I still haven't gotten round to buying the latest Bill Callahan release . It's name sits atop the ever growing list of stuff what I want. But if 'Eid Ma Clack Shaw' is anything to go by, chances are I'll love it. This is one of my favourite songs of the year. A song I've listened to so many times and still haven't grown bored of it. Just simply another stunning track that marches along on a steady metronomic rhythm. Bill's tale of attempting to capture a dream about the perfect song. Waking [...]
I don't really like the most recent stuff that Dizzee Rascal 's been releasing. I'm not gonna aim any populist, mainstream accusations at him, it's just not my bag, baby. I much prefer it when Dizzee's beats are big and dirty as opposed to the current dance vibe he's got going on. But hey, I've never exactly been one for living the Ibiza party scene so I guess I'm note exactly his target demographic. But this, well this is just awesome. No other word for it. I'd read before that Dizzee Rascal has a theory [...]
I thought I'd start Sunday with a few tracks from 'Twee:The Musical'. Sorry, I meant a few tracks from 'God Help The Girl' . Although I hope you can forgive the confusion because it's essentially the same thing. For Stuart Murdoch 's project is a melodramatic kitchen sink story set to a 60s inspired, cutesy girl group backing. A description which I'm guessing has already sent a few people running for the hills screaming. It's been billed as the Belle & Sebastian main man's attempt at to emulate Phil Spector and be [...]
In truth, I wasn't expecting much from the Julian Plenti album. Let's be honest, a few songs aside, the last Interpol album was mostly underwhelming. Add to that the awkward, post modern pseudonym and almost un-broken rule that records by singers gone solo tend to be utterly unremarkable and incredibly self indulgent and you've got a recipe for mass disappointment. So with that in mind, I'm finding myself pleasantly surprised by 'Julian Plenti Is Skyscraper' . Inevitably, it ends up sounding a bit like Interpol. It can't help but do that. [...]
Talk about timing. Or maybe déjà vu. Here I was getting ready to post these session tracks by The Verve when news comes in that they've split up. Again. Or should that be again again? Not that it comes as too much of a surprise. I'm pretty sure that on hearing this news, the world will issue a collective shrug of the shoulders and quickly move on. Personally, The Verve have been dead to me for a while. After listening to the woeful effort that was 'Forth' and standing bored through two [...]
It's taken me a while to write about the new Wilco album because it's taken me a while to get my head around it. Not that I'm entirely sure I have. Experience tells me that almost every Wilco release takes me a good few listens to really get my head around it. I'm not sure why. They just seem to take a while to reveal themselves to me. Always have, maybe always will. I've learnt not to make any knee jerk reactions because invariably Wilco's records don't click until I'm into at least a [...]
If there's one band guaranteed to bring a smile to my face, it's the Sultans Of Ping FC . Their songs are just so fun and ridiculous. You only have to look at their song titles to see they weren't a band who took themselves to seriously. Not that they were exactly a comedy band. Not really. While the lyrics were undoubtedly stupid and funny, there was a level of intelligence going on that I think is often missed. It's incredibly hard to write a song that raises a smile the first time, let alone [...]
Comparisons in music can be a blessed curse. Sure, they can serve as handy shortcuts to help you sift through the vast amount of music out there. But they can also be a tad bewildering and more often than not, hang heavy with the soggy stench of lazy journalism. Take Slow Club for example. If I hadn't already read the comparison, it never would have occurred to me that that they were the UK's answer to The White Stripes at all. Even after reading it, it still doesn't occur to me. It [...]
Just a quick random post today. Three songs thrown together purely because I like the cut of their respective jibs. From Whipping Boy , we have a 3 minute blast of melancholic nostalgia. Everytime I hear this song and indeed anything from the rather awesome 'Heartworm' album, I can't help but wonder why this band were never bigger than they were. Sandwiched in the middle we've got a rather faithful rendition of a track from The Breeders ' debut album . A song that somehow manages to sound both cheery and [...]
It's amazing how a skimpy piece of clothing and a pert derriere can revive a career. Don't get me wrong, a catchy song helps too. But really, before she slipped into those gold hot pants, Kylie was a bit of spent force. Not that she'd ever been particularly credible. She seemed to somehow survive off the endless popularity and goodwill that came from her days in Neighbours. Her songs little more than flimsy throwaway pop of the lowest order. She was, truth be told, a bit of a Barbie doll pop star. Not so [...]
Talk about deconstructing a song. Here Cat Power takes the raw, urgent and primal simplicity of The White Stripes and strips it back even further. Where once Jack and Meg bashed out 'Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground' as a noisy blast of garage punk, here it is presented as a barely there, simply strummed heart breaking ode. It oozes melancholy. Seems soaked in sadness. You can just about make out the remnants of the melody but really it's been almost completely re-imagined. Like almost every cover Cat Power records. It's an [...]
Sunday morning and we're up early for Thom Yorke . Billed as the special guest and due on stage at noon, we're treated to an early preview of just how special his performance might just be. Bacon sandwich in hand, we sit listening to fragments of songs and half sung vocals as Thom's soundcheck floats over from the currently closed main arena. An hour and a half later and we're standing near the front of an crowd that's getting increasingly busy. By the time Thom ambles onstage it feel as though everyone on site has their eyes on him. [...]
Day two begins the way every Saturday at a festival should. Dry, sunny and with a huge bacon sandwich. Suitably fed and watered, we see the festival site in daylight for the first. Leaving the campsite, we enter into the picturesque woods. Trees decorated with lights and artwork loom above us, shards of daylight slicing through a canopy of green. With 2 small stages amongst the trees and greenery, the woods offers a unique setting for the smaller bands and cabaret acts, doubling up for DJs to keep the music going deep into the night. We emerge [...]
After 7 hours driving, the first drink goes straight to your head. The second drink makes the endless rain on the dullest roads a distant memory. And by the time Bat For Lashes finish the exquisite opener 'Glass', you've almost forgotten that you've missed pretty much all of the first day of the Latitude Festival . Even the fact that the Uncut Tent is pitched on widely uneven ground fails to annoy you. Sure your view is nothing but a sea of heads and the lighting rig above the stage but it doesn't [...]
So it seems I spoke too soon. After complaining that I wasn't going to any festivals this year, I've just got back from the Latitude Festival . Which means you either can't believe a word I ever say ... or I was lucky enough to get some free guest tickets. Either way, I went, I had a fabtastic time and when I've had time to assemble my thoughts and experiences, I'll write a proper review and give you a taste of a wonderful weekend. In the meantime, I think this song sums [...]
Well, seeing as my last post was about the Mercury Music Prize , it seems only appropriate to follow it up with something from last year's winners . But this isn't from The Seldom Seen Kid' or indeed any of their albums . This is something much, much older. Back in the days when Elbow were in the first phase of being. All fresh faced and optimistic. Not that Elbow have ever struck me as being a young band. Something about them has always felt old. No, strike that. Not old, [...]
I don't really care much for award ceremonies. Not in music anyway. For me, music is too subjective to judge in such a manner. To decide that one record is better than a bunch of others based on a series of tangible criteria seems churlish. Music just doesn't work like that. You can describe it for sure. You can use similies and metaphors all you like, but I don't think it's ever possible to fully put into words why music has the power to move you. It depends on so many changeable factors. Time, place, mood [...]
I've written about the Longpigs before. And there's not really much I can add to that previous post. Nothing's changed. They still released a debut album that I consider one of the best from the Britpop period. They still followed it up with an unbelievably disappointing second album . And they still split in 2000. Not much more for me to say really. But I do have some songs that I've not posted before. Three songs from a live session recorded way back in the mid 90s. Three songs that still [...]
This credit crunch is playing havoc without my music buying. No longer can I buy new records on the day of release. I'm having to budget myself. Restrain myself. Resist temptation to just stock up on any and every record I fancy. My Monday routine of walking into HMV, rifling through the new releases and then walking to the till with a handful of CDs has been rudely interrupted by a severe lack of cash. Which means my ability to review new releases has been seriously restricted. The list of records I want but can't afford [...]
This credit crunch is playing havoc without my music buying. No longer can I buy new records on the day of release. I'm having to budget myself. Restrain myself. Resist temptation to just stock up on any and every record I fancy. My Monday routine of walking into HMV, rifling through the new releases and then walking to the till with a handful of CDs has been rudely interrupted by a severe lack of cash. Which means my ability to review new releases has been seriously restricted. My list of records I want but can't afford [...]
to die by your side
Album Review: alt-J – An Awesome Wave
Azealia Banks – ’1991′ & ‘Van Vouge’
[LISTEN] Gotye (Passion Pit Remix)
Big Boi & Theophilus London (feat. TRE LUCE) - 'She Said OK'
