I'm always reticent to describe a band as a singles band. It's seems like a bit of backhanded compliment. A veiled insult. Sure you can knock out the odd good song, but you're not very consistent are you? Yet occasionally, it's the most apt thing to say. Some bands really do have quality control issues and Ash seem to be a perfect example. For me at least. They've never released a truly satisfying record. Not since their debut EP, 'Trailer' . That record was the ultimate teenage release. An urgent, pop punk classic [...]
Here's a few more from Glastonbury . Including possibly my favourite single of the year so far. One which you may just be surprised to find me liking. Now I'm not entirely convinced by the seemingly endless crop of female 80s influenced synth pop acts that the music press and music industry are thrusting on us. It seems to be yet another example of that self perpetuating success thing that they do. Constantly telling us that somethings the best we've ever heard until it kind of becomes an accepted fact, regardless of the music [...]
Here's a few more from Glastonbury Including possibly my favourite single of the year so far. One which you may just be surprised to find me liking. Now I'm not entirely convinced by the seemingly endless crop of female 80s influenced synth pop acts that the music press and music industry are thrusting on us. It seems to be yet another example of that self perpetuating success thing that they do. Constantly telling us that somethings the best we've ever heard until it kind of becomes an accepted fact, regardless of [...]
So Glastonbury is over for another year. And I've removed myself from in front of the TV. All things considered, it seems that this year was a glowing success. The weather held for the most part. The atmosphere was positive and all the reviews I've reads have had nothing but good things to sat about the headliners. And I'm not really in any position to say otherwise. It's always hard to comment about a festival you've watched on TV because there's no way of properly getting into it. You can't get carried away by [...]
So Glastonbury is over for another year. And I've removed myself from in front of the TV. All things considered, it seems that this year was a glowing success. The weather held for the most part. The atmosphere was positive and all the reviews I've reads have had nothing but good things to sat about the headliners. And I'm not really in any position to say otherwise. It's always hard to comment about a festival you've watched on TV because there's no way of properly getting into it. You can't get carried away by [...]
Normally at this time of year, I'd be dirty, clammy, probably wet, possibly tired, definitely yearning for decent food and almost certain to have a semi permanent ache in my feet. And I'd be having the time of my life. Sadly this year, there's no Glastonbury Festival for me. Not in the real sense anyway. Buying a house and the current economic climate meant that buying a ticket this year would have been too much of a stretch. In fact, this is the first year since about 1999 that I won't be going to [...]
What a difference a day makes. Or does it? 24 hours earlier, I was stood right of the stage in the sweltering heat of the Wolverhampton Civic Hall. Tonight, I'm stood right of the stage in the sweltering heat of the Wolverhampton Civic Hall. While it's not fair to compare and contrast two vastly different bands, two gigs in two consecutive nights makes it near impossible not to. The band walks on stage. "Hello… we're Blur." Okay, this is just plain weird. Either I'm experiencing a major case of déjà-vu or Robin Pecknold is [...]
Reforming can be dangerous for a band. As nostalgia can be for fans. At best reputations can be reassessed. At worst, ruined. Rose tinted spectacles can lose their lustre. The music might sound the same but it can't halt time. Bands and fans age and the pleasures of youth can easily be shattered by the sight of a single saggy man boob. Sure we've got our memories but they can easily be soiled by the sad sight of a band struggling to recreate their past glories. These thoughts weigh heavy as the expectation [...]
Reforming can be dangerous for a band. As nostalgia can be for fans. At best reputations can be reassessed. At worst, ruined. Rose tinted spectacles can lose their lustre. The music might sound the same but it can't halt time. Bands and fans age and the pleasures of youth can easily be shattered by the sight of a single saggy man boob. Sure we've got our memories but they can easily be soiled by the sad sight of a band struggling to recreate their past glories. These thoughts weigh heavy as the expectation [...]
I'm in a bit of a random mood today. So I thought I'd post a random selection of songs. Plus I'm feeling lazy so this is just gonna be a quick post. Three songs with absolutely nothing linking them except the fact that they're live sessions and I like them. Two from records released earlier this year that pass the time without particularly blowing me away and one from a band that I absolutely loved when I was younger. Such a fan of Mega City Four was I infact that I wanted to [...]
It occurred to me yesterday that a whole series of Later With Jools Holland came and went without me posting a single thing. Which is odd because I recorded them all. Odder still because I actually thought this series was one of the best and most consistent for a long time. A good mix of guests throughout and only really one week where there was nothing at all I was remotely interested in. Infact, the only real disappointment was the week Morrissey cancelled because of illness. So I thought I'd make up for not [...]
Let's start the weekend off with another random cover. This time it's Placebo doing an 80s classic. One of those songs that I inexplicably know despite never actually owning or actively listening to it myself. I guess it was the kind of pop song that was ubiquitous when I was growing up. Back in the day when songs hung around in the charts for weeks on end and radio stations played them endlessly. It is after all a pretty catchy, bouncy inoffensive pop song with pretty horrible 80s production. Or at least in was. [...]
I'm not really feeling the new Doves album . In fact, I'm struggling to bring myself to listen to it. Not that there's anything particularly wrong with it. I mean, it ticks all the right boxes. It's anthemic. Epic. Moody. Intelligent, detailed music. It's all very accomplished. The problem I have with it, is that it's just a bit dull. Listening to it just feels like a bit of a chore. A struggle. And if I'm honest, I've not actually fully enjoyed any of their albums since their wonderful debut . Each [...]
I'm a bit of a late comer to The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart . But hey, better late than never! As they've been pretty much inescapable in the world of blogs, I'm pretty sure they don't actually need a introduction from me. Suffice to say, if you like your music with a heavy dose of twee, a big dollop of smiling indie boy-girl harmonies, a dash of fuzz and a spoonful of innocence to help the whole thing go down, then this is the band for you. Bookish, every so slightly cute and [...]
I'm delving back into the archives for today's post. Here's a session from Supergrass recorded when they were about 12. Or something like that. Bursting onto the scene full of youthful vim and vigor. The musical equivalent of Warner Brothers' Tazmanian Devil. A whirlwind of energy and enthusiasm wrapped up in 3 minute(ish) bursts of punky pop. Or poppy punk depending on how you prefer it. And in some ways, the media have never truly allowed them to break free of that image. Regardless of the music they've gone on to produce, they're always [...]
If like me you're as anal about music, I think you're gonna like SongKick . And if you like pointless lists, you're gonna love it. Essentially it's yet another social networking site but unlike Twitter et al, it actually serves a purpose. At least, after several hours spent on it already, that's what I'm trying to convince myself. You see, the purpose of SongKick is to track your gig going habits and link you with people who went to the same gigs. The idea is to build up an ever expanding archive of [...]
Sometimes music isn't just about music and lyrics. It's about context. You could easily dismiss 'I Kissed A Girl' as little more than a catchy pop song. The question is, should you? Is music just entertainment or should it have some kind of social or moral responsibility? Now, I'm more than aware that last sentence makes me sound like an old fuddy duddy and spits in the face of everything that rock and roll is supposed to stand for but hey, maybe I am. Maybe I'm overanalysing it. Taking it too seriously. Either that or I'm [...]
Despite loving several of his singles, I've never actually bought a Patrick Wolf album. I'm not sure why. There's no explicit reason. I think maybe I like the idea of Patrick Wolf more than the reality. He strikes me as a musician I admire far more than I actually enjoy. It's in the drama of his vocals. The flamboyance of both his sound and look. The fact that he pays real attention to the detail of his artistry. Reminding me in some ways of a modern day Bowie. Yet in the back of my [...]
It's easy to see why The Sundays got compared to The Smiths . Or rather, it's easy to hear. The echoes of Johnny Marr's jangling six string resonate through pretty much every track The Sundays ever recorded. Not that they were mere imitators. Harriet Wheeler's distinctive little girl vocals were suitably different to Morrissey to create enough distance between the two. And maybe it's unfair to compare them but when the similarities in sound are so apparent, the debt so heavy, it's almost impossible not to. What's odd is that I [...]
There's a major Beefheart shaped hole in my music collection. I've always meant to listen to him and whenever I see 'Trout Mask Replica' in a sale, I always pick it up and mull over a purchase. He's one of those artists I feel I should have heard and that album is one I feel I should own. As though it would somehow validate my music collection and confirm my position as a muso. But I never actually make it as far as the till. Not with that CD in hand anyway. [...]
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'
