Shit Lookalikes - Frank Black and Humpty Dumpty
Frank Black. Humpty Dumpty. Never seen them on the same stage, have you?
I Don
I Don't Like Them As Much As I'm Supposed To
Every man and his dog loves The Small Faces. All the ingredients are there. They looked cool. They dressed in killer threads. The sound is rough and filled with nods to soul 45s. In Steve Marriott they had one of the biggest voices ever to pop out of a weedy white man’s frame. They had the moves… the attitude… so why do they generally leave me wanting?
Pop Heaven: Aly & AJ - Potential Breakup Song
The best pop music leaves you no choice with whether to like it or not. It disregards notions of cool. It laughs in the face of fashion. And, sometimes, it comes in the shape of a couple of blonde, teenage, evolution-denying poppets from California.
I think the only lyric from “Potential Breakup Song” that has seeped into my brain is the “I want my stuff back” bit. But that’s enough really, because the main thing is the fact that it breezes along with what would appear to be TWO choruses, both of which are amazing. If all pop music were this good, people would be unable to hate Westlife.
[video provided by Hollywood Records]
It’s Good To Talkshow - Wolfmother tear up Woman on Letterman
Most US talkshows feature new acts performing tracks, and mostly, they’re dour faced serious types making ‘crafted’ pap. Now and again, someone comes along and rips their hearts out on the stage and leaves everyone wanting a full gig and less chat. One such occasion was the blistering prog of the superb Wolfmother. Their rendition of Mother on the David Letterman Show saw old hippies having nostalgic flashbacks and young hipsters wondering why every band on the planet didn’t sound that good. Watch. Weep. Stamp your feet. Listen out for Letterman’s joy as the band close.
Halloween Bandwagon: The Top 10 Scariest Children In Music
Like Christmas, and the future, Halloween is really a time for the children. It is a time when they get to dress up, annoy people and get sweets for their trouble. That’s a pretty good deal if you’re a kid.
If you’re not a kid - and are not suffering from a severe case of arrested development - it’s all a bit of a drag. Or is that just me? ANYWAY. With children and fear the main elements in any good (bad) Halloween, here, in no particular order because I can’t really be bothered, are the top 10 freakiest little blighters in music.
Aaron Carter
MOST. TEUTONIC. NIPPER. EVER (pictured right).
Kriss Kross
Aw, look at the wittle rapping boys. How cu- WAIT! HALF OF THEIR BODIES ARE THE WRONG WAY ROUND!
Vanessa Paradis
I remember when “Joe Le Taxi” came out. It was OK for me to fancy the French popstrel, because I was - well, let’s just say I was at an age when I was allowed to fancy schoolgirls. I’m guessing there were a fair few older men who didn’t feel quite as shameless in their admiration for the now Mrs. Depp.
St. Winifred’s School Choir
If I was a Grandparent, this would constitute too much love for me to bear. Needy little gits.
Lil Chris
I have a grown-up colleague who fancies him. And not even the new, voice-broken version - the young, squeaky-voiced incarnation. Ew.
Can You Gig It? The Hoosiers
After their new album made it to number one in the charts this weekend, The Hoosiers continued their current UK tour playing the Thekla Social in Bristol on Monday night.
And how does one celebrate being top of the album charts, you might ask? Perhaps a little late night debauchery? A tipple or two? Not Alfonso, the band
My Chemical Toilet’s Halloween Playlist
With Halloween just around the corner it would be remiss of us not to do something blatantly spooky (and no, I don’t mean another post about Sir Cliff).
Never mind your top ten Halloween songs. Forget “scariest stage outfits”. I’ve compiled a living, breathing playlist which you can listen to thanks to Finetune.com. My barometer of what was acceptable was what I’d get away with playing in an office of (forgive me, colleagues) mostly un-metal ladies - so I’m afraid if you’re hoping for White Zombie and Deicide you might be disappointed.
Still, it’s got Mazza Manson, AC/DC, The Cure, Siouxie And The Banshees, Iron Maiden… and I’m nervously awaiting the reaction of my workmates when Aphex Twin’s “Come To Daddy” comes on.
Give it a listen, and if you reckon there are any glaring omissions leave a comment so I can make a note for next year - assuming the undead don’t get me before then…
Hip Hop Isn’t Dead - Madlib
It’s easy, when looking at the “hit-parade”, to believe that hip-hop is dead and buried. Too many artists like to focus on their floor length mink coats and posturing. However, there are those on the fringes keeping rap music well and truly alive. One man single handedly taking to the challenge is the bizarre genius Madlib (which stands for Mind Altering Demented Lessons In Beats).
Madlib is a California-based DJ, multi-instrumentalist, rapper and producer who, like all good rappers, has a vast array of pseudonyms. His main output is through the amazing, funky shuffles of Quasimoto, which sees Madlib taking on two personas, one in his normal voice, and the other in an oddball squeaky drawl. Everything that Madlib touches turns to gold… so click over and witness some of his incredible work.
Dispatches From Beardsville - Porter Wagoner R.I.P.
Dispatches From Beardsville, Music News
Dispatches From Beardsville is normally here to bring you the best in new country and folk. However, this week is different and more sombre as country legend Porter Wagoner died earlier in the week in Nashville at the grand old age of 80 years old. Wagoner brought much to the world, including the brilliant ‘A Satisfied Mind’ as covered by Gram Parsons, as well as ‘The Cold Hard Facts of Life’.
For his efforts, Wagoner got a clutch of Grammys, numerous Country Music Awards and his own TV show. It was on his show that he introduced the world to Dolly Parton as a newcomer and duetting partner. As a pair, Wagoner and Parton found themselves being shown in 100 countries with audiences of over 3 million. More recently, Wagoner released the Wagonmaster LP as well as supporting The White Stripes at their Madison Square Gardens shows. He will be sadly missed. Click over to watch the great man in action.
Lost in Translation - Gabba
How hard do you think you are? How far can you push your head in terms of extreme musical violence? If you’re think you’re tough enough, let’s have a peak into the dark and ferocious world of Gabba. Yup, Gabba (and the offshoots like Darkcore, Nu-Gabba and Speedcore) is big business over in Holland and the surrounding countries. Basically, Gabba is techno pushed the to the very limits of… well… everything. It’s faster, harder and certainly more difficult to digest.
On the Wikipedia page for Gabba (which they spell “gabber”), it cheerfully claims that “violence, drugs and profanity are common themes… perceptible through its samples and lyrics, often screamed, pitch shifted or distorted.” Gabba even has its own dance… the hakke, which is a treat. If you’re brave enough, watch the video below and relax to the delightful Extreme Terror by DJ Skinhead. Brace yourself.
