Asylums - Signs of Life

 

"Signs of Life" is the 4th album by UK indie band Asylums.  Having formed in 2014, they have been pretty consistent in bringing out albums every 2 years being 2016, 2018, 2020 and now 2022.  I got into them before their debut came out after hearing "Missing persons". All their albums are really good and although the critics have praised their work too, they haven't managed to get to a level many think they should be.

They don't seem to tour that much and to my recollection have only played Glasgow once when they supported Ash.  They have however made various festival appearances including Glastonbury.  They may just be a band that prefers making records rather than endlessly touring which would be fair enough.  Another reason I think they are not as big as they should is because I don't think they are a part of any movement.  For instance, like Brit pop in the 90s, emo in the late 00s or the current alternative metal movement going on just now. 

 
I think if Asylums were around in the early 2000s when the UK indie scene was thriving, I think they would be a lot bigger than they are at the moment. As right now there isn't many new bands out there doing what Asylums are doing at the moment.  But the band has to be true to themselves and make music they believe in, and they enjoy. And when you listen to their music you really get the impression that this is exactly what they are doing.  They are not trying to pretend to be band that they are not just to gain popularity which I'm sure must be tempting.

"Signs of Life" is another cracking album by the Essex lads. Filled once again with some edgy riffs through songs such as "Scatterbrain" and "Crypto Klepto".  But also, on this album you'll find the introduction of strings on quite a few tracks such as "Eras the Edges" and closing track "The Mirror".  I like how the strings fit into the songs rather than dominate them or not be strong enough in the mix. They are just right.  "Eras the Edges" is probably one of the slowest songs they have done.  While "The Mirror" is a fine way to end an album.

Overall, Asylums have done it again.  A great album and one I will be going back to time and again, much like the rest of their discography.  I hope the get some more recognition because they sure deserve it.

Taylor Swift - Midnights

"Midnights" is the 10th album by US country/pop sensation Taylor Swift.   I have been a fan of Taylor since she released 2nd album "Fearless" way back in 2008.  Her career trajectory since has been nothing short of phenomenal.  Winning loads of awards and selling millions and millions of records.  Even if she did have, in my opinion, the occasional blip in her discography.  Those being "Reputation" and "Lover".  But the rest of the albums feel flawless.

"Midnights" was an unexpected album as many thought Taylor would continue with her reissues but in October 2022 this album dropped without even a single to promote it.  When the album was announced she didn't even announce the track names and it actually led me to think each track was called "Track 1, track 2...track 3" etc.  As that is what it said on the CD sleave artwork.  But if you have Tik tok you will know she gradually unveiled the track listing in the run up to the album being released.  

I decided to by the deluxe edition of the album on CD.   I found it strange that it was kind of hidden away on her website while all the different colour vinyls were pushed more.  The deluxe edition contained two remixes and an extra track but you didn't know this till you got the CD.  But that is not the most annoying part.  Three days after release she released a 3am edition of the album with 7 extra tracks on streaming services.  Which is great now you know this but at the time for me it was infuriating.

I do, however, have to give credit to Swift for Midnights.  She has once again plunged herself into a new space in her music. Giving us a full blown synth pop album which has a completely different vibe to what has come before.  The way she does this is like nothing no one else does in her field.   And everything she does, whether I like it or not, seems to turn to gold too.  Some of these songs already have over 300 million plays on Spotify and it's only been out a few months.  

It does have a very chill out feel about the album, apart from maybe "Vigilante S*&t" which shows off Taylor's angsty side which reminds me of "Bad Blood" off "1989".  "Karma" and "Anti-Hero" are probably my favourite songs off the album. "Karma" is the most upbeat song off the album and "Anti-Hero" the biggest hit.  The thing I find with this album is that if you strip out the vocals, I think would be a pretty bland album as for a lot of it, it is just the same beat running through it.  Taylor's vocals very much carry the album, and her lyrics also get a lot of attention.  For that reason, I don't think this is an album I will be going back to that much as I prefer more imagination in the instrumentation part as well as good vocals.

Overall, though this is a decent album and I have to give kudos to Taylor for going in yet another direction with her music.  This album does have some great songs on it. Sometimes it does feel like it is too samey, and some songs blend into each other. But since it’s so different to what she has done before we can let her off with that.  I do notice though that the tour she announced is an "Eras" tour which is basically a best of tour rather than a "Midnights" tour.  Now there is the argument that she hasn't really toured the last 4 albums (including "Midnights").  However maybe it's also because a lot of "Midnights" and "Folklore" and "Evermore" weren't really built for stadiums.  And maybe there is not enough big hits on these albums to justify it.

 

Top 10 albums 2022

 Hi, I hope everyone had a great Christmas/enjoying the holiday season.  I had a nice day yesterday thanks to family.  Now time for my top 10 albums of the year.  To be honest the album which I have listened to the most this year is "That's the Spirit" by Bring me the Horizon.  But since that was released in 2015 it doesn't meet the criteria for this list.  Rules are rules :-P.   But here are the albums that did make the list:

1. "IMPERA" by Ghost

2. "Tekkno" by Electric Callboy

3. "Unlimited Love" by Red hot chili peppers

4. "Planet Zero" by Shinedown

5. "Pawns & Kings" by Alter Bridge

6. "Being funny in a foreign language" by The 1975

7.  "True Power" by I Prevail

8. "The Death of Peace of Mind" by Bad Omens

9. "Fix yourself, not the world" by The Wombats

10. "Midnights" by Taylor Swift

Top 10 songs of 2022

 Now time to unleash my top 10 songs for 2022. Also added them to a spotify playlist with an additional 10 songs. Last year I did top 10 songs under 5 minutes and top 10 songs over 5 minutes. But this year I didn't think or find as many good songs over 5 minutes hence just put them in one list.  But it was still a great year for music and top 10 albums will be coming next week.  Have a great Christmas folks :-)

1. Daylight by Shinedown

2. Bad Things by I Prevail

3. Bad Life by Sigrid & Bring Me the Horizon

4. The Steeple by Halestorm

5. This is Why by Paramore

6. Fable of the Silent Son by Alter Bridge

7. Foxglove by Boston Manor

8. Dignity by Porcupine Tree

9. I Don't want to go to Mars by White Lies

10. Just Pretend by Bad Omens

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4L8C5zAinVQ7xGtqY7M9Dh?si=peyDzQJrRjKFuZFTKfzSAw

06/12/22 - Alter Bridge @ OVO Hydro, Glasgow

 This would be my second time seeing Alter Bridge and also the second time seeing them at the Hydro.  Over the past few years they have turned into one of my favourite bands and have reviewed all 7 of their studio albums.  One thing which is special about Alter Bridge gigs is not only the band themselves, but the fact they bring with them really big supports and tonight was no exception.

Tonights line up of people I attended with included Campbell, Craig, Brian and another Craig who I've got to know through parkrun.  The first support tonight was Mammoth VWH who I have been really eager to see live and this I believe is the first time the band have played glasgow.  The band is pretty much Wolfgang Van Halen who plays every instrument on his only album.  He shot into the limelight through his late Dad, Eddie Van Halen. Having been a touring bassist with both Van Halen and tonights headlining guitarist's band Mark Tremonti whose own band is Tremonti.

I got into Mammoth's stuff right from when they released their first single "Distance" which is a tribute to his father.  The set itself tonight was so good.  Mammoth has this ability to create warm rock melodys and every song played tonight was a hit.  With his touring band they were impressivly tight and this hopefully won't be the last time I see them.

Next up was Halestorm.  I have had the oppotunity to see Halestorm in the past as in recent years they have played places like the Barrowlands and headlined the Hydro themselves.  But thing is I have never really been that into them.  But tonight their performance won me over and I feel they are just a really gritty and gutsy rock and roll band fronted by one of the queen's of rock herself Lzzy Hale.  One song which has captured me from this band this year is "The Steeple", what an absolutley belter of a song that is and so glad they played it tonight.  But it wasn't just the Lzzy show tonight. The drummer, Lzzy's brother Arejay Hale had his own moment in the spotlight with a bit of a drum solo and hyping up the crowd at the same time. And also playing a bit with massive drumsticks which I thought was very orignal.  Quite unusual for a support act to do this but they were also on for a bit longer than a standard support act so had a bit of flex to do it.

Then came Alter Bridge who were on for roughly an hour and a half.  I think they normally play longer but were a bit restricted due to the 10.40 curfew.  So had to miss out the title track "Pawns & Kings" which has been played as the second last song on many nights.  But they did dip into the new album playing monster tracks such as "Silver Tongue" and "Sin after Sin".  And at the same time ensured none of their albums were left untouched as they played at least one track off each.  Surprisingly the album they played most off was their first album "One day remains" with 4 tracks, then their was 3 tracks off "Fortress" which is less surprising as I think that's their best album. Mark led the vocals in his segment with "Water Rising" which is from "Fortress".

Campbell and I discussed set lists after the gig and made up our own and while some of the core songs remain like "Metalingus" and "Blackbird" (which is still one of the greatest tracks of all time).  Our setlists were not only different to each other but also to the one played tonight.  I'm not saying this was a bad set because it wasn't, it was great.  But it does show just how much amazing material Alter Bridge have now and this is great news for fans as there is more to go back to.

Overall this was an absolutley cracking night and a great laugh once again with the guys.

Photos by Campbell Hunter

30/11/22 - Shinedown @ O2 Academy, Glasgow

 I have seen Shinedown twice before. Both, during their tour cycle supporting their album "Attention, Attention".  One was a headline show at the very venue I saw them in tonight.  The other was a special support slot supporting Alter Bridge at the Hydro in Glasgow.  I wasn't really sure if I would go this evening as I'm eager at the moment to go and see bands I haven't seen.  But at the same time, I had such a great night the times I did go and see them, I thought why not go and see them again.

The night didn't get off to the best of starts as we didn't get to see the first support act unfortunately.  We literally walked in as they were playing their last song.  This was due to a mix up at the restaurant where someone had charged an extra 7 pints to our table, so took a bit of time to get sorted out.  When we got to the O2 Academy though the place was already rammed, but we found a nice spot on the second level of standing which you get a good view of the stage from.

The second support act tonight was Asking Alexandria.  Although there was no sign of anyone called Alexandria so my questions, I had prepared were gone to waste :-P.  Joking aside it felt like they were a metalcore band that have taken the same journey as many who started in the late 2000s.  The band formed in 2006 and released their debut in 2009.  They have now released 7 studio albums and have moved away from metalcore into alternative metal where the vocals are delivered a lot more clearly.  Much like the direction bands like Bring me the horizon and Architects have gone.  I thought they were ok but didn't really grab me as much as those bands.  They did have quite a lot of diversity in their songs during their short set which I think presented the issue where when you try to please everyone, there maybe won't be many who appreciate the set as a whole. Which is the category I fell in really.

Shinedown ended up being on for about 2 hours, but it didn't feel like it all.  The time flew by.  I do joke that going to see Shinedown is like going to therapy.  I know many people would argue all music is therapy.  But until you go to a Shinedown show you won't truly understand what I mean.  Lead singer Brent Smith really connects with the audience.  And his speeches in between songs are all about mental health and positivity.  There was an especially touching speech before this year’s landmark single for them "Daylight" which I think is one of the best songs of the year.

The set list was interesting.  Not surprisingly a quarter of the set list came from new album Planet Zero with 5 songs.  They did say it was a special anniversary for their debut album "Leave a whisper" of 20 years and they would celebrate by playing songs off the album.  But they only played "45" and the bonus acoustic cover "Simple Man" which I was perplexed about as I thought they would play more.  But they did play a a lot of my favourites from "Sound of Madness", "Amaryllis", "Threat to Survival" and "Attention, Attention".  So, all in all can't complain at all.

Overall, a superb gig and thanks to Campbell and Craig for the company.

Photos by Campbell Hunter