Blog: Mainly Rock

It's the season for Christmas stories, but I have a The Kevins Story, I guess that's original.... After my post on The Kevins , a couple of days ago, I sent them an e-mail ( specialpillows@gmail.com ) to inquire how much it would cost to have the CD sent to Paris. The next day I got an e-mail back, which said: I am 1/2 of the kevins and am currently in paris. I could personally deliver the cd to you. How's that for service! [...]

When I was at university and there were still the answering machines with tapes, I always put a message on the tape, based on Bing Crosby's version of I'll be home for Christmas . This year I've found a really good version by Fats Domino (it's on this album: Christmas Gumbo ). Of course I won't be home for christmas, but I'll be away.... So have a happy christmas everyone, I'll be back before the end of the year....

Helicopter - Bloc Party Fuck Forever - Babyshambles You're Gonna Say Yeah! - Hushpuppies Graffiti - Maxïmo Park First Day - The Futureheads Retreat - The Rakes Blood - Editors Lackey - The Others Do You Want To - Franz Ferdinand Rock & Roll Queen - The Subways I Predict a Riot - Kaiser Chiefs Formed a Band - Art Brut Riot Radio - The Dead 60s Vice - Razorlight Love Me Like You - The Magic Numbers Play the Hits - Hal Ladyflash [...]

I dont think I'll make a real selection of the Best of 2005, but I've made two compilation CDs with songs from albums from this year. One compilation is from America (US & Canada) and one from Europe (mainly British Isles). I must admit that it's mainly the singles from each album, which accelerates the process and makes the list very representative of the artists (or rather the record company's) choice, rather than my personal taste. I spent some thought on the sequencing, so listening to the list in one go shouldn't appear too random. Some comments [...]

Thanks to songs:illinois I found this christmas song by The Go! Team... The Ice Strom - The Go! Team It's part of a whole Memphis Christmas Album . As much as I like the Go! Team, this won't become one of my Christmas favorites.

Just an afterthought to The Darkness review... The Darkness have a song called English Country Garden on their new album. This reminded me of the first 73-single I have ever owned. My mother bought it for me in the early 70s in England. I chose it because the A-side was a song called Football Crazy , but the B-Side was English Country Garden . It was recorded by Rolf Harris and is actually dated 1963. I still have the record, but I have also found the song at [...]

The new album from The Darkness starts of with someone sniffing some lines of coke, but of course the music is still more for beer drinkers. The overall concept hasn't really changed, The Darkness still make the original Hard Rock (Queen, Whitesnake, ...) with disarmingly straightforward lyrics. You love it or you hate it, nobody stays indifferent. This time they have hired the producer of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, so the vocal arrangements are real close to the real thing. As for the lyrics, what [...]

I found The Kevins on My Old Kentucky Blog . Sweet songs... The Wait (mp3) Special Pillows (mp3) My First Glass Of Champagne (mp3)

As mentioned on Pitchfork , the Pixies are releasing a live album with songs from several concerts of their money making reunion tour. Of course there is also the DVD ( Pixies : Sell Out ) All this is nothing really special, and fully in line with their approach to make as much money as posssible out of their popularity. The interesting point is that they will not release this double-album on a physical support, like CD or Vinyl. You can get the downloads here . This is probably a special case, as they don't seem [...]

It's quite nice to know that I was at one of Bob Mould's 10 Favorite Moments of 2005 . I still would still like him to come and play in Paris though...

My favorite music magazine in France is Rock&Folk . In the latest issue they have published the result of their readers poll. Arcade Fire come in first for "Best Group", " Best Album", "Best Concert", "Hope" (this would probably translate better as "Newcomer") and "Best Record Cover". The song "Rebellion" comes in as 5th best song and Win Butler is 4th in the list of "Heroes", behind Pete Doherty, Bob Geldof and Paul McCartney. The only top 5 ranking where Arcade Fire do not appear although technically they could is "Sex Symbol". (in the future they can [...]

Google has just made a new service available: Google Musicsearch The main functionality seems to be to direct users to online stores for downloads or CDs. I'm not sure this will be really useful to me...

After the major disappointment of the Cat Power concert in Paris the other day, which was so bad, we left before the end, just like about half of the crowd, it is good to have a preview of her upcoming album available here

Now that the the final draw for the World Cup is done, the other events of next summer are also starting to announce their line-up. Benicà ssim starts off with Depeche Mode . I guess it won't be the only festival they will play next summer...