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