Something furry....

Something Old...

It only occurred to me tonight that I had never blogged one of my favorite bands of all time Wakefield's finest, the awesome three piece, twins Gary, Ryan and their younger brother Ross Jarmin, better known as...the Cribs
It's a really tough decision choosing a track by them and it could have been - 'Another Number' from the 2004's debut, 'Hey Scenesters' from the 2005 follow up 'the New Fellas' or the non album track 'You're gonna loose us'. To the hard hitting 'We were aborted' or the beautiful 'We share the same skies' from their last album 2009's 'Ignore the Ignorant' that features my hero, the Smiths and Modest Mouse's legendary guitarist Johhny Marr. 
For me personally, the song I am going to choose is taken from my favorite album of there's, 2007's 'Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever' and it could of been anything from 'Men's needs' itself, or 'Our Bovine Republic' but it has to be the track  that pretty much sums me up as a person and has been my ringtone for about 4 years 'I'm a realist', "I'm a romantic, I'm an indecisive, piece of sh*t"...

  
Something New...

The Jiggerman maybe the most financially successfully hip hop and highest selling solo artist in history, having not only mastered the genre with his style of cool and laid back vocals on albums such as ‘the Blueprint‘ and ‘the Black album’ including tracks such ‘Izzo’, ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ ‘Big Pimpin’, ‘Encoure’ and the classic ’99 Problems’. Not content with just this, he is also Beyonce’s husband, owns his own clothing label, Rocawear, co-owns NBA’s New Jersey Nets and the former CEO of Def Jam Records but now he is out of retirement once more and he’s got his swagger back!

My other half Kate and one of her best mates Claire have been acting like regular wiggers since they first heard the album ‘Watch the Throne’ using terms like swagger, vibing and H.A.M which co-insidently is the first single from the new Jay Z and Kanye West's album. The album is very much lyrically themed around opulence, power, fame and materialization and my personal favorite track is the genius ‘Otis’ with shades of the Kanye and Jamie Foxx's hugely successful ‘Gold Digger’ collaborative. The track heavily samples from, as its title suggests, one of the godfathers of soul, Otis Redding and ‘Try a Little Tenderness’ which balances out perfectly alongside the over aggression of ‘H.A.M’...

Something Borrowed...

I almost weeped with joy from my third eye when I first saw the bands chosen for the Muppets inspired ‘Green Album’, which lands on Wednesday (August 23^rd) and will provide the soundtrack to the Muppets movie released on my birthday November 23^rd (starring my hero Animal!). Alongside the likes of the genius Ok Go and Weezer (dueting with Paramore’s Hayley Williams) are the likes of My Morning Jacket, Alkaline trio and my favourite track on the album the brilliant, Airbourne Toxic Event and their version of ‘the Wishing Song’ peppered with their genius and unique twist of LA indie, enjoy...

Something Blue....

Its’ been one of those weeks for me, a shit week in work with the end of holiday blues topped of by my beloved Everton losing their opening game of the season against newly promoted QPR...Queens of the Stone Age (QOSTA) are a band that always cheer me up when I'm feeling blue! Hailing from Palm Dessert, California, they formed in 97 from the ashes of Josh Homme’s previous band, the epic Kyuss, they developed their riff orientated style of grunge/ metal/ blues fusion.

After Homme briefly joined the Screaming Trees as their touring guitarist QOSTA were formed and released the debut EP ‘Gamma Ray’ alongside Pearl Jam/ Soundgarden legend Matt Cameron and Van Conner of the Screaming Trees. 
QOSTA released their self titled debut album in 98 with Homme recording the vocals, guitar and bass and Alfredo Hernadez on the drums, before former Kyuss bassist Nick Oliveri joined. It wasn’t until 2000 that they released Rated R, that includes the genius 'Feel good hit of the summer', 'Monsters in the parasol' and 'The lost art of keeping a secret'. This album was the bands real breakthrough album and at the height of  the hype Mark Lanegan joined as a full time member and Oliveri was arrested in Brazil for one of his infamous naked stage appearance.
The bands rep grew to enormous levels through relentless touring and the band were joined by Nirvana / Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl as the drummer and A Perfect Circle’s Troy Van Leeuwan on the 3^rd album, 2002’s ‘Song for the Deaf’. The album was both critical and commercially successfully with the huge singles ‘No One Knows’, 'First it Giveth' and ‘Go with the Flow’ amongst brilliant tracks such as 'Hangin' Tree', 'Gonna Leave you' and my all time favorite 'You think I ain't worth a dollar, but I feel like a millionaire'...

I chose this track for 'Something Blue' as Oliveri provides lead vocal on as it seemed most fitting considering he faces 15 years in jail following a four charges of gun and drug possession. Following the bands success of SFTD Oliveri and Lanegan were fired in 2004 before they released there 4^th album and the band essentially became Homme and friends. 2005’s ‘Lullabies to Paralyze’ features members of ZZ Top and Blue Oyster Cult among some brilliant tracks such as ‘Little Sister’ and 'In my head'.


The band last album ‘Era Vulgaris’ was completed in 2007 and the tracks ‘Sick, Sick, Sick’ and ‘3+7s’ were released as singles. Since the last album Homme has mentioned a new album is in progress and due for release late this year, Homme has since formed supergroup Them Crooked Vultures with Grohl and Led Zepplin’s genius bassit John Paul Jones.

...Panic on the streets of London

As the riots and looting grip the nation I will answer the loud mouthed idiot Mayor of London, Boris Johnson's twitter "does anyone have batman's number?" with the words of the Stranglers' frontman Baz Warne, "No more heroes anymore".

It's times like these the country needs a real hero, someone who will really command respect and speak to the kids, with no one stepping forward other than the organizers and participants of the clean-up teams we must look further back in time for him.

Rioting:

Please step forward the Smiths and the ultimate anti-hero, Steven Patrick Morrisey with the ugly scenes of violence and rioting spreading across the length and breadth of the capital since erupting three days ago.  The trouble initially flared on Saturday night following a peaceful protest in Tottenham over the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan by police. But by the early hours of this morning a large number of London boroughs had been left devastated by the trouble from Hackney to Peckham and Ealing to Croydon were huge groups between 250-500 people gathered, torching buildings, cars and hurling petrol bombs at riot police. The most apt Smiths track containing the lyrics “oh, the devil makes work for idle hands to do, I stole and I lied because you asked me too", taken from there self titled, debut album the brilliant ‘What Difference does it make?’...

Looting:

Scores of local businesses around London have been broken into and looted by troublemakers - many of whom were wearing hoods and masks. 500 youths gathered in Peckham High Street, vandalising shops, lighting fires and targeting officers with missiles whilst Clapham also witnessed violence with looters preying on shops and causing widespread disruption. Targetting everywere from fancy dress stores near Clapham stealing masks to conceal their identities before going onto raid Debenhams, Tesco, Curries, Footlocker and in Enfield 40 fire fighters tackled a blaze at the Sony Warehouse. The Smiths track ‘Shoplifters of the world unite and takeover’, which doesn't appear on an original album but can be found on 'The World won't listen' compilation and contains the lyric which pretty much sums up the root cause of all the troubles “I was bored before I even began”...

Violence:

With violence also erupting in other cities, copycat riots taking place in Liverpool, Birmingham and Bristol. From Liverpool were "a number of isolated outbreaks of disorder", including burning cars and criminal damage to West Midlands Police making 100 arrests after rioters rampaged across Birmingham city centre and surrounding areas, were hundreds of youths gathered close to the Bullring, which closed its doors early in anticipation of violence before they went on to set a police station on fire. As Morrisey predicted almost 30 years earlier “Panic on the streets of London, Panic on the street of Birmingham, I wonder to myself, would life ever be sane again?”, taken from the Smiths brilliant 3rd album 'The Queen is Dead', combining with Johnny Marr's floating riffs, the classic 'Panic'...

Something Relaxing...

Something Old...

After spending the last week on holiday in Corfu, were they seem to think that musically all tourists love Lady Gaga and Rihanna *kill....me...now*. So, understandably, in the time I wasn't eating kebabs, smoking, drinking Mythos or cutting through the water like a buttered dolphin I was mostly chilling in the sun with my iPod on shuffle. This was a great opportunity to rediscover forgotten gems, with so many to chose from it made this weeks 'Something Old' tough, but, this song used to be a mild obsession of mine.... 
Jack Allsopp better known as Just Jack is thought of by many as a bit of chavvy dance/pop artist after his massively overplayed single 'Starz in their Eyes' made him a household name in 2007. There is however, a lot more to him than this, from his first album 2002's 'The Outer Marker' which features his debut single 'Snowflakes' through to his last album 2009's 'All Night Cinema' that features the brilliant 'Embers', 'The Day I Died' and 'Doctor Doctor'. However, for me track I have chosen is take from his breakthru album 'Overtones' that contains the fantastic 'Glory Days', 'Talk too much' and the awesome bassline and lyrically genius 'Writer's Block'...

Something New...

The 1st play of Kasabian's brilliant new track 'Days are Forgotten' lost its public virginity following a delivery by Serge and Tom on Zane's Radio1 show last night and its been worth the wait, the band just consistently seem to knock out great tunes. 
The track is the 2nd single taken from the Leicester lads 4th studio album 'Velociraptor' that lands on September 16th; following 'Switchblade Smiles' which was made available for free download on the official website back in June...

Something Borrowed...

As made aware to me by my mate and serial bear music contributor, @N_C_R; this month marks the 10 year anniversary of the release of the Strokes debut album 'Is This It'. In homage to probably the greatest garage rock album in history, that reinvented and spread the genre to the masses a tribute album, 'stroked' has been spawned. You can download all the tracks for free by clicking on the above link. 
To be honest with you most of the album isn't that great but in fairness all the tracks are remakes of the originals and not just covers, with my highlights being New Jersey Psychedelic surf pop Real Estate's version of 'Barely Legal' and Swedish Indie outfit Peter, Bjorn and John's (of 'Young Folks' fame) cover of 'Is this It', enjoy... 

Something Blue...

In tribute to my good mate Sadie, who embarks on her life changing trip tomorrow cycling across Canada in aid of Help for Heroes in memory of her brother Paul (click to sponsor Sade). Also my mate Gaz from work who is currently well under way on the Mongol rally in aid of a local hospice (click to sponsor Gaz); I dedicate this weeks 'Something Blue' to both of these epic adventurers. 
Taken from the soundtrack of the greatest adventure movie ever made "Into the Wild"; Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedor's epic 'Rise', you can do it guys!!! On a related note to read my Pearl jam special click here: a pearl (jam) of wisdom. Anyways, I'm off to embark on my own marathon, all 3 Lord of Rings movies sitting, alas no sponsorship will be available... 

...Something Surreal

Something Old...

In a week filled with such tragedy the world needs a band that will cheer you up. I got my first chance to see them this month whilst they supported the Flaming Lips, Chicago's OK Go are probably best known for their often elaborate and quirky music videos many often forget how much of a brilliant band they actually are! 
Their 2002 debut, self titled album features the brilliant 'C C Cinnamon Lips', 'Don't ask me' and their breakthru single 'Get over it' which was followed by the awesome 2004 2nd album 'Oh No' that features the awesome 'A million ways', 'Do what you want' and the award winning 'Here it goes again' (yes, thats the one with the treadmill video!). My favourite album however has to be their 3rd album 'Of the Blue Colour of the Sky' released last year that includes the genius 'This Too Shall Pass', yet another genius (this time dog orientated) video for the track 'White Knuckles' and the absolutely musically beautiful 'End Love', enjoy...

Something New...

You'll probably know this track from the Kopparberg ad or from the trailer for Skins USA but you might not have heard of the band. Sleigh Bells are Broklyn based noise pop duo, songwriter/guitarist Derek Miller and vocalist Alexis Krauss. After releasing their self titled EP in 2008 they were signed to M.I.A's label before the release of their debut album 'Treats' last year. The album is packed with brilliant tracks 'Tell 'Em', 'Infinity Guitars' and the genius 'Rill Rill' alongside the infamous 'Kids'...

Something Borrowed...

This weeks cover is inspired by the death of a great vocalist. British soul singer Alice Russel (who is still very much alive and touring) provides absolutely stunning vocals on Nostalgia 77's 2007 lo-fi / soul/funk cover of the White Stripes 'Seven Nation Army', turn your bass up LOUD!!!  

Something Blue...

This week has been filled with a huge amount of sad news fitting for Something Blue. With the insane nurse seemingly killing innocent patients at random at a Stockport hospital, the Oslo psycho with his bomb and mass shootings all capped off by the death of a troubled popstar. Amy Winehouse yesterday joined the ranks of Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and the Rolling Stones' Brian Jones in the infamous Club 27, leaving behind her some brilliant music before her untimely end in her Camden home caused by an E OD after a 3 day drug bender with her ex husband Blake Fielder-Civil.
Her eclectic mix of R&B, soul and Jazz powered by her brilliantly powerful voice shot her to fame in 2003 with her, critically acclaimed, Mercury nominated debut album 'Frank' that includes the brilliant 'Stronger than Me'. This was followed by the 2006, multi Grammy award winning 'Back to black', the most in fact of a female solo artist has ever won in a single ceremony, of which included, album of the year, best new artist AND song of the year. With a life troubled by so many drug, alcohol and court related problems its hard to focus on the music, but this is why, in my opinion she should be remembered. For me, as many others it would could be many a track from her brilliant 2nd album produced by the genius that is Mark Ronson such as 'Rehab', 'Back to Black', 'Love is a losing game' or the fitting 'Tears dry on their own'.
However, the track I'm going to choose is chosen, not only because its my favorite song by her but because it always cheers me up and I never seem to tire of it like her other singles such and the massively overplayed Winehouse/Ronson Zutons cover 'Valerie'. Featuring Wu Tangs' Ghostface Killah and the immortal line "I told you that I was trouble" - 'You Know I'm No good'...

...Mercury Rising

Soooooo, in case you missed it the prestigious Mercury Prize nominees were announced today and the list is somewhat eclectic to say the least, even by usual standards:

• Adele -21
• Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi
• Elbow - Build a Rocket Boys!
• Everything Everything - Man Alive
• Ghostpoet - Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam
• Gwilym Simcock - Good Days at Schloss Elmau
• James Blake - James Blake
• Katy B - On a Mission
• King Creosote & Jon Hopkins - Diamond Mine
• Metronomy - The English Riviera
• PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
• Tinie Tempah - Disc-Overy

The obvious front runners to take the title from last year's winners the XX are the hugely  successful UK 'urban' artists Katy B and Tinie Tempah who both had a brilliant year alongside 

Adele with her HUGE voice from her second album '21' that has helped her break the US. 

However, the Mercury's are famously unpredictable and I fancy a few of the dark horses for the £20,000 prize that's announced on September 6th; here is a pick of my top 3:

PJ Harvey: Let England Shake

Never has the same artist won the prize twice but much like the other established artist and serial nominees Elbow who won in 2008 for the brilliant 'Seldom Seen kid'; Polly Jayne, better known as PJ Harvey won the Mercury in 2001 for the genius album that is 'Stories from the city, Stories from the sea' and makes her the insiders tip.
'Let England Shake', is her 8th studio album and although written over a two and half year period wasn't released until February, charting in the UK top 10. The most moving track on the album has to be the title track, inspired by 'The West's asleep', a beautiful poem by Irish Poet Thomas Davis. The singles to be spawned from the album are the hauntingly gorgeous 'The words that Maketh murder' and utterly fantastic 'The Glorius Land', enjoy...

Everything, Everything: Man Alive! 

The Manchester based alt rock quartet Everything, Everything rose to fame as part of the BBC Sound of 2010 and I've loved them ever since I was told to check them out a few months back by a good mate of mine. 
'Man Alive' is their debut album, released in August 2010 to rave reviews from both the Fly, NME and an Ivor Novello nomination for Best Album. The album is definitely my favorite in the list, however, for this fact alone, I doubt it will win. Spawning 5 brilliant singles, 2008's 'Suffragette Suffragette', 2009 'Schoolin' and the latest single 'Final Form'. The musically brilliant 'MY KZ, UR BF' (otherwise known as 'My Keys, Your boyfriend') which was first released in 2009, then rerecorded and re-released this year similarly to my favorite track by them, the lyrically genius 'Photoshop Handsome' turn it up!

Ghostpoet: Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam

Easily this years biggest outsider hes my tip to scoop the price, even if he doesn't you should definately check out him out. English lad, Obara Ejimiwe, better known as Ghostpoet is only a year older than me but has achieved so much already. After releasing his 1st EP 'Sound of strangers; last year his debut album, 'Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam' should win an award for its genius title alone! Hes had a very busy year getting great prize from the likes of the Guardian and playing at the likes of Glastonbury, Sonar and Latitude. Music that reminds of a mix between Maxi Jazz's solo work and a super chilled Roots Manuva, his brilliant debut single 'Cash & Carry Me Home', which has since been remixed and now features Kano, i personally prefer the origional...

Something for Granted...

Something Old...

After a standout set at T in the park last weekend following a cracking Glasto performance earlier this month alt rock legends Jimmy Eat World are in the form of there lives ready for Reading and Leeds later at the end of August.

 

Formed in 93 as a punk band by front man Jim Adkins and his school friends, they released an EP and then their self titled debut in 94, followed by ‘Static Prevails’ in 96 which features there 1^st single ‘Rockstar’.

The crittically acclaimed ‘Clairty’ followed in 99 which features the cult smash ‘Lucky Denver Mint’ and built them a large fanbase before the breakthru 4^th album ‘Bleed American’ in 2001. Bleed American contains many an anthem including the singles ‘Salt, Sweat, Sugar’, ‘Sweetness’, ‘Get it Faster’ and the bands first No.1 hit ‘the Middle’ . In 2004 they followed up with ‘Futures’ that was produced by Pixies and Foo Fighters producer Gill Norton and then the fantatsic ‘Chase the Light’ in 2007 which contains the brilliant ‘Big Casino’, ‘Electable (give it up)’ and ‘Always Be’ and is there highest charting album to date, bringing us full circle to the bands last album ‘Invented’ from 2010.

To choose a track from any of these albums is pretty tough, but I couldn’t ignore mine and the mrs’ favourite sing-a-long in the car tune, taken from ‘Bleed American’, the awesome ‘Authority song’...

*Random fact of the week*

Contrary to popular belief, the acronym ‘JEW’ is not a reference to religious beliefs its based on a revenge drawing by Jim’s brother referencing his weight were he is, in fact eating the earth, bearing the capturing ‘Jimmy Eat World’.

 

Something New...

This year has seen many established bands such as Beastie Boys, Arctic Monkeys and the Strokes release, not classic, but nonetheless great albums. This week saw my favorite band of the modern era release there seventh album ‘If not now, when?’. My love for Incubus is never in any doubt, I pretty much word for word know every lyric, own every album and bootleg, have seen them live numerous time and even have a similar tat to front man Brandon Boyd - to read my bromance with the band you can find it here: are you in(cubus).

 

However, having looked forward to this new album so much, its...well...a MASSIVE disappointment to say the least! I get the band have been changing and evolving their style as they get older and I love the riff driven ‘Crow...’ and experimental ‘Light Grenades’ as much as I love the hard hitting funk metal of ‘Fungus’ and ‘SCIENCE’, the classically chilled ‘Morning view’ and probably my favourite album of all time ‘Make Yourself’.

 

‘If not now,When?’ however...its just REALLY poor, 5 listens in, I’ve tried my best to find any positives in it as I have and always will love the band. Its like someone sucked the passion from them and they went dad rock (obvs not my dad cos he’s cool and listens to blues and soul!). Replacing hard riffs and tight bass lines for some kind of coldplay-esque melodic nothingness and worst of all for me the lyrics seem not only meaningless but also unhumourous on the whole.

The lead single, ‘Adolescents’ which is a throw back to the Morning View era had me so overjoyed for the album and the next single ‘Promises, Promises’ to a lesser extent with its 80’s throwback...but the rest of the album simply merges into pointlessness!  To pick my favourite track from the album is pretty simple, the only tracks that stands out to me with any passion are the melodic 'Company of Wolves' and the upbeat ‘Switchblade’ as it doesnt take itself too seriously, please try to enjoy...

 

Something Borrowed...

 

After that disappointment of the above review; I hope this cover brings a smile to your face, a clever but witty take on Nelly's 'Hot in herre' by Jenny Owen Young's from her 2007 EP which name is inspired by the chorus 'Take off all your clothes EP'... 

 

Something Blue...

Now were over half way in, this year may have produced some cracking albums by established artits as mentioned above (Something New...) but 2011 has also brought with it casualties. New York based electro genius’ LCD Soundsystem have officially played there last beat and announced a split back in April this year.... This will leave a hole in the soul of many a true music fan so in homage a very brief selection of some of there epicly brilliant work from there 3 critically acclaimed albums, much like Faulty Towers and Jeff Buckley they left in there wake nothing but perfection.

 

The multi-intrumental genius that is James Murphy performs live with his band Nancy Wang, Dave Stone, Tyler Pope and Pat Mahoney aswell as occasionally Hot Chip’s Al Doyle. From the very first work back in 2002 ‘Losing my edge’, ‘Give it up’ and ‘Yeah’ theys et the bar high with a blend of effortlessly cool vocals delivered on a on a dirty beat before the release of 2005’s self-titled breakthru album, containing the smash ‘Daft Punk...’.

 

LCD’s second album, the epic ‘Sound of Silver’ was then released in 2007, containing the brilliant singles ‘Someone Great’, ‘Time to get away’, ‘Get Innocuous!’, ‘North American Scum’ and the genius ‘All my friends’, the later being a repetition of the same instrumental lick blended with lyrics about a life without regret, utter brilliance.

 

Their final masterpiece ‘This Is Happening’ came in 2010, with the first single ‘Drunk Girls’ that has awesome co-produced vid by Murphy and the legendry Spike Jonze. The next single was  ‘Pow Pow’ released as hard copy only for record store day, followed by the next single ‘Can Change’. The album also contains, not only my favourite LCD track but possibly my favorite electronic song of all time, up there with New Order's 'Blue Monday', the awesomely epic ‘Dance yourself Clean’. Its so good you even split the song in half, the former being as laid back euphoria and the later being a hard heating electronic anthem *WARNING* the video, filmed in Brighton, may contain Muppets!...

 

 

Something for the Summer...

Something Old...

To kick off some great quality music in the Cheshire area this weekend I’m off to Transmission 001 Live @ Jodrell bank on Saturday. The event is due to be the first live music to be broadcast into space with the awesome OKGO, British Sea Power and a possibly appearance of Brian Cox with d:ream. All this and a headline set by my favourite band still touring the Flaming Lips, bringing with them there fresh blend of melodical, multi-layered sounds with lyrically genius astrological composition. 
Famed for unusual songs and album titles—such as ‘Psychiatric Explorations of the Fetus with Needles’ and ‘Free Radicals (A Hallucination of the Christmas Skeleton Pleading with a Suicide Bomber)’. They are also acclaimed for their elaborate live shows, which is why I cant wait for my annual fix of elaborate costumes, balloons, puppets, video projections, complex lighting, confetti and front man Wayne Coyne's signature man-sized plastic bubble!!!

The 93 hit ‘She Don’t Use Jelly’, taken from the aptly named ‘Transmission from the Satellite Heart’ has to be up there with my favourite tracks ever made and thus perfect as this weeks track.  The band have since maintained critical respect and huge album sales through brilliant albums such as 99's ‘The Soft Bulletin’, 2002’s ‘Yoshimi battles the Pink Robots’, 2006's 'At war with the mystics' and 2009’s ‘Embryonic’

 

Something New...

Having heard the hype surrounded Chester's hardest working band the Suns for what seems like forever I've always busy when they played locally; until a week last Saturday when I got the chance to finally see them live, in a barn just outside Malpas of all places...and I wasn’t disappointed cos they were bleedin’ brilliant. With Jono’s deep croon and maracas over Rutter’s glorious spaghetti western riffs all mixed in with an rock solid drum, bass and rhythm section from Dave, Joe and Liam. They are a brilliant bunch of lads who are proud of were they’re from and will never forget their roots and good on ‘em!

The 5 piece 20 something lads bring 60’s inspired Garage Rock n Roll with style. They are brilliantly descried by the top local club as “...a little bit of Jagger swagger (not in the sh*t rat faced Cher Lloyd way) a hint of Hendrix and a double dose of Morrison’s madness”. For me though there sound is best summed up to put party back into garage rock making real music with a contemporary feel that harks back to early Coral but well...with more passion.

After playing live together for many years all over the North West they have perfected their unique sound with songs inspired by the humble and mighty Chester City. Having supporting the likes of Embrace’s Danny McNamara and Mr. Nice himself, Howard Marks on their UK tours they have won many a fan, including that of heroes Inspiral Carpets. 

You can catch the lads who are playing Sunday of Chester Rocks (which hopefully I'm gonna blag tickets for) on the same bill as the legendry Iggy Pop, the truly brilliant Australian Pink Floyd and another great local band Shy and the Fight.Taken from there debut album ‘Big Trouble in Little Deva’ (which is out now and available on worldwide release through iTunes, Amazon and Spotify) the brilliant 'Once upon a time in Chester'...

Something Borrowed...

I realize I’ve rambled on a fair bit this week so just a quick cover for you, taken from Nirvana’s ‘Live in New York’ album, one of the greatest live covers ever captured, their version of the Meat Puppet’s ‘Lake of Fire’. The original being a 1983 release from the album ‘Too high to die’, oh the irony...

Something Blue...

You can’t get far this week without hearing about Beyonce’s stand out headline set at Glastonbury on Sunday night, which fair do’s, may not be my bag but she definitely pulled something out of hers and did the mantle of ‘only female to headline the Pyramid stage’ justice. Keeping on the same theme, this week’s ‘Something Blue’ is in homage to one of my all time heroes who I had the honour of seeing perform that same closing of Glastonbury set at the same time last year.

Master pianist and multi-instrumentalist Stevie Wonder has been blind since shortly after birth, Wonder signed with Tamla Motown at the age of 11, a very brief discography is necessary to illustrate his true genius.

At the age of 12 he first album that features a young Marvin Gaye on drums, by the mid 60’s he had already created his first truly classic song in the form of ‘Uptight (Everything’s Alright)’ and his own ingenious interpretation of Bob Dylan’s ‘Blowing in the Wind’ which is one of the first songs to reflect Wonder's social consciousness.

By the late 60’s he turned his hand to writing, penning ‘Tears of a Clown’ which was a Number 1 for Smokey Robinson. The 70’s though are undoubtedly Wonder’s decade starting with the tracks ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’ and ‘We Can work it out’ then 72’s classic album like ‘Talking Book’ that includes the fantastic ‘You are the sunshine of my life’, ‘Big Brother’ and probably the greatest song of all time ‘Superstition’.

The following year came the epic album ‘Innvervisions’ that includes the genius tracks ‘Higher Ground’ and ‘Living for the City’ before Wonder was involved in a serious car crash that left him a coma for four days. Wonder then released the double album ‘Songs in the key of Life’ in 76 which includes the utterly brilliant ‘I Wish’, ‘Sir Duke’, ‘As’ and ‘Master Blaster (Jammin’)’ many associate this album as the end of his Classic era.

During the 80’s he strived to make a more commercial sound. Not really to my taste he worked on some high profile collaborations with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson; his saving grace being the track ‘Part time Lover’ and his collaboration with Chaka Khan on Prince’s ‘I Feel for you’ as well as harmonica on the Eurythmics’ ‘Their must be an angel’ and Elton John’s ‘I guess that why they call it the blues’. The 90’s saw him focus on making political statements for equal rights, peace and anti-violence, musical highlights including harmonica on Sting’s ‘Brand new day’ and the 2000’s saw him work alongside many other artists including a great collaboration with Aretha Franklin of ‘Star Spangled Banner’ and the brilliant track ‘So What the Fuss’ with Q-Tip in 2005.

*Random Fact of the Week*

Coolio’s ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ is an interpolation of Wonder’s ‘Past time Paradise’.

.