A month or more late, but I'm not waiting 'til next year... anyway, it's not a cover of the Elvis Perkins song, but one by Seagull, the band project of Australian Chris Bolton , who shows his classical guitar training rather obviously on this particular track from Goodbye Weather . It has a perfect, suitably humble, repentant feel, at least one (near) quote from the Bible, and is really quietly arresting; I properly feel I've heard it afterwards - there's a strength of emotion that suggests something much more powerful in terms of sound; an [...]
Just like the title says - two more tracks by The Trees from their excellent album 'Things That Make You Happy', which can be downloaded free, from last.fm . Always a good sign if you get a new favourite on each listen-through... here's the trip-hoppy, tuneful and fuzzy 'Stop Talking' (the final thirty-odd seconds sound especially cool through headphones + I love the drum break just before midway), and a more delicate, acoustic guitar-led number - 'Odd One Out', which is beautiful, with lovely quiet little details; it's actually the sorta gentle song, fine harmonies, that [...]
A couple of (mostly) instrumental tracks from the inbox, both of which I like a lot, although didn't necessarily expect to. You can't judge a book by its cover, and you certainly can't judge a band by its press release genre label things; or maybe you can? - and I just surprise myself with what sounds good when I hear it, more to do with my own musical preconceptions. In the same spirit of discovery, and assuming your radar hasn't already blipped at 'instrumental'... I'll say nothing about these, beyond recommending 'em - see what you think. [...]
Certain things (at certain times) strike me as agonisingly, heartbreakingly gorgeous; so beautiful that they engender feelings of not just joy, but huge sadness too, even a need to turn away... Why, I'm not exactly sure, but perhaps the notion that they're too lovely & unblemished for this world, or maybe a crushing disappointment that life's not the Arcadian dream I often wish it to be, brought painfully to the fore by something that would surely have a place there. Said feelings can be tremendously painful, and tears are often shed, but if I can side-step the [...]
Certain things (at certain times) strike me as agonisingly, heartbreakingly gorgeous; so beautiful that they engender feelings of not just joy, but huge sadness too, even a need to turn away... Why, I'm not exactly sure, but perhaps the notion that they're too lovely & unblemished for this world, or maybe a crushing disappointment that life's not the Arcadian dream I often wish it to be, brought painfully to the fore by something that would surely have a place there. Said feelings can be tremendously painful, and tears are often shed, but if I can side-step the [...]
Not a song this morning, a shortish, gentle guitar/banjo instrumental instead (can you tell I'm running out of Tuesday ones?). It's nice enough, anyhow - and a good hook to hang 'The Ballad Of Abdul Sharif' on. ♫ Tuesday Morning Drive - vee device Out Of The Darkness (2004) buy | myspace ♫ The Ballad Of Abdul Sharif - vee device Autobiography Of A Dying Band (2005) buy | [...]
So I'm cooking dinner last evening, applying my patented "if it sounds good over sizzling & chopping, it must be something special" test, when despite the lowish volume (unusual, for me), something special did get my attention, in a big way - first, some sublime, slightly jazzy, revrb'y guitar, that Tarantino should consider making another movie for; then, the most striking female voice, soulful, but with a keen edge; and finally, a thumping great bass drum crescendo. Even over the culinary racket, this was clearly awesome, and a hasty check (who's this? - they're amazing) revealed that the [...]
Ohh, such a short, almost impossibly bittersweet song today, from the lovely Melanie Valera, who is Tender Forever . If you haven't heard her before, it'll hopefully serve as a suitable introduction to her delightful, yet near painfully personal music. She has a voice & an eloquent ease of expression to die for, never mind Naples. Just two albums, far as I know - The Soft and the Hardcore, that this is from, and the equally charming Wider , both hugely recommended for their touching short songs of love, separation & emotional tragedy. If Tender Forever [...]
I got wind of The Trees from A Future In Noise , and goodness, what a find they are. 'Beatle-esque psychedelic tinged rock' got my attention, but I hear a lot of things, all of 'em good. I'll return to The Trees again soon, when I've listened over & over, as I do with things I like; but for now, enjoy this exuberant anthemic number, the first track on their album - 'Things That Make You Happy'. Cards on the table; Dirty Money has me thinking a more harmonious early Oasis - it's marvellously rousing & just [...]
Call me lazy, but there's no denying the charms of Debbie Harry. The English language version of this, the second #1 single by Blondie, released in 1979, when I were just a boy. It did well in Europe too, although strangely, it was never put out as a single in the US - go figure, shoot, tarnation!. ♫ Sunday Girl (French version) - Blondie originally on the UK 12" single of Sunday Girl buy
I dragged myself down to the Pyramids in Portsmouth tonight, for the Eagles of Death Metal gig; what a soulless venue that is, makes the Brighton Centre seem cosy & intimate - all the warmth of a wet Sunday in McDonalds, and just twelve quid to get in, ha!, oh, and another twenty if you wanted a t-shirt; cheap at half the price eh?, err no. The dreadful place was packed though, even had some ticket touts trying their luck outside, so obviously a pretty popular bunch. One for the fans, I'd say - since the band went [...]
Revisiting Mingle -last years joyous & witty rap/a bit indie rock album by The Saturday Nights a few weeks ago, I really shoulda checked around more, because back in February they released this excellent feel-goody, Sesame Streety video, that's a real delight to watch. Made me smile, anyway.
A new EP 'Word To The Lourdes' is out in a couple of weeks, from Saint Bernadette - doesn't Meredith sound more than a bit like the guy from Scissor Sisters on this track?, just me I expect, cuz it also brought a glammed & camped up Avengers to mind, which is a huge plus. If the rest of the ep's as good, it'll be a treat. ♫ Already Gone - Saint Bernadette Word To The Lourdes EP (April 14) myspace | buy & info [...]
Something slightly psychedelic from the sixties, for you to savour on a sunny Saturday. 'On a Saturday' was a Keith West 'solo' release in 1968, with Ronnie Wood on bass, Steve Howe on guitar, and some excellent, energetic drumming from Aynsley Dunbar . Mark Wirtz is credited as producer. Enough name-checks, this is wonderfully dreamy & evocative - anyone know if it made the charts? (bloody shoulda done). Sunny days chase the night, waiting for the dawn Now the season is rapidly changing, it's alive and warm A new day is born Why [...]
I'd never heard of The Rumble Strips until fairly recently, when It All Started With Carbon Monoxide posted their excellent cover of Thin Lizzy's 'The Boys Are Back In Town', and now I love 'em; that Agnes comes up with some very good music. Anyway, 'London' is a taste of The Rumble Strips' forthcoming album, and for the first few seconds, almost sounds like a Morrissey song I reckon (lyrically, at least)... " We're bored, bored to the bone; conversations - some things are best left alone ", but it's unmistakably The Rumble Strips of course [...]
So I mentioned Norb Payr a week or so ago, describing his music as ...hints of Rubber Soul era Beatles, Byrds, and various folk-rock I can't put a name to... , which I still think is a reasonable first impression, and certainly puts over the nostalgic feel, but doesn't convey the gentleness, the compassion, that runs through all his songs; I get the clear idea of Norb being a really nice guy, who quietly notices things about people & places, then crafts them into musical form. Last time, I didn't have any mp3s for [...]
Hmm, unlike Thursday's plans for bedding (no, not the garden sort), today's tune lacks a deal of excitement, although Stefan Strömberg's fine, deep voice does make his intended arrangements sound surprisingly attractive; he's actually lined up a quiet night in, watching telly, with suitable snacks - all in an effort to avoid thinking about an unnamed (ex?) lover. What an excellent bit of Swedish pop this is, I'd forgotten all about it (again) & squealed all piggy like on hearing the opening chords. If you like his vocal delivery, you might care for the [...]
A little lazy, I know - but here's a few recent inboxers that got way more than one play, I've a shortage of words this morning, or maybe they're being rationed in these economic straits, just like colour was after the war? (thanks Alexi), but not having a lot to say doesn't mean much, 'cept there's less to read, which might be a good thing. Whatever, you can't stop the music... (no-body can stop the music), gah!, that's the Village People in my head, YMCA, In The Navy, Macho Man... oh heavens, gotta listen, now!; they're the musical equivalent [...]
Amazing what you find in a music collection, stuff you hadn't appreciated first time round, due to constraints of time, or in my case, sheer quantity. On the basis of overlooking this gorgeous song of sexual desire & intent, I should listen carefully to each & every album, one at a time, rather than the scattergun approach which tends to prevail here. Hey ho, that's partly what picking a theme & going with it is for, to see what lustrous gems are uncovered. Mmm mmm mmm, jazzy & a bit bluegrassy & that ace Hawaiian guitar ending; [...]
What an enormous pleasure it is, getting 'yet another' promo email, & finding that the music's as good as good can be, or downright bloody wonderful, actually. So it was with The Ropes , a two-piece from NYC who I heard for the first time yesterday. That's right, just the two of 'em; Sharon Shy on bass & vocals, Toppy on drums and guitar/keys (he plays drums with the guitar still slung round his neck, apparently). What do I hear? - Hardcore era Pulp with Poe singing, might be accurate for 'I Don't Like to [...]
How Marvellous...
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Azealia Banks – ’1991′ & ‘Van Vouge’
[LISTEN] Gotye (Passion Pit Remix)
Big Boi & Theophilus London (feat. TRE LUCE) - 'She Said OK'
