About Honey & Bile

***01.01.16: Thanks to everyone who has sent me their music over the last 3 years – I won’t be doing any more reviews for the foreseeable future as I’ll be focussing on my own songs (see below)***

Every day I listen to new songs / bands, then I forget their names and what I loved / hated about them. This site will help me remember. In the interests of brevity all reviews will be no longer than 43 words. Surely that’s enough. There’ll be links to the songs and deferential nods to the sites that brought said tunes to my attention.  And maybe a score out of 43.  Don’t ask me why 43, it’s not important.

All the views are very much only my own opinion and like everyone’s, subject to change dependent on whether I’ve had a cup of tea, or whether it’s sunny. I may be a bit ‘meh’ about a song but love the band and vice versa.

I write songs too (see below), and of course everyone has the right to love / hate them and tell their friends.

Right, on with the show.

afterword: I’m enjoying this – there will even be interviews with bands I particularly like, if they can be bothered…  Oh and seeing as bands are now getting in touch (thanks) just to let you know, if I like it enough I’ll review it.  No review?  Read a few of my reviews, double check the kind of stuff I usually like and if you think I may enjoy your next release, send me that too. Cheers.

51 thoughts on “About Honey & Bile

  1. Hey man

    how you doing? I am writing on behalf of my band Return To The Sun to see if you would be interested in reviewing our debut E.P Eskimo Bones? We’re an Indie Rock band based in Edinburgh and have in our first year together, toured the UK, played the main stage at the O2 Academy, Glasgow as part of the future fest, released our first E.P and we’re about to set off to Brighton to play this years Great Escape Festival. I realize you say that you deal with bands local to you primarily but I thought I’d attempt to get on your radar regardless.

    You can check out some of our tracks @ soundcloud.com/returntothesun

    If you are encouraged to review our E.P I’ll send it to an email address you provide 🙂

    Thanks for your time
    Steve

  2. I’m writing on behalf of the Swedish/Icelandic duo Brother North, to try to tempt you to write 43 words about their self-titled debut album. They are not bearded lumberjacks, but still create beautiful and majestic soundscapes in the folkmusic-americana style, with inspiration from the wast forrests of northern Sweden, and the rugged beauty of Iceland.

    All the best

    Valdi

  3. Hey, I loved a lot of songs you present! Here is something that might tick a lot of your boxes (see Brother North) from my Italy-based band, Moro & the Silent Revolution. It’s in our brand-new folk-pop album, Home Pastorals (Gamma Pop). Cheers – moro

  4. Hey there!

    My name is Angelo Malka, vocalist of Psicotropicais and I always read your posts on Honey&Bile and think they meet up my taste and my bands taste, congratulations, your posts about Moro & The Silent Revolution and Little May were really good ones.
    I’m sending this e-mail coz my band made a recent version of Arcade Fire’s Tunnels from the first album Funeral and I’d like to send it to you, so maybe if you are interested you can post on your website.

    Hope you enjoy it!

    cheers, Malka

    links:

    Soundcloud:

    4 shared so you can download it:
    4shared.com/mp3/SDvvQYPIba/Psicotropicais_-_Tunnels__Arca.html?

    Facebook:
    facebook.com/psicotropicais

  5. Hi, I am so glad you liked Brother North, because then I can continue to pester you with more music from the same source, this time from the lead singer Freyr Flodgren. Now that he’s completed three albums with three different bands in the last 18 months (two to be released this summer), he marked the start of a solo project by recording this beautiful and naked version of original song “Over My Head”. Hope you enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrfJ5rh1WNw. Valdi

  6. This seems to be the place people do this. Okay then. Hi! I’m Noll Dezern, just released my first album on Bandcamp earlier this month and I would absolutely love it if you could have a listen and talk about it if you like it/hate it enough to bother. I write hazy, dreamy lo-fi folk/pop with an emphasis on intimate vocals. Pixie Lust can be downloaded FREE for anyone here: https://nolldezern.bandcamp.com/
    Thank you for reading, keep up the good blogging.

  7. Hey honey and bile, I really enjoy your blog! Thanks for turning me on to artists such as shovels and rope and speedy ortiz ❤
    I make music under the name "Chemists // 化学者"

    I just recently released a new album and it would be amazing if you guys could give it a listen and review it.

    I have enclosed a link to my music here –

    http://chemists.bandcamp.com/album/vision-in-furs

    enjoy!-Danny

  8. Greetings,
    I have really enjoyed your review of Dreamer’s “Wolves”, and I am also interested in your own music. The band I am managing, Palomino, would really appreciate if you could write a review of their album, or even a single track.

    Here is a link to their soundcloud:

    Thank you very much for taking time to read this.

    • American Television: Let’s Play Two. A digital release featuring the songs “Optimist” and “Dead & Gone” is out now!

      We’d love for you to review/cover the songs, video, or both! Please let us know if you do plan to post something so we can circulate it via social media and drive traffic to your site.

      If you need more or have anything special you’d like to do with American Television, feel free to reach out to us!

      LISTEN HERE:

      We are running a giveaway till Friday August 21 – if anyone downloads the EP they will have a chance at winning a merch pack including: t-shirt, foam middle finger, 3 pins & a stack of stickers! We’ll contact them via email.

      Watch The Video

      Thanks!
      American Television

  9. Hey there,
    Philly indie rock weirdos tinmouth have a busy fall ahead, and we’d like to be firmly on Honey and Bile’s radar. We just finished recording an album with Jeff Ziegler (Kurt Vile, War on Drugs). The album is due out around November, and we will be promoting it heavily in the fall and winter.
    I want to share the first song, “Prevent Defense,” with you. Evoking the noisy, forceful aesthetic of Mission of Burma or Flipper and mixing it with some hooky pop melodies, “Prevent Defense” is an intense expression of the band’s dynamic range and a hint of what’s to come.
    You can hear the song at:

    And here’s a promo pic:
    http://i.imgur.com/edKBRSC.jpg?1
    We would greatly appreciate a write up, future album review, or just letting us know what you think of the song. We love Honey and Bile and think we’d be a great fit with the other music you write about. Thanks for your consideration.

    Aaron and tinmouth
    http://tinmouth.tumblr.com
    http://www.facebook.com/mytinmouth
    http://tinmouth.bandcamp.com

  10. Hi, I’m a musician going by Steady Lean from Santa Fe Springs, California, and I think I’ve got a sort of weirdo folk rock sound with influences ranging from Skip Spence to The Clean- here’s the link to my first single on Soundcloud:

    Thanks,
    Joe Gutierrez

  11. Ahoy Captain,
    I play in a band called American Cream (americancreammusic.com) out of Las Vegas. We’re trying to find new ways to reach out to different audiences, and I noticed that your blog is open to reviewing new albums. This is our newest EP and we’d truly appreciate if you gave it a listen!

    Thanks for your time and consideration!

    -Charlie Gott
    charlie@americancreammusic.com

  12. Hi Honey & Bile!

    I’ve been following your blog for some time now and love what you’re are doing! When thinking about blogs to share my latest release with, you guys were at the top of the list!

    My name is Alissa Beyer (I go by The Forty-Eight), a 23 year old Texas native who is still stuck in the late 90’s/early 2000s pop punk world and loving every minute of it. I’ve just released a pop punk version of White Christmas and would love to premier it on Honey & Bile! You can listen to the track via Soundcloud or YouTube. Links below!


    https://theforty-eight.com

    Would love to hear your thoughts on the track and keep in touch!

    Alissa Beyer // The Forty-Eight

  13. Honey and Bile,

    I apologize in advance for adding to your probably already insurmountable amount of shit to look at, but I believe in our music and our story.

    In March of 2014, we formed The Youngest in the small, yet thanks to ZZ Top, infamous, town of La Grange, Texas. Coming from San Francisco, Chicago, Houston and Boston, we gelled as a musical group by living, eating, and playing together all day every day on a 99-acre ranch. Our first gigs were at dive bars (I mean REAL dive bars, made out of plywood) and saloons in front of who would become in a few short months our diehard La Grange fans. The newness of our surroundings proved invaluable to our creative process and we used the desolate beauty around us to write songs that reflected the incredible shift our lives had just experienced.

    We recorded our album in two parts: half on the ranch in La Grange and half at our friends brand new studio in Nashville: Wild Road. It wasn’t easy whittling down our diverse and incredibly personal catalogue of music from 25+ original songs to 11 but we did it, creating an album, Feral Road, which is equal parts rock and roll, folk, and country. Tracks number 1 (Our Town), 2 (Thick As Thieves) , 3 (Art of Life) and 9 ((Don’t Tell Me That) I’m The One) are Feral Road’s singles.

    Immediately after completing our album, we embarked on a 35+ stop, self booked Midwest tour to show our family and friends what we had been working on for the last six months. The tour was a resounding success and included a show with rising country group Hugh Bob and the Hustle in Kansas City and a sold out performance in Chicago. We pride ourselves on our live shows, which we think showcase our musicianship and passion. After seeing one of our shows in Detroit, one writer suggested “schedule in pen, not pencil, a time to see The Youngest”

    Being such a young band, we’re definitely looking forward to our future, which includes a four-week West Coast tour in February. We hope to break into the festival scene this summer and continue to grow and improve as an independent band.

    Our website: http://www.theyoungestmusic.com

    Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/youngestmusic

    Our Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheYoungestBand

    Our Instagram: http://instagram.com/youngestmusic/

    We hope our music and story connect with you and wish you continued success with your blog. Thanks again for the work you do for the indie community.

    John Quinn

  14. Honey and Bile is awesome! Check out Forebear. Forbear flawlessly weaves together cinematic indie rock with a truly unique voice and spectacular harmonies taking listeners on a surreal experience. Capturing the struggle between our interpersonal crises and living in the age of constant awareness of global tensions of wars glooming overheard, Forebear puts into words the feelings that are always so difficult to express ourselves.

  15. Hey there,
    My name is Nick Kula and I in the band Moon Tan from Winnipeg, Manitoba. We are a funk rock trio that defines our sound as a love child between 70’s Rush and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. In February 2015 we independently released our debut album “New Age Renegade”- this six song high energy disc will be sure to raise your pulse and broaden your mind. Filled with intricate instrumental elements but a strong respect for melody and groove this is sure to be like nothing else you’ve ever heard. We’d love it if you would review our album- if not at least give it a listen and let us know if you liked it. The CD is currently only available for digital download or by getting a disc from us personally but we will have an online merch store up very soon. Look forward to hearing back from you!

    Thanks,

    Nick K.

    http://www.moontanband.net
    http://www.facebook.com/moontanband
    http://moontanband.bandcamp.com/

  16. Hey, how are you?

    This is our debut music video that we directed and edited ourselves! It’s a day in the life of The Yetis and the story of how we wrote Little Surfer Girl. We hope you like it. We are promoting this single one last time before we go back into the studio next week to record our new 3-song EP “Lonely Tandem Ride”. Thanks so much for your time, as always and we hope all is well.

    http://www.soundcloud.com/theyetis
    http://www.facebook.com/theyetisofficial
    theyetis.bandcamp.com

  17. Hi Honey and Bile,

    I am a constant reader of your blog and was just wondering if you would give my band’s song a listen and perhaps a review? Its just been released. We are an Alternative/Indie/Pop band from Bristol in the UK, for anyone who likes Bastille, Imagine Dragons, Ellie Goulding etc https://soundcloud.com/lily-the-band/days-like-this As a very new band it is hard to turn heads and get people’s attention, but we believe we are delivering something that people will like.

    Thanks,

    George (LILY)

  18. Hey Honey and Bile, how’s it going?

    This is the new song from our EP, premiering on Blahblahblahscience. We are filming a music video for ‘Mysterion’ with Chicagoan director Ryan Ohm (Twin Peaks, Modern Vices) this weekend and we are touring Europe this July. We hope you dig the song and thank you for your time as always!

  19. Hi,

    I was hoping to submit some music to your blog. My band is called Phobos & Deimos and we do sad melodic rock. We’re influenced by post-punk but not enslaved by it; we like reverby guitars, active bass lines, and memorable vocal melodies. We try to make songs for and about smart people who spend too much time wrapped in self-doubt, and we’re probably tasteful to a fault.

    I’m Hans Burger; I do all the vocals and write the words. My bandmate Zac Webb does all the music. We used to have a live lineup but that’s on hiatus right now because we live too far apart.

    You can find our songs at https://soundcloud.com/phobos-deimos-1

    You can download a ZIP of our album at https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B62xV15rll9hdnV1QWx2X0luQnM&authuser=0

    I’d be happy to send you a hard copy with a nice little handmade booklet if that would make you happy. Feel free to distribute MP3s whenever and however you’d like, to whomever, in whatever quantity. It’s 2015, that goat is out of the pen.

    Thanks for listening!

  20. Hello!

    I hope you’re having an awesome day!

    On August 25th I will release my second album, No Worry, No Sorrow. An intense, uplifting rock and instrumental offering. I would greatly appreciate your consideration for reviewing the album on your site.

    Here is a link to a landing page I have set up for the album if you would like to stream it: http://goo.gl/JXPfju

    In addition, the landing page has my artist biography, and a high resolution version of the album artwork.

    If you would prefer to just download the album then click the link below.
    Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xe0dm2a4m2f1r6c/NoWorry_NoSorrow_PressDownload.zip?dl=0

    Here are links to my social media profiles:
    Web: http://mykeclements.com
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MykeClementsMusic
    Twitter: @mykeclements
    Instagram: @mykeclements
    Bandcamp: https://mykeclements.bandcamp.com/album/no-worry-no-sorrow

    Thank you very much for your consideration, if you would like to contact me directly please do so!

    Have a wonderful day!

    Myke Clements
    myke@clementsmedia.org
    818.916.0073

  21. Hi Simon,

    How is it going? I enjoy reading and discovering new music in Honey and Bile. Earlier this year I started an LA based Indie Latin Rock project under the name of Mik Current and I’d like to show you my second single “Lies”, in hopes that you may listen, enjoy and share the music 🙂 Mik Current’s take on rock is to infuse it with his latin american roots, by adding rhythms that are used in salsa, merengue, and other latin styles in his music.

    Thanks for considering and please let me know your thoughts:

    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/mik-current/lies/s-jKdBE
    EPK: http://www.mikcurrent.com/epk

    Best,
    Michelangelo Corrente

  22. Hi,

    Hope you are doing good. We are grateful for your constant help to Independent artists. We read Honey and Bile, and we enjoy your reviews. I want to let you know about Skin & Bones. We are a Folk/Blues duo that spent most of our beginnings busking under the sun in Venice Beach. Our sound consists of a distorted violin, sometimes played like a lead guitar, performed by Peter Blackwelder, and deep vocals, bluesy guitar riffs and a suitcase drums by Taylor Borsuk.

    We want to give you our new unreleased single, titled “Bad Feeling”, We hope that you enjoy and share the music.

    Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/skinandbonesmusic/bad-feeling-2/s-3PJzn
    Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81su5RoMNEc

    Thanks for your time and consideration.

  23. Hello again,
    Last summer you wrote a very nice review for a band I was managing, which is much appreciated. Recently I’ve started my own band named Vital Collision, and I was wondering if you would have a listen to the first song, Fluctuate, on Soundcloud. If you feel it is appropriate for a review, I would greatly appreciate any words or feelings toward it. I hope all is going well with you and your music career as well!

    Thank you again!

    Soundcloud- https://soundcloud.com/chris-kendrick-10/fluctuate

  24. Hey Man,

    I hope you’re doing well! My name is Gerard Smith. I’m a New York City musician, and I’d be honored if you could take a listen to my debut EP “Odessa”. If you get a chance, you can stream it at soundcloud.com/gerardsmithmusic. It would really mean a lot to be featured in Honey and Bile!

    You can also find me at facebook.com/gerardsmithmusic, as well as twitter.com/gerardsmith and reverbnation.com/gerardsmithmusic.

    Thank you for any possible consideration, and have a great day!

    Cheers,

    Gerard Smith

  25. Since I guess this is the place to contact, here I go!

    I’m a Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter and producer from midwestern roots. Coming into this world as an adopted baby, many of my songs center around a longing for love, a feeling of displacement, and a battle between my own feelings of what it means to be a good man. I grew up listening to my parents music, folk-country and Motown. Later I got into jazz, blues and soul, hosting a two hour radio show called Sundown Soul on an internet radio show platform. All of these genres have a place in my own music. I’m currently performing in the underground music scene in New York, a place that has welcomed my genre, however unusual it might be for the dimly lit, usually-electronic setting.

    Would love to be feature on your blog if you dig the music.

    Blessings,
    Goon Soul

  26. Hi Honey and Bile, we’re The Owens…a two piece (*twin piece) pop-rock band based in Boston, Ma. We’re booking shows for the summer and into the fall to promote a small release and to get the ball rolling. Also, it’s being followed up with a video. We scrolled through your blog and enjoyed the content. If you feel so inclined to give it a go, and like what you hear, please get in touch.

    Thanks!

    -Randy and Larry

    http://www.theowens.bandcamp.com

  27. Hi,

    Hope you are having a good summer. I want to thank you for all the support you give to independent artists. I read Honey & Bile, and I enjoy your music selection.

    I want to let you know about my project Mik Current. The sound is latin passion mixed with steady american rock. Upon moving to the US back in 2009, I travelled from coast to coast exploring and soaking in the diverse music of the states and eventually settling in Los Angeles, CA. With the sole idea of mixing the musical sentiments and dynamic styles I grew up to, like Salsa, Merengue, and Samba, with the crisp bite of American Indie Rock, my vision came alive earlier this year here in Los Angeles.

    I want to give you “Ur Fav One” this is my next single which features a riff based core with congas, sax solo, and lots of percussion on top. The single is set to be released August 18th.

    I hope that you like and share the music.

    Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/mik-current/ur-fav-one/s-eqqUT
    EPK – http://www.mikcurrent.com/epk

    Thank you for your time and consideration.

    Best,
    Mik Current

  28. Hi! My name is Francesco D’Andrea. I’m writing on behalf of the band because we would be honored if you could listen to our debut album “Come Naked”, and give us the opportunity to have it reviewed and featured on your website. We’ve worked very hard to make this, and we’re confident that we have created something special and worth your attention. This is the link to the album: https://blackmarketaftermath.bandcamp.com/
    Album (Bandcamp): https://blackmarketaftermath.bandcamp.com/
    Online Press Kit: http://blackmarketaftermath.com/press-kit-album-release/
    Band’s Website: http://blackmarketaftermath.com/
    Thank you for your attention, we hope you will enjoy the listening, and look forward to hear from you.

    Kindest Regards,

    Francesco D’Andrea
    The Black Market Aftermath

  29. Hi man!
    I’m Steven, singer in the Indie/Rock band Road Of Kicks,
    We just released our new single One Too Free For Fighting (from our vinyl EP Seventh Rooster) and we’re preparing our next tour starting from Australia.
    We’re a band of four originally formed in a little town under the Alpine Foothills in Italy and now established in Brisbane.
    Among our influences there are bands such as The Rolling Stones, CCR, The White Stripes and solo performers such as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash.

    If possible, it would be an honor for us to have our latest video reviewed by you on your blog.
    Hope you’ll like the song

    Many thanks

    Cheers
    Steve
    http://www.roadofkicks.com

  30. Introducing “Superplex” …. The most in your face hardcore sludge metal band right outta (((dmb))) Studios…… Please listen, enjoy and share……a blog review/share/43 words would be appreciated ….. 🙂

    KILL THE ROBOTS!!!

    https://m.soundcloud.com/dmb-studios/kill-the-robots-dmb-studios-24bit-wav-master-2-4db40hz

    Add yourself to the Superplex page:
    http://www.facebook.com/superplexband

    Download Kill The Robots! MP3:
    http://www99.zippyshare.com/v/6vviWizn/file.html

    Check out (((dmb))) Studios
    http://www.facebook.com/dmbstudios

  31. 37 minutes of summer! 🙂

    So nearly 80 tracks, acapellas and samples are melted into this fast-paced mix (nearly 80.000 plays) by young DJ and producer KYCO including modern house tracks, groovy edity and cool vocals from the 90’s! It may start deep, but you’ll never know where this fluent journey can take you in 37 minutes!

  32. Hello Honey & Bile or a traditional south african greeting….Howzit 🙂

    My name is Tristan, of the independent electro-folk band The WINTYR. We’ve just released our debut album, ‘Fury’, and would like to know whether you’d be interested in doing a review? Think dark sounds, ethereal vocals, war drums.

    We’ve uploaded a few tracks from the album to Soundcloud, and you can listen here:

    We’re also on Deezer: http://www.deezer.com/album/11628018

    Let us know if you’d like more details – pics? Some more on our history? Thanks SO much for your consideration!

    Warmest regards
    Tristan Carmichael
    The WINTYR

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewintyr
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewintyr
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewintyr/
    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_hKy1gVjcV2jgH5UIsZF8g

  33. Yo!

    My name is Ryan Raines, and my band Why Not Y is gearing up to release our first full-length album in January. We’re totally independent and based in Tallahassee, FL. I’m a fan of the blog and I’d love for you to hear the new music before anyone else and feature it if you so choose.

    Here’s a little sampler:

    Peace!
    Ryan Raines

  34. Hi Honey & Bile!

    Hope all is well.

    My name is Richard and I’m with Ghost Monologues Management.

    First off, I just want to say that I am personally a big fan of the site, its definitely one of the few places on the web where I get my new music fix. Also, I love how you present a hyper personalized review on jams that you deem great, very cool stuff!

    The reason I am contacting you is because we are in the process of promoting an artist we are working with named Jesse Ruben and we were hoping you could check out his latest release and let us know if you are interested in featuring him some way.

    I would be a great honor for the us if you presented Jesse to your audience.

    Artist: Jesse Ruben
    Song: This Is Why I Need You

    Link to the song:
    http://bit.ly/ThisIsWhyINeedYou

    Additional links:
    jesseruben.com
    twitter.com/jesseruben
    facebook.com/jesserubenmusic
    instagram.com/jesseruben

    Best,

    Richard Mazzetti
    Ghost Monologues Management
    t: 908 884 5472
    e: ghostmonologues@gmail.com

  35. Hi there,

    I’m Amanda from Drill Down Media, a Music PR and Artist Management firm based in Los Angeles.

    We’ve been reading your work on Honey & Bile lately and we’re loving your stuff! Would love to be in touch about some of the artists we’re working with. Check out our website here: http://www.drilldown-media.com/

    What’s the best email for us to be in touch at?

    Best,
    Amanda

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