Last weeks Singles (from 27th Sep 06)
November 11, 2009 at 6:56 pm | In Migrated 20six stuff | Leave a CommentTags: music, the aliens, happy song, the killers, when we were young, the walkmen, louisiana
The Aliens – Happy Song
Moronic pop song from Gordon Anderson, ex-beta-band-er-er that performs its ronsealian duty with few of the Beta-weirdness’ that would normally excuse a pop song by numbers operation. This is a group who could kick all the so called nu-rave groups in their fluorescent balls and give us some really great hand aloft type indie dancing with a 4-4 beat and enough strange noises to fuck with your head just the right amount. This is not that track, check out the last EP for better, weirder songs or flip over the record for the non-pop of B-side kemfu. Better still go see them live, last time I checked they looked like the troubled offspring of that infamous time when Kiss got wasted and impregnated a heard of 60’s obsessed zebras.
The Walkmen – Louisiana
For a band that always sounds like pure desperation this is something of a departure, and not a successful one. The rhythms gone all lounge-shuffle but the voice has remained in a state of late night drunken pleading and it doesn’t work. The B-side Lost in Boston is much better and hopefully more representative of the new album.
The Killers – When You Were Young
This took me a few listens to love but I think that that has happened to me for every Killers song. I didn’t like the idea of a new direction trying to incorporate classic American rock like Bruce Springsteen but whatever they have been doing then, by god, its working wonders. I really hope that by the next album they’re playing stadium sized gigs in the US because they really deserve that size and it’s perfectly suited to the massive sound and showmanship that they’re capable of. B-side Where the white boys dance is a bit dull though but then I’ve only given it the one listen so could be a bit premature…
Sparklehorse threesome (from Sep 06)
November 10, 2009 at 8:40 pm | In Migrated 20six stuff | Leave a CommentTags: music, reading festival, sparklehorse
Sparklehorse – Ghost in the Sky, Knives of Summertime, Don’t Take My Sunshine Away
Mark Linkous returns, triumphantly, his battered old car pulling up the gravel drive, past the tumbleweeds, ghost towns and wire fences, rolling slowly to a stop in front of the collective subconcius of several thousand hungry music fans. Has it really been over 10 years since (big breath) vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot? It has indeed.
Last time I saw Mark he had been out of hospital but was still in his wheelchair, it was the Reading festival (1996?) and I was an indie kid in heaven. The songs sounded so fragile, little wafer thin porceline musical babies that I held carefully and close. Later songs like Happy Man/Pig revealed a musical frustration that punctuauted the beautiful hazey americana.
If you haven’t heard Sparklehorse then think Flaming Lips/Grandaddy crosed with Low through in a bit of Eels and Gram Parsons for good measure. Each single shows the different textures of the band’s new LP (out very soon) and every track and b-side is wonderful. You can buy on CD as well but you only get the three main tracks. better to get the 7″’s and then try and get the set-binding thing from the website. (link now dead)
I would recomend this to anyone who has shown a passing interest in interesting music (whatever that is), who sometimes likes sitting down and really listening to music as opposed to using it as something in the background. I like.
Comments:
| lemonsquash I was at that gig too.
|
| lemonsquash I went to see them some years later, and yer man was out of his chair. This is a picture my girlfriend at the time drew : 
|
| thisisalloneword It was a great gig and a great festival – Urusei Yatsura & Ash & China Drum were some of my favourites. Sorry – can’t seem to get the pictures to work.
They are playing at hammersmith working mens club soon and then off round the UK – should be great gigs!
|
| lemonsquash Hmmm. Wot happens if you follow this link ?
I saw all of them! China Drum were particularly good, with the singing drummer. I saw them years later. They’d changed their name to The Drum, the previous drummer now just sang, and they had a new drummer with an electric drumkit. I cannot tell you how much of a let-down this was.
|
| lemonsquash Christ on a bike! It’s not my day. Feel free to delete all those comments.
|
| thisisalloneword Comencing deletion of stuff not working…
China Drum went downhill after releasing the cracking album with the geese on the cover – was it called Goosefair? Probly… Anyway, best moshpit of the weekend they were – I think I managed 3 or 4 crowd surfs – when is the proper age to stop crowdsurfing anyway? last time for me was babyshambles last year…
|
Muse – Starlight (from 13th Sep 06)
November 10, 2009 at 8:29 pm | In Migrated 20six stuff | Leave a CommentTags: Muse, music, Starlight
Muse Muse Muse… Everbodies favourite live band release the second single from Black Holes & Revelations after the slightly confused, and all the better for it, Supermassive Black Hole that sounded like Britney and Kylie fighting with live electric cables and was utterley ace. This, however, sounds like Keane. Keane Keane Keane… Music fans seem to hate them with a passion for some reason (no guitars, middle class, grade 8 piano, each has a butler and a cook, they might play squash, etc) but I have to say that I actually liked a lot of the early singles. But this isn’t Keane, its Muse Godammit and it shouldn’t be an other radio filler, middle of the road song. It should have robots, lasers, explosions and a bit more oompth to it. Why didn’t we get Knight of Cydonia like what the Yanks did? Lets just go with the idea that the record label got to decide this release shall we…
Comments:
Katja
Damn record companies.
I like Keane too, despite my music-snob-boyfriend sneering at me every time I play the album.
thisisalloneword
I like them but I think they wanted to reach out to the haters with a more rock sounding second album and lost some of the magic.
I think that they were meant to get an NME cover a few weeks back, and then Syd Barrett popped his clogs, the Keane article was downgraded to a single page and no cover.
Hey, they don’t need the snobs…
Thom Yorke – Harrowdown Hill (from 12th Sep 06)
November 10, 2009 at 8:26 pm | In Migrated 20six stuff | Leave a CommentTags: harrowdown hill, music, thom yorke
Minimalist eighties vibe shaking its stuff here. A happy slice of sparse post punk inspired by the cheery event of the suicide of David Kelly. Kaplow! Take that Tony Blair. Kersplat! Take that Bush controlled labour party. Haha where are your evil capitalist pig dog friends now? My army of angst ridden middle class apathetic non-voters will rise up and dismiss your policies at dinner parties all over the land. Thanks Thom. B-side The Drunkk Machine goes boinky boinky says my flatmate Phil. Both tracks are pretty good. Ignore the lyrics and imagine it’s a Simple Minds B-side from back in the day about girls and not being understood and stuff.
Victorian Outfit Looking Good + Alcohol
September 21, 2009 at 2:31 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: blackberry whiskey, music, outfits, sloe gin, victorian, wedding, yo la tengo
Got my outfit sorted out for the wedding at the weekend the theme of which is Victorian/Zombie/1950s/Monkeys.
I am rocking a pretty decent Victorian look if I say so myself.
Weekend just gone spent sloe picking in the forest in preparation for Gin. Found a pitched tent hidden in the woods, behind a load of sloe bushes. Someone been living there for a while I wonder or just a weekend camper wanting a lot of privacy?
Saw and nearly stood on an adder as well, it soon buggered off soon as I said to the rest ‘oo look, adder’ – Dad was pullin back th gorse an tryin to get a better look but it was well hidden.
After picking was done we went up Rhinefield and over to the stream where we BBQ’d and dammed the stream – of course we un-dammed it soon after. Lovely warm and eventually sunny day.
Mum has been making blackberry whiskey which is ace! Really tasty and it’s only been in the jar for 4 weeks. Easy to make although still need to figure out how much (if any) sugar to use. The bloke who told us to make some recommended no sugar but I think it needs a bit in there.
Oh – Deej got me another birthday present – Yo La Tengo – And then nothing turned itself inside out – on vinyl – my old copy was half inched years back and it’s bloody hard to track other copies down unless you have £££’s. Good work Deej!
Few LPs (from 6th Sep 06)
September 3, 2009 at 5:31 pm | In Migrated 20six stuff | Leave a CommentTags: midlake, music, radiohead, Sufjan Stevens, thom yorke
Sufjan Stevens – Avalanche
Out-takes from his Illinois LP that are just as good if not better as the LP proper. This guy really is one of the best things coming out of the USA right now and he hasn’t put a musical foot wrong since he got going (with the possible exception of Enjoy Your Rabbit – small complaint though). Sufjan has a really beautiful, clean voice that compliments acoustic guitar, banjo or full folk orchestration and the lyrics are awash with compassion and wonder. He’s trying to write an LP for each of the 50 states I would happily buy each one and go back for the out-takes versions as well. A constant comfort and never-ending source of joy.
9/10
Midlake – The Trials of Van Occupanther
Starting with the best track of the year is a pretty good idea for any album but only if what follows can live up to it. So after we get Roscoe at track 1 can we expect more genius? Not quite, not quite. Things slow down, things quieten somewhat, the tracks are still pleasant but the magic is dampened somewhat. There are still great tracks here however, Radiohead type piano chord progressions and Mercury Rev folk-psychedelia rescue the album and help wake your ears up.
7/10
Thom Yorke – The Eraser
Thom’s party album. Thom has never been to a party but if he did this is what he hopes he would hear, this and Autechre. Old grumpy-pants laments the state of the world over a clutter of electronic beats and broken piano lines. If radiohead are to be bullied by the press and their own fans (somewhat) into writing more guitar friendly stuff then Thom is quite happy to give them what they don’t want. I really like a lot of their more experimental stuff and I like this album but I don’t like having to listen to Thom singing because he’s getting to be a caricature of himself, all bunged up sounding, whining and sneering. What about ditching the vocals? Then we can forget it’s a Radiohead/Thom type track and enjoy the music.
6/10
Comments:
Simplelsie - Sufjan is a favorite here. He’s appearing here September 25th and we are a-wailing that the news got past us until after all of the tickets were sold. Twenty-three dollars to see that show!
Please wait. I need another wail.
A young miss I know is compiling a list to convince Mr. Stevens to make the subject of his next album our great state of Wisconsin. Do you suppose he can work with material like its being Harley Davidson motorcycle’s world headquarters and the birthplace of Liberace?
I guess I won’t hold my breath…
thisisalloneword – I’m routing for the first state; so much to see; so much to do.
http://www.state.de.us/gic/delfacts/
I want songs about Weakfish and the large occurrence of Grenwich Loam in the soil.
And the official state drink is milk.
Rock and Roll.
Peter, Bjorn and John (from 18th Aug 06)
July 28, 2009 at 10:19 pm | In Migrated 20six stuff | Leave a CommentTags: music, Peter Bjorn and John, young folks
After my heartfelt plea for everyone to rush out and buy Roscoe by Midlake (one person hopefully converted) I am again making a similar appeal.
Please please please, if you only buy one single this week then buy the latest Peter, Bjorn and John track it is brill.
Dancey drum lines, minor/major changes, summery 60’s slacker vibes, and whistling.
The only thing missing are claps but this is a small complaint.
Seek and you will find a little slice of pop manner from pop heaven.
Comments:
Ooh, yes I got the Roscoe track – great stuff.
Glad you like the Roscoe one – I’m getting the album after I get paid – I think it’s going to be one of those albums that I’ll be listening to in a months time, a years time and 10 years time.
What’s the best song you’ve heard this year so far then?
Midlake – Roscoe (from 8th Aug 06)
July 28, 2009 at 10:14 pm | In Migrated 20six stuff | Leave a CommentTags: midlake, music, roscoe
One day I will get my other blog up and running but this will only happen when I start getting paid enough money to allow me to buy a few singles each week. Soon soon soon. In the meantime just to let you know that the best single of the year was released last week; Roscoe by Midlake.
Very rarely is there a song that I am happy to listen to over and over again within such a short space of time. I will happily admit to putting it on repeat for a few listens so that I can soak up all its stone-washed glory. I will be getting the album as soon as funds allow.
The track is reminiscent of 70’s California rock but without any of the dire drudgery of coke fuelled boring workouts of bands like the Eagles (I for one fucking hate Hotel California) and even though it clocks in at over 4 minutes every second is crucial, heart-warming and beautiful.
Not sure what the hell is going on lyrically; house building by other people and lamenting your own inactivity along said lines whilst deeply admiring the work of all those important stone-cutters, mountaineers and the rest. Hey Midlake! Don’t fret so. This song more than enough makes up for years so avoiding all that hassle of manual labour. Thank you all so very much, this is sublime and if there is a better track released this year then I might well go ahead and explode with joy.
Comment:
That’s quite a write-up. I shall have to give it a listen…
in order (from 2nd May 06)
July 23, 2009 at 2:23 pm | In Migrated 20six stuff | Leave a CommentTags: blackbird, drinks, gin, music
Beer, pizza, beer, blackbird, rubbish fight, nudity, car on stage!, gin, gin, gin, shish kebab, sleep, snooker on tele, tesco’s metro Covent Garden, antiBNP gig/rally, beer, beer, music, beer, no Babyshambles cus PD arrested, down in albion played by patrick(?), beer, people get wet in fountain, roll deep, belle & sebastian!!, pub (no beer), fox & ninas, see baby charlie asleep, pizza, quiet tele, hope & anchor, gin, gin, gin, burger, sleep, tele, allotmenting, sainsbury’s, feed current bun to ducks & geese, walk along canal, watch Transporter2, wine, eat roast, play snooker, beer, pub quiz, beer, beer, gin, pool, home, don’t watch wrestling, sleep, watch snooker, pub, beer, beer, beer, gin, gin, gin, rubbish welsh rarebit, 24, American Dad, snooker, sleep.
God bless the random kindness of mistake happy admin workers & Free Gig Alert! (From 27th Apr 06)
July 23, 2009 at 2:18 pm | In Migrated 20six stuff | Leave a CommentTags: money, music, love music hate racism
Hooray! Hooray! I have beer money! By some miracle SouthWestTrains seem not to have charged my card for the travel I done at Easter. sweet. awesomo. hella-cool. £21 is mine mine mine. I love it when companies go wrong. Although this is the first time I can remember, apart from maybe the supermarket popping through some goods unscanned.
Any Londoners – get down to Traf Sq on saturday for the anti BNP gig – Belle & sebastian, lethal bizzle and the rest. Nice. love music hate racism
Last FM Journals- Vote for your favourite LP cover from 2009 November 11, 2009
Blog at WordPress.com. | Theme: Pool by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds.
