Glenn Kingsmore - Station 29 CD album
Glenn Kingsmore (aka Kinky) is the drummer for legendary Belfast punk band The Defects. This is his debut solo album and as he himself states - this is not a punk album! However, don't let that put you off as this is exceptionally good 'alternative rock.' All songs are written by Glenn himself and he also sings, plays guitar, bass & drums (a few guest musicians also helped out on the album). Kinky is a gifted songwriter, astute lyricist and, as proved here, a very versatile musician. What we get here are 11 solid rockers which, to me, sound like a collaboration between Billy Idol, Gary Moore and Aussie band Hunters & Collectors! Glenn will probably laugh his ballex off at that but hey, I don't mean he sounds (vocally) like Idol, but listen to the outstanding Kaisers And Kings - can't you just picture Billy performing that song? I can. And maybe even the excellent S.L.I.M.I. ? This is a really strong debut with some class tunes like the aforementioned Kaisers And Kings, the title track Station 29, and Open Them Up (why does this make me think of Alice Cooper?). My own favourites are Titanic Quarter - conjuring up images of the artist sitting at an old piano in a smoke filled barroom, whiskey at hand, pouring his heart out, and the uptempo, uplifting, almost soulful The Church Of Fraud - I kept waiting for the Harlem Gospel Choir to burst in anytime! haha. It ain't punk, but Station 29 is a damn fine album - give it a go, you might be pleasantly surprised!
Station 29 is available on ebay * Kaisers And Kings on youtube
Various - Time To Be Proud ltd edt EP
A special limited edition 4 track CD released by Time To Be Proud Records to celebrate Record Store Day 2012. And another wee gem it is too.
Belfast punkers The Dollybyrds kick of the proceedings with the excellent Welcome To The Scrapheap - all guitars blazing and Crooksy supplying his best nonchalant, fuck you, vocal. Its hard to pigeon hole this band (which is no bad thing) but I do get a kinda 90's punk vibe from the Dollybyrds recent offerings - along the lines of Senseless Things / Mega City 4 / Leatherface. I like this band! Stop Stop Start Again are next up with their brilliant reworking of Stage B's unreleased Belfast goth classic Lizzie Borden. Its a beast of a song that SSSA deliver in their own mental glammed-up/punk rockin/goth-driving way. Singer Paul Rowan sounds like a genuine maniac on this track. lol. Great stuff. Belfast's self-styled greaser-kings The Sabrejets pay tribute to the Cramps with their excellent cover of Ultra Twist, all done in their own inimitable style. Souped up rockabilly with a hint of punk - The Sabrejets are still the best band in town. Electro / Indie outfit Kami Kids close proceedings with the sugary-sweet, laid back North Star. Not really my cup of tea but a wee song to relax and chill out, with a cold beer, to. All in all, another well produced little artifact from the team at Time To Be Proud, showcasing the talent and diversity in the Belfast music scene of today. Copies of the CD can be purchased in the Good Vibrations record shop, Belfast. Time To Be Proud on Facebook