Fox Cubs

[Photo Credit: Nathan Jerome]

Myspace // "Beasts of England" [mp3]

I don't really go out drinking to get crunk anymore, but if I did the song "Beasts of England" would be my Saturday night anthem right now. Released a few months ago by a young five piece from the UK called Fox Cubs, the song is a punchy ode to drinking to excess that offers both a great motto to live by ("no mercy, no regrets") and a great overview of youth ("I'm dying on the inside, at least I lived before I died"). Though I'd wager that few party songs offer such a deep commentary on modern society, the song is nevertheless wonderfully catchy and fun.

Fox Cubs is currently unsigned and has been releasing singles on their own label, Kuko Audio Recordings, since forming in July 2007. After a short tour with Pull Tiger Tail and support slots for Forward Russia and Future of the Left, it seems like the band is poised to break out this summer when they play the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury. I imagine that fans of bands like The Pigeon Detectives, Delorentos, Editors, and White Lies will go crazy for Fox Cubs, so get on board now.

Mystery Jets

Myspace // "Half in Love with Elizabeth (Demo)"

I saw Mystery Jets play last month during the Great Escape and it was an experience. A group of university students next to me were mixing pills with copious amounts of booze, while others were hurling half empty beers on the audience. I got shoved twice nearly to the point of falling over when separate groups of boys tried to inch their way closer to the stage. Incredibly, these experiences were not the most memorable parts of the night by a long shot. For once, a band overshadowed a bad crowd (and not the other way around).

Mystery Jets are a rare band that can straddle the line between numerous genres with the utmost of ease. I swear their second album, Twenty One, runs the gamut between 80s synth pop ("Two Doors Down"), percussive indie rock ("Hand Me Down"), grander ballads ("Flakes"), and even minimally orchestrated indie pop ("21"). Somehow, it all works and the album comes together as one cohesive artistic statement. I think the only common elements between the songs are the musicians playing on them and the fact that they're so infectiously catchy that you can't stop listening.

Twenty One is quickly becoming a contender for my favorite album of the year. I wish that the band would come to the US for a tour soon, because I'd love to hear their electrifying set one more time and have a sweaty dance party in the crowd. Mystery Jets will be playing the Rockness Festival in Loch Ness this weekend, which should prove to be a great time because you can 1) listen to some great bands play like Editors, CSS, Noah and the Whale, and Late of the Pier and 2) search for Nessie. I'm totally jealous.