Sunday 27 November 2011

Something for Winter...

Something Old...
Well, as it was good old thanksgiving in the US last Thursday it would be rude to not dedicate this weeks Something Old to the Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen. The Boss and the E Street Band are widely known for their brand of rock with poetic lyrics and Americana sentiments. Both critically, award winning and commercially accessible rock albums and more somber folk-oriented work, famed for the anthemic tracks such as 'Born to Run', 'Dancing in the Dark', 'Streets of Philadelphia'. It could be no other track to some up the occasion as one of the most recognizable tracks in history. Lyrically, the song deals with the effects of the Vietnam War on Americans, although it is often misinterpreted as a patriotic anthem, 'Born in the USA'...
Something New...
This gem was introduced to me by a mate who does the low-fi camera work this band on a shoe string budget, were ideas and concept are worth more than celeb cameos or special FX. Shout out goes out to Skippy aka @littlegurier and the musician himself @bigbandghandi for their excellent work and tireless commitment in their love of music. If you enjoy this make sure to check out their you tube channel to hear more from Steven O'Brien and the Focus Group. From the stylishly shot 'Last Night at the Fair', the lyrical genius of 'Lets grow together' thru to the comic concept behind 'Doorstep' that features highlights of a cat being followed about. However for me its the witty, informed lyrics and concept behind 'Don't Really Care Anymore' that really sticks out for one of Wexford's finest local musicians.
The description reads "Nixon finds himself alone, depressed and destitute after being left by his former group of ex presidents. Rumour has it JFK got a job with the local paper whilst Jimmy Carter returned to peanut farming and Obama f*cked off to Canada after destroying the US economy"...after that, its gotta be worth a go....  


Something Borrowed...
The music scene these days is filled with a plethora of less than average singer songwriters and other such x factor /karaoke-esque drivel; however there are a few gems hidden in all the rough. My two personal favorites being Ben Howard (who featured in #bearmusic back in June http://b3armusic.blogspot.com/2011/06/something-ventured) and James Vincent McMorrow (featuring in #bearmusic way back in early February http://b3armusic.blogspot.com/2011/02/something-from-emerald-isle) both which have spent much of the year touring the release of their debut albums.
This weeks cover is by the later and is a chilling cover of Steve Winwood's track 'Higher Love' by Irish folk music singer-songwriter JVM. You may recognize it from the recent Lovefilm ad but this version of the 1986 smash was recorded for the charity album 'Silver Lining' which is available on iTunes now. All proceeds of the album go to Headstrong (headstrong.ie), an Irish charity for youth mental health, sit back and let it take you on a journey....
Something Blue...

Following on from this weeks vague US thanksgiving-ness and last weeks #bearmusic 'blues special' to soften the blow, one of the greatest garage blues outfits in history. The White Stripes, otherwise known as Jack and Meg, formed in 1997 in Detroit. The pair were previously married to each other, but since divorced were instrumental on the modern Detroit music scene and led the garage rock revival. They released six brilliant, DIY, low-fi punk/ blues albums and rose to prominence in 2002. Their successful and critically acclaimed albums made them a worldwide house hold name. From their self titled debut album in 99 thru to their follow up the next year ‘De Stijl’ (Dutch for “The Style”) and then onto their commercial breakthrough in 2001 with ‘White Blood Cells’ they had set their raw sound in stone. Featuring brilliant tracks such as ‘Why Can't You Be Nicer To Me’, ‘Apple Blossom’, ‘Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground’, ‘Fell in Love with a Girl’ and the brilliant ‘Hotel Yorba’
Building on this success the pair released the massive success ‘Elephant’ in 2003 that features the more well known of their work such as ‘Seven Nation Army’, ‘I Just Don’t Know what to do with myself’ and ‘Hardest Button to Button’ alongside the brilliant ‘Black Math’, ‘Ball and Biscuit’ and ‘Hypnotize’.
They then went somewhat off piste from their original sound with the release of their 5th, more rhythmic, arty and experimental ‘Get Behind me Satan’ in between Jack working on his Raconteurs project with the super cool Brendon Benson. The album includes the tracks ‘Blue Orchard’, ‘My Doorbell’, ‘The Denial Twist’, ‘Little Ghost’ , my favourite track by the band ‘Take, Take, Take’ and for this reason it’s this album that will always be my favourite by the band.
The White Stripes' sixth and final album ‘Icky Thump’ was released in 2007 and the band returned their garage blues roots with the title track, ‘Effect and Cause’ and the Hispanic influenced ‘Conquest’.
Late that year the pair announced the cancelled their UK tour dates due to Meg's suffering from anxiety problems and the duo cancelled their remaining 2007 tour dates. Luckily, you can still hear Jack playing in his latest super band the Dead Weather, that features the Kills’ Alison Mosshart amongst others. 
As usual a break from the norm, I'm going to confuse you by choosing another track not by the White Stripes but one that shows off Jack White's true genius that led him to be chosen to pen and perform the song for the last James Bond movie. Taken from the Raconteurs second and final album 'Consolers of the Lonely', this is 'Salute your Solution', I salute you Jack... 

Sunday 20 November 2011

Something for the Blues...

As I hit 27 on Wednesday, this weeks blog is in dedication to some heroes that fell too early; not the best known of club 27,  namely Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain but this will focus on some of the people who inspired them and were inspired by them, the original rock n roll; blues... 

Something Old...
Taste were an Irish blues band formed in 1966 and gained fame in large part because of their unique style and the talent and charisma of the bands founder songwriter. One of, if not the greatest guitarists of all time, the legendary...Rory Gallagher, who sadly passed away in 95,aged only 47 following complications after a liver transplant
The band, a power trio also moved on to make history as one of the first acts to perform on TV. Only really producing one album, that was originally self titled, then rehashed and repacked as 'On the Boards'. It contains some beautiful blues and if you love alternative music in any form you MUST hear it. The tracks 'Railway and Gun', 'It's Happened Before, It'll Happen Again' and 'If the Day Was Any Longer' are all standout but it was this track that I fell in love with after my old man first introduced me to Rory, 'Whats Going on'...
Something New...
Danny Bryant is better known as front man of the Red eye Band (featuring his father Ken on bass and Trevor Barr on drums), the vocalist and guitarist Bryant has proved himself as one of the hottest young players on the modern blues scene.
Having turned pro at the age of 18 Danny has played on bills with the likes of Buddy Guy, Fleetwood Mac legend Peter Green and Joe Cocker.
The band’s latest album 'Just As I Am' features eight new original songs written by Danny and a cover of John Hiatt’s Master of Disaster. You can preview the album of the band’s website (www.redeyeband.co.uk). It’s righteous stuff.
Something Borrowed...
Needing no introduction, one of, and in my opinion THE greatest cover of all time; 'All Along the Watchtower'. Originally written and recorded by the legendary Bob Dylan, initially appeared on his 1967 album 'John Wesley Harding'Covered by numerous artists in various genres the track is essentially a blues rock number and none more so as identified with Jimi Hendrix's interpretation on 'Electric Ladyland' released only six months after Dylan's original...
Something Blue...
The originator of Blues is the only man that could make a Blues special 'Something Blue'. Robert Johnson made his landmark recordings from 1936–37 displaying mastery of a superb combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that have influenced later generations of musicians. His records sold poorly during his lifetime, and it was only after the first reissue of his recordings on LP in 61 that his work reached a wider audience. Johnson is now recognized as a master of the blues and went onto be credited by many rock musicians as an important influence; Eric Clapton called Johnson "the most important blues singer that ever lived".
His shadowy, poorly documented life and death at age 27 have given rise to much legend, including a myth that a young man living on a plantation in rural Mississippi was branded with a burning desire to become a great musician. He was "instructed" to take his guitar to a crossroad at midnight were he was met by a large black man (the devil) who took the guitar and tuned it. The "Devil" played a few songs and then returned the guitar to Johnson, giving him mastery of the instrument. This was in effect, a deal with the devil. In exchange for his soul, Robert Johnson was able to create the blues for which he became famous..


Sunday 13 November 2011

Something for the dark nights....

Something Old...
This weeks ‘Something Old’ is dedicated to my lovely mum, not only because it was her birthday this week but it gives me an excuse to sneak this classic into my blog. The list is almost endless of bands I could've chosen that she played when I was a child and somewhat influenced by musical taste. Obviously I was hugely influenced by classic crossover bands both her and my old man love from Led Zeppelin to Pink Floyd and the Who. However, it was the more leftfield that became ingrained into me, having brought me up listening to huge variety of artists from Fleetwood Mac, thru Stevie Wonder to Tina Turner...
Yes achieved worldwide success with their prog rock, art and symbolic style and are regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre. Known best for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, and elaborate album art no less than 16 musicians have been a part of the group's line-up, including the king of mullets himself Rick Wakeman (session musician toT RexDavid Bowie and Elton John). Formed in 1968 Yes went onto release 14 albums that have sold over 50 million worldwide. They have a huge back catalogue but my choice comes from their 1983 best selling, and best known album ‘90125’ after the band reformed and adopted a more commercial sound releasing the number one smash ‘Owner of a Lonely Heart.
The track itself is now legendry in its own right and has been sampled by many artists from Frank Zappa thru to modern indie outfit Grizzly Bear. According to the Roots’Questlove it was this song that contained the first use of a sample as a break beat as opposed to a sound effect...
Something New...
Myself and my better half @I_Blame_Kate have been lucky enough to land Black Keys tickets for early next year; probably our favorite band and undeniable one the greatest bands around, the Ohio two piece make some seriously fantastic blues. Otherwise known as vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney, are due to release their seventh studio album 'El Camino' on December 6th. Expect to see a Black Keys special blog that week featuring the 2nd single 'Run Right Back' after the video drops but in the mean time I will leave you with the album's lead single, 'Lonely Boy' and its truly geniusly simplistic video....

Something Borrowed...
The Boss Hoss are a band from Berlin, founded in 2004 with Country & Western style blue grass covers of pop tracks such as OutKast's 'Hey Ya', Britney Spears' 'Toxic' and Nelly's 'Hot in Herre'. They incorporate stereotypical American cowboy behavior into their act wearing stetsons, tank tops, big shades, drinking whiskey and generally yelling "Yeeeeehaw!". The band refers to their music style as "Country Trash Punk Rock" and you may recognize their unique style, as featured on the latest V05 advert with a cover of Cameo's 80's smash 'Word Up'...
Something Blue...
Incubus sneak into this weeks 'Something Blue' based purely on the fact that I went to see them this week in Manchester making it the 5th time I had seen the boys. However negative my feelings for the new album 'If not now, when?' are (as explained in detail in: something for granted) I bit the bullet and crossed my fingers that they would play a fair amount of their old skool material as they are one of my favorite bands of all time (explained at length in a band special: are you in(cubus)). I can confirm that they didn't disappoint and mid set dropped the utterally brilliant 'Vitamin' from 'S.C.I.E.N.C.E' and came back on for their encore with a blistering version of 'Certain Shade of Green', enjoy...