Surfacing: Twin Graves [New Band]

Words: Saam Das

I'd heard a little bit about Twin Graves last year but with relative anonymity being the name of their game, I wasn't overly interested. They've unleashed a few more details since then, along with an excellent track - 'Brothers', with its deliciously sweeping eighties sound that juxtaposes synth-pop with post-punk.

Watch: Howler - Don't Wanna [Album Preview]

Words: Rajan Lakhani

I hadn’t listened to anything by Howler for some time until the brilliant 'Told You Once' came on randomly on my iPod. By some happy coincidence, the band soon afterwards announced their new album 'World Of Joy'. 'Don’t Wanna' is the first taster from the record, watch the video to the new track below.

DVD Review: Rush (2013)

'Rush' (UK Release: 27 Jan '14) // Words: Ced Yuen

Speed fans, rejoice. Not your thing? Well, rejoice anyway. You’re in for a ride, regardless of your knowledge of motor racing. Petrolheads will certainly be pleased - 'Rush' is a sincere and mostly accurate celebration of motor racing as it was in the 1970s. But more importantly, it’s a slick, finely crafted drama and a tale of intense rivalry.

Film Review: Teenage (2013)

'Teenage' (UK Release: 24 Jan '13) // Words: Saam Das

It's now perhaps strange to consider that the notion of a "teenager" is actually a rather new one, emerging in the early part of the twentieth century. Adapting Jon Savage's novel of the same name, Matt Wolf's unconventional, vivid documentary 'Teenage' (driven by a soundtrack by Bradford Cox of Atlas Sound/Deerhunter fame) explores this relatively recent phenomenon.

Announcement: Enter Glastonbury Festival 2014 Emerging Talent Competition

If you're on the ball, you may well have already read about (and possibly even entered) the 2014 Glastonbury Festival Emerging Talent Competition. We've been lucky enough to have been involved with it in the past as one of a few dozen judges, and we're grateful to have been asked back this year. It's an excellent opportunity for new bands to showcase their material to a wide (and receptive!) audience. Find out how to enter below.

Film Review: Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

'Inside Llewyn Davis' (UK Release: 24 Jan '13) // Words: Saam Das

The Coen Brothers latest film 'Inside Llewyn Davis saw a mere two nominations (for Best Cinematography and Best Sound Mixing) at the recent Academy Awards announcements, despite a wealth of critical acclaim. Based on the semi-fictional struggle of a folk singer-songwriter, someone far cleverer than I noted the irony of such a film being itself ignored by the establishment. Perhaps it did indeed hit its mark, as intended.

Watch: Sons And Lovers - Golden (Satellite Session)

Words: Saam Das

One of our musical highlights of 2013 was catching the stadium pop of Sons And Lovers in the grandiose Kings Theatre at Southsea Fest. 2014 looks a likely candidate to be dominated by the band, especially with soaring anthems of the calibre of 'Golden' - watch a special live recording of the track below.

Telly Text #25: Benefits Street + Preachers' Daughters

Words: Jordan Andrew

'Benefits Street'

Social media has exploded over Channel 4’s latest bonkers and outrageous television series. 'Benefits Street' is a five part series on the lives of people living James Turner Street in Birmingham where many of the people living on this street are unemployed and on benefits. We get to see the day to day life on this street which seems to involve the residents drinking, smoking and shoplifting if going what has been shown so far.

Download: Johnny Foreigner - Le Sigh [Album Preview]

Words: Saam Das

'You Can Do Better' is the title of Johnny Foreigner's forthcoming new album, and also my feelings on much of the band's most recent recorded output. Which probably sounds harsher than it should but such is the high standard that Johnny Foreigner have set over the last few years. They're still as blistering live as they ever were, and free download 'Le Sigh' suggests a return to form on record.

Film Review: The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)

'The Wolf Of Wall Street' (UK Release: 17 Jan '13) // Words: Raman K

"The year I turned 26, I made $49 million, which really pissed me off because it was three shy of a million a week", snarls Leonardo DiCaprio's Jordan Belfort. Marty Scorsese has discovered a mighty jet-black sense of humour whilst directing 'The Wolf Of Wall Street'. Over three raucous hours, he mangles and perverts the American Dream with a rise and fall arc that is both utterly hilarious and disheartening. This is the spiritual successor to 'Goodfellas' and 'Casino' - a brash and outrageous tale of sex, drugs, and penny stocks.

Year In Review: Emily Solan's Top Albums Of 2013

Words: Emily Solan

The FG collated writer poll of albums of 2013 is still to come but in the meantime, here's five top albums from the past year. Honourable mentions go to David Bowie, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Miles Kane, The Courteeners, Foals, Manic Street Preachers, and Suede.

TV Review: Sherlock - The Sign Of Three [Series 3, Episode 2]

'Sherlock' Series Three, Episode One: 'The Sign Of Three' (UK Airdate: 5 Jan '14) // Words: Saam Das

Having waited almost two years for the return of 'Sherlock', we had the great pleasure of having two episodes within mere days of one another. Following 'The Empty Hearse' came 'The Sign Of Three', and a somewhat unexpected style and tone. The recap/review below is full of SPOILERS so tread lightly if you are yet to watch the episode.

Listen: Mint Royale - Ring feat. Willem Dafoe [New Single]

Words: Saam Das

I was a bit disappointed when Seerauber Jenny split, following what appears to have been a slightly acrimonious dispute between members Fran Barker and Neil Claxton. The upside is that the dissolution of that outfit has given Claxton more time to concentrate on his more eletronic Mint Royale moniker. His majestic latest effort brings one of Hollywood's finest, Willem Dafoe, onboard in a spoken word role - a great start to the New Year.

Film Review: 12 Years A Slave (2013)

'12 Years A Slave' (UK Release: 10 Jan '14) // Words: Saam Das

Floating on a sea of hype and award wins, former visual artist Steve McQueen's latest feature '12 Years A Slave' finally makes it to the big screen in his native country. Based upon the 1953 memoirs of Solomon Northup, McQueen charts the harrowing twelve year journey that one free man must take, having been kidnapped and sold into slavery.

Year In Review: Glen Byford's Ten Tracks For 2013 [Playlist]

Words: Glen Byford

Whilst it would have been nigh-impossible to give my definitive top tracks of 2013, I gave it a little thought and threw together a list that reflects some of my listening habits and memories over the past twelve months. Listen to the tracks together in a YouTube playlist below.

Year In Review: Maxamillian John's Top Films Of 2013

Words: Maxamillian John

Our end of year lists continue here at FG, laughing in the face of 2014. Here are my top ten films from 2013, which will also be making up some of the choices in a forthcoming collated FG writers poll.

Year In Review: Saam Das' Top Singles Of 2013 [Playlist]

Words: Saam Das

Music purists generally tend to favour albums but for me, all it takes is a few minutes of magic to delight - the single is my jam. Hence, why I normally struggle to restrain myself when choosing my favourite tracks of the year - to help things along, this list only includes tracks that have been self-diagnosed/released as singles. Listen to my thirteen top singles of 2013 in the YouTube playlist below.

TV Review: Sherlock - The Empty Hearse [Series 3, Episode 1]

'Sherlock' Series 3, Episode 1: 'The Empty Hearse' (UK Airdate: 1 Jan '13) // Words: Saam Das

15 January 2012 - the final appearance of Sherlock Holmes as he plummeted to his supposed death in the series two finale, 'The Reichenbach Fall'. Of course, by the end of that episode, it transpired that Sherlock had not actually died at all, and we were left on tenterhooks for the best part of two years to find out how he'd cheated death. For me, at least, 'The Empty Hearse' did not disappoint. SPOILERS from here on.

Year In Review: Rajan Lakhani's Top Albums Of 2013 [Playlist]

Words: Rajan Lakhani

Following my top tracks of 2013, here are my top ten albums of 2013. Check out the handy YouTube playlist below, to listen along to tracks from each of the top ten - featuring the likes of Queens Of The Stone Age and Jon Hopkins.

Month In Reviews: December 2013

Goodbye 2013, and a warm hello to you, 2014. Understandably, December was a fairly quiet month for new releases but we still had a few bits and bobs to cover. Thanks to all the FG team for their hard work and check out our final reviews of the year below.