A chalk and cheese week with 2 albums in the top 30 for the year and 2 in the bottom 20.
THUS LOVE are our winners and also have the heavily backed TOTW.
Justin picks up his 3rd š in a couple of months. Mark has his 2nd ā¹ļø in the same period.
Interesting* to note that for the 2 weeks since Annette joined the class, her week's averages have been exactly the same as Phil's (5.8 then 5.9).
The Cure sit mid-table on the classics with the same score as U2 and The Wedding Present.
Guy
Thus Love ā Really enjoyed this. Singer has a bit of the Lou Reedās about him and the overall sound is riff-laden JJ for the most part with a whiff of 80s indie which I love. Perhaps slows up after an excellent start ā 8
Underscores ā slightly eclectic and for me never really got going. There are one or two half decent tunes on here but overall, much of it was tuneless and lacked focus ā 5.5
Spiritbox - If ever there was a schizophrenic album, itās this. When the girl is singing there are some half decent songs on it e.g. We Live in a Strange World. But when they screaming loon of a bloke joins in it is dreadful and Iām afraid thatās my overriding memory. I wonāt be rushing to see them at the Festival ā 5
Dead Pony ā Interesting album and Iāll probably go and see this lot (clashes permitting). I do prefer the more tuneful numbers but there is an energy and variety to the whole album that I like ā 7
TOTW ā Thus Love - Repetitioner
The Cure ā I love this album. You can put an argument forward that this isnāt the best Cure album, but itās the one that means the most to me due to its release timing. In Between Days and Close to Me are pop-goth classics but thereās so many more brilliant tunes on this. Push and Six Different Ways are equally brilliant in their own way too - 9
Matt
Thus Love - a big slice of indie guitar, clearly 80s influenced, but sounding fresh and relevant, rather than nostalgic. A lot to like. 8
Underscores - some interesting tracks ('Johnny, Johnny, Johnny') amongst other more mundane offerings including the slightly odd 'Cops & Robbers'). Encouraging signs. 6.5
Spiritbox - the Nickelback meets Slipknot parts are not good. I'd suggest a solo venture to the lead. 4.5
Dead Pony - nicely assertive female led indie rock. Reckon they're good live. 7.8
Totw Thus Love, Repetitioner (could have been a few)
Andy
Thus Love - Big 80s indie sounds, already on the list 6.5
Underscores - I'd have enjoyed this more if they leaned into the hyperpop a bit, otherwise it's a bit all over the shop. On the possible list as I've currently got no clash there 5.5
Spiritbox - I really liked this, despite the fact it made me think of Evanescence a lot. They weren't on my list as they clash with Bad Nerves but they may have made it, if only to se the kids' reactions 7.5
Dead Pony - Already on the list and underlined multiple times. Really good stuff 7
TotW - Repetitioner by Thus Love
The Cure - I'm not the world's biggest Cure fan but I do like the singles and this has a couple of their best 7
Annette
Thus Love - 6.5
Underscores -5
Spiritbox - 4.5
Deadpony - 7.5
The Cure - 8.5
TOTW - Repetitioner by Thus Love.
Justin
Thus Love - old school dark grand indie 7.1
Underscores - this got quite a few listens. Some really good tracks but also some mixed up ones. The hyper pop ones work best 7.2
Spiritbox - the man's vocals on some tracks can be a bit draining, however, there are some big rock numbers in. Bring me the horizon stylee. 6.9
Dead Pony - massive rock indie sound. Would work well on main stage, will be crazy in the Festival Republic tent 7
TOTW Mana - Dead Pony
The Cure - as a teenager with goth tendencies I was a big Cure fan and this album got played a lot. A goth/indie masterpiece. I must admit though that some of the tracks had completely faded from my mind. 7.9
Jim
Thus Love 7
Interesting 80s indie, unusual voice with a tinge of Lloyd Cole maybe. Ran out of steam a little and could have done with mixing it up a tad. Will check them out on Saturday though
Underscores 5
Same views as most. A real mixed bag , at times it was quirky but then in the next breath, pretty terrible
Spirit Box 4
Feels we've been here before... Much is OK, if uninspiring rock and she has a nice voice, but ffs, the growling is just juvenile nonsense. It's like it's his band, he has the van, they've all moved on, but they have to pander when he insists he feels the need to 'sing'
Dead Pony 7
This will be good on Saturday, shame I'll probably be in the pub at 1pm.
TOTW: Thus Love - Family Man
The Cure 8
Love the hits and there are 2 worldies on here. The rest was decent but somewhat in the shadows of the bangers
Phil
Thus Love ā 7.5
Ringing guitars and soaring vocals. Puts me in mind of a lot of post-punk bands of the 80s. They stay just the right side of anthemic, but you can already feel them reaching for them stadium gigs. Still, they sound pretty good just now.
Underscores ā 5.5
Chaotic and confusing, Underscores is an artist who is keen to try every style and production technique available to them, usually all in the same song. Every track seems to have a decent tune/lyric in there somewhere but itās quickly sabotaged by the kitchen sink approach. There are so many ideas on offer that, by the law of averages, some of them are bound to work but the process of listening to the album is exhausting.
Spiritbox ā 4
Iāve never been a fan of heavy metal, or any of its derivatives so even though this bunch do chuck in the odd poppy number just to confuse the listener I found it hard to love.
Dead Pony ā 6.5
Ignore this? You canāt ā itās too damn loud. But itās an entertaining enough racket. This is a band that enjoy grungey guitars and caterwauling vocals but leaven both with enough light and shade to keep your toes tapping. I quite liked the minute long tracks dotted throughout ā most sounded like they could have been longer.
TOTW ā Thus Love ā Repetitioner
The Cure ā 6.5
I enjoyed the Cureās early minimalist stuff ā A forest is still a total classic ā and I even liked Pornography, despite its overbearing stench of gloom, but I never really went for their pop stuff, probably because it becomes impossible to ignore Robert Smithās whiny voice. Still, this aināt bad, but you know youāre in trouble when you rip off New Order only to realise that the song would have sounded better with Bernard Sumner singing it.
Simon
Thus Love: really enjoyed this - has that epic '80s indie guitar sound reminiscent of the likes of House of Love, Pale Saints etc but it's done with such skill and panache that I'll forgive the slightly dated style. Great vocal as well. 8.2
Underscores: I'm all for a bit of eclectic and trying something different but at times this is too quirky for its own good - 2 or 3 tracks had some appeal but otherwise it was a veritable mixed bag. 6
Spiritbox: I quite liked the female vocal but the male singer shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a microphone - there are a couple of decent tracks although sadly they're outweighed by the largely unlistenable ones. 4.5
Dead Pony: solid blast of high-octane indie rock with strong vocals - reminded me of Coach Party, entertaining stuff. 7.5
The Cure: never particularly been a big Cure fan but I always thought they were v talented and consistent songwriters and there's a few classics on here, not least the fabulous A Night Like This. 8
TotW: Thus Love - Repetitioner
Sam
Thus love : daft name for a band . It was like an Echo and the bunneymen tribute band but very well made tho . 7
Underscores: half great fun , half absolute shite . 5
Spirit box : I liked this more than most but pretty derivative . 7
Dead pony : what a belter ! Great fun . 8.1
The Cure : I love them and his voice is ace as usual but this album isnāt full of goth masterpieces and only 2 bangers so 7
TOTW : Ignore this : Dead Pony
Erol
Thus love ā if you had told me this was released in 1987 I might believe you. Delightfully retro, with so much jingle jangle guitar. The vocals were pleasantly moody too. It put me in mind of Echo and the Bunnymen. Will be watching these guys on Saturday. 7.9.
Underscores ā really annoying, overly American punk pop. The lyrics were bizarre and the delivery odd at best. Is she trying to emulate Billie Eilish ? Well, if she is, she has a long way to go. 4
Spirit box ā this is the most bizarre coupling. The female lead has a good voice and when she is on her own this is pretty decent rock/light metal. I couldnāt help but laugh though when the shouty man started screeching into my ears. Rarely before have I heard such misplaced, overplayed anger. He really should take a few big spoons of tixylix and calm down. 5
Dead Pony - strong indie rock. A powerful electronic blast with driving drumming. Sounds a bit like Pendulum. I sense their show will go off big-style this weekend 7.5
TOTW - Thus Love, Repetitioner
The Cure - I was never a goth but the Cureās hits have stood the test of time and still sound strong. There are two belters on this album which fall into this category. The rest is not so strong and sounds pretty dated. 7
Mark
Thus Love - effects heavy guitars, moody enigmatic vocals, shades of early Simple Minds and the Banshees, liked this very much - 8
Underscores - odd and irritating, there are a few half decent tunes hidden amongst all the weirdness, just not for me - 4.5
Spiritbox - to be fair, not completely terrible when the girl is singing but when the lad gets involved, boy oh boy, no - 4
Dead Pony - didn't like this as much as others it seems, it reminded me of bands like Republica and Garbage that don't do anything for me - 5
TOTW - Family Man by Thus Love
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