Chris Ball
I’m an ageing rocker who has been going to concerts and buying records for over 30 years. I used to write for Metal Hammer, then briefly another magazine that went down to the bottom of the ocean with that fat crook Robert Maxwell.
I gave up for a while. Experimented with listening to dance music, hip hop and indie rock. It broadened my horizons and I had a lot of fun, but when I reached my late 30’s I realised I was living a kind of cultural lie. I love rock music I realised, much of it deeply unfashionable, but fuck it, I’m old enough now not to care. In the meantime I’d become a father, I now have two boys, and accumulated several more tattoos, middle-aged spread and a healthy dislike of modern pop music and the facile celebrity obsessed industry that fuels it.
So I’m an Essex geezer who’s returned to his roots in more ways than one, I live on the coast after having spent 20 years living in East London. Don’t let the tatts and West Ham shirt fool you though. I love Japanese ukiyo-e art and haiku poetry, impressionist art, the works of Alan Moore and Salman Rushdie, botany and bird watching. I still go to gigs as often as my family, liver and bank balance will allow.
My all time favourite bands and artists are Tom Waits, The National, The Drive By Truckers, The Who, Wilco, Randy Newman, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Thin Lizzy, Celtic Frost, Slipknot, Public Enemy, Warren Zevon, Queens of the Stone Age, The Handsome Family, AC/DC, Lykke Li, Laura Veirs, Monster Magnet (obvs) Black Sabbath, Black Sabbath, Black Sabbath and Black Sabbath.
Recent faves include Bo Ningen, Windhand, Witch Mountain, St Vincent, Lana Del Rey, Public Service Broadcast, Ghost Poet, Triptykon, Matthew E White and Courtney Barnett.
Tell me yours.
Articles by Chris Ball
The inherent miserablism of the band means that despite all the gauzy dreaminess of the music the songs remain largely earthbound and stubbornly unlovable. By Chris Ball.
Straight-up-no-messing rock n’roll, satisfaction guaranteed delight. A MIGHTY fine début album, in fact my début album of the year, thus far. By Chris Ball
Not just a nod to the future, but a sterling advertisement for the bands recent past, I think Hey Colossus can consider their dark works to be done. – By Chris Ball
New York City ‘pop cock rock’ sensation Mother Feather are about to release their début album on Metal Blade Records. Front woman Ann Courtney kindly agreed to talk to Chris Ball, despite him comparing her to Shania Twain.
The very best way to hear Mother Feather would be to hear them, unannounced, on the radio, for if you have a single pop-loving bone in your body you will fall for their irresistible tunes. – By Chris Ball
Filthy, psychobilly-tinged garage rock from Stockton On Tees. All your favourite deranged alt-rock weirdos are represented. Play spot the influence bingo or party until you puke – the choice is yours: Age and experience dependent. – By Chris Ball
This isn’t supposed to be tasteful, it’s supposed to be rock ‘n’ roll. Job done. – By Chris Ball
The record has a very drum heavy sound, which works out well for the John Bonham-aping caveman wallop of ‘Exorcist Everything’, but in general leaves you with the feeling that some passion is being held back. If Byers voice was lunging from the speakers, ripping your face off, this set of songs would get by on nutty charm alone, but as it is it’s rather Beige, Beige, Beige. By Chris Ball
What Iggy has done on Post Pop Depression is given himself the best opportunity he can to create one last successful rock album. In turning to Joshua Homme, one of the most well connected and talented guys currently working in rock, and huge fan of Iggy’s work, is surround himself with sympathetic group of collaborators who would do whatever it took to make a great Iggy Pop record. By Chris Ball
In a genre perhaps blessed with more great songwriters than any other, Willy Vlautin is still a rare and impressive talent and Richmond Fontaine have produced yet another set of memorable, deeply human songs. By Chris Ball
What these guys have come up with is a very palatable mix of plaintive, soulful melody, strong commercial hooks and pounding, progressive metal. – By Chris Ball
It is a very interesting, incident packed album, which reflects the styles of all parties concerned and does nothing to diminish their stellar reputations. Perhaps though they were all too pumped up by their own talents and vast potential and got just a bit too excited. If it’s profundity was as obvious as its musical excellence, we would be talking about a future classic. – By Chris Ball
There is certainly enough about ‘Endless Flight’ to entice even the most jaded of stoner fans to check them out and I look forward to catching them at Desertfest – I suspect that if you add volume and alcohol to their might grooves then you are in for a very good time indeed. – By Chris Ball
There’s little here to merit your attention and that is a real disappointment. However, I have faith in a Piney Gir – she’ll bounce back, she’s tough, too smart and too talented not to. By Chris Ball
Repeated listens have revealed the impressive breadth and invention Gum Takes Tooth have managed to summon from their potentially meagre and limited resources. Definitely one for those who live in the freak zone. By Chris Ball
The Atomic Bitchwax released their new album ‘Gravitron’, which Chris Ball described as “the biggest no brainer of the year thus far.” With TAB about to start their European tour, which kicks off at London’s Desertfest, Chris asked bassist/singer Chris Kornik some questions.
This album is life affirmingly good and ‘Gravitron’ is one of those records that rekindles your love affair with rock all over again. – By Chris Ball
Stick with Mojave Lords – these guys know what they’re doing. Stoner satisfaction guaranteed. By Chris Ball
Several of these tunes have a sort of quiet majesty, not dissimilar to Jeff Buckley. However, that air of fuzzy-headedness seems to prevent any of it truly tugging at your heart. That guitar playing is an absolute delight throughout, though. By Chris Ball
‘Songs From The Ashes’ sounds like a rebirth, but is actually a celebration and imitation of a fine chapter of metal’s past. – By Chris Ball
We Are Undone’ is both an immediate, hook-laden attention grabber and a quiet and masterful ‘grower’. Although shot through with the San Francisco duo’s usual flaws this is perhaps the band’s best work to date. By Chris Ball
