10 more current Liverpool bands

26 APRIL 2009

At the start of 2008 I drew up a list of 10 of the best current Liverpool bands.

Two of those bands – the Dead 60s and Elle S’Appelle – have split up. Most of the others however are going strong :

The Rascals and Alexis Blue both released very decent debut albums in 2008. Rascalize is available on Amazon, while it seems that Hypothetical Situations is still available as a free download. The Zutons also had an album out, You can do anything.

In March 2009 the Wombats released a rather disappointing single, My circuitboard city, while goFASTER released a debut EP A Modern Education.

Alun Parry has been cementing his reputation as Liverpool’s leading radical songwriter. He is currently recording a new album, We Can Make The World Stop, due for release in Summer 2009.

What I’ve decided to do is to showcase another ten Liverpool artists not included in the original list. Although they all missed out on the last list, I think the quality of the music is just as good if not better. But judge for yourself. Click on the artist’s name to visit their myspace page, or on the song title to watch a youtube video of the showcased song.

10 a.P.A.t.T. – Martins Quest
Experimental and unpredictable musical collective. This was released as a single on itunes and emusic in November 2008.

9 TJ & Murphy – The feeling’s gone
This sensitive acoustic duo released their debut album Weary Nights in late 2008.

8 Borstal - Only Us
Liverpool’s own hip hop duo have an album out soon called Another Chance.

7 The Cubical - Saints above My Bed
According to their publicity, “the singer of The Cubical has possibly the filthiest voice since Captain Beefheart and Tom Waits were in their prime. “

6 Jo Bywater - Disclaimer
Great guitarist and songwriter who deserves a wider audience. Check out her 2007 EP Passion is Timeless (a new EP is planned in 2009).

5 Tricia McTeague – Let me breathe
Singer songwriter from Widnes

4 SSS – The Beast
It’s aggressive thrash punk, but you feel these guys really believe in what they’re doing. Their recent album The Dividing Line contains a Hillsborough tribute song.

3 Kaya – Reality
From the CD Balloon in a Cactus Field, which has been getting a lot of play on my ipod. See also Acoustic Showcase 1.

2 Ragz - Oh oh
She describes herself as a “singer/songwriter born and raised in a land coloured by northern lights and fairytale creatures”. In 2008 she released a 7 track CD Little Stings, but I really like this song which isn’t on the album.

1 The Coral – Put The Sun Back
In four amazing years, the boys from Hoylake had recorded 4 hit albums, wowed the critics, conquered the charts, bagged the Brits and Mercury nominations, toured the world. But by 2005, cracks were appearing. The Coral took time out, sorted themselves out, the six piece became a five, and now they’re back with new material. “We’re ready to enjoy ourselves this time around,” says Skelly. “It’s all about the future for us now. We feel like a new band and I think we’ve made a boss record. I’m made up about things, to be honest.”

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2010

Exclusive to music to die for, here’s a podcast of the best new music from Liverpool and surrounding towns :

Liverpool music

Liverpool music

Tracklisting :
1. The 66 – City Of Culture (free download from Outlier records, album due out in 2011)
2. The Coral – Butterfly House (Butterfly House July 2010)
3. Fly With Vampires – On The Ropes (On the Ropes (single) July 2010)
4. The Idles – Feeling different (Unreleased track. Their debut EP Arrogance through Ignorance January 2010 is available on itunes)
5. Lizzie Nunnery – Company of Ghosts (Company of Ghosts April 2010)
6. Kaya – The sick champagne waltz (Balloon in a cactus field November 2008)
7. Alun Parry – Waiting For The Lovers (We Can Make The World Stop August 2009)
8. Dropscience – Seratonin Rollercoaster (There’s An Awful Lot of Weirdos In Our Neighbourhood EP April 2009)
9. Fare Evaders – You Know You’re Wrong (free download from soundcloud 2010)
10. The Sand Band – Someday The Sky (free download from the forthcoming debut album All Through The Night due out October 2010)
11. The Good Intentions – She’s In a George Jones Mood (Poor Boy July 2008)
12 Echo & The Bunnymen – Think I Need It Too (The Fountain October 2009)
13 Nowthen – The Price Is Right (Live At Sonic Vista Studios EP March 2010 : the link is to Amazon, but the band have also made the track available for free download on soundcloud)
14 Rachael Dunn – Hide (Alpha Ghost February 2010)
15. The Cubical – Like Me I’m A Peacock (Come Sing These Crippled Tunes September 2009)
16. The Loud – I’m Easy (free download debut EP April 2010)
17. Steve Roberts – A Boat On The Mersey (free download July 2010)
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