I cant believe i havent done this before, its friday night, half past eleven and we're back at our house as i'm too drunk already so hooray for a drunken blog post!! woop. I would try and create a coherent post on drinking music but the only song in my head at the moment is baz lurhman - sunscreen (long story, don't ask) so i'll do a preview of things to come.
1) I love The Wombats so i'm doing a review of bands that sound like them, primarily, New CAssettes, The Runners and Infadels.
2) A review of the sexalicious new My Morning Jacket album including the AWESOME track Highly Suspicious
3) A review of Hadouken! and Pigeon Detectives New albumks. One I like, the other i dont. Can you guess which is which?
4) My normal general ramblings on music and stuff

In the meantime, i wrote this listening to The Music so enjoy my favourite track of theirs The Dance and TTLRAWI on the last fm playlist.

speak to you all soon. peace out.

Courtesy of my good friend pete, here's dan le sac and scroobius pip working their magic on the X factor trio. I told you these guys were funny

Thou Shalt Always Kill

This tracks been knocking around for a while now but i'm catching Dan le Sac at a club night soon so I've been catching more and more of his stuff. I love the guys beats, your chest pumps with every instrument and the sparse instrumetents just emphasise his witty take on a range of things, this track is all in the delivery. He takes the lead of musical advisor and delivers some the most inspired comments on modern music (including what i'm interpreting as don't follow lostprophets when i think he actually means don't follow lost prophets. That space makes SUCH a difference)

This song has to be listened to so of course, it is on the playlist for your enjoyment and some of the lyrics for you.

Thou shalt not fall in love so easily.
Thou shalt not use poetry, art or music to get into girls pants - use it to get into their heads. Thou shalt not watch Hollyoaks.

Led Zepplin - Just a band.
Nirvana - Just a band.
The Pixies - Just a band.
Oasis - Just a band.
Radiohead - they're just a band.
Bloc Party - Just a band.
The Arctic Monkeys - Just a band.
The Next Big Thing - Just a band


Thou shalt not pimp my ride.
Thou shalt not scream if you wanna go faster.
Thou shalt not move to the sound of the wickedness.
Thou shalt not make some noise for Detroit.
Thou shalt not shake it like a polaroid picture.
Thou shalt not wish your girlfriend was a freak like me.
Thou shalt not express your shock at the fact that Sharon got off with Brad at club last night by saying “Is it.”





Funny guy I think. Enjoy.

Yesterday Went Too Soon...

First of all, I'd like to remember a dear friend I lost six years ago today in a car accident way away from here. Luckily I've managed to find some equally incredible friends and hopefully some of them read this blog, everything i type sounds cheesy and some things are best left unsaid so I'll just finish this intro with a tip of my hat to all my friends, you guys are heroes.

So it's done. 12, 432 words later, my dissertation is printed, bound and sitting on my desk waiting for hand in day. Thank you to all of you who helped, your insight was priceless. As you all know, my life recently changed for the better with the miraculous recovery of my iPod and as such, I've been investigating new and old bands alike. I'll focus on some new bands soon but i have some ground-breaking news.

I like Bloc Party more than any other band. Apart from Feeder. This band kick ASS.

Feeder are the perfect example of a band that changes and evolves over time, from the pop rock outings on polythene with their comical lyrics and distortion-ridden vocals through Echo Park that needs no introduction to their more melancholy and heartfelt work on Comfort In Sound and Pushing The Senses. My first introduction to Feeder was the immeasurable Just A Day, shortly followed by an incredible performance at Brixton Academy way back in 03 (which featured me in a video kind of). So, I've compiled a list of my favourite Feeder tracks, some of which made it to the last.fm play list. If you don't know them, check them out ASAP.

1)Cement (Polythene). A song of distant adoration with its comical lyrics and catchy choruses, Polythene demonstrates the strength of Grant's songwriting whilst maintaining their naivety and upbeat mood.

2) You're My Evergreen (Yesterday Went Too Soon). 1999 heralded the arrival of YWTS, a clear progression in Feeder style from their distortion ridden debut to the slightly more polished and emphatic tracks such as Waiting For Changes and You're My Evergreen. Grant's lyrics become slightly more introspective on their youth, the chances offered to them and the general claustrophobia of life. Notice a cheeky preview of Just A Day in Insomnia too.

3) Dry (YYWTS). The early introduction of strings to Feeder's repertoire, Dry is a song of despair and disaster as love takes its toll. Often overlooked in Feeder's work, the production values on Dry are incredibly high with a variety of vocal effects, instruments moving in the stereo field throughout the song and Lee's understated drumming providing the perfect accompaniment.

4) Piece by Piece (Echo Park). Everyone knows Echo Park, the album that launched Feeder as the rock superstars they are today, providing summer anthems in the form of Buck Rogers and Seven Days in the Sun. However, Echo Park for me is not about single songs, its about the album as a whole. The progression between each track is superb, moving from fast to slow, dark to elatious, it is on Echo Park that we feel the full force of Feeder. Piece by Piece for me is a song about acknowledging trouble ahead, admitting the constraints and suffocation of a relationship and hanging on in desperation. I once told a girlfriend that this song summed up our relationship perfectly. This certain girl had a temper and did not take it well. Probably my fault.

5) Under The Weather (Echo Park) Another favourite from Echo Park, who doesn't wish for easier times, complain that life isn't going their way and just wants to scream? Taka and Jon work in perfect harmony driving the song forwards with ingenious bass fills and funky beats. Often overlooked but a true stand out in my opinion.

6) Just The Way I'm Feeling (Comfort In Sound). After the tragic death of Jon Lee in 2001, Feeder's comeback effort was always going to be a mature and reflective album and this is demonstrated perfectly in Just The Way I'm Feeling. Demonstrating a diverse range of songwriting skills, it is in Comfort In Sound that Grant truly steps forward as the lead of Feeder, powering the band forwards with understated vocals and intelligent lyrics. But boy could they still rock....

7) Come Back Around (Comfort In Sound). The lead single from Comfort, the band don't miss a step in their quest for best pop rock band with this electric and uplifting track. Though Feeder are a different band without Lee, Come Back Around shows that they are no worse by combining their radio friendly early elements with heavier guitars and eccentric production.

8) Pushing The Senses (Pushing The Senses). The third single from latest album Pushing The Senses is the perfect demonstration of the new Feeder. Dark, brooding, edgy and intricate and still great fun to listen to and sing along to.

9) Tender (Pushing The Senses). Feeder's new direction led Grant to playing Piano on this album adding a new dimension to a band that thrive on change. Tender's a classic love song with its gorgeous piano line and heartfelt lyrics. Incredible track.

10)Miss You (TBA). And so the band come full circle with Miss You. The edge is there, the pop chorus is there but the maturity and depth are unquestionable.

Feeder truly are a musical tour de force and I can't wait for the new album to finally appear. Its been far too long.

Waiting for changes...

I bet nobody that reads this blog is excited about monday as I am and dreading the weekend as much as I.
Monday will be the day i print off and bind my dissertation.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be me trying to finish my dissertation.

No worries.

Troublingly, I get distracted easily and spent nearly an hour today trying to find the audio of Feeder's new single which debuted yesterday on Kerrang! radio. New song We Are The People is quintessential new Feeder, a slow heavy ballad with Grant's mature and heartfelt lyrics still speaking of moving up and on. This track is unlikley to be a regularity however on the new album which Grant says is "a return to our older style", evident in free single Miss You. Expect an increase in radio play for both songs as the record comes ever nearer.

New Feeder is always a treat but the ensuing Feeder binge was not so kind on my bank account. I am however now the proud owner of the deluxe versions of The Singles and Yesterday Went Too Soon. I know it seems silly to buy an album twice but I can't help but buy albums again and again for bands I love and Feeder are just one of those bands. Featuring single videos and a bunch of live performance videos, it'll be worth it i'm sure as I can only remember one video. Anxiously awaiting their Reading performance after an epic one in 06, Feeder are my favourite live band and i think they always will be, nothing quite beats singing "High" in a field with 50,000 people or being thrown around Brixton Academy to "Insomnia". Trust Me.


http://www.whatson.com/players/kerrang/metafiles/a_afternoons___monday.asx
Skip forward to 33:13 to hear the new track

Alex is: A geek

Its true. And i'm fine with that. After all, who wouldnt be happy if their iPod that been broken since September mysteriously fixes itself and loads all my music on. And who wouldn't be happy with windows SP1 for Vista arriving at long last and giving me an extra 30GB of space on my Hard Drive as well as improving my reliability, speed when resuming and a whole bunch of hardware compatibility increases. And who doesn't enjoy watching their favourite hockey team come back from 4-2 down to win 5-4 in their first playoff game in 5 years? Even if the game starts at midnight and has to be watched over the internet.
So its official, i'm a geek. But proud. So, i've created a little list of technology inspired songs to show that despite my love for everything electronic, i'm still home with the downies or whatever the kids are saying these days. Keep it real.

So, we've got two blindingly obvious tracks - Technologic and Robot Rock by French duo Daft Punk. I don't need to explain Daft Punk one iota but these two are by far 2 of my favs. Next on my list is trance/hardcore act Enter Shikari and their incredible track Mothership, with its opening trance synths to the incessant screaming and soaring vocals, this band know how to write a good tune.

Next up on the technotrain is Timbaland and the TUNE that is Way I Are. Timbaland came to my attention when JT's album leaked way back when and i've been loving his style ever since, the guy focusses on constructing interesting and diverse beats and that sounds like a perfect job to me. I also love the whole sentiment of the song - an R&B song where the singer talks about how little he has as opposed to how much he's worth is a witty insight. Just don't expect it to carry on through his album. It doesn't.

Next up are one of my favourite bands of last year, Coventry's The Enemy. After dancing my heart out to this band at Reading last year with Away From Here undoubtedly being my song of the summer, the band have recently completed a 5 night residency at The Astoria and are announced at this year's Reading too. Their infectious indie is filled with dancy hooks without a synth in sight. And with a titile like technodanceaphobic, how could I not put it in?

Soulwax are a further incarnation of the dance act 2 Many DJ's and rock some serious socks. Soulwax being the band incarnation of the pair, they are known for their driving drum and bass sounds in all their work but most notably here in E-Talking, the seminal track from Any Minute Now. The synth heavy verses are replaced with busy industrial choruses with David Dewaele trying to gain some sort of sense from the blur that is ecstasy.

Last but not least, a guilty pleasure of mine. Freaks are a house duo originating back to the mid-90's. This song came out last summer and is just good fun, the production is undoubtedly superb and the vocal layering is clever yet understated. If you cant hear it, check out the added percussion that comes in the second half of the verses or the harmonies after the breakdown. that's good songwriting.

So there we go, expect music consumption to increase tenfold with my iPod back on board and if you have any technology-related song suggestions, leave me a comment.

1 week, 6 days and counting...

Until I am a free man. At least free of my dissertation. The final straight, the last turn, injury time plus all the other metaphors for "you've got very little time left, get a move on". But it's all good. My frantic morning dashes to the library so i can do my City Showcase work as well as uni work are fun. So the obvious topic for today is music to ease you into a morning.

Morning music consists in forms - Work morning music and Library morning music. Work music is VERY early morning music so always chilled, more than likely Zero 7. The electronic chillout duo retain an accessible element to their tracks meaning they are very much a pick up and listen band, similar to Morcheeba and Groove Armada. Zero 7 are a constantly evolving band with a variety of lead performers leading to an amalgumation of genres ranging from acoustic to trip-hop. Featuring artists such as Jose Gonzalez and Sia, the bands eclectic sound are perfect sunrise music, most recent outing's rework of Gonzalez classic Crosses is featured left as well as other tracks.Library music is music that needs to wake me up pronto without pissing me off, bands with charm and energy. This can range from soon-forgotten country singer Willy Mason and his infectious debut album Where The Humans Eat to Missouri pop-rock band Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin.

For those unaware of this genius, Willy Mason appeared in 2005 at the tender age of 17 with hit single Oxygen. His soft acoustic blues rock is built around Mason's distinguishable voice and lo-fi production giving his tracks a warm and heartfelt sound. 2007's follow up to the debut was less well received and went in an obviously different direction to his debut,alienating fans left, right and centre. However, Mason has age on his side and the promise of his first album can't have been a one off - the world awaits with baited breath.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin hail from Springfield, Missouri and are as intelligent and upbeat as their cartoon counterparts. The band's 2005 debut opened many a door for SSLYBY leading them to eventually sign to Polyvinyl where they currently reside. The band are your standard sunny american pop band but with a wonderful penchant for clever song structures as shown in track Glue Girls, a track of two sisters and falling in love. Cardwell's delivery is glorious, his relaxed performance similar to singing along to a track he's heard on the radio as opposed to singing for an album. This sometimes distracts from his bitter lyrics:

"You are retarded and cold-hearted, but you're alright Mary

In a cemetery".

Nice eh? For fans of The Boy Least Likely To and Los Campesinos!, pick up SSLYBY's sophomore effort Pershing, released on Monday. Definately worth a listen.

I think that'll do for today, I promise to try a bit harder next time, hopefully I'll have more to talk about, everything seems to have a bit quite in the new music world at the moment. Also, there are more Glasto tickets available if anybody didn't get in on them last time but that's a whole sperate issue I want to cover. And there's a new Futureheads single due May 9th, a new The Music album due June 16th and I can't not mention my favourite sport's team late resurgence in the NHL season this year to become South East Division champs. We're going to the playoffs for the first time since i started supporting them way back in 2002 and i'm loving every nailbiting minute. No video but funny comic this time, love this website, worth checking out, http://www.xkcd.com/.

Peace Out.

An Ugly Fact of Life...

Work sucks. Tuesday was spent cramming dissertation work at the library to compensate not doing any on Wednesday due to Studio commitments. Then on Thursday i got a train from Wycombe at 8:15 to get to work at 10 where i hassled some radio stations for sponsorship, catalogued demos and sat in on auditions. I change what sort of music I listen to when i travel all the time but yesterday, Explosions In The Sky were a great choice. The instrumental post-rock group are Austin based and write fluid and evocative songs. As well as releasing their 4th album last year, the incredible All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone, the Texas band have also soundtracked both the film and TV versions of Friday Night Lights, my new favourite TV show. The sparse soundscapes they create to accompany the images of desert, oil fields and quiet American town are coupled perfectly, somehow making me feel like i'm back in TX, as if I've ever been. The instrumental band consist of two guitars, bass and drums with a heck load of delay and reverb to augment the beauty of each line they play. The songs meander through their themes, adding to the ideas of travelling and journeys.

Luckily, this band kick ass live, without communicating to the audience with lyrics or banter, it is the passion and depth at which they involve themselves in their music that allows you to connect with them. Having seen them last year at KOKO, the experience is unlike anything else i've had, no pushing, no crowd surfing, no idiots, just pure appreciation for a band on top form. Personal highlight First Breath After Coma is featured below as well as the first track on the playlist with some wonderful commentary within the first ten seconds on the video. If you like your instrumental stuff or music that's a little different, EITS offer something for everyone, whether you appreciate good musicianship or good songs, its all there.

I've also decided Explosions are the perfect analgoy of a perfect girl:- chilled out, intricate without being complicated, beautiful and intelligent. So there you go, how could you not want to listen.

http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3440422/Friday-Night-Lights-Season-1/Product.html