As we're about to head into June, full summer territory, it's probably time we all picked up some fresh, new summer albums and updated our iTunes. Here are some of the records that you can look forward to over the next seven days...




JAMIE XX - IN COLOUR
Every single track that I've heard from this album so far has impressed me, and I have no doubt that the rest of the album will follow suit. To be honest, the album has been streaming online in full since the 26th but I didn't want to ruin that first listen experience on the actual release date (the 1st of June). This is the perfect album to have just in time for summer!








SLAVES - ARE YOU SATISFIED?
I feel like this album should already be out. This band is really making moves right now. Their music is both enjoyable and thought provoking and just overall a great time. This is definitely an album that I'm going to have to see live! These punks from Kent are giving me all of the right energy with their latest singles, so I look forward to listening to the full product out on the 1st of June.






FLORENCE + THE MACHINE - HOW BIG, HOW BLUE, HOW BEAUTIFUL
It feels like I have been waiting for this album since birth. Everything that Florence puts out just seems to touch me. Each single I've heard from this upcoming record has been different but equally as captivating and invigorating - I just need this album in my life, the wait has been too long! Start your month off on the right note on the 1st of June.



 

MAJOR LAZER - PEACE IS THE MISSION
Here's another record that will rack up the plays during summer. Major Lazer will have us all covered for tunes to party to over the next few months and if this record is anywhere near as good as his last, it'll be an essential to get your hands on and to be honest, you're probably going to want to see this live. If you don't already know, get to know on the 1st of June.







GIRLPOOL - BEFORE THE WORLD WAS BIG
This band has really been picking up steam this year and what a great time to because now they're putting out their debut album.  I really like their acoustic, harmonic sound - I'm really expecting this album to sound like a film soundtrack. Definitely one for those long summer commutes. Even though it's been done before, they have a really refreshing sound. Check out their debut on the 1st of June.







FOUR YEAR STRONG - FOUR YEAR STRONG
Hooray for pop punk!! I've liked Four Year Strong's material for quite a while but I've never actually gotten round to listening to an entire album of theirs in full so it will be a first for me on the 2nd of June. Pure Noise Records always manage to put out gold so I just hope that this time round will be no different.







SOAK - BEFORE WE FORGOT HOW TO DREAM
Here is another new name that I can't seem to escape from. I recently listened to a cover that SOAK did of St. Vincent's "Digital Witness". Now as much as I respect and appreciate St. Vincent, I really don't like that song all too much so I obviously wasn't really feeling this cover. But I'm leaving it to this debut record out on the 2nd of June  to skew my views on SOAK. 

Now for the final part of January's music news and after this we can start off February on a clean slate and with glorious new music on our iTunes...

YEARS & YEARS NEW MUSIC VIDEO "KING"
So I've actually only just caught wind of Years & Years in 2015 but they're good... like really good! I saw them featuring on Tourist's newest track "Illuminate" and since then they've just continued to impress me. I'm interested to see what an entire record of theirs would be like but for now check out their new music video here.


NAO NEW SINGLE "IN THE MORNING"
After her stunning support performance on the Little Dragon tour last year I've been waiting for something new to come from Nao. January just seems to be granting all of my wishes. If you get the chance to see her live, don't pass it up - great performer. I mean, just listen to these vocals here.


THE STAVES NEW SINGLE "STEADY"
Speaking of spectacular vocals, the queens of harmonies are back with a new track from their upcoming album - If I Was. I really love the way that this track swells - this is going to be a brilliant sophomore record. The Staves are definitely ones to check out if you haven't already. I'd start with this new single here.


THE NIGHT VI NEW SINGLE "TOO LATE TO LIE"
I've been writing abut The Night VI's new singles for over a year and a bit now and I still haven't heard a whiff of a new full length album!! As good as this new single here is, I am just more than ready for a full record.


DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE NEW SINGLE "BLACK SUN"
I've never really listened to Death Cab religiously. I've heard quite a few of their songs and I've liked each one including this new single here. However, now I think it's time for me to play catch up - I've missed out on a lot of good music here it would seem.


KANYE WEST, PAUL MCCARTNEY & RIHANNA NEW SINGLE "FOURFIVESECONDS"
There has been so much press surrounding this collaboration that it'd be pretty difficult for anyone to get away from it but I thought I'd write about it anyway. Although this might seem like a strange mix of artists at first, each of them offers up something great to make it work. Have a listen here.


ST. VINCENT NEW SINGLE "BAD BELIEVER"
I'm not sure that I'll ever figure out for certain how I feel about St. Vincent's music to be honest. This song does not appeal to me at all, but I know that a bunch of people out there will really enjoy it. I guess it's just each to their own in this situation but as much as I like St. Vincent as a person and a performer, most of her music is just not enjoyable. Have a listen here.


GENGAHR NEW SINGLE "SHE'S A WITCH"
It's nice to see this band getting a bit more well deserved recognition. I'm expecting to see Gengahr on a few festival line-ups this year for sure. But sadly as we're a long way from summer, have a listen to this great new single to tide you over - here.


THE CRIBS NEW SINGLE "AN IVORY HAND"
The Cribs are finally blessing us with a new single from their upcoming record and as expected, it's a good'un. I'm really looking forward to seeing them do this track justice live later this month. I'm not sure how many more awesome tracks they have left in them but I hope that it's a lot because this is a gem. Check it out here.


FAKE LAUGH NEW SINGLE "DOPEY HEAD"
Another discovery that I made earlier this year on Twitter. It was nothing like what I expected it to sound like. In an age of electronics, often this isn't what you expect to click on on Twitter. I can't say that I like Fake Laugh much but maybe in a different time this would be a really great track. See for yourself here.


LIL' WAYNE NEW SINGLE "FINGERS HURTING"
I honestly didn't think that Lil' Wayne would be making anymore solo music. I'd expected that he would feature on a couple artists' tracks here and there but I hadn't expected another whole album. However, here it is! And here is a new single from it. Let's just say, in my opinion, he should've stopped a long while ago.


FKA TWIGS NEW MUSIC VIDEO "PENDULUM"
Still taking the world by storm. Even though most people will have heard this song a long while ago, having the new music video with it can definitely make you like it more. FKA Twigs is just as much as visual artist as she is a vocal one and this new music video here shows just that.


PETITE NOIR NEW SINGLE "SHADOWS"
Just after the release of his new EP -The King of Anxiety - Petite Noir releases this single from it to the world. I'm not sure - I really liked Petite Noir when I first heard about him last year and I was worried that the novelty would wear off a little bit. However, this new track here has definitely proven me wrong.


THE SUBWAYS NEW MUSIC VIDEO "TAKING ALL THE BLAME"
A name that I've heard around me countless times but have never really gotten into. When I saw this new music video pop up on my timeline I thought, no time like the present. I'm a little sad it took this long but yeah The Subways are a cool band. Not "my new favourite" or anything but a strong band nonetheless. Here's the new video.


DANGERKIDS NEW MUSIC VIDEO "WE'RE ALL IN DANGER"
I just sincerely want Dangerkids to get all of the recognition owed to them because they are amazing! Diligently waiting on a headline UK tour but until then, fans can enjoy this awesome new music video here, and maybe catch them supporting Crown The Empire on their EU/UK tour.


THE PRODIGY NEW SINGLE "THE DAY IS MY ENEMY"
If somehow you haven't already heard, The Prodigy have announced a relatively small venue UK tour commencing later this year AND they're releasing a new record - The Day Is My Enemy - out on the 30th of March. Check out the newly released title track here.


THE BOHICAS NEW MUSIC VIDEO "TO DIE FOR"
After seeing them at Field Day last year I knew that The Bohicas would be a strong studio band as they're each so technical gifted and precise. This new single (although fairly repetitive and predictable) proves me right. Have a watch of the slightly confusing but surprisingly entertaining new music video here.


DAVID GUETTA NEW LYRIC VIDEO "WHAT I DID FOR LOVE (FEAT. EMELI SANDE)"
It's been a long while since I've seen Emeli Sande feature on anything so I'm hoping this means that there'll be a sophomore album out any day now! Her voice still sounds fabulous and David Guetta is still making those annoyingly catchy pop beats. Have a listen here.


GALLOWS NEW MUSIC VIDEO "BONFIRE SEASON"
YEEEESSSSS! 2015 really is going to be an insane year for album releases. Gallows' new record - Desolation Sounds - comes out on the 13th of April. It will be big. It will be beefy. And if this new single is anything to go by, it's sounding a little different too! Have a listen to the new sound here.


CHILDISH GAMBINO NEW MUSIC VIDEO "SOBER"
From his latest EP - Kauai - Childish Gambino. He's a strange character for sure but his music is anything but. All of his tracks catch my attention in one way or another and this single here is no different. The mind of a true artist - I would love to see him live one day!

I first took notice of St. Vincent last year when she performed "Lithium" with Nirvana at the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony. After that I said I had to check her out someday and find out more about her as an artist. Last Friday the day actually came! This was a weird weird show, but mostly weird in a good way. I'm not going to pretend to 'get' art rock or even really be into it but this was a fun and interesting experience nonetheless. I'll start from the top...

I managed to catch the last couple of songs from Coves who were supporting, and I just wish I hadn't missed the beginning because they sounded great and the audience were loving them! They reminded me a little of Wolf Alice actually. Either way, I'll definitely be keeping an ear out for them after this show and I'll start by listening to their debut album Soft Friday here.

Before coming to see St. Vincent I had actually heard a few of her songs and of the ones I'd listened to, there was only one that I wasn't too keen on - "Digital Witness". She played it pretty much straight away and of course I sighed internally (and maybe a bit externally too) but it honestly sounded much better live. After that turn around I think she finally had my full attention. As the show went on there were a few bursts of strangeness, a few awkward soliloquies and what seemed like excerpts from an exorcism BUT in amongst the theatrics there were some awesome pieces of music. "Cheerleader" and "Birth In Reverse" in particular sounded great but what really blow me away and in a sense won me over was "Bring Me Your Loves". What a fantastic musical performance! One of the things I loved most about the whole evening was actually the routines and general comradery between St Vincent and her guitarist/synth/keyboardist Toko Yasuda. That really made me smile and the two are a huge power duo together. I mean these women can really really play their instruments, my goodness!

After this frenetic finale, the band stepped back on stage for the encore but before it ended, St Vincent leapt on one of the bodyguards shoulders and had him carry her to the crowd where she then bravely let the audience play (or rather hit) her guitar as the rest of her band continued the song on stage. If she couldn't get more audacious, she then put down her guitar and got back into the crowd but this time in order to hoist herself onto the balcony, where she then proceeded to walk through the crowd in the balcony chatting to each of her fans casually as the song played. In that moment, she had all of my respect. She just does not stop! Whilst walking to the door it looked like she fainted and security carried her out and after a few nervous glances she reappeared on stage. Cheers were raucous as she sang her closing song "Your Lips Are Red". This was an event I won't be forgetting any time soon!

Overall Rating - 7.5/10


Here are some pictures from the night...