and ‘Things I’ll Never Say’ but with a more modern twist to it.

The music video is pretty cool too with its juxtaposed imagery, seeing the band rocking goth-like appearances, whilst performing amongst twinkling lights – it’s beautifully shot and makes for a really interesting watch. Check it out below.

If this song and the others they have released so far from their second record are anything to go by, then it promises to be a very exciting release!

What are your thoughts of this band’s latest single? Do you have a #TunefulTuesday track to recommend us? Please leave your thoughts or song suggestions in a comment or via social media.

Matt – Muzik Speaks
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‘Easy’ can be downloaded off iTunes now – https://music.apple.com/gb/album/easy/1534665229?i=1534665668


#MellowMonday: Gabrielle Aplin – ‘When The Lights Go Out’

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Gabrielle Aplin is an English singer-songwriter who amassed a following after uploading a series of acoustic music covers to YouTube, before signing to Parlophone in February 2012.

Her style falls anywhere from folk and indie rock to synthpop, with her latest single, ‘When The Lights Go Out’, being a mellow, synth-driven anthem.

This particular song was written shortly after the release of her latest album, Dear Happy. Aplin says, “I wanted to make a song that felt like a hug that you can also dance to and I’m considering it the song that closes the Dear Happy book.”

It does just that – it manages to be a somewhat upbeat record that you can have a boogie too, whilst also being something mellow, easy listening and like the closing of the Dear Happy chapter in her career. It’s a brilliant amalgamation of happiness and calmness and is mellow enough to be a great #MellowMonday start to the week.

I can’t get enough of this track right now!

What are your thoughts of this singer-songwriter’s latest single? Do you have a #MellowMonday track to recommend us? Please leave your thoughts or song suggestions in a comment or via social media.

Matt – Muzik Speaks
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‘When The Lights Go Out’ can be downloaded off iTunes now – https://music.apple.com/gb/album/when-the-lights-go-out-single/1543733734


#Review: Yonaka – Don’t Wait ‘Til Tomorrow

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Yonaka are one of the hottest bands to come out of Brighton in recent years. The rock quartet, comprised of Theresa Jarvis (vocals), George Edwards (guitar), Alex Crosby (bass guitar) and Robert Mason (drums) formed in our home town, some four years ago. The band have been busy touring and recording, making big waves in the industry, even signing to Asylum Records (part of Warner Music Group). Now, 2019 sees the release of their debut album, Don’t Wait ‘Til Tomorrow. Here’s what we have to say about it…

Yonaka - Don't Wait 'Til Tomorrow.jpg

Having already received a lot of favourable press and released the successful EP, Creature, in 2018, the pressure was on for Yonaka to produce a hard-hitting debut album. Luckily though, the band have delivered a piece of work that really packs a punch, demonstrating just how much potential they have and what a great career they have ahead of them.

From opening track, ‘Bad Company’, with Theresa’s wonderful falsetto vocals and the captivating, accompanying instrumental, the album never fails to impress!

For a fledgling band, it’s so easy for their songwriting to be immature and instrumentation to be lacking in diversity, but that’s where Don’t Wait ‘Til Tomorrow truly stands out. ‘Awake’ is a truly grungy, lyrically cutting track, whilst ‘Guilty (For Your Love)’ displays anthemic rock song qualities, sure to have crowds singing it back to them.

Some other songs to really take note of: ‘Lose Our Heads’ is a rather commercial offering and could easily find its way to mainstream radio, ‘Creature’ has a rock-out feeling that is sure to get audiences moving and ‘Punch Bag’ is a high-energy, no holds barred, knockout track that shows Theresa is just not someone you mess with!

Don’t Wait ‘Til Tomorrow is ambitious and undoubtedly a strong debut, delivered with conviction and tenacity…

Title track, ‘Don’t Wait ‘Til Tomorrow’, very much feels like a modern-day incarnation of Blondie and ‘Fired Up’ could easily be a new direction taken by No Doubt; all of which just goes to show how this could easily be the album a band with a lengthy career already behind them…not their debut!

‘Wake Up’ is a surprising track with its dreamy, almost ethereal feel and is a song to get completely lost in – it could happily sit on repeat and never get boring.

However, probably the best track on the record has to be ‘Rockstar’; the song wonderfully encapsulates Yonaka right now and manages to be chaotic and exhilarating, whilst also be cool and composed. It’s a song that could suit so many moods and sees Theresa forcefully singing, “I just wanna be a rock star, baby,” something the band can rest assured that this debut is sure to help them achieve.

The album draws to a synth-driven close with ‘The Cure’ – a track which leaves the listening hanging and certain to come back for another listen.

Don’t Wait ‘Til Tomorrow is ambitious and undoubtedly a strong debut, delivered with conviction and tenacity and certain to pave the way for one of Britain’s newest and most exciting rock bands! Bring on the tours and roll on album number 2!

Rating
4-5


‘Don’t Wait ‘Til Tomorrow’ is out now and can be downloaded from iTunes – https://music.apple.com/gb/album/dont-wait-til-tomorrow/1451808477


Don’t Wait ‘Til Tomorrow on Spotify

Lose Our Heads (Official Live Video)

Don’t Wait ‘Til Tomorrow (Official Live Video)


We hope you’ve enjoyed our review! What do you think of this band’s debut album, Don’t Wait ‘Til Tomorrow? Are you as much of a fan as us? What would you rate it out of 5? Please leave your thoughts in a comment or via our social media.


Enjoyed this? Check out some of our other reviews here:

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Matt – Muzik Speaks
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#FeelGoodFriday: The 1975 – ‘Give Yourself A Try’

 

   

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The 1975 have just made a triumphant return with their brand new single, ‘Give Yourself A Try’.

Taken from their upcoming third album, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships (originally titled Music For Cars, the band are now using this as the moniker for this period of the band’s career, with a second album, Notes On A Conditional Form, already in the pipeline for May 2019), the song is set to kick off the band’s new era with a bang.

The track is much more subtle than some of their more straight-up pop tunes like The Sound and ‘Girls’ but has a rather ‘Chocolate’ feel to it; could this album see the band return to the sound of their debut?

I particularly like their interesting take on the world and certain aspects of it, throughout the verses, particularly the part about, ‘And what would you say to your younger self?’ – it’s a great moment in the song. Equally, whilst it’s not an instant pop anthem, the chorus is majorly catchy and I’ve found myself singing it loads already!

The music video is pretty funky too with it’s split-screen and trippy effects. I particularly love Matty’s dancing and new orange hair (is it just me or is there something a bit My Chemical Romance about it?!) and the clear guitars and drums used by the rest of the band.

This is certainly an exciting new era for the band and I can’t wait to hear their next single, and the rest of the album.

What are your thoughts of the new single from the band? Do you like the direction of their new era? Are you excited about the new album? Got a #FeelGoodFriday track to recommend us? Please leave your thoughts or song suggestions in a comment or via social media.

Matt – Muzik Speaks
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‘Give Yourself A Try’ can be downloaded off iTunes now – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/give-yourself-a-try/1389783331?i=1389783376


#Review: Super Whatevr – Never Nothing


   

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Muzik Speaks Loves Hopeless Records - SmallerSuper Whatevr is the brainchild of singer and guitarist, Skyler McKee. Self-confessed as a project by a ‘kid [that] left the old band [and] started a new band, telling stuff (using words and sounds),’ he has created a cracking debut!

Super Whatevr - Never Nothing.jpg

The album opens with the intricate and melodic track, ‘Ah Oo Oh (Interlude)’, which features the vocals of singer, Skyler McKee, singing the aptly-titled name of the track, over some airy yet grungy instrumentals, that I find somewhat reminiscent in style to Nirvana. It’s then ‘Bloomfield’ that really kicks the album into gear; there’s something The Automatic-esque about the song, with a hint of Arctic Monkeys too but it’s most definitely unique, in it’s own right! It’s certainly a track to rock out to and is sure to be a real crowd-pleaser at shows.

I find that the most stand-out tracks on this record include, the get-up-and-danceable ‘Why Do I Wonder Why’ (which has some almost ska flavours to it); the punchy-in-all-the-right-places, ‘For You’, with it’s chaotic, rock-out chorus; ‘When Doesn’t The World End?’ with its sombre lyrics and atmospheric instrumentation and ‘Telelelevision’, which feels nostalgic and would fit perfectly in a resolution scene towards the end of an emotionally driven movie…or even over the credits. ‘Misquote’ and ‘Katherin With A K’ are also great album tracks too.

Whilst I don’t think it’s necessarily revolutionary within its genre, it’s brilliantly well-crafted…artistic even, with subtle production flourishes; it feels like it was a real labour of love to create.

There is definitely an almost British indie vibe throughout this record but it’s been turned up to 11 with edgier guitars and deeper lyrics. The lyrics throughout are very self-reflective and honest, telling the tale of a tortured past, however the album feels therapeutic in its approach to tackling these topics.

If I’m completely honest, the album actually didn’t instantly grab me, but over the space of a week, I found myself being automatically drawn back to it, every day, and listening to it all over again…and thoroughly enjoying it! Whilst I don’t think it’s necessarily revolutionary within its genre, and there are still a couple of tracks that I could take or leave, it’s brilliantly well-crafted…artistic even, with subtle production flourishes; it feels like it was a real labour of love to create. That being said, it is most definitely worth a listen (several times through) and I guarantee that there will be at least a couple of tracks for everyone to want to listen to over and over again.

Rating
4


‘Never Nothing’ is out now and can be downloaded from iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/never-nothing/1291111449


‘Never Nothing’ on Spotify

Telelelevision (Official Music Video)

Bloomfield (Official Music Video)

For You (Official Music Video)


We hope you’ve enjoyed our review of this band’s debut album! What are your thoughts on it? What would you rate it? Please leave your thoughts in a comment, or hit us up via our social media.


Enjoyed this? Check out some of our other reviews here:

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Matt – Muzik Speaks
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#MuzikSpeaks: An Interview with James Walsh from Starsailor


   

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When Starsailor visited Brighton’s Concorde 2 on their All This Life Tour, I had the great privilege of chatting to James Walsh, backstage, before the show (check out our review).

We chatted all about the inspirations behind the band’s latest album, All This Life, who he’d most like to collaborate with and discussed the weirdest question he’s ever been asked. It’s all here…



Starsailor‘s releases are all available:


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#WildCardWednesday: The Menzingers – ‘After The Party’


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American Punk Rockers, The Menzingers, have just released a new song called ‘After The Party’, which is also the title track of their new album (due out February 3rd via Epitaph Records).

The song is in-your-face with its punchy guitars and intense vocals and is filled with nostalgia whilst still sticking to the romanticism of not quite growing up.

There is no official music video yet but the audio video can be viewed below – we’ll update you if a music video is made.

Also, the band are due to embark on a UK tour in April 2017, so be sure to check them out at one of their upcoming dates!

Matt – Muzik Speaks
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‘After The Party’ can be downloaded off iTunes now – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/after-the-party/id1167648174?i=1167648720


#ThrowbackThursday: The Kooks – ‘Naïve’


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Another classic track from 2006 (10 years ago!) is The Kooks‘ ‘Naïve’.

The song was released in March of 2006 and not only peaked at Number 5 in the UK charts but also found itself featured in an episode of One Tree Hill and the film 17 Again.

It is a funky song which skirts around the borders of Indie Rock and Pop and was the UK’s 19th best-selling song of 2006!

Do you like this Kooks track? Would you have chosen a different song of theirs? Or a different band/artist altogether? Please leave your #ThrowbackThursday song choice in a comment below.

Matt – Muzik Speaks
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‘Naïve’ can be downloaded off iTunes now – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/naive/id724160495?i=724160600


#ThrowbackThursday: Orson – ‘No Tomorrow’


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Orson were a Brit-award wining band from Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

The band formed in 2000 and split in 2007, but it wasn’t until 2006 that the band really gained their first success, with their debut single, ‘No Tomorrow’.

This song ended up reaching Number 1 in the UK charts and went on to become the UK’s 12th best-selling single of 2006! Although many people think of the band as one-hit-wonders, they did in fact have 2 albums!

The song is a Power Pop/Indie Rock belter that just screams to be chanted at the top of your lungs, so go on, rock out your #ThrowbackThursday like it’s 2006 again!

What did you think of Orson? Do you still love this song? Please share your #ThrowbackThursday song choice with us in a comment below or via our social media accounts.

Matt – Muzik Speaks
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‘No Tomorrow’ can be downloaded off iTunes now – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/no-tomorrow/id154229489?i=154229538