The Definite Article

The state of modern rock music has dwindled so drastically recently that we’re now accustomed to expect synthesised pop violins or computer-generated organs on each new record we hear. Since Noel Gallagher released his last album, much to the disappointment of rock traditionalists, scissors have even entered the fray. So that’s why it’s entirely surprising when you stumble upon a 10-track LP like The Academic’s breakout record – and realise there is still some good in the world yet. We’ve learnt in the past that the best selection of music can come from the most unlikely of places. But the garage of four humble young lads from Ireland is still one to drop jaws when you sit down (or get up) with a beer in your hand for this 34-minute stroke of beauty. Craig Fitzgerald (vocals), Matt Murtagh (guitar), Stephen Murtagh (bass) and Dean Gavin (drums) grew up in Mullingar, a town in Ireland. They only formed in 2013 but have hit the ground running, and Tales from the Backseat...

The release of the latest FIFA video game is many football fans’ highlight of the year. Every late September, avid gamers wait in anticipation to play the new release – and test out all its new features. But there’s one thing that keeps the series ticking over anything else – and it wouldn’t be the same without it. The soundtrack is the unsung hero of the football-simulator titles – and every year it throws up tunes ranging from Brazilian dance-funk to German industrial rock. There’s a problem though. The number of songs on the soundtracks usually ranges around thirty-forty, meaning many of the best songs can get swept under the rug. These songs will pass you by and you’ll never actually find out the artist or even the name of the track. But what’ll surprise many is that, while there’s always songs on the game that seemingly come from the depths of Antarctica, there’s many songs that are actually by bands who we see all over the news, all the time. The producers at FIFA ...