Brits & Pieces 2

Last autumn, Marc Rossiter breathed some much-needed life back into the UK rock ‘n’ roll scene with his debut compilation album. In the bleak winter months, those songs were the chink of light needed to get us through.

Now, with normality looming and better still, gigs firmly on the horizon, he is back with the second edition of Brits & Pieces. After hours of agonising, here is our top five of what is, eighteen fine singles:

5. The Voyd – Get Away

“I am not the one you want / I am not the one you want  / but my dear, let’s get far away from here”

Unrequited love has never sounded this great. The sheer ecstasy of this chorus is astonishing considering the rejection at play.  Every indie lad has been Simon Thomas to Carly Di Mato and here, the anthem those hilarious tragic days resides.

Guitar licks from the escapist dreams of Gazelle and The Rifles’ are delivered with perfection on this rasping anthem.

4. The Underclass – One

‘One’ is the fourth single from the Stoke outfit. Its heart is everything and for that alone, will see them thousands of fans for life. The heartfelt lyrics combine with a surge towards forever with the guitars and production. When people ask why we attend gigs and throw our arms aloft, this is your new answer.

3.  The Outcharms - (Who’s Making You) Smile?

What begins as homage to 00s indie-rock rapidly leaves town and searches for something new. In a similar vein to Stanleys, they poetically meander their streets looking for life and love. It is, however, their defiance that sets them apart. The restart of guitars and spoken word ignites the spark that the crashing drums and the Roses’ psyche touches send flickering to the heavens.

2. Staarks – Another Lover

Hailing from Amersham, Staarks are sowing the seeds of something special here. Their brand of lo-fi garage pop-punk is as raucous as it is infectious. Frontwoman Anna Brissimitzakis has a unique energy. Aloof but present, cool but not bothered, she somehow outshines these astonishingly good riffs.

1. The Rosadocs - Say Something

The intro to The Walkman’s ‘The Rat’ catches fire and, from the flames, rises a joyous blend of Twisted Wheel’s ‘Lucy the Castle’ and ‘You Stole the Sun’.

What sets this apart from the aforementioned is its heart. A ginormous love-filled heart! This is rock ‘n’ roll for the new generation. Smarter and more socially aware than any previous, they offer a helping hand to anyone and everyone who is struggling. All the while, they never lose sight of escapist dreams and selling out huge gigs. No one is veer writing this band off as “lad rock”. Too pure, too caring, and too great!

Brits & Pieces: Theatre Royal

What began as a Twitter feed dedicated to 90s music has now become a foray into the future. Marc Rossiter’s superb Brits & Pieces Twitter feed got the itch so bad that, he decided to bring together a compilation of great new bands like ‘Shine’ editions in the 90s.

This week, we’ll be exploring our favourite tracks from the 18 track compilation. It was released Friday 11th December and will be available at Rough Trade.

Locked Together on the Lines

Kent’s Theatre Royal has been our favourite band of the past decade (alongside The Crookes). It began with hearing ‘Port Bou’ on Lammo’s and a gig supporting their Medway icons The Claim.

were the entry point, this is where we knew they were special.

A true story of frontman Oliver Burgess’s Nan discovering two dead bodies Chatham’s war memorial. One a sailor, the other a prostitute, they lay naked, intertwined, and tragically deceased.

Despite the bleak narrative, through their frenetic paisley guitars, joyous backing vocals, and Burgess’ dignified lyrics, they delivered a single worthy of The La’s. The blend of industrial Kent and flawed characters conjures images of Alan Sillitoe characters and their struggles.

Theatre Royal are about to give their debut album a release on vinyl. We urge you all to purchase.

Brits & Pieces: Stanleys

What began as a Twitter feed dedicated to 90s music has now become a foray into the future. Marc Rossiter’s superb Brits & Pieces Twitter feed got the itch so bad that, he decided to bring together a compilation of great new bands like ‘Shine’ editions in the 90s.

This week, we’ll be exploring our favourite tracks from the 18 track compilation. It was released Friday 11th December and will be available at Rough Trade.

A Better Life

Wigan outfit and friends of the site Stanley’s were set to become one of 2020’s great breakthroughs until covid. A support slot with The Lathums was going to win them thousands of fans up and down the country. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be, yet!

Despite their young age, Stanleys have wisdom way beyond their years. The characterisation is as vivid as Tom Clarke’s work on ‘Will Live and Die in These Towns’ but with a more poetic soul.

This tale of what might have been depicting the life of a man tragically living in the past. Yet, the sweeping guitars of The Courteeners and the pop sensibilities of Orange Juice lend it the glory that the protagonist continually dreams of.

With a slot on next year’s Bingley Weekender, their time will come.

*Image courtesy of Danny Bott

Brits & Pieces: Columbia

What began as a Twitter feed dedicated to 90s music has now become a foray into the future. Marc Rossiter’s superb Brits & Pieces Twitter feed got the itch so bad that, he decided to bring together a compilation of great new bands like ‘Shine’ editions in the 90s.

This week, we’ll be exploring our favourite tracks from the 18 track compilation. It’s released Friday 11th December and will be available at Rough Trade.

Columbia are a five-piece from Liverpool consisting of Alex Sheppo (vocals), Jonny Eccleshall (bass & vocals), Jay Sweeney (lead guitar), Tom Comer (rhythm guitar) Jay Culkin (drums).

Named after the Oasis classic and, recording with The Real People’s Chris Griffiths, they are set to light up big stages, when they’re allowed

A death-defying renewal of ‘Definitely Maybe’s spirit. Taking no prisoners, it’s a tirade of debauched escapism.

The release of Jay Sweeny’s guitars is an exhilarating joyride that is going to send the re-opened gig venues of the UK into sweat dripping frenzy. They’re matched, in the closing moments by frontman Alex Sheppo as he wrenches out an Ashcroft-esque “this is a big / fuck you / come on” moment of demonic brilliance.

Brits & Pieces: Monza Express

What began as a Twitter feed dedicated to 90s music has now become a foray into the future. Marc Rossiter’s superb Brits & Pieces Twitter feed got the itch so bad that, he decided to bring together a compilation of great new bands like ‘Shine’ editions in the 90s.

This week, we’ll be exploring our favourite tracks from the 18 track compilation. It’s released Friday 11th December and will be available at Rough Trade.

Back in July, Aberdeen five-piece Monza Express released ‘Crying On The Radio’. Recorded at the Floortom Studios, it was produced by Steve Curtis.  

Morrissey’s gut-wrenching lyrical heartache is pummelled through a prism of Eddie and The Hot Rods, Blink 182, and the pop majesty of The Lemonheads.

There is a Phil Spector innocence to their punk. The kind the Shirelles and Ronnettes delivered, not the latter shotgun years. The protagonist, a love-torn wreck can’t see the wood from the trees. You’ll root for him like Jim Levenstein or Superbad’s Seth.

In normal times, this would have soundtracked every teenager’s summer. The endless nights doing fuck all but getting drunk and looking for that next one big night to be a hero (and failing).

*Image courtesy of Diana McKenzie

Brits & Pieces: The Lutras

What began as a Twitter feed dedicated to 90s music has now become a foray into the future. Marc Rossiter’s superb Brits & Pieces Twitter feed got the itch so bad that, he decided to bring together a compilation of great new bands like ‘Shine’ editions in the 90s.

This week, we’ll be exploring our favourite tracks from the 18 track compilation. It’s released Friday 11th December and will be available at Rough Trade.

Run and Hide

Hailing from Dumfries, ‘Run and Hide’ was The Lutra’s debut single way back in 2018.

Wait, what? Debut single? It’s academy venue size but dreaming of Stadiums. It taps into Razorlight’s debut album, lifting all those great ragged pop moments and splices them with the effortlessness of Mersey beat.

The guitar parts, especially the solo, serve as a stark reminder why we must save pubs and small gig venues is the sound of red stripes being held aloft with your best mate in the other arm. Dripped in sweat, you look, you laugh and you know that this is forever.