The Blur Archives | XS Noize | Latest Music News

U2 unveil video for new single ‘Atomic City’

September 29, 2023

U2 have recorded a brand new track titled “Atomic City”, which is released today, Friday, 29th September 2023. Produced by Jacknife Lee and Steve Lillywhite, it was recorded at Sound City in LA and comes […]

HAPPY MONDAYS announce UK tour for 2024 with special guests Inspiral Carpets & Stereo MCs

September 29, 2023

Legendary Manchester band Happy Mondays have announced a 16-date UK tour for March and April 2024, which will be their only shows of 2024. They will be joined on this special run of shows by […]

THE DARKNESS announce feature-length documentary ‘Welcome To The Darkness’

September 29, 2023

Lightbulb Film Distribution today has announced that Welcome to The Darkness, a warts and all feature-length documentary about British rockers, The Darkness, is coming to cinemas on November 9th for one night only, plus encores. […]

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 […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Blonde Redhead – Sit Down For Dinner

September 27, 2023

Blonde Redhead, made up of Kazu Makino and Italian twin brothers Amedeo and Simone Pace, releases their new album, Sit Down For Dinner, their first studio album in eight years. The album’s title carries a […]

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: Kula Shaker at The 100 Club, London

September 7, 2023

Twenty years following the departure of their original organist in 1999, Kula Shaker released their sixth LP, First Congregational Church of Eternal Love and Free Hugs, which can best be described as their most vital […]

LIVE REVIEW: The Strokes at All Points East Festival

August 29, 2023

As well as 2023 ending the four-year hiatus since The Strokes headlined All Points East, this festival day saw terrific performances by The Walkmen, Amyl and the Sniffers and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. After taking […]

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 […]

HAPPY MONDAYS announce UK tour for 2024 with special guests Inspiral Carpets & Stereo MCs

September 29, 2023

Legendary Manchester band Happy Mondays have announced a 16-date UK tour for March and April 2024, which will be their only shows of 2024. They will be joined on this special run of shows by […]

FAR FROM SAINTS announce Dublin and Belfast dates as part of major UK and Ireland tour

September 28, 2023

After earning a no. 5 chart position in the UK Official Albums Chart and widespread critical acclaim for their self-titled debut album, Far From Saints today announce that they will play dates at Vicar Street, […]

THE LONGEST JOHNS announce headline show at Limelight, Belfast

September 27, 2023

Having met and bonded over sea shanties across a kitchen table in their native Bristol a decade ago, The Longest Johns – Jonathan ‘JD’ Darley, Andy Yates and Robbie Sattin – have sailed the seven […]

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

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

September 21, 2023

In episode #147 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar meets Taylor and Lauren Johnson of Brand New Friend to discuss their new album, ‘Grandstand.’ No strangers to Ireland’s buzzing live scene, Brand New Friend […]

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

September 20, 2023

In episode #146 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar meets Alex Lowe from Hurricane #1 to discuss their latest album ‘Backstage Waiting To Go On.’ With 2 top 20 albums and 7 top 40 […]

ALBUM REVIEW: One Flew West – The Blur

March 22, 2022 Randall Radic

Colorado-based alt-rock/pop-punk/pop-rock outfit releases their debut album, The Blur, an 11-track collection of contagious songs rife with savours of retro alternative and emo pop-punk. Made up of Linden Jackson (vocals, acoustic guitar), Jonah Bartels (drums, […]

U2 unveil video for new single ‘Atomic City’

HAPPY MONDAYS announce UK tour for 2024 with special guests Inspiral Carpets & Stereo MCs

THE DARKNESS announce feature-length documentary ‘Welcome To The Darkness’

Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Jorja Smith – Falling or Flying

ALBUM REVIEW: Blonde Redhead – Sit Down For Dinner

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: Kula Shaker at The 100 Club, London

LIVE REVIEW: The Strokes at All Points East Festival

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

HAPPY MONDAYS announce UK tour for 2024 with special guests Inspiral Carpets & Stereo MCs

FAR FROM SAINTS announce Dublin and Belfast dates as part of major UK and Ireland tour

THE LONGEST JOHNS announce headline show at Limelight, Belfast

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’

The Blur

ALBUM REVIEW: One Flew West – The Blur