Apologies for the lack of recent posts - sunshine and the World Cup have taken precedent!
Anyway, here's ten songs that I've listened to today on my iPod whilst out in the sunshine:
1.Broken Social Scene - World Sick
2.American Analog Set - First of Four
3. Rare Earth - Get Ready
4.Love is All - Spinning and Scratching
5.Four Tet - Harmony One
6.Secret Machines - Lightning Blue Eyes
7.M Ward - Sad, Sad Song
8.Galaxie 500 - Jerome
9.R.E.M - Swan Swan H (acoustic)
10.The Ruby Suns - Trepidation, Pt.1
Here's a preview of what's to come on the blog: reviews of the latest releases from Blitzen Trapper, Mountain Man and Local Natives. The latter isn't particularly new, but it's new to me!
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Saturday, 5 June 2010
It's Hard To Be Humble When You're From Alabama
Last night, in the Captain's Rest in Glasgow, magic happened.
Phosphorescent played at the venue for what I count as being the third time in as many years. In a sweltering basement, Matthew Houck and his band played a set heavy with songs from new album Here's To Taking It Easy, plus some ecstatically received classic from earlier albums.
It's comforting to report that as well as being a talented musician, Matthew Houck is an all-round good egg, full of southern charm and generosity. He kindly allowed a ticketless friend of mine into the sold-out gig, which was greeted with a proposal of marriage. I've yet to hear if this proposal was accepted.
Before we get to the actual gig, it's worth mentioning support band Forest Fire. They were a marvellous surprise, a band with nods to 70s country rock, Smog, Jason Molina and Kingsbury Manx. Worth checking out, even just for the incredible moustaches.
On, then, to Phosphorescent. The new songs translated brilliantly to a live setting, it's clear that this band love playing with each other, transforming the album tracks into country classics worthy of a place at the Grand Ole Opry. However, it's the well-worn Phosphorescent tracks that always leave me breathless.
I will never, ever, tire of hearing 'Wolves', 'Joe Tex, These Taming Blues...', 'A Picture of Our Torn Up Praise' and gig standout 'Dead Heart', which morphed into a Crazy Horse style rocker to end the night in curfew-breaking style.
There was still room, earlier in the night, mind, to fit in a couple of Willie Nelson standards, as finely crooned as they were on 2009's To Willie.
This was absolutely worth braving the heat, sweat, and general airlessness of the Captain's Rest on a Friday night. A beautiful gig by a beautiful man.
Sunday, 23 May 2010
Stag and Dagger, Glasgow
So, ten quid gets you a bunch of bands and a lot of free rum these days.
Vice magazine's one-dayer returned to Glasgow for another year bringing with it a mixture of big (ish) names, up-and-comers and some local talent. First up for me were Erland and the Carnival. This bunch of young 'uns got things started at ABC2 with a mix of The Coral fronted by Neil Hannon - harmless enough, but tarnished slightly by a touch of the "funky drummers."
Upstairs in the main hall, much, much better was to follow. Having witnessed The Antlers parade their fragile beauty at the living room sized 13th Note a few months back, it was always going to be interesting to see how they'd cope in a bigger space. I needn't have worried. The songs that make up the Hospice album became stadium-rock (in a way that The National are, not say, for example, U2 or Keane) but still managed to move the audience. This is a band destined for greater things.
There are so many things about Wild Beasts that are intrinsically wrong - the denim waistcoats, the bad moustaches, the 80s suit jackets and the guitars and bass being held in that Level 42 too-far-up-the-body way. Having said this, they seem a band perfectly suited for the big stage. It was a terrific set from a genuinely unique indie band, with Hayden Thorpe's incredible falsetto stealing the show - as always.
A quick dash up an unnecessarily steep hill to The Art School allowed us to catch one brilliant song from Egyptian Hip Hop. Despite the name, this was Sonic Youth style art rock, played by what looked like a bunch of 14-year olds.
Another dash down the hill, and fifteen minutes of the usual Mary Chain/New Order played at ear bleeding volume from A Place to Bury Strangers. It can sometimes appear derivative, but the experience of guitars, dry ice and noise really is enjoyable.
Another band, another hill. I wish I had seen more of the set from Titus Andronicus, because what I saw was terrific. They're like what The Pogues would have sounded like if they were on Dischord records. Sloganeering, riffs, shouting and the sight of a band having a real good time.
Finally, Sleigh Bells. One word for this - loud. Jackhammer riffs and electro beats (think Steve Albini messing around with mid temp hip hop and dance records) married to the singing, chanting and screaming of the absolute star in the making and focal point, Alexis Krauss. It shouldn't work, but it does. It doesn't sound to me like anything else out there right now, and it's a visceral treat. How convenient then, that the duo's debut album is called Treats.
A fine way to end the evening. See you in 2011.
Vice magazine's one-dayer returned to Glasgow for another year bringing with it a mixture of big (ish) names, up-and-comers and some local talent. First up for me were Erland and the Carnival. This bunch of young 'uns got things started at ABC2 with a mix of The Coral fronted by Neil Hannon - harmless enough, but tarnished slightly by a touch of the "funky drummers."
Upstairs in the main hall, much, much better was to follow. Having witnessed The Antlers parade their fragile beauty at the living room sized 13th Note a few months back, it was always going to be interesting to see how they'd cope in a bigger space. I needn't have worried. The songs that make up the Hospice album became stadium-rock (in a way that The National are, not say, for example, U2 or Keane) but still managed to move the audience. This is a band destined for greater things.
There are so many things about Wild Beasts that are intrinsically wrong - the denim waistcoats, the bad moustaches, the 80s suit jackets and the guitars and bass being held in that Level 42 too-far-up-the-body way. Having said this, they seem a band perfectly suited for the big stage. It was a terrific set from a genuinely unique indie band, with Hayden Thorpe's incredible falsetto stealing the show - as always.
A quick dash up an unnecessarily steep hill to The Art School allowed us to catch one brilliant song from Egyptian Hip Hop. Despite the name, this was Sonic Youth style art rock, played by what looked like a bunch of 14-year olds.
Another dash down the hill, and fifteen minutes of the usual Mary Chain/New Order played at ear bleeding volume from A Place to Bury Strangers. It can sometimes appear derivative, but the experience of guitars, dry ice and noise really is enjoyable.
Another band, another hill. I wish I had seen more of the set from Titus Andronicus, because what I saw was terrific. They're like what The Pogues would have sounded like if they were on Dischord records. Sloganeering, riffs, shouting and the sight of a band having a real good time.
Finally, Sleigh Bells. One word for this - loud. Jackhammer riffs and electro beats (think Steve Albini messing around with mid temp hip hop and dance records) married to the singing, chanting and screaming of the absolute star in the making and focal point, Alexis Krauss. It shouldn't work, but it does. It doesn't sound to me like anything else out there right now, and it's a visceral treat. How convenient then, that the duo's debut album is called Treats.
A fine way to end the evening. See you in 2011.
Saturday, 22 May 2010
Album Review: The National - High Violet
Album of the year, surely.I could just leave the review there, but that would be lazy. It's simply magnificent, a slow-burning epic that reveals another layer each time I listen. Padma Newsome's orchestration, with help from the Dessner boys, is sumptuous, Matt Berninger's voice is amazing as always, and once again the drumming from Bryan Devendorf is out of this world - not in a Bonham or Grohl way, but just inventive, clever, subtle, militaristic...think Bill Berry if he was raised in Brooklyn instead of Athens, GA.
'Anyone's Ghost', 'Conversation 16' and 'England' stand out for me in an epic, romantic, sad, hopeful album. Not quite as good for me as Alligator...yet.
Anyway, I'd let the music do the talking. Head over to Youtube to watch some of a gig recently recorded in Brooklyn, with backup from Sufjan Stevens and Richard Reed Parry:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheNationalVEVO
what the album doesn't sound like, however, is "like Joy Division hanging out in the desert." Thanks The Daily Telegraph, I nearly died laughing.
Amazing. What a band.
Gig Review - Dinosaur Jr, Built to Spill - ABC Glasgow
First things first....Dinosaur Jr were really quite dull. Loud, but a bit dull. Even 'Freak Scene' was a bit stilted, and there were only about five kids who responded with a bit of a lame mosh pit when that moment finally arrived.
Dinosaur knew it as well. Upon being forced out for an encore following half-hearted clapping, Lou Barlow turned the clock back about 20 years and baited the crowd for the slightly lame applause. Good old Lou, nice to have you back. Must be hanging around with J Mascis that brings out the vitriol....
Thank heaven then for the preceeding hour of magnificence from Built to Spill. Having loved them since Keep it Like a Secret, I was hoping it would have been worth the 15 year wait...and it just about was. Eschewing any thoughts of promoting newest record There is No Enemy, Doug Martsch and his grizzled vets cranked out a, ahem, greatest hits set heavy on riffing and bluesy soloing. Highlights for me were hearing 'Car', 'Carry the Zero', 'Strange', 'Untrustable' and 'Distopian Dream Girl'. Sadly not enough time for a 20min version of 'Broken Chairs', but always nice to hear these lines:
"My stepfather looks just like David Bowie/ But he hates David Bowie/ I think Bowie's cool/ I think Lodger rules/and my stepdad's a fool."
Brilliant stuff. A band that pays no attention to modern trends but just play like they always have played. Heroes.
Dinosaur knew it as well. Upon being forced out for an encore following half-hearted clapping, Lou Barlow turned the clock back about 20 years and baited the crowd for the slightly lame applause. Good old Lou, nice to have you back. Must be hanging around with J Mascis that brings out the vitriol....
Thank heaven then for the preceeding hour of magnificence from Built to Spill. Having loved them since Keep it Like a Secret, I was hoping it would have been worth the 15 year wait...and it just about was. Eschewing any thoughts of promoting newest record There is No Enemy, Doug Martsch and his grizzled vets cranked out a, ahem, greatest hits set heavy on riffing and bluesy soloing. Highlights for me were hearing 'Car', 'Carry the Zero', 'Strange', 'Untrustable' and 'Distopian Dream Girl'. Sadly not enough time for a 20min version of 'Broken Chairs', but always nice to hear these lines:
"My stepfather looks just like David Bowie/ But he hates David Bowie/ I think Bowie's cool/ I think Lodger rules/and my stepdad's a fool."
Brilliant stuff. A band that pays no attention to modern trends but just play like they always have played. Heroes.
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Album Review: John Grant - Queen of Denmark
Former frontman of The Czars, John Grant goes solo - while teaming up with Midlake - to make an album of heartbreaking, soft-focus beauty.
That's a sentence I never thought I'd write, given my dislike for both The Czars, and Midlake, officially the most boring band in the history of rock music. Coldplay, you are off the hook (not in the cool way)...for now.
Queen of Denmark appears to have been born out of frustration, drugs, drink, a broken heart and a difficult childhood - but there's hope in there too. The lyrics are incredibly open and honest, and the music accompanying is simply beautiful.
There's plenty of 1970s touchstones - I can hear The Carpenters, Bread, Elton John, Jacksone Browne and Dennis Wilson's Pacific Ocean Blue - but the album manages to stay clear of soft-rock cheese.
If you only buy one heartbreak album this year, make it this one. If you only download one heartbreak song, make it It's Easier - all woozy synths and glorious harmonies.
That's a sentence I never thought I'd write, given my dislike for both The Czars, and Midlake, officially the most boring band in the history of rock music. Coldplay, you are off the hook (not in the cool way)...for now.
Queen of Denmark appears to have been born out of frustration, drugs, drink, a broken heart and a difficult childhood - but there's hope in there too. The lyrics are incredibly open and honest, and the music accompanying is simply beautiful.
There's plenty of 1970s touchstones - I can hear The Carpenters, Bread, Elton John, Jacksone Browne and Dennis Wilson's Pacific Ocean Blue - but the album manages to stay clear of soft-rock cheese.
If you only buy one heartbreak album this year, make it this one. If you only download one heartbreak song, make it It's Easier - all woozy synths and glorious harmonies.
Pavement - Barrowlands Ballroom, 5/5/10
This will be a short one.Ten years on from the last time I saw them at the Barras - or 11 years as Spiral Stairs, my fact checkin' cuz, pointed out - I can safely say the following.....
Pavement are still frickin' awesome.
'Nuff said.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)