tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37154392331097404832024-03-13T17:47:20.995+00:00Hitsville U.K.Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-53386260449760953642010-12-10T00:20:00.000+00:002010-12-10T00:21:30.228+00:00BLOG MOVING<a href="http://hitsvilleuk.tumblr.com/">http://hitsvilleuk.tumblr.com/<br />Moving the blog to Tumblr as it's easier to maintain and yeah, it's just a bit better.<br />See you on the other side.<br />xx<br /></a>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-21745816753216982562010-09-16T15:46:00.005+01:002010-09-16T17:17:25.371+01:00FILM OF THE WEEK: Scott Pilgrim Vs The World<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.thighswideshut.org/twsdo/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/scott_pilgrim.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://www.thighswideshut.org/twsdo/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/scott_pilgrim.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >STARRING: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jason Scwartzman, Keiran Culkin, Alison Pill, Mark Webber, Chris Evans, Brandon Routh, Ellen Wong</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >DIRECTOR: Edgar Wright</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >RUNNING TIME: 112 minutes</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >RELEASED: 13th August 2010</span></span><br /><br />If ever a film's tagline was accurate, it's <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Scott Pilgrim"</span>'s. <span style="font-style: italic;">"An epic tale of epic epicness"</span> is entirely correct, if grammatically awful. The word "epic" is admittedly overused by us young'uns nowadays, but there is no other word I can think of to describe <span style="font-weight: bold;">Edgar Wright</span>'s third film. Adapted from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bryan Lee O'Malley</span>'s graphic novel series, Scott Pilgrim... follows the story of the titular Scott, a 22 year old Canadian slacker, who plays bass in garage band <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sex Bob-omb. </span>They're not very good, but have at least one huge fan in Scott's 17 year old high-school girlfriend, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Knives Chau</span>. Unsure of what to his friends and bandmates' disapproval about the relationship, our hero meets another obstacle in the arrival of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ramona Flowers</span>, the girl of Scott's dreams, literally. At a battle of the bands that Sex Bob-omb are playing, Ramona's ex <span style="font-weight: bold;">Matthew Patel </span>crashes the gig, challenging Scott to a fight to the death as the first member of <span style="font-weight: bold;">The League Of Evil Exes</span>. Only after the League hase been defeated, can Scott and Ramona finally be together.<br /><br />For anyone over the age of 30, <span style="font-weight: bold;">SPvsTW</span> will most likely be a blur of bright colours, noises and meaninglesspop-culture references. But to an audience well-versed in games and indie-rock, it will be, well, epic. Fans of Wright's previous work (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Spaced</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Shaun Of The Dead</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hot Fuzz</span>) will be familiar with his quick-paced directing style and should help you to notice every little reference buried within the film. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Michael Cera</span> once again plays an awkward indie nerd hopelessly in love with a girl, but expands his acting range to include "bit of a docuhebag" this time, since Scott Pilgrim isn't the most likeable guy around for the first hour or so. You never know, Cera might turn into a great actor someday, like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Joseph Gordon-Levitt</span>. Both have played the "awkward/alternative" guy multiple times (Cera in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Arrested Development</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nick & Norah</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Paper Heart</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Youth In Revolt</span>, Gordon-Levitt in <span style="font-weight: bold;">3rd Rock</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">10 Things I Hate About You</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mysterious Skin</span>) and Gordon-Levitt is now forging his own place as a very gifted actor, thanks to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Inception</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Brick</span> and the upcoming <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hesher</span>. You've just got to hope Cera doesn't get stuck in an unfortunate rut.<br /><br />But back to "Scott Pilgrim...". The film is full of computer game references and every single one works; from Scott's "Pee" bar emptying out when visiting the "little boys' room" (a possible nod to <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Sims</span>) to the aspect ratio changing as if the action is cutting to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutscene">cutscene</a>. It also stays as faithful as possible to the original comic series. Sound effects (such as phones ringing etc) appear on-screen as text, characters get introduced with text boxes and descriptions; in fact the only big change from the series is, well, the second half of the plot. The Scott Pilgrim series was only three volumes long when production started on the film, with the sixth and final volume only being released a few months ago, so there are a fair few disparities between the two. But without some backstory and plot points, the film is actually a bit more enjoyable and coherent than the graphic novels. The ending is certainly a lot easier to wrap your head around, whilst some hardcore fans will inevitably have a few gripes of their favourite lines being cut, the film is hilarious enough without having in-jokes and obvious lines thrown at you every few seconds. All in all, Scott Pilgrim has just the right amount of romance, action, comedy and rocking out to live up to its tagline, and is the perfect rom-com for anyone brought up with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nintendo</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nirvana</span>.<span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-76352074022588544872010-08-16T18:24:00.006+01:002010-08-16T20:27:41.382+01:00FILM OF THE WEEK: Shutter Island<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/culture_test/shutter_island.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 465px; height: 322px;" src="http://assets.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/culture_test/shutter_island.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">STARRING: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Sir Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer, Max Von Sydow</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DIRECTOR: Martin Scorsese</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">RUNNING TIME: 137 minutes</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">RELEASED: 19th February 2010</span></span><br /><br />YES. I know this is a music blog I'm writing. If I hand't figured that out by now, I'd have to deaf, dumb and blind (and hopefully good at pinball to compensate). But as much as I am a music obsessive, I'm a film geek in equal measure. Plus film and music are intrinsically entwined; for instance, would any <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tarantino</span> movie be quite as cool without the great man himself handpicking the best accompanying soundtracks? Would <span style="font-weight: bold;">(500) Days of Summer</span> be so adored by the indie contingent if it weren't for the inclusion of <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Smiths</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Regina Spektor</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Feist</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">She & Him</span> in the film? The OSTs of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Juno</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Twilight</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">New Moon</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Eclipse</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Watchmen </span>and even <span style="font-weight: bold;">Alice In Wonderland</span> are packed with great tracks ranging from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jimi Hendrix</span> to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Editors</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mott The Hoople</span> to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cee-Lo Green</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Franz Ferdinand</span> to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Muse</span> and even <span style="font-weight: bold;">Robert Smith</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Edgar Wright</span>'s forthcoming comic book adaptation (sure to be amazing, just so you know) will feature <span style="font-weight: bold;">Beck</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Broken Social Scene</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Frank Black</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Metric</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Blood Red Shoes</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Bluetones</span>, whilst <span style="font-weight: bold;">Radiohead</span>'s producer <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nigel Godrich</span> will be providing the score. And if you need any more proof that music helps to create iconic moments in cinema, see the opening to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Trainspotting</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reservoir Dogs</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Toy Story</span>. Yes, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Toy Story</span>. It's quite ironic then that the first film I've chosen for <span style="font-weight: bold;">FOTW</span> has no such star-studded soundtrack or classic pop songs augmenting every scene.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shutter Island</span> (adapted from Dennis Lehane's 2003 novel) pretty much cements <span style="font-weight: bold;">Leonardo DiCaprio</span>'s place as <span style="font-weight: bold;">Martin Scorsese</span>'s new muse, for lack of a better word, replacing <span style="font-weight: bold;">Robert DeNiro</span>. Their fourth film working together (after <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gangs Of New York</span> (2002), <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Aviator</span> (2004) and <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Departed</span> (2006)), <span style="font-weight: bold;">DiCaprio</span> plays US Marshal Teddy Daniels, sent to investigate the Ashecliff Hospital for the criminally insane on Shutter Island. Along with partner Chuck (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Mark Rufallo</span>), Daniels is on the case of the missing patient Rachel Solando, who apparently escaped from her locked cell. Suspecting a conspiracy, Daniels keeps digging deeper in to the workings of the hospital, interviewing patients and staff alike working his way closer and closer to something he doesn't want to know.<br /><br />Whilst not a timeless classic of a film, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Shutter Island </span>makes it four hits in a row for the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Scorsese/DiCaprio</span> partnership (it's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Scorsese</span>'s highest-grossing film worldwide) and not without good reason. The plot and twist are rather <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hitchcock</span>-esque and as always <span style="font-weight: bold;">Scorsese</span> directs the events fantastically, a one-take, dolly-cam shot of Teddy Daniels' military past being a particular highlight. The superb supporting cast don't hurt either, with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ruffalo</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sir Ben Kingsley</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Emily Mortimer</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Max von Sydow</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jackie Earle Haley</span> (of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Watchmen</span> fame, particularly pleasing to this fanboy) all giving memorable turns. If reports are to be believed and "Leo and Marty" have two more films in the works, then the future looks pretty bright.Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-49737597179627493122010-08-16T16:43:00.006+01:002010-08-16T17:28:09.091+01:00The Cribs - Housewife<object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LKciOAXMxk0?fs=1&hl=en_GB&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LKciOAXMxk0?fs=1&hl=en_GB&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object><br /><br />Returning after their fourth album (last year's lacklustre <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Ignore The Ignorant"</span>), <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Cribs </span>have released <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Housewife"</span> as a stand-alone single. At least I hope it's a stand-alone single, as an entire album with this sound would certainly mark a dip in form for the Wakefield/Manc band. Already splitting opinion betweens fans and outsiders alike, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Housewife"</span> is the first <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cribs</span> song to use a synth, to my knowledge anyway, and whilst lo-fi indie-punk is what the band do best, yet another single cut from that same cloth wouldn't have left much cloth to cut from in future...if that makes any sense. Some supposed fans are blaming <span style="font-weight: bold;">Johnny Marr</span>'s involvement for taking away some of the bite of the first three <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cribs</span> albums, and there is some truth in that (it's a common opinion that when played live, pre-<span style="font-weight: bold;">Marr</span> songs are ruined due to his rhythm playing being added). But whilst this change in sound is refreshing, I'm not too sure it works. All the pieces are in place; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Marr</span>'s rhythm guitar adds to the song, the synth riff is actually catchy and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gary Jarman</span>'s basslines drive the song along (although <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ryan Jarman</span> still can't hold a tune in a bucket with the lid on), but it doesn't seem to gel on the first few listens. Of course, it'll be sung back in unison by the time it's played at <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reading & Leeds</span>, so I doubt <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Cribs</span> will have too many worries about a backlash just yet.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;" >7/10<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Housewife"</span> is <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/housewife-single/id384611233">out on iTunes now</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;"> or </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://usershare.net/uzj8n4s945kf">slightly less legal means here.</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Cribs</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> play the </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Reading & Leeds</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> festivals on </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Saturday 28th</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> and </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Friday 27th of August </span><span style="font-style: italic;">respectively</span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-69295843296303345582010-08-14T01:36:00.004+01:002010-08-14T02:35:11.526+01:00Everything Everything - Man Alive<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5l9dm9Ot81qzbg4qo1_400.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 350px;" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5l9dm9Ot81qzbg4qo1_400.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Everything Everything</span>; the great white hope for Manchester music...except they're not actually from there. With members hailing from Newcastle and Kent, their tag as the latest part of the grand Manc-rock lineage (which, even as a Scouser, I am rather envious of) is a tad misleading. But since they actually formed in Mancunia, I'll let it slide.<br /><br />To describe <span style="font-weight: bold;">EE</span>'s and <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Man Alive"</span>'s sound without painting in brushstrokes broader than the defecit would be pretty tough. It has been called "indie R&B" which is quite accurate on superb singles <span style="font-weight: bold;">"MY KZ, YR BF"</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Schoolin'"</span>. The latter could well be sold as a single (or at least a remix) from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jason Derulo</span> or <span style="font-weight: bold;">NeYo</span> or whoever and you would happily believe that. At times the band sound something like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Radiohead</span> getting their funk on, if only because of frontman <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jonathan Everything</span>'s (the band have all adopted the surname "Everything" a la <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Ramones </span>and to a lesser extent, <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Fratellis</span>) falsetto vocals, which could be a sticking point for some delicate-eared listeners.<br /><br />Another 'Marmite' aspect is sure to be the often-undecipherable lyrics. I for one am looking forward to getting my hands on the CD booklet to work out what the hell they're going about. For example; <span style="font-style: italic;">"You’</span>ve<span style="font-style: italic;"> become a</span> smithereen<span style="font-style: italic;">!/(I’m watching that!) Foxhound frolic on the abattoir floor, up in heaven it’s symmetrical oh/ Airbrush! What have you done with my father?/Why does he look like a carving?/How do I live in the present?/I make my own density?"</span> from "Photoshop<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Handsome"</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Suffragette Suffragette"</span>'s refrain of <span style="font-style: italic;">"Who is gonna sit on your face when I'm not there?"</span> will probably gain a mixed reaction from any WI members who happen to be listening, but its Biffy<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Clyro-esque structure and riffs should be enough to make them discard any outrage that may build.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/49788833/Everything+Everything+promo+2010.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 410px; height: 307px;" src="http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/49788833/Everything+Everything+promo+2010.png" alt="" border="0" /></a>Whilst the slick jerky pop may be the most common view of EE seen, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Final Form"</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Two For Nero"</span> showcase a softer, if equally complex side. <span style="font-weight: bold;">"NASA Is On Your Side"</span> is the highlight of <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Man Alive"</span>, hinting at <span style="font-weight: bold;">Muse</span> when they were still weird and good; all reverbed guitars, bouncing bass and an epic chorus all spread across five minutes and seven seconds of dreamlike alt.pop.<br /><br />One of the best albums so far this year, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Man Alive"</span> is a debut that had more than a bit of pre-release expectation on it, but that expectation has been met and surpassed, without a doubt. Tipped for great things in the deluge of industry shortlists released at the start of the year, Everything Everything have two possible career trajectories, based on <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Man Alive"</span>. Either they'll head to the upper echelons of the charts, ushering in an era of intelligent, genre bending pop. Or more likely they'll become a bafflingly huge cult band, making intelligent genre-bending pop. Whichever path they end up on, they're sure to keep creating music that sounds more fresh and original than pretty much everything out there.<br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">8.5/10</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">ESSENTIAL TRACKS:</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">"MY KZ, YR BF", "QWERTY Finger", "Schoolin'", "Photoshop Handsome", "Two For Nero", "NASA Is On Your Side"</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">FOR FANS OF: Radiohead, Muse, most bands classified as dance-punk</span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-82879193453624045422010-08-13T22:15:00.003+01:002010-08-13T22:41:47.913+01:00Manic Street Preachers: New b-side and other news<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.letsbuyit.com/filer/images/uk/products/original/205/39/postcards-from-a-young-man-deluxe-edition-20539390.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 467px; height: 467px;" src="http://static.letsbuyit.com/filer/images/uk/products/original/205/39/postcards-from-a-young-man-deluxe-edition-20539390.jpeg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Just over a year on from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Journal For Plague Lovers</span>, the Manics are back with tenth album <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Postcards From A Young Man"</span>. Whereas JFPL was seen as a companion piece to 1994's <span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Holy Bible"</span>, PFAYM is a return to the bombast and anthemic sound of <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Everything Must Go"</span>. Described by band mouthpiece <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nicky Wire</span> as "one last shot at mass communication", it features appearances from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ian McCulloch</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">John Cale</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Guns 'N' Roses' Duff McKagan</span>. And as if that doesn't sound good enough the artwork features Tim Roth of Reservoir Dogs/Pulp Fiction/Lie To Me fame.<br /><br />The band have made one of the six b-sides (six!) to first single <span style="font-weight: bold;">"(It's Not War) Just the End of Love"</span> <a href="http://t.fans.sonymusicemail.com/r/?id=h1c4d50d,26fa0c2,26fef9a">available for free download</a>. Wonderfully named, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"I'm Leaving You For Solitude" </span>sounds like a lost <span style="font-weight: bold;">John Lennon</span> solo track and surprisingly lacks a typical stadium-sized <span style="font-weight: bold;">James Dean Bradfield</span> solo, but sounds all the more refreshing for it.<br /><br />The tracklisting for <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Postcards For A Young Man"</span> is as follows:<br /><ol style="font-weight: bold;"><li>(It's Not War) Just the End of Love</li><li>Postcards from a Young Man</li><li>Some Kind of Nothingness (featuring Ian McCulloch)</li><li>The Descent – (Pages 1 & 2)</li><li>Hazleton Avenue</li><li>Auto-Intoxication</li><li>Golden Platitudes</li><li>I Think I've Found It</li><li>A Billion Balconies Facing the Sun<br /></li><li>All We Make Is Entertainment</li><li>The Future Has Been Here 4 Ever</li><li>Don't Be Evil</li></ol>In case you haven't got quite enough of the Manics yet, there'll be a documentary this Sunday at 12pm on BBC 6 Music. The band will be revealing the pivotal moments and songs that shaped their lives and their careers. It'll also be the first chance to hear new tracks <i style="font-weight: bold;">"</i><span style="font-weight: bold;">Auto Intoxication"</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">"A Billion Balconies Facing the Sun"</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Postcards From A Young Man" </span>is released on the 27th of September</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"(It's Not War) Just The End Of Love"</span> is released on the 13th of September</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Manic Street Preachers</span> kick off their tour in support of the album on the 29th of September in Glasgow.</span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-78502394395007144442010-08-10T13:28:00.003+01:002010-08-10T14:02:39.507+01:00VIDEO - Grinderman - Heathen Child<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6UES1eNy9qo&hl=en_GB&fs=1?color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6UES1eNy9qo&hl=en_GB&fs=1?color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Taken from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Grinderman'</span>s second eponymous album, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Heathen Child</span>" is exactly the kind of primal garage rock that we've come to expect from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nick Cave</span>'s busman's holiday band. Wailing guitars and an irresistible groove provide a backing for Cave's howls of <span style="font-style: italic;">"I don't care about Allah, don't care about Buddah, don't care about Krishna"</span>, sounding ever more like his old self in The Birthday Party. The video features a fair amount of nudity, the floating head from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hot Chip's "I Feel Better"</span> video, wolves, wolfmen and the band dressed as Roman centurions. I hope my mid-life crisis is as brilliant and mental as Nick Cave's seems to be.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Grinderman 2"</span> is released on the 13th of September<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Heathen Child"</span> is released on the 6th of September (but you can<a href="http://hypem.com/search/heathen%20child/1/"> download it here</a>)<br />Grinderman kick off their UK tour on the 25th of September in Nottingham</span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-79969564088589409062010-07-11T23:56:00.004+01:002010-07-12T00:05:50.379+01:00INCOMING: Los Campesinos! - All's Well That Ends EP<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk265/myfirstmine/ALLSWELLTHATENDS.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 568px; height: 564px;" src="http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk265/myfirstmine/ALLSWELLTHATENDS.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LC!</span> are surely the most featured band on Hitsville U.K., but not without good reason. Last week <a href="http://loscampesinos.com/2010/07/05/romance-is-boring-princess-version/">the band posted an mp3 of the ‘Princess Version’ of <span style="font-weight: bold;">the title track</span> of their most recent album <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Romance Is Boring"</span></a>. It has just been announced that the track makes up part of a new ‘reworkings’ EP titled <span style="font-weight: bold;">"All’s Well That Ends"</span>. The EP is made up of four alternate versions of tracks from "Romance Is Boring". The tracklisting is as follows: <div style="font-weight: bold;"><strong><br /></strong></div> <div style="font-weight: bold;"><strong>1. Romance Is Boring (Princess Version)</strong></div> <div style="font-weight: bold;"><strong>2. Letters From Me To Charlotte (RSVP)</strong></div> <div style="font-weight: bold;"><strong>3. Straight In At 101/It’s Never Enough</strong></div> <div><strong><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. (All’s Well That Ends) In Medias Res<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></strong><strong style="font-weight: normal;"><span>Ellen, t</span></strong><strong><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">he band's bassist, filmed the recordings of the EP.</span><br /><br /></span></strong></div><br /><object width="601" height="338"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12721976&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12721976&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="601" height="338"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/12721976">Untitled</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1874040">Los Campesinos!</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><br />The EP will first be available to buy at <span style="font-weight: bold;">Los Campesinos! Wichiten show</span> at London’s Garage on Thursday 15th July, and will then be available in limited number from independent record shops from July 19th.<br />You can pre-order the 10″ EP from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wichita</span>, here: <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.wichita-recordings.com/shop/webb258t.html">http://www.wichita-recordings.com/shop/webb258t.html</a>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-39078068170996727062010-05-04T19:34:00.003+01:002010-05-04T19:53:11.876+01:00IN CELEBRATION OF... FoalsFoals' second album, Total Life Forever, is the latest to recieve a 9/10 rating here on Hitsville U.K. and that means an "In Celebration Of..." post. Enjoy...<br /><br /><object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eYoINidnLRQ&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eYoINidnLRQ&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object><br /><object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jX7sniIVmtM&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jX7sniIVmtM&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object><br /><object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WjNNWvz3JT4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WjNNWvz3JT4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object><br /><object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/c1XCjp5Q_Bw&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/c1XCjp5Q_Bw&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object><br /><object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/y6JyOPUV4ns&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/y6JyOPUV4ns&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object><br /><object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Wb0xVKhFxgU&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Wb0xVKhFxgU&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-1775496508375462122010-05-04T19:01:00.005+01:002010-05-04T19:34:39.217+01:00Foals - Total Life Forever<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.itubainaradioretro.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/144.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 386px; height: 386px;" src="http://www.itubainaradioretro.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/144.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />First of all, the pre-release hype for <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Total Life Forever”</span> has been at fever pitch ever since <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Spanish Sahara”</span> made its way on to the internet and has rarely let up, save for a bit of unjust backlash when <span style="font-weight: bold;">“This Orient”</span> appeared. Fanboys have been eagerly waiting for proof that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Foals</span> are the new <span style="font-weight: bold;">Radiohead</span>, or some equally hyperbolic statement, whilst detractors have been queuing up to shoot the band down as arty, student, math-rock bollocks...or something as equally well-thought out and intelligent. If their debut <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Antidotes”</span> was something of a curveball to those expecting an album full of <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Hummer”</span>-esque indie disco hits, then this should be perfect for them. For those who wanted <span style="font-weight: bold;">Foals</span> to go all out and fully embrace their experimental side, then this should also be pretty much perfect. In other words, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Foals</span> have made the best follow-up they could have possibly made.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/20336871/Foals+bw.jpg"><br /></a>Forgive me for getting <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/20336871/Foals+bw.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 393px;" src="http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/20336871/Foals+bw.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>all oxymoronic, but the most noticeable thing on first listen is how chaotic and dense the new tracks sound, yet they’re mostly straightforward indie-rock songs and, dare I say, even a little poppy. The plaintive picking on album opener <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Blue Blood”</span> gives way to the kind of indie funk last seen on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Friendly Fires</span>’ debut album or <span style="font-weight: bold;">Franz Ferdinand</span>’s third, before evolving into a whirlwind of noise that first time round listen sounds messy, but repeat listens reveal that everything is in its right place (sorry, that’ll be the only <span style="font-weight: bold;">Radiohead</span> pun here). The funk strut carries on into <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Miami”</span>, which has ‘big hit’ branded on it. The title track and <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Black Gold”</span> continue in the same vein until we hit <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Spanish Sahara”</span>. Near-7 minute comeback tracks seem to be the vogue right now (see; <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Horrors</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Blood Red Shoes</span> etc) so it shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Foals</span> returned with one. What is a surprise is <span style="font-weight: bold;">Yannis Philippakis</span>’ vocals. Whereas on <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Antidotes” </span>he usually sounded like a yapping terrier with a fringe, Yannis now sounds a little more assured in his own voice and ability to sing. Alright, he’s not exactly <span style="font-weight: bold;">Florence Welch</span> when it comes to singing, but he does have a unique voice which comes into its own on<span style="font-weight: bold;"> “Spanish Sahara”</span>. Accompanied only by a solitary guitar and a drumbeat that sounds a million miles away, the track gradually builds from these three elements to swirling alt. pop brilliance. One of the tracks of the year already, it’s obviously the standout and it’s clear to see why some fans were disappointed with the next track <span style="font-weight: bold;">“This Orient”.</span><br /><br />A great song on its own, but coming straight after <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Spanish Sahara”</span> didn’t really help. If anything, <span style="font-weight: bold;">“This Orient”</span> is a better example of the depth of the album than the previous track. Verging on FM rock, the song is perfectly layered with every instrument and voice complimenting each other. In fact, <span style="font-weight: bold;">“This Orient”</span> is probably Foals most pop moment yet. The first half of <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Total Life Forever”</span> is pop, in a roundabout way. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Justin Bieber</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Jonas Brothers</span> would kill for some of the hooks that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Foals</span> have crammed into the first six tracks, if they weren’t the spawn of Satan and whatnot. But after the instrumental interlude of <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Fugue”</span> segues into <span style="font-weight: bold;">“After Glow”</span> the band lets their experimental side run free. Sounding a little like <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Born Slippy”</span> at the start (at least it does to me) the latter becomes a tornado of tribal dumming, screeching guitars and typical Foals riffs. <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Alabaster”</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">“2 Trees”</span> are possibly the most downbeat Foals songs yet, with the latter being the best on the album after <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Spanish Sahara”</span>, but it has competition from <span style="font-weight: bold;">“What Remains”</span>, the album’s closer. With guitars alternately sounding like harps and drills, it might not reach the indie discos but it rounds of an album which gives further evidence that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Foals</span> truly are a special band.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">FOR FANS OF:</span> Radiohead, Bloc Party, These New Puritans,<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">ESSENTIAL:</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> </span>"Blue Blood", "Miami", "Spanish Sahara", "This Orient", "2 Trees", "What Remains"<span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:180%;" ><br />9/10</span></span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-74601529569997956162010-04-29T05:11:00.002+01:002010-04-29T05:21:49.789+01:00IN CELEBRATION OF... LCD SoundsystemAs I've done with Gorillaz' and Los Campesinos!'s 9 and 9.5/10 albums this year, here's the best of LCD Soundsystem's videos to educate yourself with and also in celebration of their<a href="http://hitsville-uk.blogspot.com/2010/04/lcd-soundsystem-this-is-happening.html"> 9/10 for "This Is Happening"</a>.<br />(Okay, so the last one isn't LCD, but it's pretty damn amazing)<br /><br /><object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/i2V_ZT-nyOs&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/i2V_ZT-nyOs&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object><br /><object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DbaOFkC8tQE&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DbaOFkC8tQE&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object><br /><object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KQphuL0RMNU&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KQphuL0RMNU&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object><br /><object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TIChw-9ggyo&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TIChw-9ggyo&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object><br /><object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ON1eRJtoOrg&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ON1eRJtoOrg&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object><br /><object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/U2gA9dMzb38&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/U2gA9dMzb38&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-21340659824516467002010-04-29T04:35:00.004+01:002010-04-29T04:52:00.364+01:00LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cdn.stereogum.com/files/2010/03/LCD-Soundsystem-This-Is-Happening.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 404px; height: 404px;" src="http://cdn.stereogum.com/files/2010/03/LCD-Soundsystem-This-Is-Happening.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />For those out of the loop, <span style="font-weight: bold;">LCD Soundsystem</span> are probably the most consistently great band of the last five years. Having garnered near universal acclaim with their first two albums <span style="font-weight: bold;">"LCD Soundsystem"</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Sound Of Silver"</span>, as well as three Grammy nominations along the way, it’s fair to say they’re a pretty big deal. The brains behind it all and the only actual member is New York DJ, producer and <span style="font-weight: bold;">co-founder of DFA Records</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">James Murphy</span>, whose barely-even-singing singing voice has been the calling card of the band since their first single back in 2002. Having created what many to consider to be two of the best songs of the noughties (apologies for using that phrase) in <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Someone Great”</span> and<span style="font-weight: bold;"> “All My Friends”</span>, expectations have been a little high for LCD’s third, and if Murphy is to be believed, final album.<br /><br />Lead single <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Drunk Girls”</span> wasn’t well received by all LCD fans, although most saw it as a good, if slightly disposable, dancefloor filler in the vein of previous single <span style="font-weight: bold;">“North American Scum”</span>. But “Drunk Girls” with its pop sensibilities and instant raucous hook is a world away from the rest of <span style="font-weight: bold;">“This Is Happening”</span>. For one, it’s under five and a half minutes long and sounds nothing like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Berlin-era David Bowie</span>, whereas the other eight tracks do. Album opener <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Dance Yrself Clean”</span>, with its slow and steady build-up to the show-stopping drop, could well be the best thing Murphy has ever done and the quality doesn’t let up from there on in. <span style="font-weight: bold;">“I Can Change”</span> is a swirling, shimmering slice of modern disco that you’ll be whistling for the whole day after hearing it, whilst <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Pow Pow”</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">“You Wanted A Hit”</span> return to the dance-punk sound that Murphy and DFA Records helped to create. Despite the latter song’s hook of <span style="font-style: italic;">“We won’t be your babies anymore”</span>, it lives up to its title by being the only other possible hit after “Drunk Girls”, despite being nine minutes long.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://fingersbecomethumbs.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/lcdsoundsss.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 249px;" src="http://fingersbecomethumbs.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/lcdsoundsss.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">“All I Want”</span> is such a pastiche of <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Heroes”</span> it’s almost a disappointment when a coke-addled Bowie fails to turn up halfway though. Almost. <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Somebody’s Calling Me”</span> continues in treading the line between pastiche and rip-off, by sounding like the illegitimate offspring of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Iggy Pop</span>’s <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Nightclubbing”</span>. Whilst with lesser artists you’d accuse of a lack of ideas or shamelessly rehashing the past, with LCD Soundsystem, it just sounds like an obvious homage to Murphy’s influences. If “This Is Happening” is definitely to be Murphy’s last album under the LCD name then there’s few better ways to sign off than album closer <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Home”</span>, a funky-yet-heartfelt future floor-filler that surely wasn’t intended as such. It’s the closest LCD Soundsystem has come to a conventional pop song over three albums.<br /><br />“This Is Happening” isn’t full of pure dance-punk hits like “North American Scum” or <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Daft Punk Is Playing At My House”</span>, neither is it a collection of earnest, soulful laments such as the previously-mentioned “Someone Great” and “All My Friends” as some may have hoped. Instead its sound is somewhere in between; songs to make you move your hips and break your heart at the same time. They’ll be missed.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">FOR FANS OF:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hot Chip, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, The Rapture, Simian Mobile Disco, Justice</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">ESSENTIAL:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Dance Yrself Clean", "Drunk Girls", "I Can Change", "All I Want, "Somebody's Calling Me", "Home"</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">9/10</span></span><br /><br /><object width="100%" height="81"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fhitsvilleuk-1%2F01-dance-yrself-clean"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fhitsvilleuk-1%2F01-dance-yrself-clean" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%" height="81"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/hitsvilleuk-1/01-dance-yrself-clean">01 Dance Yrself Clean</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/hitsvilleuk-1">HitsvilleUK-1</a></span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-42804943824571754772010-04-29T03:03:00.006+01:002010-04-29T03:57:12.461+01:00Kele - Tenderoni<object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tVEFIJNWmls&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tVEFIJNWmls&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object><br /><br />Since <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bloc Party </span>have gone on hiatus recently, its members have been given a chance to venture into that uneven of lands known as "side projects". <span style="font-weight: bold;">Russell Lissack</span> has formed <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pin Me Down</span> with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Milena Mapris</span> (essentially a electro-pop version of Bloc Party), <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gordon Moakes</span> is now a part of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Young Legionnaire</span> with <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Automatic</span>'s <span style="font-weight: bold;">Paul Mullen</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">La Roux</span>'s <span style="font-weight: bold;">William Bowerman</span> and, whilst drummer <span style="font-weight: bold;">Matt Tong</span> has stayed quiet so far, frontman <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kele Okereke</span> has gone solo, embracing his love of clubbing and dance music. <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Tenderoni"</span>, the first fruits of his solo album <span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Boxer"</span>, recieved its first radio play tonight to divided opinion. Sounding plagarisingly close to both <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wiley</span>'s <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Wearing My Rolex"</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bodyrox</span>'s <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Yeah Yeah"</span>, "Tenderoni" will almost certainly be a mammoth club hit come the summer, even if it lacks that one big vocal hook that every dance classic needs. Skip to 1:36 and you can just envisage the sweaty crowd of skinny jeans going absolutely apeshit...in a good way. The first proper summer anthem is here, and I expect there's plenty more to come on the album.<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">8.5/10</span></span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-51052736333531998932010-04-29T02:24:00.004+01:002010-04-29T04:48:47.096+01:00INTO THE SPOTLIGHT... Gold Panda<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/wp-content/media/2009/07/GoldPanda.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 367px; height: 550px;" src="http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/wp-content/media/2009/07/GoldPanda.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">GOLD PANDA</span></span><br />The Essex-located, Japan-obsessed producer (he attended the School of Oriental and Asian Studies for two years, learning to read and write Japanese) has spent the last year or so becoming the go-to guy for remixes, at the same time as releasing three EPs of his own stellar material. Having tinkered with tracks from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Little Boots</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Telepathe</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bloc Party</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Health</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gold Panda</span>'s tracks are likely to become just as vital of a summer soundtrack as <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Drums</span>,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Summer Camp</span> et al; fuzzy, minimal beats with a strange nostalgic feel created by old VHS samples and loops.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">FOR FANS OF:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Joy Orbison, James Blake, Yeasayer, Hot Chip</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">IDEAL FOR:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lazy summer days, sitting in a field, watching clouds. Or remembering days like this. Or pretending to yourself you've spent days like that.</span><br /><br /><object width="100%" height="81"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fgold-panda%2Fyou&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=ff7700"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fgold-panda%2Fyou&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=ff7700" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%" height="81"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/gold-panda/you">You</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/gold-panda">Gold Panda</a></span><br /><object width="100%" height="81"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fgold-panda%2Fback-home"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fgold-panda%2Fback-home" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%" height="81"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/gold-panda/back-home">Back Home</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/gold-panda">Gold Panda</a></span><br /><object width="100%" height="81"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fgold-panda%2Fquitters-raga"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fgold-panda%2Fquitters-raga" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%" height="81"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/gold-panda/quitters-raga">Quitters Raga</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/gold-panda">Gold Panda</a></span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-46223312352745250362010-04-29T02:20:00.003+01:002010-04-29T02:24:40.214+01:00M.I.A. - Born Free (video)<object width="600" height="337"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11219730&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11219730&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/11219730">M.I.A, Born Free</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3148077">ROMAIN-GAVRAS</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p>To continue the recent very-video-heavy content here on Hitsville U.K., <a href="http://hitsville-uk.blogspot.com/2010/04/mia-born-free.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">M.I.A's "Born Free"</span></a> has itself a video. Definitely <span style="font-weight: bold;">NSFW</span> and certainly<span style="font-weight: bold;"> NSFG (not safe for gingers)</span>, the video is probably one of the more thought-provoking and uncomprimising of recent times.Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-23907235418253860642010-04-26T18:25:00.004+01:002010-04-26T18:34:48.499+01:00Frankie & The Heartstrings - Tender (video)<object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/29A5jD2Hz4U&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/29A5jD2Hz4U&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object><br /><br />Here's the brand spanking new video from Sunderland's finest popsters, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Frankie & The Heartstrings</span> for their latest single <span style="font-weight:bold;">"Tender"</span>. A rather awesome tune to match the band's rather awesome barnets, 2010 should be a damn good year for The Heartstings, possibly the best new British band around right now.. I can imagine a million and one Blur fans getting in a huff over F&THs stealing "their band"'s song title. <span style="font-weight:bold;">The single, released today, is limited to 888 7" vinyls</span>. I pre-ordered mine, what's your excuse?Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-33384002600637538912010-04-23T20:32:00.006+01:002010-04-23T20:46:54.913+01:00The xx - Islands (video)<object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PElhV8z7I60&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PElhV8z7I60&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object><br /><br />Adding to what has been an extremely prolific and extremely video-heavy day here on Hitsville U.K., here's the promo for <span style="font-weight:bold;">"Islands"</span>, the latest single from <span style="font-weight:bold;">The xx's</span> imaginatively-titled debut <span style="font-weight:bold;">"xx"</span>. The coolest/best/worst/most boring new band around, depending on your viewpoint (I'm cemented in the first two opinions myself) and creators of the third best album of 2009, as well as annoyingly being used on both E4's 90210 ads and the Beeb's Election campaign ads; if you don't already love them, you will pretty soon.Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-51236552060636465172010-04-23T17:50:00.002+01:002010-04-23T17:57:44.601+01:00Vampire Weekend - Giving Up The Gun (video)<object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bccKotFwzoY&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bccKotFwzoY&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object><br /><br />Whilst <a href="http://hitsville-uk.blogspot.com/2010/04/lcd-soundsystem-drunk-girls-video.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">LCD Soundsystem</span>'s video for <span style="font-weight:bold;">"Drunk Girls"</span></a> may be the best of the year, second place has to go to <span style="font-weight:bold;">Vampire Weekend</span>'s star-studded promo for <span style="font-weight:bold;">"Giving Up The Gun"</span>. Featuring <span style="font-weight:bold;">RZA</span>, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Joe Jonas</span>, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Jake Gyllenhaal</span>, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Lil' Jon</span> and the best headband since Solid Snake, it's a little bonkers and completely brilliant.Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-11093575886384283722010-04-23T16:59:00.004+01:002010-04-23T17:09:28.865+01:00M.I.A - Born Free<div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sangam.org/2009/01/images/MIA.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 553px; height: 369px;" src="http://www.sangam.org/2009/01/images/MIA.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">M.I.A</span> is back. Her <span style="font-weight: bold;">Diplo</span>-produced, as-yet-untitled third album is due for release around the <span style="font-weight: bold;">29th of June</span>, and the first song to appear from it is <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Born Free"</span>, an 100mph electro-punk racket which comes off a little like <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Sandinista"</span>-era <span style="font-weight: bold;">Clash</span>, with a bit of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Yeah Yeah Yeahs</span> thrown in. It's not quite <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Paper Planes"</span> but it's pretty damn close. Enjoy...<br /></div><br /><object width="100%" height="81"><param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Ftheprophetblog%2Fm-i-a-born-free"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Ftheprophetblog%2Fm-i-a-born-free" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%" height="81"></embed></object><span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/theprophetblog/m-i-a-born-free">M.I.A. - Born Free</a>by<a href="http://soundcloud.com/theprophetblog">TheProphetBlog</a></span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-80536095024057742292010-04-23T15:52:00.000+01:002010-04-23T15:59:15.037+01:00NEU! featuring Blur, BLK JKS, Big Boi, and Ryan Jarman<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.nme.com/images/blog/blurvinyl.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://static.nme.com/images/blog/blurvinyl.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Blur - Fool's Day</span></span><br />Poor <span style="font-weight: bold;">Damon Albarn</span>. Being in two of the biggest British bands of the last 20 years (cartoon or otherwise) must be one tough gig. There's no other explanation for the melancholia hovering over his most recent musical output. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gorillaz</span>' <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Plastic Beach"</span> often drifts into miserable mopey-ness, especially and unsurprisingly on <span style="font-weight: bold;">"On Melancholy Hill"</span>, although that doesn't cloud the brilliance of the album too much. Here, on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Blur</span>'s first single for seven years, released exclusively last week for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Record Store Day</span>, Damon bemoans "another day on this little island" with all the effort and enthusiasm of your typical bedroom-dwelling 16 year old. But away from Albarn's miserabilia and Kinksian lyrics of modern Britain, the rest of the band sound as if they never split. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dave Rowntree</span>'s drums are solid and simple, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Alex James</span>' basslines are laid-back as ever and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Graham Coxon</span> goes into riff heaven for the final minute of the song. It's relieving and exciting that they've come up with something this good after seven years apart. All anyone (except Oasis fans) can hope for now is a new album. Despite quotes from the band saying the reunion is over, the line <span style="font-style: italic;">"the forthcoming dramas of the studio, and a love of all sweet music/We just can’t let go"</span> says otherwise.<span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">9/10</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.blur.co.uk/">Download "Fool's Day"</a></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://totallydublin.ie/blog/wp-content/blk-jks1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 409px; height: 329px;" src="http://totallydublin.ie/blog/wp-content/blk-jks1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">BLK JKS - Zol!</span></span><br />With the World Cup in South Africa coming up in roughly a month and a half,it makes sense for the footy-related tunes to start rolling out. And <span style="font-weight: bold;">BLK JKS</span> (pronounced Black Jacks) since are South African themselves, it makes even more sense. Normally an experimental rock band, <span style="font-weight: bold;">BLK JKS</span> have produced a) the best football song since <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DonEXdMvwYg"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dario G</span>'s <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Carnival de Paris"</span></a> and b) possibly the most summery, infectious tune I've heard in a long while. Hopefully, we'll all be singing along to "I roll and shoot at the same time" by the time England play Honduras in the final (a guy can dream...)<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">8/10</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://prettymuchamazing.com/mp3/blk-jks-zol">Download "Zol!" from Pretty Much Amazing</a></span><br /><br /><span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://keepittrill.com/media/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/big-boi-sir-lucious-left-foot.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 359px;" src="http://keepittrill.com/media/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/big-boi-sir-lucious-left-foot.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Big Boi - Shutterbugg</span></span><br />It shouldn't come as much surprise that <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Shutterbugg"</span> is great. After all <span style="font-weight: bold;">Big Boi</span> is one of half of Outkast, and whilst this doesn't quite reach the heights of <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Hey Ya!"</span> (not many things do), it's up there with the best. Pencilled in as the first single on Big Boi's forthcoming awesomely-named album <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty"</span>, "Shutterbugg" is likely to be one of the big pop hits of 2010, and there's no reason why it shouldn't be<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">8/10</span></span><br /><object width="100%" height="81"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fhitsvilleuk-1%2Fbig-boi-shutterbug"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fhitsvilleuk-1%2Fbig-boi-shutterbug" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%" height="81"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/hitsvilleuk-1/big-boi-shutterbug">Big Boi - Shutterbug</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/hitsvilleuk-1">HitsvilleUK-1</a></span><br /><br /><br /><object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OqV-embx_tA&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OqV-embx_tA&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ryan Jarman - Do-Wah-Doo</span></span><br />In case you didn't keep up with the love lives of today's indie stars, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ryan Jarman</span>, singer in <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Cribs</span>, is going out with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kate Nash</span> of <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Foundations"</span>/<span style="font-style: italic;">"bittah/fittah"</span> fame. Nash's new album (which the original of this track sits on) is supposedly full of riot grrrl influences and punk guitars, which sounds like Mr Jarman has had a lot of influence on his new beau's musical direction. The original <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Do-Wa-Doo"</span> is a pretty perfect meld of Nash's old and new sounds, whilst this cover sticks to acoustic guitar and a bit of Stylophone chucked in for good measure (the video for the original is up there for comparison). Jarman's voice tends to irk some listeners, but when singing this, it suits the song almost more than Kate Nash. The sad thing is that both versions of "Do-Wah-Doo" are better than almost everything on The Cribs last album.<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">7</span></span><br /><object width="100%" height="81"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fhitsvilleuk-1%2Fryan-jarman-do-wah-doo"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fhitsvilleuk-1%2Fryan-jarman-do-wah-doo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%" height="81"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/hitsvilleuk-1/ryan-jarman-do-wah-doo">Ryan Jarman - Do Wah Doo</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/hitsvilleuk-1">HitsvilleUK-1</a></span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-1409970232015600592010-04-23T14:44:00.003+01:002010-04-23T14:47:38.680+01:00LCD Soundsystem - Drunk Girls (video)<object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qdRaf3-OEh4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qdRaf3-OEh4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object><br /><br />Some hate it, some love it. The lead single from <span style="font-weight:bold;">LCD Soundsystem</span>'s third and final album <span style="font-weight:bold;">"This Is Happening"</span> is one of the party songs of 2010, and also has the best video of the year so far. All I'm saying is panda anarchists who like a party.Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-50386942093539425582010-04-22T15:27:00.002+01:002010-04-22T15:36:19.682+01:00Even more Los Campesinos! for your delectationIn honour of "Romance Is Boring", Hitsville U.K.'s highest rated album of the year so far (beating Gorillaz' "Plastic Beach"), here's a handful of LC! videos, including one of the first two songs of their Liverpool gig in February (which I went to and requested those songs *proud fanboy moment...even though my <span style="font-size:85%;">requesting them</span> <span style="font-size:78%;">probably had nothing</span> <span style="font-size:58%;">to do with them being played....</span> * I'll shut up now and let you watch the videos)<br /><br /><object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b1_rh1LVTW8&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b1_rh1LVTW8&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object><br /><object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jEJk3OaoPA4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jEJk3OaoPA4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object><br /><object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6dbs9nzErz4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6dbs9nzErz4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object><br /><object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hH-oD3X7A_E&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hH-oD3X7A_E&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object><br /><object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uoIr60buB1I&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uoIr60buB1I&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-81014443698016267492010-04-22T15:07:00.005+01:002010-04-23T14:38:14.907+01:00Los Campesinos! - Romance Is Boring<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.singinglamb.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/ac050.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 340px;" src="http://www.singinglamb.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/ac050.jpeg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I’m never going to do a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Los Campesinos!</span> album review on time am I? It took me two months to review <span style="font-weight: bold;">“We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed”</span> and it’s taken me nearly the same amount for <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Romance Is Boring”</span>. Arguments on whether this is LC!’s second or third album will wage between indie kids for eternity (the band consider “WAB,WAD” as an extended EP, not a full album); I’m firmly on the ‘third album’ side if I’m being honest, but I digress.<br /><br />In the two and a bit years since their debut album, Los Campesinos! have matured into one of the best indie bands around (that’s indie as in independent in sound and ethos, not indie as in <span style="font-weight: bold;">The fucking Pigeon Detectives</span>). The twee shackles which plagued them early on have been thrown off and whilst the hyperactive pop playfulness still remains, like a chihuahua in a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kenickie</span> t-shirt, it’s now more streamlined and beefed –up, sounding less disposable and more life-affirming. The bouncy indie pop of old remains for the first half a dozen tracks or so, the title track being the best example of LC!’s evolution. Undeniably more rock than earlier tracks, it contains a chorus catchier than any flu the media choose to chuck on the front page (“Y<span style="font-style: italic;">ou’re pouting in your sleep, I’m waking, still yawning/We’re proving to each other that romance is boring</span>”). Lyrically, the album is superb. Gareth Campesinos! is one of the best lyricists the country has to offer right now, and there are few who can match him for laugh-out-loud moments e.g. <span style="font-style: italic;">“I think we need more post-coital and less post-rock/Feels like the build-up takes forever but you never touch my cock”</span> on <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Straight In At 101”</span>, as well as <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Plan A”</span>, probably the only song ever about being called up to the Maltese national football team.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/43912535/Los+Campesinos+4391391513_2293bf5bfd.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 392px; height: 256px;" src="http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/43912535/Los+Campesinos+4391391513_2293bf5bfd.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><br />Of course, as any LC! fan knows, it’s not all fun and indie-pop frolics, neither musically nor lyrically. Both <span style="font-weight: bold;">“In Medias Res”</span> and the aforementioned <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Straight In At 101”</span> offer up some pretty depressing imagery (“I phone my friends and family to gather round the television; The talking heads count down the most heart-wrenching break ups of all time/Imagine the great sense of waste, the indignity, the embarrassment when not a single one of that whole century was... mine”). To describe every little nuance and bit of lyrical genius on the album would take quite some time, and would probably be fairly boring. But I will say this; to experience <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Romance Is Boring”</span> fully, reading the lyric book along with listening to it is advised (that is if you actually go out and buy it...physically...remember that?).<br /><br />I’ve gone all this way and not even mentioned <span style="font-weight: bold;">“The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future”</span>, the album’s highlight of highlights and 5th best song of last year, according to me. Foreboding guitar picking and a lone, mournful violin that begin the track belie the explosion of a chorus that arrives, taking any listener on an aural rollercoaster. If you don’t at least “kind of like” Los Campesinos! after this album then, at the risk of sounding like a rabid fanboy, we can’t even know each other*<br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >*Kidding, of course. I just think this a superb album is all.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">SOUNDS LIKE:</span> All of your teenage angst, but more intelligent, witty, deep and catchy. And nothing at all like whiny bitchy emo.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">ESSENTIAL:</span> All of it. Seriously.</span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">9.5/10</span></span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-22190313904871896462010-04-16T21:02:00.002+01:002010-04-16T21:06:18.147+01:00Thom Yorke/Atoms For Peace - Love Will Tear Us ApartThom Yorke covering Joy Division? I'm surprised the indie world has imploded in on itself by now.<br /><center><br /><object width="960" height="745"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_xhON-JjCn0&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_xhON-JjCn0&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="960" height="745"></embed></object></center>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715439233109740483.post-3958417420217017212010-03-30T19:49:00.003+01:002010-03-30T19:53:33.095+01:00Hot Chip - I Feel Bonnie (Club Remix)I've been pretty obsessed with the latest Hot Chip single recently, and now here's the equally amazing remix featuring vocals from Will Oldham a.k.a Bonnie "Prince" Billy. It's times like this I wish I was a DJ, if only to play this...<br /><center><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wb02eldWZdA&border=1&color1=0x6699&color2=0x54abd6&hl=en_GB&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wb02eldWZdA&border=1&color1=0x6699&color2=0x54abd6&hl=en_GB&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object></center>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455038032362249590noreply@blogger.com0