Ralph's Pinterest
OK bands you know the score.....
the more hits your blog gets by the fans.....
the higher you go.....So Tweet it, Facebook it.....and generally expose yourself.....
Now Mr Snuggles and me have been sitting with our heads down counting the hits on each bands blog to see who's got which place. So here it is.....The Top Ten Blogged Band Chart .....
No 1.....Snippet
Snippet aka Johnno Casson is the quintessential English musician. Prolific, diverse, entertaining, clever, wistful and whimsical (no more so on his previously released mini-album 'DIY' and the track 'Let's Talk About Us' on which he comments on his winkle (and he isn't introducing us to his pet mollusc BriaNo 2....Wullae Wright
Wullae Wright is capturing the same raw intensity of vocals that an early Robert Plant did. Not only that his almost psychadelic guitar on the track also has the same haunting tones found on early Zep tracks. An old rock soul in a young body.
No 3.....Cormac O'Caoimh
It's second time round for Ralph having a listen to Irish singer/songwriter Cormac O'Caoimh. A year ago he'd released his second solo album since leaving The Citadels called 'A New Season For Love' and this time round it's 'The Moon Looses It's Memory' and he's bringing us 14 tracks of love and regret, hopes and dreams, cars and girls, (OK, OK, I've run out of descriptive song titles). Speaking of 'Love and Regret' and 'Cars and Girls I'm getting hints of...No 4.....The Bordellos
The Bordellos are the kind of quirky, lower than lo-fi band that John Peel would have featured and their current offerings, like the sultry 'Between Forget and Neglect' (think Morrissey on Prozac) leading in to the subtly funky 'Elastic Band Man' would probably have seen them playlisted on a regular basis.
No 5....The Actions
Normally Ralph only blogs unsigned UK Indie, but now and again some mainstream goodness drops in the kennel that peaks his interest and when 'Indefensible', the new EP by London based Alt/Rockers The Actions arrived it was time for some rule bending (Their first album 'Real' was licensed to Nikita Music, a Brazilian record label and released in Latin America).No 6.....Wullae WrightRalph's previously blogged Wullae Wright and it's proved to be the most well read of any over the last couple of years. Needless to say it was good news when Wullae Wright got in touch to say he was releasing 'Superhero' as a single. The story of the song is no less poignant than Wullae Wright's plaintive vocal which, overlaid on subtle acoustic guitar with an orchestral background is just as heart wrenching as the single's message.
No 7...The Backhanders
It's always nice when a hard copy of someones latest release drops through the letterbox, as is the case when; courtesy of the enigmatic Mr Peeps, the niftily designed CD just out by The Backhanders in the style of a vinyl 7" single arrived and its look fits in with the two tracks contained within.No 8.....Rich Lown
Rich Lown is a folk/acoustic singer/songwriter from Bexhill on Sea and has been signed with with Liverpool's Fierce Management since 2010. He was in the top 20 of biggest unsigned solo artist talent search 'Open Mic UK' in 2010 (which Birdy won the previous year) and is also being championed by BBC Intro who have stated 'Rich Lown has one of those relaxed, velvety voices. You have to respect a voice like that.'
No 9.....Book Group
It's been a hectic time in the kennel for new tunes and it was with great interest that news of the new EP by Book Group (due for release may 17th) appeared in the inbox. Ralph took a look last year when they released the No 10.....Thumpers
Ralph normally concentrates on unsigned UK Indie however when he heard London Alt Pop Duo Thumpers (Marcus Pepperell on vocal, guitar, keyboards and John Hamson Jr on vocal, bass, drums) are going to be playing just round the corner from the kennel at Central Library, St Helens in May it was time to take a look and a listen. They announced the release of their debut album 'Galore' on Sub Pop records and it's been receiving no small amount of critical acclaim and heavy airplay (yes Ralph's given them a spin on Radio KC) including on Radio 1's Huw Stephens show.
