KICK BOX RIOT - SEEING GHOSTS

(AU magazine June 2008)

The sound of youth is an elusive beast indeed. Take Kick Box Riot - their jumpy, jerky rock is the kind of pogoing behemoth which typifies the chart music climate of about three years ago. The brash, shouty vocals and angry rock guitars from the Welsh five-piece sound fairly bandwagonesque for sk8ters, and from the lacklustre opener ‘The Hitchhiker’ to the Home Alone-referencing ‘Keep The Change You Filthy Animal’, they just sound like a PoundStretcher LostProphets. The Seeing Ghosts mini album is not close to being haunted by original thought, which is somewhat undervaluing the kids.

MARK MORRISS - MUSCLE MEMORY

(AU magazine June 2008)

(FRUITCAKE)

The fag-end of 90s Britpop saw The Bluetones batter the record-buying populace with their irrepressible ‘Slight Return’ indie-pop.
Ten years on, lead singer Mark Morriss has resurfaced with a solo. In truth, his distinctive voice is still a beautifully plaintive bleat - but the songs here are weak. Single ‘I'm Sick’ builds around incongruous Latin trumpets, while others rely on David Arnold's orchestral arrangements to elevate. As Morriss sings, “We're perpetually chasing our tails”. He is with this effort.

PHANTOM PLANET - RAISE THE DEAD

(AU magazine June 2007)

(FUELED BY RAMEN)

Of all the music released into the public domain this year, it would be tough come December 31st to say that Phantom Planet weren't Band Most Improved in Pop's Great Yearbook. From drippy, downbeat rock to a record swathed in the bright shiny robes of success, if this, their fourth release, isn't their biggest there's no pop justice. So what's on show? From vocally melodramatic opener ‘Raise The Dead’, it just gets better, with enthusiastic indie stomper ‘Dropped’, through instructive dance number ‘Do The Panic’. A light, unique, sensitive, intelligent record with a whole lot of heart and soul.

Real life: "I risked my life for a tan"

(Somerfield magazine, June 2008)