Three years since their last album proper, At War With The Mystics, The Flaming Lips have seemingly decided to forego the soaring synth-inflected tunesmithery that saw them elevated to pioneers of modern American rock and reverted to the kind of proggy, trippy jams that characterised much of their early work.
Clocking in at over…

Post-Once, post-Oscar, post international merry-go-round, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova are back doing what they (particularly the Frames frontman) do best, penning effortlessly hummable tunes, even if some of them, like the wonderfully breezy ‘Feeling The Pull’ have been around for some time.
Opener ‘Low Rising’ is a mid-paced country-tinged grower that wouldn’t seem…

90s Dublin shoegazing legends Sunbear have re-released their old EPs online on www.indiecater.com, joining their classic eponymous 1994 debut album, which has been available on the site since last year.
“This collection of songs is pretty much in chronological order from the Bits and Pieces EP in 1996 and includes almost everything we recorded…

Based on the novel by celebrated French writer Colette (1873-1954), Chéri sees director Stephen Frears back to the costume drama genre which cemented his reputation with 1988’s Dangerous Liaisons. He’s also back in France, this time during La Belle Epoque at the end of the 19th century, when courtesans were the celebrities du jour.…

The eponymous Frost (David Thewlis) is a novelist, worn out after three years of working on his latest book, who foregoes New York for the countryside, taking up residence in his friends’ empty country house to “live the life of a stone”. However, no sooner has he downed tools than our hero is inspired…

Island is Colin MacIntyre’s fifth album since 2001, but only his second under his own name – his first three long-players being released under the Mull Historical Society moniker. While he’s always had an ear for a catchy melody, this is the first time he’s stripped his generally soaring pop tunes back to their…

When an uber-powerful bomb turns the once-proud Empire City into a shell of its former self, it’s up to the unlikeliest of heroes to find out what the hell is going on and who’s behind it. Once he can stop what’s left of the city’s populace from trying to kill him that is. Although…

It’s clear even to State’s mammy that the ‘80s are back in vogue at the moment, so it’s probably no surprise that the good folks who create video games have resurrected the film classic starring Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis. What is mildly surprising, however, is that it’s good fun.
The vast…

Guinness announced an big line-up of artists for Dublin’s Arthur’s Day 250th anniversary celebrations on September 24, 2009, including Tom Jones, Sugababes, David Gray, The Kooks, Razorlight, David Holmes, Mystery Jets and Noah And The Whale, who (along with The Chapters) played a special acoustic gig in Oliver St John Gogarty’s in Dublin’s Temple…

Bruce Springsteen is a legend: fact. Bruce Springsteen doesn’t do bad shows: fact. Bruce Springsteen loves Ireland: fact. All the history seems in his favour, but on the first of Springsteen’s two-night sojourn in Dublin, it’s mother nature herself that seem to have conspired against him. The blackest of rain-clouds broods over the city…

It’s not all brilliant music and good times at a festival. There’s always the occasional ear-splitting, vomit-inducing act which comes along at the wrong moment and makes the idea of spending a day in a portaloo a much more appealing prospect. Whatever you do this weekend, please adhere to State’s public health warning and…

1. THE KILLERS, Main Stage, Sunday
No strangers to Oxegen, The Killers are guaranteed crowd pleasers, finishing off the last night of Oxegen ’09 with a bevy of hits from their three albums. ‘Mister Brightside’ alone should be worth the price of admission.
2. KINGS OF LEON, Main Stage, Saturday
Oxegen just wouldn’t be…

Despite its reputation as a rock / indie festival, Oxegen always has the odd delight on offer for those looking for slightly less weighty thrills. From the Sugababes and Amy Winehouse to Pink and the Scissor Sisters (although sadly not Girls Aloud) there have been plenty of excuses to check out the chart toppers.…

State will be trying its hand at two forms of DJing this Oxegen weekend. First off, Phil Udell will be joining Sinéad Ní Mhórdha to co-host her Front Row show on Phantom 105.2 from 1pm to 3pm on Friday.
Then Sunday afternoon at 3.20pm will see our own Niall Byrne (aka Nialler 9) take…