Sophomore Songs Archives | XS Noize

GRAMMY nominated hit songwriter ERIC PASLAY announces Belfast show

October 3, 2023

Platinum-selling, GRAMMY-nominated hit songwriter, artist, and performer, country artist Eric Paslay delivers a powerful punch. He’s celebrated five No.1 hits, with four of those ranked among the “Top 100 Songs of the Decade” by Country […]

DECLAN MCKENNA announces details of a UK headline tour for 2024

October 3, 2023

Declan McKenna is excited to announce details of a UK headline tour for 2024 in support of his forthcoming album, What Happened To The Beach? The new dates kick off on 23 March at Cardiff […]

SLEATER KINNEY announce new album ‘Little Rope’ & share video for first single ‘Hell’

October 3, 2023

Sleater-Kinney has announced their eleventh studio album, Little Rope, which will be released January 19, 2024, via Loma Vista Recordings with a hauntingly intimate music video for lead single “Hell”, directed by Ashley Connor and […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Slow Pulp – Yard

October 2, 2023

The sophomore effort from Slow Pulp, Yard, builds on the hugely promising groundwork laid by their fine debut effort Moveys, which was released in 2020. Yard continues the themes of introspective reflection, only this time […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Jorja Smith – Falling or Flying

September 28, 2023

How many people can say by age 21 that they have toured and collaborated with Stormzy and Drake before even releasing their debut LP? With her debut LP Lost & Found taking five years to […]

BOOK REVIEW: Sophomore Songs by Clarke Geddes

August 29, 2023

How does one become qualified to write a fictional music novel? The author of Sophomore Songs offers some clues. Growing up reading NME, doing a stint at Clash, drumming for several bands on and off, and […]

BOOK REVIEW: Ziggy Marley – Music Is In Everything

January 16, 2023

Back in 2020, Ziggy Marley teamed up with Lisa Loeb to release a catchy and infectious song that will get people of all ages to sing along called “Music Is in everything”. This song which […]

‘Pop’ at 25: Looking back at the orphan child in U2's discography 2

‘Pop’ at 26: Looking back at the orphan child in U2’s discography

March 3, 2022

In March of 1997, 26 years ago, U2 released their much anticipated ninth studio album POP; for fans and critics alike, it quickly became their most polarizing release. There is a prevailing feeling that POP […]

CLASSIC ALBUM: Duran Duran – Duran Duran

June 17, 2021

This week sees the 40th anniversary of Duran Duran’s self-titled debut album. XS Noize looks back on this momentous release from a band that would become the ‘Fab Five’ of the ‘80s. It was December […]

LIVE REVIEW: PJ Harvey at Camden Roundhouse

October 3, 2023

In 1991, Polly Jean Harvey formed PJ Harvey as a three-piece with Rob Ellis and Ian Oliver. Based on their first performance at a skittle alley in Charmouth Village Hall in 1991, when they cleared […]

LIVE REVIEW: Public Image Ltd at Kentish Town Forum

October 2, 2023

With an eight-year hiatus, since PiL released their last LP, PiL’s devoted fan base was elated that not only a new album, End Of World, has finally been released but an impressive 38-date tour, including […]

XS Noize Best Albums of 2018

December 22, 2018

2018 has been an incredible year for albums. The year saw the strongest new acts in decades release their debuts, as well as a number of alternative legends returning to top form. The world of dance […]

The Best Of October 2018 PLAYLIST + ROUND-UP

October 29, 2018

Welcome to the October 2018 edition of our monthly new music playlist, which is available to listen to and watch via YouTube. If you enjoy any of the songs featured here, we encourage you to support […]

IN FOCUS// Field Day 2023 with Aphex Twin, Bonobo, Arca and others at Victoria Park, London

August 22, 2023

Victoria Park is a place of yearly festivities and grand summer concerts. On the 19th of August, one of the most creative and mysterious electronic music producers – Aphex Twin – had a hugely awaited […]

IN FOCUS// STIFF LITTLE FINGERS at Custom House Square, Belfast

August 21, 2023

Following their SOLD OUT Custom House Square show in 2022, Legendary NI Punks STIFF LITTLE FINGERS returned to Custom House Square for another special night in Belfast on Saturday, 19th August 2023, alongside an all-star line-up […]

GRAMMY nominated hit songwriter ERIC PASLAY announces Belfast show

October 3, 2023

INHALER announce Belfast show at the Ulster Hall on Thursday 9 November

October 2, 2023

The Ulster Hall show will be the penultimate date of their huge CUTS & BRUISES world tour, the final date being a homecoming arena show – their biggest headline to date – at Dublin’s 3Arena […]

JUNODREAM announce February 2024 UK headline tour

October 2, 2023

Today, dream rock four-piece junodream announce a brand new tour for February 2024 in support of their upcoming debut album Pools Of Colour, out on 26th January via AWAL. Alongside the tour dates, the band […]

INTERVIEW: Erene Mastrangeli talks latest single ‘Love, Shine’ & her new album

September 27, 2023

Regarded as Italy’s answer to Joni Mitchell, Erene Mastrangeli’s music entices flashbacks to the sounds and famed artists of yesteryears, notably the 70s, a decade which heavily influences Erene and the songs she shares with the […]

INTERVIEW: Big Gigantic & AHEE talk about their new single ‘Oh Dang!’

September 26, 2023

Electronic dance music duo Big Gigantic, Dominic Lalli and Jeremy Salken teamed up with bass music producer AHEE to create a funk-filled, drop-heavy banger of a track, “Oh Dang!” After emerging in 2009, Big Gigantic […]

INTERVIEW: Glasgow-based trio Everyday Pharaohs discuss infectious new single ‘Skelmo’

September 19, 2023

The Glasgow-based Everyday Pharaohs have been making waves in the music scene for some years now, becoming a regular name gracing the city’s venues. After recently releasing the uplifting and highly infectious ‘Skelmo’, I thought […]

INTERVIEW: Princess Goes discuss their evolution in ‘Come of Age’

September 28, 2023

In episode #148 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar meets and speaks to Michael C. Hall, Peter Yanowitz and Matt Katz-Bohen from Princess Goes about their 2nd album Come of Age. Come Of Age […]

Podcast

GRAMMY nominated hit songwriter ERIC PASLAY announces Belfast show

DECLAN MCKENNA announces details of a UK headline tour for 2024

SLEATER KINNEY announce new album ‘Little Rope’ & share video for first single ‘Hell’

Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Slow Pulp – Yard

ALBUM REVIEW: Jorja Smith – Falling or Flying

Book Reviews

BOOK REVIEW: Sophomore Songs by Clarke Geddes

BOOK REVIEW: Ziggy Marley – Music Is In Everything

Classic Albums

‘Pop’ at 26: Looking back at the orphan child in U2’s discography

CLASSIC ALBUM: Duran Duran – Duran Duran

Live Reviews

LIVE REVIEW: PJ Harvey at Camden Roundhouse

LIVE REVIEW: Public Image Ltd at Kentish Town Forum

Round Up

XS Noize Best Albums of 2018

The Best Of October 2018 PLAYLIST + ROUND-UP

In Focus

IN FOCUS// Field Day 2023 with Aphex Twin, Bonobo, Arca and others at Victoria Park, London

IN FOCUS// STIFF LITTLE FINGERS at Custom House Square, Belfast

GRAMMY nominated hit songwriter ERIC PASLAY announces Belfast show

INHALER announce Belfast show at the Ulster Hall on Thursday 9 November

JUNODREAM announce February 2024 UK headline tour

INTERVIEW: Erene Mastrangeli talks latest single ‘Love, Shine’ & her new album

INTERVIEW: Big Gigantic & AHEE talk about their new single ‘Oh Dang!’

INTERVIEW: Glasgow-based trio Everyday Pharaohs discuss infectious new single ‘Skelmo’

INTERVIEW: Princess Goes discuss their evolution in ‘Come of Age’

INTERVIEW: Grandstand Glory: A Candid Conversation with Taylor and Lauren Johnson of Brand New Friend

INTERVIEW: Hurricane #1 frontman Alex Lowe on their new album ‘Backstage Waiting to Go On’

Sophomore Songs

BOOK REVIEW: Sophomore Songs by Clarke Geddes