A Brief Encounter

Hey guys,

I again apologise for my abscence. I will fill you in on my last few months. In May, I saw the legendary Morrissey for the first time, I actually creamed myself with excitement. In June, I went to Rock Ness, which I won tickets for, oh yes VIP galore. Once you've gone VIP there is no going back. The Prodigy, Flaming Lips, Orbital, Basement Jaxx, Dizzee Rascal and Placebo were among the many bands I saw. In July, I saw the legendary Blur, my childhood band or 'growing up' band. Apparently at their last full gig together, but it was monumental.

Music I have been listening to, include a bit of everything, oh how I hate that phrase. Music from the African continent has caught my ear recently, from Ethiopian Jazz to South African new wave to Malian weirdness in the form of Tinariwen. I have also found time for the classics from R.E.M's 80's era, to American folk, including M. Ward and early Elliott Smith, I will also add Wilco to that list.

Good Times,

More new bands and a few regulars are too follow. For now ciao!


Miss you already!

Larkin Around

I have been reading a lot of poetry lately, one poem that really has caught my eye is Philip Larkin's 'This Be The Verse', those who know me will realise the sentiment of the message. Others who do not will probably guess rightly anyway.

They fuck you up, your mum and dad.

They may not mean to, but they do.

They fill you with the faults they had.

And add some extra, just for you.

But they were fucked up in their turn.

By fools in old-style hats and coats,

Who half the time were soppy-stern,

And half at one another's throats.

Man hands on misery to man.

It deepens like a coastal shelf.

Get out as early as you can,

And don't have any kids yourself.

Whacking The Bishop

Folksy vibes a-plenty with this marvellous little band from Massachusetts called Bishop Allen. Soft, flowing guitars and foot-tapping, poppy (in a good way) tunes that gently caress your ears and make you feel like throwing all your troubles away. I know that was probably the most soppy, overly happy sentence I have ever written but it is true. Sounding similar but different at the same time, as Los Campesinos and Okkervil River, if you have heard of those bands, if not what is wrong with you! :P Right I have an essay to get on with (Art History WOOOOOOO! (not my degree, I hastily add)) So I will leave you with a tune sounding like it should be selling some form of Apple products. Enjoy!

Click, Click, Click, Click

Fuck Today, Fuck San Francisco, Fuck California

Of course I don't believe the title, I have never been to either San Fran or California, but welcome to the band that have made the best song of 2009 so far. This foursome from New Hampshire, Wild Light as they like to be called, have really brightened up my day...it's raining in bonnie Scotland! There is something seemingly effortlessly charming about their music and their seemingly occasional dreary lyrics is contrasted with some uplifting and feel-good tunes. The drums roll like Sunday Bloody Sunday on the track New Hampshire and some of their stuff I have heard reminds me of early Death Cab For Cutie. Their music seems to have caught the ears of two brilliant bands; The Killers and Arcade Fire, whom the band have both supported on tour. Without further ado, here is the best song of 2009!

California On My Mind

Houston, We Have No Problem

I am in a truly spacey mood today, right this astronaut lookalikes, aren't actually astronauts, shock horror! They are a DJ duo, one from North America and one from South America, hence the acronym. Squeak E Clean and DJ Zegon are two well-connected mofos, they make Mark Ronson's alumni look like a couple of hookers on a street corner on a Glasgow estate. Their music is very hip-hop based but they get the best of both worlds, collaborating with both hip-hop and rock artists. Kanye West, Santogold, John Frusciante (RHCP), Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) are just a few who are on their new album. This duo should be on any party playlist you have on itunes, because the tunes are stuff you can dance too and will make a good party, great.

Gifted ft. Kanye West, Santogold and Lykke Li



Strange Enough ft. Karen O, Ol' Dirty Bastard and Fatlip



Way Down ft. RZA, Barbie Hatch, & John Frusciante

My Number 2

What do we have here? I think we have some futuristic, space age trippings from George Harrison's son. Thenewno2 sounding nothing like The Beatles in any shape or form have took synth-rock into a completely new direction and i'm going to go out on another limb and say that this band is the best new band for the last 5 years. The band is experimental enough to be compared to Brian Eno when he was going through his wacky phase, but you can also hear aspects of some Massive Attack influences. Dhani Harrison's vocals are so light they seem to float over the music and you get this airy, spaced out record, the likes of which I haven't heard before. Their music screams ambience, but there is more to it then ambience, there are guitar solos and thumping drums, but it sounds so calm and collected, it just screams out different and I love different.

Choose What You're Watching


Yomp

Hugging the Eiffel Tower

I love this man! (in a non-homoerotic way), I love his music, it is just so emotional and powerful; from his inspirational work in The Smiths which promptly gave him the title of the best lyricist of his generation. But as noted before I am a huge fan of his solo work, where his music has blossomed, and I don't think there is a solo artist out there that can rival his work, I dare you to find one. His past 3 albums have all been outstanding, probably some of the finest this country has ever produced, particularly in the past 15 years, and his newest one is up there with the best of his work. Before this turns into an even bigger gushing over the legend, I will stop and put some tunes from his new album Years of Refusal up.

I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris


All You Need Is Me

Dreamwalking on the Sun

First new exciting band, I wanted to get out before they explode onto the scene are a band called Empire of the Sun. Think MGMT but so much better, catchy lyrics and banging beats is the best way to describe them. The band's tunes are bound to end up in clubs and there are a few anthems for the summer, I know 'anthems for the summer' are usually crap, your Lily Allens, Kate Nashs and crappy remixes, but there is something really refreshing about this band, something MGMT didn't manage (they had their hits, but the rest of the album was filler). From Australia (land of summer), Empire of the Sun is a collaborative project between the lead singers of two big Australian bands; Steely Dan and Pnau. Those names probably won't mean much to you, but they are two brilliant bands and the collaboration has worked brilliantly, some proper falsetto vocals going on reminds me of 80's era Prince. The album Walking on a Dream is out in Australia, dunno the European and American release dates but you'll find it on the internet somewhere.

Walking on a Dream (best song of 2008)



We are the People

Back with a bang

Yes I am back and i'm bloody shocked at the number of views, 6000+, well shizzle my nizzle, I have been at uni (still am) and I will try and keep up with the blog writing. Sorry about the long wait, but I will write a few posts, to make up for my lack of activity. (so much new music to share)

Ciao for now! (you have to wait a couple of mins =])