CRY BABY | Pretty Boys (Plus B-Side) | Single Review

York four piece CRY BABY are back with their new single Pretty Boys, and have even gifted us with a B-side. If you’ve seen them live you’re probably familiar with these songs but if not you’re in for a treat. The recording of these tracks has kept in that raw gritty energy you get from these songs live.

Instrumentally both of these songs are some of their best, CRY BABY tracks are always full of powerful guitar riffs but they’ve strayed away from indie riffs in these songs, they’ve gone heavier. The drums in Pretty Boys really packs a punch, building up the energy straight away and keeping it at a high, this song is definitely one that will get a crowd going crazy. Brad Holleran’s bass provides such a gritty rhythm, that layered with the two guitars creates this really rocky sound. Olly Chilton’s guitar in this track is phenomenal, some of the licks within this song are real rock and roll, and the guitar solo at the end will tempt you into going back and repeating it.

The B-side of this song Differences, follows nicely from Pretty Boys, Jack Armstrong’s lyrics in the chorus “I need you to come and save me from myself / because I’m no good for my health” with the ghostly back-up vocals create an eerie feel to the song and dramatize the lyrics themselves.  A lot of the time when you hear the phrase “indie rock” it sounds heavily inspired by particular Manchester or Sheffield bands, but CRY BABY have brought out two indie rock songs that don’t sound like they idolise any particular band. They’ve got some heavy instrumental going on combined with Jack’s indie vocals create something a little bit different. I absolutely love the guitar melody within Differences, its sounds loose, easy and fun. Later in the song the guitars get more complex and go a little bit old school rock, it leaves your final impression of the song on a high.

CRY BABY - Pretty Boys - Spotify Link

Review by Holly Beson-Tams

Honey Lung | Stuttering Mind | Single Review

At the end of September Honey Lung released their new single Stuttering Mind. I only came across Honey Lung recently but they have to be one of my favourite new discoveries, I immediately fell in love with them and I’m sure you will too.

Stuttering Mind starts off with this dreamy guitar melody, that’s soon joined by the rest of the band and the vocals. Following on from their last release Sophomore, Stuttering Mind has confirmed this band are all about some shoegaze magic.

It’s so chilled, the kind of song you want to gaze out of the window at some scenic views whilst in the passenger side of a car ride or to dance around your room in your underwear with your eyes closed. It’ll make you feel like you’re still a teenager and remind you of all the good things in life. It really takes you away to this calm and reflective place in your mind.

The guitars are full of fuzz and reverb, that combined with layered vocals create this exciting bitter sweet sound. It’s Wolf Alice meets the Pixies with soft and hazy vocals from Jamie Batten. To put it simply Stuttering Mind is a beautiful song.

Spotify - Honey Lung - Stuttering Mind

Review by Holly Beson-Tams

BRIBES | She Sings Blues | EP Review

Bribes are a three piece originating from Liverpool, a city that’s producing some amazing bands in the underground seen at the moment, and these guys are right up there in our list of favourites. Myself and Ben (my right hand man at Denim+Leather) are both heavily into blues rock, when Bribes sent me their EP to listen to I immediately sent it to Ben, we both were a little stunned with a ‘woah…well then’. There’s only a few bands around trying to achieve that blues rock perfection, a genre I think is quite difficult to do right. Usually you listen to it and you’re like, where’s the blues? This is just rock. Or it’s a heavy White Stripes rip off. But I’ve got to say, Bribes have got this bang on. The EP, to put it simply is fucking awesome. Bribes released their EP She Sings Blues in May this year, it’s not that heavy but I imagine if you saw it live it’d be a different story.

The first song on the EP is the title track, the song is a rock and roll with that twist of blues that reminds me of artists such as The Raconteurs, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Band Of Skulls, three bands that are massive compliments to be compared to.  The guitars in this track have got such a raw distorted sound to just hook you in straight away, the vocals throughout the EP give Bribes a born rock star sound. With a bigger push on their social media to raise more awareness of their shows and EP these guys could sky rocket to play some incredible gigs. They’ve already played alongside big names like The Shimmer Band.

If the EP was a person it’d be a leather jacket, cowboy boot wearing whiskey drinking bad ass. Every track oozes coolness, it’s an easy listen full of sexy guitar riffs and lyrics full of desire. This is definitely one for people with a love of some good rock and roll.

Listen to the EP here - She Sings Blues Spotify

Review by Holly Beson-Tams