I unexpectedly came across this as I was getting ready for uni this morning and had to post it!
It feels like an absolute age has passed since '80's enthused pop nugget 'Everything Is Embarrassing'first appeared on cyberspace over a year ago. Similarly '80's influenced, 'You're Not The One' is far more punchy in comparison to its dolefully chilled predecessor, accented with punchy synths and a brash guitar, with Ferreira's crying vocals stating that her current love interest is, indeed, not the one she needs to be with. Also, Ferreira's vocals are easily the strongest she has displayed on any of her singles yet, and this brilliant pop song bodes well for whatever her forthcoming debut album (finally!) has to offer.
And here was me thinking that this stellar performance had fallen into the BBC abyss of space and time!
I have recently developed an intangible love for Phoenix! However, I am rather loathe and ashamed to admit that prior to seeing them live at Reading as they headlined the NME/Radio1 stage on a Sunday night, that I had not really listened to a lot of their music. I had given their fourth album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix a casual listen when it first came out in 2009, but hadn't delved any deeper in the time since then.
But that all changed with seeing them live at Reading! They were absolutely fantastic, the band were totally on point, the light show was impressive, and singer Thomas Mars had absolutely no fear in regards to diving into the crowd!
The song I've chosen - '1901' - is one of their most well known singles and was an absolute riot live, even this TV performance on Jools Holland was good, and you're guaranteed to be humming it for the rest of the day after. Recently, I've really enjoyed listening to their recent fifth album, Bankrupt!, which is far more electronic than anything they've done previously. If you ever get the chance to see Phoenix live, take the opportunity! The band are currently touring the US before heading over to Mexico, Europe and Australia, with Haim (also spectacular live!) joining them over in Europe. http://wearephoenix.com/ https://www.facebook.com/wearephoenix https://twitter.com/wearephoenix
Ohai, remember me? I used to write blog posts on here on da regz. Now it's somewhat less regz, but that's largely down to my feeling uninspired in regards to some of the music I keep coming across.
But come forth Charli XCX - someone who I can generally count on to make me happy again with her glorious dance-pop songs - and it appears she is on top form! After gaining more worldwide press attention thanks to her both writing and featuring on mega-hit of the summer, 'I Love It', by Swedish duo Icona Pop, Charli has (somehow) managed to find time to begin work on her second album whilst touring here, there and everywhere. The first song to be debuted as the follow-up to her first proper album, True Romance, is the delectable 'Superlove'; it is instantly loveable, of similar glittering ilk of 'Take My Hand' but much more accessible and sophisticated - by no means a bad thing! - and will no doubt be played on radio airwaves anytime soon. This is straight up pop at its best - so go get hooked!
Just a brief one to end my absentee ways and - more specifically - to keep a record of some of the reviews I have written for other sites. I'm gonna link to some of the better ones I feel I have written on this particular blog post - please go have a read if you're so inclined!
Aside from that, I currently appear to have mislaid my blogging mojo. I'm afraid I'm still looking for it. Creative block sucks.
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1. AlunaGeorge - Body Music
This was a really good pop album - surprisingly so - and it was pretty amazing live and tipsy when I was at Reading. (READ HERE)
1. Swim Deep - Where The Heaven Are We
Because - let's face it - that other album cover was just far too cringey! Bit disappointed by this album in all honesty; the singles were very promising but I can't help but feel the band failed to back it up. (READ HERE)
3. The Civil Wars - The Civil Wars
This album was seriously beautiful, and the voices of Joy Williams and John Paul White are exquisite! (READ HERE)
4. Fenech-Soler - Rituals
Fenech-Soler's second album changed tack a little; it was far more pop than their previous (which was also very good!), so it's really up to preference. (READ HERE)
5. Arctic Monkeys - AM
Easily one of the most hyped and anticipated albums of the past year, ever since 'R U Mine' blew everything out of the water! Being almost 2 weeks since I first got my PR through Renowned For Sound, I'm still of two minds about it. I do like the album, it has some very good songs, and even the ones that I don't run to, when they crop up on my playlist, I still like them. On the other hand, 'R U Mine' almost set the bar too high in my opinion, and it almost feels like a separate entity in comparison to the rest of the album. I tried to articulate my feels better in the actual review, however I still feel that I'm not quite managing to hit the nail on the head with my p.o.v. (READ HERE)
6. MGMT - MGMT
I didn't particularly enjoy this album so to speak; it is very dense and experimental, though I could still recognise that it was artfully done, if slightly self-indulgent. However, I feel I concluded very succinctly in this review, so here we are. (READ HERE)
There were a lot of other reviews I've done of the past month or two that don't really fit the nature of this blog, so I've skimmed over those, but if you are so inclined, feel free to read my entire Renowned For Sound works here :)
I featured 'Tennis Court' by Lorde on the July BUZZ a few days ago. I can't recall how I stumbled across her now, but the first song I heard was this song, 'Royals'.
Surprisingly, yet also unsurprisingly, 'Royals' stormed to the top of the charts in her New Zealand homeland; pretty impressive for a 16 year old, eh? The singer-songwriter - real name Ella Yelich-O'Connor - is fiercely protective of what her label release to the world; as of yet, there are two music videos, one for 'Royals' and one for 'Tennis Court', and a handful of photos from a single promo shoot, live shots compile the rest. It is refreshing to see such self-guard from a teen in a world over-saturated in the over-sharing of her contemporaries and fans alike.
'Royals' itself is very subtle, comprised of clicks, beats and vocal layering to create heavenly harmonies, however, it's all about the lyrics. All of Lorde's songs carry a story, as do the accompanying visuals, and it's really this sort of artist that I get excited about.
Her EP, The Love Club is available from iTunes and is on Spotify. For some reason, 'Royals' doesn't seem to be available in the UK yet, and I'm not sure why, although the version of the EP that I bought from UK iTunes has a different tracklisting to the US one. Which is a lil disappointing, as I'm now waiting for 'Royals' to have a presumably massive release over here. Good things come to those who wait...
It appears that I'd almost forgot to do this post, whoopsee!
I kinda feel like I've fallen off the musical wagon lately; I've gotten into a bit of a rut of there being not-much-of-interest-that-I-felt-compelled-to-write-about and I-don't-feel-like-writing-anything-for-anyone-at-all-ever-again. Ah well.
This week's Flashback is a bit of a sad one (sorry world!); I was reviewing The Civil Wars' new (seemingly final, yet v. good) album which featured a surprise cover of 'Disarm' by The Smashing Pumpkins. It was very different to the original, very delicate and vulnerable, as opposed to Billy Corgan's inherent bitterness. That said, I doubt anything will ever beat the Siamese Dream original; it's a fantastic song that has a sombrely addictive quality that keeps you pressing replay.
I'm going to be a bit lazy now and just tell you to listen to the song, but really, sometimes the music really does do it all.
A few weeks ago, when I was rejoicing at the emergence of Brit summer 2013 (3 weeks and possibly counting), so I put together a quick lil playlist of big happy bummer choons! There's quite a big mix in there, including Everything Everything, my fave CHVRCHES song, new CSS and Bloc Party, plus some old faves by Phoenix, The White Stripes, The Police and Grimes :)
This will be a short one I'm afraid, as due to the mess that this blog became a month or so ago, I'm still trying to get back into my groove as far as blogging is concerned. Hey, I'm improving - June didn't even have a BUZZ! Also, quick reminder that if anyone reading this, music blogger, other blogger, or not even a blogger at all, if you'd like to write a guest post on this blog, get in touch via electragrrl@gmail.com ! That aside, let's launch into this month's recap!
CHVRCHES - 'Gun'
My single of the month has to be 'Gun' by Scottish band CHVRCHES. With each single they release, they seem to get better and better and I can't wait for their debut album - The Bones Of What You Believe - to drop in late September! AlunaGeorge - 'Body Music'
My favourite album of this month is AlunaGeorge's debut, Body Music. I love pop music, and this is pop music with substance! The pair manage to sound both retro yet relevant, harkening back to old skool garage and '90's R'n'B. There's not one bad track on the album, proving that Aluna and George don't need to rely on Disclosure to make a hit. Read the review I did of the album over on Renowned For Sound :) Above is 'Just A Touch'.
Interview: Tracer
I had the pleasure of interviewing Aussie band Tracer for Renowned For Sound! We had a chat about their influences, being on the road, and their new album El Pistolero. Check it out over here!
Smith Westerns - 'Weekend'
The first of the guest posts occurred on this blog, courtesy of Huw who blogs over at The Go-Slow, and he picked one of the best summery songs everrrr with Smith Westerns' 'Weekend'. Listen to it, and I dare you not to be humming it for the rest of your days. Lorde - 'Tennis Court'
And finally, I'm going to leave you with a sneak peek of an upcoming post. Let me introduce you to Lorde! One quick Google will inform you that this New Zealand native is about to take over, an impressive feat at only 16! ......................................................................................................................................................... And that's it! So tell me folks, what have you been loving this July?
You should all know by now that -whilst I love a bit of raucous or textured indie/rock music - I am also very electronically inclined. In fact I'd go to say that I ♥ electro, especially of the layered kind; sometimes minimal electronics just sound... sterile, don't you think?
However, here is a band that is most definitely not sterile. Welcome Feathers, a New York based four-piece that specialise in synth pop. Their song- 'Land Of The Innocent' - brings to mind a warmer, more welcoming Ladytron, with singer Anastasia Dimou hearkening to a lost innocence before a pretty dystopian and barren sci-landscape. And that's before the pounding drums kick in.
Yup, I thought I'd switch it up a bit! Occasionally on this blog, there will be guest posts from other writers of the musically inclined. If you class yourself as such and would like to get involved, drop me an email (electragrrl@gmail.com) with the subject title of 'Guest Post', a little about yourself, writing examples or your own blog and what you'd be planning on talking about, and I'll get back to you!
For now I'll leave you with my lovely boyf Huw, who blogs over at The Go-Slow. Over and out!
Ta Kay! If you aren't familiar with Smith Westerns, you could be quite easily forgiven. The Chicago trio may have slipped past most of the indie-obsessed crowd, especially those on this side of the Atlantic. UK tours have never existed for the band (unless you count a short support slot for UK giants Arctic Monkeys). Not to worry though, I've got you covered ;)
After a somewhat below-the-surface debut album in 2009, the band didn't really catch any (semi)mainstream media attention until their 2011 sophomore effort Dye It Blonde, after catching the eye of infamous US indie label Fat Possum Records. The sudden success seemed to base itself around two factors: 1. The band's strikingly young average age (with all 3 members yet to turn 20), or 2. 'Weekend'.
The track (and band) seemed to emerge from nowhere, becoming a sudden indie radio hit with pop hooks galore. With a recipe of guitarist Max Kakacek's George Harrison-esque riff of the insanely catchy variety (WARNING: Will have you humming it for the rest of your life) and Cullen Omori's romanticised lyrics 'Weekends are never fun, unless you're around here too', "Weekend" is a delicious piece of indie pop. Garnished with dreamy synths and a youthful video that sees the Chi-Town trio strolling around their hometown in jeans so tight your balls may cringe, it became a brief staple in indie disco playlists.
With third album Soft Will released last month, the band have taken their penchant for 80's tinged pop songs with mega riffs to all new grounds. Though critically acclaimed, the album hasn't picked up the interest of its predecessor, hopefully not a sign of the band fading away. For those interested, check out the band's latest singles "Idol" and "Varsity".
Huw Woodward is a music writer, musician and lead singer/guitarist of the band Hollow. He has a somewhat obsessive knowledge of music trivia, Christopher Nolan films and Johnny Marr riffs. When he's not frightening elderly neighbours with late night drum sessions, he's most likely frightening his loved ones, friends and cats with his o̶v̶e̶r̶b̶e̶a̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ passionate musical debates. With regular single reviews and dogmatic feature articles, Huw maintains his own music blog at the-go-slow.blogspot.com.
Drenge are only a very recent acquisition of mine. I'd been aware of the press buzz for a while - along with a few other bands - however, I just hadn't happened across their music.
Until now! This here is there latest song, 'Face Of A Skull', which is set to be included on the band's self-titled debut, and it personifies what the band are about beautifully:-
Loud.
Rowdy.
Scuzzy.
Grungey.
Rawk!
'Face Of A Skull' - whilst still loud - feels marginally more streamlined than their previous songs (hear 'Backwaters'/'Necromance Is Dead'/Bloodsports' on the band's Soundcloud), where the energy of brothers Eoin and Rory Loveless can only be described as unbound and borderline crazed. This is rawk! And talking of 'rawk'(rock), it feels rare that you get a band these days that does it well; so many seem to fall into the - 'meh' - mediocre category, Drenge are primal!
I have now set my efforts into seeing this band live. Drenge are about to take off on an extensive UK tour, mixing in some dates on the festival circuit.
'Face Like A Skull' is out on 26th August.
Drenge's self-titled debut album is out 19th August.
Yup, I've started taking on interviews for Renowned For Sound! It was something I was a little tentative about, especially as I have been known to be quiet shy in previous years, however this is in the process of being ironed out. Though all that is of little importance in this instance, as due to time difference, this was an email Q+A aha..
I'm fond of Tracer. I was originally introduced to the band by a friend who lent me their first album, Spaces In Between, a few years back. This band love to make rowdy noise and apparently their live show is a riot too. Below I've embedded some of my fave songs, and also their latest single - the title track from their second album, El Pistolero (which is available to buy if you click this shiny link). Linkylink time, go check the full interview here!
PS. My fave Tracer song is 'Devil Ride' - but you already know that, because you read the interview.... ;)
The eternal question folks: what have I been listening to this week?
Or should I say month, with that summer holiday/laptop malfunction/ridiculous shifts/no sleep debacle. I can sure get away with a lot atm, hehe.
This past week, I've been getting into some of The Horrors, a band that - I admit - I had readily dismissed as all style and no substance a good few years back. They looked far too art-school and/or pompous for me to take them seriously, after all, who really needs a mushroom hair cut with a fringe down to their nose (ever practical, me!), however falling in love with 'Still Life' a year or so ago and taking my fine time to get my grubby mitts on their albums, I can declare myself more than pleasantly surprised!
'Who Can Say' is probably one of their best known songs. Taken from their second album, Primary Colours, it is what can only be described as a tuneful cacophony of noise, laced with slightly eerie synths, and with singer, Faris Badwan's sombre recounts of 'And when I told her I didn't love her anymore, she cried' (actually a lyrical lift from Jay And The Americans' 'She Cried'), this is almost an experimental, indie interpretation of a modern day sonnet.
Higher, the deluxe edition of The Horror's third album Skying, featuring reworkings and rarities is out now.
I feel so far behind. I noticed on my newsfeed (Facebook, private) that this - CHVRCHES' Gun EP - was released last Friday. That was definitely sprung upon me, especially as I had never even heard of the song or its impending release (the cave, the cave!).
But anyway, what's important is that I'm listening to it now, and I.M.O it is the best thing that CHVRCHES have released to date. Which is impressive, as I loved their Recover EPwhen it was released in March (!?), however, 'Gun' ups the ante as they say; it is more immediate, more commanding, though no less sparkling than the electronic alt. pop that the band have become known for. As always, singer Lauren Mayberry's cute voice is on top form, with revenge being a dish best served very cold, it appears, the singer warning 'You better run so, hide, hide - I have burned your bridges; I will be a gun, and it's you I'll come for'.
It's this sort of song that makes me excited for an album - and low and behold, there it one! Their debut album, The Bones Of What You Believe is due September 23rd, pre-order it here (recommended via the band's FB).
Ladies and gents, what is this? A post? An actual post!?
Alas, I am back from the wilderness, and what better way to get us back on good, loving terms than giving you some of the loverly Swim Deep. The "B-Town" (can we just say 'Birmingham/Brum' yet?) band have unveiled the bonus track from their forthcoming debut album, Where The Heaven Are We. I admit, I find myself asking this question of Swim Deep myself, for that album appears to have been pushed back; I'm sure it was due out in June? Ah well, who cares, when we have a new nugget of noise to whet out appetites.
'Crush' is the sort of Swim Deep affair that made us latch onto them in the first place; this isn't the emotional and atmospheric sister of 'She Changes The Weather', this is the slightly awkward adolescent brother squeezed somewhere in between 'King City' and 'Honey' that is attempting to be sultry and vying to get himself noticed. Austin and Co are on top form here, with the singer stating 'Take my breath and make me crush, talk real slow so I won't rush, take me some place I won't wanna be' over an intensifying, glimmering guitar. If this is the bonus track that they're willing to share now, I'm looking forward to the rest of the album!
The bonus track itself is available when you pre-order on iTunes. Where The Heaven Are We is also available in CD and vinyl direct from the Swim Deep Store.
Ah, the glorious wonders of blogging on the run or, as is currently the case, blogging from the creature comforts of my snuggly duvet whilst chillaxing to the Gold Edition of Jessie Ware's Devotion and about to dive into Caitlin Moran's Moranthology. Wild life, is me.
You may have noticed, those supposedly regular and avid readers of this blog (if you exist, let me know, I am eternally grateful!), that there hasn't been much bloggy action on these shores as of late. It's a combination of things, I'm afraid. First of all, I went on holiday with my family to the Cotswalds a few weeks ago (who knew a place could be so expensive!?). Second, soon after, the laptop broke and I've been forced to write on the frustratingly sluggish desktop instead - it's not used for a reason guys! And third, I've been so pinned down with work and trying my hardest to get my Renowned for Sound articles done on time that I've not had time to think about content for this blog, let alone write it. It's not something I'm happy about, but something has to give, I'm afraid. Realistically, regular features won't be happening again until the laptop is fixed, at least; blogging via app may be great for quick updates, but it makes imbedding content next to impossible!
So I'm afraid you'll have to bear with me for now. Hopefully things will straighten out soon!
I've always been a bit intrigued by Caro Emerald since I first came across her music via some TV advert for her 2010 debut album, Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor. Her retro jazz appealed to the unpursued penchant for the genre, however I failed to indulge once again.
However, the fact that her second album - The Shocking Miss Emerald - managed to crashland at the top of the UK charts earlier this year did not pass my notice, and after catching her appearance on Jools Holland, I snapped up the chance to review her latest single, 'Liquid Lunch' for Renowned For Sound.
It really is a treat, combining sassy jazz and swing with surprisingly witty lyrics, I was hooked from the get go. Read what else I had to say here :)
I'm alive! Returned to the real world; I seriously feel as if I've been living in an alternate universe this past week (holiday). No internet! Sporadic phone signal! A house in the woods! It was oddly strained to say the least, but at the same time nice to detach myself from the almost constant bombardment of instant information we have access to these days. It was like life before smart phones - when we all actually had lives!
Whilst one holiday, I managed to honour my reviewing commitments, dedicated lass that I am! That said, I sort of feel that this blog has been a little neglected as of late, especially as I was doing so well with posting (almost) every day - BOO.
Here's the first of my reviews this week for Renowned For Sound.com, my album of choice being The Lonely Island's latest offspring. You know The Lonely Island - just think 'Motherlover', 'The Creep', 'I'm On A Boat' or - my personal fave - 'Jack Sparrow'. I was so excited to get this album, entirely based on their previous hits, I hadn't heard a single thing from their new album. Unfortunately, I was a tad disappointed, read my review to find out why :)
Most may recall Brazilian band CSS from their neon 'Nu-Rave' circa 2007. Come 2013 and they've had a bit of a musical makeover, with a far more mature and experimental album. If nothing else were to peak your interest, they even co-wrote with Rancid's Tim Armstrong, something that I myself certainly was not expecting.
The band are certainly as quirky as ever, (though with far less neon) incorporating bizarre sounds and questionable lyrics to create an interesting album. Click here to read the full review on Renowned For Sound.
In case you're wondering where this long(ish) sabbatical has come from, it's because I've gone on holiday and appear to have neglected my blog without scheduling posts for the week to come. In fact, I hadn't even done my bloggy maintenance from the week before! SO here we are, with another Renowned For Sound review. You'll be seeing many of these in the future, as it's hard for me to juggle album reviews specifically for this blog whilst writing for a website, and working amongst other things.
Anyway, this week I reviewed the 13th anniversary 2 disc re-release of The Dandy Warhols album Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia. It's a bit of a classic, something of which I was unaware when I approached it. Yes, it's the 'Bohemian Like You' album, but don't let that put you off, for it is a surprisingly good listen, and I've even found myself voluntarily returning to tracks such as 'Mohammed', 'Nietzsche' and 'Big Indian', which aren't necessarily what you'd expect from the band, with psychedelic elements and 'Nietzsche' especially sounding like a cleaner My Bloody Valentine.
Anyway, as always click the pictures or here to be redirected to the article, and be sure to give the album a listen,, it's better than you think!
Almost a month a go I found a preview of this video and wanted to write a post, but to my utter frustration it was only available in America, grr! Anyway, the fact that you're now reading this means that this is is obviously no longer the case, therefore I present you with 'OMYGOD!' by Kate Nash!
Over the past year, my opinion of Kate Nash has undergone a bit of a renovation, along with her sound. Gone are the days of plinky plonk piano of 'Mouthwash' and in is the gritty sound first displayed in 2012's surprise release of 'Under-Estimate The Girl', however - despite the change in direction - the acerbic wit of 'Foundations' era Nash is most definitely still present. Her current album, Girl Talk, carries a lot of new wave influences and is easily her best effort yet, and 'OMYGOD!' follows suit.
As the second single taken from Girl Talk, 'OMYGOD!' is an accessible radio friendly hit, which is by no means a bad thing. The song appears to discuss missing someone even though the relationship has ended, with the tempo of the song swinging like a pendulum between the plodding verse and energetic chorus. An unfortunate and often aggravating side-effect of the internet press for me is the invasion of privacy of notable relationships of musicians given coverage by the press. One such relationship was that of Nash and The Cribs' Ryan Jarman, and as a result I can't help but read into the lyrics of songs such as this, ultimately presuming that this was written about said ex. Such invasions of privacy are highly frustrating in the listening of subsequent music, though by no means as frustrating as for the people involved. Damn the Internet!
Anyway, if you've yet to hear Nash's new album, give 'OMYGOD!' a listen. I currently can't find a release date for the single, however the album is available in different mediums and downloadable via iTunes, Amazon and GooglePlay.
Nash is touring the UK in the autumn (click here for tickets) , with dates in Norwich, Birmingham, Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow and Manchester.
Well, didn't this past month just fly by? I seriously don't know where it's gone! Some things have changed for me since we had the first edition of the monthly BUZZ; I can report that I've got a job and that I am now also writing reviews for RenownedForSound.com! Good times! Next week I go on (a UK) holiday, so hopefully summer is here to stay for a while instead of this unpredictable weather we're having.
Anyway, less dillydallying!
Marina And The Diamonds & Charli XCX - 'Just Desserts' Yes guys, THIS happened. Two of my current favourite female singers joined to collaborate on a Marina penned track; it was heaven. I could barely believe my eyes when this appeared on my Twitter feed (courtesy of Diamandis), and best of all? FREE DOWNLOAD! Wins all round! (Read my full post here) Superfood - 'TV' (Demo) Birmingham band Superfood dropped a new demo, therefore there is a grand total of two songs available online for your listening pleasure. This band are certainly growing on me, with their '90's influence and catchy lyrics. Similarly to the song 'Superfood', 'TV' is definitely a grower, and I'm looking forward to hearing a higher quality version and hopefully more demos in the near future.
Bjork - 'Army Of Me'
As I said on the post relating to this article, I find Bjork fascinating. She is truly one of the few individuals whose artistic vision is largely untampered by the barrage of the internet and a world that grows ever smaller, yet she somehow remains innovative (she created the first app album, yes - app!). 'Army Of Me' is easily my favourite Bjork song, the aggressive industrial stomp and her haunting voice are mesmirising. Laura Marling - 'Once I Was An Eagle'
The standout album for this month has to be Laura Marling's fourth effort, Once I Was An Eagle. If you've not listened to it yet, I can't recommend you do enough; it was stellar, and unexpectedly so on my part. Whilst I was aware of Marling and her brand of folk, I had never seeked out her music however, after reviewing it for RenownedForSound (please read it here) I was blown away by her effort. The video above is from her session on Jools Holland, and is identical to the recorded track. Savages - 'City's Full'
I recently gained possession of Savages album, Silence Yourself. I fully intended to write a review of it, however I just haven't had the opportunity to give it enough dedicated time and effort to articulate such; I hadn't even managed to listen to it until Wednesday! Savages, however, are a really good band, and definitely one I would love to catch live in the near future. Here's one of my fave's, 'City's Full'. God Damn - 'God Damn'
I've been listening to a lot of Black Country band God Damn recently. And I mean a. lot. At the moment they encapsulate everything I'm looking for in music: heavy, catchy, interesting, fun! God Damn have it in spades. Above is the song which encapsulates what the band are about, however you should also check out the epic video for their newest release, 'Heavy Money'. My boyfriend also did a review of the Heavy Money EP, which is currently streaming in full on God Damn's Soundcloud. ................................................................................................................................................. And that's it for May BUZZ! I'm really enjoying writing these posts, short, snappy and packed full of good stuff! I'm considering making a monthly playlist to accompany these posts. So, tell me, what have you been loving this May?
Avril Lavigne is probably an artist that you didn't expect to ever see on this blog - indeed, neither did I! My obsession with Avril had waned with childhood and I carried only a passing interest of her through my teens and into my twenties, viewing her as someone who - though definitely physically ageless - seems to be trying too hard to cling to her youth.
Lavigne definitely has a talent for writing/co-writing a catchy pop song, and as the only song I can recall from her fourth album, Goodbye Lullaby, 'What The Hell' certainly continued in this vein. However, I approached 'Here's To Never Growing Up' with a bit of trepidation; it certainly sets its mission statement straight off the mark, but surely there's a time where this type of song gets... old. Lavigne and her original audience are aging out of this pop-rock bracket, however her music is not. The track - co-written by future hubby Chad Kroeger (yes, that Nickelback Chad Kroeger) - is radio friendly fodder, and one that I felt almost brainwashed into liking by the time I finished the review for RenownedForSound.com.
I have a bit of a girl crush on Brody Dalle. It's been around for a while, in a manner similar to Allison Mosshart, Kathleen Hanna, Gwen Stefani, Marina Diamandis, Lights, I can't help but admire these women and the persona that surrounds them, their music and their message.
If you've heard of Brody Dalle, then you know that she was formerly of a band called The Distillers, a punk band who had three albums - their self-titled 2000 debut, Sing Sing Death House (2002) and Coral Fang (2003) - and are probably best known for their song 'Drain The Blood'. The band split in 2006, leaving Dalle and co-Distiller Tony Bevilacqua to work on a new project that would later become Spinnerette. Their self-titled debut - and as of yet, only - album, is certainly a departure from the days of The Distillers, however whilst the album as a whole certainly begins to lag in urgency, there are some good songs dotted about.
Perhaps my favourite song on the album is the short and snappy 'All Babes Are Wolves', however it feels more fitting to showcase how much Dalle has departed from the sound of the band that made her famous. So here is 'Ghetto Love', the debut song from Spinnerette which, with its grooving stomp, shows a diffenet side to Dalle and her voice. She is more than capable of singing, with that trademark throaty grit of hers intact, and whilst Spinnerette itself garnered mixed reviews, I'd recommend you take a listen in order to make your own mind up.
I admit, I have never overly immersed myself in the music of Laura Marling. The only reasons I have for this are:
When it comes to acoustic and/or folk music, I prefer male voices, eg. Jamie Woon, Jonny Craig, Justin Nozuka, Josh Kumra (off the top of my head, and they all begin with a 'J':- WOW.)
My limited exposure to Marling had left a somewhat depressing, lovelorn mark on my consciousness, and it's rather rarely that I actively choose to listen to such lyrically heavy music.
Therefore, despite approaching Marling's new album, Once I Was An Eagle, with a touch of trepidation, I must admit I was pleasantly surprised, despite her tales of romantic misdemeanour. I'm rather proud of the review I wrote for Renowned For Sound.com so please feel free to read it here :)
I gave it 5/5 - yes people, a mighty 5/5! Marling truly captivated her audience with this album!
For me, it came as somewhat of a surprise, as despite following the bands and Jared Leto (don't start..) on various forms of social media, I hadn't paid enough attention to be aware that they were going to spring a new album on us all.
30 Seconds To Mars are one of those bands that make me reminisce on my time at high school and college; the first song that I ever heard by the bands was 'Attack', taken from their 2005 album, A Beautiful Lie, and it is still the song that I return to by the band, the few others being 'Hurricane', 'Stranger In A Strange Land' (This Is War), 'From Yesterday' (the video!) and their cover of Bjork's 'Hunter'. Part of me feels as if I've outgrown the band; along with so many others, they now reside in Nostalgia Town.
Whoops, is Saturday - oh dear! Onwards and upwards!
The addition of Bjork on this blog may be a tad unexpected for you perhaps - indeed - I found it a bit unexpected also!
I find Bjork a positively fascinating creature. She is one of those few truly original artists that are always striving to push the boundaries of their chosen mediums. Her most recent album, 2011's Biophilia, was the world's first app album that allowed users to fully interact with the songs, even being able to create completely new versions of them. Yes, 'app', not 'rap', and as far as I am aware, it is not a feat that has been replicated since.
However, today we are discussing one of Bjork's earlier efforts. 'Army Of Me' is a song taken from Bjork's third album, Post,and album which she described as 'musically promiscuous'. This is an opinion that is most definitely relatable, as Post also contained what is perhaps Bjork's most memorable song, her cover of 'It's Oh So Quiet'. The song is very menacing, laden in dark and foreboding synths, and is easily my favourite Bjork song. Bjork stated that she wrote it with her brother in mind, daring him to improve himself to improve his life. The song was also used in the soundtrack to Zack Snyder's 2011 fantasy film, Sucker Punch, alsongside efforts by Skunk Anansie, Allison Mosshart and actress Emily Browning.
What are your thoughts on Bjork? Do you like 'Army Of Me'? Have you seen Sucker Punch?
Hailing from Stockport, singer-songwriter Findlay is a fireball of energy. Her most recent track,'Off & On' is an addictive blues infused riot of a song that manages to bear resemblance to something Jack White would write or approve of.
Introduced by a sultry, seductive guitar and stomping beat, the song slowly intensifies, building into a high intensity laserbeam of sound, with Findlay's bark seemingly grabbing the listener unceremoniously by the collar and dragging them viciously through the turmoil of the song which, despite being a mere 2 mins 48, is a snippet of time that you won't forget in a hurry.
In my humble opinion, combining rock and electronic elements in music can be a somewhat difficult feat to pull off. The end result, I feel, ends up either feeling too interspersed and not worth the attempt or too cluttered, with synths and guitars clashing apocalyptically - it's not a pretty sound.
This is however. 'Escape', from New York based band Neonfaith, manages to combine elements of indie and electronica in an intricate and delicate manner. The track is minimalist, yet emotive; the haunting and alluring voice of singer Megan Faye weaves its way through the retro sounding beats, and is the silver thread which binds the song together. The music manages to transition many influences, morphing from laid back guitars to a current of electronic schisms in a heartbeat, but it works, flawlessly, and it is this that makes the band one to watch.
Neonfaith currently only have six songs posted on Soundcloud, three of which are remixes, which is unfortunate as I can't wait to hear more from the band. You can listen to three of their original songs - including 'Escape' - here; the other two, 'Tied Together' and 'Mercury', are similarly intriguing lounge electronica.
So, I appear to have some news for you, folks! Recently, I joined the review team over at Renowned For Sound.com and therefore my writing will be reaching a far wider audience! This will be invaluable work experience for me, and I couldn't be happier about it. There are some other developments and projects under-way that I am also excited about, however I don't want to curse myself by writing about them prior to fruition, so I'm afraid I'll just be teasing y'all for now!
Is it that time of week again already? It feels like barely five minutes since I did this post last week. Anyways, here we are and if you're British you'll know that our promising looking summer has dissipated into perpetual GLOOM. Perhaps I cursed us all by posting that summer playlist a tad too early.
This week, I've been listening to a lot of Marina because - let's face it - when is there ever a wrong time to listen to Marina? Those unacquainted with her pre-Electra Heart efforts will find themselves met with a less mainstream sound which, whilst still electronic, is far more piano based, as seen in songs such as 'Obsessions', 'Hermit The Frog', 'Numb' and 'Guilty'. 'Mowgli's Road' - the first single taken from Marina's 2009 debut, The Family Jewels - is easily one of the singer's most bizarre, seeing her cuckoo (literally) her way through three minutes of cartoonish shtick that is reminiscent of a Noughties Kate Bush. As always, Marina's voice is her best asset which - though no doubt irritating for some - is capable of many feats, her whooping vibrato channeling many a character as she embodies her role as a lost Mowgli, stumbling along the path of life unsure of their aim, with the lyrics 'There's a fork in the road/ I'll do as I'm told/ Well I don't know (don't know, don't know, don't know)/ Who I wanna be' reinforcing this dilemma of being controlled - most likely by her label - in her quest for recognition.
Marina is currently touring the US in support of her second album Electra Heart (which is out now), along with support from Charli XCX.
Do you like Marina? Which do you prefer - her first album or Electra Heart? What is your favourite Marina song?
The somewhat mysterious 'B-Town' band Superfood are back with a new demo for their song 'TV', proving the band are not merely a one-hit-wonder of the underground world.
Whilst 'TV' does not capture quite the same charm as the aforementioned song, it is most definitely a grower in the same manner as 'Superfood' previously was, and with Blur-esque guitars and lyrics that practically beg you to sing along, the band are certainly tapping into their own interpretation of the current '90's revival.
Only the second song to ever surface from the band, it will no doubt add momentum to their rippling wave of national recognition following the debut of their first self-titled demo.
The band are currently touring the UK with a mid-tour stop in Amsterdam.
Do you like Superfood? What do you think 'TV'? Do you prefer it to their first song, 'Superfood'?
When I first came across the intergalactic sounding electro-pop of The Listening, I admit, it took me a while to warm to her; her voice came across as nasally through the auto-tune which, whilst used for effect, she definitely did not need. Since then, we have had her second album, 2011's Siberia, which saw the singer-songwriter get more experimental and eclectic, switching the previously sugary sounding keytar for crunchy synths, however prior to that we had the LIGHTS Acoustic EP where - stripped of all distractions - Lights' voice truly had a chance to shine on delicate reinterpretations of her debut album (plus a cheeky cover of Rancid's 'Fall Back Down' to boot!).
Now, Lights is back with Siberia Acoustic, a project she has been working on since the inception of Siberia itself - one which many of her many fans had been anticipating, myself included - and which was finally exposed to the world in late April. Whilst LIGHTS Acoustic was merely an EP, Siberia Acoustic is a full album of re-compositions which show the songs in an entirely different, er, light. It highlights the potential diversity of the songs, indeed, there are a number which sound superior to the originals in their new guises, instead of merely 'different' in their new interpretations.
My favourite just so happens to be 'Suspension' - a song that also happened to be my favourite from the original album (listen to the original here)! So, here's some Lights at 30,000 feet :)
Enjoy!
Are you a LIGHTS fan? Do you prefer her electronic or acoustic music? What did you think of her cover of Rancid's 'Fall Back Down'?
You may or may not have noticed, but it's been a slow one this week - apologies guys! I've been tied down finishing uni projects as deadlines crept ever closer, but I am now somewhat freed for the summer. I seriously hope that I get the grades that I'm hoping for, and I'll be throwing myself into preparing for my third year modules over the summer; it's time to get hardcore - I'm determined to get a 1st! A bit of sun wouldn't go amiss though would it (the weather - forever a British conversation topic!)? Our two days of summer appear to have dissipated back into a moody looking spring, and here was me preparing for the next BBQ!
Anyway, a Flashback, for a Friday! Here we have Blood Red Shoes - a band that my boyfriend introduced me to some months ago now via their third album, 2012's In Time To Voices. Despite the band being only a two piece - compiled of Laura-Mary Carter and Steven Ansell - they really do manage to pack a punch. The song I've picked out was the lead song from 2010's Fire Like This, and 'Don't Ask' is an energetic, addictive introduction to the band, showcasing Ansell's, at times, frenetic drums and Carter's commanding guitar whilst highlighting their favoured dual vocal attack of the pair. It really is an equal team effort that manages to be rather impressive, especially considering how much noise the two manage to generate in comparison to other two-piece bands such as The White Stripes and The Kills, both of whom prefer a rather minimal sound in accordance to their minimal line-up.
The band are currently only scheduled to play Pentaport Rock Festival in South Korea on the 4th August.
Their most recent release, the Water EP, is available now.
Are you a fan of Blood Red Shoes? What's your favourite Blood Red Shoes song and/or album?
