THE NOVEMBER FIVE - Throwing Rocks Against The Sun (*A REVIEW*)

It's been Three years since their critically acclaimed debut album If You Are Satisfied Then You Are Dead, and The November Five are still angry.   Their new relsease Throwing Rocks Against The Sun packages this rage into a parcel bomb of an album that when played explodes in your stereo. This is awe and some more some stuff. A soundscape of a disUnited and divided Kingdom painted with pounding rhythms, contagious choruses and guitars that chop and cut right through you. Compelling and incendiary stuff, caustic and catchy. Eleven atmospheric and anguished anthems howl at and kick against the cold clinical corrupt and corporate computer age climate. In this environment The November Five are keeping the engine of Music as Revolution running, they're a shining and polished example of Rock'n'Roll at its best, something that fuels the heart and feeds the head. The sound of 21^St Century Rhythm'n'Bruise with a touch of Gothic glamour added to the mix. Think The Stooges, Gang of Four, The Godfathers and Joy Division colliding at the crossroads. Throwing Rocks Against The Sun is a work of art, a life affirming and uplifting listen for times when a darkness descends. Do not ignore this machine! If you feel satisfied without giving The November Five a listen, then you really are dead! Check out their Facebook page.

THE NOVEMBER FIVE - A Little Knowledge (*A REVIEW*)

Three years on since their dynamite debut album If You Are Satisfied You Are Dead The November Five are all fired up with their explosive new single. A Little Knowledge b/w Hot Cell

These are two punchy power packed tunes that crunch, chop and crash their way into your cranium, enormous and epic, emotive and essential. This is life affirming Rock'n'Roll, a wake up call to the mediocre and mundane.  The band are currently working on their second album, due for release later this year and on the strength of this single it should be a good 'un! Get the new single and past products over at The November Five Website.

VIVE LE ROCK - Death Or Glory (A Compilation)

Right then, as the new issue of Vive Le Rock has hit the newsagent stands, with Johnny Thunders on the cover, and a great feature inside on the man, the myth and the murder. (No free CD, but a free double sided Thunders / Adam Ant poster) It's time to post the previous issues free disc.

Some of the bands on this CD need no introduction, like the sleazy Rock'n'Roll splendour of THE LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH for example, who kick off this 14 track collection with a remastered version of Things Go Bump. I've reviewed both THE REVERENDS and THE NOVEMBER FIVE's albums elsewhere on this blog, both were bought on the strength of their tracks; Give It Up Son and Here We Come from this compilation. I would have also spent cash on the MARK VENNIS & DIFFERENT PLACE one, but didn't have enough to spare, their track Portsdown Hill is a beautiful cinematic power pop ballad about the freedom of growing up. The piano pounding JIM JONES REVUE need no descriptions, Never Let You Go gets yer speakers rattling. With just a guitar and his voice PATRIK FITZGERALD is one of Britain great lost songwriters, his track Ambition is a testimony to that fact. Testify by DYNAMITE PUSSY CLUB is a mighty blast of garage punk. FLIPRON's Round and Round The Sun is a pop punk 60's psychedelic influenced tune, produced by Rat Scabies. Fun Police by THE FUCKWITS is just that, a fun knock about punk anthem reminiscent of Stiff Little Fingers. THE DESTRUCTORS are the purveyors of the finest Punk/Metal racket and turn in another mighty row with The End of The World is Coming Today. Never Let You Down by PIPES AND PINTS sounds like The Clash meeting The Pogues. THE GO GO CULT's My Baby Drives A UFO is a B-Movie Rockabilly romp. CHRIS POPE was the former singer/guitarist in mod punkers The Chords and Mutiny On The Thames is a catchy saxophone laced protest song. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah by the BLACKBOMBERS is a blast of Blues and Soul tinged Rock'n'Roll. Once again there's something for everyone here. Enjoy!

THE NOVEMBER FIVE - Closure / Flame (CD Single)

This is the debut single by The November Five, released in Feb 2009, and incendiary stuff it is to. What else is there to say that I didn't when I reviewed their album a few posts ago....oh yeah....these guys should be massive, forget yer Biffy Giros and Muse's. It's the Nov 5 that should be filling the stadiums and festival fields with their call to arms anthems like Flame....

“If you're satisfied you are dead. If you are happy with this life, go back to bed....If you're pacified you are a slave, you might as well start digging your own grave.”

This post goes out to Longy, a man with impeccable musical tastes, and a top fella.

THE NOVEMBER FIVE - If You're Satisfied You Are Dead (A Review)

If You're Satisfied You Are Dead is the debut album by London based band The November Five. It's an album that reflects the ever present paranoia, distrust and anger in post millennium Britain. The eleven tracks are tense and terse, vicious and violent, frantic and furious. It's a compelling, hypnotic collection of catchy and anthemic songs that suck you in and spit you out feeling alive yet wanting more. Great intelligent and emotional lyrics, with guitars that chop and chime, keyboards that swirl and a rhythm section that thumps, the vocals are reminiscent of 'the Two Ians' (Curtis from Joy Division and McCulloch from Echo and The Bunnymen) in fact it sounds like there's a whole post-punk 80's vibe going on. I Demand is a call to arms that sounds like Joy Division on angel dust, Good Cop Bad Cop sounds like a street fight between The Godfathers and Primal Scream. While Control sounds like Echo And The Bunnymen trading tunes with The Folk Devils. There are other bits that sound like long lost 90's bands Humanzi and Whipping Boy. The November Five have one boot in the past and another in the present, which makes it kickin' stuff! Simple no frills attached Rock'n'Roll that feeds the emotions. Beautiful, brilliant, exciting and life affirming stuff! Details of how to get a copy are on their facebook page.