Teenage Mutant Ninja Crackheads - Roadmender, Northampton - 23/05/13

For a band who have existed for a relatively short period of time, and who have coped with the turbulent departure of band members, Teenage Mutant Ninja Crackheads gave a memorable debut performance. Lumbered with an opening slot, their set formed part of a Northampton College event at the Roadmender, Northampton. This wasn't really apparent, however - there was nothing amateurish about it. They have the same enthusiasm, if not more, of professional bands you may find at the venue on any given night. Perhaps lacking in technical proficiency at times, with a notable loss of lyrics, their obvious energy completely accounted for it. After all, isn't that what rock'n'roll is all about? A test of a good band is often their ability to cope when things don't go entirely to plan, rather when a set runs smoothly. This ability was apparent tonight, to a level you might expect of a band with years more experience. Stage outfits of Scooby Doo and a vampire? onesie (I'm not entirely sure), showed them as inherently quirky, although the drummer was lacking in said onesie, disappointingly! A variety of cover song choices including Paramore and Disturbed, portrayed their diversity and ability to switch between genres, although it feels necessary as they are obviously capable, for them to venture into the world of original songwriting. A band with these positive and endearing qualities, can only really go onwards and upwards. As their friends, I hope this will happen, and I'll promote and back them to the hilt, but as a music journalist, I honestly encourage you to encourage them. The music industry needs to keep fun bands alive. I hope I'm able to review their original music some time in the near future!

One Week Later...Tape Deck Heart - Frank Turner

It has been well over a week since the release of Frank Turner's 5th album, Tape Deck Heart. I reviewed what I heard the moment the record arrived, and initially I wasn't entirely convinced. However, time took the edge off of the unfamiliarity of a new record, and allowed a far more reliable view to form. This is not something I've ever felt the need to do before, but it became obvious that this record was desperately deserved of a second review.

It took a week of listening and musical-persistence to adjust to the new sounds and attitudes Tape Deck Heart is built upon. These differences have now sunk in, the lyrics more familiar, and suddenly, this record seems to make sense.The quirks I was looking for have become apparent, the high-standard of the album simply took some to fully process and appreciate. The relatability of Good & Gone, the reminder of impermanence embedded into Polaroid Picture - Tape Deck Heart discusses ideas not often commented upon in music. It may sparingly include the chirpy folk-rock sound of England Keep My Bones, but throughout, it beautifully represents tragedy and despair, and most notably, change. The person singing on this new album is not instantaneously recognisable - they are a sadder, broken version of the voice you have become accustomed to. A good album shouldn't be about what has been carried through from previous records though, it should be about the new ideas it brings. Some people took to this album instantaneously; I can't truthfully say that I did. These personal songs have slowly worn away at me though, the lyrics persistently refusing to leave my mind. Now, this record rarely leaves my stereo.

Honesty is not always an easy thing to project , so for someone in the public eye to share such personal ideas in an album is really quite admirable. Somewhere between the release of England Keep My Bones, and the creation of Tape Deck Heart, the Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls brand underwent some serious alterations. And as this decision helped shape the record, thank goodness it did.