Flashback Friday.. The Smashing Pumpkins - 'Disarm'

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.

http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/
https://www.facebook.com/smashingpumpkins
https://twitter.com/SmashingPumpkin

BUZZ Playlists.. 'Summering'

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 :)

Have fun!

Let me know what your favourite songs are!

Flashback Friday.. Spinnerette - 'Ghetto Love'

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.

http://spinnerettemusic.com/
https://twitter.com/Spinnerette
https://www.facebook.com/spinnerette

Flashback Friday.. Blood Red Shoes - 'Don't Ask'

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?

http://www.bloodredshoes.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/bloodredshoes
https://twitter.com/bloodredshoes

New Waves.. IAMX - 'The Unified Field'

In the UK especially, IAMX - aka. former Sneaker Pimps maestro, Chris Corner - isn't as loved as he should be. In fact, he appears to be practically ignored by the UK music press. Although, if you cross the waters to Europe, the ex-pat/ current Berlin inhabitant is far more adored.

His brand of emotive electronica can  range from darkly disturbing to whimsically romantic within the space of an album. Both musically and visually, IAMX take influence of cirque and cabaret, although neither are present in the above song. 'The Unified Field' is the first song to début from the fifth IAMX album of the same name. In regards to this song, I don't feel that it's one of Corner's strongest at all; it doesn't feel that unique, or special, and it doesn't encapsulate what IAMX is about. It just feels mediocre, although perhaps within the context of the album, my opinion may differ.

I'm going to leave some of my favourite IAMX songs below so you can see what I mean .


http://www.iamx.eu/
http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/iamx
http://www.facebook.com/IAMXOFFICIAL

'Spit It Out'

'Nature of Inviting

'Ghosts Of Utopia'

'Tear Garden'

New Waves.. The Ramona Flowers - 'Dismantle and Rebuild'

Presumably named after comic book character, Scott Pilgrim's spunky love interest, the debut song from indie electro outfit, The Ramona Flowers is a classy affair. Infused with subtle dubstep elements, 'Dismantle and Rebuild' flows passionately - and the video is apt, as the sounds bring to mind cityscapes and speeding traffic, and where a lot of electronic music can sound stark, this song is rather comforting to the ear.

Apart from that, The Ramona Flowers' debut EP, Dismantle is OUT NOW and is currently floating around the cyberspace of the iTunes charts.

http://www.theramonaflowers.com/

http://www.facebook.com/theramonaflowersmusic

https://twitter.com/theramonaflower

New album releases.. 17th Sept

17 September 2012
Artist	Title
Mika	The Origin Of Love
How To Dress Well	Total Loss
Muse	2nd Law
The Killers	Battle Born
Catherine Irwin	Little Heater
We Are The Ocean	Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow
Dinosaur Jr.	I Bet on Sky
Grizzly Bear	Shields
Michael Jackson	Bad: 25th Anniversary Edition
Skunk Anansie	Blac Traffic
Joe Mcelderry	Here's What I Believe
Nelly Furtado	Spirit Indestructible
P!nk	The Truth About Love
The Killers	Battle Born
Rival Sons	Head Down
The Script	Three
Band of Horses	Mirage Rock
Kreayshawn	Somethin Bout Kreay
James Walsh	Lullaby
thenewo2	thefearofmissingout
Hey Sholay	((O))
Presets	Pacifica

courtesy of NME.com

New album releases.. 10th September

10 September 2012
Artist	Title
David Byrne & St Vincent	Love This Giant
Toy	Toy
The Raveonettes	The Observator
The XX	Coexist
A$AP Rocky	LongLiveA$AP
Gallows	Gallows
The Dead Formats	At Sixes And Sevens
Tender Trap	Ten Songs About Girls
Needtobreathe	The Reckoning
Amanda Palmer	Theatre Is Evil
Lonsdale Boys Club	Lonsdale Boys Club
The Nieighbourhood	I'm Sorry

courtesy of NME.com

New album releases.. 3rd September

3 September 2012
Artist	Title
The Milk	Tales from the Thames Delta
Cat Power	Sun
imamiwhoami	Kin
The Vaccines	Come Of Age
Mark Knopfler	Privateering
Jens Lekman	I Know What Love Is
Metronomy	Late Night Tales
The Fresh & Onlys	Long Slow Dance
Animal Collective	Centipede Hz
Two Door Cinema Club	Beacon
Freddie Mercury	Barcelona: Special Edition
Dinosaur Jr	I Bet On Sky

courtesy of NME.com