Albums To Listen To: 2007 (Part Four)
Artist profile:
The Futureheads
Yeah, that's right, there are almost-literally-millions of albums you'll need to be checking out this year. Here are a few more.
Band: The Futureheads
Album: TBC
Release Date: TBC
It seems like just a few weeks since The Futureheads released the masterful second album 'News and Tributes', but already they're itching to get back into the studio. On their blog Ross wrote of their plans for 2007: "Next year we will mainly be focusing on getting our third record together - the bureaucratic mess that led to our leaving 679 Recording has done nothing but make us more hungry and driven toward writing our best record yet.’"
At this stage at least, it seems that the third 'Heads record is still in ideas form, but there is hope. According to Ross: "we have a boatload of new songs to get recording", which is promising. However, as yet there is nothing to report on in terms of song names, a title, or even a release date, heck, they don't even have a record label to release the thing on. One thing, however, can be guaranteed - whatever is produced, whenever it's released, the third album from the Future Men will certainly be something to listen out for. - Fern Tinling
Band: The Cribs
Album: Man's Needs, Woman's Needs, Whatever
Release Date: TBC
The big news about the latest Cribs offering, due out sometime in 2007, is the producer – and one can't help but worry the only reason Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos was chosen is so the four could have a laugh and prove he could grow facial hair. So what will this seemingly-ill-advised collective bring to our sunny ears? Only time can truly tell, but it isn't looking too good.
Kapranos? Really? Firstly, has he ever produced anything before? And after that is looked over, there comes the painstaking reality of what he's probably done to those Jarman boys – ruined them, no doubt. To insult his productive skills without having heard them first may be jumping the gun in a Blonde-James-Bond way, but realistically, line The Cribs previous offerings up against those of Franz.
Is it possible for Kapranos to let these lads keep with their own sound, or will he give them the heavily over-produced, trying-too-hard-to-be-dance feel of his own records? And then there's the greatest fear – will he try and make them sound clever? After all, one can only take so many bands singing about Churchill and Mussolini. Most will agree half of The Cribs charm comes from their commonness. It'll be interesting to hear what effect Kapranos has taken on them, certainly, but we predict most Cribs fans will be sticking with 'Martell' on this one. - Han Quintrell
Band: Bloc Party
Album: A Weekend In The City
Release Date: 06/02/07
Pre-order: Here.
Dropping in less than a month, Bloc Party will face the challenge of following up their extremely successful debut album 'Silent Alarm'. Not ones to play it safe; expect less 'jangly' indie guitar and more BIG sounds, layers, and even strings.
The album itself is based around, well, 'A Weekend in the City'. Influences and themes cover everything from the mundane working week to terrorist attacks and author Bret Easton Ellis. Clearly, though the album will sound very different, it won't be any less intelligent.
The album will be produced by Garrett (Jacknife) Lee, who has worked with U2 and produced Snow Patrol's breakthrough 'Final Straw' album, he'll soon be working on the new Snow Patrol and Editor's albums.
Lead single 'The Prayer' is laying out in a bold statement their intention to explore and expand their sound, with its bolero stomps and hand clapping. They'll be over here on tour in January – but, of course – they sold out months ago. The album is out in a matter of weeks (February 5th) with first single 'The Prayer' released in a matter of days (January 29th). After 'Silent Alarm' won them critical and public adoration, over here as well as considerable success in America, this could easily be a year long, nationwide Bloc Party (harhar).
Poor puns aside, Bloc Party are an exceptional band, with original ideas and intelligent and observant lyrics. They could - and should - own 2007. - Phillip May
The Futureheads Official Site
The Futureheads Myspace
Buy The Futureheads CDs | Buy The Futureheads mp3s | Buy The Futureheads Tickets | Buy The Futureheads Merch
Yeah, that's right, there are almost-literally-millions of albums you'll need to be checking out this year. Here are a few more.
Band: The Futureheads
Album: TBC
Release Date: TBC
It seems like just a few weeks since The Futureheads released the masterful second album 'News and Tributes', but already they're itching to get back into the studio. On their blog Ross wrote of their plans for 2007: "Next year we will mainly be focusing on getting our third record together - the bureaucratic mess that led to our leaving 679 Recording has done nothing but make us more hungry and driven toward writing our best record yet.’"
At this stage at least, it seems that the third 'Heads record is still in ideas form, but there is hope. According to Ross: "we have a boatload of new songs to get recording", which is promising. However, as yet there is nothing to report on in terms of song names, a title, or even a release date, heck, they don't even have a record label to release the thing on. One thing, however, can be guaranteed - whatever is produced, whenever it's released, the third album from the Future Men will certainly be something to listen out for. - Fern Tinling
Band: The Cribs
Album: Man's Needs, Woman's Needs, Whatever
Release Date: TBC
The big news about the latest Cribs offering, due out sometime in 2007, is the producer – and one can't help but worry the only reason Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos was chosen is so the four could have a laugh and prove he could grow facial hair. So what will this seemingly-ill-advised collective bring to our sunny ears? Only time can truly tell, but it isn't looking too good.
Kapranos? Really? Firstly, has he ever produced anything before? And after that is looked over, there comes the painstaking reality of what he's probably done to those Jarman boys – ruined them, no doubt. To insult his productive skills without having heard them first may be jumping the gun in a Blonde-James-Bond way, but realistically, line The Cribs previous offerings up against those of Franz.
Is it possible for Kapranos to let these lads keep with their own sound, or will he give them the heavily over-produced, trying-too-hard-to-be-dance feel of his own records? And then there's the greatest fear – will he try and make them sound clever? After all, one can only take so many bands singing about Churchill and Mussolini. Most will agree half of The Cribs charm comes from their commonness. It'll be interesting to hear what effect Kapranos has taken on them, certainly, but we predict most Cribs fans will be sticking with 'Martell' on this one. - Han Quintrell
Band: Bloc Party
Album: A Weekend In The City
Release Date: 06/02/07
Pre-order: Here.
Dropping in less than a month, Bloc Party will face the challenge of following up their extremely successful debut album 'Silent Alarm'. Not ones to play it safe; expect less 'jangly' indie guitar and more BIG sounds, layers, and even strings.
The album itself is based around, well, 'A Weekend in the City'. Influences and themes cover everything from the mundane working week to terrorist attacks and author Bret Easton Ellis. Clearly, though the album will sound very different, it won't be any less intelligent.
The album will be produced by Garrett (Jacknife) Lee, who has worked with U2 and produced Snow Patrol's breakthrough 'Final Straw' album, he'll soon be working on the new Snow Patrol and Editor's albums.
Lead single 'The Prayer' is laying out in a bold statement their intention to explore and expand their sound, with its bolero stomps and hand clapping. They'll be over here on tour in January – but, of course – they sold out months ago. The album is out in a matter of weeks (February 5th) with first single 'The Prayer' released in a matter of days (January 29th). After 'Silent Alarm' won them critical and public adoration, over here as well as considerable success in America, this could easily be a year long, nationwide Bloc Party (harhar).
Poor puns aside, Bloc Party are an exceptional band, with original ideas and intelligent and observant lyrics. They could - and should - own 2007. - Phillip May
The Futureheads Official Site
The Futureheads Myspace
Buy The Futureheads CDs | Buy The Futureheads mp3s | Buy The Futureheads Tickets | Buy The Futureheads Merch
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