I'm sure you've all read the latest issue of Sheffield Music Scene but for those of you who haven't Kalenko are on the "double" cover along with White Cricus Fever and there's a interesting interview with them. Kalenko are recording in February and then there should be an new EP out soon. Exciting stuff. Other features in the new edition include end of year lists from the regular writers and as always demo, album and live reviews. I'll be picking out some items that have caught my eye as and when I [...]
We first came across Dark Sparks when they provided the local support to Good Shoes and Wild Palms at the Leadmill in Sheffield before Christmas. The sparse crowd were treated to a very accomplished set which started, albeit a little timidly, by this song "We are just flies". The band remind me very much of The Young Knives, with a Noel Fielding-esque front man in Leigh Greenwood. The best song of a darkly-entertaining set was "Picture without sound" which Leigh promised to make available free on their website once they had recorded it early in 2010, so watch [...]
Chris from Rivvmixx.com posted a link to his magazine on our recent post about Frankie and the Heartstrings, probably to promote the magazine but all I care is that he's linked to some free downloads. So if you liked what we posted about Frankie and the Heartstrings why not grab those downloads now here: http://www.rivmixx.com/latest- headlines/frankie-the-heartstr ings-free-mp3-downloads/9776/1
I discovered this band when they were number three in Insounds Top Free MP3s of 2009 however take one look at the band's site at that's not the only plaudit they've had in 2009. Their album features highly in many end of year lists and judging by this track, the free one from Insound they've got a sound that's going to continue getting attention. MP3: Come Saturday - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
At Christmas I went back to my home town and went to the pub with my Dad on Christmas Eve. In the pub were quite a lot of people I half recognised and someone I went to school, neither of us caught each other's eye but we didn't go up to say hello either. What am I getting at? Well I'm 'friends' with this person on Facebook but neither of us bothered saying hello. Are we all getting in to the habit of keeping in touch with people just for the sake of it, is it becoming harder to ditch [...]
It may feel like it's only two minutes since I was last writing about a new album but this is in fact a new album. I'm always wary of bands releasing double albums or two albums really close together, no one has that much talent, surely? I think it's too early to say from just a few listens but I would say that there's certainly some quality in there. The problem is I keep listening out for the Mr E's Beautiful Blues but Eels are a lot more sombre than that nowadays. I guess it's a bit like when I [...]
I find it interesting how the BBC's "Sound Of..."works. They ask loads of people in and around the music scene who will make it big in the next year. Often there are obvious artists in there, they are signed to the top labels and sometimes you think they can't help but make it big with all the power and might that the large labels have. However it's always worth a look as there are usually a few lesser know artists on the smaller labels who, I for one, are not aware of. I'll be going through the list soon to [...]
I've had four tracks by The Drums kicking about on my iTunes for a couple of months and so I knew the name instantly when I saw they'd been listed in the BBC's Sound of 2010. I haven't made my mind up about the band yet but I thought I'd tip you off about a free track they are offering through RCRDLBL .
My big sister's had a lot of influence over my music tastes when I was growing up and whatever music wafted out of her room soon got in my head. She soon got me in to a track by The Pale after Simon Mayo got behind the track on his breakfast show. I then asked my sister to get it me on cassette for my Birthday. The only problem was she couldn't find a copy anywhere and so bought me the CD version and got one of her friends to copy it on to tape for me. So the first [...]
Schonberg sent out a message on Facebook asking for people's Album's of the Decade. I thought I'd post the results up here, I hope you find them interesting. Not one album featured in every list but The Strokes album Is This It? featured many times. We'd love to hear your albums of the decade, add yours as a comment, oh and don't cheat like Rich and include a re-release... Terrance: 2000 - [...]
I've just arrived home from a white Christmas up north and so I'm hoping to catch up on some blogging over the next few days. At the album release party for their debut "Up From Below" at LA's Roosevelt Hotel in July, Edward [...]
I've really enjoying all the retro stuff that 6music are playing in the run up to the New Year. They have had whole days dedicated to the end of the last four decades (1969, 1979, 1989 and 1999). Don't know much about 1969 (I wasn't born) but the two days covering 1979 and 1989 have brought back some great memories of what must be two of the most classic years ever in music. By contrast, however, 1999 was crap. Go on, I dare you to suggest anything exciting that came out of 1999... Anyway, the day on 1979 [...]
When I posted We Have Band's track 'Oh!' earlier this year I thought it would be similar to a lot of the tracks I post, a decent amount of downloads but clearly missed by half the people who visit the site. However, I miss judged We Have Band, they're more popular than I realised. Oh! is one of the most downloaded tracks and thankfully it was one they were giving away, if memory serves me, to promote their appearance at SxSW. They are now giving away another track, will you all take to it like the last one? Only time [...]
Record Label, sorry RCDLBL are giving away new tracks from The Futureheads and Cold War Kids. The Futureheads come back with a track that starts off sounding like Kaiser Chiefs (sorry to tell you this Schonberg) and by the end Struck Dumb is sounding like Super Furry Animals, download it off RCDLBL's web site or stream it here (in theory, I've not tried this before so hopefully it will work): Cold War Kids are not topping the bands I look out for but a band that [...]
Singing in to a hair brush, stood in front of a mirror in just a towel is probably not how you want to be remembered by millions of people but when you hear this track you can't help but think of Macaulay Culkin, sorry Kevin MacAllister, as he relaxes in the knowledge he has made his family disappear. MP3: White Christmas - The Drifters
Barenaked Ladies' take on Christmas and 'the holidays' is pretty hit and miss. I wasn't expecting much when Pia, my Canadian blind date (don't worry wife if you're reading this it was purely a music fling briefly last Christmas) sent me my Christmas CD that was peppered with Barenaked Ladies tracks. However God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen stood out straight away. While they may be a band that don't take themselves seriously they did for this track and it works so well - OK maybe there was a small bit of tongue in cheek. Anyway enjoy God Rest Ye... and [...]
Scrooged has got to be up there with the best Christmas films and the opening music sets the scene perfectly, a Christmas feel with a hint of terror, well mild peril. No surprises then that the music features on an album called Music For A Darkened Theatre Vol 1... MP3: Scrooged - Soundtrack
As it's Schonberg's birthday I thought I'd post a track by one of his favourite bands. This was a track given away by the BBC last year and was one of the most downloaded tracks off this web site in 2008. So for those of you who haven't got it enjoy Glasvegas' version of East 17's 'classic' Stay Another Day. MP3: Stay Another Day - Glasvegas
As Elf hits our screens today I thought I'd post the main theme from it. I got hold of this after my Elf post last year so I've not posted it before. Don't worry after some Christmas themed posts I'll return to the debate that's been raging on Facebook, Album of the Decade! MP3: Main Title - John Debney (Elf Soundtrack)
Myspace has the ability to frustrate and amaze you. Clicking on a Myspace link can take you to average land as someone just playing around with music posts their tracks online. Yet, what you always hope for is to be led to something new, an artist, a track that will brighten up your day. When I came across this band I thought they were good, after a few listens I thought about writing about them. Not many more listens later and I couldn't get their tracks out of my head. So [...]
What's Wrong With The Mainstream
Avicii – Two Million
Beck – I Just Started Hating Some People Today
iamamiwhoami: kin - Teaser
