Super Collider…

By james on Tuesday, June 10, 2008

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RadioheadWow, just when ithought Radiohead were about to jack it all in and stop making music (as Radiohead) they turn my fears upside down with a performance of their new song ‘Super Collider’. Radiohead who have been touring this year as a follow up to their newest album release ’In Rainbows’ performed ‘Super Collider’ as an encore in Dublin. The song as played live, is a Yorke solo on the piano, however, we have seen this before and no doubt they will be experimenting with a full band performance, at least i, personally, would hope so.

The song combines well structured piano chords and melodies with the typical, genius vocals that are trademark Yorke, however, the song lacks some of the depth created by the whole band in the rest of their live set. Nonetheless, another triumph. Check it out for yourselves.

 

 

Another Predictable Summer…

By james on Friday, June 6, 2008

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British SummerIt’s pretty much summer time which for many of us means festival time (woo), or not? Here are a few reasons why you should probably look for an alternative festival.

Reading/Leeds

Rage Against The Machine
Queens of the Stone Age
The Frattellis
The Enemy
Biffy Clyro
Serj Tankian
Dizzee Rascal
Taking back sunday
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.
Anti Flag

Babyshambles
The Wombats
Vampire weekend
MGMT
Jack Penate
Be Your Own Pet
One Night Only
The Duke Spirit
Blood Red Shoes
Make Model
Pete and the Pirates

Less Than Jake
Pennywise
Goldfinger
Tiger Army
The Unseen
H2o
Frank Turner
The Briggs
The loved ones
Blackhole
Hexes

The Killers
Bloc Party
The Raconteurs
Editors
We are scientists
Dirty Pretty Things
The Subways
British Sea Power
The Automatic

Manic Street Preachers
Bullet for my Valentine
Justice
Foals
Seasick Steve
The Ting Tings
Mystery Jets
Santogold
Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong
Kids In Glass Houses
Bombay Bicycle Club

Gallows
Alkaline Trio
Thrice
Flogging Molly
MXPX
Cancer Bats
Set Your Goals
King Blues
Fucked Up
The Gaslight Anthem
Hi Fi Hand Grenades
Random Hand

Metallica
Tenacious D
Slipknot
Feeder
Avenged Sevenfold
DropKick Murphys
Plain White Ts
Alexisonfire
Mindless Self Indulgence

The Cribs
The Last Shadow Puppets
Conor Oberst and the mystic valley band
Pendulum
The Music
Hadouken!
Lightspeed Champion
Cajun Dance Party
Adam Green
Yeasayer
The Metros

hmm… seems the 3to5 year rotation system reading/leeds work on is coming round for another booooooooring pass.

 

Glastonbury

Friday

Kings of Leon
The Fratellis
Editors
The Gossip
The Feeling
KT Tunstall
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
The Subways
Kate Nash

Saturday

Jay-Z
Amy Winehouse
Manu Chao
The Raconteurs
James Blunt
Crowded House
Seasick Steve
Martha Wainwright
Shakin’ Stevens

Sunday

The Verve
Leonard Cohen
Goldfrapp
Neil Diamond
John Mayer
Brian Jonestown Massacre
Gilbert O’Sullivan
Martina Topley Bird

Other Stage

Friday

Panic at the Disco
The Enemy
We are Scientists
Foals
The Hoosiers
Ben Folds
Vampire Weekend
Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong
Be Your Own Pet
Hilltop Hoods

Sunday

Groove Armada
The Zutons
Pigeon Detectives
Mark Ronson
Scouting For Girls
Jack Penate
Newton Faulkner
Black Mountain
The Hoodoo Gurus
Black Cherry

 

Big thanks to all the main festival organisers for making your line-ups as predictable as usual. Once again im pleased that i will not regret passing the opportunity to spend a fucking fortune for nothing. no really, thanks :)

For those interested, Sunrise Celebration, The Big Chill and Glade look good this year.

The Chameleons - the most underated band of the 80’s?

By james on Thursday, June 5, 2008

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The ChameleonsA couple of years ago a very good friend of mine introduced me to The Chameleons. The first thing that struck me was, how the hell hadn’t i heard of this band before? Being very familiar to other Mancunian greats of the time and the past, Joy Division, Stone Roses and of course The Smiths i was surprised to have not heard ‘hype’ about The Chameleons.

The four piece fronted by the steaming mass of charisma that is Mark Burgess combine original melodies and ideas with the typically 80s, epic, drums drowned in reverb and booming, heartfelt lyrics and vocals. What more can you want from a band?

Within one play of their debut album Script of a Bridge i had already decided that The Chameleons were my new favourite band. Containing songs such as Second Skin and Less Than Human that can cripple the soul of even the most content of characters. Just as i was thinking it doesn’t get any better than this, i was presented with What Does Anything Mean? Basically album number two, and… wow. I was convinced Script of a Bridge couldn’t be toppled but boy, was i wrong. Perfume Garden, Home is where the Heart is and P.S. Goodbye are probably my favourites but the whole album is perfect so its hard to segregate.

A little after the release of the 3rd album Strange Times,the band fell apart. Rumours of acrimony and hostility due to the grief that followed the death of manager Tony Skinkiss seemed to be a probable cause for the split. This was the main blame for lack of worlwide success and many say The Chameleons were on the way but split at a crucial time. Even so, the short career between the years of 1982 - 87 is strangely similar that of The Smiths who made it ‘big’ from the outset.

Being far too young in the eighties i guess i’ll never know how they didnt storm the globe but if you are a fan of 80’s indie this band comes with a five star (out of five) recommendation.

They reformed in the new millenium so go and check out their website!

www.thechameleons.com

 

 

A GOOD Way To Waste Your Life…

By james on Wednesday, June 4, 2008

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TrippyNow, let me first start by expressing that i am not a total stoner, i am not obsessed by cannabis, i do not have Rastafarian colours and marijuana posters littered around my room, nor do i spend 90% of the day on a different planet (anymore). However, at a loss for anything actually interesting to write about i found myself day dreaming about my evening to follow and what may become of it. I am probably going to treat myself to a very favourite activity of mine, listening to electronica/intelligent dance music whilst (slowly and safely) tripping out.

Many of you, i expect, will already be able associate with me here. Can the full potential of music be realised and enjoyed whilst 100% sober?? I dont think so. However emotional/clever/inspirational/challenging you may find a piece of music, i doubt it can compare to having a good loud listen (just listen) whilst slightly intoxicated with the substance of your choice (although if you commonly listen to durge or ‘depressing’ music I wouldnt suggest alchohol, you’ll weep like Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting for hours). Your sensitivity to sound will become clearer and you will start to appreciate aspects of the music that hadn’t crossed your thought before. Melodies will begin to dance in your head as you start to feel the beat pulse through you, intense moments will send shivers down your spine and random, amazing images will flood your mind, its complete euphoria.

Yes, i get excited by a darkened room, a CD player, and a fat joint. Surely this is the best way to enjoy music? Yeah, live music is great but with a good enough sound system you can recreate the quality without that fat sweaty bloke always standing in your view, stumbling onto your toes and sponging his moist flab onto anybody unlucky enough to be crammed in next to him. Of course, i guess, it depends on what music your listening to and what mood you are in.

Find someway to download and listen to these (just a few of my fav stoner songs, known to me and my friends as ’stoner anthems’… lols), spark up a spliff and you will see what i mean.

Top 5 Stoner Anthems

  1. Nil - Autechre (from the album ‘Amber’  a masterpiece)
  2. Further - Autechre (Amber)
  3. Rhubarb - Aphex Twin (Selected Ambient Works Volume II)
  4. Eggshell - Autechre (Incanabula)
  5. Wald 1 - Alphawezen (L’Après-Midi d’un Microphone)

Yeah mostly Autechre, but what can i say, those guys know how to make trippy music.