2014 Round Up: Favourite Gigs

Paramore

Reading Festival
Obviously any year where I get to see my fave trio is fantastic and every time i've seen them has been incredible but this Reading appearance, although having the potential to be destroyed because of shitty sound, actually ended up being more magical because of it. They prove to me time and time again why they're my favourite and, if possible, make me fall more in love with them. Side note: apologies again to those who were near us and heard our singing. You may have mistaken us for cats fighting.

Tonight Alive

Cardiff, Solus 27/11

Oh my days these guys have just become so heartbreakingly stunning live. Their Reading performance was amazing and a good warm up for this show but it had nothing on the passion and energy in that room. This tour felt important and that night felt poignant.

Fall Out Boy

Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena 15/03

Blargh, Fall Out Boy, still questioning how I made it through their four year break. I mean what a show this was - I got to see The Pretty Reckless, there was an acoustic middle, a drum solo and they played 'Save Rock And Roll.' Quite honestly it felt a lot like dying and going to heaven.

A Day To Remember

Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena 26/08
One cancelled gig, several months and a Reading performance a day beforehand and I was finally at their headline show which absolutely did not disappoint. The set list was excellent and the fun they bring to their shows was infectious enough to carry throughout the entire the arena which in itself is amazing to see them playing venues of that size. Just a couple of years ago I saw them in university cafe.

Taking Back Sunday
Bristol, o2 Academy 08/12

Finally. FINALLY. After something like 13 years listening to them I saw them live with my brother and sister and it was just everything I could have dreamed it being. Not many words are required here because they simply would not do the night any justice. They carry the prize for the loudest crowd moment i've ever witnessed.

The Wonder Years

Cardiff, Great Hall 06/05

They provide an emotionally charged, safe place to expel ones demons and make everything ok and for that I will forever be thankful. Whether at their own headline show or Reading festival they win all the awards and gratitude for simply existing.

We Are The In Crowd

Cardiff, Slam Dunk 27/05

Earlier in the year I saw them at their headline show where we had M+G and they were epic and then their Slam Dunk performance was even better. They're seriously coming into their own and becoming quite unbelievably striking.

La Dispute

Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach 17/05

The very first time I saw them and they were brilliant. They're so unique in their sound and performance, its very raw and the energy is like a shaken up bottle of coke just waiting to explode - which of course for King Park it does.

Mayday Parade

Cardiff, Solus 03/02

I discovered a new band, affirmed my love for another, finally got to see Man Overboard after years of trying and was turned into an emotional wreck thanks to the triple threat of 'Miserable At Best', 'Stay' and 'Hold On To Me.' Pretty standard then for a Mayday gig.

New Found Glory

Cardiff, Solus 23/11

I'll probably never tire of seeing these guys live especially if they keep dragging out songs like 'Hold My Hand' and 'The Story So Far' and, incidentally, bringing said band on tour with them.

Jimmy Eat World

Reading Festival
Like with Taking Back Sunday there aren't really any words that can describe how I feel when seeing Jimmy Eat World. There's a lot of nostalgia, tears and teethy grins. Plus, I saw them twice that day.

2014 Round Up: Favourite Songs

Lorde

Yellow Flicker Beat

Paramore

Tell Me It's Okay

Echosmith

Terminal

Fall Out Boy

American Beauty/American Psycho

Tonight Alive

The Edge

Charli XCX 

Boom Clap

Anavae

Hang Man (Parallel Version)

Bastille featuring Grades

Torn Apart

Bring Me The Horizon

Drown

Four Year Strong

Go Down In History

YOUTUBE PLAYLIST

Top Tunes: October/November

PVRIS - Let Them In

"I wanna feel something that's not the weight of your world in my head"

Taylor Swift - Out Of The Woods

"Remember when we couldn't take the heat, I walked out said i'm setting you free but the monsters turned out to be just trees"

Tonight Alive - Bathwater

"I watch the sun coming up over the trees and rooftops, it's like its piercing the sky I wish it all could just stop"

The Story So Far - Things I Can't Change

"This twitch in my fingers love/hate it lingers. Sent it direct but the point must have missed her"

New Found Glory - Hold My Hand

"I'm telling you for the very last time you better know"

Kids In Glass Houses - Matters At All

"As you passed out as a heart throb when you woke up in a day job"

Lorde - Ladder Song

"If I gotta go first I'll do it on my terms. I'm tired of traitors, always changing sides. They were friends of mine"

Paramore - Tell Me It's Okay

"Thought it was my right to be as sorry as I wanted to be, I wasted all my teenage years being a misery factory"

Echosmith - Terminal

"Mum and Dad i'm coming home, she cries out give me a place I know, familiar faces as she runs into their arms. They just want her home"

Transit - The Only One

"Here's where the horror hits home. I figured it all out on my own Heaven is what you make it, Hell is what you're putting me through"

YOUTUBE PLAYLIST

Take Me Back: Reading Festival 2014 (Friday)

After hurried packing a mere ten hours after returning to the UK I was in a car and on the way to Reading. Thursday went without hiccup unlike last year and the 'short walk to Tesco' fiasco. With a good camping spot, the near-by Tesco located and vodka in the system the mediocre fun fair almost seemed as exciting as Germany's Europa Park. 

Friday morning got off to a weird start with us taking spots at the main stage to watch Hacktivist followed by Crossfaith and if I was feeling sleepy two hours before then I certainly wasn't anymore.

With no time between the end of Crossfaith and the start of La Dispute, many would have witnessed my hysterical shrieking when the big screens came into my vision and frontman Jordan Dreyer was already on there shyly bouncing around. Their unique sound - and the list of people I know who like them being restricted to two - I was surprised to see the NME tent packed out. Looking around there were the kinds of people who were in attendance at the epic Cardiff headline show I caught earlier this year but also a wide array of people who I would've never have guessed were fans. Typically, the band played flawlessly with tracks mostly from their beautiful masterpiece Rooms Of The House with older tracks like the weighted 'a Letter' cropping up every now and then.
With his face bloody and voice shaking Jordan broke out of storyteller mode just long enough to timidly talk to the crowd about their best friends Touche Amore whose frontman joined the band onstage causing an excited uproar in the tent for a fantastic send off to La Dispute whose set unfortunately had to end. Whilst my heart swelled with pride at the sizeable crowd the five piece managed to capture I almost wish they'd been put in the Lock Up tent for a more intimate show like the Clwb gigs I favour over everything.

***

I've managed to lose about three hours of my life as I honestly couldn't tell you what I did after La Dispute and before Jimmy Eat World's first appearance of the day. Something about Jimmy Eat World makes me feel euphoric. These guys are verging on gods of my world. Completely adorable and with faultless music the grin that takes over my face when I see them could push Lewis Carroll's Cheshire off the charts. Opening with 'Bleed American' the crowd was wild from the start right to the kinda ironic end 'The Middle.' The crowd were with them the whole way through yelling along on those upbeat tracks 'The Authority Song' and 'Sweetness' or attempting to sing in key on the softer songs 'I Will Steal You Back.' I have a relatively short list of places I would happily stay stuck in a loop for forever and Jimmy Eat World gigs are pretty near top spot.

***

Staying at the main stage Enter Shikari were next to entertain our ears and just like back in 2012 it didn't take long for me to start questioning whether we were actually going to make it out of this crowd alive. To say that Shikari fans are enthusiastic would be the biggest understatement I could ever make. 'Solidarity' right through to 'Gandhi Mate, Gandhi' sees the craziest crowd melt under the sun until Rou just can't help but get educational on us all. Pre-'Anaesthetist' the crowd found ourselves cheering him on as he rambled about the NHS and the morons who run our country and whilst the chaos was momentarily calm it didn't take much to open the pits once more.

***

Checking all limbs were still attached we collapsed outside the Lock Up stage and heard some of Brody Dalle's set but with a crowd of people trying to get Greg James' attention we were distracted. Starting off as just two girls it wasn't long before what seemed the whole of Reading was gathered calling to him and throwing their demo's. Turning away for thirty seconds I near enough broke my neck when one of the mob screeched Paramore. Sure enough my favourite trio had taken seats in the Radio One balcony for their pre-show interview. Ecstatic and near bursting with excitement to be reunited with our Tennessee babes we unashamedly stared at the backs of their heads for half an hour until earliers reluctant goodbye to Jimmy Eat World came to an end.

It's at this point in the post I feel I should give a mention to how atrocious the sound had been so far that day. Most of the mics were no where near turned up enough and Jimmy's second appearance was almost twenty minutes late because of the sound system and when we finally got off to a start it turned out to be a false one with guitars having to be switched around as the sound was so bad. But anyway, I stood there kicking myself that I hadn't put a bet down that their headline set was to be Futures in full. The Reading Festival set time people were not in my good books as we could only catch 'Futures' 'Just Tonight...' 'Work' and 'Kill' before our final goodbye and mad dash to the main stage. It's Paramore time.

***

Joining a train of people determined to get a semi-decent position (yes, for Paramore I would be one of those people) we found ourselves stationed centre left of the stage in a mix of people that had faces of skeptics yet the moment 'Still Into You' blasted through the speakers the crowd was dancing and singing along with such force I thought we were going to jump the band right off stage.
Continuing with 'That's What You Get' I could feel everyone being absorbed by the magic of Paramore. Hayley spins and stomps her way around the stage probably throwing real-life fairy dust as she goes and Reading is falling hook, line and sinker for the blue-haired pixie and her best friends destroying the stage alongside her.

'For A Pessimist' starts off their feistier performance followed on by the ultimate angry song - 'Ignorance.' And the crowd is there with them screaming the first verse raring for the chorus when... nothing. The sound is out. Silence strikes the crowd before the murmurs and realisation that they don't even know hit us. Fingers crossed the sound will come back quickly the crowd carries on singing and sure enough before the last chorus the sound is back and impressively we're still singing in time.

Oblivious, 'Pressure' and 'Decode' go by without a hiccup when mid-speech and disaster strikes again. The 80,000 strong crowd stand there wondering just how long they're going to let Hayley talk before someone tells her we can't hear. Eventually, thanks to the front row, she's clued in and suddenly on a mission to figure this out. The crowd boos and chants mean things at the sound people unforgiving for the interruption of the best damn hooks of the last decade. Miming a mock temper tantrum Hayley plants herself on the Paramore box and tells us how they refuse to move until the sound works again - thank god, I was nearing a break down at the thought of their show being pulled. Some fifteen minutes later the trio sit together and we're told the system is down. The three may be terrified that they've lost it now but the worry need not exist as an acapella version of 'The Only Exception' takes place leaving the hairs on the back of everyone's necks standing on end. A landmark show in the bands' timeline truly became one to remember, initially for the wrong reason but the fandom united there and turned the disaster into a stunning moment in the trio's career.

Taking her spot in front of the keyboard 'Last Hope' reduced a good half of the crowd to tears with its brutally honest lyrics, I for one would be happy to watch Paramore play that song forever. Bringing it back to old school tunes 'Brick By Boring Brick' was followed by 'Misery Business' and one dinosaurs chance to be a part of Paramore history when she was handed the coveted golden mic for that killer bridge part. If by now the fandom wasn't already in pieces the trio's next move most certainly tipped us over the edge. RIOT's dark 'Let The Flames Begin' complete with the hair-raising outro continued into it's sister song 'Part II' and let me tell you I could see nothing through my tears. Any remaining doubters out there were soon silenced as their exceptional talent was blindingly obvious and undeniable as they poured their heart into those intense ten minutes.

Sadly it was nearly time to say goodbye but not before they had us all grooving once more to two self-titled tracks 'Proof' and and near everyone's new favourite Paramore song 'Ain't It Fun.' As we all sang 'don't go crying to your mama...' my brain tried desperately to make sense of this band and how it's possible to be so bloody incredible. I walked away from the main stage that night with the confirmation that being part of their fan base makes me part of something and that night that 'something' felt bigger than ever - the world truly is theirs and I don't think anyone dare complain.

Top Tunes: August

Lights - Up We Go

"Here in a familiar place we got our heads down and we pretend its cause the night is dark and running out of space for us to run around but its a dead end and money's tight"

Paramore - The Only Exception @ Reading

Jimmy Eat World - The Middle @ Reading

A Day To Remember - End Of Me @ Reading

Tonight Alive - Lonely Girl @ Reading

YOUTUBE PLAYLIST

Paramore: Intro's & Outro's

For ten years now Paramore have been one of my favourite bands. I've laughed, cried and grown up with their music. There's something so legendary about them they're one of those bands that in 50 years time people will still know their name, blast their music and wish they were at a Paramore gig. I don't think i'll ever come close to explaining what they mean to me and just how spectacular I think they are and to be honest I won't even try, but this isn't a post dedicated to the beauty that is Paramore this is a post more specifically dedicated to the beauty that is their intro's and outro's that they play at live shows. These are in no particular order because quite frankly picking favourites out of these would be impossible...

Monster Outro/Part II

Seeing Paramore for the first time since becoming a trio at Reading Festival 2012 I got to see the chilling outro to "Monster." The stage lights dropped and became a quick assault of bright flashing lights that matched the urgency in the music. Fast forward to April 2013 and the Paramore fandom's first listen to their self-titled record revealed that the so-called 'Monster outro' was actually from "Part II." The sneaky three had been playing part of a new song the whole time.

In The Mourning with Landslide 

After the departure of the Farro's "In The Mourning" was the first song we heard by the new found trio. Early 2011 Hayley and Taylor posted a video of them playing the song acoustically and later on it was released full band. If the song wasn't already heartwrenching enough the band started tagging on Stevie Nicks' "Landslide" with a transition so effortless the younger fanbase might not have even known it's not their song. 

Brand New Eyes Intro

If there was ever a Paramore intro that the entire fanbase wished was an actual song the BNE tour intro would be it. It is dark from its core like no other Paramore song. Opening with guitaring reminiscent of creepy psycho thriller films Hayley joins Josh on stage and begins reciting her most haunting lyrics yet, 'now you've grown a lot and your dresses don't fit right, your daddy's not a hero he stole your chariot,' and the music explodes full band. The drumming from Zac and Taylor goes right through you and Hayley jumps around the stage like she's been possessed by her own song. She does sing 'there's evil in your heart and it wants out to play' mind. 

Miracle Outro

You don't have to be at all religious to be completely mesmerised by the beauty of this hymn inspired outro. Intricate music and delicate vocals builds into Paramore style explosion so clearly full of passion it's hard to not to find yourself sobbing watching it. I remember first hearing this and being completely flawed, it really is miraculous. 

Let The Flames Begin Outro

"Let The Flames Begin" is one of Paramore's darker songs that packs a lot of power and even more so now we have "Part II."  The outro features the same epic music, sped up and 100 times more colossal filling up even the largest arenas with unmistakable electrifying atmosphere. Then in comes Hayley with her devastating vocals making the whole thing a striking performance.

Spring Tour Intro

One of the simpler intro's but no less amazing. Gorgeous guitaring and background drumming for the first minute before Zac's signature crashing drums turn this from a luscious musical intro to an immense one. The timing of the tour and the one lyric - Hayley defiantly belting 'we're starting over' - made this quite hard hitting at the time and nothing less than dazzling.  

Honda Civic Tour Intro

Letting the music do the talking again the set-up on stage with the curtains up and white lights in time with those clashing drums truly brought this intro to life. I could listen to these intro's all day long they're so magnificent with the way they build becoming these staggering pieces of music with multitudes of layers, where the more you listen the more you hear, taking your mind on a whole new journey and turning it into something different it's mind boggling how they manage it time and time again. 

Here We Go Again with One Armed Scissor

Whenever I hear this I just think SO MUCH YES. Something about old songs and this outro turns Hayley into some sassy little beast and her vocals all rough around the edges and the way it flows together so perfectly I missed them playing this and was glad when they brought it back for a while.

YOUTUBE PLAYLIST

Top Tunes: April

Bastille - No Angels (Feat Ella Eyre)

"So no, I don't want your number, no I don't wanna give you mine and no I don't wanna meet you nowhere, no don't want none of your time"

Natives - Ghost

"How many times, do I have to tell you twice until you realise you've almost crossed the line"

Tonight Alive - The Edge

"All those words we spoke in vain, I still recall the bitter taste. I guess some things never change"

Paramore - Escape Route

"Just enough time to plan an escape route, I put my map on the wall in the basement, not quite a victory to run from your problems but it's the only plan that I got"

Anavae - The Wanderer

"Floating down these empty corridors, your mind is dark, your head is full of flight"

YOUTUBE PLAYLIST

Reading Festival 2014

Reading Festival is always the highlight to my summer to the point where I get my ticket before the line-up is even announced. This summer i'm off travelling Europe for six weeks to return for a mere ten or so hours before I hop on another train to musical heaven. These are my initial favourites so far from the line-up...

PARAMORE

Their last Reading appearance was in 2012 before the release of their incredible self-titled album. Since then the trio have somehow managed to grow and grow and i've seen them three times since. They never fail to disappoint and this years' set is sure to be crammed full of their newer songs to get the whole crowd dancing/jumping away. A co-headline spot is more than well deserved I just wish it was a full headline position as at this point they're more than capable of handling it.

BLINK-182

Taking one of the headline spots Blink are sure to bring a lot of fun to the final night. The last time I saw them they played a set full of the cheeky classics as well as their slightly more grown up tracks. Drunken dancing - or flailing would be more accurate - is bound to happen. And after the crowd they pulled in the last time they headlined I can't imagine i'm going to be the only one flailing wildly.

A DAY TO REMEMBER

Last month Jeremy was struck with illness hours before their Cardiff show where I was to see them for the second time. With that show now re-scheduled for the Tuesday after Reading it means i'll be seeing them twice in not much more than 24 hours. And I am buzzing. Common Courtesy is a cracker of an album and will set this show on fire.

JIMMY EAT WORLD

Long time favourites of mine are returning to Reading where their back catalogue of fantastic albums will give them plenty of choice in what to grace our ears with. In November I finally managed to see them for the first time and Bleed American tracks went down a riot so i'm hoping there's plenty of them.

YOU ME AT SIX

It's got to the point where it would feel weird if a year went by where I didn't see them. Regulars on the Reading scene I already know that they're going to bring a brilliant performance and hopefully we'll hear some tracks from their fourth rock effort Cavalier Youth. 

LOWER THAN ATLANTIS

More regulars Lower Than Atlantis have been working on their new album and i'm hoping that they decide to play some of these new tracks. 

NECK DEEP

Fast risers on the pop-punk scene Neck Deep give a charged and passionate performance that in a festival setting can only get better. I'm thinking their set could be their best to date.

IMAGINE DRAGONS

Last year they played the NME tent which was overflowing with people. There were people everywhere and all were saying they should have been on the main stage. This year we got our wish. 

READING 2012

Thursday/Friday

Saturday

Sunday/Monday

READING 2013

Wednesday/Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

2013 Round Up: 10 Favourite Gigs

Fall Out Boy 

Reading Festival

Their return really has been one of my favourite things about this year. With 2 albums, a UK tour to look forward to next year and simply the fact they are around again makes me grin ear to ear. Their Reading Festival performance turned me into a sobbing wreck... to think i'd been joking about them coming back and playing Reading for well over a year. The only downside was missing City And Colour.

The Wonder Years

Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach 17/11

This one was a toss up between the first time I saw them this year at Slam Dunk and their actual headline show last month. I've gone with the headline show simply because I mention Slam Dunk later but also the line-up was incredible. They've always been one of my favourite bands but after seeing them twice this year they are also now a favourite live band and I intend to be at every show possible. 

Paramore

London, Wembley Arena 28.09

Another favourite band toured the UK this year and of course I just had to go to three shows. I was in shock for the first one, Cardiff, the second - Birmingham - was my birthday and the third was pure perfection. Everything about these shows was 100 times better than all the other times i've seen them. They're happier, they're better and it was stunning start to finish.

Four Year Strong
Cardiff, Slam Dunk 28/05
For the spotters out there it's probably worth mentioning that this picture isn't actually Four Year Strong but Pierce The Veil I just happened to only take the one photo that night because the rest of it was crazy. Years after the first time seeing them myself and my brother secured ourselves barrier positions to watch them again after being blown away by The Wonder Years previously.

Anavae
Plymouth, The White Rabbit 16/15
It was a last minute attempt at convincing my dad to take me to see Anavae and an even more last minute thing that they'd be staying at my house afterwards. I spent the day working out how to fit the five of them into my tiny attic room, then watched them play a brilliant set and hung out with them the next day. It'll probably remain one of my most favourite memories ever.

Jimmy Eat World 

London, Brixton Academy 19/11

After discovering the venue had a sloped floor and thus making it my favourite I also got to see one of my long time favourite bands play the most incredible set list ever on my friends' birthday. 

30 Seconds To Mars

Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena 14/11

With You Me At Six as their support - who I hadn't seen since The Final Night Of Sin - I was eager to be at one of these UK shows. Due to Natives postponing their headline tour until next year I managed to get to Cardiff for what turned out to be not only a night full of musical brilliance but an all out stunt show too. Madness.

Tonight Alive

Bristol, The Fleece 29/05

Yet another tour with a fantastic line up. Gavin Butler showing off his solo ability, Transit who i'd been dying to see live (and who didn't disappoint) and then of course Tonight Alive playing a belter of a set to an intimate crowd. What was not to like?

Bastille

Reading Festival

They've grown and grown in popularity this year which was evident from the packed out tent. The heat was high, the atmosphere was amazing and Bastille showed off their ridiculous amounts of talent.

All Time Low

Bristol, 02 Academy 12/02

This feels like forever and an age ago, in fact I almost completely forgot that i'd seen them this year! As per usual the night was fun, the set list was brilliant and the dick jokes were terrible but I couldn't help but laugh anyway. It was also the first time I ever heard 'Therapy' live which was undoubtedly the highlight. 

2013 Round Up: Favourite Albums

Anavae

Dimensions

Favourites: Anti-Faith, Dream Catcher, Bring Me Down

Favourite people + favourite band = favourite album. It's simple as really. I think i've harped on about these guys enough the past two years so it's probably no surprise that they're at the top of this list. And just in case you feel like you haven't read enough I reviewed the EP here as well.

Paramore

Paramore
Favourites: Last Hope, Ain't It Fun, Anklebiters

I stand by everything I ever said about how amazing this album is. From start to finish is pure perfection that boasts the most exceptional talent. There really is a song for everyone on this album and it's content made their shows 1000 times better, taking you on a 10 twist upside down emotional roller-coaster.  

Fall Out Boy

Save Rock And Roll
Favourites: Young Volcanoes, Save Rock And Roll, Where Did The Party Go

Every now and then I get this realisation that they're actually back and it never stops feeling like the best thing to ever happen. Save Rock And Roll opens with theatrical stomping music and finishes with the lyric 'oh no we won't go, we don't know when to quit' and I accompanied it with my own personal backing track of tears, lots and lots of tears... well, sobbing, really. 

A Day To Remember 

Common Courtesy
Favourites: Life @ 11, End Of Me, Sometimes You're The Hammer...

Battling with their former record label to release this album - and winning - is turning out to be a fantastic decision on their part as most have called it their best album to date and I can't help but agree. Everything about this album is more. The heavy songs are heavier, the soft songs and softer and the pop-punk is, well, pop-punkier. They're a band who have perfected the art of writing songs that are bound to become cherished by their fans and gain them new ones too. 

Tonight Alive

The Other Side
Favourites: Hell And Back, The Fire, You Don't Owe Me Anything

The amount this band has grown from their debut What Are You So Scared Of? to their phenomenal second album The Other Side is incredibly impressive. Darker and dripping with emotion it's gripping right the way through. Previously seen as perhaps just another pop band, the people doubting the Aussies might just start taking them for serious contenders in the industry with this stunning album. 

The Wonder Years

The Greatest Generation
Favourites: The Devil In My Bloodstream, Madelyn, Dismantling Summer
Pop-punk's finest once again presented us an amazing album that packs a punch to the 'ole emotions and would make my English teacher giddy with the clever song writing brimming with metaphors. 

Transit
Young New England
Favourites: Lake Q, Thanks For Nothing,  Hang It Up
Opinions are incredibly divided about the bands fourth full length but I stand by my original review and am still completely in love with this album. It's melodies remind me of summer and I forced the album upon my brother who found himself re-obsessed with Transit and has been green with envy ever since I saw them live and he didn't.

Bastille
Bad Blood
Favourites: Icarus, Bad Blood, Weight Of Living Pt. II
I see this album as a work of art and for a debut it's pretty impressive. Every song tells a story, one that can be seen in your mind like a film playing out behind your eyelids. Lots of clever vocal work and added touches here and there like orchestra arrangements or subtle piano to the more gigantic beating of drums turned every song into something special and soon managed to secure itself a position as one of my favourite albums of the year... or perhaps even ever.

Lorde
Pure Heroine
Favourites: A World Alone, Ribs, Team
You're all probably sick of hearing Royals or are scoffing at my choice here because you believe all the rubbish publications like to print about the seventeen year old singer but I wonder how many people have actually given this album a chance. After finding it impossible to get Royals out of my mind I checked out more music by Ella Yelich-O'Connor and discovered a gorgeous voice with a flawless range and songs that seem to completely describe being a teenager. With a poet mother her lyrics are carefully chosen and make her seem wise beyond her years whilst at the same time depicting being young and destroying this false image of teenagers at the same time.

Panic! At The Disco
Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!
Favourites: This Is Gospel, Girls/Girls/Boys, Nicotine
Fourth effort was once again something completely different and equally intriguing. Using the darker side to their hometown, Las Vegas, as his muse Brendon Urie once again told a simple story with a lot of long words and unforgettable melodies.

Honourable Mentions:
City And Colour - The Hurry And The Harm
Man Overboard - Heart Attack
Mayday Parade - Monsters In The Closet
Jimmy Eat World - Damage
Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal

Take Me Back: Paramore (21/23/28.09.13)*

An assortment of dodgy photographs of Paramore live at:

Cardiff Motorpoint (21.09.13)

Birmingham LG Arena (23.09.13)

Wembley Arena (28.09.13)

Review here.