EP Reviews - The Sun Might Shine Bright
"N: Introducing a quintet hailing from Lancashire, which it has to be said do manage to find their way under the skin pretty quickly when first introduced to this their debut. The band have already garnered much critical praise, from Time Out to the NME and with music like this on offer, it comes as no surprise. Theirs has been described as "upbeat indie folk", with influences of Grandaddy to The Pixies. These really are a given, but the arrangement goes further than just this 2-dimensional view, as a palatte of such wealth is presented and being an ep, the listener is offered 5 powerful tunes. We've heard some great new bands this year, but I have to say that for me Uncle Jeff rate highly among these.
T: This is what I would imagine The Waterboys would have sounded like had they signed to Postcard records. I'm surprised Violent Femmes aren't listed as an influence, especially given the upbeat indie folk tag you speak of. All the same, it's an impressive collection and I can't see Uncle Jeff dancing embarrassingly at wedding discos for the foreseeable future. 9/10"
Live Reviews
Suicidal Birds gig - 18/06/09
"Having seen front man Stephen Hudson perform a brilliant solo set at The Totally Wired re-launch a couple of months ago, I was intrigued to hear what the much talked about Uncle Jeff could offer. What impressed me was the high level of professionalism present amongst the band members - they were extraordinarily tight yet they managed to make it seem so effortless. It became immediately clear during their set that these guys are serious about reaching the big time and if that is indeed their goal then their certainly heading in the right direction. The band has a wide range of influences from melodic indie pop by way of The Lemonheads and The Eels to a slight Americana influence from Yo La Tengo. There is also a psychedelic sheen to their songs, particularly the closing track which climaxed with a veritable tidal wave of feedback and distortion which brought to mind avant-garde experimental artists such as …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead and to a lesser extent Mercury Rev and early Flaming Lips. What was most impressive was how they managed to combine and focus such disparate influences into one unique sound. It is a rare thing for me to be so blown away by new bands; however Uncle Jeff managed to do so in spades. Alongside 3d Tanx, Ponies, The Lovely Eggs and Joyeux, Uncle Jeff are in very fine company. I for one will certainly be attending their EP release party on the 31st July."
