Avenue61 is a leading indie music site that specialises in album and gig reviews, breaking new bands, publicising events, and exclusive interviews with the leading cutting edge acts in the alternative music scene. Avenue61 covers a wide range of artists – some you would have heard of, some you won’t. Artists the site has reviewed recently include the Fleet Foxes, MGMT, Noisettes and Ladyhawke. The site is updated regularly so come back to catch up the latest news and reviews from the bleeding edge of the alternative music scene.

Ok, so first off I must iterate the fact that this particular run down is in no particular order, nor is it a definitive list of the best British record labels of all time (as if such a breakdown could ever be truly quantified). It is simply a list of some personal favourites within the British...MORE>>

Proudly ‘emo’, Cute Is What We Aim For are mostly associated with bands such as Paramore, Cobra Starship, Boys Like Girls, and others on the ‘emo’ Fueled By Ramen label. But they stand out from the pack mainly with their surprisingly clever and creative lyrics.

When they started out, they toured the UK supporting fellow Fueled By Ramen band Paramore. They got a great reception by the crowds, and soon after embarked on their own UK tour, which was also a big success. Lead singer Shaant has a very Americanised accent, which goes excellently with his sultry and energetic voice. Each song has a “soft

section” which makes the remainder of the song stand out much more.

Formed in 2005, the band’s second and most recent album “Rotation” boasts some of their best work yet. “Doctor” is one of these songs with the soft build-up to emphasise the fast chorus. It starts with a definitive drum beat which is joined by Shaant’s vocals after a brief introduction. This was the second single released from the album, followed by “Navigate Me”; a cheesier and slower tune.

One other song of noteable interest is “Miss Sobriety”, partly because of the very obvious message it holds. With lyrics such as “do you remember me, or how to say my name”, the song is quite comical but also relatable.  The forceful backbeat keeps the flow of the song going, with a really good bass-line that definitely gets the feet tapping. The peak of this song happens at the end, when the band detract from the normal structure and go for the repetitive angle; using emphasised drum beats and multiple vocals. This song definitely exposes this band’s ability to manipulate music to make great and capturing songs.

The album features unusual instruments on a few tracks too, for example in “Hollywood” trumpets are one of the main instruments used in the introduction.  With quirks like this, and a good sense of rhythm and tone, Cute Is What We Aim For is a band that should be checked out by everyone regardless of any preconceived genre favouritism. Definitely have a listen to “Doctor” if you need a little lift.