Involuntary & Rapid Actions

Cover Up

Whether it’s sheltering from the dank weather, drawing concealer onto those purple under-eye bags or just showing a little less flesh, why not do all three whilst listening to these beauties?

First up is The Killers’ version of the wonderful Joy Division’s ‘Shadowplay’. I went to see the guys at Reading Festival this August Bank Holiday and although I was expecting them to play new material, and expecting them to end on ‘All These Things That I’ve Done’, I didn’t think they’d come out with this track. I would’ve enjoyed it more if a) I was surrounded by actual fans. These guys clearly had no idea what the song was let alone the fact that it’s on The Killer’s album ‘Sawdust’ and b) if I wasn’t surrounded by people saying things like “man, I’ve never seen anything like it!” when Bloc Party had some green lazers during ‘Flux’. Despite this it was a nice surprise, and well worth listening to properly.

‘Shadowplay’ 

Download 02_shadowplay.mp3

 

I’ve recently been getting a little obsessed with LCD Soundsystem’s ‘All My Friends’. I didn’t really get into it when the album came out, but now each time I hear it I can actually imagine myself 25 or 30 years from now, just feeling how much it will resonate in much the same way as Joy Division’s ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ does. So to prevent myself from getting too emotional I won’t post the future underrated dance classic, I’ll give you the b-side cover version of Joy Division’s ‘No Love Lost’.

 ‘No Love Lost’

Download 02_no_love_lost_joy_division_cover.mp3

And finally, on a very different note, I came across this cover when NME included a CD of live covers in one of their issues. I’m not a massive fan of Does It Offend You, Yeah? and felt that the idea of them was a lot more promising than the outcome, but I must say they do a pretty damn fun rendition of Devo’s ‘Whip It’...so here it is. Get your bop on.

‘Whip It’

Download 04_whip_it.mp3

Sex! Fire! Sex on Fire!

Yes! Such a genius moment for Kings of Leon.

Their third album 'Because of the Times' was easily my favourite album of 2007(as you've probably gathered), and in just over a year the Followill's have smashed out another, 'Only By The Night' (Sept 22nd) And it's almost thanks to their storming performance at Glastonbury this Summer where they tested out a couple of tunes off the new album like 'Manhatten' and their free download single 'Crawl'.

And now there's the next release 'Sex On Fire'. All three have so far paved the way for yet another record that will stand the test of time when our generation are recharging our solar powered pacemakers, and the boys will most certainly become even huger this year, (and that's not just a reference to drummer Nathan's biceps)!

But let's not jump ahead of ourselves. Let's just enjoy what is a fantastically sexy song.

Sex On Fire

Download kol_sex_is_on_fire.mp3

Time to pretend...

that it's been about seven months since I updated this here blog - so let's crack on.

I recently heard the new (third) album from TV on the Radio, 'Dear Science', and I have to say it's brought back that warm fuzzy feeling that peeps out when your hear genuinely great music. We've only had to wait since their excellent 'Return To Cookie Mountain' in 2006 for the new material - though two years is fast approaching the equivalent of that in dog years thanks to Kings of Leon.

Anyway that's by the by, the point is TV on the Radio have definitely taken this album to the forefront with a handful of more accessible and downright fun tunes. 'Red Dress' is (thankfully) nothing like an overproduced Sugababes single - and no I have nothing against the Sugababes - but instead is a sexy and almost late night club track that's begging to be remixed by the likes of Stanton Warriors or Peaches.
There's still a thread of songs that have the unmistakable TV on The Radio layered sound with Tunde's indulgent vocals and yes, horns! But essentially it sounds as though they've really enjoyed themselves making it!

Look out for other tracks like 'Dancing Choose' (see what they did there...it sounds like shoes, yeah?...ugh) and 'Shout Me Out', but for now I'm sure their first single 'Golden Age' will suffice.

Download 01_golden_age.mp3

Debuts

It's only January and there's already been a burst of good albums coming out - especially debuts. Vampire Weekend and These New Puritans are just a couple.

Vampire Weekend

Who Gives A Fuck About An Oxford Comma? Something I've never really thought about until listening to the debut album from Vampire Weekend. But it's very true, no? These guys have been bubbling on the surface of recognition for a few months now, but should hopefully get noticed with their catchy, vintage style music. Hang on a minute, they sound a little like The Coral...ignore that I don't want to put you off.

The New Yorkers have so far gained recognition on the blog boom, and have made their mark with a musical style harbouring hints of Western and African influences, resulting in a Soweto-Punk fusion. There's definite notes of Paul Simon in 'Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa' and 'M79'. Key singles from the album to watch out for are 'Mansard Roof' and 'A Punk'.

Check out 'One (Blake's Got A New Face)'

Download 08_one_blakes_got_a_new_face.mp3

These New Puritans

These New Puritans are growing on me (but at a very slow pace). It could be because they're not yet a good live band, but on paper and on record they've got some good ideas. Mainly using vocals as part of the musical landscape rather than as it's own entity layered over the music (espcecially in 'En Papier'). At first the simplicity of the lyrics seemed quite amateur, but after a few listens it seems a deliberate technique to focus more on the music.

Their debut album 'Beat Pyramid' is a crashy, distorted, craze-fest filled with angst, especially in tracks like 'Swords of Truth' and 'C 16th'.

Take a listen to their lead single 'Numbers (AKA Numerlogy)'

Download 02_numerology_aka_numbers.mp3

Building up for a fall...?

So the music industry is full swing with championing new female singer songwriters from our very own shores of the UK. We've already seen success over the past two years from Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen and Kate Nash, now cue Adele Adkins. With a couldn't-care-less teenage attitude, strong voice and fashionable image she's got the makings to be one of 2008's spotlight stars - with a gentle nudge in the right direction of course. She's got a whole lot to look forward to like gigging, interviews, TV appearances, fashion promotions, and social events where she'll be the centre of attention for all the vulture-like red-top tabloids and magazines - what fun!

Her debut album '19' (XL) has been well produced by Jim Abbiss (producer of Arctic Monkeys debut 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not'), and with simple R&B melodies sung with ease it's no wonder Adele has been likened to Amy Winehouse. And not only that, the track 'Cold Shoulder' has been produced by none other than Mark Ronson (who's had his hand in boosting the musical careers of Lily and Amy). Yes she has appeal, but the problem is that her name is being so adamantly integrated into our lives, that one wants to avoid listening to more of her music.

So if you can't handle listening to the whole of '19' because you're worried you might permantly have images of continuous concrete slabs, then just try the song 'Tired'.

Download 11_tired.mp3

A Touch Too Much?

Well, no not really. Hot Chip's new album (out on Febrary 4th) is a faithful mixture of chaotic beats, signature gliches but with much more soul than before, or at least compared to it's predecessor 'The Warning'. The guys have been testing out tracks from 'Made In The Dark' at live shows for the past few months, and I posted the brilliant 'Shake A Fist' when the notion of Hot Chip recording new material for an album was just the twinkle of an eye.

Listening to 'Made In The Dark' feels as though they've leaned towards the concept album, (yes it does still exist), with the sense of following a beginning of a relationship build and grow from an awkward disposition to something, settled and, in essence, romantic. Though there are the occasional tracks that stand out from this theme (like 'Wrestlers' and 'Hold On'), creating a shift between soul to manic rhythms and random lyrics, thus breaking it up enough to not feel too sappy. In my view the album would have done better were it not for the whimper of a closer like 'In The Privacy Of Our Love'. It just feels a bit much for Hot Chip. Instead enjoy a track that sits nicely in the middle.

'Touch Too Much'

Download 06_touch_too_much.mp3

Do You Like Rock Music?

So the new album from British Sea Power is out and their leading single 'Waving Flags' is being well received by fans and radio at the moment. 'Do You Like Rock Music' (Rough Trade) is their third studio album, and includes much the same angular indie guitar led music, if not a little more anthemic than before.

The guys have clearly thought about the release of the album, and especially 'Waving Flags' as it is perfect timing to integrate into the mainstream in time for the summer. The song may be a celebration of welcoming European expansion (in particular the Czech Republic), but what's more interesting is their impeccable timing. Summer hosts a hoard of festivals, (of which it wouldn't seem out of place if B.S.P were to be added to the line up for Latitude, Connect, Isle of White or Glastonbury), and you can imagine the atmosphere when the opening strings of 'Waving Flags' begins...very apt don't you think?

'Do You Like Rock Music' is a powerful listen, and you should check out 'Down On The Ground', 'Atom' and definitely 'No Lucifer', if only for it's heartening chants!

'No Lucifer'

Download bsp_no_lucifer.mp3

Poll Position

So last year I posted a poll for the best album of 2007 and you chose Kings Of Leon 'Because of The Times' as your favourite album of last year - though Arcade Fire's 'Neon Bible' was close behind.

So in light of this, it's only right to post a track from the album. This one probably sums up the album's elements of modern rock, hard bass lines, tight drumming, effortless coolness and Caleb's raspy and sexy vocals.

'Camero'

Download KOL_Camaro.mp3

Foals

Apologies for the lack of posting recently - there's just no excuse! So, let's move on and talk about another exciting band.

Foals are about to support Bloc Party and have their debut album on the horizon (out in March 2008?). Things are looking good for the UK quintet - and to top it off their new single (released on Transgressive) had been produced by none other than the electronic eschewing artist Kieran Hebden aka Four Tet. 'Balloons' is a spikey electro crashing fun song, end of. Though the guys have made the decision to leave their previous singles 'Hummer' and 'Mathletics' off the album, 'Balloons' should appear on it though...

The question is whether the anticipation of the band is genuinely because they're on the cusp of something great, or whether they'll be greatly overrated? Here's hoping it's the first!

'Balloons'

Download Balloons.mp3

To Early for a B-Sides Album?

So after a making two albums, headlining Glastonbury and touring the globe, The Killers have, it's fair to say, done pretty well for themselves in the past few years. And now they're bringing out a third album...of b-sides. Most bands might wait until their fifth release to do something like this, so why would The Killers assume they've got enough good material for a whole album? 'Sawdust' contains remixes, b-sides to already released singles and covers of Joy Division and Dire Straights. As well as this they've joined in with the download only crew for their collaboration with Lou Reed on 'Tranquilize' (a song containing more cliches than the opening scene of Team America: World Police). That was until they decided about two weeks later to release the single physically. Most of the tracks on the record are songs performed from their live sets, and they've clearly found that the crowds react well to them. So what's the harm in doing this if fans will appreciate it?

But it's not like they're the first ones to do this either. Gorillaz are releasing a b-sides, or rather 'D-Sides' record after just two studio albums. Though they did previously release one in 2002 called 'G-Sides' and 'Laika Come Home' (a remix album in the same year). But is this plausible to release material they felt couldn't make it onto the main albums in the first place? And why do it so soon?

One track which probably didn't make it onto the original album 'Hot Fuss' for The Killers, is 'Under The Gun', because it sounds a bit too much like 'Mr Brightside'. But it's actually a good song, so we're gonna let you have a listen.

Under The Gun - The Killers

Download under_the_gun.mp3