My Top 10 Albums of the year.

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Andrew Bird announces new album, 'Break It Yourself', to be released in March.

Andrew Bird has announced that he will be releasing 'Break It Yourself', his first album since 2009's Noble beast, on 5th March 2012. A tour will follow the album starting with a performance at the Barbican theatre in London on the release date.
Details below:
http://www.barbican.org.uk/music/whats-on.asp?t=&mn=3&yr=2012&dy=5

The Black Keys- Song of the Week

I've been a fan of the alt-blues rockers, The Black Keys since I first heard their 2010 record Brothers. The album was full of fun and intelligent rock tunes such as lead singles, Tighten Up and Howlin' For You. So naturally I was incredibly excited when I found out that they had released their new album, El Camino, earlier this week. I had heard lead single, lonely boy, a couple of weeks ago but hadn't seen the video. Of course I should have known it would be fantastic and funny, The Black Keys are well known for their humour, however this video for Lonely Boy is so simple and yet it has had me in stitches. The video has gone viral thanks to the dancing of security guard Derrick T. Tuggle. Why not have a little boogie to the song yourself?

Snow Patrol- Song of the day

Arguably the most succesful Irish band since U2, Snow Patrol have set the charts and critics alight since their major label debut in 2003 with Final Straw. This month they released their sixth album, Fallen Empires. The lead single from the album, Called out in the Dark was released in August, the second single, This Isn't Everything You Are was later released in October. These songs along with various recommendations from friends proved enough to make make me want to buy the album. What I found was an album that we've all come to expect from Snow Patrol, full of euphoric highs and devastating lows. One of these particular lows is New York, where Gary Lightbody confides in us the listener about his lover who has left him behind to go to New York.
"If you were here beside me,
Instead of in New York,
If the curve of you was curved on me,
I would say I loved you
Before I even knew you
Because I loved the simple thought of you"

Song of the week - Lana Del Rey

So there might be some controversy and questions over her authenticity, one thing that pretty much everyone can agree on is that Lana Del Rey, real name Lizzy Grant, is very talented. The 24 year old New Yorker is the internet sensation that has been on everyone's lips thanks to her song, Video Games. However there are some questions about the singers' background. She has said in interviews that when she was growing up, she lived in a trailer park however it was soon revealed that she grew up in New York and is the daughter of domain investor, Rob Grant. For some reason the rich now seem to find it cooler to be poor, why this is when she has the voice she does, I don't know. Most people don't actually care where you come from or how rich your parents are if you have the voice and the talent. Those that do care probably aren't even worth the worry anyway.

The National - Song of the week

What do Frightened Rabbit, Nico Muhly, Mercury Rev, Tokyo Police Club and The National all have in common? They are all appearing on The Philistines jr compilation album,  If a Lot of Bands Play in the Woods... The record is is full of covers and remixes of their 2010 album, If a Band Plays in the Woods...? Who are Philistines Jr you say and how did they get all these artists to appear on the album? Well Peter katis, the bands frontman, has produced various albums of the above mentioned- including the last 3 critically acclaimed albums by The National. The bands cover of the song, 'Twenty miles to NH, Part 2' has been getting some attention however I find it amazing that no one has mentioned how fresh and new this sounds for The National. The music is full of textures, progressing up until the throbbing, bombastic drums via Bryan Devendorf and then Matt Berninger opens his mouth and sings. All the uncertainty about whether this really was The National with the frilly, shiny guitar parts and piano is put to rest when Matt berninger sings that first line, "My cats fight and play all night it drives me crazy". Be prepared to listen to the greatest song ever about cats!

The Decemberists- Song of the week

The Decemberists are following up their album, The King Is Dead, released earlier this year to a number 1 spot on the Billboard 100, with their EP Long Live the King due out next week. The indie-folk group are streaming a track, Foregone, from the record on Vulture. You can catch it here:
http://bcove.me/mg1p4z3o

Beirut on Jimmy Fallon

Last night Beirut took time out of their touring schedule to play on 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'. The band played 'Santa Fe' from their latest release The Rip tide which they are currently touring across the States. Watch the performance by clicking the link below:
http://bit.ly/upuQG1

Noah and the Whale at Nottingham Rock City

After a very successful year since the release of their critically acclaimed album Last Night On Earth, back in March, Noah and the Whale have been touring and playing the Summer festivals throughout Europe and America. They returned to the UK on Thursday at Nottingham Rock City for the first gig of their 17 date tour.

It will come as no surprise then that the indie folk-pop group's show was sold-out due to the popularity of singles: L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N, Tonight's The Kinda Night and Life Is Life. Charlie Fink, lead singer, has matured as a lyricist since the band’s last album, First Days of Spring. His stories of letting go and making changes in your life, would have been greeted with caution by other bands but are themes that Noah and the Whale treat with enthusiasm.
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/68538023@N03/)

This enthusiasm can be seen in their live performances by the bucket load. The band sound more accomplished musically than ever before and the beautifully crafted melodies of Wild Thing and Old Joy are a treat not to be missed. However it is very clear that the crowd pleasers are L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N and Tonight's the Kinda Night along with 5 Years Time, which included a full audience sing-a-long. Noah and the Whale are at the peak of popularity in their career so far and I suspect that in the next few years to come we can just expect more of the same.

Song of the week- Quilt

Quilt are a psych-folk group from Massachussetts whose self-titled debut will be released later in November and who have in the mean time been getting a lot of buzz from the likes of Pitchfork and other online zines and blogs. Their song "Penobska Oakwalk" shines with smoldering, haunting harmonies similar to those of Fleet Foxes. Below is a taster to keep you keen until the release date.

Megafaun- Song of the week

Megafaun's story is an unusual one in that it involves one of the most loved indie artists on the planet. Brothers Brad and Phil Cook along with drummer, Joe Westurland, played together in various bands including DeYarmund Edison with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver before the band split up. While Vernon went on to record For Emma, Forever Ago and become indie's darling boy, what happened to Brad, Phil and Joe. Well they want on to form megafaun. However with their latest album released this week Megafaun are proving to everyone that they don't need or miss Justin Vernon. The trio's self-titled record, full of drowsy folk, serene country and everything inbetween is a major milestone in the groups career so far.

Intervention

Ok that's it. I'm tired of all this school work meaning i can't update my blog. I will not be beaten!

Benjamin Francis Leftwich-Song of the day

Benjamin Francis Leftwich is a 21 year old english folk singer. His debut album, Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm, was released earlier last month and garnered himself plenty of comparisons to the likes of Damien Rice and José González. His video for track opener, Pictures, was released in February. The video is dark and brooding, matching the slowburning, delicate song.

M Fest

This weekend it was the annual M Festival, a music festival that has been running for 5 years now, in Darton, Barnsley. The festival is a charity event that showcases some of the best local talent from up-and-coming, unsigned musical acts to more established artists. I went along on Saturday to check out the bill. I mostly stuck around the second stage, Burn Down The Disco Stage, which seemed to be the place that offered the best talent. The first band that really caught my attention were an unsigned band called The Velotones. The young band from Sheffield owned the stage with their cool garage rock with obvious influences being the likes of: The Black Keys, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club as well as early rockers such as The Kinks and The Beatles. Mathew Hall's impressive vocals sound beyond his years and backed by the tremendous drums of Kris Senior and the throbbing bass via Jamie Duckworth the band certainly prove they are worth keeping note and watching out for.

The next band to impress me was Silents, also from Sheffield, who's half-hour set was enough to leave an impression and their alternative rock keeping the audience entertained. Adam Hayworth, leadsinger and guitarist reminded me of Nicky Smith from another local band, my favourites Exit Calm. His voice showed the same raspy yet tentative quality.

My day ended at the Acoustic tent with The Velcro Teddy Bears. The band, who were headlining, had been recommended to me by various people throughout the day and after we asked them what time they would be on I was soon waiting in anticipation. The boys didn't disappoint with their fun set and stage banter. Their setlist was a healthy balance of upbeat and sorrowful with an encore of covers and requests from the audience including Bob Dylan's All Along The Watchtower, Time of Your Life by Greenday and a lively version of Sweet Home Alabama that had the entire tent on their feet dancing.
With bands like The Velotones, Silents and The Velcro Teddy Bears being sure to stay on my radar, what I initially thought would be a day of apathy and disappointment turned into great enjoyment. With this much local talent at just one festival in one day, South Yorkshire is building up an impressive artistic base that we should all be very proud of.

St Vincent-Song of the week

I would be a complete idiot if i didn't have St Vincent as song of the week. Her brand new and exclusive track, Surgeon has had bloggers all over wagging their tongues for the new album. St Vincent (real name Annie Clark) has  vowed to release Strange Mercy September 12th here in the UK and the 13th in the US. Take a listen of the first taster.

Amy Winehouse

Today the troubled but undoubtedly talented soul star, Amy Winehouse passed away. She was just 27. She has joined the 27 Forever Club like Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Brian Jones before her. Her debut album, Frank, was nominated for a Mercury Prize award but it was her following effort, Back to Black that catapulted her career and turned her into an independant mainstream artist. Her muse was the darkness, her unfortunate fight with drug addiction and alcohol that is feared to have finally beaten her. However I believe that we must remember Amy at her finest and give her the respect that she deserves because this is an artist who paved the way for artists such as Adele and damn although I hate her even Lady Gaga, some of the finest and most successful artists of this generation. her voice like silk will stay with us forever and be remembered fondly.

Sand Band-Song of the Week

There are bands that I dig and then there are bands that I REALLY dig. the Sand Band are one of those bands. Their debut album, All Through the night really is a masterpiece of the heartwarming kind. According to their website the albums"heart beats somewhere between Gospel and Folk, touching upon themes such as love, death, sorrow, religion and loss yet with truly, achingly beautiful melodies is ultimately laced with hope." there is no wonder I like it then, love, sorrow and loss are the kind of emotions i love to revel in.

The band's opening track, Set me Free is about the break up of a relationship, (i'm guessing the themes love and loss)

Cover vs Original: England

Now unless in case you hadn't realised, The National are my favourite band/artist. I recently completed a review on their 2010 album High Violet. It is on that album tat a particular favourite of mine, England is featured. Regarded by many the best song from High Violet the anthemic swelling until its climax is The National at their very best. With them in the middle of a tour it means that The National have become frequent guests at festivals throughout  Europe and America as well as other bands such as Mumford and Sons, the four-piece folk group from London. So when the group were featured on VH1's unplugged they decided to do a cover of England, having heard it many times during the past 2 years festival runs. What I want to know is which version do you prefer? The Cover or the original?
The National

Mumford and Sons

New Coldplay Video- Every Teardrop is a Waterfall

Coldplay have just released the video to their new single, Every Teardrop is a Waterfall.

Jack ladder & The Dreamlanders-Song of the day

What can I say, I have a thing for baritones. If you know me at all you have probably realised my undying love for Matt Berninger of The National, but then there is also Guy garvey of Elbow and brad hargett of previous song of the day artists Crystal Stilts and then there is of course Nick Cave. So it would come as no surprise then (to you the reader or myself) that after recently iscovering Jack Ladder i cannot stop listening to him or his heartbreaking, low growl. His album, Hurtsville is, well depressing. However after a recent epiphany, i have come to realise that to be quite frank- I like to be sad and depressed. When i'm depressed it is usually after or while listening to 'depressing music' however these songs and albums and artists anre the ones that make me the happiest because I enjoy listening to them the most. So if you feel similarly to me or just need a good cry then here is Cold Feet.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra- Song of the day

Firstly I would like to apologize for my lack of updates on here. Unfortunately my weeks have been jammed full of revision and exams which have kept me away so anyway on with the blog. Unknown Mortal orchestra are pretty unknown! However they do make funky 1960's psychedelic pop that has caught the attention of bloggers and music magazines and online forums such as Pitchfork and Spin. Their single "How can you luv me" burst them onto the seen in November of last year and they have slowly been building up their fanbase ever since.

Crystal Stilts- Song of the day

I want to move to Brooklyn, New york so bad. Do you know why? It's because of these guys, Crystal Stilts and guys like The National, MGMT and The Antlers. I could go on forever about the sheer amount of alternative bands that are making Brooklyn their creative home and in turn making Brooklyn the most creative place musically on the planet. Crystal Stilts were formed in 2003 and burst onto the scene with their debut album, Alight of Night in 2008. They garnered attention for their psychedelic noise pop and lead singer, Brad Hargett's uncannily similar croon to Joy Division's late Ian Curtis. They then returned on the scene this year with their album In Love With Oblivion. Their first single Shake the Shackles was released last year and if you haven't heard it you'll be missing out.

Nathaniel Rateliffe- Song of the day

Ok so one of the main reasons i love this artist is because to be honest he looks like a huge teddy bear who could give great hugs. I realise this has nothing to do with his musical talents but that's the other thing- this guys has such a great voice! When someone can sing with nothing but a piano or a guitar they have to have a truly beautiful or interesting voice and Mr Rateliffe definitely does. This is Early Spring Till...

The Chapel Club- Song of the day

The Chapel Club are a five piece indie alternative rock band from London. Their debut album has been met with critical acclaim and has led to them being hailed as the new White Lies. Full of the same eerie rock of Interpol and Arcade Fire, this band has big things ahead of him.

Burns Unit- Song of the day

An eight-piece music group that fromed after meeting at a songwriting course, The Burns Unit are made up of musicians from various genres such as folk, rap, indie rock and pop. Despite forming in 2006 their debut album, Side Shows was only released last year. It was voted the best folk album of 2010 by MOJO magazine. Here's why....

Daughter- Song of the day

This wonderful new artist was only recently recommended  to me by the amazing photographer, Helen Boast (http://www.helenboastphotography.com/ she just so happens to be a fan of The National's as well- big thumbs up) Anyway sorry for getting a bit carried away there, Daughter's wonderful acoustics are perfectly stripped down so all attention can be focused on her beautiful and pure voice.

The National - High Violet Album Review

Throughout your lifetime you find albums that stay with you forever. 'High Violet' is one of those albums. A gift that keeps giving, 'High Violet' gets better with time and each listen. Full of hidden treasures waiting to be discovered, The National's latest release, similar to their previous records, is full of vignettes about the daily lives of everyday folks layered with intelligent, metaphorical lyrics above driving beats, basslines and guitars. Every song is to some degree an epic, sounding like the most important song that they could make until it comes to it's climax, a crescendo of emotions and the next one starts. Each song also contains heart. I'm not sure what the heart is exactly. It could be the abrasive guitar riffs via the Dessner twins, Aaron and Bryce. Maybe the understated basslines from Scott Devendorf or the pounding drums provided by his brother, Bryan. Perhaps it's the rich, sultry baritone of Matt Berninger that makes you want to step into this album and never return to the boring duties of everyday life that are so perfectly soundtracked by The National.

Left-right (Bryce Dessner, Bryan Devendorf, Matt Berninger, Scott Devendorf and  Aaron Dessner)
From the very beginning The National proved they were worthy of comparisons to Leonard Cohen, the master of gloom and Alt rockers REM but never more so than the song, 'Sorrow'. "Sorrow found me when i was young, sorrow waited sorrow won." According to Matt Berninger, singer and lyricist, 'Sorrow' is about a persons own relationship with their sorrow- a relationship that should be celebrated. A subject that most artists would shy away from but is spread out through High Violet, an album that does celebrate the dark and the heavy because after all, these are the emotions that unite us all, everyone feels these things: sorrow, disappointment, fear and anxiety.

Becoming a father seems to have just heightened these emotions for Berninger, or rather his awareness of them. In 'Afraid of Everyone', over the eerie harmonies of fellow indie rocker Sufjan Stevens and the pensive harmonium of Padma Newsome, Berninger croons "with my kid on my shoulders i'll try not to hurt anybody I like, but I don't have the drugs to sort it out...i'm afraid of everyone."

Now 10 years since their formation, it seems impossible for the band to create a bad record. They've marked themselves out from the underground and blog-o-sphere where they dwelled for years. It was in 1991 when Matt Berninger met bassist Scott Devendorf at the University of Cincinatti where they were both studying graphic design. Together they moved to New York in search of work.
Bryan, Scott's brother, was friends with the Dessner twins and had already been in several bands with them when, in 1999 the trio joined Matt and Scott from their hometown of Cincinatti, Ohio and formed The National.

This connection with Ohio is alluded in the first single taken from the album, 'Bloodbuzz Ohio'. With bombastic drumming from Bryan Devendorf and swelling orchestration via The Clogs' aforementioned Padma Newsome, 'Bloodbuzz' is one of  the closest things The National have produced to a pop song however, even this song is a richly, brooding song that delves into the character's insecurities; isolation is the theme that drives the song forward. Like each member of The National, this character lives in a big city, it could be New York, it could be not, but while visiting friends and family in the town they grew up in- they realise that it doesn't feel like home anymore, but then neither does the city they live in. Troubled with money woes, "I still owe money to the money, to the money I owe" the character feels more alone and isolated than ever before, "I never thought about love when i thought about home" he sings in the chorus.

His need for escape is expressed in the sexy, sleek 'Lemonworld'. Full of melodrama and mystery he is stuck in a fabricated, fictional world with two sexy sisters who get drunk and wear bathing suits all day. Lemonworld's protagonist desparately tries to stay afloat in his middleclass, suburban life  eventually ending up in a tug-of-war between sanity and reality. 
Despite the ominous and darkness of their songs, The National still manage to add subtle hints of humour. Dark humour it may be,  but humour nonetheless. In 'Conversation 16' Matt Berninger tells his wife that "I was afraid i'd eat your brains, coz i'm evil", and that he has his, "head in the oven so you know where i'll be."

These fun and nonsensical lyrics can catch you off guard especially after listening to songs like the heart wrenching, 'Runaway' featuring the same fingerpicking patterns from Aaron and Bryce that were heard on Alligator and Boxer.

Similarly the epic 'England' full of huge illuminating horn arrangements and orchestration compliments the weary and tired sound of arguably The National's most recognisable quality, Matt Berninger's low, rumbling baritone as he dwells on the lover who is living overseas, "you must be somewhere in London, you must be loving your life in the rain" he sings while he remains "in a Los Angeles cathedral" contemplating the simple geography that keeps them apart. Berninger has the amazing ability to sound deeply pained and contain emotional depth in his voice that many other frontmen can only wish of obtaining. The lover is left helpless and frustrated against the ocean that keeps them apart, heartbroken he sings, "someone send a runner through the weather that i'm under for the feeling that I lost today, someone send a runner for the feeling that I lost today."

It will come as no surprise then to anyone who has listened to past albums of The National's such as Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers, angst filled Alligator or 2007's masterpiece Boxer that High Violet is not a light listen that is instantly embedded into the mind but rather a subtle and sincere record that over time gently begins to occupy a space in your heart. About a year since it's release and High Violet still proves to be relevant. I still regularly play this album from beginning to end and am blown away because this album and these songs changed my life and the way I think and feel about music. As I said at the beginning, given the chance, this album could stay with you forever!

5*
(Also see Top 10 albums of 2010)

Track List:

1. Terrible Love
2. Sorrow
3. Anyone's Ghost
4. Little Faith
5. Afraid of Everyone
6. Bloodbuzz Ohio
7. Lemonworld
8. Runaway
9. Conversation 16
10. England
11. Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks
Expanded Edition
- Terrible Love (Alternate Version)
- Wake Up Your Saints
- You Were A Kindness
- Walk Off
- Sin-Eaters
- Bloodbuzz Ohio (Live on The Current)
- Anyone's Ghost (Live at The Brooklyn Academy of Music)
- England (Live at The Brooklyn Academy of Music)

Yuck-Song of the day

Yuck have become one of the most talked about, blogged about and critically acclaimed act of the year. Hailed as the revivalists of grunge, Yuck have been compared to the American alternative rock group Sonic Youth. 60% British, 20% American (drummer Jonny Rogoff) and another 20% Japanese (Mariko Doi, the band's bassist) certainly makes for an interesting mix. The theme of the band- if there is one seems to be big. Big guitar riffs, big sounds, big drums, BIG.

Here is Get Away, album opener and the fourth single from their debut, the self-titled Yuck.

Happy Birthday Bob Dylan!

70 years to this day in a small town in the state of Minnesota a poet was born. Robert Allen Zimmerman was his name however he would soon take the name of another poet, Dylan Thomas and so the myth we now know as Bob Dylan was born.
At age 20, inspired by the songs of Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, Hank Williams and other notable folk singers, Dylan relocated to New York in January of 1961. By October of the same year Dylan was signed to Columbia Records, home to some of the biggest stars of the time.

With songs such as Blowin' in the Wind, The Times They Are A-Changing and With God On Our Side becoming synonymous with the US Civil Rights and Anti-War movements, Dylan soon became a figurehead of social unrest and  the 'Voice of a Generation.'


The times they are a-changin from Tony Fox on Vimeo.

In Chimes of Freedom, Dylan speaks of "the poet and the painter far behind their rightful time", most would argue that he could be describing himself. By the mid-Sixties, Bob Dylan was revolutionizing mainstream music. In 1965 he released the six-minute long single Like a Rolling Stone as well as Subterranean Homesick Blues, famous for its innovative music video.

It's no surprise then that a man who (almost) single-handedly changed popular music has muscians lining up to pay tribute to him. Already the subject of countless songs (David Bowie's Song for Bob Dylan), films (I'm Not There), documentaries and so on, almost every form of media has payed tribute to him this week. Win Butler of Arcade Fire brilliantly put it, "Once I was exposed to his music it made the radio a lot harder to listen to."

So i suppose it could be tempting to wish Bob Dylan be remembered as eternally young. Surely that would be a waste of time for a man who wears age so well though? So instead all we will say is Happy Birthday Bob! We love you!

Wild Beasts-Song of the day

Wild Beasts are an Indie rock band from Kendal in the Lake District whose third studio album Smother, was released earlier this month to critical acclaim. Vocalist Hayden Thorpe provokes thoughts of Morrisey as his harmonies drift over the aching, swelling music from band mates; Ben Little, Tom Fleming and Chris Talbot. The Wild Beast's produce songs that bring together pain, lust and desire over the gentle ripples of sound they have become well known for.

Foster The People-Song of the day

Foster the People are an indie pop band that sound reminscent of Pepper Rabbit (a previous Song of the day artist) and MGMT. Despite only forming in late 2009, this band has been attracting a lot of attention thanks to their debut single "Pumped up Kicks" a fun lovin' anthem sure to be popular amongst us indie kids!

Bon Iver-Song of the day

Since Justin Vernon wrote Bon Iver's debut, For Emma, Forever Ago, in 2007 he has been very busy with different projects such as the Kanye West album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, which went on to become hugely successful and made it onto many end of year best album lists. Vernon also collaborated with Aaron Dessner from (my favourite band) The National on the benefit album Dark Was The Night. However he hasn't written a Bon Iver album since. That's why when i heard that Vernon and co. had released Calgary, the first single from their forthcoming album set to be released in June, I was over the moon however a little hesitant to be honest. Would it live up to their debut? Well it certainly does not disappoint. Take a listen yourself and see what you think.

Hot guys in music pt. 2

Brandon Flowers. Lead singer of The Killers and general adorable weirdo. I've loved Brandon Flowers for a long time, probably since he sang about his ex-girlfriend having "a boyfriend who looks like a girlfriend that I had in february of last year."

You can watch Brandon be amazingly hot and adorable at the same time in his video for Crossfire, below

Snow Patrol-Song of the day

Do you know when there's a really great song but you haven't heard it in ages? You hear it again by chance and ask yourself, "Why did I stop listening to this song?"

Well that's exactly what happened to me last night. After listening to the same songs on my ipod I got bored, I decided to put it on shuffle. Then all of a sudden the first twinkling of notes of You Could Be Happy sounded. Gary Lightbody's sorrowful voice sang and then it finished. I needed to listen again though. I pressed rewind and listened to it again. And again. And again.

Young the Giant-Song of the day

Young the Giant are a band from California who formed in 2004. Last year saw the realease of their self-titled debut album in the States. However, Young the Giant, was only released on MAy 2nd over here in the UK. You may know the band from their recent guest appearance on Later Live...with Jools Holland where they played two songs, My Body and todays song of the day, Apartment.

James Blake- Song of the day

Sorry i haven't been posting lately guys ubfortunately i've been having some trouble with my computer regarding some troublesome infections. If you are like me, a follower of Jools Holland and his show on BBC2 you may be familiar with this very talented young man, James Blake. Blake has been a lot of press in the blogosphere and "underground" music mags and forums for his music- a merge of R 'n' B textures and soul. Here is The Wilhelm Scream. Hope you enjoy.

Crystal Castles ft. Robert Smith- Song of the day

Robert Smith of The Cure lends his vocals to this instantly catchy piece of art by future electro Gods Crystal Castles called I'm Not In Love. I don't think there is that much to say about this song other than it being pure genious. Take a listen and let me know what you think.

The Vaccines-Song of the day

The Vaccines have been hailed as the saviour to 'guitar rock' and there debut album, "What did you expect from the Vaccines" certainly does pack a punch. From beginning to end the album is full of short catchy tunes and songs of regret like angst filled Post break-up sexe  exhilerating album opener Wrecking Bar (ra ra ra), If you Wanna,Blow it up and the brooding Lack off understanding makes this a hugely enjoyable listen. I hugely recommend it :)

Leonard Cohen's Induction into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame

ring the bells that still can ring
forget your perfect offering
there is a crack in everything
that's how the light gets in

Mr Leonard Cohen

If you haven't heard of this gentleman then please take a look at the two instructions below
1. discard your entire Lady Gaga, Kesha and Rihanna filled record collection and seriously take a look at your life and think about what you are here on this planet for
2. If the answer to your questioning is to continue listening to the utter garbage that is mediocre, manufactured pop then all that is simply left to do is throw yourself from the nearest, tallest building you can find!
Yes this is how strongly I feel about this man and if you don't like me talking like this then it's tough- this is a legend and a lyrical genious with one of the most distinctive voices to have ever been recorded. This is the man who brought us such poetry as:
Suzanne
Who by fire
So Long, Marianne (my personal favourite)
Hey, That's no way to say goodbye
The Stranger song
and let us not forget Hallelujah, Cohen's most popular and well known song that has been covered by countless artists such as Bob Dylan, John Cale, Jeff Buckley, Damian Rice,K. D Lang, Rufus Wainwright and the forgettable Alexandra Burke.
However when all is said and done, it is Cohen who does is it the best...

It is said that Cohen originally wrote over 80 verses of Hallelujah before (obviously) cutting some out. Now that is a) absolutely genious and b) not fair, I mean how are we supposed to keep up with him when he is going off writing what will inevitably be 80 outstandingly stunning verses?

One more thing if anyone even dares to comment or email me or text me- in fact even thinks that Leonard Cohen doesn't have a good voice then I will hunt you down and seriously harm you. You have to understand that just like Bob Dylan, Tom Waits Cohen's voice is perfect for the songs he writes- that is why nobody has ever or will ever be able to do a cover that is superior.
As Lou Reed so eloquently put it, "we are so lucky to be alive at the same time as Leonard Cohen" couldn't have put it better myself.
Ps. Those of you who don't know who Lou Reed is, you obviously shouldn't be reading my blog.

Psychologist-Song of the day

Ok so this guy is weird-clearly, I mean he has a tendency to give birth in his videos so i'm guessing the guy is not of sound mind however if that is the sacrifice that has to made for us to listen to great songs like Comes in Waves then I am glad he has made this choice. Comes in Waves is a hauntingly beautiful song from the upcoming artists new EP, Waves of Ok (I think there's a theme here)

Ed Sheeran- Song of the day

The first time I heard this song, it was on a music channel dedicated entirely to new and upcoming artists (this channel is called Propellor on Sky 195, the programme is called Tuune and on from 7:00pm on weekdays if you're interested). Then imagine how excited I was to find out that he would be on the weeks edition of Late Live...with Jools Holland. The song tells the unfortunate tale of a girl who has lost her way and the beautiful voice of Sheeran coupled with the amazing lyrics makes for a wonderful song. This is The A Team.

Fleet Foxes-Song of the day

Fleet Foxes second album, Helplessness Blues, is released on May 2nd and after their debut in 2008 being welll recieved by both critics and their peers, (Fleet Foxes were invited by Neil Young to support him and gaining fans such as Bruce Springsteen) this means that their latest release is one of the most anticipated albums of the year. Today's song of the day is The Plains/Bitter Dancer from the reluctant folk stars.

My dream come true

The National are joined by Win Butler of Arcade Fire on stage to perform Start A War from their 2007 release Boxer

Larry Mullen Jr being interviewed by The Edge

"I like the red ones best!"

MGMT- Song of the day

I bought MGMT's Oracular Spectacular at the weekend, their debut album for a major a label. MGMT are a band that some people believe they have never heard of- it isn't until you actually sit down and listen to them that you realise that so many of their songs you know and are familiar to you. Here is "Kids", the third single taken from the album.

Arcade Fire- Song of the day

To try and put into words just how much I love this band would be far too difficult and take too much time, so instead I figured I could just show you WHY I love them. Let's face it every album Arcade Fire has and will ever bring out is just delightful. Funeral and The Suburbs are perhaps two of the greatest albums ever and should be a crime if you haven't hear either! particular favourites of mine from their latest release 2010's The Suburbs are Modern Man, Half Light I and We Used To Wait, our song of the day. With We Used to Wait the band did something completely new and revolutionary- an interactive video that allows you to view the house and neighbourhood where you grew up. You can view mine HERE
(you do need google chrome for this program to work)

Tracy Chapman- Song of the day

Now before you all read this and think oh, she's only got this as song of the day because of Britain's got talent well that's not true. Firstly I don't watch Britain's got talent and secondly I, unlike most teenagers have known about and been listening to this song for years. That's what you get if you have grown up in my family- great taste in music. So please listen to this song and just think to yourself - you knew this song before all those smug teenagers who think they are hip and cool ever did, I know I will!

Bright Eyes- Song of the day

Hello people I am so sorry it has been a couple of days since my last post and even longer since I did a "song of the day" so I think an apology is in order. Also I think I should let you all know that tomorrow I am going camping for a couple of days so though I will not be able to update my blog, I will try (if there is any signal) to update my twitter as often as possible at http://twitter.com/Grace_Brown
So because I feel we are all in need of an extra special treat my song of the day is a song that I currently can't get out of my head - and that is with good reason, it contains one of my favourite lines ever which is perfectly delivered by the unquestionable sound of Conor Oberst's voice. The line is
"Well I could have been a famous singer
if I had someone else's voice"
The story of my life. Sadly. In fact the entire song is just full of great lyrics so here they are beneath. I present to you Road to Joy.

The sun came up with no conclusion
Flowers sleeping in their beds
This city's cemetery's humming
I'm wide-awake, it's morning

I have my drugs, I have my woman
They keep away my loneliness
My parents have they have their religion
But sleep in separate houses

I read the body count out of the paper
And now it's written all over my face
No one ever plans to sleep out in the gutter
Sometimes that's just the most comfortable place

So I'm drinking, breathing, writing, singing
Everyday I'm on the clock
My mind races with all my longings
But cant keep up with what I got

I hope I don't sound too ungrateful
What history gave modern man
A telephone to talk to strangers
Machine guns and a camera lens

So when you're asked to fight a war that's over nothing
It's best to join the side that's gonna win
And no one's sure how all of this got started
But we're gonna make them goddam certain how its gonna end
Oh ya we will, oh ya we will!

Well I could have been a famous singer
If I had someone else's voice
But failure's always sounded better
Lets fuck it up boys, make some noise!

The sun came up with no conclusion
Flowers sleeping in their beds
This city's cemetery's humming
I'm wide-awake, it's morning

Album Review- The Naked and Famous

This is my first ever review so if you dare to read it please be kind.

The Naked And Famous - Passive Me - Aggressive You

(left to right: Aaron Short, Thom Powers, Alisa Xayalith, Jesse Wood, David Beadle)
Hailing from Auckland, New Zealand, The Naked and Famous are a band founded in 2008 by singers Thom Powers and Alisa Xayalith and synth player Aaron Short. The trio were soon joined by drummer Jesse Wood and bassist David Beadle who complete the quintet. TNAF are currently on tour with The Foals to support their debut album, Passive Me - Aggressive You.

The first thing that is really to be noticed about TNAF are the impressive vocals from Alisa Xayalith that, at one moment can remind you of Cyndi Lauper (Girls just wanna have fun) or electro-pop princess La Roux and at other moments can conjure up the same delicate whispery tones of Romy Madley Croft of The XX.

Opening the album is All Of This, a song about the slow disintergration of a relationship. Driving drum beats and bass lines intersect and weave through the synths as Alisa Xayalith and Thom Powers tell us of the failing relationship:

"if there's anyone around when we collide
we throw them in the middle
they can pick sides
as the plans turn into compromise
the promises all turn into lies
the spite builds up and i can't get through
passive me aggressive you"

We are then transported into another world as the second single from the album, Punching In A Dream, begins. The abrasive guitar sounds and electro drums recall images of Psych-pop heroes MGMT while the harmonies of Xayalith and Powers are a reminder of The XX once again.

While listening to the album throughout you realise there is a variation between the psych-rock aspect, anthems like: Frayed, Spank and A Wolf In Geek's Clothing and songs such as The Sun and The Source which toy with different textures and layers teamed up with hypnotising vocals and playful intertwining melodies.

The first single taken from the album, Young Blood, with it's cathy chorus:

"the bittersweet between my teeth
trying to find the inbetween
fall back in love eventually
yeah yeah yeah yeah"
serves as a great fist-pounding live anthem that is bound to be popular during this years festival season.

It's the surge of psychedelic rock and energetic electro-pop textures with catchy chorus lines that make this fun record full of 80's synth lines a dreamy breath of fresh air.
3.5*

My amazing little brother

This is a video of my brother singing "Defying Gravity" the day after he performed and sang in front of all the school and lots of parents as well as the Mayor! He annoys me and frustrates me so much but i would never let anyone ever hurt him because when all is said and done, when he got up on stage and sang like this i don't think anyone has ever been as proud of anyone as i was him.

http://7lform.blogspot.com/

It is under form time entertainment- please watch I am not just saying this- he is very talented!

Grinderman and Berninger

Ok i'm not stalking The National or any of its members i swear it's just unfortunate i decide to talk about them a lot on the same day but seriously this needs to be said- Grinderman remix of "Evil" featuring only my favourite singer, i mean come on you have to check this out- pure genious. I like how he doesn't just try to copy the same vocal style that Nick Cave usually adopts and is instead singing a little higher than we are accustomed to hearing from him.
http://bit.ly/ehob0H

The XX

Ok i'm officially addicted to The XX, Romy's voice is just so beautiful and goes so well with Oliver's plus the different elemens of indie with an R 'n' B twist have got me hooked. I know this might be a bit late but i'm thinking best album of 2009?

Expect this in the future, you will find out my favourite albums of 2010 next year.

The Naked and Famous

I just bought The Naked and Famous album today, Passive Me, Aggressive You. Wow what a great album and great sound expect me to be writing about it as soon as i pretty much know it off by heart (that should be within the week i think) 

The National- Song of the day

Today's song of the day comes a little late in the day, apologies. It is Bloodbuzz ohio by my favourite band and the video can be seen below showcasing Matt Berninger's incredible dance skills as well as his surprising yet amazing talent of posing like a Vogue model while feeding birds and running away from cyclists and that my friends is why he is the best frontman in the world- the multitasking he does!

The top 3 dancers of all time

1.Matt Berninger as seen in Bloodbuzz Ohio (also song of the day)

2. Michael Stipe as seen in Losing My Religion- look at him go!

R.E.M. Losing My Religion by bymusti77

3. Last but not least (actually maybe the best, i never knew Thom could move like that)



Radiohead - Lotus Flower by h0nki