Sunday 27 February 2011

Something 4 the weekend...

Something Old...
With St.David's day (Wales' patron saint) on Tuesday (March 1st) what better way to celebrate the occasion than paying tribute to Wales' finest...in my opinion ofcourse. Tom Jones aside, Welsh music has a bad reputation, in recent years the alternative scene has dominated with disposable Nu-Metal-esque bands such as Funeral for a Friend and Lost Prophets that lack any longevity. New Welsh bands like Los Campesinos and Attack Attack! are paving the way for a change in opinions taking off in the footsteps were early Feeder, Manic Street Preachers and the 1st two Sterophonics albums left off...until the bands disappeared up the arses of record industry bosses and turned sh*te! 

For me though, two Welsh bands that have ALWAYS produced awesome music, one been the short lived career of McClusky who stand out tracks include 'Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues' and 'Too Hell with Good Intentions'. The other being the legendry, Super Furry Animals - fronted by the genius Gruff Rhys they have paved the way for experimental electronic and pyscedelic rock in the UK music scene since 1993.
The track I have chosen is very close to my heart as it was my hero Colin Murray's VERY last song he played on his late night Radio 1 evening show. Taken from the bands breakthru debut album 'Fuzzy Logic', which also contains the awesome single 'Something 4 the Weekend'. 
This song 'The man don't give a F*ck' didn't do very well in the charts for two reasons, one being copywright complications with the Steely Dan sample used in the chorus but mainly for another much more simple reason. The band stook to their guns and refused to release a Radio edit of the song which contains...wait for...50, yes FIFTY uses of the F word...turn it up LOUD!!!

Something New...
I’ve been a fan of Klumzy Tung since I came across him alongside Beardyman on another track a while back whilst on a youtube binge. He makes experimental UK Hip Hop and it’s incredible! The content of his music is really not very conventional in terms of both UK and US hip hop and definately worth checking out! 

You may also be interested to hear that Klumzy Tung is an awesome freestyler and lots of his freestyles can be found on his youtube channel. You may recognise this track 'Headscrews' from this season of Skins, it has a very Just Jack vibe to it. The track is a collaberation with Austrian Hip Hop DJ, Mr. Dero who is currently producing 'Happy Accidents' - Klumzy Tung’s forthcoming album...well worth a listen, enjoy!

Something Borrowed...
With the Oscars tonight I thought it would be appropriate to feature a song written for a movie. Most of the music that wins 'Best Origional Score' isn't really my cup of tea so I will instead go back in time when Michel Gondry's movie 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' won 'Best Origional Screenplay' in 2004. Very much a cult movie...and with every great cult movie comes an awesome soundtrack. Featuring great tunes by Polyphonic Spree and E.L.O that set the tone for the less than normal plotline for the Jim Carrey/ Kate Winslet movie which genre can only be decscribed as Romantic/ Fantasy/ Comedy/ Sci-Fi/ Thriller with non linear narration...a mouthful but well worth a watch. Simply speaking this cover of the Korkis 'Everybody's gotta learn Sometimes' is simply breathtaking.  Performed by one of my heroes, the genius of Beck...need I say more!

Something Blue...
Hailed by many as the pioneer of Drum and Bass, Bristol born DJ Roni Size, for me, wrote the greatest alternative dance track in history with his self formed group, Reprazent. The 1997 album 'New Forms' which the track was featured on won Mercury music prize. Helped predominately by this track 'Brown Paper bag', described by the guardian as a 'modern masterpeice'. The Repazent project later went on to work with Zach de La Rocha, Rahzel and Method Man before Roni announced the project was ending and 'New Forms' was re-vamped and re-released in 2008-  so good, they made it twice. Sheer, utter, brilliance!

Sunday 20 February 2011

Something for the Awards....

This weeks music headlines have been dominated by the news of the Grammys and the Brit Awards. I don't personally buy into these awards ceremonys and only really pay attention to the Mercury Music Prize later in the year as an award of any creditable merit. Best described by the words of the mighty Pearl Jam frontman, Eddie Veddor:
"I don't know what this means. I don't think it means anything"
and the words of Tool and Pefect Circle's Maynard James Keenan:
"I think this is nothing more than some gigantic promotional machine for the music industry, catering to a low intellect and feeding the masses. They don't honor the arts or the artist for what he created but the music business celebrating itself, basically".
Illustrating my point better than I could myself...however, despite this they cannot be ignored and here is my pick of the highlights from both events - reviewed in the familiar SOSNSBSB format.

Something Old...
Probably the biggest winners both sides of the Atlantic and in my eyes, deservedly so were Canadian 7 piece, Arcade Fire. Fronted by the uba talented Win Butler and Regine Chasagne they scooped the awards for Best International Group and Best International Album at the Brits, whilst also claiming Album of the Year at the Grammys for their third album, 2010's 'Suburbs'. With tracks such as 'City with no Children', 'Month of May', 'We Used to Wait' and this track 'Ready to Start' its deservidly up there other two albums 'Funeral' and 'Neon Bible' as fantastic pieces of music, expect to see a bearmusic Arcade Fire feature shortly, in the mean time, enjoy...

Something New...
By no means a new artist, but the shock of the Brit Awards came from the awesomely talented 21 year old, Laura Marling, ranking up there with the time Belle&Sebastian beat Steps. Beating off competition from the very talented and sucessful Ellie Goulding and the media whore herself, Cheryl Cole to join the likes of Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen and KT Tunstall claiming Best Female Solo Artist in the UK Pop hall of fame. 

Having been part of the origional line up of Noah & the Whale til her emotional split with Charlie Fink, who produced her 1st solo album 'Alas, i cannot swim' in 2008 she has spent last year touring with Elbow and her hero Neil Young aswell as a stand out performance at Glasto. She is finnally gainining the recognition she deserves and her music is being enjoyed by a wider audience on the back of 'Nu Folk', which is apparently 'cool' lead by her on/off boyfriend Marcus and his band of private school w*nkers Mumford & Sons who pretend to be an Irish folk band...I mean WTF? just listen to ACTUAL IRISH FOLK its much better than their b*llshit! 
She has now seen sense and is dating Mat Horne off of 'Gavin & Stacey', a noticable leap in respect levels from myself. From her second album 'I speak because I can' this track 'rambling man' is haunting and will evoke emotions and send a shiver down your spine, lovely stuff...

Something Borrowed...
The Ultimate Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin was hailed at last weeks Grammys as last November Doctors ordered her to performing and making public appearances. The 68 year old legend is currently having surgery for an 'undisclosed ailment' rumoured, but denied, to be pancreatic cancer. Its not just Soul she is recognised for, she can also be credited with a huge influence on Jazz, Blues and Gospel and widely recognised as THE greatest voice of all time. 

The opening ceremony of this years the 53rd Grammy Awards saw Christina Aguilera perform some attention seeking vocal gymnastists then fall over, two women Yolanda thingy and Christina sumin warble for a bit. Then the UK's best vocal export of modern times, ginger lungs herself - Florence Welch off of '...and the Machine' cover my favourite Aretha Song 'Think (Freedom)'. This was followed by the much troubled 'Dreamgirls' star Jenifer Hudson whos Mother and Brother were found murdered in 2008 none the less looked fantastic and gave one of the best Soul vocals I've heard since Paige Richardson of off X-Factor doing 'Mans world'...enjoy my 4 minute outtake avoiding the other nonesense from Aguilera... 
Something Blue....
Other notable Grammy winners were the Black Keys for Best Alternative Album and Best Rock Performance whilst Jeff Beck was also a double winner. Both Muse and La Roux have now officially broken America winning Best Rock Album and Best Dance Album, respectively.

However, the ultimate Supergroup of all time Them Crooked Vultures recieved the plaudits they deserve for the 1st, self titled, album of the the project winning Best Hard Rock Album. Its easy to see why aswell with the talent of the awesome Kyuss and QOSTA frontman Josh Homme on guitar on vocals, Led Zepplins genius bassist John Paul Jones on the four strong and the legendry Nirvana and Foo Fighters - Dave Grohl back were he belongs on the drums, its as close to perfection as is mortally possible! To celebrate here is the 1st track from the album, which sets the tone for one the most brilliantly awesome+faltless 60minutes of music to ever grace your ears - if you dont already own the album are you stupid or just a little slow? With awesome tracks such as 'Dead End Friends', 'New Fang', 'Scumbag Blues', 'Mind Eraser (No Chaser)' + this track 'Nobody Loves me...' GO AND BUY IT NOW!
 

Friday 11 February 2011

Something for the Lovers...

With Valentines day on Monday this weeks weekly feature takes a look in a different direction from the traditional sloppy love songs of the usual! Forget Barry White, Sade and Marvin Gaye this time and Say F*CK YOU to Brian Adams, Celine Dion and Chris de Burgh! This is the alternative version...

Something Old...
Not so much 'alternative' but yet adored by the true music lover...you cant ignore this song as the ultimate feel good song for when your truely head over heels! New Yorker's (Daryl) Hall & (John) Oates had a bagful of hit singles and you can never deny their music ability, putting handle bar moustaches into white boy soul! With tracks such as 'Maneater' (not the same song as the Nelly Fuerto version ofcourse!) and 'Out of Touch' which sadly, most people will more likely recognize from the 2004 dance cover by 'Uniting Nations' *urgh!* 

For me, its the song 'You make my dreams come true' that ALWAYS makes me smile. Written in 1980 and strangley only ever reached a chart peak at No.5. Since its release its been featured in many a romcom, most nostebaly Adam Sandler's 'Wedding Singer' and a hilarious scene from '(500) Days of Summer. The later, if you havn't already seen it is a really cool movie and definately worth a watch over Valentines. Starring Jospeh Gordon-Levitt who plays a geeky no hoper music fanatic who falls in love with the Beautiful, Uba cool, music loving Zooey Deschanel...the vid below features the song taken from the movie...

Something New...
The Black Keys are right up there in my top 5 favourite artists list...otherwise known as lead vocals/guitar Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney they have to be the greatest and most talented two piece band of all time! Emerging with a sound akin to any 5 piece blues/rock band with 'The Big Come Up' in 2002. Closely followed the awesome albums 'Thickfreakness' in 03 and 'Rubber Factory' in 04 which is what put the band amongst my 'favourite artists of all time list' on these alone due to singles such as 'Set you Free', 'Have Love will Travel' and '10AM Automatic'. Not to mention, my personal favourite BK album... 'Magic potion' from 06 and their biggest commercial  success of 'Attack&Release' in 08, featuring singles such as 'Your touch' and 'Strange Times' respectively.

The track 'Howlin' for you' maybe from last years album 'Brothers', which contains 'Next Girl', However, the video for Howlin'...OH THE VIDEO is litterally brand spanking new as of hours ago! The video is, in my opinion, as of NOW the coolest video of all time. Starring Tricia Helfer as a sexy assasin hell bent on revenge in a fake movie trailer for a cheesy, violent, awesomely cool Tarrantino/Robert Rodriguez-esque madness WATCH IT NOW!!!

Something Borrowed...
2010 Mercury Award winners the 'XX' need no introductions. The London based band are now a three piece since keyboardist Bari Qureshi left due to the 'pressures of fame' and exhaustion of touring. The band shot to fame both commercially and critically with the self titled albums and the awesome singles from the album 'Crystalised', 'Islands' and 'VCR. 
The track selected as this weeks cover version can be found on the bonus disc of the award winning album and is a beautifully haunting interpretation of the Womack&Womack single, making love to your ears since 1988, I dedicate this song to my better half Kate Redmond...

Something Blue...
The band 'Death Cab for Cutie' are a very misenterpretted band, shunning the limelight they are often branding in the 'emo' by many a shoegazer. However, with 5 albums and another on its way later this year they definately deserve a little more respect than to band em in the same catergory as 'Dishwasher Confessional' and 'My Biological Bromance'. *RANDOM FACT OF THE DAY ALERT* Lead singer, Ben Gibbard is married to musician and actress - '(500) days of Summer', 'Elf' and 'Hitchhikers guide...' star Zooey Deschennel.

The track 'I Will posses your Heart' is apparently written about Gibbard's stalkerish approach to his courtship with Deschennel. The song narrowly missed out on the 2009 Grammy for best alternative rock song, loosing out only to the Boss aka Bruce Springstein's 'Girl's in their Summer Clothes'. Taken from the last album 'Narrow Stairs' Deathcab's use of slick and innovative piano riff over a sweet bassline makes this truely epic, well worth a listen... 

Wednesday 9 February 2011

A Stroke(s) of Genius...

As I write this, the 1st track from the Strokes 4th album has LITTERALLY this second just gone live as a free download and been uploaded to youtube...and yes it is genius! A quick homage to the Strokes is the least I can do in tribute! 

Is This It...

Pioneers of garage rock The Strokes also known as lead singer/songwriter Julian Casablancas, guitarist Nick Valensi, bassist Nikolai Fraiture and drummer Fabrizio Moretti met at been mates at school. Casablancas was sent to a boarding school in Switzerland due to alcohol problems at the age of 13, which is he met lead met guitarist Albert Hammond Jnr... a true and somewhat cool story!
The band wrote the 'Modern Age EP' in 98 which contained  most of the tracks from the first abum 'Is This It', albeit with better production quality and slightly different lyrics under UK label Rought Trade. They made there big break when NME made their first single 'Last Nite' available as a free download before they were instantly catapulted success with the 1st album released in 2001, lucky they had been playing very similar material for years! The album cover features a black + white photo of a gloved hand on a woman's naked backside, shown in semi-profile, amazing, much like the entire album as a peice of music.

The track I have chosen as my stand out track is 'New York City Cops' which was removed from the album in good faith following the September the 11th attacks, which only adds to bands popularity winning HUGE critical acclaim, countless awards + top ablum charts worldwide, selling 3.5million copies by 2010. enjoy...

Room on Fire...

I was lucky enough to see them play live at the Reading festival in consecutive years 2001 and 02 before the band released their second album 'Room on Fire' in 2003 after recording it with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. I personally prefer this album and it received even more praise from critics but was less commercially successful, although it still went gold. The album's sound maintained the Strokes' familiar reference points but also evokes sounds similar to acts such as Bob Marley and the Cars. The first singles were the songs 'The End has no end' and '12:51', the later using distinct keyboard-like sounds produced by Valensi's guitar and had cool Tron-esque video.
For me, however, the stand out track on the album has to be 'Reptilia', need I say more? Just use your own ears (oh and your eyes as this video is a specially edited using the awesome cinematography of Koyaanisqatsi)...

First Impressions of Earth...

In 2005 the band released, 'Juicebox', which was the 1st single from their unreleased 3rd album, after being leaked online the album release date was forced to be advanced with next to no promo. The album this time, however received mixed critics reviews and only got to number 4 in US, however the more descerning British ear made a No.1 and as a thankyou the band did played 18 sold out shows in 2006. Since the album they have been on hiatus, concentrating on solo material- noteably Casablanca's 'Phazes for the Young' debut album released in 2009...
Along with the stand out track 'Heart in a Cage' - for me the 1st track, 'Your Only Live Once', a Sum41-esque number is not only my favourite track from the album. Its upbeat, fun qualities but yet still with that garage ryhtm make it not only my favourite album track but also my all time favourite Strokes song, enjoy this live version from Jools Holland...

Angles...

The new album promises to be something REALLY special judging by the 1st single the 4th album 'Angles' is due for European physical release on March 22nd. If you think the Strokes are 'too hipster' for you then you really do put the 'mental' in judgemental and you really are an idiot, thats just my opinion ofcourse ;)


Having confirmed to play Coachella and Benicassim this year, if you get the opportunity...GO SEE THEM GODAMN YOU!!! now sit back and lap up the 1st single, which is available to download from thestrokes.com as of litterally moments ago...

Sunday 6 February 2011

Something from the Emerald Isle...

New month, same old musical rambling...this weeks Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue is a tribute to a selection of the best modern Irish music around. Reasons for this include it being both my other halfs birthday this week and St.Paddys day only 5 weeks away (their will be a more traditional look then) and also the reason...because I CAN!
Something Old...

It’s actually harder than it seems to pick a track by a band from a island so relatively small. Many narrow minded opinions seem to believe (as mentioned in something for the weekend...) that modern Irish music is from the vaults of the Louis Walsh pop-machine. With acts like b*witches, o-zone, wonderbra, boylife and westzone these examples only stem as evidence to the less informed case. However, to the more discerning music lover and readers alike you would know a very different story! For the counter case, I present this case to you, your honour...
The 1960+70’s saw a phenomenal change in the Irish music scene, spawning timelessly classic artists such as Van Morrison, Thin Lizzy and Rory Gallagher. Whilst the 1980’s saw the Pogues hit the big time and also one of the most successful artists in world music history emerge from the emerald isle, U2’s ‘boy' and ‘joshua tree' are still to date some of the all time classic albums. Its just a shame that, in recent years their music has spiralled into commercial drivel after Bono's head disappeared up his own arse. 
However, despite the downfall of U2, the 90' s were a much better time for Irish music with many awesome bands emerging. My personal favourite being the frames - since my other half introduced me to them a couple of years ago barely a week goes by when I dont listen to them! Picking a track by them would be virtually impossible, I would highly recomend their entire back catalogue. Instead, i'm gonna go with one of my all time favourite song by another Irish band the Cranberries. Zombie is a protest song released in 94, the song laments the troubles in Northern Ireland in particular the killing of two children in an IRA bombing in Warrington, very close to my hometown of Chester. The track was written by the female singer Dolores O'Rioden and features a HUGE riff, uncharacteristic of the bands usual sound and more akin to the grunge/alt metal scene...much more up my street!
Something New...
Many new alternative bands have emerged from Eire in recent years, including most notably, Two door cinema club, villagers, ash and early snow patrol (before they went all 'U2'). However, last week I discovered a new artist that instantly made love to my ears! After a shit day at work I was trolling some music forums and I discovered him whislt reading a blog from Radio 1 DJ and Bestival organiser Rob da Bank. Describing this fella as ‘Ireland’s answer to Bon Iver’, however, I would argue with de Bank and big him up further as...‘the new jeff Buckley' and if i ever do get around to being a famous music journo, you can quote that ok?
After hearing his vocals and the musical arrangement, although being generically acoustically driven melodic like many other ‘singer/songwritters’ it keeps you both transfixed, interested and shook me to my bones! His 1st single ‘follow you down to the red oak tree’ was featured on the charity Banardo’s advert which propelled his popularity in Ireland to make his debut album 'Early in the morning' go straight in at No.1 and has since gone onto to huge sucess over there, but yet still remains relatively unheard of in the UK. For me, it was this song ‘If I had a boat’ that my ears cry tears of joy...if you don’t enjoy this song you have a heart of solid stone!
Something Borrowed...
As I mentioned earlier the Frames are a phenominal band that are definately worth checking out if your unaware of their work. I only got into the band late on after being recommended them by my better half, I would recomend 'Revalate' as a higlight from the album 'Fitzcaraldo', 'Mighty Sword' from 'For the Birds' and 'Finally' from the album 'Burn the Maps'. The band are famed for many covers such Bob Marley's 'Redemption song' and Jeff Buckley's 'Lilac Wine' and as this part of the feature is a homage to the cover/remix it was litterally impossoble to choose! 
Instead, I have opted for a track from a movie, starring the Frames lead singer, the legendry Glen Hansard. The commitments is a MUST SEE 'feel good' comedy drama movie from 91, I recently obtained a copy from hmv for only £3, BARGAIN! The movie is adapted from a novel by Roddy Doyle and tells of unemployed Dubliners who form a soul band and aswell as Hansard amongst other stars a young Andrea Corr, Colm Meaney (off of Star Trek + In Bruges) and Bronagh Gallagher who wears a Frames t-shirt in Pulp Fiction! 
Bearing in mind Andrew Stong, the lead singer of the fictional band was only 16 at the time he can really belt out the soul, for the life of me I have no idea why the world has not seen more of him, enjoy...
Something Blue...

For me, the greatest band in Irish music history is without a doubt Bell X1. Again, introduced to me by my other half a few years ago I took an instant shine to them having heard the name but for some reason they were never big in the UK.
Early on in their musical career Bell X1's front man Paul Noonan drummed for a band with a school mates known as Juniper. Juniper consisted of the more well known ‘Damien Rice’ as the front man who has since gone on to international sales and critical success and also members of the also noteably awesome band 'Mundy', for me ‘Juniper - Weatherman’ is a must listen. 
As for Bell X1, their only international sucess came when they were featured in a lesbian kiss scene from the OC with their track 'Eve, the apple of my eye', they are however MUCH better than this! The band are fantasticly tight and all awesome musicians, Noonan lyrics are utter genius. With highlight tracks like 'Flame' and 'Bad Skin day' from the album 'Flock' and tracks such as 'Alphabet Soup' and 'Tounge'  from the amazing album 'Music in mouth'. I am going to choose a song from their latest album 'Blue lights on the runway' which includes amazing songs such as 'Breastfed' and my personal favourite track 'The Great Defector' which includes the lyric that forms the album title....I hope you this song as much as me and PLEASE take a look into the Bell X1 back catalogue as being English they could very well have passed me by...