Album Review: April 2015 by Various (Rock, 2015, UK)
Alright, let’s talk about April 2015. It’s one of those albums that kinda sneaks up on you. Released under Elefant Records in—you guessed it—April 2015, this compilation brings together a mix of original tunes and covers, all with a rock vibe that feels unmistakably British. The whole thing has this raw, unpolished charm to it, like someone handed you a mixtape made by your coolest mate.
Now, I gotta shout out two tracks that stuck with me. First up, “Through Your Hands Love Can Shine.” This one hits different, man. It’s got this dreamy, almost ethereal quality, like sunlight filtering through curtains on a lazy Sunday morning. The vocals are soft but full of emotion, and the guitar work? Super understated yet totally mesmerizing. You don’t even realize how much it’s gotten under your skin until you catch yourself humming it hours later.
Then there’s their cover of “Just Like Honey” by The Jesus & Mary Chain. Oh man, this version is something else. They take the original’s shoegaze vibes and crank up the energy just enough to make it feel fresh without losing that moody core. The guitars are fuzzy as heck, and the drums have this driving beat that makes you wanna nod along even if you’re just sitting at your desk pretending to work. Covers can be hit or miss, but this one nails it.
The rest of the album’s solid too, though some tracks blend into the background more than others. “Baby Don’t Hold Your Breath For Me” and “Crying In The Rain” bring nice variety, but they don’t quite grab me the way the two I mentioned do. Still, props for including Carole King and Knickers covers—it shows they weren’t afraid to play around with styles.
Here’s the thing about April 2015: it doesn’t try too hard to impress you, and weirdly, that’s what makes it memorable. It’s not perfect, sure, but sometimes music doesn’t need to be polished to death to leave an impact. Listening to it feels like flipping through an old photo album—nostalgic, a little rough around the edges, but full of moments that stick with you.
And honestly? That kinda sums up why I keep coming back to it. Plus, who names an album after its release date anyway? Bold move, but hey, it works.
