Blog: Underwurld Music

My thoughts on the new Mogwai 'single' from The Music Magazine .

On Friday 4th July, BBC Four dedicated a night of music programmes to Nick Cave and his band The Bad Seeds. They performed a lively set as LSO St. Lukes in London to a small audience in the intimate setting. The show is here plus an interview and some exclusive videos. The set list: Dig!!!, Lazarus, Dig!!! Red Right Hand Midnight Man Deanna God Is In The House Today's Lesson Get Ready For Love The Lyre [...]

As a preview for the new album The Hawk Is Howling (out in September 2008), Scottish instrumentalists Mogwai have released The Sun Smells Too Loud for free.

• Mogwai - The Sun Smells Too Loud

A review for The Music Magazine - another album this time. ARMS is Todd Goldstein (guitarist from Harlem Shakes) and the album is basically a reissue of an earlier EP with a few more tracks added. There are a few good tracks including the single Whirring, Construction and Shitty Little Disco but most of it is a bit average. Shame.

With the temporary demise of the only decent music show on television, Later…with Jools Holland, I thought I would write about another. Live From Abbey Road is now back on More4 (one of Channel 4 's more artsy siblings) for a second series. I must admit that I missed the first shows which showcased the likes of Paul Simon, Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Kasabian and The Zutons. The first episode in series two features three artists: Mary J. Blige, Dashboard Confessional and James Blunt. On paper this isn't a very inspiring line up [...]

OK, so I should write something about Glastonbury this year. I didn't go, although I seriously considered it when the tickets came on sale and then again when I found out they hadn't sold out. Anyway the line-up wasn't inspiring enough, particularly the headliners. I watched as much of the BBC coverage as I could over the weekend but thankfully a lot of it is on the Internet. You can see many performances here and watch the TV coverage again (for the next week) here . The big news of the [...]

Ok, I must admit I'd never heard of Girl Talk before someone told me that I was simply not cool unless I had the latest album Feed The Animals, particularly as it is another one of those 'pay-what-you-want' Internet albums. You can get the new album here . Be warned, however, this is experimental hip hop and not for the faint hearted. It is the funniest thing I have heard in ages. The most amazing thing about it is the persistent and relentless use of samples - from literally EVERYONE. The question I am asking: [...]

Yet another (yes really!) review for The Music Magazine . This one is Vanished [Radio Edit] by Crystal Castles - an interesting band I have never got into but I managed to listen to their album on the inet. Apparently they replaced a sound chip in their keyboard with one from an Atari games console from the 1970s and that's how they get the retro sound. Genius!

New albums this month from Sigur Rós, Spiritualized, Aimee Mann, Thea Gilmore, Sara Bareilles, Elbow and Coldplay. So a busy month... Ghosts I-IV - Nine Inch Nails I Want You To Know That There Is Always Hope - I Was A Cub Scout Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Seventh Tree - Goldfrapp Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust - Sigur Rós Third - Portishead Consolers Of The Lonely - The Raconteurs Accelerate - R.E.M. [...]

A review written for the Music Magazine website. An interesting new Australian band with much more to offer. Check out the MySpace site.

From Pitchfork TV...

Great video of Thom and Jonny from Radiohead playing The Rip by Portishead. Find more videos like this on w.a.s.t.e. central

Another review for The Music Magazine . It was a fun review to write as there is a lot to write about. I just wish more of it was about the songs but there aren't enough of them. Instead the DVD is padded with backstage footage of the band - some good and some bad. The band's laid back, funny image is never cracked and we find out nothing new about a band who try not to be emo . The good songs are brilliant but as I said, there are not enough. I would [...]

Bowling For Soup release their first 'Live' DVD and Album next month. Recorded at the Manchester Apollo and part of the Get Happy Tour, it shows the band at their funny, chaotic best. The set list is: My Hometown Emily Almost Suckerpunch High School Never Ends Belgium Ohio (Come Back To Texas) The Bitch Song I'm Gay The Last Rock Show / Punk Rock 101 When We Die Girl All The Bad [...]

I have written another review: Hold On Firefly / Jane, I Still Feel The Same by Matthew Ryan for The Music Magazine .

Yesterday was the 2008 Mojo Awards. Big congratulations to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds for best album (Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!). Led Zeppelin got best live act for one show and The Last Shadow Puppets got best breathrough act even though they were formed from two existing well-known bands. Duffy got song of the year for Mercy. The winners in full... Song Of The Year – Duffy Best Live Act – Led Zeppelin Outstanding Contribution To Music – Paul Weller Icon Award [...]

This is a semi-live acoustic version of the new single Heavy Like Sunday by Leona Naess.

After the massive album X&Y thrust Coldplay to the top of everyone's 'the worlds greatest bands' list, it is hard to know what to expect from a new album. Like Radiohead after The Bends then OK Computer, and REM after Out Of Time and Automatic For The People, a band will inevitably crash after a musical high. The rise of Coldplay starts with A Rush Of Blood To The Head, a great album of well crafted songs, lyrics and musical talent. X&Y essentially does the same but in a vast sea of production - every space filled with something…different - [...]

Another published review for The Music Magazine . After reviewing the new Sigur Rós album, I wrote a separate review for the lead single 'Gobbledigook'. The song is not typical of the new album but does capture the feel - more playful and light than 'Takk...'.

When a band create a new language in which to sing, you simply have to take notice. Iceland's Sigur Rós have been creating a blend of other-worldly music and unique vocals since their 1997 debut 'Von'. The band's masterwork 'Takk...' quickly propelled them into the world of adverts and backing music, with every television show jumping on the bandwagon. It is a brilliant and uplifting collection of songs full of soaring strings, stirring piano and Jon Thor Birgisson's engaging voice. So with the release of 'Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust' (translated as 'with a buzz in our ears [...]