Greetings readers,
I can’t believe it’s nearing the end of October already! The jackets have come out, Halloween’s in a few days – it’s definitely not summer anymore. But let’s not dwell on the fact that the clouds are eclipsing the sun, and focus on the positives; one being that Christmas is just around the corner, and two being that, as it is the end of the month, I’m going to share with you the songs that have been dominating my earphones over the past few weeks.
In terms of genre it’s quite a mixed bag; including stripped back acoustic tracks from a popular actor/musician, to a mainstream metalcore band who have recently shifted in style in favour of a more alternative – and at times electronic – sound…
The Darling Buds – Waiting
If you’ve seen Tim Burton’s Sweeny Todd, then you may recognise this artist from the 2007 movie starring Johnny Depp. Jamie Campbell Bower – who starred as Anthony in the film – is also a musician. Previously in a band known as The Darling Buds, the foursome headlined London’s Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen on April 18th this year. The band recently underwent a name change following the departure of drummer Dan Smith; the three remaining members (Jamie, Tristan and Roland) stating that they wish to continue making music under a new name and new sound. Now under the moniker ‘Counterfeit’, the lads have an upcoming UK show at London’s 02 Islington Academy in December, as well as a European tour including cities such as Berlin and Milan.
This acoustic version of The Darling Buds’ track ‘Waiting’ was the first time I’d heard Bower’s musical talent (outside of the theatricality of Sweeny Todd,) and what I was met with was a beautiful melody, great vocals and an addictive chorus. Consisting solely of an acoustic guitar and Bower’s smooth vocals, the two work brilliantly together to create a track that is both catchy and captivating, with a hook that’s sure to get stuck in your head.
Another song I’ve also been listening to of theirs is ‘Better Man’. Again, it’s a stripped back version made up of an acoustic guitar and Bower’s vocals, and much like ‘Waiting’ the combination of the elements at play culminate in something that’s absolutely charming to listen to. You can’t fault Bower’s vocals both as he flips between the lower and higher notes, hitting both perfectly, and I think both tracks demonstrate his ability to write a great song. I’d definitely be interested in seeing these guys live.
Bring Me The Horizon – Drown
A far cry from the days of their 2006 debut ‘Count Your Blessings’, ‘Drown’ see’s Bring Me The Horizon shift away from their metalcore roots in favour of a more melodic, almost cinematic, sound. But die-hard fans need not fear, the song still has their trademark aggressive sound complete with some gravelly, growl-like vocal tones from Mr. Sykes (but the upside is that you can actually understand it these days.)
Released last year originally as a stand-alone, a re-recorded version made its way onto the band’s most recent offering ‘That’s The Spirit’ – and I for one am glad it did. It’s an anthemic track, made to fill every corner of an arena; both the chorus and the swelling ‘you know that I can’t do this on my own’ chant possess a really captivating quality that is sure to get crowds screaming along in unison with their fists in the air.
Bring Me The Horizon – Throne
Contrastingly to ‘Drown’, ‘Throne’ features a more electronic rock sound. It opens with a synth-led pattern that wouldn’t be out of place in a club setting, but as the guitars and drums crash though it retains that BMTH sting. Things smooth out during the verses, and the change in dynamics works to ensure that the chorus really packs a punch.
With lyrics like “you can throw me to the wolves, tomorrow I will come back leader of the whole pack,” the chorus is an empowering one, and it’s Sykes spitting the lyrics with such an aggressive passion that really drives it home.
I’ve also been listening to a lot of Costa Blanca-based rock band Snowblind, and Brit singer/songwriter Hobbie Stuart this month; both of which I have reviewed previously.
Click here to see my review of Snowblind’s Track ‘Memories’ (as featured in last month’s ‘Track’s I’m Loving’.) A full review of the band’s debut album is on its way.
Click here to see my most recent post, a ‘One To Watch’ on singer-songwriter and vlogger Hobbie Stuart.
What songs have you been listening to this month? Do you like any of the ones that I’ve included? If there are any that you’ve never come across I hope I at least inspired you to give them a listen, and I hope you enjoyed reading 🙂
Sophie Brown. 