It has been a little while.
I missed the Fucked Up show, due to a showing of Hairspray. Which has inspired me to take up swing dancing upon my return to London. You should make your way to the cinema for it, for some actual decent musical film fun. I usually really dislike musicals so this is a large anomaly.
I am quite sad about missing Fucked Up though, really really really an amazing hardcore band. 'Generation' is an instant classic.
Alright so on the under the radar topic, have you heard Hindi Zahra? Female vocalist from Paris who isn't trying to be Beyonce/Bjork/Gwen Stefani.
Apparently she's the only one.
I have loved her song 'Beautiful Stranger' for quite some time and some how, and I don't get why, she's still unsigned...
Not so under the radar as jostling airwaves in America Boys Like Girls. They are pretty much the All American Rejects delivering songs to a post Fall Out Boy audience. Basically, if this gets decent exposure in England they will be HUGE there.
Who's working/putting it out there? I have no clue. Someone should. 'The Great Escape' is a HUGE radio hit in the waiting.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
ships
New new new Maritime song 'Science Fiction' here.
I cannot wait for this record. There is nothing quite like revised nostalgia.
I cannot wait for this record. There is nothing quite like revised nostalgia.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
giest
Tonight I went to my first American gig of the summer. The other two I have attended here have been acts from home and made me realise how little I miss the act of seeing live music in London. In an act of leisure music feels so much more special. Here I will go out and see no one I know. I can choose to go to gigs alone and feel wonderfully lost in the crowd and tonight was such a night.
I went to go see We All Have Hooks For Hands at the Knitting Factory (which by the by has an amazing sound engineer, venues of such a capacity -140-rarely sound as good as the KF did tonight.) Playing to a semi mental crowd the Dakota eight piece really lived up to the promise I had come to hope of them. Sounding like Kings Of Leon but not arrogant or quite so polished, they appeared fresh faced and ambitious like all bands that play the Knitting Factory. They appear to have an ability to cause crowds to perform a hybrid of hardcore dance paired with that indie head bob, with a tiny bit of swing dance thrown in. I can see them getting better with each album and do believe they need and deserve a development deal, I'm pretty sure if Virgin UK came to see them play a few months from now they would wet themselves with excitement. Yes.
For the fans of American Rock that's quite poppy and contrived in nature, such as myself from time to time, a band called Hero Pattern played upstairs at KF to a hugely warm reception also. They sounded much better live than they did on myspace, which is nice. However they're a band I enjoyed watching, but would likely never shell out actual money to see.
Trotting back over the ocean I have a new found love for 'Galaxy Of The Lost' by Lightspeed Champion. Having been aware of Devs' endeavour for quite a while, I first heard this song when covered by the brazen voiced Florence and The Machine (the girl is superb, but is very unfortunately managed by the Queens of Noize. Personally I feel anyone who misspells on purpose is an utter fool and the fact they are in their mid thirties and are pill popping, coke sniffing groupies doesn't afford them any respect in my eyes). This song however, is gorgeous and lyrically resonant. It really strikes a chord with me. The video is also wonderful and heart warming. I would and will buy the Lightspeed Champion album on the basis of this acousmatic and simply stunning single. Point to Domino! I've also been told Devs' favourite band is Lifetime, which makes me want to shake his hand. He's probably the only one in the London indie scene who could name even one of their songs. Commendations are in high order.
So So So Compelling.
I went to go see We All Have Hooks For Hands at the Knitting Factory (which by the by has an amazing sound engineer, venues of such a capacity -140-rarely sound as good as the KF did tonight.) Playing to a semi mental crowd the Dakota eight piece really lived up to the promise I had come to hope of them. Sounding like Kings Of Leon but not arrogant or quite so polished, they appeared fresh faced and ambitious like all bands that play the Knitting Factory. They appear to have an ability to cause crowds to perform a hybrid of hardcore dance paired with that indie head bob, with a tiny bit of swing dance thrown in. I can see them getting better with each album and do believe they need and deserve a development deal, I'm pretty sure if Virgin UK came to see them play a few months from now they would wet themselves with excitement. Yes.
For the fans of American Rock that's quite poppy and contrived in nature, such as myself from time to time, a band called Hero Pattern played upstairs at KF to a hugely warm reception also. They sounded much better live than they did on myspace, which is nice. However they're a band I enjoyed watching, but would likely never shell out actual money to see.
Trotting back over the ocean I have a new found love for 'Galaxy Of The Lost' by Lightspeed Champion. Having been aware of Devs' endeavour for quite a while, I first heard this song when covered by the brazen voiced Florence and The Machine (the girl is superb, but is very unfortunately managed by the Queens of Noize. Personally I feel anyone who misspells on purpose is an utter fool and the fact they are in their mid thirties and are pill popping, coke sniffing groupies doesn't afford them any respect in my eyes). This song however, is gorgeous and lyrically resonant. It really strikes a chord with me. The video is also wonderful and heart warming. I would and will buy the Lightspeed Champion album on the basis of this acousmatic and simply stunning single. Point to Domino! I've also been told Devs' favourite band is Lifetime, which makes me want to shake his hand. He's probably the only one in the London indie scene who could name even one of their songs. Commendations are in high order.
So So So Compelling.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
studies.
I will admit my love for pop punk to anyone.
In class the other day we were critiquing music videos for Capitol/Virgin Records (US) and while being shown some truly atrocious ones (The Sick Puppies, who made me feel physically ill) we were shown this one by The Almost.
The Almost are the side project band of the singer Aaron of that awful screamo bleamo reamo etc etc band Underoath. While not really liking this song on first listen I must say the elements of artistic drumming and gang vocals (oh how I love gang vocals) have really, really grown on me.
So while I have gathered the other songs on the record 'Southern Weather' aren't as strong as this, and I know pop punk isn't cool, I thought you might enjoy some good ol' bounding music of the young. See below for links!
Video: The Almost-Say This Sooner
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thealmost
In class the other day we were critiquing music videos for Capitol/Virgin Records (US) and while being shown some truly atrocious ones (The Sick Puppies, who made me feel physically ill) we were shown this one by The Almost.
The Almost are the side project band of the singer Aaron of that awful screamo bleamo reamo etc etc band Underoath. While not really liking this song on first listen I must say the elements of artistic drumming and gang vocals (oh how I love gang vocals) have really, really grown on me.
So while I have gathered the other songs on the record 'Southern Weather' aren't as strong as this, and I know pop punk isn't cool, I thought you might enjoy some good ol' bounding music of the young. See below for links!
Video: The Almost-Say This Sooner
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thealmost
Monday, July 16, 2007
punch.
I really recommend listening to We All Have Hooks For Hands and Please Dept.
Both bands have huge potential. I hope to rectify not having seen either live yet this month by seeing WAHHFH play the New York Knitting Factory on July 18th and Please Dept. play the Lower Eastsides one and only Cakeshop on July 27th.
We All Have Hooks For Hands are a indie folk outfit from Dakota on American indie label Afternoon Records, who happen to have some really good and undiscovered bizarre bands hiding in their wings. WAHHFH are sonically quite a bit like Kings Of Leon on 'Because Of The Times', which as you may gather, is a really wonderful thing. The band have a disposition that inspires me to believe they could provide an album as cohesive as 'Because Of The Times' in the near future. I expect a major poaching within the next twelve months.
Recommended Track: Hold On C'mon
http://www.myspace.com/weallhavehooksforhands
Please Dept. are a band whose sound lies somewhere between Cold War Kids, Black Wire and Guillemots. Imagine a freak show playing your local bar and you may develop the right picture. Jittered piano punching and a deep, off beat and a daunting vocalist allow the Brooklyn dwelling band to actually make the keyboards + band set up original.
Recommended Track: Sailors Mouth
http://www.myspace.com/pleasedept
My current obsession is Harlem Shakes, an unsigned band from Brooklyn whose song 'Red Right Hands' echoes constantly in my head. I would seriously, seriously have a listen to the band. Fans of all of the left field material on Sub Pop, Suicide Squeeze and Poly Vinyl -my favourite labels-will likely adopt this band with huge amounts of adoration.
http://www.myspace.com/harlemshakes
Both bands have huge potential. I hope to rectify not having seen either live yet this month by seeing WAHHFH play the New York Knitting Factory on July 18th and Please Dept. play the Lower Eastsides one and only Cakeshop on July 27th.
We All Have Hooks For Hands are a indie folk outfit from Dakota on American indie label Afternoon Records, who happen to have some really good and undiscovered bizarre bands hiding in their wings. WAHHFH are sonically quite a bit like Kings Of Leon on 'Because Of The Times', which as you may gather, is a really wonderful thing. The band have a disposition that inspires me to believe they could provide an album as cohesive as 'Because Of The Times' in the near future. I expect a major poaching within the next twelve months.
Recommended Track: Hold On C'mon
http://www.myspace.com/weallhavehooksforhands
Please Dept. are a band whose sound lies somewhere between Cold War Kids, Black Wire and Guillemots. Imagine a freak show playing your local bar and you may develop the right picture. Jittered piano punching and a deep, off beat and a daunting vocalist allow the Brooklyn dwelling band to actually make the keyboards + band set up original.
Recommended Track: Sailors Mouth
http://www.myspace.com/pleasedept
My current obsession is Harlem Shakes, an unsigned band from Brooklyn whose song 'Red Right Hands' echoes constantly in my head. I would seriously, seriously have a listen to the band. Fans of all of the left field material on Sub Pop, Suicide Squeeze and Poly Vinyl -my favourite labels-will likely adopt this band with huge amounts of adoration.
http://www.myspace.com/harlemshakes
Sunday, July 15, 2007
pioneer to the falls.
The internet, hello.
Here you will find the little beds of music I like. Not so much reviews or interviews, but links and stories of music that lives.
I start this in New York with new tellers and feelers. London may steal this into stagnation eventually, I will try to avoid any stale influences as much as I can. Here it is about thought and prickling sonics, really what I hope is that you will find somethings you will love and somethings that will make you happy.
No Lauren, this is not a veiled attempt to rival or emulate Cory Kennedy. Not at all...
Top Five New Repeaters
1. Shapes and Sizes
2. Nurses
3. Casiotone For The Painfully Alone
4. Land Of Talk
5. Harlem Shakes
Cupcake.
Here you will find the little beds of music I like. Not so much reviews or interviews, but links and stories of music that lives.
I start this in New York with new tellers and feelers. London may steal this into stagnation eventually, I will try to avoid any stale influences as much as I can. Here it is about thought and prickling sonics, really what I hope is that you will find somethings you will love and somethings that will make you happy.
No Lauren, this is not a veiled attempt to rival or emulate Cory Kennedy. Not at all...
Top Five New Repeaters
1. Shapes and Sizes
2. Nurses
3. Casiotone For The Painfully Alone
4. Land Of Talk
5. Harlem Shakes
Cupcake.
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