Monday 29 November 2010

Albums of 2010: The Burbs

Next on the agenda is a band I'm actually seeing this week. I'm a little bit cautious to write this up like a creative review, it's been covered quite a lot recently due to the upcoming tour. I've read some great interviews with this Canadian 8 piece, they seem to come off better every time. Especially since they are what many consider the biggest indie band of the moment. An amazing feat for one of the only acts still with an 'independent' mentality.

I think that's as far as I'll probe with regards to defining them, it's all been said and done by all of the big online culture sights, I can't add any more praise. All i can say is if you don't own this album, shame on you.



Arcade Fire burst onto the scene in 2004 with their debut album, Funeral. Which of course went down as one of the best albums of the decade, with songs still being played on many an ipod. Wake Up! even inspiring the album title for the recent John Legend and The Roots collaboration. Although their live cover version does it very little justice... Balls theres me trying to 'Define' Arcade Fire again, it's far too easy to get carried away by them.

The third studio album is just phenomenal, epic songs, more instruments than you can shake a viola-bass at, beautiful harmony's. Not in an in your face way, it'll charm you and keep you coming back for more.

Right enough of me trying to sound like I know the first thing about music. These two ales i've just drunk have knocked my block off. Enjoy

Sunday 28 November 2010

Listomania


Time for those end of year lists! I was thinking about doing a countdown of my top albums of the year, I wrote them all out on paper, cut them up and moved them around a bit. I failed basically. I can't decide on any kind of order, just my favourite and some others I really like, in no particular order.

SO to kick off the 'Albums the I like in 2010' I shall start with an act I saw last week, the mercury nominated (the one I was hoping won none the less) album from local gal, Laura Marling.


I Speak Because I Can

It is, in my opinion, the greatest folk album this year. Even though she's still doing the same things she has been doing to the previous album and e.p, there's something big about it. Honest raw lyrics about what can only be described as emotions that no one has the courage to talk about. She still gives the impression that she is wise beyond her years, the album being very relationship based. The songs on the album touch on such matters as heartbreak, loss, memory's of childhood, wanting to better ones life.

It's great to hear this shy, quiet and modest girl continue to write beautiful, intelligent music, expressing her thoughts and sharing her feeling. Her live performance summing this up really, visibly nervous talking to the crowd about her recent work with Jack White, constantly losing her train of thought. But when she starts singing, she closes her eyes and lets it all go.

If i had to post one song off the album, i couldn't. So here's a few, the first one pretty appropriate for this time of yeah...


It's actually a fairly old song of hers, like Blackberry stone. It's a shame it didn't make the Christmas chart last year.
If I had to choose a song to inspire the sale of the album, it would be between three. The title song, 'I speak because i can', the most accessible single off the album 'Darkness Descends' and the below track, the stand out single 'Rambling Man'.


I can't wait for next year, she's got a lot going on at the moment. I'm looking forward to hearing the Neil Young covers she spoke about (the needle + the damage done). Great album and a great year for her...

Saturday 20 November 2010

Pre-drinking at it's most creative


WOW. It's been months and months and months since i even thought about blogging about music. I don't know what came over me.... anyways my creative side (as well as my opinon) is vying to get out again.

I think it's been long enough to admit my taste in music has been slightly polluted by other people. I'd say i'm even more of a music snob, if this is even possible. I guess i'll start by saying I have quite a few music related events coming up, and i would like to have some way of remembering them. Also been seeing alot of local bands recently, always fun.

To kick this off (again) i'll talk about what i'm listening to right this minute, literally.

A new electro pop band from Sweden niki and the dove, something i stole off the guardians 'new band of the day' thing. Handy that.

They sound a little bit euro pop in this song but it's the only one released on youtube. soz



In the rest of their music i've hear it's all a little Warpaint. I'm finding myself relaxing to this kind of music more and more and you know what, i really don't mind. Don't worry, my normal listening frenzy will start again when i have more time. This is a lottle on the depressing side.

PEACE OUT