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

Matt Berninger

Behold the owner of the sexiest voice on the planet of all time:

Jay Green at final LCD Soundsytem show

Ok so with me being depressed over my first ever band break up (sigh) I was in need of something to cheer up, something to make me laugh, something with an awesome moustache and long hair, something like Jay Green.

Please watch you won't be disappointed.

Cute pictures of Matt with his daughter

Ok so i found these and had to totally put them up ... So cute

U2- Song of the day

To prove to some people and i won't mention any names, that U2 are a great band that have and continue to make great songs i would like to present to you, One, performed at the Pavarotti and Friends benefit concert in Modena, Italy 1995.
When I went to see U2 I can honestly say that it is the happiest i have ever felt. After a pretty shitty year where 12 days into the new year i found out my mum and dad were splitting up i became depressed so seeing U2 was like being shown a light. I can't tell you how much the band means to me, but let me say this, the only time i have ever cried from happiness was on 20th August 2009 at the Don Valley Stadium- however i also believe it is the happiest the band feels when they are on stage. You can see on Bono's face in the video the enjoyment he gets from performing. This is a band who has made it's money and could quite happily give up and live a life in luxury no problem, but no because this band isn't about money- sure they like it but who doesn't? They get a kick out of performing and making music which is why they continue to do so over and over again, making great album after great album.
If U2 are good enough for Brian Eno (he is there producer), Bowie (he is a fan), Springsteen ( he regularly joins them on stage during tours) REM (they are friends) and countless other musicians who have been inspired by U2:
The Killers
Kings of leon
Muse
Green Day
Arcade Fire etc (they are just off the top of my head)
Then U2 are more than good enough for me

Hot guys in music

Caleb Followill_ Lead singer of Kings of leon

Good looking and mega sexy voice, listen:

Jared Followill- Bassist of Kings of leon and brother of Caleb

Will post more in the future :) xxx

Pepper Rabbit- Song of the day

I only discovered this band erm... yesterday but woah, they are definately a band to keep on your radar, i suspect great success is in store for this group. lately i've been putting up a lot of "happy" and "feel good" songs but this song Older Brother is anything but. The lyrics in my opinion express the feeling of the lyricist who has just lost someone very close to him- "the brother I never had" very sad and raw emotions that create a beautiful song on top of the melodies and tunes.

Lyrics to Older Brother:

We both sat, on our beds, in my room.
And we talked about what was coming soon.
All the pink powder wont cover up what we did.
Doing wrong when, we were just kids.


And I think that you're the older brother,
that I never had.
I wish I could reach out and touch you.
Dont worry, i'm not sad.
I know you're just where you want to be,
and everyone's a hundred grand.
Say you wont stay for me,
say hello to your dad.



I will look after your sister I swear.
I'll write her when she's lonely, and send it off in the air.
I will keep her safe, until i'm dead.
She'll always have a place to rest her head.
You dont have to worry about it now,
you dont have to live with that frown.
I will hold your memory close to my chest,
though I wish you hadn't said it was best.
Could you have stayed just one more night,
for all of us to say good bye.
But i'll love your troubles and i'm gone,
you still feel so damn warm.

Exclusive new video

The new video for Noah and the Whale's second realease from album Last Night on Earth, Tonights the kinda Night has been released and can be found by following the link below:
Tonight's The Kinda Night

Noah and the Whale- Song of the day

Ok so with the suspiciously nice weather (hey i'm not complaining for the time being) I just cannot get L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N out of my head (btw that took a long time to type). Maybe it's the fact that Chalie Fink's voice kinda reminds me of Lou Reed (check out Walk on the wild side- great song), maybe its the feel good lyrics but whatever it is i'm officially hooked and ready for summer. I know this song has been out for a while now but what can i do? I only started the blog last week!

Elbow- Song of the day

This is my favourite song from Elbow's new album, Build a rocket boys! This is Open Arms, performed on Later Live..With Jools Holland, Enjoy!

Exit Calm - Don't Look Down

Amazing song from Exit Calm's debut self titled album

Maxim Ludwig & Santa Fe Seven- Song of the day

I had never heard of Maxim Ludwig or his Santa Fe Seven until Mr Ludwig started following me on twitter, but i'm sure glad he did start following me. To be honest i wasn't really expecting him to be great but when i first heard the song "Born Too Blue" i was absolutely blown away. So here is "Born Too Blue" hope you enjoy!

Hannah Osbourne

Thank you to Hannah my first follower- and now it is on the internet for everyone to see LOL. When something is posted on the internet it stays there forever!

LCD Soundsystem- Song of the day

With LCD Soundsystem bidding a final farewell to fans earlier on this week i would like to dedicate my first ever "Song Of The Day" to the hipsters. So here is link to an absolute legendary song "All My Friends" there is nothing that needs to be said about this song- just sit back listen and enjoy. And so with nothing much else to say I thank you James Murphy, thank you LCD Soundsystem- i had a blast, goodluck and goodbye!

Introduction

Hello! Today is Monday 4th of April 2011 and this is my first ever post on my blog. At the moment i am just doing the blog equivalent to talking to myself like a senile old woman so if you just happen to be checking this out then please follow :) I will try to update as much as possible so please be patient XXX