Showing posts with label aural pleasure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aural pleasure. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Chairlift - Met Before
Saw Chairlift at the Borderline last night. Supporting act Off Love was bizarre in a mesmerising way. Chairlift was good and unexpectedly polished, one moment sounding all New Wave, and trip hop the next. Lead singer Caroline Polachek reminds me of Karolina Komstedt, Club 8's lead singer, but with more American features, both physically and vocally. Strangely enough, even their names are similar.
So there you have it. My review of the gig in five lines. I'd recommend you going to see them when they perform at the Scala in April.
In the meantime, check out Chairlift's music video for Met Before. It is a Choose Your Own Adventure video with rocks on. You will have to head over here to see it due to embedding issues on their end (so I've read).
So there you have it. My review of the gig in five lines. I'd recommend you going to see them when they perform at the Scala in April.
In the meantime, check out Chairlift's music video for Met Before. It is a Choose Your Own Adventure video with rocks on. You will have to head over here to see it due to embedding issues on their end (so I've read).
Monday, March 05, 2012
Musical Interlude - Lykke Li - Love Out of Lust
I haven't been blogging much recently. No surprise there. I don't tend to blog as much when I'm trying to puzzle my way through something, because it's so hard to find the right words to express what it is I am trying to work out. There's also the fear of sounding stupid, although, as I've heard recently, one shouldn't approach the writing on the Internet wanting to be liked. That's what Internet dating is for.
In any case, I've been doing what feels like a lot, and, yet, very little over the past few weeks. I'll try and blog about them separately because I feel each of the activities I've devoted time to, with the exception of completing my visa renewal application, deserve an in-depth post.
In the meantime, here's a great song by Lykke Li to occupy you till the next post.
In any case, I've been doing what feels like a lot, and, yet, very little over the past few weeks. I'll try and blog about them separately because I feel each of the activities I've devoted time to, with the exception of completing my visa renewal application, deserve an in-depth post.
In the meantime, here's a great song by Lykke Li to occupy you till the next post.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Beyoncé covers Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire at Glastonbury 2011
F*** me! Her cover (right about the 4:20 mark) works incredibly well. In fact, I think it's way better than the original! It's also incredibly hot. And I'm saying this as a straight female! At one point, she sings lying on her back and... well, just looks oh-so-sexy.
Monday, May 02, 2011
Only in Shoreditch...
Only in a small club in Shoreditch can one find oneself going up to a pair of men in pale suits (one blond, one black-haired), asking, heart pounding, "Excuse me, are you 2manydjs?" and, finding out that, yes, one of them - the black-haired one - is indeed half of 2manydjs (1djenough?), go, "I love you!"
Only in Shoreditch can that same half of 2manydjs - David Dewaele - say, "I love you too!" and shake my hand.
Only in Shoreditch can I find myself upstairs hours later, start chatting to the blond suit, and apologise for interrupting his conversation with David. After 12 minutes or so of conversation, I discover that he is in a band (Das Pop) and will be touring Europe in the summer.
I apologise for causing any offence for not knowing his band. He smiles and says not to worry. I clarify that he makes pop music in the sense of possibly indie, Scandinavian poppy music and not Britney. I then say that I will not be around in the summer, but hopefully will be able to catch them soon. He says he hopes so too.
Only upon my return home, and a few hours of sleep later, do I stumble out of bed, get online and Google, and realise that that the band has had a song used on Gossip Girl, and that the guy I was talking to is the lead singer.
I roll off my sofa, staggering into my coffee table in the process and realise that I am still rather drunk from the night before.
I laugh in delight and embarrassment at my antics the night before and go off in search of sustenance, half-cursing my propensity to wake up before 9.30 am under almost all circumstances.
Only in Shoreditch, baby.
Only in Shoreditch can that same half of 2manydjs - David Dewaele - say, "I love you too!" and shake my hand.
Only in Shoreditch can I find myself upstairs hours later, start chatting to the blond suit, and apologise for interrupting his conversation with David. After 12 minutes or so of conversation, I discover that he is in a band (Das Pop) and will be touring Europe in the summer.
I apologise for causing any offence for not knowing his band. He smiles and says not to worry. I clarify that he makes pop music in the sense of possibly indie, Scandinavian poppy music and not Britney. I then say that I will not be around in the summer, but hopefully will be able to catch them soon. He says he hopes so too.
Only upon my return home, and a few hours of sleep later, do I stumble out of bed, get online and Google, and realise that that the band has had a song used on Gossip Girl, and that the guy I was talking to is the lead singer.
I roll off my sofa, staggering into my coffee table in the process and realise that I am still rather drunk from the night before.
I laugh in delight and embarrassment at my antics the night before and go off in search of sustenance, half-cursing my propensity to wake up before 9.30 am under almost all circumstances.
Only in Shoreditch, baby.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Fangirl: Guillemots
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Fyfe Dangerfield and the rest of the Guillemots.
Thanks for being such an amazing band, for being so spontaneous and funny, and for being so damn sincere.
Most of all, thank you for managing to create such songs which capture the sheer intensity of happiness and sadness, and sometimes, both at once.
Sometimes life can be a little overwhelming and it's easy to shut down so as to shut everything out. So, one final thank you for reminding me of what that can feel like.
I don't wanna play any games
Someone always loses and they usually share my name
Thanks for being such an amazing band, for being so spontaneous and funny, and for being so damn sincere.
Just take me out of here
Let me be your souvenir
Most of all, thank you for managing to create such songs which capture the sheer intensity of happiness and sadness, and sometimes, both at once.
Just take my hand and laugh like you are crazy
Oh take my hand and tell me life is fair
Sometimes life can be a little overwhelming and it's easy to shut down so as to shut everything out. So, one final thank you for reminding me of what that can feel like.
Oh take my hand and tell me I'm amazing,darling
'Cos I don't feel amazing now
Monday, March 14, 2011
Guillemots - I Don't Feel Amazing Now
I don't know how Fyfe consistently comes up with songs that just tear at your heartstrings and yet aren't at all cheesy. I Don't Feel Amazing Now is off The Guillemots' new album Walk the River and, having had the privilege of going to their secret show at the Tabernacle two weeks back, can definitely say that it's a great album, and that this is the best song off it.
Enjoy!
And, wonder of wonders, tickets for their secret shows in April are still available. The last time they did this, tickets sold out within four minutes!
Enjoy!
And, wonder of wonders, tickets for their secret shows in April are still available. The last time they did this, tickets sold out within four minutes!
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Review: HMV Next Big Thing - Emil, Alex Clare and Jessie J at Barfly Camden
Sunday's HMV Next Big Thing was a pivotal moment for me. It wasn't just one of those "this is why I love London so much" moments. It was also the moment I realised that I just might love going to gigs more than just listening to music. As in, live music is in itself now a separate passion of mine, and not just lumped into the "I love music" category. I'm not explaining myself very clearly, but I guess if I had to put it into online dating terms, the person I'd like to date would ideally not just love music, but also love going to gigs. I'm a little tired of going to them by myself*, but, at the same time, my gig-going time is sacrosanct and I don't want to spend the time wondering whether the person's enjoying himself.
Anyway, back to the gig. I arrived early enough to catch Emil on stage. I don't know very much about him, but he did sound a lot like Michael Jackson. That's about all I can say, really.
Next up was Alex Clare, someone I'd only just heard of that night, but whose flyer had caught my attention with the words "produced by Diplo and Switch." That's right. The Philly guys behind Major Lazer. I wasn't sure what to expect, but certainly not the white bearded guy who appeared singing what I would have classified as soul with a touch of funk. Diplo and Switch's dubstep influence was apparent in the next song when when Alex launched into Up All Night. His concluding song Relax My Beloved was also pretty damn good. He's got quite the pair of lungs and I'm definitely looking forward to catching him again.
Then up was the artiste all 200 of us crammed into this tiny venue were here to see: Jessie J. Not quite a "Next Big Thing", some might argue, seeing as she'd won the not-at-all pressurising title of BBC Sound of 2011 and had been featured on Later with Jools Holland a number of times. Whatever. I didn't care. It's very rare one gets a chance to see anyone, let alone a singer of her stature, performing in such an intimate venue, particularly a singer who'd just achieved her first number 1 single that same day.
I've got to say she came across brilliantly. She was brimming with self-confidence, talked quite a fair bit and seemed very genuine, down-to-earth and just an all-round good person. She seemed close to tears at what she'd achieved, "trying not to cry at the whole point of being number one." At one point, she asked for the house lights to be turned on to the fullest because "they came to see me but I came to see them."
Her voice was amazing as you'd expect. I thought her songs were not bad, though not brilliant, but she's got a way of singing that makes them stand out. They're not just radio-friendly, they've got a way of getting past your defenses because, hey, Nobody's Perfect, it's not about the money, money, money, and everyone is bruising.
Speaking of which, I really really love Who You Are. I don't know why but the song almost made me cry on Sunday, and it still has the same effect on me now.
Another highlight of the gig was the impromptu song Jessie sang. It's hard to come up with lines on the spot but she didn't seem to have any issues! She's quite the comedian.
As I said earlier, Jessie isn't the Next Big Thing. She's clearly already there.
* The next gig I'm going to, I won't be alone.
Anyway, back to the gig. I arrived early enough to catch Emil on stage. I don't know very much about him, but he did sound a lot like Michael Jackson. That's about all I can say, really.
Next up was Alex Clare, someone I'd only just heard of that night, but whose flyer had caught my attention with the words "produced by Diplo and Switch." That's right. The Philly guys behind Major Lazer. I wasn't sure what to expect, but certainly not the white bearded guy who appeared singing what I would have classified as soul with a touch of funk. Diplo and Switch's dubstep influence was apparent in the next song when when Alex launched into Up All Night. His concluding song Relax My Beloved was also pretty damn good. He's got quite the pair of lungs and I'm definitely looking forward to catching him again.
Then up was the artiste all 200 of us crammed into this tiny venue were here to see: Jessie J. Not quite a "Next Big Thing", some might argue, seeing as she'd won the not-at-all pressurising title of BBC Sound of 2011 and had been featured on Later with Jools Holland a number of times. Whatever. I didn't care. It's very rare one gets a chance to see anyone, let alone a singer of her stature, performing in such an intimate venue, particularly a singer who'd just achieved her first number 1 single that same day.
I've got to say she came across brilliantly. She was brimming with self-confidence, talked quite a fair bit and seemed very genuine, down-to-earth and just an all-round good person. She seemed close to tears at what she'd achieved, "trying not to cry at the whole point of being number one." At one point, she asked for the house lights to be turned on to the fullest because "they came to see me but I came to see them."
Her voice was amazing as you'd expect. I thought her songs were not bad, though not brilliant, but she's got a way of singing that makes them stand out. They're not just radio-friendly, they've got a way of getting past your defenses because, hey, Nobody's Perfect, it's not about the money, money, money, and everyone is bruising.
Speaking of which, I really really love Who You Are. I don't know why but the song almost made me cry on Sunday, and it still has the same effect on me now.
Another highlight of the gig was the impromptu song Jessie sang. It's hard to come up with lines on the spot but she didn't seem to have any issues! She's quite the comedian.
As I said earlier, Jessie isn't the Next Big Thing. She's clearly already there.
* The next gig I'm going to, I won't be alone.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Musical Interlude
Been listening to this all day:
I know that loads of people think Snow Patrol make some of the most boring songs around, but this cover is just so listenable. Gary Lightbody sounds so very endearingly earnest too. It's just perfect for chasing the Blue Monday blues away.
I know that loads of people think Snow Patrol make some of the most boring songs around, but this cover is just so listenable. Gary Lightbody sounds so very endearingly earnest too. It's just perfect for chasing the Blue Monday blues away.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Top 20 Songs of 2010 - 1 to 10
Here's my top 20 songs of 2010 post continued (numbers 20 through 11 can be found here). Yes, I realise that there're actually 25 songs in total because I've posted two songs from several artistes, but, as I was trying to limit the appearance of each artiste to just once, that's why I've highlighted other songs I really like from the same artiste.
10. Mumford & Sons - Little Lion Man - Simply fantastic folk-rock. Irrepressible banjos. Catchy chorus. What more could you ask for?
9. Vampire Weekend - White Sky / I Think Ur a Contra - White Sky is such a happy tune. Ezra Koenig's joyous yodelling just can't be beat. I Think Ur a Contra is a slower paced but no less beautiful song.
8. Rihanna - Only Girl (In The World) - I can't stand Rihanna. I like some of her songs, yes, but, I haven't forgiven her for the twin crimes of Umbrella (most annoying song ever) and Unfaithful (don't you dare get me started on how stupidly melodramatic the lyrics are). Still, I can't deny that this has been her year, between Rude Boy, Eminem - Love The Way You Lie, What's My Name and Only Girl. I prefer Only Girl because it's just incredibly danceable, and, yes, it has got the electronic beats which tend to dominate half the songs I love. It's like something David Guetta would produce.
7. Lady Gaga - Telephone featuring Beyoncé - A Lady Gaga song just had to appear on this list. I like Alejandro and all, but I much prefer Telephone because it's just so awesome. Firstly, it's more danceable, and, as you've guessed by now, that's one of my criteria for a good song - whether it makes me want to move - and, secondly, the battle between these two incredible singers makes for one hell of a powerful song.
6. Janelle Monáe - Tightrope featuring Big Boi / Cold War - Ms. Monae is one talented individual. From her vocal gymnastics and great dance moves in Tightrope to an emotionally-packed performance in Cold War (which also features a great, no-frills, raw music video), she's just wonderful.
5. Tinie Tempah - Pass Out - I've only just discovered the name of this heck of a CHOON. Mixing electro, grime, r 'n' b, drum 'n' bass... This song is just so deliciously filthy. I can't use any other word to describe it. It just makes you want to get down - and I mean down - on the dance floor and just... grind.
4. Cee Lo Green - F*** You - I don't really need to justify why this is here, do I? Great lyrics (rhyming "Ferrari" and "Atari"? Genius), catchy melody and, yes, not-at-all gratuitous use of swearing.
3. Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill / Superfast Jellyfish - It was a tough choice between which of these two songs I preferred. I mean, one's one of the happiest, most joyful songs I've ever listened to (in spite of its title), and the other's got De La Soul rapping, "Superfast Jellyfish / Goin' superfast / You can't even see 'em / But you wanna eat them." C'mon! In the end, the sheer joy of On Melancholy Hill, the simplicity of the melody and Damon Albarn's dreamy voice won out over the craziness of Superfast Jellyfish. Given the sheer quality of each and every one of the songs, Plastic Beach ranks among my top three albums of 2010.
2. The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio / Conversation 16 - I can't recall how I got into The National. I think it's when I stumbled across Slow Show and Terrible Love some time this year and decided to buy a ticket to their concert in December just for the hell of it. One of the best shows I've ever been to, that's for sure. Between the brilliance of their lyrics - "I still owe money to the money to the money I owe" (Bloodbuzz Ohio - a brilliant ode to the difficulties of adulthood) and "I was afraid I'd eat your brains / I'm evil" (Conversation 16 - an anguished song about the singer's relationship difficulties) - and the way the Matt Berninger's admittedly limited voice blends so well with the melodies, this band has crafted some of the most finest songs I've ever listened to.
1. LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change / Dance Yrself Clean - James Murphy is a god among men, managing the difficult task of making emotionally-packed electronic music, prime examples of which include All My Friends and Someone Great. His latest and last offering, This Is Happening, is no different, containing such gems including I Can Change, a plaintive, desperate plea to a(n ex-)lover ("I can change, I can change, I can change / If it will help you fall in love") which, somehow, just manages to get me right there, and the epic Dance Yrself Clean, which is, in my opinion, the best song on the album. Listen closely to 3:08 when jamming guitars and loud percussions and James Murphy's wailing voice all kick in and elevate this song from 'meh' into 'oh dear gosh, this is WONDERFUL'.
So what do you think? What are your favourite songs of 2010? Any songs that I've missed out that I should really listen to? Think I should stick to just whining about my life rather than attempt to blog about music? I'd welcome any and all comments, though if they're really mean, I'd ask that you e-mail me instead. :)
10. Mumford & Sons - Little Lion Man - Simply fantastic folk-rock. Irrepressible banjos. Catchy chorus. What more could you ask for?
9. Vampire Weekend - White Sky / I Think Ur a Contra - White Sky is such a happy tune. Ezra Koenig's joyous yodelling just can't be beat. I Think Ur a Contra is a slower paced but no less beautiful song.
8. Rihanna - Only Girl (In The World) - I can't stand Rihanna. I like some of her songs, yes, but, I haven't forgiven her for the twin crimes of Umbrella (most annoying song ever) and Unfaithful (don't you dare get me started on how stupidly melodramatic the lyrics are). Still, I can't deny that this has been her year, between Rude Boy, Eminem - Love The Way You Lie, What's My Name and Only Girl. I prefer Only Girl because it's just incredibly danceable, and, yes, it has got the electronic beats which tend to dominate half the songs I love. It's like something David Guetta would produce.
7. Lady Gaga - Telephone featuring Beyoncé - A Lady Gaga song just had to appear on this list. I like Alejandro and all, but I much prefer Telephone because it's just so awesome. Firstly, it's more danceable, and, as you've guessed by now, that's one of my criteria for a good song - whether it makes me want to move - and, secondly, the battle between these two incredible singers makes for one hell of a powerful song.
6. Janelle Monáe - Tightrope featuring Big Boi / Cold War - Ms. Monae is one talented individual. From her vocal gymnastics and great dance moves in Tightrope to an emotionally-packed performance in Cold War (which also features a great, no-frills, raw music video), she's just wonderful.
5. Tinie Tempah - Pass Out - I've only just discovered the name of this heck of a CHOON. Mixing electro, grime, r 'n' b, drum 'n' bass... This song is just so deliciously filthy. I can't use any other word to describe it. It just makes you want to get down - and I mean down - on the dance floor and just... grind.
4. Cee Lo Green - F*** You - I don't really need to justify why this is here, do I? Great lyrics (rhyming "Ferrari" and "Atari"? Genius), catchy melody and, yes, not-at-all gratuitous use of swearing.
3. Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill / Superfast Jellyfish - It was a tough choice between which of these two songs I preferred. I mean, one's one of the happiest, most joyful songs I've ever listened to (in spite of its title), and the other's got De La Soul rapping, "Superfast Jellyfish / Goin' superfast / You can't even see 'em / But you wanna eat them." C'mon! In the end, the sheer joy of On Melancholy Hill, the simplicity of the melody and Damon Albarn's dreamy voice won out over the craziness of Superfast Jellyfish. Given the sheer quality of each and every one of the songs, Plastic Beach ranks among my top three albums of 2010.
2. The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio / Conversation 16 - I can't recall how I got into The National. I think it's when I stumbled across Slow Show and Terrible Love some time this year and decided to buy a ticket to their concert in December just for the hell of it. One of the best shows I've ever been to, that's for sure. Between the brilliance of their lyrics - "I still owe money to the money to the money I owe" (Bloodbuzz Ohio - a brilliant ode to the difficulties of adulthood) and "I was afraid I'd eat your brains / I'm evil" (Conversation 16 - an anguished song about the singer's relationship difficulties) - and the way the Matt Berninger's admittedly limited voice blends so well with the melodies, this band has crafted some of the most finest songs I've ever listened to.
1. LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change / Dance Yrself Clean - James Murphy is a god among men, managing the difficult task of making emotionally-packed electronic music, prime examples of which include All My Friends and Someone Great. His latest and last offering, This Is Happening, is no different, containing such gems including I Can Change, a plaintive, desperate plea to a(n ex-)lover ("I can change, I can change, I can change / If it will help you fall in love") which, somehow, just manages to get me right there, and the epic Dance Yrself Clean, which is, in my opinion, the best song on the album. Listen closely to 3:08 when jamming guitars and loud percussions and James Murphy's wailing voice all kick in and elevate this song from 'meh' into 'oh dear gosh, this is WONDERFUL'.
So what do you think? What are your favourite songs of 2010? Any songs that I've missed out that I should really listen to? Think I should stick to just whining about my life rather than attempt to blog about music? I'd welcome any and all comments, though if they're really mean, I'd ask that you e-mail me instead. :)
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Top 20 Songs of 2010 - 11 to 20
Right, here's my maiden venture into the world of music blogging. Not that I'm planning to become a music blogger - unless you count the gig reviews and songs I love posts - but I just thought it'd be fun to try writing about the songs that have made my year. I realise it's a strange mix of pop, alternative and dance, and that there are some real cheesy selections amidst the genuinely great stand-out tunes that were released this year. However, as music is subjective, this really is a list of my top 20 songs of the year.
Let's start with numbers 20 to 11.
20. Phosphorescent - Los Angeles - Glum, boozy, bluesy, intense... a great rock song.
19. Summer Camp - Round The World - All right, this is probably the twee-est song of this list. The way Jeremy Warmsley and Elizabeth Sankey's voices just intertwine with each other in this great dream-pop tune makes for a fantastic climax.
18. Magnetic Man - Perfect Stranger featuring Katy B - Katy B's amazing vocals (which are reminiscent of Cassandra in Rui da Silva - Touch Me) go oh-so-well with Skream, Benga and Artwork's production. This may be dubstep, but it's also got elements of uplifting rave as well. And for another take on this song, check out Benga's awesome remix.
17. She & Him - In The Sun - An incredibly chirpy '60s-esque tune. I love it. I really do. It's such a perfect pop (in the indie sense, now) song.
16. Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are - Yes, this is cheesy and clichéd to the max. But it's soulful, it's smooth and it's touchingly innocent.
15. Scissor Sisters - Invisible Light - It's got such an irresistible beat. And it's produced by the genius that is Stuart Price! And if that wasn't enough, it's narrated by Sir Ian McKellan! Warning though... the video is NSFW!
14. Katy Perry - Teenage Dream - It's just the quintessential pop song. It's incredibly catchy and oh-so-sing-along-able. And, fine, what propelled this into my top songs of 2010 is the cover by Darren Criss and the Dalton Academy Warblers as shown on Glee. In fact, I think the Glee version surpasses the original!
13. Taio Cruz - Dynamite - There has got to be a song every year which captures the spirit of just pure partying. This year, Dynamite is that song. It evokes the memory of DJ Otzi - Hey Baby, which, I'm not ashamed to admit, was one of my favourite party tunes during my university days.
12. Caribou - Odessa - I'm not sure what genre you'd call this (psychedelic shoegazing?) but, whatever it is, Odessa has undoubtedly got one of the best basslines of the year. You'd never guess from Dan Snaith's menacing mumbles that this song's about a break-up.
11. Hot Chip - Take It In - Take It In starts out with dark - almost gothic - thumping beats and then suddenly sucker punches you, soaring off to become one of the most uplifting tunes you'll ever hear.
I'll follow up with numbers 10 through to 1 in the next post.
Let's start with numbers 20 to 11.
20. Phosphorescent - Los Angeles - Glum, boozy, bluesy, intense... a great rock song.
19. Summer Camp - Round The World - All right, this is probably the twee-est song of this list. The way Jeremy Warmsley and Elizabeth Sankey's voices just intertwine with each other in this great dream-pop tune makes for a fantastic climax.
18. Magnetic Man - Perfect Stranger featuring Katy B - Katy B's amazing vocals (which are reminiscent of Cassandra in Rui da Silva - Touch Me) go oh-so-well with Skream, Benga and Artwork's production. This may be dubstep, but it's also got elements of uplifting rave as well. And for another take on this song, check out Benga's awesome remix.
17. She & Him - In The Sun - An incredibly chirpy '60s-esque tune. I love it. I really do. It's such a perfect pop (in the indie sense, now) song.
16. Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are - Yes, this is cheesy and clichéd to the max. But it's soulful, it's smooth and it's touchingly innocent.
15. Scissor Sisters - Invisible Light - It's got such an irresistible beat. And it's produced by the genius that is Stuart Price! And if that wasn't enough, it's narrated by Sir Ian McKellan! Warning though... the video is NSFW!
14. Katy Perry - Teenage Dream - It's just the quintessential pop song. It's incredibly catchy and oh-so-sing-along-able. And, fine, what propelled this into my top songs of 2010 is the cover by Darren Criss and the Dalton Academy Warblers as shown on Glee. In fact, I think the Glee version surpasses the original!
13. Taio Cruz - Dynamite - There has got to be a song every year which captures the spirit of just pure partying. This year, Dynamite is that song. It evokes the memory of DJ Otzi - Hey Baby, which, I'm not ashamed to admit, was one of my favourite party tunes during my university days.
12. Caribou - Odessa - I'm not sure what genre you'd call this (psychedelic shoegazing?) but, whatever it is, Odessa has undoubtedly got one of the best basslines of the year. You'd never guess from Dan Snaith's menacing mumbles that this song's about a break-up.
11. Hot Chip - Take It In - Take It In starts out with dark - almost gothic - thumping beats and then suddenly sucker punches you, soaring off to become one of the most uplifting tunes you'll ever hear.
I'll follow up with numbers 10 through to 1 in the next post.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
When I was much younger, I had the biggest crush on Damon Albarn. Not as big as the one I had on the only non-singing, all-dancing member of Take That, but still, I really liked Damon. Fast forward quite a few years later and I find the crush is still alive and well. He's still the consummate musician, whether it's with Blur or Gorillaz, and he can still write an incredibly beautiful song. This stripped down version of Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill makes my heart ache in a really good way [via Some Kind of Awesome].
And head on over to mixtape maestro (2.0) to download the songs as mp3s.
And head on over to mixtape maestro (2.0) to download the songs as mp3s.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Anjulie puts a female spin on Cee-Lo Green - F*** You. Her voice may be sweet, but this is one tough song! My favourite line has got to be "I bet she never eats / throws up all her rice cakes". Heh.
(via Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good)
(via Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good)
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
How amazingly happy is Vampire Weekend's most recent single, White Sky? Ezra Koenig's incredibly catchy wailing just makes this song so wonderful. And Basement Jaxx's remix of it - just fantastic. Dancefloor-friendly, crazily Jaxxed up in just the right places, and even happier than the original, which is pretty damn hard to beat!
Freakin' hell. This just might about have convinced me to buy a ticket to their concert at the rather difficult to get to Alexandra Palace on December 3rd... and to Basement Jaxx's DJ set at Jamm this Friday!
Listen to White Sky on Vampire Weekend's Myspace page, and download the remix over here.
And while we're on the topic of remixes, here's a link to a remix of another Brooklyn-based band I enjoy: LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change (Tiga remix). Tiga's set at the inaugural L.E.D. Festival held on Friday - where I first heard this tune - was the best part of the entire festival, though I'll confess to enjoying the cheesetastic set that David Guetta put on to round off the night, because it was late and I'd had my fill of the harder dance stuff I so enjoy, but mainly because... it was so fun playing cheese-spotting (aka spot the next gimmick).
Freakin' hell. This just might about have convinced me to buy a ticket to their concert at the rather difficult to get to Alexandra Palace on December 3rd... and to Basement Jaxx's DJ set at Jamm this Friday!
Listen to White Sky on Vampire Weekend's Myspace page, and download the remix over here.
And while we're on the topic of remixes, here's a link to a remix of another Brooklyn-based band I enjoy: LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change (Tiga remix). Tiga's set at the inaugural L.E.D. Festival held on Friday - where I first heard this tune - was the best part of the entire festival, though I'll confess to enjoying the cheesetastic set that David Guetta put on to round off the night, because it was late and I'd had my fill of the harder dance stuff I so enjoy, but mainly because... it was so fun playing cheese-spotting (aka spot the next gimmick).
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The Futureheads - Skip to the End
If I could cheat
I would skip to the end
Decide if it's worth going through with
Skip to the last paragraph before we start
Said a happy ending or a broken heart
If I could cheat
I would skip to the end
Decide if it's worth going through with
Skip to the last paragraph before we start
Said a happy ending or a broken heart
Happy ending or a broken heart
There's nothing to rely on
Come on, skip to the end
There's noting to fall back on
Come on, skip to the end
When I cut teeth
I cut to the root
Then the end is absolute
When she makes sense
I go through the roof
Then the end has living proof
If I could cheat
I would skip to the end
And decide if it's worth going through with it
Last paragraph just before we start
Said a happy ending or a broken heart
Happy ending or a broken heart
There's nothing to rely on
Come on, skip to the end
There's nothing to fall back on
Come on, skip to the end
If I could cheat
I would skip to the end
Decide if it's worth going through with
Skip to the last paragraph before we start
Said a happy ending or a broken heart
If I could cheat
I would skip to the end
Decide if it's worth going through with
Skip to the last paragraph before we start
Said a happy ending or a broken heart
Happy ending or a broken heart
There's nothing to rely on
Come on, skip to the end
There's noting to fall back on
Come on, skip to the end
When I cut teeth
I cut to the root
Then the end is absolute
When she makes sense
I go through the roof
Then the end has living proof
If I could cheat
I would skip to the end
And decide if it's worth going through with it
Last paragraph just before we start
Said a happy ending or a broken heart
Happy ending or a broken heart
There's nothing to rely on
Come on, skip to the end
There's nothing to fall back on
Come on, skip to the end
Monday, May 24, 2010
I wasn't in great shape for last Friday's Stag and Dagger Festival as it'd been too hot and too noisy for me to get any sleep the night before. Still, I did my level best, and managed to catch four acts - The Paper Cinema (Rich Mix), Dominique Young Unique and The Phenomenal Handclap Band (both at the Hoxton Bar and Kitchen) and Django Django (Queen of Hoxton) before heading home to get some much needed sleep. If I'd been at full energy, I would probably have tried to catch The Filthy Dukes and Simian Mobile Disco as well.
In any case, the undisputed highlight of my evening was Dominique Young Unique, an 18-year-old rapper from Florida. In addition to the great name (and, yes, that is her real name), she's not bad to look at, and has a great pair of legs. She's also got stage presence, with a confidence far beyond her teenage years. In terms of her music, she can certainly rap, with the words coming at rapid-fire pace from her mouth. Mixed up with staccato dance beats, her tunes are incredibly catchy indeed. Her biggest hits, War Talk and Show My Ass, went down exceedingly well with the crowd, particularly when the killer dance hook of the latter kicked in. Awesome. I even found myself doing a little booty poppin' of my own.
The Phenomenal Handclap Band did exactly what it said on the tin. Looking like a band right out of the 1970s, the seven-piece ensemble from New York performed loads of songs, all with a fair amount of clap-a-longs, and sounded quite peacefully and hippish-ly happy. The only thing was that the room was packed full of people, and I always seemed to be caught up in traffic streams of people, and was swept further and further into the room against my wishes.
Django Django, nothing at all to do with the jazz legend, was an interesting band. I'm not quite sure how to classify their sound. It's a bit of folk rock mixed with pop-friendly dance (e.g. Hot Chip). It was good, but I found myself blacking out for part of the set (as I did with The Phenomenal Handclap Band), either because I was way too tired, or because I'm starting to suffer from narcolepsy. I'd definitely like to check them out again under better circumstances.
Dominique Young Unique will be performing at yOyO (short for "You're Only Young Once") at the Notting Hill Arts Club on June 3, 2010.
In any case, the undisputed highlight of my evening was Dominique Young Unique, an 18-year-old rapper from Florida. In addition to the great name (and, yes, that is her real name), she's not bad to look at, and has a great pair of legs. She's also got stage presence, with a confidence far beyond her teenage years. In terms of her music, she can certainly rap, with the words coming at rapid-fire pace from her mouth. Mixed up with staccato dance beats, her tunes are incredibly catchy indeed. Her biggest hits, War Talk and Show My Ass, went down exceedingly well with the crowd, particularly when the killer dance hook of the latter kicked in. Awesome. I even found myself doing a little booty poppin' of my own.
The Phenomenal Handclap Band did exactly what it said on the tin. Looking like a band right out of the 1970s, the seven-piece ensemble from New York performed loads of songs, all with a fair amount of clap-a-longs, and sounded quite peacefully and hippish-ly happy. The only thing was that the room was packed full of people, and I always seemed to be caught up in traffic streams of people, and was swept further and further into the room against my wishes.
Django Django, nothing at all to do with the jazz legend, was an interesting band. I'm not quite sure how to classify their sound. It's a bit of folk rock mixed with pop-friendly dance (e.g. Hot Chip). It was good, but I found myself blacking out for part of the set (as I did with The Phenomenal Handclap Band), either because I was way too tired, or because I'm starting to suffer from narcolepsy. I'd definitely like to check them out again under better circumstances.
Dominique Young Unique will be performing at yOyO (short for "You're Only Young Once") at the Notting Hill Arts Club on June 3, 2010.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Oops, so it turns out that I will not, in fact, be seeing JC this week. As May is a ridiculously busy month for me, and, apparently, for him too, it's looking as if the next time we're both free will be June. It's almost funny.
I suppose, on the one hand, I should be really proud of myself for managing to fill up my calendar with so many cool things: She & Him followed by DJ Yoda on Friday, Joanna Newsom next Tuesday, Florence & the Machine after that, The Antlers and Stag & Dagger the week after, La Fille Du Regiment and Major Lazer the week after that! I do believe I've must have exceeded my concert total for 2009 already or am pretty darn close. A quick recap indicates I've seen 12 gigs and concerts so far this year, and should have seen 20 by the end of this month. Woo!
In between gigs and operas, there're dance workshops and festivals... and in the first weekend of June, I'll be missing the free Rage Against The Machine concert and will be gong off to sunnier climes for a work do.
I know there're times I've written about how much I hate not having anything to do, and I guess this proves it. I'm more of an Introvert, according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and few of my friends believe that given just how often I get out and about, but, and despite my seemingly stereotypical Sagittarian ways, it really does wear me out.
But, for now, back to living.
I suppose, on the one hand, I should be really proud of myself for managing to fill up my calendar with so many cool things: She & Him followed by DJ Yoda on Friday, Joanna Newsom next Tuesday, Florence & the Machine after that, The Antlers and Stag & Dagger the week after, La Fille Du Regiment and Major Lazer the week after that! I do believe I've must have exceeded my concert total for 2009 already or am pretty darn close. A quick recap indicates I've seen 12 gigs and concerts so far this year, and should have seen 20 by the end of this month. Woo!
In between gigs and operas, there're dance workshops and festivals... and in the first weekend of June, I'll be missing the free Rage Against The Machine concert and will be gong off to sunnier climes for a work do.
I know there're times I've written about how much I hate not having anything to do, and I guess this proves it. I'm more of an Introvert, according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and few of my friends believe that given just how often I get out and about, but, and despite my seemingly stereotypical Sagittarian ways, it really does wear me out.
But, for now, back to living.
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Oh. My. Gosh. Gorillaz was awesome. Easily the best concert of the year! I doubt I'll see anything better, even with seven more months to go. I didn't even give a crap about all of the guests. I was just so incredibly thrilled to be in the same room as Damon Albarn, someone I've liked since I started reading the now-defunct Smash Hits back in 1994. I swear, the guy can do anything - indie, hip hop, opera - if he wasn't so damn talented, I'd probably hate him. While I work on writing about the concert, you can, for the moment, catch most of it on MTV.co.uk.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
I went to the LCD Soundsystem gig at the Brixton Academy on Friday not realising that this would most likely be LCD Soundsystem's last tour. A little while back, James Murphy went on record as saying This Is Happening, the band's third album, would also be their last. He'd vowed to disband the band when he turned 40, something which happened this February past. Knowing that now, after a stunning gig which was not without its disappointments, makes me want to go catch them at Wireless in July.
To start off, LCD Soundsystem opened with Us vs. Them, not one of my favourite tracks, but definitely one of their most recognisable. As an opener, it was all right. However, James Murphy mentioned something about how one of their instruments - Nancy's keyboard? - wasn't set up properly so the audience couldn't get the full impact. After this was rectified, they did the whole song once more. At first I thought it was cool... then I realised it might have been at the expense of another, better song (as there was a curfew in force) and got a little cheesed off, particularly when, by the end of the night, one of the songs I'd been so sure they'd play hadn't been played.
I was sitting in the upper circle, an area not conducive to standing or dancing. If anyone got up, the ushers were upon them in a flash, shining their torches at them until they sat down. At first, I didn't mind. After all, I was tired, and I'm not terribly tall, so I welcomed the efforts of the ushers to maintain some order and discipline. But when the music really started rocking, and the ushers less strict, I got up to dance for a bit, only to be a little embarrassed, as people behind me were still sitting, so I was blocking their view. So I got up and grooved to Losing My Edge, and then sat down quietly.
Then, when the ever-so-recognisable staccato piano of All My Friends started up, I went bonkers. I stayed seated, just barely, and just danced as best as I could. I just sang my heart out. Truly, at that moment, at this stage of life, all I really wanted was just to see all my friends that night. I still feel that way. I've been feeling that way ever since the full impact of the fact that I'll be turning one big figure older this year hit me.
And, as I've written before, All My Friends is the anthem of the late twenties, early thirty-something individual, someone who's lived and is lost, but wouldn't change a thing about how he or she has lived. And that person is exactly the person that I am right now. I wouldn't trade one stupid decision for another five years of lies.
That isn't to say the gig was a sombre one. No, there's just something so dance-able and punk-rock about James' melodies that bely the seriousness of the subject matter. Also, when James - much, much bigger than he appears in his photos - is bouncing up and down and running around on stage, there's just something about his sheer exuberance which rubs off on everyone.
As the band trooped off the stage after the end of the set, James turned around and said, "don't worry, we're coming back!" And when they came back for their encore - and, man, what an encore - it was fantastic. They started off with Someone Great, a song I have only recently discovered and is something I could listen to over and over again, because it's just so perfect for anyone who's lost someone, whether it's a relationship they're mourning, or the death of a loved one. James himself told this to the audience, saying that a couple of people had contacted him to ask that he play it at the band's London gig because they had lost someone close and would be at the gig, so this song was going out to them. I don't think anyone couldn't relate to that sentiment.
After that was the crazy loud riotous Daft Punk Is Playing At My House, a song I first heard off The O.C. and was probably my introduction to LCD Soundsystem. I didn't like the song then, and didn't listen to any more of the band's songs until after learning CG had purchased their album and decided to give them a second chance. In any case, the song's okay, but I still don't think it's that great.
For their very last song of the night, I was convinced it would be North American Scum, but, instead, it turned out to be New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down, which was a nice surprise. I don't know how I could forget about this incredible love song to a fantastic city, but, somehow I did. And it was a good way to end the night off, with all of us swaying in our chairs as a shower of balloons fell from the ceiling.
I paid £28 to catch them at Brixton. Given that this is their last tour, I'd be happy to pay the £50+ (inclusive of fees) and go catch them (and Snoop Dogg!!!) at Wireless. And, if you're into indie/alternative music at all, you should definitely go too.
To start off, LCD Soundsystem opened with Us vs. Them, not one of my favourite tracks, but definitely one of their most recognisable. As an opener, it was all right. However, James Murphy mentioned something about how one of their instruments - Nancy's keyboard? - wasn't set up properly so the audience couldn't get the full impact. After this was rectified, they did the whole song once more. At first I thought it was cool... then I realised it might have been at the expense of another, better song (as there was a curfew in force) and got a little cheesed off, particularly when, by the end of the night, one of the songs I'd been so sure they'd play hadn't been played.
I was sitting in the upper circle, an area not conducive to standing or dancing. If anyone got up, the ushers were upon them in a flash, shining their torches at them until they sat down. At first, I didn't mind. After all, I was tired, and I'm not terribly tall, so I welcomed the efforts of the ushers to maintain some order and discipline. But when the music really started rocking, and the ushers less strict, I got up to dance for a bit, only to be a little embarrassed, as people behind me were still sitting, so I was blocking their view. So I got up and grooved to Losing My Edge, and then sat down quietly.
Then, when the ever-so-recognisable staccato piano of All My Friends started up, I went bonkers. I stayed seated, just barely, and just danced as best as I could. I just sang my heart out. Truly, at that moment, at this stage of life, all I really wanted was just to see all my friends that night. I still feel that way. I've been feeling that way ever since the full impact of the fact that I'll be turning one big figure older this year hit me.
And, as I've written before, All My Friends is the anthem of the late twenties, early thirty-something individual, someone who's lived and is lost, but wouldn't change a thing about how he or she has lived. And that person is exactly the person that I am right now. I wouldn't trade one stupid decision for another five years of lies.
That isn't to say the gig was a sombre one. No, there's just something so dance-able and punk-rock about James' melodies that bely the seriousness of the subject matter. Also, when James - much, much bigger than he appears in his photos - is bouncing up and down and running around on stage, there's just something about his sheer exuberance which rubs off on everyone.
As the band trooped off the stage after the end of the set, James turned around and said, "don't worry, we're coming back!" And when they came back for their encore - and, man, what an encore - it was fantastic. They started off with Someone Great, a song I have only recently discovered and is something I could listen to over and over again, because it's just so perfect for anyone who's lost someone, whether it's a relationship they're mourning, or the death of a loved one. James himself told this to the audience, saying that a couple of people had contacted him to ask that he play it at the band's London gig because they had lost someone close and would be at the gig, so this song was going out to them. I don't think anyone couldn't relate to that sentiment.
After that was the crazy loud riotous Daft Punk Is Playing At My House, a song I first heard off The O.C. and was probably my introduction to LCD Soundsystem. I didn't like the song then, and didn't listen to any more of the band's songs until after learning CG had purchased their album and decided to give them a second chance. In any case, the song's okay, but I still don't think it's that great.
For their very last song of the night, I was convinced it would be North American Scum, but, instead, it turned out to be New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down, which was a nice surprise. I don't know how I could forget about this incredible love song to a fantastic city, but, somehow I did. And it was a good way to end the night off, with all of us swaying in our chairs as a shower of balloons fell from the ceiling.
I paid £28 to catch them at Brixton. Given that this is their last tour, I'd be happy to pay the £50+ (inclusive of fees) and go catch them (and Snoop Dogg!!!) at Wireless. And, if you're into indie/alternative music at all, you should definitely go too.
Friday, April 23, 2010
It turns out Elliot will only be gone from London for a month! While he'll still be missed - I'm really feeling a lot happier now that I get to do dance classes which I enjoy on a more regular basis - I hope he will forgive my skipping the very last of his dance classes I can make before he leaves for Los Angeles in favour of being able to make it to the O2 Academy in Brixton in time to catch Yacht, LCD Soundsystem's warm-up act. As it stands, it would have had to run like heck from my dance studio after the class ends at 8 pm in order to make it in time for LCD Soundsystem itself, and I've been looking forward to this for some time now, having only just recently discovered the genius that is James Murphy. All My Friends, Someone Great and New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down are all incredible songs... and North American Scum? Great fun. Their most recent release, Drunk Girls, is very much in the vein of Scum, so I'm looking forward to more great stuff tonight.
I had been planning a fairly lazy Saturday afternoon but have unexpectedly received a pair of tickets courtesy of corporate hospitality to a top EPL match. I'm really excited. It'll be my first live EPL match ever (look, I can't afford Man Utd tickets) and, hopefully, by that time, I'll be on top of the world, having received news of my beloved team getting the result they require, before watching their archrivals get trounced.
And next week - Gorillaz! I know. Wooooo hooooooooooo!
I had been planning a fairly lazy Saturday afternoon but have unexpectedly received a pair of tickets courtesy of corporate hospitality to a top EPL match. I'm really excited. It'll be my first live EPL match ever (look, I can't afford Man Utd tickets) and, hopefully, by that time, I'll be on top of the world, having received news of my beloved team getting the result they require, before watching their archrivals get trounced.
And next week - Gorillaz! I know. Wooooo hooooooooooo!
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