A few weeks ago a friend mentioned to me that “you just have to check out the Kissaway Trail”. Having already endured half a dozen crappy myspace one hit wonders from this person I did my usual nod-and-smile, and forget about it. However, when I started reading a few blogs raving about them I thought that I’d give them five minutes. How glad I was that I had.

Sounding like Arcade Fire with a hint of Polyphonic Spree, this Danish five piece have the makings of joining the “big boys league” of innovative, epic, “take me to another place” rock that has had a fine, fine year with great albums from Muse, Arcade Fire and Polyphonic Spree.

Down to earth, the guys are very softly spoken for the music they make. Their debut single (which is in the video below) “Smother+Evil=Hurt” is reminiscent of the Polyphonic Spree at their accessible, storytelling best. They’re unafraid of mixing emotions – from the triumphant “la la las” of “Forever Turned Out To Be Too Long” through to the darkness of Sometimes I’m Always In Black – “When winter comes, don’t wash away my tears”.

Personally I feel that the album starts off at its best and then declines a bit as it goes on, however that is purely because it isn’t as accessible, immediate pop-songs of the initial two. However, the album is best heard when you can devote your entire attention to it in one go, when you continue to find more and more layers to it each and every time.

Dreamy at times and fully alert and pounding at others, The Kissaway Trail offer the mixed bag that is sure to garner much attention, and could become one of the slow burners of the year.

After the jump find their UK tour dates and the video for “Smother+Evil=Hurt”.

Photo is taken from eakena’s flickr stream.
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This week’s NME is reporting that Arcade Fire have planned their biggest ever UK shows in October and November, including some of their first arena shows. Bringing a bit of culture to the huge arenas will be a challenge which I’m sure they’ll rise to.

They’ll be playing:

Glasgow SECC (Friday October 26)
Manchester MEN Arena (Saturday October 27)
Newcastle Metro Radio Arena (Monday October 29)
Cardiff International Arena (Tuesday October 30)
Nottingham Arena (Wednesday October 31)
London Alexandra Palace (Saturday November 17)

Tickets are on sale on Friday at 9am.

Photo taken from ckemp’s flickr stream.

I thought I’d done a post about this Road To V Band that are destined for big things, but a quick search through the archives shows that I was very wrong!

The Outside Royalty are finalists in the competition, and are set to play the Islington Academy on Thursday night.

They are one of those bands that are unlikely to win the competition because they’re a bit too “out there” for most peoples liking, however deserve to go onto big things. Sounding like a more together Arcade Fire they combine epic songs with great storytelling about normal day-to day things. Hailing from Pittsburgh and relocating to London, the band are clearly on a mission, and look set to strike a chord with Londoners with their sharp dress sense and chaotic shows.

“Falling, Part 2″ is intricate, delicate and memorable. Just like music should be. Adam’s vocals fit the songs perfectly, along with their cast of more than able musicians. Their cover of the Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby is the stuff of legends, amazingly epic, and brings a new dimension to the Beatles. Similar to what Scissor Sisters did for Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb, this could be one of the covers of the year.

If nothing else you should check them out before they (hopefully) get massive later this year once they’re signed.