Hollywood Rock

Hello all on this Sunday evening, today is an Irish band that I absolutely love listening too, LA Rocca. It is piano rock gone epic, I know piano rock tries to be epic but very few achive the dizzying heights of epicness (is that even a word?) but this band does. It is mainly due to the booming voice of the lead singer and how it fits so perfectly with the twinkling piano and the bass ramblings. Drawing comparisons from bands such as ELO, Bob Dylan (not a band, I know!) and U2. This arena-sized music makes me and possibly you wonder why isn't this band mahussive (massive in English terms) and actually selling out these arenas as well as the numerous number 1's they should be having. But as we all know the charts are the biggest load of bollocks ever, when hip-hop, rap and manufactured pop are so evident in this shambolic system. The charts are run by 13-17 year old chavettes and chavs and they choose who is number one, so its a shame that good bands like LA Rocca aren't present in this depressing system, probably why they live in Hollywood, at least some Americans have some taste in music.

Right here are LA Rocca with, Sketches (20 Something Life)

Soft Spot For This Band

Ahoy readers, I have to apologise about the infrequent posts lately, my Internet has been playing up something rotten and I have had the manflu again. I have also been disappointed with the lack of new music lately, but this band Soft have changed all that. Hailing from New York, this band have very ambitious music. Taking a lot from the 80's and early 90's UK indie scene, with their Stone Roses sounding riffs and My Bloody Valentine style vocals as well as some Verve thrown in for some good effect, this is a band that should be huge and possibly selling out stadiums, but aren't just yet. However they have supported many reasonably big bands, even though they don't sound anything like them, Kiss, Hot Chip and Maroon 5 are the eclectic bunch which have been supported by Soft. Right I am going to post a few songs by them to convert all you non-soft (yet) fans.

Droppin'


Higher


Dumb Blood

Dirty In Sin City

Today's new music comes courtesy of Dirty Vegas frontman Steve Smith. Now as some of you may know, Dirty Vegas are a successful house band from London. What I can say is that solo Steve Smith sounds nothing like Dirty Vegas, he has gritty vocals reminiscent of Kelly Jones (lead singer of Stereophonics), the songs have a rocky edge to them and since i'm not a fan of house music it is rejuvenating to know that musicians can jump genres and in my opinion Steve Smith has got better as a result of this. He also has the singer of one of the best American indie bands around (The Magnetic Fields) guesting on his album called This Town, which is out on Tuesday (19th) in America but I don't know the UK release date yet, so you're stuck with his lead single. Enjoy!

Hit Me Up

The Song Remains The Same

Hello, sorry about the lengthy absence (3 days) its been a very busy couple of days. This is a Danish band called Kashmir (note the Led Zep reference in the title), which they are named after. This band has many influences from the early days, Red Hot Chili Peppers to the modern day, Radiohead. They are so good, Lou Reed and David Bowie (my idols!) are fans and have done duets with them. I only have one album by them it is their most recent called No Balance Please with the latter artists both appearing on the album, with Lou Reed doing a spoken word song (reciting a poem by the lead singer) which is reminiscent of an instrumental Pink Floyd song, Bowie sings a duet called The Cynic. You guys should check them out, early albums if you're into Rage Against The Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers, later albums if you're into Radiohead, Jeff Buckley and Coldplay.

Kalifornia



P.S. Sorry I couldn't find the individual tracks so its a Youtube jobby.

Hitting My Head Against A Wall

Chris Walla is the name of today's new artist, he is guitarist from one of my favourite modern bands, Death Cab For Cutie. He released his first solo album, Field Manual last month and it is very good. Those of you who have heard of Death Cab will notice that their songs tend to be slow-motion emotion-filled ballads, after years out of the spotlight, Chris Walla has made an album full of mid-tempo indie goodness, which put a smile on my face, since i'm still waiting for new Death Cab material (May Woo!). There is some hidden meaning to my title, I am Valentineless tomorrow and the frustrating thing is I really like this girl but I am getting nothing in return. Hmm, sorry about the personal rant, but it really is the most depressing, over-marketed day of the year and is just there purely to rub single people's faces that we are all lonely. Why isn't there a single's day? I propose we should have a single's day every year on the 13th of February. Right back to Chris Walla, here is my favourite song off his album, The Score.

Really Excellent Matter

Ok, I am aware that I already have wrote a post on R.E.M. but they have just announced a show at the Royal Albert Hall on the March 24th and I will be buying my tickets on Friday at 9 woo! They also have an album out on March 31st, which I will definitely be getting its called Accelerate. I've had such a shit day and it is good to hear some good new music, as let's be honest 2008 has sucked so far in terms of albums, only a handful released so far have been good and it is only a handful 2 or 3 possibly. Right time for a treat, R.E.M's new single,

Supernatural Superserious

Moby Dick

Good Sunday morning to you all, so I listened to the new Moby song (Alice) yesterday and whilst listening I was thinking 'what the f***'. I am a big fan of Moby's music but this was not good in the slightest, it does have the same vibe as a normal Moby song but vocals come from intolerable rappers, that isn't me being a music snob, but it doesn't fit a song by Moby. I know he tries and experiments with different music genres but rap really isn't his forte, I was looking forward to the new album (Last Night) out in April but now I probably won't end up buying/downloading it unless I hear something I like. I think I will be going to be turning to Daft Punk for the void Moby's new songs have taken away. Here judge them for yourselves,

Alice



Disco Lies

Marvling After New Talent

Today we have a young 18 year old (2 days older then me) called Laura Marling, she has intergrated folk with indie. Much like Regina Spektor and Joni Mitchell before her, her lyrics flow like poems and she sings about many typical topics; love, romance and self-loathing. Sublime songwomanship has made her popular among other musicians, such as, Jamie T, who invited her on tour with him. She has also been 'bigged' up by the music press machine and is being tipped for great things in the future. So now i'm going to stop rambling and let you listen to her.

New Romantic

One Two Three Four

Yes that really is the extent of my counting ability. Right I am quite aware that my blog seems to be very male-dominated, so I am going to do a few posts on female vocalists either solo or part of a band that I like to listen too as well. First is up is Feist, who is from our good bacon-producing friends, Canada. You may know her for the amazingly good 1 2 3 4 song on the ipod advert, but she has also made many other recognisable songs which you may not have associated with her. She fuses Jazz and Indie rock and makes wonderfully written songs and tunes that get stuck in your head.


My Moon My Man



Mushaboom

Foaling Around

Today we have a band some of you may be familiar with and some may not, Foals. These dance-punk, math rock funksters are tipped for big things in 2008, and even though they dropped their demo hits from their album (out end of March) it's amazing and its called Antidotes, easily one of the best albums of the year so far. Their influences vary from Radiohead to The Rapture, the latter being the more probable influence. Their live concerts are something of legend and they have a tendency to play house parties a lot. I really need to see this band live and I suggest you should too. Here's Balloons,

Risk Of Electric Shock!!!

Apologies all for not writing for a few days, i've had a lot of work to do, coupled with organising birthday meal. Yes, it's my birthday tomorrow and I will be able to legally drink, vote and drive a big-ass motorbike if I so wish too. So my music listening habits has changed to the sometimes strange but always joyous to listen too, Eels. Those who aren't familiar with them or E and his ever-changing band, you are missing out because it is a sound so diverse and no two songs sound the same. This is my waiting for the bus music because there are a lot of mellow joys that calm me before going to college and facing another day of nagging teachers and deadlines. Enjoy,

Novacaine For The Soul


Trouble With Dreams