Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Stillness is the Move - Dirty Projectors
Released : 25 June 2009
Album : Bitte Orca
Length : 4:10
A very different track from the indie collective. It gives very much a RnB vibe with soulful vocals. The song is a stand out track on their album Bitte Orca not only because it is excellent but because it is so unlike everything else. It's highly melodic, has an addictive riff and very catchy lyrics. Fans who are accustomed to their unique and at times other worldly sounds will be dissapointed by the sound and those who are new to the collective will find this track slightly misleading as it is not a very good representation of the rest of their music. Nonetheless I love this track and I know many of you will especially those who enjoy a bit of RnB.
Welcome
Hello to all new readers of the blog especially those who have discovered it through Macquarie University's Grapeshot Magazine. I would like to thank everyone at Grapeshot for publishing my reviews and articles in their wonderful publication over the past 2 months. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing for them and look forward to continuing to do so in the future. Due to this new found exposure I will be making some new adjustments to the blog to make it more user friendly. The changes will come in over the next few days. These changes will mean that the blog will updated on a more regular basis with a greater emphasis on new tracks and Youtube videos, mostly live performances.
Please spread the word :)
Please spread the word :)
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Oasis and Placebo Cancel; Lily atThe Ashes; Luke Steele with Jay-Z;
The biggest names in rock n roll are dropping like flies. Last week I reported several tour and show cancellations due to illness or injury within a band. This week matters only grew worse with Placebo frontman Brian Molko collapsing on stage during the band's performance at the massive Summer Sonic Festival in Japan. The cause of the sudden collapse has been attributed to fatigue, jet lag and a form of Asian Flu. Unfortunately the band has had to cancel their entire forthcoming American tour which was to run through September and October. The band hopes to make up for those shows as soon as possible. According to the band's management this is only the 3rd time Placebo has cancelled shows in their careers. On the other side of the world over 75 000 eager fans in Chelmsford England were anticipating Oasis' headlining performance at the V Festival. But only a matter of hours before they were scheduled to hit the stage and less than 18hrs after playing in Staffordshire the Britpop heroes called off the show due to a viral infection which had brought down lead singer Liam Gallagher. It was meant to be the final show of the band's 15 month world tour.
As much as it pains me to write about this I will include this. English pop starlet Lily Allen has spent much of the past week (along with most Poms and Aussies) following the 5th and final Ashes Test Match. Lily was spotted in the crowd with a new "friend" watching the game and listening to the BBC commentary on the radio. She also played the main stage at the V Festival which was being held nearby. During her set she praised the English teams performance at one stage exclaiming "I fucking love the cricket!". Her set was dominated by songs from her highly successful second album It's Not Me, It's You.
The most incredible piece of news to be announced this week was the inclusion of West Australian artist Luke Steele on the opening track of Jay-Z's highly anticipated Blueprint 3 album. The Sleepy Jackson and Empire of the Sun star will more than likely be singing on the chorus of the song. Steele's second band Empire of the Sun which also includes Pnau frontman Nick Littlemore has enjoyed enormous success in the UK and the lead single of its latest album Walking on a Dream is starting to receive solid exposure in the US. This might just give the band the extra boost they needed to crack the difficult American market.
As much as it pains me to write about this I will include this. English pop starlet Lily Allen has spent much of the past week (along with most Poms and Aussies) following the 5th and final Ashes Test Match. Lily was spotted in the crowd with a new "friend" watching the game and listening to the BBC commentary on the radio. She also played the main stage at the V Festival which was being held nearby. During her set she praised the English teams performance at one stage exclaiming "I fucking love the cricket!". Her set was dominated by songs from her highly successful second album It's Not Me, It's You.
The most incredible piece of news to be announced this week was the inclusion of West Australian artist Luke Steele on the opening track of Jay-Z's highly anticipated Blueprint 3 album. The Sleepy Jackson and Empire of the Sun star will more than likely be singing on the chorus of the song. Steele's second band Empire of the Sun which also includes Pnau frontman Nick Littlemore has enjoyed enormous success in the UK and the lead single of its latest album Walking on a Dream is starting to receive solid exposure in the US. This might just give the band the extra boost they needed to crack the difficult American market.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Humbug - Arctic Monkeys
Released : 21 August 2009
Label: Domino
Length : 39mins
Personnel:Alex Turner (Vocals and Guitar)
Matt Helders (Drum)
Nick O Malley (Bass)
Jamie Cook ( Guitar)
The best way to tackle this album is to take it track by track as the album changes pace and vibe with each song. My Propellor is vastly different from the openers of the band's first two albums, the song gradually builds and it gives us an insight to the band's new 'stoner rock' influence with dreary vocals from frontman Alex Turner. Crying Lightning was the first release from the album and it is nothing short of brilliant. The lyrics are cheeky, the guitar work is intricate, the bass is typically melodic and Matt Helders once again proves why he is one of the premier drummers going around at the moment. This is followed by Dangerous Animals which is the reminiscent of Favourite Worst Nightmare, with its bass loop and almost spoken lyrics. The complex riff and solo will push the band when they perform this song on stage. Turner's second band Last Shadow Puppets have had a major influence on this record and that is most evident on the 'stringy' Secret Door, this will undoubtedly divide fans but its quality is undeniable. Potion Approaching is once again reflective of co-producer Josh Homme's (Queens of the Stone Age) influence but it's one dimensional drumming and monotonous vocals is a let down. Unfortunately matters do not improve on Fire And The Thud which struggles to bring together any sort of coherence or passion. Thankfully the next track Cornerstone gives a beautiful Beatles-esque sound and an inpeccable vocal performance from Turner. A real highlight. The stoner rock returns with Dance Little Liar but this time we have rolling drums, a bouncy tempo, dark lyrics and some wonderfully weird guitar effects. The album reaches a spectacular climax on Pretty Visitors with thundering drums exploding out of the speakers and the best line on the album 'what came first the chicken or the dickhead'. The final track The Jewellers Hand is not unlike the closing track on Monkeys' first two works and most importantly it is equally is brilliant. Humbug in one word. Subtle.
Rating : 8.5/10
Label: Domino
Length : 39mins
Personnel:Alex Turner (Vocals and Guitar)
Matt Helders (Drum)
Nick O Malley (Bass)
Jamie Cook ( Guitar)
The best way to tackle this album is to take it track by track as the album changes pace and vibe with each song. My Propellor is vastly different from the openers of the band's first two albums, the song gradually builds and it gives us an insight to the band's new 'stoner rock' influence with dreary vocals from frontman Alex Turner. Crying Lightning was the first release from the album and it is nothing short of brilliant. The lyrics are cheeky, the guitar work is intricate, the bass is typically melodic and Matt Helders once again proves why he is one of the premier drummers going around at the moment. This is followed by Dangerous Animals which is the reminiscent of Favourite Worst Nightmare, with its bass loop and almost spoken lyrics. The complex riff and solo will push the band when they perform this song on stage. Turner's second band Last Shadow Puppets have had a major influence on this record and that is most evident on the 'stringy' Secret Door, this will undoubtedly divide fans but its quality is undeniable. Potion Approaching is once again reflective of co-producer Josh Homme's (Queens of the Stone Age) influence but it's one dimensional drumming and monotonous vocals is a let down. Unfortunately matters do not improve on Fire And The Thud which struggles to bring together any sort of coherence or passion. Thankfully the next track Cornerstone gives a beautiful Beatles-esque sound and an inpeccable vocal performance from Turner. A real highlight. The stoner rock returns with Dance Little Liar but this time we have rolling drums, a bouncy tempo, dark lyrics and some wonderfully weird guitar effects. The album reaches a spectacular climax on Pretty Visitors with thundering drums exploding out of the speakers and the best line on the album 'what came first the chicken or the dickhead'. The final track The Jewellers Hand is not unlike the closing track on Monkeys' first two works and most importantly it is equally is brilliant. Humbug in one word. Subtle.
Rating : 8.5/10
Sunday, August 16, 2009
These Are My Twisted Words - Radiohead
Released :17 August (leaked 11 August)
Length:5:38
Another song taken from the post- In Rainbows sessions. The song isn't quite your regular Radiohead track. The vocals don't come in until the 3min mark and the tempo remains pretty constant through out. Nonetheless the band proves they are still at their majestic peak. The way the guitars dance around each other is simply stunning.
New Moon Rising - Wolfmother
Wolfmother have returned with another new song. This time fans have got their first taste of their forthcoming album Cosmic Egg coming out in October. New Moon Rising is very much a return to form for the band after a rather poor response to Back 'Round. The guitar work is more prominent and the drumming really gets the feet moving. Lets hope there's much more of this on the new album.
Kasabian, Jet and Aerosmith Frontman under the weather
There seems to be something going around the world of rock n roll.
British rockers Kasabian are down under at the moment doing some promotional work. Unfortunately frontman Tom Meighman has gone down with swine flu like symptoms and has been admitted to hospital in Sydney. Subsequently the rest of the band has been quarantined in their hotel rooms. There was a special acoustic show scheduled on Wednesday night which had to be cancelled. Guitarist Serge did talk with Triple J. The interview can be downloaded here
Jet frontman Nic Cester has been rushed to hospital after collapsing onstage at a gig at The Hard Rock Café in London.The singer first collapsed after performing only two songs, however then got straight back up joking that he must have swine flu. Three songs later Cester collapsed for a second time and was then taken from the stage and rushed to hospital. Jet's 3rd album Shaka Rock will be released on 25th August.
Rock band Aerosmith have called off the remainder of their summer tour in the wake of singer Steven Tyler's on-stage accident last week. Aerosmith had been scheduled to tour Canada and the US until 16 September. Tyler suffered head and shoulder injuries after falling off stage at a concert in South Dakota. He was subsequently airlifted to hospital before travelling to Boston to consult with his own doctors.
British rockers Kasabian are down under at the moment doing some promotional work. Unfortunately frontman Tom Meighman has gone down with swine flu like symptoms and has been admitted to hospital in Sydney. Subsequently the rest of the band has been quarantined in their hotel rooms. There was a special acoustic show scheduled on Wednesday night which had to be cancelled. Guitarist Serge did talk with Triple J. The interview can be downloaded here
Jet frontman Nic Cester has been rushed to hospital after collapsing onstage at a gig at The Hard Rock Café in London.The singer first collapsed after performing only two songs, however then got straight back up joking that he must have swine flu. Three songs later Cester collapsed for a second time and was then taken from the stage and rushed to hospital. Jet's 3rd album Shaka Rock will be released on 25th August.
Rock band Aerosmith have called off the remainder of their summer tour in the wake of singer Steven Tyler's on-stage accident last week. Aerosmith had been scheduled to tour Canada and the US until 16 September. Tyler suffered head and shoulder injuries after falling off stage at a concert in South Dakota. He was subsequently airlifted to hospital before travelling to Boston to consult with his own doctors.
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