John Porter

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John Porter, Author at The Spill Magazine

SAVE THE RETRO A CONVERSATION WITH MANCHESTER'S RETRO BAR OWNER MARK ARMOR This July, roughly a quarter of a million Oasis fans, over four days, will make a pilgrimage to Manchester to see the resurrection of a band thought long dead. [...]

Profile | Sidelinr Sports

One Thing the San Francisco 49ers Must Avoid This Year By the time you read this, or soon after, we'll have reached the point of the year directly before the madness starts; namely, the cutdown to the 53-man roster and the associated practice squads.

John Porter

John Porter is a Site Contributor to Niner Noise. John is born and raised in the UK, currently residing in the music capital, Manchester, and has been a 49er fan since 2005, rarely missing a single game despite the ridiculous time difference.

John Porter, Author at New Noise Magazine

News Feed | 49ers Webzone

The ultimate source for San Francisco 49ers news, rumors, analysis, trades, injuries, editorials, team history, and a vibrant forum community.

John Porter

John is an NFL journalist with two years of experience. He has watched the NFL for two decades and seen it grow from a minority sport in the UK to one of the most-watched sports in the country. John looks to bring his passion and opinionated nature to every NFL article.

These San Francisco 49ers Remain the Perfect Underdog

Well, that was fun, wasn't it?

It's Time To Stop Worrying And Love The 2025 San Francisco 49ers

Those of an older vintage than I will remember a famous 80s song called 'Relax' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood. While the lyrics would somewhat step on my point, I did think about getting some "JP says Relax" shirts printed on Sunday night, as the San Francisco 49ers once again found a way to win.

49ers are hiding (and withering) behind Nick Bosa's absence

The 49ers' pathetic first half against Jacksonville on Sunday had relatively little to do with the All-Pro's absence.

Week 3 win vs. Cardinals was a microcosm of 49ers rookies' maturation

Rookies had their share of ups and downs in the 49ers' Week 3 win over the Cardinals, but the end result speaks volumes.

San Francisco 49ers thoughts ahead of a titanic Week 1

The San Francisco 49ers have a lot to prove, but the right pieces in place to do it.

One Thing the San Francisco 49ers Must Avoid This Year

By the time you read this, or soon after, we'll have reached the point of the year directly before the madness starts; namely, the cutdown to the 53-man roster and the associated practice squads. With questions at receiver and on the offensive line, something tells me that the San Francisco 49ers' business won't be done by the close of play on Tuesday.

Will 30 Years of San Francisco 49ers Hurt End in 2025?

Hello everyone, and welcome to the San Francisco 49ers side of Sidelinr Sports! I'm excited to follow all the ups and downs, thrills and spills, and eternal playoff disappointments that come from being a fan of this wonderful team. I'll endeavour to bring you the best insights and opinions I can.

49ers can reverse their dynasty-killing mistake in this blockbuster trade

Here's an interesting hypothetical. When did the San Francisco 49ers dynasty die? Some would probably point to quarterback Steve Young's career-ending concussio

Jauan Jennings' contract stance is too strong for 49ers to ignore

Jauan Jennings has maximised his leverage to create a real dilemma for the 49ers.

Predicting 49ers' 53-man roster following 2025 NFL Draft's fallout

With 11 new players to add to the board from the NFL Draft, it's time to take a look at how the 53-man roster might shape up.

49ers' best, worst and most intriguing picks from 2025 NFL Draft

Eleven picks gives you a lot of options. Here are the best, worst, and weirdest of the 49ers' 2025 NFL Draft.

49ers' latest draft pick may finally stop Kris Kocurek pining for former defender

The 49ers seem to be back to playing big-boy football in the trenches, on the defensive line at least. To open Day 2, the 49ers doubled down on Thursday night's

49ers made right move by not trading back into Round 1 of the NFL Draft

There is, understandably, some frustration at the 49ers not moving back into the first round of the NFL Draft. Having already selected versatile defensive linem

49ers must apply lessons learned from their epic 1986 NFL Draft class

Let's go back almost four decades and put ourselves in 49ers legendary head coach (and GM) Bill Walsh's shoes as the 1986 NFL Draft neared.

5 49ers Assumptions and Guesses Going Into Round 1 of the NFL Draft

Five key predictions for what the 49ers might do with the 11th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft-from trade-up scenarios to surprise first-round picks.

49ers could turn to one of these 3 in-house options to replace Dre Greenlaw

Dre Greenlaw's replacement could already be on the Niners roster.

Despite the noise, Lynch and Shanahan's 2nd Act may invigorate the 49ers

Let's start with a mea culpa. I got it wrong: It was, in fact, The Last Dance for that 49ers team. You can blame many things for that completely errant...

Nick Bosa and Joey Bosa wouldn't be the first time 2 brothers played for 49ers

Two brothers on the same team wouldn't exactly be new to the 49ers.

5 urgent items already on Robert Saleh's to-do list

Welcome back, Robert. You and the 49ers have some things to do.

NFC Championship had 49ers fans revisiting Kyle Shanahan's biggest missed opportunity

I'm already sorry for the therapy this might send San Francisco 49ers fans back into.

49ers' rumored nepotistic coaching hires do not inspire confidence

The more things change for the 49ers, the more they... stay the same?

Former Patriot's Kyle Shanahan comparison should make 49ers fans think

One of the most irritating things about the discourse surrounding the San Francisco 49ers this season has been the constant bashing of head coach Kyle Shanahan

Robert Saleh may not be the quick fix 49ers fans expect

Nostalgia has a strong pull. Look around you. The world's full of sequels, remakes, and reboots, and most of them do well. It's comforting to remember a time

49ers' latest salary cap move may yield an end of a failed experiment

As Javon Hargrave appears to head for the exit door, perhaps he'll take a failed 49ers free-agent strategy with him.

The future of these 5 49ers are under threat after a dreadful 2024 season

Not much has gone right, from coaching to on-field play, for the 2024 San Francisco 49ers. Here are five people who ought to pay the price.

49ers' bargain-basement roster-building approach has finally run out of steam

After showing signs of atrophy last year, the 49ers' 2024 season has proven that you can't shop in the discount aisle forever and expect to succeed.

49ers' off-field rhetoric continuously fails to match the on-field product

Talk is cheap, and no one proves that more than the 2024 San Francisco 49ers.

49ers Rookie Midseason Report Card

Aside from obvious outliers like Nick Bosa or to an extent Brandon Aiyuk, it's not often that 49ers fans find themselves evaluating their rookie class'...

Echoes of the past follow 49ers, Kyle Shanahan

If you have been watching 49ers football for long enough, you've seen this movie before. A 49ers team coming off a soul-destroying playoff loss (or Super Bowl...

Fred Warner trending toward surpassing 49ers Hall of Fame legend

If you've been a 49ers fan for long enough, you can probably remember the good to great linebackers that have worn the red and gold throughout their careers. Fr

This Is Not The 49ers' Last Dance

So, another NFL season is upon us. For me, this is year nineteen, over here in the UK, putting my life and sleeping pattern on hold for four months to...

49ers first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall shot in San Francisco robbery, in stable condition

According to multiple reports, 49ers first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall was shot in the Union Square area of San Francisco on Saturday afternoon. The news or

49ers' final 53-man roster prediction with NFL preseason complete

The preseason is finally over. Who's got the golden ticket to the 49ers' final 53-man roster?

4 darkhorse 49ers who deserve a roster spot (but might not get one)

For the 49ers, 53-man cutdown time is almost upon us. Here are four players who have flashed enough to earn a spot, but might just find themselves lost in the shuffle.

The toughest battle on the 49ers roster might be at this position

Preseason means battles up and down the 49ers roster. But this position might just hold the closest and toughest battles of them all.

49ers veteran backup might have seized a roster spot after preseason Week 2

With the dog days of camp leaving a few players missing for Week 2 of the NFL preseason, one 49ers veteran stepped up at a crowded roster position.

These 2 rookies looked like starters in 49ers' first preseason game

A lack of starters allows younger players to put down a marker in the preseason, and these two 49ers certainly did that.

These 49ers youngsters could steal roster spots from established veterans

With training camp almost upon us, the roster looks set for some youth versus experience battles at various key positions. Where might youth win out?

How the 49ers' Approach to the Trenches Diverges From the Rest of the NFL

Between the noise - again - about Brandon Aiyuk requesting a trade, and presumed replacement first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall going on the non-football...

49ers should extend this player before Brandon Aiyuk

While the entire NFL world seems to be focused on Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers are in danger of missing the wood for the trees.

5 burning questions the 49ers are left with after minicamp

As the traditional dead period until the start of training camp dawns, here are some questions that will keep the 49ers busy in the meantime.

49ers coach's comments reveal questionable draft strategy

When it comes to the 49ers roster-building methodology, offensive line coach Chris Foerster seems to have explained a peculiar strategy at a key position.

How Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings bring underrated physicality to the 49ers offense

In the current lull between the NFL Draft and the start of training camp, most people's focus with regard to the San Francisco 49ers seems to be around the...

Inaugural 49ers 53-man roster prediction with 2024 NFL Draft now complete

It's never too early to think what the 49ers roster might look like going into the 2024 season. With the NFL Draft smog clearing, let's take a look at what the 53 might look like.

Paths to the Roster for All 8 Picks of the 49ers Draft Class

There was some conventional wisdom heading into the NFL Draft that the 49ers would potentially package some of their ten picks to move up at various times,...

49ers select Tatum Bethune with the No. 251 overall pick in the NFL Draft

With their final pick in the NFL Draft, the 49ers grabbed themselves some potential insurance against Dre Greenlaw's injury.

49ers select Jarrett Kingston with the No. 215 overall pick in the NFL Draft

With their compensatory sixth-round selection, the 49ers added some more depth to their offensive line, taking a local favourite in the process.

49ers select Jacob Cowing with the No. 135 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft

With the final draft pick in the fourth round, the 49ers added a very different type of receiver to their weaponry.

49ers select RB Isaac Guerendo with the No. 129 overall pick in the NFL Draft

After trading for the No. 129 overall pick from the Jets, the Niners grabbed a tough, speedy running back out of Louisville.

49ers select Malik Mustapha with the No. 124 overall pick in 2024 NFL Draft

The 49ers opened Day 3 of the NFL Draft by adding yet more depth to the defensive backfield, following on from last night's pick of CB Renardo Green. With their

5 insane things the 49ers could do in the 2024 NFL Draft

Part of the fun of the NFL Draft is imagining some hypotheticals that are, at best, unlikely to take place. Could the 49ers pull one or more off? Let's get crazy.

The 6 biggest 49ers NFL Draft steals of the last decade

The NFL Draft's fire and pizzazz is usually reserved for primetime, but history shows successful teams are often built in the middle and late rounds. Let's take a look at the best moments the 49ers have had there in the last decade.

4 biggest remaining 49ers needs after the first wave of free agency

The 49ers started the new NFL league year with a flurry of activity, but some questions still remain. Here's a look at where the roster could still be improved as the free agency frenzy calms down.

5 prospects 49ers can draft to upgrade the offensive line

The game starts in the trenches, and here's how the 49ers might be able to make theirs stronger in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Deciphering the 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk Conundrum: Extend Or Trade?

A 49ers team, coming off a heartbreaking, close Super Bowl loss to a Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs, faces several tough salary cap decisions,...

Cutting Through the Noise After the 49ers' Super Bowl Loss

Since the last pass of Super Bowl LVIII (I couldn't even tell you what happened in the aftermath, nor who caught the pass, I turned off as soon as the ball...

A suddenly tightening NFC North will be decided by 4 key questions

Some have the NFC North as a four-way battle this year, but for that to happen, some significant questions need addressing.

These eight NFL teams will be the most fascinating to watch this season

All NFL teams have storylines going into 2025, but there are some more compelling than others. Here's eight of the best.

One burning question for each NFL team heading into the 2025 season

Want to compete for the Lombardi Trophy in 2025? Here's the question your team will need to answer to do so.

The Dallas Cowboys' Super Bowl MVP who only started one further NFL game

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Larry Brown reached the top of the NFL with his MVP in Super Bowl XXX, but came crashing down almost immediately.

He's the player who was a Super Bowl hero for the Washington Commanders, setting a record, then...

The Washington Commanders had an unlikely Super Bowl hero in their 1987 win over the Denver Broncos, and his career took an odd turn.

5 teams that should still regret passing on Aaron Rodgers in the 2005 NFL Draft

It's been 20 years, but the ramifications of 21 teams passing on Aaron Rodgers in 2005 are still felt. Here's five of the worst.

A suddenly tightening NFC North will be decided by 4 key questions

Some have the NFC North as a four-way battle this year, but for that to happen, some significant questions need addressing.

How the Vikings can return to the playoffs in 2025 after creating their own problems

The Minnesota Vikings made a few big decisions in the 2025 offseason, and how those work out will determine their success this year.

Drew Brees' story is a modern fairytale, discarded by San Diego, rejected by Nick Saban, the...

Here's the story of Drew Brees: discarded by the San Diego Chargers, rejected from the Miami Dolphins before finding his home in New Orleans.

The forgotten Los Angeles Rams player who holds their single-game receiving record, along with...

The man who holds the Rams single-game receiving record also holds the NFL's - and that record may never be broken.

The Cincinnati Bengals running back who stunned the league as a rookie, invented a trend, then...

Ickey Woods invented a cultural phenomenon that survives to this day, but his NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals didn't last as long.

The player who fell from the Cleveland Browns' big hope, a Madden cover, and potential stardom,...

The Cleveland Browns once had a running back big enough to grace the cover of Madden, but that was about as good as it got.

The San Francisco 49ers single-game receiving record holder is possibly the greatest receiver of...

One of the many NFL records Hall Of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice holds is the San Francisco 49ers single-game receiving record.

The New York Jets are staking their 2025 season on Aaron Glenn's culture reset

Aaron Glenn is changing the culture with the New York Jets, but he's a long way to go before he'll see the fruits of his labor.

The LA Rams could return to Super Bowl form in 2025 with solid answers to just two key positions

Can the Los Angeles Rams be a contender - again - in 2025? It'll likely depends on the health of quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Before Brock Purdy, the San Francisco 49ers found a Pro Bowl quarterback in Canada

Brock Purdy isn't the first time the San Francisco 49ers have found a potential franchise quarterback in an unlikely place.

How Saquon Barkley changed your fantasy strategy and saved the bell-cow running back

The running back position has been on life support. Then, in 2024, Saquon Barkley and some contemporaries changed everything.

SPILL FEATURE: NO OVERPRODUCTION, NO OVERTHINKING - A CONVERSATION WITH DUNCAN LLOYD - The Spill...

NO OVERPRODUCTION, NO OVERTHINKING A CONVERSATION WITH DUNCAN LLOYD The first thing you learn about Duncan Lloyd is that he's a man that isn't in a rush, and that's something of a relief given our meeting is delayed by at least 10 minutes by technological gremlins.

SPILL FEATURE: SAVE THE RETRO - A CONVERSATION WITH MANCHESTER'S RETRO BAR OWNER MARK ARMOR - The...

SAVE THE RETRO A CONVERSATION WITH MANCHESTER'S RETRO BAR OWNER MARK ARMOR This July, roughly a quarter of a million Oasis fans, over four days, will make a pilgrimage to Manchester to see the resurrection of a band thought long dead. Across the city, another musical institution will be shutting its doors - one that [...]

SPILL FEATURE: REAL BANDS...WELL, THEY PLAY MUSIC AND THEY RECORD ALBUMS - A CONVERSATION WITH...

REAL BANDS...WELL, THEY PLAY MUSIC AND THEY RECORD ALBUMS A CONVERSATION WITH JOEY SANTIAGO & DAVID LOVERING OF THE PIXIES It feels strangely surreal to still be interviewing the Pixies about new music in 2024 - it's a credit to them that, long after their original run ended, and 20 years-plus into their reuniting, they're still [...]

SPILL FEATURE: FRANK TURNER TALKS UNDEFEATED, LOST EVENINGS AND WORLD RECORD ATTEMPTS – A...

SPILL FEATURE: PLUNGING INTO THE UNKNOWN WITH A SMILE - A CONVERSATION WITH NECK DEEP - The Spill...

PLUNGING INTO THE UNKNOWN WITH A SMILE A CONVERSATION WITH NECK DEEP As openers go, it could be a motto for any pop-punk band looking to launch itself into the stratosphere. "If Blink-182 can do it, why can't we?" smiles Ben Barlow, just seconds into his chat with us here at Spill Magazine.

Interview – Preacher Stone – Emerging Rock Bands

Interview + Feature with Preacher Stone

Interview – South of Salem – Emerging Rock Bands

Interview + Feature with South of Salem

Various Physical Emerging Rock Bands articles

Interview – Meryl Streek – Emerging Rock Bands

Interview + Feature with Meryl Streek

TEN YEARS OF MPF: THE MEMORIES

As we approach 10 years of Manchester Punk Festival we speak to MPF veterans to relative newcomers about their festival memories.

MPF2025 FIRST TIMER SPOTLIGHT: FILTHY MILITIA

We talk to Filthy Militia ahead of their first Manchester Punk Festival. They discuss their MPF memories and what to expect at MPF2025.

MPF2025 FIRST TIMER SPOTLIGHT: HELLE - Manchester Punk Festival

If there's one thing that seems to draw people back to Manchester Punk Festival, even in its tenth year, it'd probably be the variety. One of the enduring wonderful things about the festival is that in the space of half an hour, you can go from watching straight-ahead pop-punk in the Union to bouncing around [...]

MPF2025 FIRST TIMER SPOTLIGHT: PERIOD DRAMA

We talk to Period Drama - self-styled 'spooky queer emo punks' from Sheffield - ahead of their appearance at MPF2025.

MFP2025: QUICKFIRE Q&A - JODIE FASTER

We talk to Jodie Faster as they prep for the new release of their new album Saint Lundi and their appearance at Manchester Punk Festival.

MPF2025 FIRST TIMER SPOTLIGHT: THE EMPTY PAGE

We talk to Kel and Giz from The Empty Page ahead of their first appearance at Manchester Punk Festival. Catch them at Yes Basement.

MPF FIRST TIMER SPOTLIGHT: ONLOOKER

We speak to 5 piece post punk/post hardcore/garage outfit Onlooker ahead of their debut appearance at Manchester Punk Festival.

MPF2025: ACCESSIBILITY

Introducing the MPF accessibility coordinator and announce the changes to the accessibility arrangements for this year's punk festival.

A LOVE LETTER TO MPF: FROM THE BALCONY - Manchester Punk Festival

You don't need to know my life story, but as a disabled kid and teen I didn't exactly know what a social life was for a long time. When I finally found my social feet in my 20s, it was through my then-thriving stand up comedy career - and it brought me, a lad from [...]

The NFL is taking the UK for granted. Will it bite them?

No longer the interesting new thing, the NFL's UK market is getting increasingly watered down. Will it hurt them?

The perfect pop song, and the tragedy of The La's

Why chase perfection when you already wrote it?

The Death Of An Icon & An Idea

Ricky Hatton leaves behind a legacy the likes of which we may never see again.

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: WOLF ALICE - THE CLEARING - The Spill Magazine

WOLF ALICE THE CLEARING RCA RECORDS It's been four years since we've heard something of substance from Wolf Alice, and they've had their fanbase on tenterhooks, particularly since the much-trailed single "Bloom Baby Bloom" showed off the band's evolution in sound. That's here, and the bouncy, poppy, piano-led "Thorns" and "Just Two Girls" back it [...]

SPILL BOOK REVIEW: KIM GORDON - GIRL IN A BAND (10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION) - The Spill Magazine

KIM GORDON - GIRL IN A BAND (10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION) DEY STREET BOOKS BOOK REVIEW BY JOHN PORTER It doesn't feel like 10 years since Kim Gordon's witty, acerbic Girl in a Band first made waves in the rock world, but such is the various dramas that seem to have sped up the passage of [...]

Album Review: Dave Hause - ...And The Mermaid - New Noise Magazine

Dave Hause is clear on his goals for this record-a stripped-back, full-octane rock 'n' roll album. Does he succeed in that endeavor?

Album Review: Pulp - More - New Noise Magazine

Pulp return after 25 years with 'More,' and in an era of nostalgia, they've somehow found a way to say something new.

Album Review: Craig Finn - Always Been - New Noise Magazine

Anything Craig Finn touches will have plaintive, honest, songwriting, verbose lyrics and some acoustic tearjerkers, and this is no exception.

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE FARM - LET THE MUSIC (TAKE CONTROL) - The Spill Magazine

THE FARM LET THE MUSIC (TAKE CONTROL) MODERN SKY/ROUGH TRADE Just what is happening in British indie at the moment? After recent releases by The Cure and Pulp, the latest band to emerge from a long on-record hibernation is The Farm, who have finally stopped playing live shows long enough to record some newer thoughts.

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MATT BERNINGER - GET SKUNK - The Spill Magazine

MATT BERNINGER GET SKUNK CONCORD RECORDS With The National's recent resurgence, there's an increasing demand to hear songs from Matt Berninger's pen, and that's prompted a second solo album, following 2020's Serpentine Prison. What follows is a considered mix of introspective songwriting, lush musicianship (the whole album feels like it's inside a concert hall, such [...]

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BUTTHOLE SURFERS - LIVE AT THE LEATHER FLY - The Spill Magazine

BUTTHOLE SURFER LIVE AT THE LEATHER FLY SUNSET BLVD RECORDS There can't be many weirder bands to try and capture the essence of than the crazy-named Butthole Surfers. That said, this album succeeds where many live albums fall down, by mixing itself in such a way that you could almost be in the room, stood [...]

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: REAL ESTATE - THE WEE SMALL HOURS: B-SIDES AND OTHER DETRITUS 2011-2025 - The...

REAL ESTATE THE WEE SMALL HOURS: B-SIDES AND OTHER DETRITUS 2011-2025 DOMINO RECORDS Following on from 2024's reinventive effort "Daniel", Real Estate attempts to bless our ears with this collection of oddities and deep cuts, and it's a promising start. Both opener "Pink Sky" and second track "Exactly Nothing" are fun, shimmering slices of indie-pop, [...]

SPILL FESTIVAL REVIEW: MANCHESTER PUNK FESTIVAL 2025, MANCHESTER (UK) - The Spill Magazine

MANCHESTER PUNK FESTIVAL 2025 @ MANCHESTER (UK) APRIL 18-20, 2025 Manchester Punk Festival continues to thrive. Now in its 10th year, the Easter weekend institution remains atop most UK punks' calendars, and with good reason. Recently voted the UK's best small festival by the UK Festival Awards, Manchester Punk Festival certainly had a heavy reputation [...]

Album Review: Craig Finn - Always Been - New Noise Magazine

Anything Craig Finn touches will have plaintive, honest, songwriting, verbose lyrics and some acoustic tearjerkers, and this is no exception.

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SAM FENDER - PEOPLE WATCHING - The Spill Magazine

SAM FENDER PEOPLE WATCHING POLYDOR With People Watching, his first album since his 2022 breakthrough Seventeen Going Under, Sam Fender landed a big coup in hiring Adam Granduciel of The War On Drugs as his producer and collaborator. That influence is stamped all over this from the get-go; while Fender's songwriting remains as grounded as [...]

SPILL FILM REVIEW: 40 WATTS FROM NOWHERE - The Spill Magazine

40 WATTS FROM NOWHERE SUSAN CARPENTER/SLAMDANCE FESTIVAL FEBRUARY 23, 2025 What do you do with a bunch of burning ambition, a love for music, and a boredom with early 90's commercial radio? For most people, the obvious answer wouldn't be 'start a radio station in your bedroom', but 40 Watts From Nowhere serves as one [...]

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CIRCA WAVES - DEATH & LOVE PT. 1 - The Spill Magazine

CIRCA WAVES DEATH & LOVE PT. 1 LOWER THIRD There's immediate joy in Circa Waves' new album; "American Dream" opens in a blaze of sound and classic indie pop, an explosion of euphoria after trauma, which is probably not that far from the truth given lead singer Kieran Shudall's recent well-documented health issues.

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FRANZ FERDINAND - THE HUMAN FEAR - The Spill Magazine

FRANZ FERDINAND THE HUMAN FEAR DOMINO RECORDS Franz Ferdinand's first studio album in seven years (Always Ascending being 2018's major effort) is instantly identifiable from its opening track "Audacious". Alex Kapranos's voice has lost none of that same impish quality that it had, and coupled with a classic Franz-like riff, it could easily be 2004 [...]

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE NATIONAL - ROME - The Spill Magazine

THE NATIONAL ROME 4AD The National have had a busy few years, encompassing two albums, a well-received Glastonbury headline slot, and a much-needed return to the top table of indie rock. This, then, doubles as a celebration of that re-ascension - it's a crystal clear, energetic document of The National's live set, encompassing cuts from [...]

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: KIM DEAL - NOBODY LOVES YOU MORE - The Spill Magazine

KIM DEAL NOBODY LOVES YOU MORE 4AD When you hear the words "Kim Deal's first solo album", you'd be forgiven for expecting to hear more of the same clattering rhythms and incongruous lyricism that made her a behemoth of the alternative rock scene for the last three decades.

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LESS THAN JAKE - UNCHARTED - The Spill Magazine

LESS THAN JAKE UNCHARTED PURE NOISE For an album named after discovering the unknown, it's amusing that it's incredibly obvious that this is a Less Than Jake album from the second you hit the play button. All the hallmarks of the best of the band are here: the loud, bouncing groove twinned with the rapid-fire [...]

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE CURE - SONGS OF A LOST WORLD - The Spill Magazine

THE CURE SONGS OF A LOST WORLD POLYDOR/UNIVERSAL MUSIC Barring a reformation, it's hard to imagine it ever being acceptable for most bands to take 16 years to release new music. However, this is The Cure. There's therefore an obvious sense of palpable expectation around this album, and the band plays with that almost instantly [...]

Album Review: Soccer Mommy - Evergreen - New Noise Magazine

On her fourth album, Soccer Mommy maintains the plaintive indie-rock stylings, but with an achingly personal edge to it.

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PIXIES - THE NIGHT THE ZOMBIES CAME - The Spill Magazine

PIXIES THE NIGHT THE ZOMBIES CAME BMG Even over 20 years into their second act, on The Night The Zombies Came, the Pixies show no signs of being ready for a musical rapture. The album corkscrews around as expected. There's awesome predictability in the likes of "You're So Impatient" and "Johnny Good Man", which are [...]

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE WAR ON DRUGS - LIVE DRUGS AGAIN - The Spill Magazine

THE WAR ON DRUGS LIVE DRUGS AGAIN SUPER HIGH QUALITY RECORDS Some bands often bemoan a record producer's lack of ability to record 'their live sound', but perhaps no band benefits more from being captured live than The War On Drugs. There's a peculiar majesty about The War On Drugs' live performances that is very [...]

SPILL BOOK REVIEW: DERYCK WHIBLEY - WALKING DISASTER: MY LIFE THROUGH HEAVEN AND HELL - The Spill...

DERYCK WHIBLEY - WALKING DISASTER: MY LIFE THROUGH HEAVEN AND HELL GALLERY BOOKS BOOK REVIEW BY JOHN PORTER It was something of a surprise when now-former Sum 41 band leader Deryck Whibley announced he was picking up the pen to write his life story, but that's not the last or the biggest surprise that Walking [...]

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MAXÏMO PARK - STREAM OF LIFE - The Spill Magazine

MAXÏMO PARK STREAM OF LIFE LOWER THIRD/[PIAS] Perhaps the late 2000s greatest indie survivors, Maxïmo Park return with their eighth album, and if there are any lingering doubts about their remaining power, they dispel it pretty quickly with punchy, Britpop-style opener "Your Own Worst Enemy", which is a rollicking start to the album.

Album Review: The Meffs - What A Life - New Noise Magazine

The Meffs are ably supported by production from Frank Turner in delivering their first full-length album, 'What A Life.'

Album Review: Yours Truly: Toxic - New Noise Magazine

It's a suprise to discover that 'Toxic' is only Yours Truly's second full-length studio album following their 2020 release.

SPILL FILM REVIEW: STEVIE VAN ZANDT: DISCIPLE - The Spill Magazine

STEVIE VAN ZANDT: DISCIPLE HBO JUNE 22, 2024 When you're best known for being part of a cultural phenomenon like the E Street Band, it can be hard to get your individual story told. Disciple sets out to redress that balance by focussing on Steven Van Zandt's life beyond the well-known, and attempting to shine [...]

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOE GITTLEMAN - HOLD UP - The Spill Magazine

JOE GITTLEMAN HOLD UP BAD TIME RECORDS After many years being the backbone of many bands on the ska scene, not least the 'Bass Fiddleman' of the sadly-missed Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Joe Gittleman takes a step forward into the limelight himself. He did already take a turn in the spotlight, previously releasing a well-received split [...]

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FRANK TURNER - UNDEFEATED - The Spill Magazine

FRANK TURNER UNDEFEATED XTRA MILE RECORDINGS Frank Turner is famously prolific. This is now his tenth studio album, and it's a defiant and typically sing-a-long howl from Turner, particularly on songs like the opener "Do One", but perhaps best exemplified by "No Thank You For The Music" which mixes his musings on the musical scenes [...]

SPILL FESTIVAL REVIEW: MANCHESTER PUNK FESTIVAL 2024, MANCHESTER (UK) - The Spill Magazine

MANCHESTER PUNK FESTIVAL 2024 @ MANCHESTER (UK) MARCH 29-31, 2024 When Easter weekend rolls around, it means only one thing in my home town of Manchester - the punks are coming. Now in its ninth year of existence, the Manchester Punk Festival is a three-day extravaganza of punk music split across several venues in the city's [...]

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN - GLASGOW EYES - The Spill Magazine

THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN GLASGOW EYES FUZZ CLUB After two recent releases, first the live album Sunset 666, then the anniversary release Munki, The Jesus and Mary Chain continue their unlikely resurrection with Glasgow Eyes, their first album of new material since 2017's Damage and Joy.

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB - FANTASIES - The Spill Magazine

BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB FANTASIES ARTS & CRAFTS Following the success of last year's My Big Day, Fantasies sees Bombay Bicycle Club linking up with indie-pop titans Matilda Mann, Liz Lawrence, Lucy Rose, and Rae Morris to produce a four-song EP. From the beginning, Bombay Bicycle Club maintains their unpredictable nature.

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: REAL ESTATE - DANIEL - The Spill Magazine

REAL ESTATE DANIEL DOMINO RECORDS Real Estate's sixth album aspires to be a radio-friendly pop record, and that much is obvious from the opening tracks of the album. "Haunted World" has a nice late-R.E.M quality to it, full of shimmering pop hooks and vulnerable vocals, while its followup, "Water Underground", is possibly even more radio-friendly, [...]

Unveiling The Theatrical Odyssey: A Riveting Exploration of The Last Dinner Party’s Debut Album...

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FUTURE ISLANDS - PEOPLE WHO AREN'T THERE ANYMORE - The Spill Magazine

FUTURE ISLANDS PEOPLE WHO AREN'T THERE ANYMORE 4AD It's been a long wait for Future Islands' latest effort, with it being four years since their last release, the acclaimed As Long As You Are. Thankfully, it only takes a few bars of title track "King Of Sweden" to note the band is just as on [...]

Album Review: Marika Hackman - Big Sigh - New Noise Magazine

'Big Sigh' marks Marika Hackman's first album in four years, so it's not surprising that she has a lot to say.

SPILL SERIES REVIEW: GEDDY LEE ASKS: ARE BASS PLAYERS HUMAN TOO? - The Spill Magazine

GEDDY LEE ASKS: ARE BASS PLAYERS HUMAN TOO? PARAMOUNT PLUS/BANGER FILMS/MTV ENTERTAINMENT STUDIOS DECEMBER 5, 2023 Geddy Lee's amusingly titled Are Bass Players Human Too? is a fun romp through the unseen lives of that most unheralded of musicians - the bass player. As bass player (among many other things!)

Review: Dune Pilot 'Magnetic' - The Sleeping Shaman

Dune Pilot 'Magnetic' review - Eleven driving tracks of heavy stoner rock and roll that's released via Argonauta Records

SPILL BOOK REVIEW: PETER JESPERSON - EUPHORIC RECALL - The Spill Magazine

PETER JESPERSON - EUPHORIC RECALL MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESS BOOK REVIEW BY JOHN PORTER If the old idiom that "we all have a book in us" is indeed true, then it must be truer for Peter Jesperson than most. Jesperson, after all, has spent half a century in the Minneapolis music scene, covering roles from [...]

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN - MUNKI - The Spill Magazine

THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN MUNKI FUZZ CLUB Hot on the heels of surprise summer live release Sunset 666, Fuzz Club now bring us a 25th anniversary re-release of Munki, simultaneously The Jesus And Mary Chain's most powerful album and their epitaph all at once.

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SIERRA PILOT - PHANTOM PAINS - The Spill Magazine

SIERRA PILOT PHANTOM PAINS INDEPENDENT Sierra Pilot makes its entry into their native Canada's alternative rock scene with this impressive, ballsy debut, Phantom Pains. Indeed, after the opening barrage by the trio of "Alive", "Adrenaline", and "Keys To The City", you'd be forgiven for thinking that they had been around forever, such are the nostalgic [...]

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE NATIONAL - LAUGH TRACK - The Spill Magazine

THE NATIONAL LAUGH TRACK 4AD You wait four years for a new album from The National, and two come along at once. Hot on the heels of the excellent First Two Pages Of Frankenstein, Laugh Track is a surprise release from the Brooklyn-based gloom rockers, and their latest attempt to reclaim their pedestal as the [...]

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MUSTARD PLUG - WHERE DID ALL MY FRIENDS GO? - The Spill Magazine

MUSTARD PLUG WHERE DID ALL MY FRIENDS GO? BAD TIME RECORDS At a time when ska goliaths like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Reel Big Fish have disappeared into the ether, it's a welcome shot in the arm for the ska scene that Mustard Plug return with their own particular brand of horn-based fun.

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JALEN NGONDA - COME AROUND AND LOVE ME - The Spill Magazine

JALEN NGONDA COME AROUND AND LOVE ME DAPTONE RECORDS Every once in a while, an album comes across a reviewer's desk that heralds the arrival of a significant new talent into the music scene. Come Around and Love Me is one such album, taking the soul revival largely vanguarded by the likes of Gregory Porter [...]

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE ARROGANTS - BRAINWASH - The Spill Magazine

The Arrogants Brainwash Dirty Water Records There can't be many bands who start their second album cycle by opening for The Who and gaining an endorsement from Pete Townshend. When one puts on Brainwash, though, it's not hard to see why, as this album could've easily marked out The Arrogants as a contemporary of The [...]

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DIZZY - DIZZY - The Spill Magazine

DIZZY DIZZY ROYAL MOUNTAIN RECORDS Dizzy's third album, self-titled but with no hint of self-importance, would be easy to dismiss as simplistic pop, particularly when one hears the opener, "Birthmark". Indeed, lead singer Katie Munshaw's vocals bring to mind even such luminaries as Taylor Swift, and you'd be forgiven for thinking the album would continue [...]

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN - SUNSET 666 - The Spill Magazine

The Jesus And Mary Chain Sunset 666 Fuzz Club Recorded while supporting Nine Inch Nails on tour, Sunset 666 credits its existence to the serendipity of a USB port on the mixing desk, and the unusual recording mechanism ultimately is what gives the album both its power and its flaws in equal measure.

Quiver Review - Emerging Rock Bands

Review of Quiver EP

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE AQUADOLLS - CHARMED - The Spill Magazine

The Aquadolls Charmed Enci Records Charmed is Los Angeles-based femme-punks The Aquadolls' third album, and from the start, it's noticeably more punk than their previous efforts. This album also marks the first time the trio have written as a collective, and it's apparent that this has allowed every member to shine as soon as one [...]