Essentials for Spring and Summer

Well it certainly is hot in Melbourne and it's not even officially Summer yet!!! But I still love the long days and pretty floral dresses that come out of the closet. So I just wanted to share with you all my Spring/Summer essentials for the months ahead.

First and probably most importantly is good tunes...top 5 KILLER tracks to party to or chill with friends at a BBQ.

1. LDN - Lily Allen. Oh the joy...Lily at her best, full of cheekiness and sass.
2. Playground Love - Air. This is from the Virgin Suicides soundtrack and if you haven't seen it do because AIR do the whole film score and in my opinion it's a masterpiece.
   
3. Heart of Glass - Blondie. For by the pool whilst sipping long island iced tea. I adore this band for the fact they are considered true nu-wave artists with a sound grounded in punk highlighted with electronica and dance elements.
4. Space Oddity - David Bowie. I feel a sense of peace when I hear this song. This song is for those days when it is just too hot to do anything so you lie down and put a record on and lie as still as possible just taking in the sounds of your favourites. Bowie is perfect for this!
   
5. Walk Idiot Walk - The Hives. What a way to get a party started. I love these guys they just know how to write the perfect song. They also have an amazing sense of style which you know can make or break some bands. Walk Idiot Walk has a great video...love, love the crossword thingy.

Style Guide Spring/Summer

1. Sunnies.
Aside from keeing out the sun and all those UV rays they have become a fashion statement. Now the type you get is solely down to personal choice. However, some styles do look better on certain faces than others. In my case aviators do not look good on me because I have a round face. Therefore, I opt for more squarish styles. I particularly like the Wayfarer style but I am lemming the Wayfarer square in blue or purple. If someone can tell me where I can get them in blue I would be most grateful.

2. Sunscreen

I think in Australia this is pretty much a given as we all know to SLIP SLOP SLAP. Even those with darker skin tones must do this as I have had the unfortunate experience as to not realise that my skin was peeling until after I returned from a weekend away at the beach. Let me tell you not cool.

3. Florals
I say this in reference to clothing. Florals are great as they usually come in bright colors that are often more cooling than standard black. It feels fresh and fun. I, for one am going to go bright this summer with wacky floral skirts. See the 1990s for inspiration.

4. High waisted shorts
I love this look and think that it brings much more class to the whole idea of shorts. In the last 3 days I've seen far too many girls/adults wearing too short denim shorts. It's ok but I've seen enough to last a lifetime, people there are other styles out there that more often than not look better than the denims.

5. Statement Jewellery
I say the bigger the better. Also, you only ever have to wear the one piece as it stands on its own because overdoing it can look a bit craptastic. I wear something similar to the necklace below all the time and I get asked about it quite a lot.
Catch you all down at the beach!

Summer Festivals: Good Vibrations 2010 Lineup

So the weather is better and that means it's that time of year, the release of 2010 Summer Festival dates and lineups. The BDO has already had its first and I decided not to go because there aren't enough bands I wanted to see to warrant the high price of tickets. However, Good Vibrations is looking like a better option for me. I've always assumed that Good Vibrations is a more dance festival and I think it still is mainly but considering the lineup for 2010 I am seriously considering.

Now on to the all important dates:

Sat February 13th - Sydney, Centennial Park
Sun February 14th - Perth, Claremont Showgrounds
Sat February 20th - Gold Coast, Parklands Showgrounds
Sun February 21st - Melbourne, The Nursery Flemington Racecourse

Tickets are on sale now and are $139 for General admin and $199 for a VIP tix. By the way, I have no idea what a VIP ticket includes. Please note there are booking fees when booking online. I'm not sure if you can buy them at a licenced outlet.

LINEUP!!!!
The Killers
Basement Jaxx
Gossip
Friendly Fires
Salt-N-Pepa
Art vs Science
Armand Van Helden
Busta Rhymes
Gym Class Heroes
+ a whole host of others

See here to buy tickets if you are convinced.

This is looking pretty good right now and I have to go to at least one music festival this year...its an Aussie tradition so what's it going to be?? Any advice fellow music lovers...

Will update when further acts are announced.

2009 Album Releases: ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN - THE FOUNTAIN

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.

1. Think I Need It Too
2. Forgotten Fields
   
3. Do You Know Who I Am?
   
4. Shroud of Turin
5. Life Of a Thousand Crimes
6. The Fountain
7. Everlasting Neverendless
   
8. Proxy
9. Drivetime
   
10. The Idolness of Gods

Did you catch U2 Live from the Rose Bowl on YouTube?

Hello...me again
I hope you all enjoyed the once in a lifetime live streaming of U2 live from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Sunday L.A. time but Monday arvo Melbourne time. Unfortunately I was not able to catch the live feed but I did catch the first rebroadcast as I sprinted home from work, well as fast as the train could go, to see it. The only problem with the streaming was you couldn't rewind or fast forward but YouTube have been nice enough to put it up as 2+ hr concert that you can pause and restart any time you want. Plus, they also have the individual songs up so you can skip the ones you are not so keen on. See below!

I have to say this was a very inventive thing to do but it also seems like a pretty obvious thing for a band to do. U2 were not only mad enough to be the first to do so but are a big enough band to pull it off with an even larger stage show to make it exciting not only for the 90,000 fans there but for all of us watching on our computers. The concert itself was unbelievable but I have seen enough YT vision to know the band still sound good and roughly what is on their set lists. However, this felt like a concert DVD with professional camera shots but that is not to say that the amateur vision was not bloody brilliant, so fans keep posting your videos please it's just this has a budget and directors etc...
Well watch it and enjoy the U2 extravaganza...
U2 Concert here - No embedding unfortunately.
Have a good rest of the weekend.

2009 Album Releases: EDITORS - IN THIS LIGHT AND ON THIS EVENING

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

Look out for this one it's out NOW!!!

R.I.P. STEPHEN GATELY

R.I.P Stephen Gately

I must admit I was a fan of Boyzone back in the day and I do sometimes go back to their old albums and it does hold up well. I have to say I would rather them and other 90s pop acts over half the crappy R&B Hip Hop stuff with autotune masking the fact they cannot sing for s***!!! So I did feel very sad when I heard the news that he did pass away. It is very unfortunate to lose a guy who seems really down to earth.

Family Outing to IKEA

I know this is supposed to be a music blog but I decided to expand because I do have other interests hmmm....weird how that one works.

I must say this weekend has been relaxing unlike others where I've been too busy to just sit at home and listen to albums. That's my fave type of weekend where I can lose myself in an album or two. Anyways, today the whole family and I headed to IKEA to surprisingly not look at home wares and furniture but to eat in their restaurant. Personally I have come to hate the idea of restaurants attached to massive retail conglomerates due to many bad experiences in the States. However, IKEA has done the impossible made a cafeteria restaurant type thing not only a place with really good food but a good atmosphere as well.

We love Swedish food as my family and I have a personal connection with the country as we all, minus my brother lived there for a year and my Dad even longer. We have many Swedish friends so we have learnt what is good and what is mediocre and thus I am able to report that the Swedish meatballs are AMAZING! Obviously they will not be as good as the ones you can get in a local place in Sweden but here, there aren't any Swedish restaurants as far as I know (if there are any please recommend away).



Back to the topic at hand IKEA have a policy that encourages families to have a good time mixed with Swedish efficiency. Note, the fact that once you finish your meal you take your try with all your plates and cutlery to a rack so employees can do more important jobs than clean up mine and your mess. This is actually followed too. You get refillable drinks and eat in a way that suggests the Swedes have got it right. Are you interested yet??

I'm obviously sounding like some sort of advertisement for IKEA and freaky person but more importantly it's about family. Every week we do something together whether it be eat out or take a walk in the park but we bond over food, that's just what my family is like. We catch up on the goss, laugh with, and at each other and plan things all over a meal. It is a time for talk and laughter and IKEA just happened to be the vehicle to let this happen.

So if any of you out there have some time take your friends/family to IKEA for a meal instead of just shopping you won't be disappointed.