Like every other country, styles and tastes in music have changed in the UK massively over the last 50 years and the Brits have managed to change with the trends of the day. Consequently, this little island has musicians and artists providing all sorts of genres.

But which genre of music do Brits excel at? Thankfully, the readers of Brit Music Scene have had a good crack at answering that conundrum. Variety isn’t lacking in this country but we do definitely focus on certain types of music.

The question we asked and the results of the poll are revealed below.

Which genre of music do the Brits excel at most?

Total Votes: 141

I cannot fault these poll results at all. There’s a definite bias towards guitar-based music with Rock and Indie securing by far the most votes. Not surprising when the UK has produced artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Oasis, Led Zeppelin, Coldplay, Muse, and Radiohead.

Pop wasn’t far behind, and as the photo of a Union Jack-draped Geri Halliwell from the Spice Girls shows, with good reason. There’s also Take That, Elton John, and many other flying the pop flag for the country.

The genres at the bottom of the poll should also not be forgotten. They may not be as mainstream in the UK as in other countries, with Hip-Hop and R’n'B especially being more of an underground scene here than in the U.S., but they are still popular nonetheless.

Be sure to vote in the new poll, which asks, “Which decade was best for British music?” The Sixties and the Nineties stand out for me but each to their own.

[Photo Source: Newscom]

Post from: Brit Music Scene

This upbringing means I’ve been left with a sordid love for sixties music. One of the groups I remember hearing about and listening to is Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. Although I did used to think Dave and Dee were two different people.

In fact, Dave Dee was one guy, the lead singer, and according to The NME, he recently passed away after a long battle with cancer. Although I hadn’t thought about the group for years, hearing this news has made me search out my favorite Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich tune. And here it is…

What a quality tune Bend It is, and one which was part of the British Invasion when various UK groups launched a salvo on the American charts in the sixties. Hold Tight! and The Legend Of Xanadu are also worth seeking out.

Rest In Peace Dave Dee, who I now know is one guy rather than two. You were part of the best period British music has ever known and that’s a truly great legacy.

[Photo Source: From Newscom with permission]

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But, having said all of that, some of Snow Patrol’s singles have been astoundingly good, and after hearing them once, you can’t help but fall in love with them. So, is A Hundred Million Suns a magnum opus full of cracking singles or just another set of meandering tracks detailing misfortune?

If There’s A Rocket Tie Me To It – 7/10

A perfect way to start the album. Instantly recognisable as Snow Patrol but also signalling their intent to evolve their sound slightly. The only problem is it doesn’t actually seem to ever reach its conclusion. Keeps building and building until just fizzling rather than popping.

Crack The Shutters – 6/10

A pumping bassline but not anywhere near the best song on the album. Sounds almost march-like, similar to the style Coldplay have introduced for Viva La Vida. Very lyrics driven but again seems to need a climax.

Take Back The City – 8/10

The first single from the album, and a good choice it is. I’ve never heard lead singer Gary Lightbody sounding better. The change of pace between the verses and chorus makes it a song of two halves but that works brilliantly. Catchy and gets stuck in your head for days.

Lifeboats – 5/10

A slow plodding song that never truly gets going but does improve near the end. I’m sensing a pattern with every song on this album where more and more elements are slowly added to each track, sometimes successfully and sometimes not so successfully.

The Golden Floor – 6/10

A strange little song that is unlike anything else on the album. The bassline sounds like a performance of Riverdance and the lyrics and singing style are melancholy. It makes for a weird mix between innovation and depression.

Please Just Take These Photos From My Hand – 9/10

This is one of the successful builders on the album, with a slow beginning soon developing in to a multi-layered musical landscape that rocks as much as it inspires. An instant foot-tapper that is sure to sound brilliant live.

Set Down Your Glass – 7/10

A quiet and simple song that brings the pace down a notch in a good way. A beautiful song that demands to be listened to even though there’s nothing that exciting there.

The Planets Bend Between Us – 7/10

Another slower, softer song. It compliments the previous song nicely as the album approaches its conclusion. Also, it’s another builder, with more instruments added as time goes on.

Engines – 7/10

A song which starts out sounding like Gary Numan’s Cars but ends up being the most innovative track on the entire album. It takes a few listens to get used to the jangly sounds and out of time rhythm but once you do, it’s quite addictive listening.

Disaster Button – 8/10

My bet for a future single because it’s catchy and radio-friendly without being too naff. It builds nicely to a true crescendo and drags you kicking and screaming to the last song on the album.

The Lightning Strike – 7/10

A fine track to finish the album with, straddling the old style Snow Patrol with the new progressive Snow Patrol. This does however mean it also shows up the problems with both styles, being quite meandering and never reaching a conclusion. Sort of sums up the whole album really.

********************

A Hundred Million Suns is not a bad album by any means, but it’s also not quite the dramatic change of pace and style I’d been expecting. There’s also a distinct lack of potential killer singles on the album, which for a band who have had great success around the world with huge records, could be a problem.

If you’re a Snow Patrol fan, you’re likely to adore it, but if not, this is unlikely to sway your opinion. Maybe it gets better in time, and this review was written after just two full listens through. I’m not sure if I can be bothered to listen to it again though.

A Hundred Million Suns – 7/10

[Photo Source (Album Cover): Amazon.co.uk]
[Photo Source (Band Pic): From Newscom with permission]

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I’m torn in how I feel about Razorlight. Some of their music is brilliant, and they straddle that fine line between pop and indie superbly, a line I follow quite avidly. But then there’s Johnny Borrell, who on stage is a great front man but off stage is a complete and utter twonk.

This song cuts through Borrell’s superior attitude and cuts to the chase. What we end up with is a great pop song that shows the brilliant song writing talent Razorlight possess. Music video and review after the cut.

Wire To Wire is slower and quieter than some of the more rockier tunes Razorlight have released in the past, but it works really well as a result. It’s a kind of indie ballad that shows Razorlight in a brand new light – the light from matches.

The video is a strange animal, being one of the most simple music videos I have ever seen. It seems to follow the trend started by Adele with her cover of Bob Dylan’s Make You Feel My Love. You’ll either love it or hate it but I am personally in the former camp.

Borrell may still be a precocious upstart who needs to learn some humility, but Razorlight as a band seem to be growing up. Wire To Wire is released on October 27th as the first single from their new album, Slipway Fires, released on November 3rd.

Song: 8/10
Video: 8/10

Wiki
MySpace

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]

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The Feeling are a strange band, and I mean that in the best sense of the word. They are a proper band, who all play instruments, and who write their own material, but they’re derided by the fascist music press because they are clearly ‘pop’ and proud of it.

I would classify them as indie pop, but I really don’t see that it matter when the music they produce is of such a high order. Yes it’s cheesy, no they’re not going to ever be an NME band, but so what? They produce catchy music and albums which are as addictive as crack (or so Amy Winehouse told me).

Their new single is called Join With Us, and is out on September 15th. Anyone living in the UK will no doubt have heard this song many time already due to it being featured in a Toyota Auris advert, but the video is good enough to warrant another listen. It’s embedded after the cut along with my review.

The Feeling seem incapable of writing a song that isn’t anthemic in nature, and Join With Us follows that trend. Unless you absolutely hate this style of music (which many of you will), I dare you to try not to sing along on the chorus. It’s virtually impossible.

The video was filmed in 24 hours and shows the band being very English, in suits and bowler hats, boating gear, and finally performing next to a fairground while dressed in pullovers made for them by their mums. It fits the song completely, and the two compliment each other.

The Feeling are never going to be trendy or cool, but they are one of my favourite British bands of the moment. If you love Keane then I suggest you get your hands on a copy of one of their two album – you won’t be disappointed.

Song: 9/10
Video: 9/10

Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Feeling
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thefeeling

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]

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Since reforming in 2005, Take That have arguably been a better group than ever before. Personally speaking, I was never a fan of them the first time around, being male and above the age of 12, but even I have fallen for their charms the second time around.

Beautiful World, the first studio album to emerge from their reunion, is an astoundingly good pop album, with Patience, Shine, and Rule The World proving the boy band are back to their best. But they’ve been back in the studio recording their new album, and there is apparently even better to come.

According to The Sun newspaper, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Jason Orange, and Howard Donald finished recording the as yet untitled new album on Thursday. Gary Barlow, who has actually been quite modest since the group reformed, is said to think the new album is Take That’s best ever.

A source said:

“They are all really proud of this album and can’t wait to get it out there. The last album did so well and they are confident this will do even better. For Gary to say one of the tracks is his best yet is pretty exciting.”

The album is being prepared for release before Christmas, with the first single rumoured to be making an appearance in November. And judging by the claims emerging from the Take That camp, the album could be something quite special.

Take That are a strange phenomenon, being a group who have maintained the fans they originally procured on their first time around between 1990 and 1996, as well as adding to their number with people like me who prefer the grown-up version and are fans of good pop songs, regardless of whether it’s a boyband producing them or not.

I actually can’t wait to hear the new material, although I probably shouldn’t admit that in public. Am I getting old? Am I turning gay? Or have Take That just gone from being another crappy little boyband to a credit to British music?

[Photo Source: Lola's Big Adventure! at Flickr]

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Over the weekend, I posted My British Soundtrack For Summer 2008. This was five videos which have punctuated my summer so far and are likely to continue doing so for the weeks we have remaining. But I wasn’t the only one on the b5 Music Channel to write about the end of the hot weather.

Oz Music Scene had a different take on it, forced by the fact that it’s the middle of winter in Australia! So Lauren gave us
Seven Aussie Videos To Beat the Winter Blues.

Metal Martyr is the king of all things metal, and he regularly covers my favourite, Megadeth. So for Scott’s feature post he gave us his Summer Metal Picks Playlist.

The Rock Dose is the place to go for all things rock… hence the name. So to celebrate the passing of the season, we have 5 Tracks That Rocked The Summer Of 2008.

Beyonce K is the place to go for every piece of news about the bootylicious Beyonce Knowles. We have a Beyonce-centric Six Songs that Make the End of Summer a Bit Easier.

Pop Music Scene covers every aspect of the pop world, from New Kids to Avril Lavigne. Dexie gives us a list of Summer Hits For My Summer Soundtrack.

She Plays Music is the one stop shop for music by women, for women, which is why I’m a regular reader… Kimberlee gives us her Fall Music Festival Guide.

JLo Stalker does what it says on the tin: stalks Jennifer Lopez. So Cherie runs down her Summer Soundtrack, J-Lo Style.

Jess and Ashlee is a blog about, well I’ll let you guess. Cherie therefore gives us her Summer Soundtrack, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson Style.

Between that little lot there is bound to be some songs you’ll enjoy listening to as summer moves in to autumn. And if not then you need to get out more. Just remember to take some sunblock and your iPod and you’ll be fine.

[Photo Source: Chris Gin at Flickr]

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Kaiser Chiefs third studio album is to be called Off With Their Heads, and will be released on October 13th. The follow-up to last year’s Yours Truly, Angry Mob has been produced by Amy Winehouse’ mate Mark Ronson, and will feature guest appearances from a number of high profile artists.

The album release will be preceded by the first single to come from it, Never Miss A Beat, release on October 6th. According to the NME, Lily Allen and New Young Pony Club provide backing vocals for the single, while rapper Sway appears on Half The Truth. Lily Allen also appears on Always Happens Like That, alongside orchestration from David Arnold.

The full track listing for Off With Their Heads is:

‘Spanish Metal’
‘Never Miss A Beat’
‘Like It Too Much’
‘You Want History’
‘Can’t Say What I Mean’
‘Good Days Bad Days’
‘Tomato In The Rain’
‘Half The Truth’
‘Always Happens Like That’
‘Addicted to Drugs’
‘Remember You’re A Girl’

Meanwhile, the band spoke to the BBC about the new album, and touched on the state of the music industry in the UK. Front man Ricky Wilson said some bands “didn’t seem to be enjoying themselves” and were “going through the motions”.

“Indie bands are big, so a lot of record companies are pushing indie bands and going ‘we’ve got one and they dress in vests’. That indie by numbers is boring.”

Wilson is right as well. There does seem to be a kind of indie music by numbers thing going on, with average bands being pushed as the next big thing. While the Kaisers refused to name names, I’d say Scouting For Girls and The Hoosiers are two prime examples of such blatant indie pop crossovers which are there just to sell oodles of records.

[Photo Source: kaleid at Flickr]

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She was the guest for the cooking challenge, and made her mother’s recipe for Spanish meatballs, which eventually lost to Gordon Ramsay’s creation after being judged by a panel of judges. But that was just the first course.

The main course saw Geri announce that she has given up music, and doesn’t think she’ll ever release anything again. To say the country did a dance around their living rooms would be an understatement. And hopefully, now that the news is out there, the world will do the same.

The reason she’s given up music? Could it possibly be that no record company in their right mind would give her a deal? Could it be that her solo career was one of utter disappointment? Oh no, the real reason is because she sees herself as “an entertainer” rather than a mere singer. God, give me strength.

She also used the opportunity of being on prime time television (her chances are few and far between these days) to talk about the recent Spice Girls reunion tour, although failed to mention the disappointing end when the last leg was cancelled due to poor ticket sales in Australia, China, South Africa and Argentina.

She did however say hat the experience was “brilliant” and that she did it because she felt guilty for leaving the band the first time around. Guilt? You did it for guilt? Not the $20 million pay day then?

Anyway, thankfully it’s now all over. The Spice Girls are never going to tour again, and it seems the girls solo careers are also slowly sinking. Geri has declared surrender, so there’s just four more to go. My money is on Victoria Beckham next… fingers crossed.

[Photo Source: .Martin. at Flickr]

Post from: Brit Music Scene

But I wasn’t the only one with recommendations to make, and the whole of the b5 Music Channel also gave their picks for you to listen to. There’s over 40 songs for you to check out, so take your time, listen to the embeds, and watch the videos, and become more educated to new music. Yes, that IS an order.

First of is the other blog I write on the network – Killed By The Video Star, where I sought to give more attention to two woefully underplayed and underrated music videos from a years ago.

The Jazz and Blues Lounge is our online authority for Jazz, so check it out. Keeping with the Jazz era The Good Musician gives us two of the greatest of all time. Finish your third cup of coffee and take it upbeat with either some Pop from Dexie over at Pop Music Scene or download two free metal tracks at Metal Martyr.

From the world of 5 global music Meccas….Jet half way around the globe for two must have Aussie tracks at Oz Music Scene. Heading back to the new music Mecca of America, Big Apple Music Scene gives you two tracks that should be on every iPod.

Down to one of America’s strongest Indie cultures, Austin Sound Check gives us two tracks that you need to hear. Toronto is a bustling and exciting music scene and Toronto Unplugged gives us two solid tunes.

Our online music resource Our Digital Music lets us in on two key tracks to download. Anything with Dylan is good, but this Rock Dose is the best. Christian Music Fan outlines two tracks within the Christian genre. Ear Sucker always features a wide variety of quality music and these tracks are no different. For your country tracks of the day, visit Country Music Stop.

After your coffee, enjoy a Martini and crank up some good ol’ fashioned crooning by blasting these two gems from Crooner Culture. No day is complete without some top notch classic rock – head to the Rock Relic for your rock fix.

After the magical mystery ride in rock, float over to New Age Vibe for two favourites. From New Age to Industrial Addiction for great cuts from that growing genre. She Plays Music always has the inside track of women in music – here are two solid recommendations.

Punk Rock is alive and well! News in Punk features two outstanding punk tracks. Last but not least, add a little Hippie to your day with these diamonds at Hippie Sounds.

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