White Lies - Album Tracks

Well what's this?! Two new White Lies tracks from the yet-to-be-released debut "To Lose My Life" have landed in my (virtual) lap. This is yet another album I'm excited for next year (I think I'm just excited for next year in general), although it's getting a hell of a lot of hype through various DJs and the music media in general which could set the band up for a biiiiiiiig fall.

Half the album is already floating around the blogosphere, so there's a pretty good idea of what it sounds like already. Here comes the bad part. The two leaked tracks "Fairwell To The Fairground" and "The Price Of Love" aren't really anywhere near the brilliance of White Lies' earlier songs. Both songs are near to the end of the album so should be grandiose, epic statements whilst showing some development for the band, but they just come off a bit avaerage considering the talent they've shown on "Unfinished Business" and "Death".

The "new Joy Division" tag is totally unfounded though as it is with the other two bands burdened with the comparison; Editors and Interpol. Whereas JD where claustrophobic, angular and menacingly melancholy, these three modern bands have much grander ambitions with a widescreen edge to their sound, whilst keeping the gloomy feeling and deep-voiced singer.

Anyway back to my point. "FTTF" is the weaker of the two songs, something which should have been left as a B-side as best. It's two clean, polished, too Radio One really. A better chorus would improve it vastly. "TPOL" is slightly better, much more of the White Lies formula. A slow burner which evolves into a typical big, bold album closer with a dashing of Morricone-esque strings for added effect. It's good, but not as good as expected.

6/10 (Fairwell To The Fairground)
7/10 (The Price Of Love)

Mainly for my own benefit.....

...as I'll hopefully be going next year, but here's some possibilities for headliners and big acts playing Reading & Leeds 2009.

Kings Of Leon

• Firmly planted in the mainstream as the new, big stadium band
  
• Proven headliner credentials at Glasto last year
• "Only By The Night" is specifically aimed for a sea of drunken festival goers
  Playing?: 9/10 Headlining?: 9/10
  

Muse

• Festival veterans having headlined in 2006, and played two other times
• Currently working on fifth album out in the second half of 2009 or early 2010, so might need a break from the studio
  Playing?: 6/10 Headlining?: 8/10

Franz Ferdinand

• New album out early next year, their first in four years
• Also headlined in 2006 and also played two times before
  Playing?: 7/10 Headlining?: 8/10
  

Oasis

• New album
• Haven't played a festival in a while
• It's Oasis
• ...but might clash with their stadium tour
  Playing?: 6/10 Headlining?: 9/10?
  

Blur

• Recently reformed
• Huge fanbase
• Possible clash with a future tour or may be headlining Glastonbury?
  Playing?: 5/10 Headlining?: 9/10
  

Radiohead

• First British festival since the release of "In Rainbows"
• Haven't played the festival in over a decade
• Might headline Glasto instead
• May not play any shows next year
  Playing?: 4/10 Headlining?: 9/10
  

Arctic Monkeys

• It's Arctic Monkeys...
• Possible third album next year
• Haven't headlined Reading and Leeds yet
  Playing?: 7/10 Headlining?: 8/10
  

MGMT

• Apparently the biggest band of this year
• Popular live
• Good set at this years festival
  Playing?: 9/10 Headlining?: 6/10
  

The Cribs

• Festival regulars
• Possible new album; first with Johnny Marr
• Not big/popular enough to headline
  Playing?: 8/10 Headlining?: 5/10
  

Manic Street Preachers

• New album out; all lyrics written by Richey
• Headlined the NME stage last year
• Big enough back catlouge to headline
• May not be touring next year out of respect to Richey.
  Playing?: 6/10 Headlining?: 6/10

Foals

• Very popular
• Not big enough for the main stage?
• Not enough songs?
  Playing?: 8/10 Headlining?: 3/10

Glasvegas

• Big sound, perfect for festivals
• Britain's best-loved band, according to NME
• Either love them or hate them.
  Playing?: 8/10 Headlining?: 5/10
  

Kaiser Chiefs

• Popular
• Perfect festival band
• Haven't played since 2006
• New album not as good/popular as previous two
  Playing?: 7/10 Headlining?: 6/10
  

Morrissey

• New album out next year
• Becoming a regular on the festival circuit
• Has only played R&L once in 2004, but didn't headline
  Playing?: 6/10 Headlining?: 6/10
  

The Strokes

• First album in 3 years out next year possibly
• Popular choice for headliner
• Big enough back catalouge Playing?: 7/10 Headlining?: 6/10
  

Vampire Weekend

• Highly popular at festivals this summer
• Summery sound
• Possible new album?
• Not big enough to be main headliner?
  Playing?: 8/10 Headlining?: 6/10
  

The View

• Popular at festivals
• New album out early next year
• Have never played the main stage
  Playing?: 7/10 Headlining?: 6/10
  

Funeral For People's Music Taste

Ughh, history homework takes the absolute Michael. Great way to start off a new blog eh? By moaning. Well get used to it; it's one of my favourite pasttimes.
Just got back from the Last Shadow Puppets gig in Manc. Twas pretty fucking good tbh. Possibly the thrid best gig I've been to (sorry Morrissey). Missed the support act (Ipso Facto), though from the songs I've heard, I wasn't exaclty missing The Beatles. Walked past James Ford outside, and said hi to Miles Kane. Wish I'd got a photo with him :/.
Anyways, everyone should go see them at the Electric Proms later this month.

And now for more moaning. It's the result of an MSN convo with someone, who'd just got back from a Funeral For A Friend gig at the Barfly. Proclaiming it to be:

"OHMYGOD
BESTGIGEVER
BESTDAYEVER
OHMYGOD
BESTALBUMEVER
BESTDAYEVER
ISHOOKHANDSWITHMATTDAVIES
IDIEDANDWENTTOHEAVEN
ANDINHEAVEN...
THEREISFFAF"

Yeah, I know what yr thinking. Fan-girl-ness to the extreeeeeme. Noone in their right mind can proclaim FFAF to be the best band ever. Seriously. First of all, in comparison to the legends of music, they're absolute codswallop. Even in comparison to a lot of bands around today, FFAF are still pretty bad. They started off as a pretty decent proto-emo/hard rock band, but seem to have evolved into a bland, boring, below average stadium rock band. Something we really, really do not need right now. I guess the best analogy would be a fiesty little terrier that has been neutered and is now a tame little lapdog. I really can't believe anyone can actually think they're worthy of "BEST BAND EVORRR LOL!1" titles

In my opinion, for a band to be declared "best ever", they need to meet certain criteria. For instance: life changing albums/songs/gigs, more than one memorable song, a clear message, fucking melodies, a wider fanbase than a bunch of faux-emo kids, fan girls who want to have the bands collective offspring and people who can't name all of The Beatles.

Bands who fit this criteria: The Clash, The Smiths, The Beatles, Manic Street Preachers, Joy Division, Oasis, Blur, The Verve, Radiohead, Sex Pistols.
And for bands still around who could very well be some of the best ever, look to Arctic Monkeys, Vampire Weekend, The Cribs, Glasvegas, Arcade Fire, The Hold Steady, TV On The Radio, Klaxons, Kings Of Leon, Bloc Party and The Coral.

Seriously people, sort out yr music tastes. I know some of you do listen to some incredible stuff etc etc. And I also know it's everyone's own opinion on what music they listen to, but still, you could do better than Funeral For A bloody Friend.

"You've made a happy man very old."
xxx