The Medway Music Authority

Witchazel

2009-03-26T02:44:00.001-07:00

Matt Berry is offering free downloads of his new album witchazel for a limited time.

http://http://www.witchazelfreedownload.com/

Dan first put me onto this and i must say, while it is bloody weird (the cover sort of gives that away) it is the kind of weird which is wonderful and comforting and really quite enjoyable. It pleases me that Mr Berry obviously feels that humour and a sense of the absurd are not exclusive to a damn good tune as well. I recomend to all, especially since it's free.

Go Away White

2009-03-04T03:43:00.000-08:00

I was quite late coming around to this album, I'd heard some of Bauhaus' early work and while it had impressed me i couldn't really say i'd loved it, more that i found it interesting.

So when i got word of the release of their first album since '83 I didn't leap out immeditately and buy it, rather when i came across a cheap promo copy at my local record shop a few months later i investigated.

While its apparent that 25 years has changed Bauhaus (the guitarist has learned to play riffs for example) its kind of surprising how little. The vocalist has the same mad scientist ramblings and screams (now improved with some spoken ambiguousness) and the rhythm section is still far more accomplised musically than the other half of the band, though they have no monopoly on ideas or inventiveness.

Pleasingly, while this album is perhaps more accessable than previous efforts it is still not a radio friendly unit shifter or anything resembling one, Go Away White requires a dedicated listen to the album in its entirety to truly appreciate it, and one may still find it an aquired taste, though the strength of the rhythms alone is enough to get anyone in the vacinity slowly bopping their head, even if they never have a desire to listen again.

So Bauhaus have given us an album whch sounds like them, but better. Still not for eveyone but perhaps for more people than before, especially in the wake of the alleged prog rock revival we're having, not that i'd call Bauhus prog, but they have some similar ingredients.

We're back!

2009-02-28T08:14:00.000-08:00

Yes, the news precisely no-one has been waiting for...the Medway Music Authority is back, well sort of. I've recently gotten back into blogging and I thought that once again I would share my musical opinions with you all. I will also be dragging others along for the ride, so look forward to new reviews from new people coming soon, some of new music, some of old music, but all of good music!

A few musical suggestions:

2009-02-28T07:02:00.000-08:00

First of all, if you haven't heard of a lady named Nicole Atkins, then do yourself a favour and look her up. She has put an album out of sweeping pop-rock gems, that defies musical trends, looking back to how music used to be made and how people used to sing songs many years ago. It's a very well produced album full of great lyrics and fantastic flourishes and vocals, that it was my album of the year for 2008. I usually listen to rock music in all it's forms, but I am open to anything that is good basically, and I love her album, which is so full of great songs and ideas.

Also, the new datsuns album is the same, yet different. The datsuns are a new zealand garage band, who kind of faded into the background with the garage movement of a few years back when it stopped being 'cool'. But they have come up with an album that despite the fact probably no-one will hear it, is a great progression of their sound and songwriting. It has much better production than before, and they haven't been afraid to push the boundaries of their sound, still sounding like they always have but with a maturity that they never had before. I think it's a shame so few people will hear it, because it is a really good album.

I suggest you look up signal room too. They are an Australian band that counts among it's members 2 former farscape actors, Anthony Simcoe and Wayne Pygram, on vocals and drums respectively. It's not groundbreaking stuff, but it's pretty good for a band with actors in it, certainly considering how badly some other actors have fared.

A sad day for Medway Music

2005-09-03T01:58:00.000-07:00

It is with a heavy heart, and a lone tear rolling down my cheek that I type my first post here on the Medway Music Authority:

After a good couple of months of inactivity on The Barbs website, lead singer Tim Box today posted on the messageboard stating that the band have decided to split up (for the original post click here).

In addition, he also said: "We are all still very good friends but felt that the band had reached a natural end point." Which I find surprising to say the least, I hope that they are good friends, but I simply cannot understand why they thought they had reached a natural ending.

Being a band with a fearsome live reputation, and quite a large fanbase, it is amazing to think that they should decide to call it a day, considering only a few months ago we were being told of a new album being in production, including the new material that was being played at gigs and posted on the website. And of course, there was The Barbs last ever gig at Glastonbury of all places, surely they were about to hit the 'big time'?

Lets just hope we get a final EP or something that allows us to have the newest material, instead of it being lost.

I'm sure that my fellow members here at the Medway Music Authority will have something to add (especially since they have been fans for much longer than me), so keep an eye out.

Thankyou the Barbs, for an all too brief yet exciting period of local music talent going far, a fantastic album, and many many gigs which your fans will remember, always.
Good luck with the future Tim, Amy, Jim and Simon, we all know that you can go far.

Matt

Scream For Me Baby

2005-08-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

Electric Eel Shock have been one of my favorite bands pretty much since the first time Dan played me 'Go Europe' in Virgin and inspired me to buy it. Their new album, entitled 'Beat Me' is pretty much more of the same, but somehow different.
Let me explain...

'Go Europe' was a fifty minute blast of glorious insanity. Simple, dirty riffs and broken english or japanese lyrics singing about not very much, best played very loud. I swear you can almost see them bouncing off the walls when you listen.

A year down the line and Aki's english has improved (he makes a point of correctly ennunciating the word 'rock n roll') but not much else has changed. The catchy riffs remain, as do the songs about, erm, well, i'm still not sure. The main difference is in the production values, 'go europe' could well have been recorded in someone's cellar somewhere so any money injected into making 'beat me' would make it seem polished by comparison.

the best comparison i can think of is it's like the difference between 'Let there be Rock' and 'Back in Black. One is a band bursting to make the big time, rocking their little socks off in a back room, forcing their untapped potential to show through no matter how bad the recording. The other is the potential realised, a great band given the money and the equipment to make an almighty towering monument to rock that (if there is any justice in the world) will last down the ages.

Long Live EES! (go see them live)

We are Motorhead and we play Rock n Roll

2005-06-19T11:34:00.000-07:00

The Wit and Wisdom of Lemmy-

This next ones a sad song, yeah i know 'aaahh' (american translation'aaww')but it wasnt sad when i fuckin wrote it, it is now cos they're all dead!

introducing R.A.M.O.N.E.S.

the support

Girlschool- shame that they only got to play a half hour really as Girlschool are a superb band, but they had to make way for saxon and the main event and still get us lot out in time for the last train. what they could have fixed was the sound, they were a bit quiet in my opinion, never mind 'race with the devil' still rocks hard.

Saxon- A right crazy bunch and no mistake especially the bass player (the baby of the band, he's only been with em 15 years!). Biff the singer proudly strutts about the stage singing his arse of (his very long and completely grey hair fast became the envy of the audience, most of whom seemed to be bald old men) rock n fuckin roll as it used to be in the bad old days is what saxon are. where did we all go wrong?

the main event

Of course, with motorhead evry gig is a fuckin blinding one, but this was always going to be special, a few old songs get an airing, particulary two from the-much maligned at the time-'another perfect day' album, which many agree deserves far more recognition than it got at the time (seeing as how it nearly killed off the band). However the real treat comes during the inevitable encore, firstly the aocustic masterpiece that is whorehouse blues, featuring lemmy on harmonica. then the sirens!! yes folks! they're playing Bomber, and here she comes...The bomber lighting rig is descending form the rafters, the coolest stage prop ever used by a band is back in all her glory! rock n fuckin roll!

My ears will never be the same again, this gig was on thursday night, it is now sunday evening and they only stopped ringing this morning. wow.

The Barbs.The Tap.

2005-05-19T06:04:00.000-07:00

The Barbs at the tap. It was great. The first two or whatever bands, well, I wasn't really listening to be honest, but it was all a bit average.
Enter the Barbs with THAT bass-line. new songs now making up most of the set, but who cares when it is all this good! Every song rocks hard, nobody cares that they aren't old favourites, because the quality is so high. Songs like Monday to thursday, watching girls fighting, sick, transyvania time and more rock the fuck out of an sudience clearly loving every minute. The reception they get is amazing. This band cannot continue to be ignored for much longer. With their gig supporting mondo generator and their appearance at glastonbury they are on their way up, and on tonights evidence, they have the potential to go all the way to the top.

the bloke that reviewed this album for the fly is a twat and i'll fight anyone who says different!

2005-05-17T03:29:00.000-07:00

One star. one measly bloody star. Who is this guy? what does he know about anything? i want to see his credentials right now!

Okay, rather than just ranting, lets examine this idiots foolish statement more and rationally, twat.

Firstly, he says the lyrics on track three are cliched. well, thats true actually, but that's one track out of 10 and the weakest of the lot. did he not hear russian doll or blackout? did he fall asleep through sun song and ground nero, perhaps he was distracted from pandemonium and blacker than blue by something particularly interesting on richard and judy. didn't i hear you right isn't great but it's okay and the rest of the album is fucking class!
Next he describes it as "like a celebrity wrestling smack to the balls, all bruising and no chance of having your injuries kissed better" and that was it. the whole review. see, he's a twat. You can't damn an album completely and only explain yourself with one slightly bad point and a stupid vague statement (He watches celebrity wrestling! how valid are the opinions of some intellectual midget who watches celebrity wrestling!). I mean, Bruising? hell, if i saw a band described as bruising i'd give it 5 stars right off, thats the sign of a great gig, when you feel absolutely battered afterwards cos the music has compelled you to dance like a maniac. If an album can achieve that, well, roll out the awards buddy, these guys have got skill! The Reason could be that he's some form of twattish indie moper. Reviews something other than the *SPIT* libertines and he doesn't get it at all. Well i got news for you bud, this isn't some of your wishy-washy almost pop shit! this is ROCK N ROLL! The noise is part of the fun! but i guess it hurts the delicate ears of someone who usually only likes pissing babyshambles or feckin bloc party.
In Conclusion, Dead Fly Buchowski are a great band as anyone who has seen them live will agree, and tish and fipsy to people to stupid to see it.

Land of the Rough is out now on Beggars Banquet Records

JOANovARC

2005-05-10T15:35:00.000-07:00

Right, this band is great, one of the best I have ever seen in fact. The night got off to a good start with a band that was employing harmonies, which was nice, but I can't actually remember what the name of the band was. Next up was eyelash, who were actually really good, a very rocking band, with good riffs, and some good songs. Next up was Bernard, who very very metal, with a female vocalist that was kind of blokey(she was drinking guiness during the performance) but a decent band.
What came next was incredible, JOANovARC came on, and witthin seconds I was blown away. They rocked so hard, with great riffs, songs that were good enough to rival almost any band and a guitarist who was, well, the best I have ever seen. She was amazing. They haven't been going long, but already it is obvious they are going to be a truly great band. There is a CD out but it doesn't really do them justice. The album is going to be great though, and this is a band that I will be following VERY closely from now on. They are the future, and the future is bright.

Bank Holiday Weekend Festival At The Command House

2005-05-10T15:30:00.000-07:00

Ah, the command house, somewhat faded recently(decent types buggered off to uni, leaving the chavs open to attack it and befoul it with their presence) but still a great place. Over the bank holiday weekend there was a sort of mini music festival, which had a lot of local bands playing. It was also free. This meant I had no reason not to go.
The first day(saturday) had a few decent bands, includind two minutes from tuesday, who were pretty good, and whose CD i got(I was the only one that bought it though). There were several other half-decent bands, but the main attraction for me was the delta, who I have seen before, and who are a fast rising band, worthy of all the praise they get. They are also great live, and despite the croud not being the best, they went down pretty well. Last up was opus bridge, who seemed to have a following cheering for the. They were more metal than the rest of the set, and not that good at times, but a decent band to finish off the night.
So to sunday. As mentioned already on these pages, it rocked. I was there for the Barbs of course, but there were some good bands on before them, providing a decent warm up.
The Barbs arrived, and it was good. They played new songs, and dumped some of thir favourites out of the set, but it didn't really matter, whatever they play, it is great, and especially so with the new stuff. The fans that were there enjoyed it loads, and it builds anticipation for their next gig-at the tap 'n' tin.

The Barbs at the command house

2005-05-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

saw the barbs again last sunday, at my beloved watering hole The Command House (second only to the tap n tin) apparently there were bands on all throught the mayday weekend, i of course was only there for the one. sitting at the front, cheering wildly in a crowd of four! (us fans!) they played new songs, which excited me greatly, though the band themselves were less enthusiastic, claiming they needed more work before they were fully finished and added to the set.
Two words summed up this gig for me, tough. crowd. despite our best efforts not too many fans turned up and while the public were not hostile, neither were they overly excited by the music, they were polite. role on the next one (AT THE TAP N TIN!).

MM2K@ the tap 'n' tin

2005-04-29T13:27:00.000-07:00

Ah, the monthly MM2K gigs. Yesterday saw the third one, in what is fast becoming essential gigging. Last nights bill was an unknown one for me and Rob, but we decided that, due to the greatness of the last one, we really should go. This was a good decision. What followed was quite astounding. We got there to find the kids, probably between 13 and 15, on the stage, with instruments. Obviously there are bad memories of kiddie bands (*cough* busted *cough*).
So this was greeted with muted intrigue. They then proceeded to blow our faces clean off and out the window with amazing covers of rocking songs, interspliced eith their own songs, which were the equal of any of the songs they covered. The guitarist was great, and taking into account his age can only get better. The other two were equally great, and the fact that the drummer can sing, and boy can he sing, while playing the drums like a demon, is, well, brilliant. This band is going to be HUGE!
Then came screaming keith, who were, well, loud. They seemed to specialise in noise, sounding like they were trying to kill their instruments. It was, at times really good, and equally, it was, well, noise, and no more. Not a bad band then, but one which you need to be a special type of person to appreciate.
Last of all was Chris Pritchard, who was armed with just an electro-acoustic guitar, a mic and a drummer, took us on a journey of interesting proportions. He likes his songs long on length and wide on emotional poetry. Mostly the emotion was depression, but it was great anyway. Made more enjoyable by the between song banter. "The drummer wants to go to the toilet, but I'm not going to let him.........He's gone! He is so out of the band.......get out of my band!"
All in all a great night, and one which will make going to these in the future a necessity. New music in medway is blossoming, and the mm2k nights give you a chance to watch. Essential

Beginning

2005-04-29T01:54:00.000-07:00

Dan and i had this idea to do all our music and gig reviews on one blog so here we are, real posting will commence shortly.