W/e 21/11/25 - Bicep, The Man From Delmonte, Of Mice and Men, Picture Parlour, Black Kids

A mixed week.

Not often an act gets 4 scores of 8.5+ and Bicep split the class somewhat. Still they are our winnners this week, land inside the top 30 this year, plus have our TOTW.

Decent showing from debutants Picture Palour - we gave them a tightly packed set of scores.

Of Mice and Men end up in the bottom 3 for the year, alongside fellow growlers Architects

Justin takes the 😄 at a canter, just his 3rd this year. Not one to go overboard on the scoring - Bicep are in an exclusive club of just 5 who’ve been awarded a 9. Simon has the ☹️

Black Kids were a new one for a many of us , and have a respectable mid table slot on the classic alongside Kings of Leon and Young MC.

Andy

Bicep - 3

The Man From Delmonte - I didn’t mind the tunes, although they were a bit dated but the vocals really got in my tit. Maybe if I spent time knocking around Manchester I’d appreciate it more 5

Of Mice and Men - An acquired taste for sure but there’s much less screaming after the opener and their thrash drumming and shredding were absolutely top drawer 7.5

Picture Parlour - Very Black Honey like, maybe a bit too much, but pretty decent stuff 6.5

TotW - Neptune 66 by Picture Parlour

Black Kids - This really holds up, should have been more successful back when it came out 8

Sam

Bicep : I like him and this is quite good but a bit samey . So;7

Man from del monte : as if Half Man Half Biscuit and Beautiful South had a really annoying baby. Some clever lyrics tho so : 5

Of Mice and Men : sounded pretty shouty to me ! Too much for me . 5

Picture Parlour : slightly annoying voice but full of passion and it grew on me ; 7.5

TOTW : I used to be your girlfriend by Picture Parlour .

Black Kids : I recognised some of this ! Lovely bit of bouncy , occasionally spiky indie . 8

Phil

Bicep 6.5

Surprisingly, given my general antipathy to EDM and anything resembling it, I didn’t dislike this. A lot of it is ambient rather than straightforwardly dancey. I also quite like a bit of drum’n’bass plus there are moments here that put me in mind of Mandy, Indiana, who I absolutely love.

The Man from Delmonte 5.5

Relentlessly cheerful. Annoying voice. That’s about it.

Of Mice and Men 7.2

Album of the week for me. Even when the vocals weren’t shredding, the band packed a hell of a punch. Good stuff.

Picture Parlour 6

Dramatic indie. Once again, they’re aiming at stadiums and I can picture the singer, arms flung out, yelling the lyrics into a microphone a couple of feet away. They’ll probably do well but they’ll have to do it without my support.

TOTW – Of Mice and Men – Wake up

Classic

Black Kids 7

Never heard of this lot before. It’s enjoyable upbeat indie and listening to it passed nearly an hour enjoyably enough.

Simon

Bicep: the Chroma series is primarily aimed at the dancefloor and it sounds like it - better experienced at high volume in a dark club than on the 7.45 to London Bridge. If you want dancefloor bangers though nos. 10 and 11 certainly hit the mark. 7

The Man from Delmonte: lightweight JJ at its most mediocre - the Manc storytelling might appeal to some (although probably not many) but I just found it annoying. 5

Of Mice and Men: Christ, one listen of this was enough for me. 3

Picture Parlour: has its moments - Cielo Drive and Who's There To Love Without You? are glam-tinged stompers - but wouldn't say I was a massive fan overall. Confident debut though. 6.5

Black Kids: not a band I've come across before - sharp and punchy indie, found it quite engaging although it didn't knock my socks off. 7.5

TotW: Bicep - CHROMA 011

Justin

Bicep - Total bleep heaven. 9

The Man from Delmonte - old school comforting jingle jangle. It's not going to set the world in fire but I did enjoy listening to it. 6.9

Of Mice and Men - if I did an oral review of this it would be deep throated and loud! The mad singing is painful but the music is rocking. For lovers of this it is probably great and on that basis I give it an objective 6

Picture Parlour - listened to this a lot. Not really sure what my views are. The angsty femal rock indie vocalist market is pretty crowded at the moment. This was better than many albeit no particular standout track. 7

Totw Bicep - Chroma 011

Black Kids - I liked this album when it came out and saw them live a few times. The 50/60s US rock n roll style vocals with synths works well. Jolly fun album. 7.9

Guy

Bicep – As Simon said, it would probably work really well in a club but it’s not such a strong listen out of context. Seemed a bit one-dimensional as an album – 6.8

The Man From Delmonte – Lyrics were actually pretty good but his voice is a bit annoying and it’s too light-weight indie JJ even for me! - 6

Of Mice and Men - Virtually unlistenable. A truly painful experience. Marks only for the fact they made an effort - 3

Picture Parlour – Quite funky in places, this was a pretty solid indie debut with one or two great songs Cielo Drive and my TOTW included – 7.5

TOTW – Talk About It – Picture Parlour

Black Kids – Not familiar with this album. Totally passed me by. It’s great. Just up my street. Tuneful indie with a funky, synthy edge. – 8.3

Jim

BICEP 8.5

Terrific stuff from the Belfast boys, probably their best yet. Some classic lower-intensity tracks as we head on the debut , but they’ve added plenty of muscle on at least a handful of bangers, especially the first and last couple. Top work. Book ‘em for the Shevron Melvin.

The Man From Delomonte 6

I say ‘yes, well maybe’. It’s a bit twee and quirky, but an OK listen

Off Mice and Men 3

Sigh. It’s just silly n it? And the rock behind the growling ain’t up to much either.

Picture Parlour 7

Rock without screaming. Simples. Solid, down the middle debut, never dull and had a some Deap Vally about it.

TOTW: could have chosen Chroma 1,2,10, 11 or 12 but will pick #8. See you on a D&B dancefloor Phil!

Black Kids 7

Never heard of these guys either. Decent indie pop with a twist or 2.

Erol

BICEP - I love the bounce and punch of this. Proper big bangers that had me dancing around the kitchen last weekend. Smashing stuff. 8.8

The Man from Delmonte - a passable listen but a tad annoying. They sound like a pub band that I wouldn’t bother going to see. 5

Of Mice and Men - very much like BMTH - which is a compliment - but the endless deep throat screeching was so unnecessary. Shame as I’m partial to a big metal album. If they could just dial it down a bit, they’d be on to a winner. 5.5

Picture Parlour - a curious voice but I enjoyed this quirky indie rock offering that has a definite whiff of T-Rex here and there. 7

TOTW - I’m with Jim on this. #7 from BICEP. Pure uplifting hands in the air joy!

Black Kids - not an album or band that I know but this is a decent indie pop album that bobs along nicely. I’m not gonna teach your boyfriend etc is the highlight. 7

Paul

Bicep (8.5)

A really good bit of dance with more than a few bangers in there. Grew to enjoy it more with each listen.

The Man from Delmonte (6)

Bit if of funny one this. Quite enjoyed the tunes on the first few tracks but his voice grew more annoying as it went on and it was just a bit twee for me.

Of Mice and Men (4)

Bit too much screaming for me! Found it quite hard work!

Picture Parlour (6.5)

Nice enough slightly once paced softish indie but I’d prefer a bit more bite.

Black Kids (8)

Really enjoyable piece of upbeat indie. Knew a couple of songs but good to hear a bit more from them. A good choice!

TOTW - Bicep - CROMA 002 L.A.V.A

Mark

Bicep - pretentious numbered track names aside, this was pretty decent, but I'm not as keen as others it seems - 6

Man From Delmonte - I found myself quite liking this, wears thin over a whole album maybe but he came over like a cross between Matt Johnson and Half Man Half Biscuit, if you can imagine such a thing - 6.5

Of Mice and Men - er, no, just silly. Backing music is all hyperactive overblown ridiculousness and the vocals are a real turn off - 4

Picture Parlour - from Manchester but they don't sound it. Nice mix of Dream Wife, Black Honey, and a definite Band Of Skulls vibe, pick of the bunch for me this week - 7.5

TOTW - Who's There To Love Without You, by Picture Parlour

Annette

Bicep: 8

The Man From Delmonte: 6

Of Mice & Men: 4

Picture Parlour: 7 5

TOTW: chroma #8 by Bicep

Classic: Black Kids - 7

Matt

Bicep: Background bleeps, like an ineffective and hazardous smoke alarm. 6.2

The Man From Delmonte: He say, meh. 5

Of Mice & Men: The musicality of a man trapping his hand whilst trying to retrieve a fork from the waste disposal unit. But still not the worst thing I've heard. 3.5

Picture Parlour: Bluesy, post punk indie channelling a slice of Americana from (I think) Manchester. A lot to like here and great promise. 7.5

TOTW: Norwegian Wood, Picture Parlour

Adam

BICEP

Heard great things about their CHROMA live show. It’s strong, but doesn’t quite get me twitching like their earlier stuff. One I need to revisit/see live. 7

Man from Delmonte

Slightly twee and floaty guitar. 5

Of Mice & Men

Me likes it heavy, but me not like this. Takes a bit of nuance to get a shouting album right but I don’t think they’e done it here. 4

Picture Parlour

Nice bit of indie punk rocking, interesting vocals - slightly raspy, crooning. 7

TOTW: CHROMA 002 L.A.V.A

Classic

Top album, takes me back to peak indie years. Upbeat, energetic and generally fun. Enjoyable trip down memory lane. 8