Suede- ‘Bloodsports’ (18/03/2013- Warner Music Group)

    Formed way back in 1989, Suede are a five piece Alternative band from London who have undergone several line-up and style changes over the years, including daring to differ from other Britpop artists of the era from their second album. They broke up in 2003 after an unsuccessful album ‘A New Morning’ the following year, the collapse of their record label Nude Records, problems in the band and frontman Brett Anderson’s drug habits.

    But after their reunited in 2010 and 2011 for a series of concerts, Suede have finally released a sixth studio album yesterday, ‘Bloodsports’. It’s produced by Ed Buller, who also worked on three of the band’s previous records and has also worked with One Night Only, White Lies and Pulp. Brett Anderson has stated that ‘Bloodsports’ is a cross between Suede’s ‘Dog Man Star’ and ‘Coming Up’ albums.

   The progressive style of the opening track ‘Barriers’ makes it clear how willing Suede are to adapt their music slightly as commercial interests vary. Their rich sound and brashing lyrics such as “Aniseed kisses and lipstick traces/Lemonade sipped in Belgian rooms” build into a confident and honest track, with all the anthemic aspects of U2 without the monotonous undertones. 

    As much as Suede have embraced modern trends, they certainly haven’t lost their Glam Rock core, especially with ‘Snowblind’ being so similar to 1994’s ‘We Are the Pigs’. The gritty guitaring from Richard Oakes and wailing interludes have moulded together to prove Suede haven’t lost their flair. Released as a single on the 4^th February, ‘It Starts and Ends With You’ has everything the three essential elements of a single; a great hook, overall memorable and a portrayal of who the band really are without being too commercial. It’s slightly angsty, well-produced, and lyrically bravura, if a little melodramatic, “Then I fall to the floor like my strings are cut.”

   The use of syth based sounds at the beginning of ‘Sabotage’ seems to mirror The Killers until the track develops and its dark, echoing, haunting style is revealed. The instrumentation of this song is flawlessly emotional and effortless it’s almost breath-taking. Its chorus is swooping and intriguing with its apparent honesty, “Alone in the climate of her greed, her heels on the wheels of nothing/Her love is sabotage.”

   Suede have done something very rare in a comeback; reminded their fans how gifted they are collectively rather than how talented they once were. ‘For The Strangers’ brings the dark theme of the record, ironically, to light, as well as the band’s individuality, that some artists half their age have yet to grasp. The vocal layers on this track fade out beautifully and surprisingly lead into the arrogant and thuggish style of ‘Hit Me’, which escalates into falsetto sections. This track is wonderfully written, “Come on and hit me with all your mystery” and similar to Suede’s early work with its melodic guitar riff.

    ‘Sometimes I Feel I’ll Float Away’ is gentle and pensive yet undeniable powerful and utilises modern production techniques such as constant voice echo as well as relatable lyrics such as, “I need you more than you need to be needed”. Through this, it cannot be denied that Suede have given their fans what we all want from the music we listen to; sincerity. Even the mournful flair of ‘What Are You Not Telling Me?’ resonates honesty and evokes painful loneliness. This downbeat, pessimistic ballad is simply made up of multi-tracked vocals and lightly-plucked guitar and is nothing if not poignant. The Bon Jovi ‘Dead or Alive’ style opening to ‘Always’ utterly embraces romanticism whereas ‘Faultlines’ is almost cinematic in structure due to how highly-polished it is.

     Suede have nailed the balance between nostalgia and fresh elements throughout ‘Bloodsports’ and have composed something truly epic, haunting and authentic. The record retains the band’s distinctive sound and portrays their ability to write both slow-burners and hard-hitting, melodically distinctive tracks. Suede are a real rarity in an era of Indie-Pop overflow. It’s almost as if Suede never been away!

5/5

Education: A Right or a Privilege?

Compulsory education is something the majority of people living in the UK will experience as they grow up, however reluctantly they involve themselves. But for 67 million children around the world, education is nothing but a pipe dream. Come September in the UK, a quarter of a million primary school places will be needed. So is education something everyone is entitled to or should it be considered a complete privilege?

Bursting At the Seams

According to a recent report by the BBC, 250,000 places will be needed in English primary schools by autumn 2014. The Spending Watchdog has stated one in five primary schools in England are currently full, or near capacity. The National Audit Office published further material showing that 80,000 extra places have been created over the past two years, but it’s simply not enough. And it’s not just primary schools that are straining to cater for the growing birth rate.

Just over one in six children did not get their first choice secondary school last year, and this climate can to lead to immoral (and occasionally illegal) behaviour by parents desperate to get their children the best education possible.  This includes forging references from the parish or applying with a fake home address. Surprisingly, this isn’t a recent predicament that parents face. In 2005 The Guardian reported that Margaret Gillespie, a deputy head teacher: “gave false information to two sought-after London secondaries, hoping that her daughter might get into one of them – only to have her world come crashing down when her lies were found out.”

Consequentially, her 11-year-old daughter was forced to leave the school she was attending just three weeks into her first term, and Gillespie’s story was plastered across national newspapers. It appears that the straightforward and less stressful approach should be honesty on your child’s application, and encouragement that they make the most of the school they enrol at. If the school is in an unfamiliar area or has a bad reputation this is obviously a cause for concern, but essentially all a parent can do is the best they can to give their child the right support at home with regards to education and morals.

Appreciation for Education

So what can be done to cater to the educational needs of Britain’s ever-growing population? Well it’s interesting to note that although many children were disappointed when they were not awarded a place at their first choice secondary school, 95.6% of applicants were offered a place at an institution that was in their top three preferences.

 Send My Friend to School

However for millions of children education just isn’t possible. Instead, they are forced to work for money to provide for their families. But the Send My Friend to School campaign, funded by Comic Relief brings together students and teachers all over the UK to educate young people about the necessity of education. After all, it is essentially many children’s ticket out of poverty. They intend to send out the message that aside from the initial anxiety of a longer journey to and from school or being split up from a close friend, an education in itself is something to be grateful for. Like many things in life, education really is what you make it.

Send My Friend to School is run by the Global Campaign for Education and encourages schools, youth groups and young individuals to highlight the global education crisis to the government, and also raises money to donate via ActionAid. Yet more work needs to be done if the target of no child without education is to be met, if the current progress rate of the campaign continues, by 2015 there will still be 48 million kids without a place to learn and study.

This year, the initiative has linked thousands of British children from 2,890 schools to “help 60 million children around the world get the education that is their right.” And that’s just it, education is a right. Every child, regardless of their family, upbringing or social status deserves the best start in life to give them the tools to build a future and a career. Without it, young people and the economic future of the planet have been deprived without even having a chance. More can be done to teach children what  a precious gift schooling is, and to give others the same gift. Because let’s face it, where would any of us be without education?

Draw Me Stories- ‘Cocoon Machina’ (04/02/2013 – Glasstone Records)

    Anglo-French quartet Draw Me Stories have worked with REM producer Charlie Francis to compose their debut album ‘Cocoon Machina’ (pronounced kuh-koon mah-kuh-nuh). They were formed in Cardiff in 2008 and released an acoustic album in quick succession along with their EP ‘The Sky and The Mirror’ in 2009 and a Double-A side in 2010 called ‘Oars/Becomes the Hunted’. The band describe themselves as “occupying the space between Art-Rock, Folk and Dance.” and have opted to write ‘Cocoon Machina’ from scratch rather than re-recording old tracks.

    It’s clear from the off that Draw Me Stories are an intensely rhythmic and very unique band, who blend electronic textures and unusual uses of percussion. Despite being hooked up with a top-notch producer and big time Producer, the band has kept their music strikingly simplistic and their lyrics as nature-orientated as possible. ‘Birdsong’ is the perfect opening to the record.

     ‘Animals’, which has already secured airplay on BBC Radio One and Amazing Radio, is the four-piece’s first single to be released from ‘Cocoon Machina’. Carl Holdgetts’ vocals and instrumentation are minimalistic, but the track seems sluggish but is saved by the ironically animalistic and tribal rhythms. Despite the fact that the album has a prominent theme, ‘Our Whole Bodies’ is an example of how varied and well-produced the individual tracks are. The layers of rhythms, vocals and melodies are seamless and reflect the same quality of Elbow’s early material.

   Draw Me Stories are one of the most experimental, yet remarkable bands you’re ever likely to come across. Even with its trance like backbeat, ‘III’ submerges the listener into a state of relaxation rarely created through music, let alone with electronic, syth and bass sections. The effortlessness and uplifting style of ‘Cocoon Machina’ also encourages an appreciation of the smaller aspects of life, such as the natural world, particularly in ‘Black Water Cave Part’. 

    The foursome has clearly stumbled across something very rare in the music business; a knack for writing and producing material that strikes at your emotions and thoughts without constant relation to human relationships, namely love or heartache. Their talents with both traditional and more unconventional instruments is specifically illustrated in ‘Black Water Cave Part 2’ and ‘Human Machine’, which immerse the listener completely. The only drawback of ‘Human Machine’ is its length as there is a danger of listeners’ interest.

   Sparing synthesisers and notable percussion add colour to a largely minimalist album but ‘Entracte’ commences so simplistically that it could be mistaken for a heartbeat. But even with additions of bass, it is, in a word passable. Yet the start/stop motion of ‘A Place behind Locked Doors/Refined Nostalgic Fool’ provides an upbeat element to ‘Cocoon Machina’ but still allows you to lose yourself as it plays.

   It’s safe to say that Draw Me Stories seem to have gone in a different direction for ‘Kaleidoscope’, with its odd blend of electronic build-up and outer-space sound effects. And ‘We Saw Things (without Our Faces)’ follows a similar, obscure route, with Dance components that wouldn’t go miss in an Enter Shikari track but ‘Blood Follows Grain, Grain Follows Blood’ reverts back to the daze enhancing conventions of the rest of the album.

  Draw Me Stories have truly done what many musicians fail to achieve in their entire career; compose something strikingly different, even undefinable yet enjoyable. The band’s flair for various instruments and styles has created a minimal, expressive and really poignant compilation.

4/5

Mok- ‘Rufio’ (30/03/2013 – Self-Released)

    Mok are a six piece high energy Rap, Pop and Dance band from Brighton who were formed in 2011. They are set to release their new single ‘Rufio’ on the 30^th of March. A launch party will be held at The Haunt in Brighton.

     The band has played at various festivals, including a headline slot at Meadowlands Festival and have shared the stage with the likes of Dizzee Rascal, Reverend and the Makers and Professor Green.

   It’s easy to see why Mok have supported such a variety of artists; because their music blends Indie backbeats with memorable lyrics and rap. But ‘Rufio’ comes across as so simplistic to begin with that it lacks sentiment. It isn’t until the female front woman smashes out her vocals that the unforgettable hooks that Mok are capable of emerge.

    The track’s build up leads to a combination of some of the best elements of different genres, which is probably why the band has so many members; in order to keep up with the varied styles. ‘Rufio’ also illustrates that Mok can effortlessly play Rock, but the fact that they’re attempting to market their own sound and flair is to be acknowledged.

    Although Mok have clearly merged their influences and inspirations to create something unique, the lack of emotion in their lyrics and repetitive, cyclic nature simply doesn’t outweigh their obvious passion in what they produce.

2/5

Comic Relief's Goals and Their Involvement in Other Charities

    Since it was founded in 1985 by scriptwriter Richard Curtis, Comic Relief has been striving to create a world free from poverty and social injustice. Their main mission is to “drive positive change through the power of entertainment.” But what’re they really about, and what can you do to assist the worthwhile causes they help?

Launch and History

    By holding a telethon each March, and launching their annual appeal, Red Nose Day, Comic Relief has already raised approximately £800 million for various causes. Furthermore, the charity has funded 15,786 projects to date, helping people in over 70 other countries, and this range and success truly reflects the power of a brand that has taken off. When it was originally launched, the idea of Comic Relief was to gather some of Britain’s best loved comedians to entertain the public and encourage them to donate. This has resulted in comedy legend Lenny Henry becoming one of the charity’s key figurehead’s. Henry has been involved with the Comic Relief education programme since its inception, and is currently a trustee of the organisation. Further to this celebrity endorsement they have numerous other corporate supporters, with the list including; Sainsbury’s, BT and the BBC.

Red Nose Day and Other Initiatives

    Red Nose Day was launched in 1988 and takes place every year, nevertheless the charity are also involved with various initiatives the year round, including Fairtrade and Africa UK. One of the campaigns they are invested in which really stands out is 1GOAL, a project which aims to help the 69 million children the world over who are unable to go to school. The charity unites footballers, fans, charities, corporations and celebrities to achieve their aim of education for everyone. Education is a basic right, and should be something we should all be entitled to, but for so many children, it is simply impossible. Most would agree that every child deserves the right to education; especially as it offers hope for the future for so many youngsters who are living in severe poverty. Education gives children the skills they need for more fulfilling and better paid jobs, the social skills they need for life, and the tools to work their way out of the trap of poverty. In 2000, 1GOAL aimed to send all children the world-over to school by 2015, and since then have achieved just that for about 40 million children. The organisation said, “It doesn’t have to be this way. Since 2000, 40 million more children are in school. Education beats poverty – and gives people the tools to help themselves.”

     Along with their involvement in other projects, Comic Relief has looked to expand themselves, in 2002, they teamed up with BBC Sport to form a new initiative; combining well-known sports personalities with a night of fundraising on the BBC. The event takes place every two years in a similar style to Comic Relief itself. Alongside the comic endorsement to Comic relief Sport Relief has its own advocates from the industry such as David Beckham, Andy Murray and Gary Lineker. Its events include the Sports Relief mile, The Great Sport Relief Bake Off and singles from the likes of JLS, McFly and Robbie Williams. Last year they raised over £50,000 thanks to its events and various sketch shows, as well as partnerships with Kellogg’s, The FA, Amazon and HSBC.

Why Get Involved?

     So what can the likes of you and I do to help Comic Relief keep doing the wonderful work they have been undertaking tirelessly for the past 28 years? Well, there truly is something for everyone, leaving few excuses not to get involved. These range from bake sales, selling some unwanted belongings on eBay, or even throwing a Red Nose Day party and passing round a collection tin. Comic Relief simply encourage the people of the UK to get involved in the battle against the world’s injustices. They use the money raised to research new campaigns, stop these injustices and to educate as many people as possible about the work they do. Curtis’ charity may provide an evening of entertaining television, but whatever you do don’t just be a spectator, whether it’s big or small,  get involved in one of the hundreds of campaigns and countless ways to raise money.

Why Bournemouth Has It All

     According to the Daily Mail, Bournemouth has recently been voted one of Europe’s best beaches thanks to the TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice Awards. Bournemouth’s seven-mile sandy stretch was ranked higher by voters than some beaches in Italy, Portugal and France. The pier was also voted as the best the UK has to offer.

   But Bournemouth is so much more than a beautiful beach! It truly has something to offer for everyone, especially students. As both Bournemouth University and the Arts University Bournemouth have both expanded considerably over the past few years, both appearance wise and with regards to the number of students, the town centre has simply had to keep up with the demand! Whether you’re willing to blow your student loan on nights out or not, there are endless sights to see and places to go. 

The Beaches:

     Bournemouth is home to several outstanding beaches, one of which is Boscombe, which has an artificial reef built for surfers to enjoy. But even if you’re not into riding the waves, it’s a stunning place to spend an afternoon relaxing in the sun, if you’re lucky enough to have any. It also has a pier where many tourists enjoy the spectacular views on offer.

     Bournemouth beach itself is just a few minutes’ walk from Boscombe and, in the summer months thrives with a fun-fair, a huge games arcade, mini-golf, the Bournemouth Eye inflatables for children and several shops along the seafront selling beach favourites from buckets and spades to fish and chips.

   Branksome Chine is Bournemouth’s quieter, more discreet and tranquil beach. It is quite a lot smaller than the others but is fantastic for some time away from the hustle and bustle of the town centre. It also has a beautiful restaurant called Branksome Beach Restaurant and Terrace Bar, which serves food and drink throughout the day and there’s even traditional English Afternoon Tea on offer from 3pm each day.

A lovely place to spend a spare day is Sandbanks. It is known for being a really luxurious as it has the fourth highest land value in the world, so the beach itself is very well-maintained. There is also a vast shop on the beach called Sandbanks Stores as well as restaurant. So if you’re willing to venture a little further and fork out a little extra, or even just explore how the other half live, Sandbanks is for you. 

The Shops:

    If you’re more of a retail therapy fan than a beach lover, look no further. Bournemouth is home to several shopping havens for all your purchasing needs. The majority of the town centre is pedestrianized, which is perfect for taking your time window-shopping. The town centre plays host to a wide range of stores, including tattoo and piercing studios, boutiques, fast-food restaurants, and of course clothing shops.

 It is also situated just in front of the world famous Bournemouth Gardens, which have been a tourist-magnet since their creation. And it’s no wonder, as they’re a wonderful place to kick back and relax with friends or family or to enjoy the stunning scenery.

Westbourne is known for being a very stylish and elegant area, offering a blend of designer shops, beauty stores and some truly enchanting restaurants, as well as coffee bars and delis to take a break at in between your shopping sessions.

  Boscombe is Bournemouth’s most quirky and welcoming district, with all your high-street needs taken care of. It’s a great place to find an original gift or trinket and is also well-known for its vast array of antique shops and open-air market which is open on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Castlepoint is one of the area’s most popular destinations solely for the huge variety of stores and restaurants it has. It is situated just three miles from Bournemouth town centre and there’s no need to look any further for all your favourite brand name stores, including Topshop, River Island and Dorothy Perkins.

The Night Life:

    As a student, typically you’ll be wondering where the best places are for a good night out. Well the list really is endless when it comes to Bournemouth’s night scene. Whether you love lively evenings or are content with something a little more chilled, the town centre has it all. It is known as one of the most vibrant towns along the South Coast due to the selection of jazz bars, cocktail bars (including the newly opened Vodka Revolution) and of course night clubs.

If you fancy some entertainment, the Bournemouth International Centre and Pavilion Theatre perform of many concerts, comedy performances and theatre productions straight from the West End. Bournemouth is also home to the Bournemouth International Centre and the Bournemouth O2 Academy if you’re a music fanatic, and gigs even take place in Bournemouth University’s club The Old Fire Station.

There’s even a Night Bus service, which is a really affordable way to get home after a night out. They run on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and cost just £3 for a single fare.

     Whatever you’re after, Bournemouth has it! It’s the perfect blend of all the tranquillity and beauty of a noble seaside town and everything a student could desire to get them through their days of studying. 

Choosing Your University: Things To Think About

As soon as you turn 16 nowadays, it seems university is all teachers talk about. Whether you decide to go to college, sixth form or enrol on an apprenticeship after year 11, university seems the logical next step for most students. If you’re serious about going into higher education there are a few things you really need to consider before making your decision.

Firstly, the course. Is the course right for you? Is there a good balance between the entry requirements being achievable for you and the course being challenging enough? Can you really see yourself being engaged with the subject of your choice for 3-4 years? There’s a great deal to bear in mind and with tuition fees more expensive than ever, it’s imperative the course you chose is the best choice for you.

Secondly, the university itself is also a significant aspect to consider. Is the Student’s Union good? Would you join any of the clubs and societies available to make your spare time more enjoyable? University is a fantastic place to meet new people, and those people aren’t always your house/ flatmates or course mates. Those ‘friends for life’ everyone says you’re bound to meet at uni can be those you meet outside of uni itself, so make sure there’s lots to do in your spare time, aside from enjoying the town centre and decent night life.

You also need to consider how close you want to be to your loved ones at home. Logically, if you’re really close with your family and have friends living and working in the area you have lived in and called home, you don’t want to go to a university that’s too far afield. You might also want to pop home for the odd weekend or have people come to visit you. The optimum distance from home for most students is about 2-3 hours from their home; far enough to gain independence but close enough to be able to keep in touch with those back home.

Finally, make sure you ask lots of questions about student experience, accommodation, finance and your course on the open day so you’re clued up on all the uni has to offer. There’s many aspects to consider but if you take them all into account, your time at university might just be the time of your life!

Good luck!

This blog was also published on the Bournemouth University website: http://microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk/apply-2013/2013/03/05/choosing-your-university-things-to-think-about/

Black Veil Brides- ‘Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones’ (08/01/2013- Lava/Universal Republic)

     Originally from Hollywood and formed in 2006, Black Veil Brides are a unique blend of Metal, 1980s and Gothic genres. They have been through various line-up changes since they released their debut music video ‘Knives and Pens’, leaving them with 7 ex members! In fact, only Andy Biersack, the band’s lead vocalist and keyboardist has been a member since their inception.

     In keeping with Black Veil Bride’s fundamentally dark image, ‘Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones’ has been available for pre-order since Halloween last year. The first single to be released from it, ‘In the End’ was offered instantly to all those who pre-ordered the record.

    The band also released ‘Legion of the Black’; a film that basically provides visuals explaining the Rock Opera concept behind the album.  It was issued as a 24-hour pay-per-view event on Facebook on January 6^th and a DVD is available with the deluxe version of ‘Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones’.

    Known mainly for their horrendous take on Gothic fashion and Kiss inspired-style Black Veil Brides are one of the most visually controversial bands around. But is there look just smoke and mirrors to conceal a lack of musical capacity?

    The record commences just as most concept albums do; with an interlude.  But the questionable spoken lyrics of ‘Exordium’, “The Kingdom of God is inside you…”, it appears Black Veil Brides are white-washing who they select as fans, not only through their appearance, but also excessive elements to their album such as this.

    ‘I Am Bulletproof’ is dynamic and makes it clear that Black Veil Brides know their niche and intend to maintain it. Although John Feldman, who has worked with Neon Trees and The Used, has made a real attempt to smooth the band’s edges and make them a little more commercial.

    But ‘New Year’s Day is proof that the band have retained their young audience and rebellious backbone,’ “Stand up we are united, in the eyes of the greatest storm.” Its use of strings and blistering guitar solos work surprisingly well together, yet they fail to blend into the transitional track that follows.

   There is nothing stand-out about the album’s title track and ‘We Don’t Belong’ is mellow yet has all the power and gang vocals of a politically-driven Rock track. The transitional tracks defeat their purpose and divide up the album into individual songs rather than a complete compilation.

    The lyrical themes of ‘Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones’ delve into spirituality, society’s failures and alienation is early life- classic concepts of a band desperate to entice unruly teens. The band even take a stab at piano-driven, symphonic power ballads with ‘Lost It All.’

   ‘Shadows Die’ might be made up of solid, stellar riffs but is simply underwhelming and ‘Days Are Numbered’ comes across as patronising and moralising despite its concrete instrumentation. However enchanting ‘Done For You’ is, it cannot be denied that Biersack appears as a vocally inferior Jared Leto. But ‘In The End’ is gritty, well-composed and above all, marketable.

      If you strip back their Kohl-loaded façade and focus solely on their music, Black Veil Brides produce some well-written and engaging material. But as they’re more preoccupied with attracting image-conscious, angsty kids and their focus is pageantry over performance, they are likely to have very little lifespan in the industry.

2.5/5