Pomegranates - Everbody Come Outside

Pomegranates are yet another addition to the ever-increasing list of indie-tinged Christian pop acts. This is their second album and their first on new label Heist or Hit. Every so often a band comes along that does this kind of music just right, effortlessly pulling the pieces together and creating something you can’t help but enjoy . Throughout this record there's an attention to detail that rewards careful listeners. It might be the subtle introduction of a new instrument, the unexpected echo of a guitar and its subsequent ear-to-ear radiation ,a flute-and-acoustic number that doesn’t suck, or an emphatic tambourine shake to make a song that much more animated. There’s enough depth and variety here to keep you entertained after the first listen. Allegedly, 'Everybody Come Outside' is meant to be a concept album, based on the idea of a young bloke leaving home before being abducted by a time traveler, in a space ship. Sometimes the very idea of a concept album can be off-putting, and one involving time-travely funny business might turn off some potential listeners straight away. Thankfully, Pomegranates are so good that they’re able to pull it off without diving into cheese territory. My faourite song is the 13 minute closer 'I Feel Like I'm A Million Years Old'. In parts it is very minimalist and repeats the same chord over and over, it feels like a very sleepy lullabye. In theory it should be tedious but to me it feels beautifully dreamy and is a perfect wind down from the previous track. This album makes you feel summery and jolly even in the middle of the rain, cold and shapeless knitwear of winter.

You can buy the album from the Heist or Hit website. The album is truly a great one and if you're a fan of The Shins, French Kicks or The Spinto Band then I can confirm this is an album for you.

Top 5

Now seems an apporpriate time for my first TOP 5.

1. My Backwards Walk - Frightened Rabbit
2. Not Miserable - Frightened Rabbit
3. Heart and Soul - Joy Division
4. All My Friends - LCD Soundsystem
5. Bathroom Gurgle - Late of the Pier*

You may notice the distinct lack of Florence + The Machine in this list. Florence, if your reading this, don't take it personally you are still my favourite person in the world and if you wish to talk to me (oh please god do) my email adress is like-u@hotmail.co.uk.

*This song includes some of my favourite ever lyrics; "Put your hands on your waistline and move you body to the bassline and get your hands on some cheap wine and just-a move it 'til you feel fine"

Frightened Rabbit

Due to the current air traffic crisis I have been stuck on my holiday in India for an additional 6 days. During this period I have had to cut down on the use of my iPod so as not to waste the battery, a circumstance which isn't greatly recieved by myself. Over these last few days I have realised a profound flaw in the contents of my iPod. My music collection is becoming less of a collection and more of a hoard, as I am amassing music at a far greater rate than I can listen to all of it. And as my collection has grown I find it increasingly harder to choose an album or artist to listen to. I tried the shuffle function but that is unsatisfactory as a large amount of the time it plays album tracks which sound odd without the rest of the album around them. But if I do find something I like I will then be compelled to download the entire back-catalogue of sed band or artist.


An occasion where this has worked beautifully in my favour was when after a customary trawling through of my iPod I stumbled upon 'Swim Until You Can't See Land' by 'Frightened Rabbit'. It's not like I hadn't heard the song before but the brilliance of the song and the band hit me. I then decided to download the rest of their latest album 'The Winter of Mixed Drinks' of which that song comes from and their two previous albums 'Sing the Greys' and 'The Midnight Organ Fight'. This decision I have not at all regretted as all three of these albums are some of the best I've heard and I say this cautiously but I would class them as my favourite band at the moment. I only say this cautiously as I don't really believe in having a favourite band or artist as they change according to mood. It seems to me like Frightened Rabbit's music changes according to my mood and the lyrics always seem personal in some way or another. Scott Hutchinson's lyrics are ezxtraordinary and those of you who are familiar with 'The Midnight Organ Fight' will have encountered the immortal lyric "You're the shit and I'm knee deep in it".


These songs have been the soundtrack to the last few months for me, and when you hear about adults talking about having soundtracks for their childhood, I think Frightened Rabbit may be the soundtrack to mine. To be perfectly honest, I really wouldn't mind obsessively listening to more of their Scottish folk-indie mix for the next five of so years.

Ellie Goulding

Oxford O2 Academy March 26th - Primary 1 and Ellie Goulding

Last night Ellie Goulding played at the O2 Academy in Oxford with the support of Primary 1. Primary 1 are a London based band who are incredibly well defined and enviabley gorgeous. They possess a sophisticated and addictive sense of damnation rival to that of the violinist's on the Titanic. They really did set the bar high for Ellie to beat but she definietly lived up to her growing superstar status and blew away the entire crowd. The pick of the songs definitely was 'Starry Eyed' in which everyone joined in unfalterring. Hopefully we will be seeing more to come from both Primary 1 and Ellie Goulding who both possess more talent in their toe nails than a large amount of artists in the charts at the moment.