Something for the weekend....

So here we are again, my blog is almost a week young. To celebrate this, back by popular demand, with its own catchy title *drum roll* ‘Something Old, Something New Something Borrowed and Something Blue’. Or simply ‘Something for the weekend...’ for short. I won’t blather on anymore I’ll just get on with it instead...

 

Something Old...

I think you know you’re getting on a bit when the band that defined your generation can be classed as being ‘old’. The libertines for me, are head and shoulders the defining band of that I will always associate with my higher and further education years. Only a decade later its hard to see the full influence of the band after only releasing two albums before the self-destruction caused by the catalyst of, the well documented, Doherty/ Barat fued.

 

Only time will tell the other bands their style of fresh ‘garage rock’ indie influence will have produced. One thing is for definite, their meteoric success led to their untimely demise. After producing two incredible albums over a short space of time since the split Carl Barat and drummer Gary Powell went on to form Dirty Pretty things with Didz from the Cooper Temple Clause. After a pretty decent 1^st album, the 2^nd offering erm...shall I say, wasn’t to my taste. Whilst libertines bassist John Hasall kept his head down from the media and his band Yeti toured and produced pretty good music away from the spotlight. 

 

However, Doherty spent time inside before making a very public comeback with a close inmate friend known as ‘Wolfman’ reaching No.1 in the UK. He then launched his ‘doomed from the start’ band Babyshambles, whos 1^st album was hands down better than anything the other members (individually) of libs had to date. After much line up turmoil with drug problems, sackings, supermodel ‘relations’, more fueds, a London marathon attempt and many no shows at gigs babyshambles faded away. Pete started to take rehab seriously and seems to have got his life back in order. 

 

Last year Carl and Pete made amends reforming the Libertines playing a few low key shows and big slot at Reading festival which was widely received. Watch this space cos rumour has it they are in the studio recording and the 3^rd Libs album is on its way before the end of this year. Their talent is undeniable and if they curve the self destructive issue they could become a regular feature on the circuit once more. In the mean time...get your eyes round this beauty!!!

 

Something New...

 

Not strictly ‘New’ but villagers may come as a pleasent surprise to some of you. After releasing there debut album 'Becoming a Jackal' which was nominated for the prestigious mercury music prize. They have also (quite randomly) represented Ireland at the eurovision last year and yet still manage to receive praise from both general UK media and alternatice press alike. They are helping to put the Irish music scene back on the map, this is an acheivment after the damage done by Louis Walsh’s abominations in the form of Boylife, Westzone and his latest b*witched-esque incarnation...’Wonderland’ *shudder*. Lame Patrol 'selling out' and U2’s crappy demise in the late 80’s have made it hard for Irish bands to be taken seriously by the British press but these have talent in abundance. Best Irish band since bell X1 and the frames? My other half may argue but maybe...just maybe! As suggested by a mate of mine from Dublin this track is exceptional, a guarenteed smile, c c check it out... 

 

Something Borrowed...

This was a very tough decision as I love a good cover version but after this song was suggested I found it hard to ignore. Again, by Dublin based friend of my other half and myself I found it almost impossible as it resparked my love for Bright Eyes. With a new bright eyes album expected out on February 8th its high time you dust off your old CDs (or search your 'iTunes' if your that inclined) and refresh your mind. Conor Oberst's fresh style of modern indie mixed with traditional folk is always great to lie back, listen to the lyrics and forget your worries. The track suggested is a cover of Canadian singer songwriter and member of the band 'Broken Sociel Scene', Feist. Enjoy...

 

Something Blue...

It was noted by a couple of miserable souls that I seem to have a very fixed ‘guitar based’ musical orientation. Two of my best mates try and I must admit succeed at winding me up, although, they do know it not to be true. It has made me aware to make every effort to push my love for my other less guitar driven tastes: soul/motown, old school hip hop and the very rare occasion of well scructured ‘dance’. With a world filled with woeful 'RnB', 'gangsta rap' and disposable 'house' dominating sales and forming the focus of the very money driven music industry its easy to be a sceptic. However, its acts like the Chemical Brothers, Groove Armada, Zero 7, Massive Attack and not forgetting the perenially awesome Prodigy that make it all worthwhile. 

 

DJ Shadow is considered by many a prominent figure in the development of industrial hip hop and first gained notice with the release of his highly acclaimed debut album 'endtroducing...' constructed entriely from samples. His early work was genre-bending works of art merging elements of fuck, rock, hip hop, ambient, jazz and soul - described my 'Mixmag' as 'trip hop'.
To date he has worked with many of the worlds coolest stars including Radiohead's Thom Yorke, Verve frontman Rich Ashcorft, Mos Def, Beastie boy's Mike D and most notably Zach de la Rocha of RATM. No one does it better than this fella...