Bear music’s blog hit 1,000 views this week so to celebrate a musical sandwich served on a platter of the usual format...
Almost 10 years on from Rival Schools cult masterwork ‘United by Fate’ the band finally returned from an inexplicably long hiatus to demonstrate why they’re such luminaries for today’s post-hardcore masses. The band, Walter Schreifels, Ian Love, Cache Roland and Sam Seigler maybe veterans from bands like Quicksand and Gorilla Busquits but the long awaiting 2nd album, ‘Pedals’ (that came out March 7th) somehow passed me by until now.
On reflection I can see why, with the debut album, in my opinion, being one the greatest pieces of music ever made and being lucky to see them live back in the day. From the 1st track its set the scene with the brilliant ‘Travel by Telephone’ thru to the awesome ‘High Acetate', ‘The Switch’, ‘Good things’ and the truely supurb ‘Everything Has It’s Point’ its seamless track to track and is a joy to listen too, I had somewhat, very high hopes.
‘Pedals’, though lacks any real depth, at the very least it contains the odd moment of greatness with the likes of ‘Eyes Wide Open’ and the much gentler ‘Racing To Red Lights’ boasting the sort of shimmering choruses that remind you why these New Yorkers once seemed destined to lead the hoodie-clad invasion of the mainstream.
However, I don’t know if it’s because I’m older now and my taste has changed but it just doesn’t grab me, ‘69 Guns’ being the stand out best track on the album and the 1st single ‘Wring it out’, which is a grower, aside, it’s got nothing on the debut album and considering its 10 years in the making, its no more than filler. In reminiscence to days of old, the epic 1st single taken track from the debut album ‘Used for Glue’ enjoy...
Something New...
The Computers are described as “Neo punk hardcore garage”, whatever that means. What I do know is they hail from Exeter and the standard four piece setup of vocals, guitar, bass and drums know how to fuse garage rock'n'roll with 80's hardcore in an ingenius manner. As one online review says think Black Flag playing Chuck Berry dressed like Elvis Costello and you're getting the picture.
Last week the band unveiled the video for the new single ‘Music is Dead’ which was released on May 2nd and is getting quite a lot of airtime on Radio 1 and MTV. Despite its rather provocative title, the song is very much alive, their debut album, ‘This is The Computers’ drops on May 16, bloody brilliant...
If your around the North Wales area tomorrow night (Tuesday 9th May) make sure you swing by and check them out at their gig at Wrexham Central. Get their early and you will see my mates band MakelikeMadeline grace the stage in support. Chester based MLM, bring lightening shred riffs, hammering drums mixed with lyrical thunder creating a storm of a set and an awesome audience rapport...think scouse Glassjaw although the band describe themselves as "like Metallica, but good". Make sure you check out their website and if you like the sound of ‘the Ballad of Braden Walker’ go add them on facebook and order yourself a copy of their EP ‘Show your teeth’.
Something Borrowed...
Better known as the lead singer and guitarist of bloc party, Kele Okereke took a leaf from the Thom Yorke book of ‘how to be an awesomely cool front man’ and went down the electro house road when he realised his debut solo album ‘The Boxer’. Bloc party had been going in the electro direction in part with the last two albums ‘Intimacy’ and to a lesser extent ‘Weekend in the city’ which feature tracks like ‘Flux’, ‘Ares’ and ‘Mercury’. Kele also provided vocals for Martin Solveig’s track ‘Ready 2 Go’ and the awesome Chemical Brothers track ‘Believe’; ‘The Boxer’, was the next step though and includes some stunning tracks, the likes of ‘Everything You Wanted’ and ‘On the Lam’.
My personal favourite track of Kele’s solo work ‘Tendoroni’ has been remixed by a mate of mine, electro DJ Stephen Davey. Davey goes by the name NCR (Neoclassical Champion Rockers) make sure you check out his website and add him on facebook if you like his stuff. NCR featured on this year’s BBC Introducing Musical master class for the remix day, were he got to spend some time in the company of his idol Kissy Sellout amongst others, enjoy...
Something Blue...
Eels formed by singer/songwriter Mark Oliver Everett, better known as E. Everett is a mega talented multi instrumentalist who is best known for writing songs tackling subjects such as mental illness, loneliness and unrequited love making him perfect for something blue....
*Random pub quiz fact of the week* I learnt this week is that E is the son of physicist Hugh Everett III who was the originator of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum theory, genius must run in the family!
Eels debut album ‘Beautiful freak’ is a beautiful pop record with tormented lyrics heavily influenced by grunge and hip hop and includes the brilliant singles ‘Novocaine for the Soul’ and ‘Your lucky day in Hell’. ‘Electro Shock Blue’ was the follow up and dealt with many personal issues in E’s life including the suicide of his sister, his mother being diagnosed with cancer and his fathers death. It wasn’t until 2000, with the release of ‘Daises of the Galaxy’ which includes the classic ‘Mr E’s beautiful Blues’ were the sound became noticeably more upbeat, were he was joined in the studio by Peter Buck of REM. In 2001, eels released 'Souljacker', which was a much heavier rock orientated sound which includes the single ‘Souljacker Part.1’. Two years on came one of the most underated albums of all time, the fabulous ‘Shootenanny’ which spawned the single ‘Saturday Morning’ and the truly fabulous ‘Lone Wolf’, which I deadicate to the coolest dog in the world, Sammy....
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