YOU HAD ME AT HELLO, TWISTER & THE SCRATCH reviews

You Had Me At Hello! – Take It Off

(S-a-N PR)

Take It Off is a 6 track debut EP by these pop punksters and it’s a good starting point. Blink 182 have obviously been a big influence here, most notably on the drum patterns as well demonstrated on ‘Breathless’.

The EP was recorded in California last year and has a very American pop punk sound and is a well- produced and polished release. The highlights of the disc are opening track ‘Diamonds and Pearls’ and the last track ‘Carry On Regardless’ both of which are prime pop punk nuggets, again the Blink 182 influenc e is hard to escape but the band are more than able to carry it off and put their own stamp on things.

As debuts go this is a quality release and with ambitious touring plans for 2012 You Had Me At Hello! might just be a name to watch.

***
David Wilson

Twister – Twister EP

( Manilla PR)

Another fresh-faced group of individuals who are about to release a debut EP. Pop rockers Twister have had recent success after coming 2nd out of 12,000 at last year’s Surface Unsigned Festival final in London.

Their brand of pop rock is quite infectious with plenty of well written hooks and melodies. Opener ‘ Satellite’ is the best of the bunch with a catchy, singalong chorus and good guitar work. All 4 tracks though are worthy of a spin and the band sound like they were deserving of their runners up spot.

***
David Wilson

The Scratch – Great Adventure

(Ponyland Records)

The Scratch have been treading the boards since 2002. Having released various vinyl and digital discs in the last ten years, coupled with many notable support slots with the likes of Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller, they appear to be doing well.

This album then is the next step in their rising career. The band sound like a ‘lite’ version of The Buzzcocks, the same whimsical punk style but with added ‘Country House’ era Blur. Opener ‘Down In The Alley’ could be a song left off a Blur album for not making the grade, not bad, quite catchy but with no real substance. In fact that statement really sums up the album as a whole, it is fairly inoffensive with the odd above average track, ‘ (She’s Got) WAG Potential’ springs to mind, but there is not much here that would attract you back for repeated listens.

Vocalist Andy Scratch has a bit of a whiney delivery which I found annoying after about three tracks, but again that’s down to my tastes as he can carry a tune well. Musically the band play well and have obvious talent, but I found it all a bit bland.

This wasn’t for me, it had no real edge to it and it sounded a bit too safe and twee to really grab this listener. The fact they have been together for 10 years and this was the first I had heard of them speaks volumes in my book.

**
David Wilson


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 14 April

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024

ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)


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