Something for New Year...

#bearmusic albums of 2011

Happy New Year everyone, 2011 was a brilliant first year for my blog highlights of which include seeing the Flaming Lips and OKGO play next to giant telescope, feedback on my blog from my two favorite DJs Zane Lowe and Lauren Laverne, Jape's Richie Egan and also mercury prize nominees, the brilliant Everything Everything and the genius ghostpoet; the later three all now follow me on twitter. So with the coming of a new year gives me an opportunity that comes but once a year for me to run through my top 10 best albums of 2011.

The year was brimming with new alt music; much of it of it from new artists but the majority from already established ones. Some good as you will see fill up my top 10 rundown but much of it was drab, predictable and damn right terrible from the likes of Elbow, the Oasis brothers much anticipated dull solo offerings and Coldplay, who never fail to disappoint. Others took me by surprise and offerings from a couple of my favourite bands from Incubus' 7th album, ironically titled 'If not now, When?' and the Arctic Monkeys' dismal 4th album 'Suck it and See' both massively failed to impress me...

Anyway on wards and upwards, heres the good sh*t...

10. The Naked And Famous - 'Passive Me, Aggressive You'

Not necessarily a band name you would want your kids googling, having outgrown New Zealand, TMAF and their debut album were my personal and also the BBC's recomendation as ones to watch for 2011. Making the final cut in fellow Kiwi Zane Lowe's In New Music We Trust and having received critical acclaim by the 'alternative' British press such as NME my opinion was in good company. 

Having toured the UK and Europe this year, I missed the boat but will be certain to catch them this summer during the festival season. The album itself is utterly stunning, a classic case of ugly and beautiful, passive melodicism and aggressive innovation clash in a dazzling blaze of psych/sonic fireworks. Stand out tracks include 'Punching in a dream', 'All of This' and the beautiful 'Young Blood'...

9. Foo Fighters - 'Wasting Light'

7 is often a lucky number but in this case it is definitely true, the bands 7th album is a definite return to form from Grohl, Hawkins, Shiflet, Mendel and the returning Pat Smear. The 

Foo Fighters’ seven-year itch ended up lasting the full seven years. It followed that the make-up sex was always going to be phenomenal, not strictly 100% true as the first 3 albums being fantastic but since the master piece that is 'Colour and Shape' I've hated everything they have done and been left with a feeling of "not being able to look at them during". 
Grohl has made up with the spirit of Nirvana by getting Butch to produce and having Krist pop over too, but he also made peace with the white-hot, throbbing testoste-rock that had marked him out ever since his early days as Nirvana’s engine room. Recorded in Grohl’s garage it was back to basics for the lads, or more aptly middle aged men. Stand out tracks include the lead single 'Rope', 'Walk', 'Bridge Burning' and the hard hitting 'White Limo', the video for which features the legendary Lemmy in the driving seat...

8. Lykke Li - 'Wounded Ryhmes'

The first female entry in the rundown, Lykke is a godess in my eyes, a smoulder that could warm any mans heart. Her explosion of confidence and fearless experimentation form a mixing pot that is both sensual and substantially immense. Moving firmly away from her happier debut pop album this album is rich and comeplling, which bring dark and complex contradictions, but she is, thank god, still rough around the edges. The album serves as a romantic outlook past the age were such a thing is realistic, none more so than two tracks from t'other end of the spectrum on the album, the sexual  'Get Some' and the beautiful 'I Follow Rivers'...

7. Beastie Boys - 'Hot Sauce Committee Part II'

Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock may have been slogging as the kings of white boy hip hop since 1979 but they NEVER fail to impress me! This result of such an experienced career is probably the guys best album since 'Hello Nasty', it does everything you would hope it too. Something inside you overwhelms you to rekindle their epic back catalogue that is stacked with anthems from 'Fight for your right', 'Intergalactic' through to 'Sabotage'. From the latest 16 tracks its impossible so I will choose the first, lead single, and possible the music video of the year 'Make Some Noise'...

6. TV on the Radio - 'Nine Types of Light'

This album is truly an extraordinary work of art as the record and it propelled Dave Sitek’s mob one of the best bands in 
the world, rather than simply one of the most revered by people in the alt community. Slingshotting straight into it after his funk solo project the sense of Sitek actually having a laugh making music – rarely present in the previous 4 albums. 

For me, TVOTR have always been brilliant since I first clapped ears on them; from the debut offerings of 'Satellite' and 'Starring at the Sun' to the previous album, commercial breakthru 'Dear Science' - 'Dancing Choose', 'Golden Age' and 'Crying'.

The core of the band has been vocalist Tunde, guitarist Dave, bassist Kyp, drummer Jaleel and keyboardist Gerard Smith who sadly lost his fight with lung cancer in April last year. Stand out tracks on 9 types are pretty tough as it just works as a journey through music, each track having its own video, lead single 'Will Do' and the utterly genius 'Repetition' are two that jump out on first listen....

5. The Strokes - 'Angles'

The New Yorkers’ Casablancas, Hammond Jnr, Morreti and Valensi returned this year with their 4th album, not quite the masterpiece some had hoped for, but wait, it’s still one damn fine album!
Yes, it may not redefine a genre of generation like there debut 'Is this it?' a decade ago but some of the insanely innovative tight riffs were most definitely worth the 5 year wait since 'First impressions...'. Need I say more? Go buy it...stand out tracks include the brilliant lead singles 'Under Cover of Darkness' and 'Taken for a Fool', but for me it has to be the utterly refined, floating riffage of 'Machu Picchu'...

4. Radiohead - 'King of Limbs'

One the greatest bands in history have done it again, maybe I'm biased because Yorke is one of my all time heroes for me the album always sounds great whatever the mood.  A subtle, multi-layered affair that is suprisingly low key in places, the album is essentially a 37 minute jam, carved out by artists at the top of their trade. Stand out tracks include 'Bloom', 'Mr Magpie', 'Codex' and the truely awesome 'Lotus Flower', shake your limbs like Thom...

3. Ben Howard - 'Every Kingdom'

Ben Howard is the first male solo on my list and the reason why he makes it too third in my chart is because his album is truely one epic, beautiful, inspiring piece of music in a category filled with so much rubbish. Alongside fellow singer songwriter James Vincent McMorrow (who charted for the first time this wkend) a day doesnt go by when I don't sit back and relax to their soulful vocals. The debut album from the Devon born lad features 'Old Pine' as its debut single, followed by the wonderful 'Keep Your Head Up' and the truly beautiful 'Wolves', let it take you to another world...

2. Bell X1 - Bloodless Coup

Very narrowly pipped to the top spot by an honorable late flurrish from the kings of modern blues but Bell X1 were all set to be my chart pinnacle and have featured heavily in #bearmusic this year. The soundtrack to my summer by a four minute mile, I have my gorgeous other half @I_Blame_Kate for introducing me to Paul Noonan and Dave Geraghty 4 years ago. One of the highlights of my year was when she took me to see them for my first time in November and they do not disappoint, dare I say it even better live than on record! This albums has it all from the soft ballads of 'Anna Lena' and 'Nightwatchmen' through to the addition of 'Velcro' to add to their ever growing list of anthems that include 'Tongue', 'Alphabet Soup' and 'the Great Defector' amongst others. The stand out track on the album for though has to be the genius lyrics of 'Four minute Mile', which can be summed up as an modern fable for the uninspired and unambitious much like myself...   

1. The Black Keys - 'El Camino'

Words cannot describe how brilliant this album is, so good I wrote a special in its on honor the week it was released (which you can read here). I really don't need to say any more, Dan Auerbach and Pat Carney, praise be to the father of blues for your existence, every track is pure gold, another masterpiece, a more than worthy Number 1, see you in February lads...

Something for Christmas...

Merry Christmas from me @B3ARSK1LL and all the #bearmusic collaborators throughout the year, with special thanks going out to @I_Blame_Kate, @N_C_R, @YourLastRolo, @LewisKelly and @Ambershade for all our feedback and suggestions over the blogs first year. 
Here is a little festive treat in honor of you, a 5 day advent countdown featuring the coolest Christmas songs to listen to this holiday season!

The Kills' otherwise known as Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince performed this beautiful rendition of the classic Christmas carol, telling the tale of the pivotal part from the nativity. This track was recorded especially for the Queen of Indie Radio DJ, Miss Lauren Laverne and her BBC Radio 6 Music Show and it is available as a free download here, relax and enjoy....

The genius front man of the Super Furry Animals, Gruff Rhys has released a special 12 track EP for Christmas cunningly entitled 'the Aetheist Xmas'. Featuring a song about Christmas suicide its a parallel universe to the rest of the overly happy tripe out there, truly brilliant stuff.
The stand out track for me however is the first track, and slightly more upbeat than the aforementioned, 'Post Apocolypse Christmas' - need i say more? Wrap your ears around this....

OK, I admit it, I am one of the many that say and have said on this very blog "never touch the Smith's" but on the grounds I'm in a festive mood, I will grant this the same exception I granted Mark Ronson for his efforts. Both my idols Morrisey and Johnny Marr have publicly said they love it, so if its ok by them, its ok by me. The track features on the John Lewis Christmas advert and subsequent compilation album (can you hear the *KERCHING!*?) and to be honest any excuse to shoehorn in the Smiths into my blog its fine by me. 
This is the gorgeous, 29 year old, Liverpool born singer/songwriter Amelia Warner's, better known as Slow Moving Millie's beautifully haunting cover of 'Please, Please, Please Let me get what I want', which lets be honest is way better than Muse's attempt a decade ago in 2001...

The Black Keys are in my opinion the greatest band around of the moment; to read more of my love for them click here. Even better live than on record I get a chance to see them again in early  February and I literally cannot wait! I hope for your sake if you don't already own their latest masterpiece, the bands 7th album 'El Camino' released at the start of December, its either top of your Christmas list or your spending your vouchers on it come Boxing Day.
Taken from this, 'Hell of Season' is one of the stand out tracks and also very apt for the holiday season, because "in this hell of a season, gives me more of a reason to be with you..."

No alternative Christmas chart rundown would be complete without the ultimate Christmas duet. When king of cool, the musical demi-god that is David Bowie collaborated with possibly the greatest crooner of all time Bing Crosby an all time classic was born, you all know it, you all love it, "Little Drummer Boy/ Peace on Earth"...Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Something to Blur the lines...

#bearmusic Christmas Special, Same format; an old song that's back in the charts, an old song that'll be new to most of you, a brand spanking new cover of an old song and a truly blue track that always brings a smile to my face...


Something Old...

Not really much needs to be said about this track as it is not only my opinion but the opinion of many including those that make frequently make it feature in Channel 4, VH1 and BBC Radio poll’s for not only top 10 Christmas tracks but also the top 10 tracks of all time. Since its original release, it has been covered by numerous artists from Sinead O’Connor, Dropkick Murphys and more recently Florence Welsh and Billy Bragg.

Never actually being Christmas number 1 in the UK (it was however in Ireland) and as will undoubtedly happen again tomorrow when the official UK Christmas number 1 is revealed, the track will almost certainly re-chart thanks to downloads. In 2009, a group was set up with the express intention of getting the single to Christmas number one. This was in response to a growing trend of X Factor finalists dominating the Christmas singles market, a parallel campaign to get RATM’s ‘Killing in the Name’ succeeded in reaching #1.
‘Fairytale of New York’, for those who havn’t already guessed is song from 1987 by the Irish group the Pogues and British singer Kirsty MacColl, who sadly passed away a few years ago in a horrible water-ski accident whilst rescuing her child. The song itself takes the form of a drunken Irish immigrant man's Christmas Eve reverie about holidays past while sleeping off a binge in New York City. After an inebriated old man also incarcerated in the jail cell sings a passage from an Irish drinking ballad. MacColl's melodious singing contrasts with the harshness of MacGowan's voice, and the lyrics are sometimes bittersweet—sometimes purely bitter: "Happy Christmas your arse / I pray God it's our last"...

Something New...

Jape are not new to everyone but they are to me and I guess the vast majority of the UK. Irish electro rock band from Dublin that were formed as a side project by Richie Egan whilst part of Redneck Manifesto. They have released four albums to date from ‘Cosmophere’ in 2003 through to ‘Ocean of Frequency’ earlier this year.

Contrary to what the band’s name suggests Jape is in fact a solo project by singer songwriter Egan but he didn’t want wish to be considered as such in the over saturated market. I got my first chance to see him last week in Manchester whilst he supported the better half of Damien Rice’s Juniper and coincidently my favorite Irish band Bell X1. Guitarist Dave Flaherty and the lyrical genius that is Paul Noonan have a habit of selecting brilliant support acts and Jape can now add Bell X1 to a list that includes the Flaming Lips, CSS, Friendly Fires and MGMT. Jape has also taken to stage at many big European festivals including Electric Picnic, Lovebox and Glastonbury and also had an attempt foiled to get his track ‘Phil Lynnot’, dedicated to the demi-god that was Thin Lizzy’s front man to Ireland's Christmas No.1 back in 2008.

Jape's second album ‘The Monkeys in Zoo have more fun than me’ gave Egan his biggest success and contains the well-known single ‘Floating’, which enjoyed much play on late night alternative radio, and famously attracted the attention of the legendry Brendon Benson during a visit to Dublin. Benson now covers the track whilst performing live with his band the Raconteurs, as do Belgium’s finest 2manyDJs. The video for track was also nominated for Best Budget Video at the UK Music Video Awards in 08, relax and enjoy....

Something Borrowed...

The final week of 2011 will see possibly the best movie of the year released. Boxing day brings us a late present in the form of Steig Larson’s book ‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’ making its high profile big budget, Hollywood movie release in UK cinemas. The movie itself is the second film based on the Swedish novel of the same name (Originally "Män som hatar kvinnor", for my scandanavian readers, meaning "Men who hate women", for those who aren’t). In essence, the film follows a man's quest to find a girl who has been missing for 40 years and may have been murdered; starring James Bond himself, Chester’s finest Daniel Craig and soon to be a huge star, NYC’s Rooney Mara in the lead roles.
With a movie of such epicness the soundtrack was always going to be something special and has produced one of, if not the greatest cover of the year. Normally I would say (and hav said so many a time) to NEVER touch a Led Zep track but this pair are most definitely on the exceptions list. The amazing, coolest women in music, better known as the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Karen O has collaborated with the genius that is Nine Inch Nails’ himself Trent Reznor to produce a master cover of ‘the Immigrant Song’...

Something Blue...

Scotland’s finest Malcolm Middleton, best known for his work with post-folk indie band Arab Strap as well as his solo career writing and producing. To date, Middleton has released five solo studio albums, with his most recent ‘Waxing Gibbous’ in 2009. His solo work was initially a side project, releasing a hand full of solo album until Arab Strap split in 2006, the album ‘A Brighter Beat’ was released the following year.
The first song on the album ‘We're All Going To Die’ reiterates exactly why I include the Something Blue... feature in my blog each week. Released as a single on 17 December it started off with odds of 1000-1 against becoming the Christmas number one - reportedly the highest odds ever quoted. But after support from social networking websites and from my teenage hero BBC Radio 1 DJ (now turned face of MOTD2) Colin Murray; the odds dropped to 9-1. Middleton was 4th favorite for Christmas number one behind Katie Melua with Eva Cassidy, Leona Lewis off of the X Factor and some other terrible X Factor winner from that year that don’t care to remember. The publicity around the single gave Middleton significant mainstream exposure for the first time in his career.


Murray started supporting the song as a response to repeated Christmas chart domination by manufactured pop acts churned out by the likes of the above. The song was, unfortunately, beaten to the top spot and only reached number 31 in the UK singles chart, with the UK Christmas number one being a cover of some tripe that was originally by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Middleton has said that, despite the song's negative-sounding title, he feels the song perfectly sums up the spirit of Christmas - the need to make the most of life while we have it...

(The Black) Keys to my Heart...

The Black Keys are otherwise known as US blues rock duo vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Pat Carney. The band formed in Ohio in 2001 and as of 2011 have sold over 3 million albums. The latest album ‘El Camino’ dropped this Monday so this week’s blog is in honour of the pair...

Big Come Up/ Thickfreakness:

The band released their debut album ‘The Big Come Up’ in early 2002. The album was very successful for a new independent rock band and along with their second album, it was recorded entirely in Pat's basement on an 8-track tape recorder from the early 1980s. The band went on to release their debut album ‘Thickfreakness’ in 2003, again recorded in Carney's basement in 14 hours. The album was favoured by critics and spawning some classics including ‘Midnight in her eyes’, ‘Set You Free’, ‘Hurt Like Mine’ and an absolutely brilliant cover of Richard Berry’s ‘Have Love, Will Travel’, all of which have featured in TV series and movies from I Love you Man to School of Rock.

Rubber Factory:

The band's third album, released in 2004, by now the band gained recognition and popularity, boosting their career. Rubber Factory was recorded in abandoned factory and keep that raw blues sound. The album features singles ‘10AM Automatic’, ‘Til I Get My Way’ and the brilliant ‘Girl is on my mind’...

Magic Potion:

In 2006 their fourth album dropped; the bands first album recorded in a real studio but still keeps that familiar raw energy that won them so much plaudits. Featuring the singles ‘Strange Desire’, ‘Just got to be’ and the truly awesome riffage of ‘Your Touch’ which later featured on to the zom/com classic Zombieland

Attack & Release:

The bands fifth album, produced by the legendry Danger Mouse it was leaked onto the net prior to release but still charted in top 10 upon its 2008 release. The album is still very blues but begins to make the bridge into a more commercial sound and thus a wider audience, but yet still remaining truly brilliant. Stand out tracks from the album ‘Strange Times’, ‘Lies’ and possibly the best song of that year ‘I Got Mine’...

Brothers:

Released in 2010, featured15 track listing was a further push to a wider audience the album got the band nominated for 5 Grammys, including Best Rock Song and Best Alternative Album, winning 2. Featuring the amazing ‘Next Girl’ and ‘Howlin' for You’ which an cool as chuff Rodrigues/ Desperado inspired vid. The track I'm gonna pick though is the truly blissful ‘Tighten Up’ which yet another brilliant video...

El Camino:

The Black Keys began recording for their seventh studio album in March this year, reportedly recorded in Dan's new studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Stand out tracks from the album have got to be the lead single ‘Lonely Boy’ alongside, ‘Little Black Submarines’, 'Run Right Back' and the fantastic ‘Dead and Gone', bringing us full circle. Roll on February next year when me and the mrs get to see them live again and taste that sweet sweet live blues in our ears...

*RANDOM FACT ALERT*

The bands name comes from a schizophrenic artist Alfred McMoore that the pair knew; he would leave incoherent messages on their answering machines referring to their fathers as "black keys" such as "D flat" when he was upset with them. 

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 5^th, 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... 

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..

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 Rex, David 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...