...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’.

.

...Staircase from the basement

Radiohead have today randomly and somewhat unexpectedly released a new track onto Youtube from the fantastic basement sessions which has in the past featured the White Stripes, Queens of the Stone Age, Beck and Eels, amongst many others. 


The track 'Staircase' wasn't included on there last; dare I say, perfect, 8 track album 'King of Limbs' that came out in May but is still beautiful and moving as ever and is in keeping with the 2011 Radiohead chilled vibe. Taken from their upcoming 'From The Basement session', that has been produced by Nigel Godrich and will be broadcast internationally on July 1 via BBC Worldwide, so take it easy and "let it take control"...

Something Ventured...

Something Old...

Fresh from their first live performance in Europe since the 2006 hiatus System of a Down headlined last Saturday night at Download and are officially back! The legendary Armenian/American band fronted by Serj Tankien alongside Daron Malakian on lead, Shavo on bass and John Dolmayan on drums have always been up there amongst my favourite bands of all time with their unique sound.

Formed in 94 from the dust of their first group Soil after various demo EPs it wasnt until 98 when they released their first masterpiece in the form of their self titled début studio album. The album, which has possibly the 3 greatest opening tracks in the history of metal in the form of 'Suite-Pee', 'Know' and the awesome 'Sugar' alongside the genius 'Spiders' and 'War?' making it one of the greatest début metals in history.

Almost a decade ago in the week prior to the September 11th attacks System really hit the big time break through with there 2nd album 'Toxicity'. It's easy to see why it did well, at such a heavily political time the album sat at number in the US for a fortnight with tracks like the brilliant 'Chop Suey!', 'Aerials', 'Prison Song', 'ATWA', 'Psycho' and of course the title track itself. 

Later that year 'Steal this Album!' was leaked onto the net and thus upon its release took the name from Abbie Hoffman's counter culture book 'Steal this Book' upon its full release in 2002. Billed as a 'b-sides' album, its far from it and includes the genius 'Chic n Stu', 'Mr.Jack', 'F*ck the system' and the emotionally charged 'Roulette'.

In 2005 the band released a fantastic double album, released 6 months apart and put SOAD up there with the likes of the Beatles and Guns n Roses to have two No.1 albums in the same year. The albums saw a slight change in the System sound with Daron taking up the frontman role and Serj happy to provide keys and BVs. The first album 'Mezmorize', released in May includes the absolutely fantastic 'B.Y.O.B', 'Radio/Video' and the absolutely genius 'Violent Pornography'; whilst the later, 'Hypnotize' released in November includes the brilliant 'Lonely day', 'Attack' and my personal favourite System track 'Vicinity of Obscenity', enjoy...

Since the release of the double album Daron took his new found front man confidence to new heights with his band Scars on Broadway whilst Serj pursued his solo career, the highlight of which being his début album, 2007's 'Elect the Dead', most definitely worth a purchase for any fan.

Something New...

I was planning on keeping with the metal theme this week in the wake of download but after hearing Ben Howard on t'radio and I was blown away. I don't know much about him other than he's a surfer from Devon and his début album should be finished by the end of the year, his music speaks for itself really. 

Being a surfer come singer/songwriter I was a little dubious he was going to be another Jack Johnson, however I can confirm he's not a c*nt with the personality of a cardboard box and he seems like a pretty normal bloke...oh and this track 'the Wolves' is not only absolutely beautiful musically the vid is part of the 'Save our Oceans' campaign to try and combat pollution at sea...

Something Borrowed...

As it was Parklife last weekend and Sonar is going down at the mo over in Espania I thought I would finally bite the bullet and include some dubstep in my blog to stay down with the kids and that. Optic of dubstep duo Quantum and Optic has, to be fair pulled off the impossible, a dubstep cover that I don’t hate! Of course, it kinda helps when I already love the origional band, album and track as well as being kinda obsessed with their cool as lead singer, but well done anyway. 

With a remix of Karen O and Nick Zinner's Yeah Yeah Yeah’s track ‘Heads will Roll’ taken from the awesome 2009 album ‘It’s Blitz!’. If you like this kind of thing (I’d say just go listen to the original instead, but...) check out a dubstep remix website Remix.vg were you can browse thousands of mash ups + ‘dubstep covers’ and even have a go yourself and upload your submission. Anyway, I need to wash my ears out with bleach now kids, I hope it was worth it....

Something Blue....

The mega talented, multi-instrumentalist with the voice of an angel, Natasha Kahn who is better known as Bat for Lashes has been shoe horned into this weeks 'something blue...'. The track I have chosen maybe written about the lad off of the Karate Kid but there is a darker story to the true origins of the song.

Pakistani born Kahn was bullied as a teenager and developed an imaginary boyfriend as a coping mechanism. Clearly not letting early problems effect her stage presence or song writing she went from strength to strength winning the alternative award at the Ivor Novello's last year and was also nominated for the Mercury Prize in 07 and 09. So, without further a do, taken from her second album 'Two Suns', with a distinct Stevie Nicks vibe, the brilliantly haunting 'Daniel'...

Something for everyone...

Something Old...

Norman Cook aka Mr. Zoe Ball, formally of the Housemartins, Beats International and Freak Power but better known as the legendary, superstar, Brighton based big beat dance DJ and producer Fatboy Slim. The afformentioned groups being responsible for 1986's crimbo No.1 with a cover of  'Caravan of Love', the awesome Number 1 smash 'Dub be good to me' and 'Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out' showing his 1st signs for being the worlds greatest samplist. 


His best work in my opinion all began with 98's 'The Rockafeller Skank' and 'Praise You' from the album 'You've come a long way, Baby' and other massive choons 'Right Here, Right Now', 'Push the tempo', 'Star 69' and 'Sunset (Bird of Prey)'. As well as producing Blur's 'Crazy Beat' from 'Think Tank' he remixed the better known for Cornershop's 'A Brimful of Asha', the Beastie Boys' 'Body Movin' and Groove Armada's 'I See You Baby'. My personal favourite track of his has got to be 'Weapon of Choice' taken from 2000's 'Halfway between the gutter and the Stars'; the video to which, starring Christopher Walken is possibly the best ever made! 
My choice for this weeks track of choice is not only my favourite Fatboy track but one of my favourite songs EVER! 'Don't Let The Man Get You Down', sampling Canadian's the Five man Electrical band's smash hit 'Signs', which in itself is a masterpeice. Turn it up, tune out and relax...

Something New...

Last Monday the Arctic Monkeys, who need no introduction (read my thoughts on their work here), released there 4th studio album. 'Suck it and See' maybe a really crap name for an album in my opinion but it may surprise you, more vintage than the previous album it  has some brilliant work on. 


The lyrics deal with much darker issues but are hidden amongst chirpier, pop melodies that make them instantly likeable aswell as not being so overproduced as previous work. Alongside the singles 'Brick by brick' and 'Don't Sit Down 'cos I've moved Your Chair' and another track that leaps out at you from the album 'All my own stunts' which Josh Homme provides BVs on, always a sure fire way to become cool again. My favourite tracks have to the brilliant 'Hellcat Spangled Shalalalala', 'Black Treacle' and the utterly genius  'Reckless Serenade', as performed on Later with Jools Holland enjoy...

Something Borrowed...

Call me a musical purist snob if you like, but when it comes to Nirvana I always said "don’t bother, you will never pull it off so just forget it", however it would seem I was wrong and I should "never say never"...


The curve ball has been thrown when I heard the awesome Little Roy's version of Nirvana's 'Sliver'. Easily my favourite Nivana track, taken from one of my favourite albums of all time 'In Utero'; Jamaican born reggae legend Roy's unusual vocals lend themselves perfectly and he pulls off the version impeccably, Ride that Riddum...

Something Blue...

The legendry gospel, R&B and motown soul superstar Sam Cooke is not only considered one of the pioneers of soul music but he is commonly known as the king of Soul for his unmatched vocal abilities and his influence on modern music. His contribution in pioneering soul music led to popularizing Otis Redding and James Brown aswell as the rise of Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye and the genius that is Stevie Wonder.


Cooke's tragically short career spanned only 7 years (1957-64) but includes 29 top 40 hits including the fantastic 'Wonderful World', 'Bring it on Home to Me' and 'Chain Gang'. The perfect choice for this weeks 'Something Blue...', is probably Cooke's best known song 'A change is gonna come' which was released shortly after his death in 1964. Aged only 33 he was fatally shot by the manager of the Hacienda Motel in LA but this track later became the track that would exemplifiy the 60's civil rights movement and will forever be imortalised in history...