1, 2, 3, 4, 5, breakdown!

So many different things come to mind when I hear this four-piece from Leeds (UK). Note that there should be an upside down exclamation point before the band's name and a regular one after it. That's how Forward Russia prefers to do things. They also prefer to name all of their songs after numbers.

Their stuff is prog-rock, but not like Yes, and it's staccato, but not quite like Nation of Ulysses. I hear Gang of Four, The Plot To Blow Up the Eiffel Tower, some recent acts like Franz Ferndinand and the Editors, maybe some Libertines, too. Oh, and you can't forget the Public Image Ltd influence. It took me a minute to figure out why the vocals sounded so familiar, but then it struck me. This guy sounds an awful lot like John Lydon (PiL era only).

Their album "Give Me a Wall" comes out on 9/19 on Mute Records. You can go here to check out the song "Thirteen" from Forward Russia. Then click on that picture of the band to check out their site. Of course, they're on MySpace, too.

Pretty Girls Make Graves

Dim Mak records never fail to satisfy. I don't know what they're doing, but whatever it is, they're doing it right.

The latest Dim Mak release is from a UK band called Scanners. They've opened for the Electric 6, the Wedding Present, The Bravery, The Organ, Juliette & the Licks, and many others. Apparently, word of their intense live performances spread, and their first U.S. show sold out in an hour. Not too bad.

Their sound is new wave, and I know that's what all the 'hype' bands are doing nowadays, but stay with me here. This is not Interpol or the Editors, nor is it the Kooks or the Arctic Monkeys. Think more along the lines of Siouxsie & the Banshees, like "Once Upon a Time - The Singles" Siouxsie. The early stuff. And The Pretenders, that's another excellent reference. The new wave sound of The Scanners is fun. Sarah's vocals aren't a mix of anything, but might be a little similar to Poly Styrene of X Ray Spex (not as screamy) or maybe even Pretty Girls Make Graves. If you remember the '80s and liked the fun somewhat goth/punk stuff, check this out. Check out the Scanners' song "Lowlife." You know the drill, click here for more info.