Bands That Changed Me: U2

My introduction to U2 was unusual as I was always aware of them. I can even remember seeing the video for ‘Please’ and I had heard ‘With Or Without You’ on the radio but it was not until ‘All That You Can’t Leave Behind’ came out that I really took notice. As it is with any band that have a long career before I discover them I go back to their early stuff and listen and read what the critics and people say about them. I came to discover that first, U2’s early stuff was f***ing amazing especially their innovative work in the 90s and the fact they make a distinct effort to reinvent themselves with every album. Secondly, they are a band that reflects many of my views on politics, human rights, humanitarianism and social activism. This was the career path that I wanted and still am taking. To put it shortly I became obsessed with their music and their work, not just Bono’s solo efforts to initiate change but the way the whole band have worked on issues and have embedded this within their music. I’m constantly in awe of them! Also, their live shows are out of this world as they have put on some of the most visually stunning tours particularly ZooTV and PopMart. A U2 tour always uses huge screens and they and their production team are pioneers in their ability to design a set that despite the large venues they play has a level of intimacy for fans. I think the heart-shaped pit with people in it and around it on the Elevation Tour perfectly illustrates this.
The band also continues to make improvements so that we get the most value for money and the opportunity to see something new every time they go on tour. I was lucky enough to see them on their Vertigo Word Tour but I would give almost anything to go back in time and see them on the ZooTV and PopMart Tours. Since this is not possible I have to console myself with my ZooTV ‘Live from Sydney’ and PopMart ‘Live from Mexico City’ DVDs. I urge you all to go and get these as they are some of the most brilliant tour concerts ever and even if you’re not a fan you won’t regret it as I’ve converted a few with them. Anyways, they’re also going to be on their 360° Tour this year which is proving to be just as big as their others so keep an eye out for any footage, I certainly am and will post it here!

U2 in my opinion are the last of the great bands in the truest sense of the word as they represent a great unit that all have an equal say in the song writing process, direction and touring. But most importantly they are still relevant and writing great songs whilst being the best live band around today. I have so much faith in them that I have a particular line from 'One' tattooed to me with space to add one more line!

Bands That Changed Me: The Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins are the first band I’ve ever truly loved. I think I was 10 or 11 yrs old and I just fell in love with everything about them and thus began my early introduction to the 90s alternative scene. I was very; very young to be introduced to this band and others like NIN and Green Day and I remember my parents being slightly worried but they have always respected my taste and even quite liked some of their stuff. The first Pumpkins record I owned was Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and it wasn’t until much later that I heard Siamese Dream and fully understood the importance of both these albums to alt-rock. I remember being totally blown away by Mellon Collie as it was a double album with a musical feast of different styles and influences. It was hard rock one minute e.g. ‘Bullet with Butterfly Wings’ and the next it was anthematic (this is so not a word) with an orchestra backing e.g. ‘Tonight, Tonight’. The Smashing Pumpkins helped me define what music I actually liked because up until that point my parents were heavily influencing me. This actually turned out to be a great thing because I have them to thank for introducing me to the classics early on; but putting this aside, when you are young you don't want to publicly admit you have the same music taste as your parents. I wanted something to call my own and I found out about the Pumpkins through some of the neighbourhood kids who were a fair few years older than me and immersed myself in their world, alternative rock. This didn’t last long as my teenage years were about conforming because I was basically an American girl returning home to Oz and all I wanted to do was ‘fit in’ and not show my individuality. I was influenced by pop culture of the time and I liked 90s boy bands (some of it I still like e.g. Hanson) but I never forgot my love of rock and the Smashing Pumpkins will be forever part of that. Their albums will get played over and over again for the rest of my life and I'm sad to see the state the band is in now with only Billy Corgan remaining.

2009 Album Releases: LITTLE BOOTS - HANDS

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:

1. New In Town
2. Earthquake
3. Stuck on Repeat
4. Click
5. Remedy
6. Meddle
7. Ghosts
8. Mathematics
9. Symmetry
10. Tune Into My Heart
11. Hearts Collide
12. No Brakes
13. Meddle (Piano Version) Bonus Track
14. Love Kills (Bonus Track)
15. 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.

2009 Album Releases: THE MARS VOLTA - OCTAHEDRON

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:

1. Since We've Been Wrong
2. Teflon
3. Halo of Nembutals
4. With Twilight as My Guide
5. Cotopaxi
6. Desperate Graves
7. Copernicus
8. 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!

2009 Album Releases: LA ROUX - LA ROUX

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.

Quicksand released December 2008.

In For the Kill released March 2009.

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.

Tracklisting:

1. In For The Kill
2. Tigerlily
3. Quicksand
4. Bulletproof
5. Colourless Colour
6. I'm Not Your Toy
7. Cover My Eyes
8. As If By Magic
9. Fascination
10. Reflections are Protections
11. Armour Love
12. Growing Pains (UK Bonus Track)

Bands and Artists to Watch: Howling Bells

(UK Album Cover)

Aussie band Howling Bells have been gaining international attention as the support act for Coldplay on the 2009 North American leg of their Viva La Vida tour. They also toured with The Killers and gave an impressive set at the V Festival this year that had Brandon Flowers singing their praises.

The history of the band is actually really interesting as they are made up of the remaining members of another fairly famous Aussie band, Waikiki who broke up in 2003. They moved to the UK to record their first album, Howling Bells which was released in 2006. They gained positive reviews for their first release and continued to move forward with the release of their second record, Radio Wars in February of this year.

Now...onto sound. You all are probably wondering what type of music do they play and who can they be compared to? Well, it is safe to say these guys (and gal) are in the genre of indie. However, there is a departure from first to second album. The first is more atmospheric and subtle in many ways . It sounds a bit like The Velvet Underground whilst Radio Wars is definitely more mainstream but this is not bad as I think they have just grown in their songwriting and worked with the right people. Anyways, you can judge for yourself.

Here is 'Low Happening' from their self-titled first album.


Now listen to 'Cities Burning Down' from Radio Wars.


I think the key to their recent success has been lead singer, Juanita Stein's sultry, yet not too retro sounding voice e.g. Duffy, Gabriella Cilmi etc... This will set her and the band apart from other singers and bands with female lead singers.

Radio Wars Tracklisting:

1. Treasure Hunt
2. Cities Burning Down
3. It Ain't You
4. Nightingale
5. Let's Be Kids
6. Ms. Bell's Song/Radio Wars Theme
7. Golden Web
8. Into the Chaos
9. Digital Hearts
10. How Long
11. To L.A. (Hidden Track)

There is also a Limited Edition version which has a bonus live CD.

Well go to your nearest record store and pick up a copy and I'll be keenly watching how they are received by the masses while they are on tour with Coldplay!

Listening to...

Sorry guys for the delay on the weekly tunes I've been very slack on that front. I'm actually listening to loads of different stuff but the album that is really getting to me is Regina Spektor's Begin To Hope. It hasn't been on high rotation until recently and since hearing about her new release I am immersing myself in her world. Also, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Sigur Rós is being played a lot around my house.

Anyways, you know the drill, samples of the songs below are on your right for your enjoyment.

1. The World We Live In - The Killers. This is the 3rd single for Europe and Australia whilst A Dustland Fairytale is the tune for the US market. This is a great song on its own but is often overshadowed by many of the other songs off Day & Age.
The video for 'The World We Live In'

Also, here is the band performing 'A Dustland Fairytale' on the Late Show with David Letterman with a full orchestra. This is an absolutely beautiful arrangement and if there is one thing you do this week it should be watching this.

2. On the Radio - Regina Spektor. Wow! It's so stunning and it plays well at dinner parties. There is this line that always gets me "...It feels a little worse than when we drove our hearse...right through the screaming crowd..."
3. While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles. This is so beautiful it makes my heart ache. It has to be my favourite Beatles song EVER. I know a lot of people can't pick their fave and they are right there are so many songs that are worthy but this one is so special to me that I want it tattooed to me.
4. Fidelity - Regina Spektor. I told you I was listening to a lot of Regina Spektor lately. This song makes me feel light and happy and it has the ability to put me in a good mood almost immediately.
5. Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeahs. This is pure dance-punk heaven for me! This band just keep getting better and better and they have managed to change their sound in a way that fits seamlessly with their previous work. The best line from this song and possibly the whole album is "Off with your head, dance until your're dead..." It sums everything up about It's Blitz!.

That's it folks!