Christmas being Christmas, you can be forgiven for making the odd list (and perhaps even checking it twice). Cards, presents, food, drink, films on TV, memorable events to include in that annual Christmas letter you are so proud of, relatives to avoid – you name it. So, if you have a list to compile this year, why not turn on the radio for some quality seasonal sounds? You may wind up quickly switching stations because you really don't want to hear "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" for the third time today, even if he is dressed like The Boss. [...]
A considerable slice of my journalistic life is spent singing the praises of relatively unknown artists while bemoaning the plethora of me-too acts bankrolled by increasingly desperate majors. If only some of the former could step into the shoes of the latter, then we could discover what the listening public really, really wants. It might not be the middle-of-the-road, all-things-to-everyone merchants and girls shrink-wrapped in fetish outfits, after all. But let's cheer up and be glad that there's a place in this maddeningly commercial world for the likes of Morton Valence . The independent-spirited London five piece [...]
After the Facebook-fueled campaign which successfully installed Rage Against the Machine 's 1992 hit "Killing in the Name" as the UK's Christmas No. 1, comes a new crusade, this time to put some independent quality into the UK singles chart. Storm the Charts is an initiative with the aim of helping unsigned musicians get into the UK Top 40. The organizers are currently whittling down almost 600 wannabes to a final list of 40 artistes, with the idea of getting as many of them as possible into the Top 40 on July 4th ("Independents Day"). [...]
I know...it's even later than the last one, but I'll push on. Let's take a look back at who released albums in the summer of 2009. July produced new albums from Stellastarr, Trashcan Sinatras, The Most Serene Republic, and Nicky Wire's brother, Patrick Jones. There were also records from the latest Jack White project, Dead Weather; former Boo Radley, Martin Carr; and finally a debut from folk duo Slow Club. And the ginger quiff that is La Roux dropped her first album. August sweltered on with music from Mew, Japandroids, Calvin Harris, Patrick Wolf, The Antlers, Imogen Heap, and [...]
Stylish U.K. five-piece Morton Valence has been marked out as an interesting band on the cusp of greatness. That early promise is now richly fulfilled with the release of Bob and Veronica Ride Again . It's an album you want to listen to over and over, from start to finish, without skipping a track. The perfect antidote, you could say, to the ubiquitous iPod Shuffle. The CD itself is accompanied by a charming, witty, and sometimes crazy novella, all financed by the band's own fans who bought [...]
Many musicians (and their labels) are trying to bolster their slumping physical sales by providing as many additional features and combination choices as possible, including bonus material, bonus DVDs, bonus MP3s, and bonus books (see U2's latest marketing strategy to get an extreme example). While I can appreciate having the extra features for bands that really matter to me, I'm often quite cynical about the whole ploy and don't bother buying any such bonus combinations for the escalated price. The reason I mention this tactic is so that I can contrast this sterile face of the marketing machine with that [...]
Gig of the Week: Tinariwen @ Roundhouse Continuing my love affair with most things Malian, desert band extraordinaire Tinariwen hit the Roundhouse this Thursday as part of the third iTunes festival. Their follow up to 2007's fantastic Aman Iman , Imidiwan , is garnering similar levels of adulation from both music and mainstream presses. Tickets for this show and all the others during the month long run at the Roundhouse are available for free from the iTunes festival Facebook page, or through their site here . Elsewhere this week [...]
Morton Valence: Bob And Veronica Ride Again Released 4th May 2009 Bastard Recordings Morton Valence's debut is an achingly British slab of pop, so desperate to tell us the story of the title's namesakes that it comes packaged with a romantic novella. Thankfully, unlike many concept records, the album forms a coherent whole and begs to be listened to from start to finish. It does this whilst constantly shifting in style; dipping from Jesus And Mary Chain style shoegaze on the fantastic "I Must Go,"Said Veronica, "But I Will Always Come [...]
Πως θα χαρακτήριζε κανείς τη διαδικασία επαναφοράς στην ακρόαση καινούργιας μουσικής μετά από δύο μήνες κροατικής deathpop και obscure διασκευών σε τραγούδια των Smiths? Δύσκολη, αγχωτική, αλλά σίγουρα ανανεωτική.. 1. The Radio Dept. - David [box] Δεν άκουσα, πως είπατε.. ορίστε? Συγγνώμη κύριοι.. ποιοι είστε? Ομολογώ πως αυτή ήταν η πρώτη μου σκέψη ακούγοντας το νέο τραγούδι των λατρεμένων μου Radio Dept. μετά από τρία σχεδόν χρόνια αναμονής. [...]
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