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At first I thought I'd wait to get a real music-listening device before I resumed here again. Long story short, I decided against it.

So here's a track by Jamie Woon, on the heels of his EP Wayfaring Stranger. I'd call it electroacoustic if I had to use a term for it. I'm really into how atmospheric it is, and he stands out to me as a skilled songwriter.



He's also on the BBC's Sound of 2011 longlist, so it appears I'm not the only one expecting big things from him. Let me know what you think of the track.

Written in the Stars

As I've related previously, I don't put a lot of hip-hop up here. However, I'm yet again passing along a Tinie Tempah track. I've been feeling him for almost a year now, and his album is going to be out in October.

When "Pass Out" came out, I didn't think he could match it. And yet he keeps doing it. It's been years since I anticipated a hip-hop album with any enthusiasm, but he's done it.

Without further ado, here's the track:

Late again

I'm not sure if I've even posted a rap track here thus far. It's not that I dislike the genre these days. It's just that, even compared to a lot of popular schlock, the bad stuff tends to become popular. Adherence to cliches is almost analogous to merit. Maybe I'm wrong, but here's a great track by the incomparable Professor Green, with an excellent sample hook. Even if you don't like hip-hop, I would throw your taste into question if you don't like this ditty:



For good measure, here's another track, by him. I realize I'm a bit late with posting these tracks, but I've been getting into him recently. Hopefully you are too.

Moving Pictures

No, not the excellent Rush album of the same name.

MTV rose, and changed the face of music, yet I think few would argue that it isn't waning. Hell, with Youtube, it's no surprise that very little of MTV is actually music anymore. And yet, in the years preceding the ostensible downfall of the channel, videos were schlocky to say the least.

Youtube has forced videos to be more innovative if they're to be sent over and over. Never mind how the medium is supposed to generate sales. If you don't care about the video, you can just add the song to your playlist. A compelling video still serves the same purpose it always has. That is, to make the track memorable beyond the music and drive sales. But the competition is everything else on Youtube, making the imperative for unusual and creative videos all the more potent.

In fact, there was a gulf between the descent of MTV and the rise of Youtube in which the music video was a pithy concern; of course, hit singles still needed them, but it was only token. The mid-2000s were full of terrible and generic videos. But Youtube has again put a priority on the video.

Although I'm confessedly NOT a Lady Gaga fan, her incredibly lengthy Telephone video is testament to my point. It's of Youtube length, would not have happened without Youtube. Yes, that includes any comparisons you'd hope to make with Thriller.

I'm into it. It's a great creative accessory to a track.

Aaaanyways, follow music videos in the next year or two and you'll see what I mean.

But onto our examples! My mind was totally blown by this video made to a Marina and the Diamonds montage. This epic 10 minute track, excellent cinematography, makeup, and choreography is FAN MADE. Some rich fan, but this really, really impressed me.

I like Marina, and some remixes of her tracks are regulars on my ipod still. Check this video though; you won't regret it.




On the subject of sick music videos, I think I posted this track before, but this Audio Bullys video has a really fun and creative idea behind it.



I can't embed it, but if you'd like to see another crazy video (to a great song) Youtube Hot Chip's "I Feel Better".

Happy watching. And listening.

More disco?

I was feeling this joint, Baby I'm Yours by Breakbot a while ago, but it seems that this super sweet video is fairly new. Check it out; the track is still excellent.

More Los Campesinos!

I think I may have a Youtube exclusive here!

A ways back I posted the album version of Romance is Boring, the title track from Los Campesinos! third album. I've been a huge fan of their particular take on rock/pop/ whatever you want to call it since they hit the scene, and I like seeing a good acoustic take like this one. Here's the acoustic version, and I'll give you the original first if you want to compare.

(I love the LC beers in this video, by the way)

Where U Should Be

I had just heard of Skream in passing before, but this track has SOLD me on getting their new album. Heavy contemporary dance sounds in this track, but it's really evocative too. Most stuff of this genre isn't what I'd consider something I'd put on the ol' ipod, but I could see myself rolling to this.

Also, I begrudgingly post the version from Annie Mac's show because I heard it from her first. I'd put up Grimmy if I could find it, believe you me.

Oh yeah, and the album's out in August. I'll review it for ya. Hold me to that.

I Was Drunk

Not me. It's the song name. I've been hearing tons of mixes of this track, but it's got such an odd charm to it. It makes great yet hilarious dance music, and fits in excellently with most dance mixes one hears it in. If you like it, Youtube is FILLED with mixes of it, but I'll just post the two I like the most.

Oh yeah, that accordion-sounding thing makes the track. So epic.

The Chain

Florence covering Fleetwood Mac?
I'll take it!

Maybe my tipping point?

I never, ever used to like Arcade Fire. Over-rated, trippy rubbish, I thought. Even as their last album, Neon Bible, received drooling accolades, I was actually pretty skeptical, and remained so after considering the album in its entirety. Could their next album The Suburbs be the one to change my mind? Maybe. Sounds suspiciously like U2 to me, but, this time, the whole album might be solid through and through.

Monarchy

It's official that I am way too into disco sounds. My guess is as good as yours when my predilection started, but I'm not sure if it's going away.

Anyway, I've been hearing this track from a London band called Monarchy. Their debut album is due in August. That's pretty much everything I can dig up about these guys. The album will be worth getting, if the first single is any indication (which, of course, it often isn't.)

They've got a bit of a Hot Chip sound going on, but in my opinion more danceable. They may have a richer sound, as this track, Love Get Out Of My Way, seems to suggest, but I'd hate to jump the gun on the whole album.

Miike Snow

Miike Snow isn't actually a person's name; the group consists of Andrew Wyatt, with the production team Bloodshy & Avant, two Swedish producers.

In terms of production, they've done super-slick numbers for Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Kelis, and won a Grammy for Britney Spears' Toxic.

If you (justly so) don't like the sound of those names, don't worry. Miike Snow is very much a side project, where the talents of both producers really shines through.
They've been putting out new stuff that, I think, bests most of what was on their eponymous first album.

Here's a number I'm really digging recently, called Rabbit. It's a release from the deluxe re-release of their first album. Actually, I prefer the Stuart Price version (and it has a crazy video), so I'll put that version first:

MIA

There was a time when I thought I probably wouldn't be into MIA, let alone be motivated to share a track. See, when Kala, her second album, dropped in 2007, the critics drooled all over it.

I didn't see the big deal. Sure, it was lyrically interesting, but I wasn't too convinced by the whole genre-bending that she only sometimes pulled off successfully. I thought it was an inconsistent record, with individual tracks that were sometimes excellent, sometimes thin or overambitious.

Anyways, the single from her forthcoming album, Maya sounds great:



Anyways, it's coming out July 13th, but, if it's anywhere as popular as her first two, you won't need me to play the tracks for you. I figure I'll review it anyway though.

Something Good

The Twelves do incredible remixes, and have been doing so for quite a while. I present you with a remix Two Door Cinema Club's 'Something Good Can Work'.
The album that the original is from, Tourist History, is totally worth getting. It's catchy, sleek, and, even if it is poppy, actually listenable and complex in places.

I think they've got even more potential to unravel, though I find myself saying that a lot about indie acts.

Two Unrelated Things

Although I think dubstep is certainly on its way out, I'm still really feeling this remix of Rhinestone Eyes. A very compelling take on the original



On an unrelated note, here's a fan shooting of a new Florence song. Sounds good, so I can't wait to hear an official release!

Penguin Prison - The Worse It Gets

I was feeling this tune a few months ago, but it wasn't on Youtube for me to share. All of a sudden I turn around and there are a few decent remixes of it as well!

This guy has been remixing just about everything (you'll remember the Starry-Eyed Remix of his I posted earlier), but he's doing his own stuff now and I'm loving it.

He's out of New York. Getting a lot of chipper, disco-type tunes out there, aren't we?



RAC Remix: not the most original of rearrangements, but it's worth a listen.



Starsmith Remix: Much more interesting. Still makes you want to dance, even if it's more removed from disco.

LTJ Bukem

Drum and bass is back in a big way of late, but don't let that make you forget about the rich and multifaceted history of the genre.

Today, you'll catch a lot of higher-tempo, energetic vibes coming from the D&B scene. But I'd like to point everyone to my personal favourite drum and bass producer, one LTJ Bukem, from the UK.

I bring it up because he's DJing at the Guvernment on Friday, May 14th; a most excellent way to spend the evening if you can manage to scrape the Queen's Quay grime off yourself the next morning.

Producing music for over 20 years, LTJ's style draws inspiration from Jungle, which, along with a heavy Ambient influence, really pervades his music.

From my humble perspective, the best that D&B has churned out has been the more mellow, laid-back rhythms, much like what LTJ consistently produced. Here's a track from his Earth Volume 3 that I've been feeling for a long time.



Here's one of his best known (and talk about Jungle) tracks, Demon's Theme.



It's really chill stuff. I hear he DJs a good set too, so I'd suggest checking him out.

Post BRMC

Two incredible gigs in Toronto. High energy, great sets, and excellent versions of old tracks.

I love how they build upon their songs as they tour them, which has created an excellent, full-throttle version of "666 Conducer", and an extended version of the acoustic "Mercy".

Although I'm not a huge fan of the original bonus track "Annabel Lee" from Beat the Devil's Tattoo, the electrified version they play on tour, including the second night, was quite compelling. I offer it up here for those who were unable to see it. (Pardon the fan video version, but there's no studio recording of this version yet.

Post-Florence gig

In honour of the very impressive Florence and the Machine show I saw last Saturday, here's the b-side that she played that night. She makes for an incredible performance. The personal magnetism she gets from such a tiny stature is amazing, though not as amazing as the voice she gets from the same:



For good measure, here's a remix of my favourite track from the album, "Cosmic Love". It can't compare to the original, but makes a good twist when you've heard the album version a million times already.

Celestica-Crystal Castles

Seems homegrown Crystal Castles haven't managed to die from whatever it is that inspires them. They've got a new album dropping on June 7th, which will, probably unsurprisingly to most, also be eponymous.

They had pretty much slid off my radar; their first album was actually very interesting, and their take on synths, distortion, and 8-bit cacophony was actually quite compelling. It didn't take long for it to lose its magic on me though, and I've found it an album I'm seldom tempted to revisit.

However, I'm liking what I hear from this new track, Celestica. Seems to maintain their ambiance without being quite as noisy as some of their earlier stuff. That will make for a more compelling and longer-lasting package, if the rest of the album lives up to it.

Falcon

True to my word, I got the new Courteeners album Falcon. I was so-so about their first effort, St. Jude, but I'm a bigger fan of this one. We've got a pretty strong take on Britpop in the better tracks, such as You Overdid It Doll (very Stone Roses), and this bad boy, Cross My Heart and Hope to Fly:



Unfortunately, a lot of the acoustic, more heartfelt songs are quite plodding. Cameo Brooch is a good example. It's got the potential, but Liam Fray's songwriting just isn't strong enough to carry them through. It certainly has its moments, but I found myself pretty disinterested with his awed point-of-view narratives after a while.
I mean, he's got a great voice for the anthemic kind of stuff they're doing, but it flags at times.

Reading over it, the review seems as if I hate the album. The good tracks are really good; catchy, anthemic, sincere, and rocking, while still smacking of Manchester city.
I've posted it before, but there's no arguing that this is a big, big tune:



My verdict is a few gems that can't pick up the more mediocre stuff that surrounds them. Promising for the future, and it's rare that I'll say this about a rock album, but they could afford to drop the acoustic and concentrate on what they do best: rocking cautionary narratives.

Nothing like a good Elvis cover

Especially when it sounds nothing like Elvis!



That's not 100% true. The last time I saw Black Rebel Motorcycle Club they nailed a cover of Love Me Tender. By 'nailed', I mean used a weepy acoustic version to punctuate mind-blowing guitar noise, but it's all the same.

Franz Kafka

Been a while since I posted, so I'll be making up for it. My boy Franz is featuring on a new track, Fame:Money:Girls. I continue to be impressed by the versatility of his flow. He's got better tracks with less, shall we say, typical material, but it's worth the listen. I'm all about the line "poppin' bottles of Goose while they product's still loose", by the way.

Mic Check yo

Radio edit of Mic Check by Hadouken! is out today. I much prefer this version, although the differences are subtle. It is a tiny bit of a different mix, with changes in the balance and a few more sound bytes.



A buck on itunes, UK region only (which confuses me).

Plastic Beach

Five years after the critically lauded Demon Days, and after speculation that they had dismantled, Gorillaz are back with Plastic Beach.

It's totally worth the wait. Plastic Beach is even deeper and more layered than its predecessor. Sumptuous groove and infectious synths make it immediately stand out.

The all-star support cast, including Snoop, Lou Reed, and Mick Jones keep the album different enough throughout. They contribute solidly to the tracks they're on, and one never gets the impression that the features are forced. For example, Lou Reed sounds perfectly in place on the chilled out Some Kind of Nature. The chiming synth over he sings over creates an excellent contrast:



One could voice the criticism that there aren't the same number of incredible tracks as Demon Days, but Plastic Beach is a more complete sonic package. The music flows into and with itself with a cohesion that was someone lacking from the previous album. Of course, there are a fair number of single-worthy tracks, such as Broken, and a track I'm loving, Rhinestone Eyes:



Either way, like Demon Days, it's simply a must-have. A one-of-a-kind album that you'll be playing for years.

Remember how I talked about The Courteeners?

Their first album, St. Jude, is good. Not great though. Reminiscent of The Enemy, but they have a fair number of stripped-down/acoustic tracks. Fairly entertaining songwriting though. I'm thinking with a little musical maturation (and originality) they could be a great listen. Here's a track I like from the aforementioned album. I'm totally checking the new one when it's out though.

Beat the Devil's Tattoo

I've finished listening to 'Beat the Devil's Tattoo', the new BRMC album. I offer a review. I may not be the objective of reviewers, but, on the other hand, I'm very familiar with the band's work.

My biggest qualm with the band's last effort, 'Baby 81' was that it seemed to lack their character. Many bands could have released the Zepplin-esque rock and gotten away with it. The bluesy structures of their early work was missing, and the songwriting flirted dangerously with tired rock cliches.

What BtDT represents is a large step forward in the form of careful retrospection. The form of blues rock they have crafted seems to borrow wisely from the strengths of their previous work. The album opens with the title track, a classic foot-stomper that already highlights the strengths of the band's new drummer Leah Shapiro, formerly a Raveonette.

The title track actually isn't one of the strongest tracks on the record, as Conscience Killer and Bad Blood, the next two songs, rock even harder, showcasing great rock songwriting solidifying the blues sound that persists through the album. The fourth track War Machine, as well as the final track, Half-State, show that the band still isn't afraid of making noise, but they do so with a lot of depth, presenting a very layered and listenable version of their cacophony.

The strengths of their third album 'Howl' are on display in the more stripped-down songs Sweet Feeling (a personal favourite) and The Toll. They're sonically deeper than much of Howl, with enough added blues to take it away from the Bob Dylan sound of that record. The dual vocalist duty of Levon Been and Hayes is better here than in any of their previous work, and adds an additional level of character to the album.

Towards the end of the album it could be contended that it loses its way; the cohesion of the first two thirds seems a bit lacking, but the individual tracks are still solid. Perhaps the album would have been better without Shadow's Keeper, though it remains a good song, more rock than blues compared to the rest of the album. The 10-minute Half-State brings the album to a very loud conclusion, highlighting excellent noise and great drumming.

I do believe this is their best album yet. Despite being their 6th, it is the first that truly sounds like BRMC. They've seized a sound that is entirely their own, one that seems to fit them more naturally and authentically than anything prior. They've taken the strongest and most characteristic portions of their prior records and brought them together in an exceptionally enjoyable package.

Moreover, it sounds like a 'live' record, a set of tunes that will make for great concerts.

Below is Bad Blood, but you can Youtube the rest of the album if you want. Of course, without proper sound quality you don't get everything the album has to offer, but there you have it.

Another BRMC single

I'm quite geeked about the new album (out March 8). I like the rawer, more bluesy sound they've got going for this track. Like their third album, Howl with a bit more rock 'n roll injected. Maybe because they'll have a real drummer for this one.

Gonna make for great live stuff, and the band have said that it's really an album that's meant to be played live. Makes sense from the sound of it.

Those lyrics guys

Who are those guys who take it upon themselves to be the first to massacre a lyric on the internet? You know the stuff I'm talking about. You look up a lyric because you're unsure of a word or two, and, BAM, you run into a lyric that looks like it was transcribed at the International Convention for Beekeeping and Chainsaw Enthusiasts.
It also doesn't help matters that, no matter how terrible the version of the lyric is, every other site out there deems it fit to steal the adolescent interpretation of the wording. Single-letter second-person pronouns included.

Call me picky. Maybe I should just use the lyrics wiki?

New Audio Bullys

Big tune, this. Makes me want to dance and it isn't even noon yet. Check for this disc towards the end of March if you're feeling the tune like I am.
I've been getting into more disco-inspired stuff recently, it seems. Hopefully it's not a permanent deviation from mad licks. Which I really should post.

Pass Out DC remix, Stylo

Not that some of the remixes of this track aren't key, but the original beat is TOO decent.

Speaking of Tinie, he features on this solid remix of Stylo from the upcoming Gorillaz record.



Am I a sucker for the 16-bit sound effects in a remix? I offer an unequivocal affirmative.
I'm excited for the new Gorillaz album from that single. They make a type of music where, in my opinion, it'd be easy to get into a rut. One notices a certain lack of freshness in a lot of the D-Sides material.
But I'm liking the more layered sound they have going on with Stylo. When you think about it, their debut record was fairly sparse, and the reason Demon Days was able to remain captivating was because they tweaked their sound to make it noisier and richer. Hopefully the same thing happens here.

Another remix:



I still prefer the original, I think.

Yeasayer- One

I'm feeling these disco sounds from Yeasayer. Always a fan of a band that's willing to be flexible with its sounds.



On an unrelated note, I heard that Theophilus London is the guy's real name. Amazing. Named after his grandfather. So I take back my Theophilus Brooklyn take from earlier. The authenticity makes it several times more banging.

The Courteeners

I had honestly forgotten about these guys. If I listened to every "next biggest thing coming out of Manchester" I'd have to play 17 trillion hours of music a week.

I hear, in a very positive way, the Stone Roses influence, but you can't go wrong with that John Squire-esque guitar.

I'm excited for the album, February 22nd. I'll be sure to go back and give their first one more than the dismissive 1.4 listens that I did when it dropped.

EDIT: Re-downloading St. Jude, but I was overcome by the urge to throw on 'The Stone Roses'. Simply one of the best albums ever.

It's Wild

They finally put a video out for this track. Whatever to the video, but I've been loving the track for a while now.

I'm sill having feeling the rest of the album, but I've heard they're great in concert. Maybe I'll be singing a different tune if I manage to see them play it live.

Super Genius

Sometimes, staring down a sheet of paper determined to forestall my best attempts at defacing its eburnine immaculateness, I need a creative exercise. When I come across a new one, I'll post it here, hopefully for the collective benefit.

Good ideas seem simple to catch; they peer at you with glossy eyes from the lofty perch of award annuals, cawing in derision at the ease with which you believe you could be the artificer of its perfection.

In a way, they're a lot like the Roadrunner. You believe there are hundreds of fool-proof ways to catch it, yet each only renders you more foolish than the last. You're a Genius. It even says so on your card!



So, what I propose is this. When you need a quick break, design a Roadrunner trap using whatever it is you're supposed to be generating creative for, be it an Acme Pen or Acme Doctors Without Borders. Just try to use the main features or benefits.

Decide how the trap works. Then, of course, you have to decide how the trap will fail and how the Roadrunner will go bolting past, or leave you holding up a comically-undersized umbrella in a vain attempt to deflect whatever fate you've set in store for yourself.

This isn't a good example, but this is how I'd do it. When I do it for real, I'll keep it and scan it if it's any good. (Though I would leap at the chance to advertise land mines)

LC!

Apparently Los Campesinos! have finally broken onto the Billboard charts with their new album Romance is Boring.
I've had a soft spot for them since their first album, and I'm still not sure I like their (relatively) more mature and less-tongue-in-cheek sound. To be fair, I'm liking what I hear, but it takes a while with them. Anyways, here's the title track.



Fans will probably be divided. On the one hand, the more cohesive sound shows that they're developing musically while holding on to their strengths such as Gareth's hilarious lyrics and tempered cacophony.
Then again, I thought the almost ironic immaturity of their first two albums was what lent them their charm. Here's a great early track of theirs, and the first I heard.

oohoohooh I gotta rocket

Rocket(Grum Remix): Goldfrapp

A few excellent remixes of this track are floating around right now. It seems the single will include this tune. Perhaps a bit on the simple side, but it works for the dance vibe. I'm still feeling it, as you should be.

Who put the 'W' in WASP?

I mean, are there Anglo-Saxon Protestants of any other variety?

How Swede it is

Lindstrom and Christabelle: Lovesick

When Lindstrom's 'Where You Go I Go Too' dropped in 2008 to heaps of critical acclaim, I wasn't as sold as everyone else seemed to be. Intricate soundscapes to be sure, and a compelling listen, but I didn't feel the staying power. I have nothing at all against the fact that the three tracks on the album lasted 45 minutes.

Here, however, is something I'm liking. Perhaps not as vibrant all the way through, but it's sure got a lot more punch to it. He really benefits from Christabelle's purring here.

I don't envision this being in my rotation for long, but likely longer than Lindstrom's solo effort. Maybe I'm just a plebeian.

Oh yeah, I can embed video

Goes to show what I know. Who wants to change windows anyways?



Theophilus London: 'Humdrum Town'.

Catchy stuff, winning hook. I think I recently used the word 'soulful' but it applies here too. Though it does make me want to dance, as it should with you.

Also, despite his name, he hails from New York. I guess Theophilus Brooklyn doesn't sound as good. Though, really, it does.

If you liked that, check this tune out:



Theophilus London: 'Ultraviolet'

I'm loving the beat, but he sings lyrics you actually want to listen to, which is more points. Too bad the beat kinda overpowers him on this track. This is from an older mixtape, and that's probably why.

Audience

Audience-Cold War Kids


From their solid EP 'Behave Yourself', which I have admittedly been bombarded with of late
It's soulful and more authentic than their last showing, and certainly a more complete package sonically speaking, though that's not saying much when the whole thing is 14 minutes long. One can hear a bit of gospel even in some of it, and I'm always up for the old gospel influence.

Pass Out

Tinie Tempah - Pass Out

Since this track is making rounds over in England and I understandably have it stuck in my head from last night, I'll pass it along. Anyone who likes M.I.A. might remember she featured on the track I'm Hot with him last year.

I'm feeling that beat is the sound of 2010. Looking for big things from Tinie this year.

Advil

I like how this 10 Pack of Advil I have expires in August 2012. I want to meet the guy who ends up going "Snap, these Advil are expired! Good thing I only need one every 3 months!"

Is it just me, or could a 10 pack expire every six weeks without anyone being the wiser?

But Seriously Folks

It seemed I was nearly obliged to open this blog with the highfalutin escapades of myself as an Edwardian dandy. Perhaps I can elaborate on my historical counterpart in future posts. There really isn't much writing that is more fun than that kind. Try it and see.

Unfortunately, I lack the vivacity to run a blog for each individual subject that I should. I imagine what enables blogs to really take off is their focus, but hopefully the staggering content of mine will compensate for that dearth.

I did have another blog at one point. Of course, I won't link to it, because that would basically be defaming myself.

Yes, no more will my blog be about immature topics such as alcohol bottles warning one about beer goggles, or 101 products you won't believe are made in Hong Kong.

Maybe not. But I'll do my best to keep it fresh and, above all, entertaining. If I do subject you to the odd pedantic rant or 'creative' ebullience, I'll try to offer abundant recompense in the way of snide observations, good tunes, and anything else that will make you want to peer into this dusty little corner of the interwebs.

The Introduction

"Why one might visit the blog of a confirmed rake and dandy of most odious repute" Lady Lethbridge scorned, "far escapes my sensibilities, and, I should imagine, those of any member of respectable society.

"Just so." seconded Mrs Witherspoon. "If Lord Blake pursued virtue as he hunts stags and dowries I dare venture we should be awaiting the entrance of archbishop."

As these ladies of quality were endeavoring to arouse sympathy for their vexation in their less-worldy wards, the subject of their discourse appeared.

Blake offered a sweep of his finely-regaled knee, brave enough to show that the greater part of his reminiscences was calculated to bring a blush to maiden cheeks.

The matriarchs, being long deaf to the cadences of amorous palpitations, glared with not unexaggerated disapproval at the haste with which scarlet penetrated the alabaster countenances of the assembled inamoratas.

Meanwhile, even the most aloof of gallants present could not but right his posture as Blake readied to opine.