In the past I remembered writing about Echo & the Bunnymen's 11th studio album, The Fountain. I have not actually listened to it yet but I have heard mix reviews about it. I hate reading the reviews before I have had a chance to listen so I think my perspective on it has already been somewhat tarnished. Oh well...let's hope I don't take MOJO's pespective as they have described it as an album of "...middle aged pop-rock".
It also did not shoot up the charts as many expected it to but have a listen to their first single 'Think I Need It Too' below and make your own judgement because I actually like quite like it.
The official tracklisting is pretty close to what I was given and posted in July.
Third album by British band Editors, In This Light and On this Evening is out now and it sounds good!!!! I've always loved their Joy Division-esque sound. I mean I'm a huge fan of the dark and depressing sound and lyrics of The Smiths, obviously Morrissey, Echo & the Bunnymen and Depeche Mode so it goes without saying these guys are high on my list. Their first album The Back Room had success but I think it was An End Has A Start that really exploded in Aus. It seems everyone was talking about 'Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors' at the time. This new one was produced by Flood who has worked with everyone from U2 to Nine Inch Nails and Sigur Ros. I think this definitely rates as a great record but I am a bit disappointed with the lack of guitars as there are more synthesizers this time around. It has taken the No. 1 spot in the UK charts already so hopefully we'll hear about the band coming here for a tour!!!. Also, in case you were wondering I'm voting them for cover art of the year, forget what I said about YYY. It's so simplistic but extremely effective.
Tracklisting CD # 1 1. In This Light and On This Evening 2. Bricks and Mortar 3. Papillon 4. You Don't Know Love 5. The Big Exit 6. The Boxer 7. Little Treasure 8. Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool 9. Walk the Fleet Road CD#2 - Deluxe Edition 1. This House is Full of Noise 2. I Want a Forest 3. A Life As a Ghost 4. Human 5. For the Money
How cool does this look...wow can't wait!!!! I know this is no substitute for actually being there but if you miss out on tix or just want to relive the experience then this is for you. I'm a huge fan of concert DVDs but I'm very particular about which ones I get. The band has to not only be good live but have a show that attacks your senses, I'm talking lights, video screens...dancers and other things to make you think beyond the singer/band on stage. The above trailer shows a band in their prime and they seem to have the audience eating out of their hands and I've seen them live and they have all of the above to keep you interested.
I'm a huge fan of these guys as you can probably guess and believe if they keep changing their sound up then music lovers of all types will only benefit. Music journalists love to give them crap but I think they're ambition and sometimes perceived cockiness is good as U2 do it all the time and get away with it and they are definitely not as bad as those Oasis lads. So check this out when Live from The Royal Albert Hall is released on November 10th 2009.
The tracklisting...
Human
This Is Your Life
Somebody Told Me
For Reasons Unknown
The World We Live In
Joyride
I Can’t Stay
Bling (Confessions Of A King)
Shadowplay
Smile Like You Mean It
Losing Touch
Spaceman
A Dustland Fairytale
Sam’s Town (Acoustic)
Read My Mind
Mr. Brightside
All These Things That I’ve Done
Sweet Talk
This River Is Wild
Bones
Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
When You Were Young
Bonus Features are included too...woooohooo!!!!
Behind the Scenes Doco
Alternate Angles
More stuff...
Tranquilize (Live from Oxegen Festival 2009)
Human (Live from Hyde Park 2009)
Mr Brightside (Live from Hyde Park 2009)
Smile Like You Mean It (Live from V Festival 2009)
When You Were Young (Live from V Festival 2009)
It's all looking really good and guys what did you all think of Muse's The Resistance. Personally, it overwhelmed my senses and I'm still trying to figure it out. But you'll hear more about this in my review.
Edit: The band also have a new track for the New Moon soundtrack, yes do I know its part of the Twilight franchise but more importantly its a new Killers song!!! The new track is called a White Demon Love Song...hmmm. Anyways, you can hear it in a few weeks so you know YouTube that one.
U2 are remastering The Unforgettable Fire for its 25th anniversary which I think is their most underrated album especially since the Joshua Tree is really the companion to it and we all know the Joshua Tree is good but not as good as the critics say. Anyways, what is so special about this reissue?? Well...their will be 4 different versions that include B-sides from TUF sessions, live recordings and other goodies.
The 4 versions include: 1. Vinyl album version 2. Standard remastered CD version 3. Deluxe double CD with 36 page book 4. Limited edition deluxe box set which includes the double CD version , 56 page book, 5 prints and a DVD with a making of doco. In case you were wondering I will be buying this one!!!
Rumour has it that this is the tracklisting:
Main Album - I presume this will be all retouched like their other anniversary reissues 1. A Sort of Homecoming 2. Pride (In the Name of Love) 3. Wire 4. The Unforgettable Fire 5. Promenade 6. 4th of July 7. Bad 8. Indian Summer Sky 9. Elvis Presley & America 10. MLK
2nd CD 1. 11 O'Clock Tick Tock (Unreleased) 2. Bass Trap 3. Boomerang I 4. Boomerang II 5. Love Comes Tumbling 6. 60 Seconds In Kingdom Comes 7. The Three Sunrises 8. Sunday Bloody Sunday (Live from Live Aid) 9. Bad (Live from Live Aid) 10. Walk On the Wild Side 11. Ruby Tuesday 12. Satellite of Love 13. Disappearing Act (Unreleased) 14. Yoshino Blossom (Unreleased)
The most interesting thing here is the inclusion of Disappearing Act which was originally started in 1983 with Eno and Lanois and called 'White City' at the time but was revisited again this year. I love how the lads revisit songs that didn't make old albums how fantastic. They played a snippet of it in an interview with BBC radio and you can hear it below. By the way, it's not the greatest quality but it will do.
Are you as excited as I am for The Unforgettable Fire reissue which will be released on October 27th.
Mika releases his much anticipated 2nd album The Boy Who Knew Too Much on September 21st. The first single is 'We Are Golden' and will be released in early September and looks to be another catchy one with his quirky pop sensibilities stamped all over it. You too can hear it too on his official website www.mikasounds.com. Also, here is the official video for We Are Golden. Sorry about the lack of embedding for the video as its been disabled by his record company.
Tracklisting: 1. We Are Golden 2. Blame It On the Girls 3. Rain 4. Dr. John 5. I See You 6. Blue Eyes 7. Good Gone Girl 8. Touches You 9. By the Time 10. One Foot Boy 11. Toy Boy 12. Pick Up the Off the Floor
I sometimes wonder what I did without the Google news search function. I love just putting a random band in and seeing what recent news relating to the band come up or whose now talking about them. This is what happened when I was on my way to work one particular day and as I usually do I was listening to my Ipod on shuffle and was very happy to have Echo & the Bunnymen come through my headphones. I was so happy infact that I went on to listen to most of the album on the way back home. Anyways, I was so excited about my rediscovery of Echo I went and Google News searched them and lo and behold they are releasing a new album this year!!!!
'The Fountain' will be released on October 12th and the first single 'Think I Need It Too' will be released on September 28th. There is to be a collaboration with Chris Martin but aside from that it looks to be a cracker as their previous two albums were not as successful as they could of been or probably deserved to be. Unfortunately I don't have an album cover or a full tracklisting. But I do have a few confirmed tracks and four of them are available to listen to on their website so check it out here!!! Please remember the tracklisting is in no particular order. ENJOY!
Think I Need It Too
The Idolness of Gods
Forgotten Fields
Proxy
Shroud of Turin
Life Of a Thousand Crimes
The Fountain
Do You Know Who I am
Drivetime
I'll post more details when I get them. Catch ya later...
Grunge rockers Pearl Jam release their 9th album Backspacer on September 20th. This should be a good one and may I say how FRICKING AWESOME the cover art is, it may just be the best this year and it's not really the official cover. The first single will be 'The Fixer' and the tracklisting is as follows...
1. Gonna See My Friend 2. Got Some 3. The Fixer 4. Johnny Guitar 5. Just Breathe 6. Amongst the Waves 7. Unthought Known 8. Supersonic 9. Speed of Sound 10. Force of Nature 11. The End
It also looks like it pays to pre-order through the band's website as you get different packaging which if you're a hardcore fan like myself you'll love. Ordering mine next week!! Other than that you can listen to 'The Fixer' here and get the latest news on when and where they will be touring for the remainder of the year. It looks they will be Down Under in November this year so that's something for me to look forward to. Will definitely be attempting to get to one of their shows.
Also, I'd just like to say sorry about the distinct lack of posts but its getting harder to do with my job at the moment but I'm going to trial setting aside some time towards the end of the week to blog so you get multiple posts. Who knows if this will work so please be patient!!
One of my favourite bands Muse release their fifth studio album, The Resistance on September 14th. I've heard things is gonna be mega with a huge sound that is part electronica and part symphony!!! I can't wait as I've adored their past work and they are one of the most innovative bands ever. Also, see them on tour if you can as they are AMAZING live and they will be touring this year with U2 in September and on their own. I have a feeling this could be it and knock off Yeah Yeah Yeahs It's Blitz! as my album of 2009!
Tracklisting below and I will post the album cover as soon as I get it.
French electro-ambient duo Air release their latest album, Love 2 on October 6th. This will be their first full release since 2007's Pocket Symphony. Also, worth nothing is that they have chosen to release a digital single 'Do the Joy' on July 7th whilst a traditional first single, 'Sing Sang Sung' will be released on August 25th. Interesting... Anyways, hopefully its good because one of my fave songs and videos is by this band.
This is only a compilation album but it has been built up as a catch-up record for casual listeners who may have missed out on Blur's illustrious career and the importance of them and the whole Britpop thing to music. By the way, don't you think the album title is amazing and makes perfect sense. The focus of this paricular compilation is their recording career highlights as opposed to their previous one, "Blur: The Best Of..." (2000) which was primarily about their commercial hits.
This is a brilliant idea and good marketing as they are currently on tour for some small shows before they headline the big-MOMMA Glastonbury. I look forward to reading reviews of their shows and see if they can still bring it live.
One of my fave bands the Gossip are releasing their fourth studio album, 'Music For Men' on June 22nd and is produced by uber-producer Rick Rubin. This band have an amazing rock sound infused with a bluesy vocal by none other than the fantastic Beth Ditto. I am eagerly anticipating this one and if the single is anything to go by it's going to be one of my albums of the year.
The vid for first single, Heavy Cross...
Tracklisting:
Dimestore Diamond
Heavy Cross
8th Wonder
Love Long Distance
Pop Goes The World
Vertical Rhythm
Men In Love
For Keeps
2012
Love and Let Love
Four Letter Word
Spare Me from the Mold
It's looking to be a good last half of the year with some really decent albums set to be released!
Little Boots releases her debut album, 'Hands' on June 8th. I'm sensing a theme here as I seem to be talking a lot about female singers who have an electro sound that is reflected in a massive use of synthesizers. However, I think Little Boots is more on the pop side and this record will be just that; a mega pop album for 2009. I think 'Hands' will be welcomed by the mainstream as Lily Allen and Lady Gaga have been whereas La Roux will be limited to a specific audience, a more alternative or hipster crowd. Personally, I like her and I'm always on the lookout for a good pop record as there is so much crap out there...don't get me started on the Pussycat Dolls! Her first single 'New In Town' is a grower and the video is particularly awesome so I have included it somewhere below. If it wasn't clear before it is now, 2009 is the year for female electro-pop/punk musicians that are heavy on the 80s synth sound and all I can say is I quite like this!!! BRING MORE ON...
Tracklisting:
New In Town
Earthquake
Stuck on Repeat
Click
Remedy
Meddle
Ghosts
Mathematics
Symmetry
Tune Into My Heart
Hearts Collide
No Brakes
Meddle (Piano Version) Bonus Track
Love Kills (Bonus Track)
New In Town (No One is Safe Alex Kapranos Remix) Bonus Track
Also, click here to download for free an exclusive Little Boots' album minimix featuring tracks from 'Hands'. I downloaded mine but have yet to listen to it so if you get to it before me don't hesitate to comment and tell me about it. By the way, I'm liking artists allowing me to download some of their tracks for free.
Prog-rockers The Mars Volta release their fifth, Octahedron on June 22nd worldwide and in the US on the 23rd. I'm amazed by the fact that these guys have almost released an album every year and they were talking about this record in Jan 2008, the same month they were to release The Bedlam in Goliath. This is so unusual as bands usually focus on one record at a time but these guys have stated that their next two albums have already been recorded. AWESOME for us fans!! I have gained an appreciation for these guys over the years because it is a bit different from other rock bands and nowadays with the onslaught of electro-pop/punk sounding records they are, dare I say it; a breath of fresh air.
This record is supposed to be less heavy than their previous work and Omar Rodríguez-López went so far as to say it was their acoustic album. However, don't expect a typical acoustic record! If you can't wait to hear what they are doing you can get a taste with their first single 'Cotopaxi' below. The sound quality is actually quite good.
Tracklisting:
Since We've Been Wrong
Teflon
Halo of Nembutals
With Twilight as My Guide
Cotopaxi
Desperate Graves
Copernicus
Luciforms
FYI, I didn't get AC/DC tickets even to the two other shows that were subsequently released the same day. I knew they would sell out quickly and I didn't feel like camping out for them...will only do that for one band and did it once already!
La Roux, a British duo that dabbles in electro-pop and synthesizer based music. Elly Jackson fronts the band but she is very much in partnership with Ben Langmaid, co-songwriter. Their style is influenced by 80s music E.g. Depeche Mode and Elly herself has a distinct often outrageous personal style which is increasingly becoming the norm in music and on the High Street. All of you can sample her first three singles below. By the way, sorry about the lack of embedding its been disabled by the record company so you're gonna have to click on the actual name of the song.
Bulletproof will be the third single and is released on June 15th 2009.
Also, click here and you can download 2 free songs; 'Quicksand' and 'Fascination' so do that while you still can cos’ it won’t be there forever!
These guys have gained a lot of attention this year and have played a high profile UK tour with Lily Allen. Anyways, the music press and everyday music lovers are eagerly awaiting their self-titled first LP on June 29th. Let’s hope it lives up to the hype.
Placebo release their 6th studio album 'Battle For the Sun' on June 8th (worldwide) and on the 9th in North America. There are going to be new sounds on this record and supposedly is a heavier record than 'Meds'. The first single 'For What It's Worth is available on Itunes now and check out the video here...
The Tracklisting is as follows:
Kitty Litter
Ashtray Heart
Battle For the Sun
For What It's Worth
Devil In the Details
Bright Lights
Speak in Tongues
The Never-Ending Why
Julien
Happy You're Gone
Breathe Underwater
Come Undone
Kings of Medicine
In A Funk (Japanese Bonus Track)
Also, the promo video for 'Battle For the Sun' is here. I actually like this better than 'For What It's Worth'.
Sorry about the lack of posts over the last few days I had a massive government interview today and was spending most of my time preparing for it and stressing over it. It's went well so I should be back to posting daily.
Well to mark my return I have chosen Regina Spektor who is a singer-songwriter from NY but was born in the then Soviet Union and is Jewish. She has a really interesting background that you should all read about. I must admit she is amazing with an interesting voice that reminds me of Björk with hints of Portishead. Her music crosses almost all genres including folk, punk and classical which is not surprising considering she is classically trained on the piano. I would rank her up there with the the best singer-songwriters around, female or male. I am just in awe of her ability to write great songs and music and that is why I'm so excited for her fifth album, Far which is released on June 23rd. The first single 'Laughing With' is available to buy as a digital download now! By the way, don't you love the album cover I think it suits her.
I already posted about the Jack White (The White Strips & The Raconteurs), Alison Mosshart (The Kills), Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs) and Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age) super band. However, I now have the album cover and tracklisting.
60 Feet Tall
Hang You From the Heavens
I Cut Like a Buffalo
So Far From Your Weapon
Treat Me Like Your Mother
Rocking Horse
New Pony
Bone House
Three Birds
No Hassle Night
Will There Be Enough Water?
There is also confusion about Horehound's release date as their official site says it will be released on July 13th in Europe and July 14th in North America...question, when is it released in Oz, but many other websites and mags suggest it's still June 9th. I'm leaning towards believing their website as that's the band's method of getting news to the public. They will be touring in support of this album with a full US tour and one UK show.
Check out the video for their first single 'Hang You From the Heavens'.
MIKA IS BACK. His EP features 4 new tracks and will be releasing a full length LP later in the year. I will keep you updated with this as soon as I get word. Mika's Songs For Sorrow EP is released as a limited edition (songs plus a high quality 68 page book and specially commissioned artwork from some of Mika's favourite artists) on May 25th with the standard version available on June 8th and is almost exclusively available on his official website MikaSounds. Also, you can hear both 'Lady Jane' and 'Lonely Alcoholic' on his site, what do you think? Is it too repetitive or is the future for him looking brighter than ever? So get yourself there pronto!
So Kasabian are back and will release their oddly titled third album, West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum on June 8th 2009. Supposedly, this is the name of a real mental institution. I don't have a tracklisting but as soon as I get it I will post ASAP but I do know that the first track off it will be 'Underdog' and there will be a duet with actress Rosario Dawson called 'West Ryder/Silver Bullet'.
The first single 'Vlad the Impaler' was available for free download from their website on the 31st of March. However, it stopped being available on April 3rd but you can still see the video here:
The next single is 'Fire' (officially released on June 1st) and they did it again by releasing another amazing video. Both 'Vlad the Impaler' and 'Fire' have interesting story based videos rather than just performance videos that many other rock bands tend to favour. The music video avenue has gone through what I see as a huge downturn because chart topping singers and band's videos tend to dominate music channels even though their videos are essentially horrible. The less mainstream artists that produce the great videos never get the airtime they deserve e.g. Sigur Rós. Well enough of the ranting check out the video below, tis' THE BEST!!
I'm very excited for this release and to get you all in the mood...here is Wilco performing Wilco (the song) at a Barack Obama rally in 2008. It looks like this song will be appear on the new one....whooohoooo, can you tell I like it?
Ok, now moving on to the main event Wilco will be releasing their aptly named Wilco (the album) on June 30th 2009. Can I just say what a brilliant album name!! The tracklisting is as follows:
Wilco (the song)
Deeper Down
One Wing
Bull Black Nova
You And I
You Never Know
Country Disappeared
Solitaire
I'll Fight
Sonny Feeling
Everlasting Everything
I cannot contain my enthusiasm as I type this and on June 30th I will go ASAP, work permitting to JB to get it. I'm also looking forward to their album cover as they always have such visual covers, I'm thinking 'A Ghost Is Born' in particular. I will without a doubt be reviewing this, so that is something to look out for.
One last thing, please give me some feedback on what albums (recent or oldies) you want me to review. It will be incredibly helpful to me to get a sense of what you want to read about.
I love music and this has absolutely everything to do with my Dad’s record collection. I remember I was told by my parents that they used to play Dire Straits to me whilst I was in the womb and that is why I am constantly drawn to everything about it. My taste is eclectic but I am a musical purist in terms of my admiration of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Patti Smith and U2. However, there is no genre or style that I don’t appreciate even those cheesy pop songs! It is here you will find what I think is the next best thing in music, album and concert reviews and advice on mixtapes.
Also, this blog will take an inner look into my personal style and what I think is different and interesting. I hope to show a distinct style that is for everyday.
So, WELCOME and please feel free to tell me what music turns you on and what your syle must have is!
music=love
In the past I remembered writing about Echo & the Bunnymen's 11th studio album, The Fountain. I have not actually listened to it yet but I have heard mix reviews about it. I hate reading the reviews before I have had a chance to listen so I think my perspective on it has already been somewhat tarnished. Oh well...let's hope I don't take MOJO's pespective as they have described it as an album of "...middle aged pop-rock".
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