Swiss Banks – RIP
Genre: Indie Rock, Alternative Rock
Similar artists: The Smiths, The Cure, Morrissey, Interpol, Echo and The Bunnymen, The National, Killing Joke
The great Richey Edwards named the lack of new exciting bands that one can find as one of the reasons why growing older was making him so depressing. Indeed, there is a risk of eventually finding the work of Buffalo Springfield to be fascinating, as the Manics guitarist mentioned. But, if that is such a danger, why not just look for more of the same?
Ah, this is the place where a fascinating and exhausting balancing act begins. You might be on the lookout for music that sounds just like your favorite band. But, record labels also know that you are bound to be going on this search. There’s a thin line between living on the coattails of past glories and using them to build something beautiful.
Swiss Banks’ RIP may have a lot in common with The Smiths, but, fortunately, they are earnest enough to give the music a real thrill. Not just that, but if you allow yourself to drift away for a second, you may just convince yourself that this is unreleased material from Johnny Marr & co. Is this enough to make you satisfied? Well, sounding nearly as good as one of the best groups of all time would make most happy. You might just be one of those people.
Collie Magnum – Started Something
Genre: Indie Rock, Alternative Rock
If you know anything about Alt77, you’ll remember that we are ready to promote any kind of alternative music, with the exception of guitar-rock originating from Finland. It is not that we don’t like the Northern-European nation. On the contrary. Helsinki is clean, nature walks are pleasant, and the sight of Finns carrying their bodyweight in alcohol on a ferry from Tallinn is bound to make one respectful.
The fact is that, generally, the Finns have something going against them. Their music lacks any sort of rhythmic inventiveness. Like a basketball player shorter than a chair, like a colorblind traffic warden, like a dyslexic man trying to read fairytales out loud, some things simply work against the Finns’ ability to make rock music.
But, alas, perhaps, we were mistaken. Collie Magnum’s Started Something swings as convincingly as a Britpop anthem, delivers excellent melodies, and even, dare I say it, makes the singer appear pretty cool. Clearly, this is music made under the powerful impression left by artists from the British Isles. And, it’s enough to make us admit the error of our ways.
