This is very clever, and in absolutely no way a huge waste of time on the part of the person who created it. He / she (ok, he) has made a rather pretty composition using just sounds from the Windows operating system. It sounds a bit like what would happen if The Knife soundtracked an action flick or something. God bless nerdlingers with too much time on their hands.
[via Kat, Tech Digest's resident nerdlinger]
Here she is then, Miss Mucky Diva boots. This video features all the things that Mariah Carey clips should, by law, contain:
- A mansion
- A nerd who is bamboozled by the site of Mariah in her undercrackers
- Mariah dressed as a princess
- A unicorn. That's right, a UNICORN, motherflickers
See the typically subdued video over the page.
A wee while ago I did a post about Kid Sister's "Pro Nails" track, which - like most things these days - featured Kanye West. Her latest appearance is on a track called "Beeper" by some slightly sinister-sounding people called The Count & Sinden. Nails and beepers - it's fair to say Kid Sister only puts her name to songs that tackle the big issues. Do people even have beepers anymore, anyway?
Whatevra, "Beeper" is a ramalanga ding-dong rave-up hip-hop mash-up, and is so bloody hopped up on something or other that, on first listen, you may suspect your drink has been spiked. With the stuff they put in glo-sticks.
Check the quite excitable video after the beep.
It's the awards show it's ok to like! Well, if it's ok to like the NME and I suppose that the jury's out on that one. I realise that this e4 broadcast of the awards show isn't *actually* live, but this way we don't have to sit through the technical hitches and waiting around between awards and performances. Much tighter.
For me, 2007 was really not a vintage year for music. In fact, I like to call it the year when music went wrong. I suppose we had it coming, seeing as though we've been going through something of a purple patch recently; ever since The Strokes re-introduced indie kids to Converse and tailoring, in fact. Now, just like the late 90s, things have gone seriously wrong. The Enemy, The Wombats, frickin' Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong - am I seriously meant to like these bands? I'm not even sure that NME are entirely convinced. Anyway, I'm telling you this so that you can expect a few cynical comments during my liveblog tonight. If you're happy with that, hop over the cut! Keep refreshing...
[photo: James Quinton for nme.com]
Yes, that's right, I'll be staying up way past my bedtime to blog the E4 broadcast of NME's 2008 Award show, this year taking place in the O2 Indigo Arena. To get you in the mood, here's that moment - which has now passed into Indie Rock 'n' Roll Mythology - when Ryan Jarman of The Cribs somersaulted across a table at the 2006 awards...
[video: shellywoo]
How do you go about advertising a Vauxhall Zafira? Well, if you're the team behind the campaign on the box right now, you choose Huey 'Piano' Smith and His Clowns' track "Don't You Just Know It?" Quite why you'd choose it, I've no idea, but regardless, it's a great rock 'n' roll stomper that deserves a far wider audience than those who have been hoarding it all these years. The track is an insanely giddy affair, perfect for a quick jive to work. Press play on the video below and have a listen... just try to ignore the awful fan vid of clowns and stuff.
GO AND LISTEN TO "SWEET ASSED CHILD OF MINE (DJ DONNA SUMMER REMIX)" RIGHT NOW.
Have you gone and listened to it yet?
Why not?
Just do it. Seriously. Even if you hate it - which you'll say you do, even if you secretly like it - it should produce at least a flicker of a smile.
Look, I had to share it, OK?
[via Palms Out Sounds]
Finally! Even though I get sick to my teeth, sick in my teeth and all over someone else's teeth at rock stars preaching about [insert good cause here], I'm rather glad that Thom Yorke (he's in Radiohead, y'know?) has spoken up about Glastonbury and its clearly un-green ways.
Yorke's revealed that Radiohead didn’t play Glastonbury this year because of the lack of a local transport infrastructure around the festival site. He announced the decision while promoting the Big Ask Europe campaign in Brussels yesterday. He explained: “One of the conditions of the band carrying on touring is that we do everything we can to minimise our impact on the environment."
Kanye's journey into cliched pimpitude continues with a fur coat here, but let's face it, he can do pretty much what he wants these days and get away with it. Estelle's journey to superstardom, meanwhile, probably isn't going to be harmed by this rather slick video. The track still sounds like a smash to these ears, as well...Lovely flock wallpaper around 3:30, an' all. BRAPPP.
[via Popjustice]
[video: Adnaniraqi]
Before I even start, I'll betcha that you won't hear a record as bad as this as long as you live. The track is called "Video Games" and the group are a buncha pre-pubes called Black Out Band (which sounds kinda BNP to me). Anyway, even if this group are more Far Right than Far Out, that's the least of their worries as they can't sing for toffee. If your average singer can hold a note, then this kid has dropped every note ever recorded into a mincer. This is incredibly awful... and worse still, it's not even a joke. These kids are serious. Even worse, they're called Hunter, Tug and Mathew.
Yesterday's Guardian blog directed me to a track by recent drug-related arrestee Lil Wayne and his friend Flo Rida called "American Superstar". It is rather good, a mid-paced banger with foreboding backing vocals and plenty of "interesting" imagery.
Example: "I got guns for the snitches and roses for the bitches". I think what the chaps are trying to say here is that they don't like tattle-tales, but they do like ladies. They don't like them enough to not call them bitches, but one step at a time.
Also of note lyrically: "F*ckin' like a rabbit, smokin' on lettuce". This line shows a disconcertingly poor grasp of the way the natural world works, but it has made a weird part of me want to try smoking all manner of vegetables. Blaze up yo' turnips and check over the page to hear "American Superstar".
Or, if you're reading this on the 28th February - TOMORROW. This year's Wakestock (sponsored by Relentless energy drink), which offers musical delights as well as plenty of opportunities to watch people attached to string flying through the air, will take place at two locations. First there's the Oxfordshire leg, which will take place in the salubrious setting of Blenheim Palace (left), don'tcha know. Apparently this is the first time a contemporary music festival's been held in these esteemed grounds, so BE GRATEFUL.
Then you have the North Wales leg, held between 4th and 6th July in Abersoch, which is on the coast and will therefore allow you to live like that beach bum you always wanted to be, for a few days at least.
Click through for line-up news and how to get tickets.
Did you know that Neon Neon, the collaboration project between Gruff Rhys and Boom Bip, will play their first UK gig on 20th March at London superclub Fabric? That's a mere three days after the release of their no-doubt-brilliant-but-I-haven't-heard-it-yet-to-be-honest album, Stainless Style. You did know all this? Well why didn't you tell me, you selfish swine?
The album features cameos by such varied names as Fab Moretti from The Strokes, Har Mar Superstar, The Magic Numbers and Spank Rock. The following week sees the release of the single "I Lust U", which is already on my list of Best Things To Hit My Ears And Brain This Year.
I've been hankering after the video for ages, but no joy as yet as far as an embed goes - but you can watch it on MTV's site by clicking in the vicinity of here. It features jellyfish, and has a - here it comes - STING IN THE TAIL!!!!!! *slashes wrists*
Tickets for the gig at Fabric, meanwhile, can be bought here.
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Using characteristically gloomy language, Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has warned governments that the world will "never wake from the nightmare of climate change” unless new structures are put in place.
His call for action, which specifically targeted the European Union, comes as Friends of the Earth's Big Ask campaign launches a Europe wide campaign against climate change. In a statement, Yorke said that “by committing to annual cuts in our emissions at a national and European level we can play our part in tackling climate change, and set an example for the rest of world to follow." [Via Gigwise]
This post first appeared on our ethical-living sister site, Hippyshopper
I used to love having Manic Street Preachers knocking around. They were skeletal thin, trashy hell-raisers that stuck yellow tongues out at the hippies and declared, live on the Pyramid Stage at Glasto, that someone should "build a bypass over this shit-hole". As childish as it was, you've gotta laugh.
The first two LPs released by the Welsh rockers misfired, but contained a couple of singles you couldn't help but enjoy. Then their masterpiece arrived in the shape of the terrifying The Holy Bible. Songs of abuse, death, lust and politics collided with seedy basslines and truly harrowing guitar and imagery. The Richie went AWOL and the weight started piling onto more than just their hips.
Oh dear oh dear. If Bon Jovi wrote a song about the American version of Maxim, it would certainly include the line "you give hacks a bad name". Why? Well, said rag has been forced to say a great big sorry to The Black Crowes after it reviewed and rated their latest LP Warpaint. So. Did they give it a needless kicking? Worse than that, they managed to review it without having even listened to the it. Oh dear oh dear oh dear.
Warpaint is the Crowes’ first rekkid in seven years, and Maxim gave it a 2.5 star rating. What set alarm bells off in Camp Crowe was the fact that there were no promo copies of the album released. Nor was it available on the net anywhere. The Black Crowes blasted the review on their website, stating: "Incredulously, the magazine gave the album a two-and-a-half star rating, although neither the writer nor the editor could have heard more than one song - the single ‘Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution.’" Their manager went further, stating that Maxim was "a disgrace to the arts, journalism, critics, the publication itself and the public."
Read over for Maxim's response, and five reviews of albums I've never heard.
This is pretty cool. Roisin Murphy performed a few songs outside a church in London's Covent Garden the other day. Just like with bloody Tegan and Sara, I missed it, despite working round the corner. PLEASE CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE EMAIL ME WHEN STUFF LIKE THIS IS GOING ON IN FUTURE PLEASE.
This is Roisin doing "You Know Me Better".
[video: JamieLeeDay]
[via XO's Middle Eight]
Why should I put the Yeah Yeah Yeahs up on My Chemical Toilet? Well, really, there's no good reason not to. Karen O & Co are one of the few bands you can really put your trust in and this track, 'Down Boy', performed on The Late Show with Dave Letterman is as good a performance as you could hope for. If you haven't already, go and buy all of their LPs and the fantastic EP 'Is Is'.
Now, it's not a huge surprise that Michael Jackson is going to lose Neverland. Ever since that documentary that showed him blithely blowing thousands of dollars on paintings and vases that he's probably never even looked at again, it's kind of been a matter of time.
However, to call him a "former popstar", as NDTVMusic.com do in this report? There's something kind of heartbreaking in that. I mean, don't give up on him yet! Will.i.am still believes in him!
And if you're a rabid MJ fan, listen - don't bother leaving your enraged comments at the end of this post. Maybe spend your time and energy thinking up ways to try and raise the $24,525,906.61 your hero needs by March 19th. Otherwise he might just be coming to crash on your couch.
Catchy post title, eh? God bless corporate sponsorship. I remember the days when it would have been "Best New Band At The Brats", you know. Anyway.
2008's Shockwaves NME Awards take place tomorrow night, providing a notional alternative to The Brits' cosy choices of who's moving and shaking this music world of ours. And while people are always going to whine about NME's take on things, and the narrow outlook of its readership, it does at least allow the next generation of, well, Brits winners a chance to justify the hype that's been spewed out on their behalf over the last year or so.
Clearly Arctic Monkeys are going to drunkenly stumble off with most of the gongs, so I'm going to look at the nominees for Best New Band supported by BBC Radio 1, previous winners of which have included such established sorts as the aforementioned Monkeys and superstar dullards Coldplay. And don't worry, the terrifyingly dangerous young man above isn't nominated for anything.
Click through for literally everything you need to know about the nominees...
What the hell would we do without the internet, eh? I mean, with no cybertubes I'd need your address to send you this post after writing it on paper, for one thing - and I'm not sure it would be worth the postage cost, to be honest.
Another thing the internet is good for - thanks to coveringthemouse.com - is providing you with a very comprehensive collection of Disney cover versions. They've got the lot. "I Wanna Be Like You", as performed by Los Lobos? And also as performed by Smashmouth? And also as performed by, er, Voodoo Glow Skulls? Got those.
Ah, you're looking for "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" as covered by punk snots The Vandals? Step right in.
You get the idea. See what else they've got by checking out their site.
[via Boing Boing]
Hello reader. Come in. Make yourself at home. Sit down. NOT THERE. Put your feet up. Now, allow me to put a few new music videos in front of your pretty little eyes. Don't move. Tell you what, I'll just lightly apply these restraints to your wrists. There. Now, on with the show!
1. Guillemots - "Get Over It"
I wasn't overly keen on The Guillemots' first album, unlike a lot of folk. Just wasn't my cup of tea. Then there was the suspicion - possibly unique to me - that they smelled like damp dogs. Well now they've had a scrub and some haircuts, and added some electronic elements to their sound, all of which is likely to dismay parts of their fanbase. Ho hum.
[video: polydor]
Click over for new vids from The Kooks and Supergrass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Not many people know this, but when I was young (very young) I was a house DJ. I was ten years old and cajoled into playing at a buncha illegal raves out in the Northern sticks around 1990. So when we got a new category called Rave Digging, I could barely contain my glee. Why? I wanted to share acid monster 'Humanoid' by Stakker. Now, Stakker may look like a one-hitter, but it's actually the monicker for the fabulous Future Sound of London. So, you get off on the 303 abuse and I'll recall thousands of sweaty ravers going mad to this while I received my payment of a bottle of pop and a variety bag of crisps. Child slave labour never tasted so good.
There's no getting away from it. Richard Thompson is not a cool-looking man. However, it's almost criminal that Thompson is so unknown throughout Britain. I mean, he's the Brit folk equivalent to Jimi Hendrix! He's one of the true survivors of the 60s and is still knocking around and performing his own works, as well as those from legendary psychedelic folkies, Fairport Convention.
Of course, I'm not chattering on about Richard Thompson for no reason. No, the news is that he's announced that he'll play a special one-off solo show in London in May, notably at London's Royal Festival Hall on May 24. For those still interested, special guest at the concert will be singer Mary Gauthier. Tickets and more details about the event are available from: www.southbankcentre.co.uk. Click over for an ace Fairport Convention video.
Right, this is a new category for My Chemical Toilet - but I'll be honest, I'm not sure how long it will last. It might literally be too painful to endure. If Taxicab Classics is designed to revisit those songs you're slightly ashamed to like, Niteclub Nitemares is a look back at the days when, having finally fake I.D'd your way into the local sticky-floored nightspot, you'd then be faced with the kind of dance-pop that made you want to run straight back out again. You know the kind of thing - songs that would send certain types mental with glee, but tended to send you to the bar for another ill-advised bottle of Mad Dog.
Obviously, the memories likely to be stirred up by these travesties may become too much, so we'll take this one post at a time, OK? If you can bear to face T-Spoon's "Sex On The Beach", click over :(
It's unbelievable that wouldn't-use-it-even-to-line-the-budgie's-cage rags like NME still fawn over acts that only make sense to 14 year-old girls from London. I'm looking at you, Jack Peñate. All those cock-er-ney vowels, hammed up to disguise a crushing Queen's English in most parts of the world, is vomit-inducing. Still, with the world of pop being more London-centric than ever before, it seems that we'll all have to put up with these pretend barrow boys and girls a bit longer. Don't get me wrong, someone hamming up a Northern accent is just as bad. So here, watch this and be propelled into the mind of a young person yet to find what they really like.
As a nipper, I loved Smash Hits. Obviously, these were the days before I deemed all pop naff, meaningless fluff, and became a surly indie brat. Nowadays I'm quite happy to drift along between the two sensibilities. But enough about me. Over the weekend I encountered The Lipster, a pop culture site produced by an all-female line-up of writers. One of their contributors is Sylvia Patterson, who I remember from the good old Smash Hits days.
Patterson has only written a few features so far for The Lipster (at least, I don't think they've appeared elsewhere), but for music fans they're all well worth reading. One takes a look at the good old days of The Brits, when Smash Hits reporters would mingle with rock behemoths during the ceremony, and mischievously approach them with questions such as "Are you sure you haven't left the iron on?"
I'm a bit annoyed that I didn't realise indie heroes Tegan and Sara were doing an instore in London's Covent Garden last week, since I could have popped along there and had a look (if I'd felt like fighting my way through the young 'uns).
As is often the way these days some kind soul has put some of the footage online, including this performance of one of my favourite songs of the last six months or so - the title track from their current album The Con.
Now, at this point you have two choices. You can either a) watch and listen as the tunesome twosome make gags about the NME, and invite the esteemed publication to perform a highly unlikely sex act upon their person; or b) skip along to 4:20 and just enjoy the music. Personally I'd recommend b), but that's only because I sat through a) and wished I hadn't bothered.
Make your choice after the jump...
We thought they were dead and then we discovered that they weren't when we gave you R.E.M's newest video for 'Supernatural Superserious'. Well, they're clearly alive and kicking as they're about to hit the road in the UK. Of course, they're not street-sweeping, but rather, playing some massive gigs. Now, I'm not a fan of R.E.M. really, but seeing them a fews years back was one of the most mindlessly enjoyable gigs I've ever been to.
The group, will play summer shows around the UK to mark / promote new LP Accelerate. Stipe and co, who already confirmed a one-off at the Royal Albert Hall in April, have lined-up four stadium gigs. The tour kicks off in Manchester and also includes dates in Cardiff, Southampton and London. So where can we catch 'em? Read over...
There are certain songs by Barry Manilow that I'm loath to say that I love. Of course, every one of 'em is a Taxicab Classic. "Copacabana", "Mandy", the orchestral pomp of "Could It Be Magic?" and, of course, the sublime "Can't Smile Without You". Yep. Amongst my records by The Stooges and Velvet Underground proudly sits Manilow Magic (available at every single charity shop I've ever been to). Watch this video, give in to it and sing along... Hell, join in with the screaming if you want. Big nose is back in town.
Ever seen someone on a dancefloor gettin' their rocks off with all the co-ordination of an ostrich on a see-saw? Did you laugh at their bad dancing skills? Did you chuckle at their complete lack of shame? Well, you shouldn't be laughing at these people... you should applaud them with thunderous rapture.
The bad dancer may not be able to jive, may not know what lindy-hopping is, hell, they might have never even have heard what BPM means. It doesn't matter. No-one likes someone who can really dance. They're annoying. They take it too seriously. They should move outta the way and let the bad dancers take up the floor. Without inhibitions and rhythm, the bad dancer loves to git down and don't care 'bout watchu think. And that's the way it should be. It's not about posing and posturing. It's about having fun with wild abandon.
Some excellent news for Jamiroquai fans reaches us courtesy of our nerdlinger cousins over at Tech Digest. If you like shoo-be-do-wapping down the street with Jamiroquai in your ears you can now advertise your idiocy without speaking a single word.
Yes, these spiffing shades contain, through some kind of modern witchcraft, TWO EXCLUSIVE REMIXES of songs from Jamiroquai's past, which, thanks to the attached earphones, you can blast straight into your already highly-damaged head.
Well I thought it should win, but I also thought that, the way the universe works, it would be trumped by one of the big productions from Disney's Enchanted. So well done to Glenn and Marketa, whose song "Falling Slowly", from the low-budget film Once, took home the wee golden man for best original song.
Check out their performance from the night over the page, introduced by that sexy fuggin' bashtard, Colin Farrell.
Still prefer Glenn's stuff with The Commitments, mind.
Ireland haven't actually had a whole lot of success in The Eurovision Song Contest over the last few years, so maybe they're afeared that karma is about to redress the balance this year. That might explain voting, as a nation, for a hand-puppet turkey (not pictured, right) to represent them in the contest this year.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who read this story and immediately thought of the classic Father Ted episode in which Irish officials, following years of success at the contest, go all out to avoid winning due to the financial strain involved with hosting the show the following year. Their solution is to send Ted and Dougal to the final with their supremely naff song "My Lovely Horse".
HONK! HONNNNK! NEW FEATURE ALERT!!! BLOW YOUR WHISTLESSSSSS!!!
What's your name? Where you from? Are you on one? Are ya, matey? What's your name? Where you from? Are you-
And so on. Can you guess what this feature's about yet, readership? If you answered "I think it might be a look at the time in the early to mid-nineties when cheap but enormously popular rave tunes started gatecrashing our beloved Top 40", you'd be bang on. Matey.
With "nu-rave" - or at least the clothes inspired by the term - apparently not going away, now's as good a time as any to revisit the days when young men would risk torn knee ligaments just to show that they could dance like Leeroy from The Prodigy (which they couldn't).
And where better to start than with the Essex boys themselves - one of the first acts to take the rave movement into the charts?
Covering The Rolling Stones ain't easy. Man, they nailed all their own songs and left no room for anyone else. Unless you're Otis Redding that is. His version of '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' is one of the most exhilarating 45s ever produced. Jagger can pout and pose, but boy, Redding gives this stomper a whole new lease of life as he speeds it up, whips it and... hell, jus' listen! TAKE IT TO THE BRIDGE!
Do you think Otis improved on The Rolling Stones' version? Vote on our poll at Polls Boutique
"I'll be your whatever you want. The bong in this reggae song." What the hell does that mean? Who cares. Pop music does NOT have to make sense. If it did, we would have been denied the sublime stoner rock of 'Cannonball' by The Breeders. The Breeders were born from a Pixie and a Throwing Muse and, over the years, have had a rather fluctuating line-up. In '93 the band hit big and featured Kelley AND Kim Deal. Twins? In a rock group? Groovy! Anyway, enough spout, let's look and listen to one of the finest one-hitters in history.
Normally, I'm the sort of writer who can listen to a girl popster or group without using the word 'attractive'. I mean, I'm happy to let the music speak for itself, more often that not. However, I'm about to kick all that out of the window and become a drooling mess of a man with eyes popping out on cartoon stalks, declaring undying love and getting into all kinds of problems with my girlfriend. Why? Look at that picture of French folkie-popper, SoKo.
SoKo creates a weird and wonderful folk-pop which lies somewhere between the mindwrongs of The Moldy Peaches and... WHO CARES?! LOOK AT THAT PICTURE! SHE'S SO FIT! Ahem. SoKo is a French lady, which makes her vocal delivery all the more appealing, and her sense of humour is from another planet. I mean, she's got songs that chirrup "I think I'm pregnant though I haven't had sex" and "I will never love you more than the drummer of The Flaming Lips."
She's currently without a deal, but it's surely only a matter of time before she gets snapped up. Why? SHE'S GORGEOUS! Right, gotta dash, my girlfriend is throwing my records down the stairs and cutting up my clothes... Visit SoKo's Myspace here
Mark Ronson is nothing more than a pesky meddler. It is amazing that one man has managed to build such a reputation (and, no doubt, bank balance) by messing with other people's music. But then where's the harm in that, eh? Music is all about the sharing, caring, and rehashing of other people's ideas, is it not? Mark Ronson has just been clever enough to tap into a less subtle, more lucrative version of what every artist since Elvis has been shamelessly doing. Did Winehouse really coin that vocal style? Are the Arctic Monkeys' razor-edged guitar riffs really their own? I think not.
Amid the furor of the Brit Awards, peddler of the cover version Ronson has this week released a cover of Radiohead's "Just", from 1995's angst-music defining classic The Bends, featuring the smooth vocals of Phantom Planet's Alex Greenwald.
Isabelle O'Carroll, editor of men's fashion authority Brandish, went to a gig last night and set aside a few moments of her valuable time to tell us - and you - yes YOU - all about it. Watch out for her new adjective for gentlemen wearing inappropriately skinny jeans.
How did you rate the venue?
Last time I was at the Buffalo Bar I was so tired I had to watch The Chap with my eyes closed in one of their nice comfy banquettes. I love a good banquette.
What were the crowd like?
A few really horrible alcohol-bloated, parsnip-legged sub-Libertines wankers; but mostly a crowd of good-humoured, slightly geeky gorgeous people.
What's you favourite duet? Mine is "Opposites Attract", by Paula Abdul and MC Scat Cat. For some hellish reason, this number does not show up on RetroCrush's otherwise very impressive collection of The 25 Greatest Duets Of All Time.
So what will you find on the list? It's a wide-ranging one, for sure. Nestling next to Neil Diamond & Barbara Streisand you'll find John Lydon & Afrika Bambaataa, for instance. Now there's a supergroup I'd like to see. And obviously you'll find Dolly and Kenny - pictured above at their post-fight press conference - in there as well.
RetroCrush have very kindly provided videos for each and every song they cover, so you could pretty much spend the rest of the day on there if you have nothing better to do. But when you're done, do check out Abdul & Scat Cat. She don't like cigarettes but he likes to smoke, you know.
[via Pop Candy]
Honestly, as if sitting through and liveblogging The Brits the other night wasn't enough, now I've sat through the nominees for "Best Music (Song)" at this year's Oscars. This experience took about a tenth as much time, but was significantly more arduous. That gives you an idea of what's up for the golden statuette in the field of music this year.
I've applied a series of rigorous scientific tests to each ditty, most of which are derived from The Celine Dion Formula For Oscar Success. You can read my findings and then listen to each song below, should you wish to subject yourself to such an ordeal. Off we go:
''Falling Slowly'' from Once
Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Who sings it? Glen Hansard, who you may remember from such movies as The Commitments and... um... Once.
How enamoured is it with the glory of love? Extremely. We're talking acoustic guitar-levels of enamouration here.
How likely is it to become an anthem for recently-dumped females? Pretty good chance. It is "sensitive", after all.
Could Celine Dion have performed it? Far too understated for old Canada Lungs. More up Damien Rice's alley.
Will it win? Unlikely.
Should it win? Given what else is up, yes.
[video: FoxSearchlight]
Check out the rest over the page.
Like you, and me, and everyone we know, our sister Cate at terrific ladyblog Dollymix is big fan of Amy Winehouse. And like most folk - although perhaps not tabloid newspaper editors - she was delighted to see La Wino back on some kind of form at last night's Brits. She's been quick off the mark as far as video goes as well, so I'm blatantly nicking this video of "Love Is A Losing Game" from her site. Thanks Cate!
[Video: Jayne1966]
[via Dollymix]
I'm not sure what there is left to say about the fact that Kiss legend / ruthless entrepreneur Gene Simmons (ew, right) has his own sex tape. Well, I say it's his own - I hope his co-star is getting at least some credit out there among all the internet, ahem, inches. It takes two to create a slightly tiresome internet senation, after all.
Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to discover this video is part of some guerilla marketing strategy for Kiss condoms. But I suspect if I wasn't too lazy to do an internet search at this precise moment I'd find that Kiss condoms already exist.
Anyway, if you're feeling like today just won't be complete until you've seen an overweight, middle-aged rock star mounting a blonde wannabe-starlet, go for your life here. I will not be there to wipe your tears - or anything else - afterwards.
[via Buzzfeed]
There's a Land Rover commercial doing the rounds at the moment with a rather pleasant folk number on it. I've scratched my head and flicked through LPs, and then it hit me. Look online! So, a quick scurry around the web unearthed Jon Allen and his gorgeous track "Going Home". Well worth a listen and well worth keeping an ear out for.
Just in case you didn't get the joke in the headline, there's a Love song called "Andmoreagain" and I was trying to be witty and funny. Anyway, fans of Love's masterpiece Forever Changes may be thrilled to know that there's a re-issue afoot which will see the original LP reissued with loads and loads of bonus material. Yes. I know there was a reissue in 2001... but this looks better, 'kay?
Rhino will give the world one more Forever Changes on April 22nd, with their 40th anniversary double-disc "Collector's Edition" of the '67 LP. Okay, it's a little late, but better late than never. Great news for first-timers and good news for 'already love it' types, as this version will see a complete alternate mix of the album as well as outtakes, demos, backing tracks, and even something called "tracking session highlights". Read over for full tracklisting...
My mate sent me this as he's a) A huge Mos Def fan, and b) A huge fan of Dave Chappelle. So, with Mos Def in Michel Gondry's new flick Be Kind Rewind, it seems apt to chuck this up now. Basically, the video you're (hopefully) about to watch is Mos Def performing "Close Edge" in Dave Chappelle's car. It's a cracking rendition and, better yet, check out Chappelle's fanboy face throughout. You'd be the same, wouldn't ya?
1. Having the biggest-selling pop single of the year is no guarantee of Brits success, as Leona Lewis discovered
2. Having the best pop single of the year is no guarantee of Brits success, as Rihanna discovered
3. If you open the voting for Best Single to the great unwashed, Housewives' Choice will win, as Take That discovered
4. You don't need to be particularly British, or a singer, or a proper solo artist, or make an album of original material to win Best British male, as Mark Ronson discovered
I am poised, waiting, mantis-like before my keyboard. I am not moving from this spot until The Brit Awards has finished and we know PRECISELY who has been crowned music royalty. I am going to spend the next 4+ hours sitting staring, in silence, at my blinking cursor until the action begins. This seems the only sensible way to prepare.
Sure, you could read a liveblog from someone backstage at the actual event. But they'll be having too much fun / cocaine / cocaine-fuelled fun to judge proceedings properly. And sure, you could watch the whole thing on TV for yourself! But NOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
Join me! We can be lonely together! Hold me?
*Resumes poised, waiting, mantis-like position*
7.45: Welcome! OK, I broke off from my self-imposed silence to have a quick scream and also to have a look at the pre-show shenanigans on ITV2. I'm guessing you didn't see it, so I'll give you a little taste of what you missed over the page - then it's business time! Aaaaaaiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeee!
Firstly, guess what? There was more than one person in The Doors. Guess what else? The one you always think about was the least talented of the four. Lester Bangs (the greatest rock critic who ever did live) called Jim Morrison the "Bozo Dionysus" and I'm right behind him. "I am the Lizard King! I can do anything!" Jimbo once hollered... anything except jerk off in the bath without dying. But hey, I'm falling into the 'Jim Morrison was The Doors' trap. Let's look at the canonised output.
People tend to fall over themselves to heap praise on The Doors (I'm looking at you Q Mag, Mojo, NME and Uncut). I don't get it. Sure 'nuff, they made some decent pop records... that's right, POP. "Peace Frog" is alright, "Break On Through", "Roadhouse Blues"... all decent pop records. Anything more? Nope. They're up there with Duran Duran, A-Ha and Take That - pop chancers who got lucky with a couple of choruses and a much-fancied singer.
To celebrate the launch of The Second EP on Monday, Kid Harpoon treated the select audience gathered in Pure Grooves record shop on Holloway Road, to an intimate acoustic set. Accompanied by only his own guitar and a violin, Kid Harpoon showcased half an hours worth of his 200 song strong catalogue, paying special attention to not only the tracks from The Second EP, but also to audience requests.
Ordinarily supported by his band The Powers That Be Kid Harpoon's sound was a lot more stripped down than usual. This did not however hinder the songs in any way. Whilst strumming his acoustic guitar like a madman, Kid Harpoon belted out his vocals with fluency and power. This allowed the electrified, razor-tinged guitars that appear on the studio recording of Riverside, to become no less brisk and upbeat, but rather to create an almost organic, powerful, acoustic, rock style.
Despite being essentially more of an indie act, Kid Harpoon's rise to fame through playing at gigs like Blue Flowers, an acoustic night hosted once a month is Chiswick, had meant that the gemstone laden finger of folk has often been pointed in his direction. Indeed, Kid Harpoon is not a folk act, but the presence of the violin at Pure Grooves, and the expertly picked guitar on the reflective Lay of the Land showed folk leanings that certainly add fuel to this particular fire. This does not mean however, that Harpoon should be pigeon-holed into this category. Instead it adds further depth to his sound and sets him aside from every other generic indie act polluting the airwaves at the moment.
I was going to write "you're nobody unless you've been on Letterman playing your newest hit single", but in fairness, a cursory glance over the bands that have played on the show over the years shows that there have been loads of 'nobodies' on the show. Thankfully, the Foo Fighters aren't a buncha nobodies, and here they are with a song that I feel I should hate... but can't. It's "Everlong"!
I don't like The Mighty Boosh at all. Really. Not one thing about it do I like. Being nice, I'll say it's rubbish. Being mean, I'd need 10 sides of A4. However, you don't care about my views do you? And why should you? You've all got lives and I just sit behind a computer screen moaning about stuff. Well, let me give you this news straight.
Noel Fielding from The Mighty Boosh wants Gary Numan and Mick Jagger to appear in The Mighty Boosh movie. The flick will already feature The Horrors and Dirty Pretty Things, but Fielding added: "You can't just get people who are just trendy at the moment, it looks a bit back-slappy." About the icons he'd ideally include... “Gary Numan's always welcome but if we could get Jagger that would be amazing. If we could get Jagger then my work would be complete, I could retire." Man. I'm counting on Jagger saying yes on that promise. (Oi! No opinions! They don't care - Ed)
There he is, look. Pete. Forgot about him, hadn't you? Well, him and his friend The Lovedogs have a new song out. Like most things that go into your ears these days, it's about drugs. In fact, at one point, Pete decides to share with us that he is "off (his) f*cking face". That's nice for him, isn't it? The song is an appropriately frenetic piece of poppy dance stuff, with plenty of that gurning we all love / loathe / forgot existed.
On a side note, don't you think Pete looks rather a lot like Crazy Frog? Dressed as Luke Skywalker in his X-Wing outfit? Someone, somewhere, will be getting sexually excitable at that fantasy, I guarantee it. For that reason I will not post the video here.
You can, however, watch the whole high-spirited romp over at our Reality TV cousins, Available for Panto. And if you're the frog-fancying perv, tell them about it. I don't want to know.
OK, here are my guesses for who will win each category tonight. I'll be liveblogging the whole thing, so if for some bizarre reason you can access the internet but not a TV, join me! I'll probably make several rubbish jokes about hosts Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne as I sit at home eating Pringles! Like a cowardly hermit ("cowmit"?)! It'll be lifecrushingly depressing a hoot!
British Male Solo Artist: Mika
British Female Solo Artist: Kate Nash
British Group: Take That
British Album: Mark Ronson - Version
British Breakthrough Act: Klaxons
British Live Act: Muse
OK, that's a bit flippant. But 8 Mile was supposed to be heavily autobiographical, wasn't it? But I don't suppose a film allows long paragraphs about how rubbish his Mum was. A heavily-publicised book will though!
But again - hasn't he covered a lot of this stuff in his music? I suppose what I'm trying to say is: Marshall, save the stuff about your childhood, if you don't mind. Instead give us the chance of some vicarious pop star thrills and tell us once and for all what pop starlets / actresses you have / haven't had cuddles with. Oh, and don't forget stories about drugs and guns and stuff. We want all that "eye of the hurricane" stuff, if you can remember any of it. Cheers.
UPDATE: Looks like this news came from a big-mouthed someone at Eminem's UK publisher who has now been properly told off. And maybe pistol-whipped.
[via NME]
While listening to Kiss 100 this morning, I heard something I've never heard before. That would almost be worth posting about alone, given how many mornings I've cursed the radio after hearing the same nonsense all damn week.
It came from Wiley, who, last I knew, was coming a distant second to Dizzee Rascal in the "First Grime Superstar" contest a few years back.
But my God, this is very very good. Or "heavy". Or "heaveee blud". Following the likes of Kanye West and Dallas Austin adding house stylings to their hip-hop, this track sees the same kind of thing being done with grime, I suppose - although that particular genre gets the smallest look-in really, if we're honest. The track might remind you pretty strongly of Bodyrox and Luciana's hit "Yeah Yeah" from last year, but when Wiley's rhymes come in it takes it to a whole other level, in my opinion.
This is going to be huge, so you might as well get used to it by giving it a listen over the page.
People who go on about Gogol Bordello don't know a damn thing. I'm looking at you, NME readers. If you dig the Eastern European vibration, then skip the Disney punk and gun straight for the insanely brilliant A Hawk and a Hacksaw. Thankfully, they'll be playing live quite a lot in the not too distant future.
Spring sees the group performing as support during the Portishead tour of the UK. After they've got that done, it's off out onto the road on their own. Dates are; April - 9 Manchester Apollo,
10 London Hammersmith Apollo, 11 Lancaster Yorkshire House, 12 Edinburgh Corn Exchange, 13 Wolverhampton Civic, 14 Birmingham Glee Club, 17 London Brixton Academy. May - 9 Belfast Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, 10 Cork Cyprus Avenue, 11 Dublin Boom Boom Boom, 12 Aberdeen the Tunnels, 13 Glasgow the Arches, 14 Leeds Hi-Fi Club, 15 Bristol the Thekla, 16 Minehead Butlins (EITS ATP) You've no excuse to not see one of the most incredible live bands on the planet. Get booking. Now. [via DiS]
Ahhh Madonna. Never one to sit still eh? First you conquered the world of pop. Then you made a rubbish book with your busters on every page. Then of course you starred in some appalling films. Then you went back to singing and stealing acquiring the occasional child from a poor African country... And now? Now you're making films.
That's right, Madge is to release her directorial debut Filth And Wisdom straight onto the web - because she doesn't want to rely on her pop superstardom to make her filmmaking career a success. Sorry... I nearly spat my tea out then. Going straight to the web is the 2008 equivalent of going straight to video.
"Χορός στις παραλίες, πανικός κόσμος στις πλατείες..." You can't teach that kind of songwriting, can you? Although, in fairness, as I ripped it off the Youtube bumf that accompanied the video for Tamta's (Feat. A.Deiksimos) 'Agapo Wanna Play', it could say anything... which proves that things can indeed get lost in translation. I'm sure the Greek (?) kids lap this up. This Brit kid can't stomach it.
I would just like to say that, today, in my humble opinion, Girls Aloud are the best girl group in the last twenty years or something. There's every chance I won't think anything of the sort tomorrow, but let's not worry about that right now.
This video is a bit like what might happen if Vivienne Westwood dressed Bananarama up and sent them off to a "Dangerous Liaisons"-themed party. Except about fifty times hotter than that scenario has any right to be.
Oh yeah - the song's very catchy as well, but you can basically take that as read, can't you? Experience all the elements mentioned above over the page. WARNING: arousal may follow.
OK, I never made a resolution to write regular music-related posts about the US elections, but if those darn American politicians keep messing up so deliciously, what am I supposed to do?
First there was Will.i.am's campaign song for Obama, then there was the frankly horrific "Hillary4U&Me;". And now comes the news that Republican Mike Huckabee tried to plunder classic rock history by using Boston's "More Than A Feeling" for his campaign... only, he didn't ask permission. And the guy who wrote and performed it - Boston's main man Tom Scholz - is not very happy about it. And nor am I! Hands off our Taxicab Classics, Creationist!
Indeed so not happy was he that he sent Huckers a letter, and quite possibly leaked it to, um, the internet. Thephoenix.com reproduces the whole thing, and it's a cracking read.
If you've read this article over at Gigwise, you'll be under the impression that the Smashing Pumpkins show at the O2 the other night was a bit of a disaster. Well, my esteemed colleague Kat at Tech Digest was there and would like to set at least a bit of the record straight. Take if away, Kat...
How did you rate the venue?
- It was my first time at the O2 arena, and I was mightily impressed. It was a lot nicer than I expected, and the transport to the arena is an absolute dream. Cannot recommend it enough!
What were the crowd like?
- Mixed. I had a seated ticket, but everyone in the section seemed to have a good time - lots of enthusiastic cheering. I don’t understand why this gig has been derided across the internet, everyone seemed to enjoy it wholeheartedly, although in the last half hour of pure noise I did notice a fair few people were leaving...
When I think of Mercury Rev, I always think of the word "ethereal". That and, "hasn't the lead singer got a funny voice". Still, they're a great little group and they're gearing up for an appearance at the End Of The Road festival in Dorset.
Now, I've been to this festival and it's very pleasant indeed. There are peacocks roaming around and the bands always end up drinking with the crowd... it's that kinda place. In the past, the event has hosted Super Furry Animals, Yo La Tengo, Richard Hawley and Ryan Adams, will take place on September 12, 13 and 14 at the beautiful Larmer Tree Gardens.
Britpop brought us two things. Firstly, it made us, as a nation, proud of our pop again. For a brief moment in '95, it seemed like we'd inherited the earth. Then Menswear and Strangelove happened. The second thing, and probably the longest lasting of Britpop's legacies, is The Lad. Even though Britain has grown up a fair bit (read: desperate to appear caring with recycling and bragging about tiny carbon footprints), in amongst all the yoghurt-weavers is a hardcore bunch still swilling Stella and shouting "'Aaaave iiiiiiitt!"
Go to almost any gig and you'll see some dunderhead in a laddy tee. Usually, these are Stone Roses or Oasis shirts. Hell, you might even catch an Ocean Colour Scene top! Yep. There are lads who are still locked in plastic Manc-dom, trying to ape Liam Gallagher and swaggering around like they're simultaneously carrying two rolled up carpets and have shat their jeans. If you've seen Hollyoaks and you know who the Rhys character is, you'll know the sort. Spot them in almost every pub, student union and gig... 'aving it. For more Sonic Stereotypes, click here
Taxis are the place to be if you wanna feel like a trucker for a brief moment of your life. Taxis house the voice of Sarah Kennedy, the smell of B.O. and most importantly, stations that pour out MOR and AOR like sonic treacle. Taxis are the place that musical time forgot. So where else you gonna dig the hirsute, dad-friendly sounds of The Doobie Brothers?
The Doobie Brothers are the aural equivalent of yer daddio telling you that, in his youth, there was nothing he liked better than "having half a spliff and 'rocking out' with the headphones on. Oh man, they were heady days. You should have seen my clothes and hair! You know what a doobie is, right?" While all the real hippies were full of acid, naked and wigging out to Gong, your dad was in his student digs fretting a little. So with that, let's listen to the soundtrack of future middle management with The Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Running". Read over...
Dear "Electric Feel" by MGMT,
You don't know me. But I know you. I know you very well indeed, having listened to you repeatedly this past weekend. I have to say, your woozy psychedelic funk is proving quite appealing to me. The way that-
Oh to hell with it. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU. Please don't be scared.
I have listened to you before two consecutive nights out. I have listened to you as I drift off to sleep. I have listened to you first thing in the morning. I have listened to you in the shower. I have listened to you sober. I have listened to you drunk. I have listened to you hungover. I have listened to you on a packed tube train. I have listened to you on a deserted bus. I have listened to you as I have walked along ignoring people trying to give me leaflets and things. You are yet to let me down.
I can only hope this familiarity does not breed contempt, on either of our parts.
Why did the chicken cross the road? To hunt Colonel Sanders down and carve him up, actually. In case you were in any doubt as to Moby's vegan credentials - and he's been a bit quiet about all that recently - this video for his stonking new tune "Disco Lies" should put you straight. It's as subtle as a KFC Zinger, but if that bothers you maybe just enjoy the tune. And close your eyes at the end if you don't like the sight of blood. Meat is murder, remember.
[video: MuteChannel]
Further proof here that politics and music not mixing should be made a universal law of the universal universe of things. If you thought the "Yes I Can" Obama campaign clip was vomitus in extremis, check out this unofficial video which a fan of Hillary Clinton named Gene Wang has produced.
Listening to this song, it's as if the last 30-odd years of music never happened. It's like the theme tune to a 60s sitcom, except it's performed - with gusto, mind you - by real, live kind-of-young people right here in the 21st century. And that's before we even get to the lyrics, which get quite specific about political matters while all the time being set to this remarkably cheesy melody. Bewildering.
Watch it after the click. But only once, 'kay?
Now, I am not a fan of Craaaaaaig David, but there are a number of reasons why I think his new single, "6 of 1 Thing" due to be released on Monday, deserves a place in my humble little column.
Firstly, you have to admire the man's tenacity. Despite the fact that comedian Leigh Francis has pissed all over Craaaaaaig David's reputation with his hilarious portrayal of the pop singer in his comedy sketch show Bo' Selecta!, he repeatedly returns with his signature R n' B tunes. Like the evil older brother in the film Kes, Craaaaaig David throws the Kestrel with which Francis has burdened his character on Bo' Selecta! unceremoniously in the bin; a gesture that proudly screams, 'Cock off Avid Merrion, you can't stop me'! That Craaaaaig David certainly is a grafter!
Secondly, he deserves recognition for the sheer quality of his Justin Timberlake impression. I don't think I have seen anyone since JT himself boogie stylishly to a pumping pop tune like Craaaaaig David does!
It seems Manchester has produced yet another noisy band with a penchant for choruses and Stella Artois who are going to dominate the indie world... namely, the much fancied The Courteeners. What's the fuss? Well you can find out yourself as the band have announced a new headlining UK tour, starting in April.
The band go out on the road from April 9, promoting their Stephen Street-produced debut album St Jude which is released on April 7. Tickets for the gigs went on sale this morning, so get the card out and pay fast as these'll be snapped up in no time. If you liked Definitely Maybe, you'll love these indie thugs. Dates over...
Pseudo-emo whipping-boys Panic At The Disco are back, and they've shed the "!" from their name. Good move.
"Nine In The Afternoon" probably won't win them any fans from the black-hoodied section of society, but those kids are always skint anyway. It probably will gain them some love from Natasha Bedingfield fans though, because this is pretty much pure pop.
If I may return to my recurring obsession, "Songs That Might Possibly Be About Drugs" - this single has a video so eager to be taken as psychedelic that it's kind of like Oasis' "Whatever", except in real life, not animation. Jim-jams, golden elephants, pianists with polar bear heads - you name it. Also, note the lyric "eyes as big as the moon". That's all I'm saying.
[video: MedalForces]
To this day, Primal Scream's Screamadelica is regarded as a classic LP, and one of the first big Brit LPs to mix rock with dance music. Influential? I'll say. In amongst "Movin' On Up", "Loaded" and "Come Together" is an acid baggy anthem, "Slip Inside This House" (you can hear it if you click here).
However, not many folks know that "Slip Inside This House" is actually a cover of a whacked-out psychedelic garage track by the legendary 13th Floor Elevators. The original (click here to hear it) is a far cry from the Screamteam's version. Super heavy and aggressive, Roky Eriksson's band go in deep with a soupy, shuddering mix that sounds like a sonic earthquake. Impress your friends with your new found trivia. If you knew already, go and dance around the house to both versions.
I've known Camille Yarborough's 'Take Yo' Praise' for some years now. It's been a pretty big tune on the soul circuit for yonks, so when Fatboy Slim's 'Praise You' came out with a big ol' sample of the track in it, tears of sadness rolled down my pathetic cheeks. "Oh no. Everyone is gonna be on this now" I thought. Strangely that never happened, and Camille's tune continued doing the business under the radar. Now, in a hugely hypocritical move to 'get everyone on it', here's the original. Go buy this incredible tune and git down!
A couple of months back I posted about the new Snoop Dogg song, "Sensual Seduction" (aka "Sexual Eruption", if you're all about the uncensored version), which I mistakenly credited with bringing the vocoder back. Apparently, as folk who know about these things will confirm, there's actually no vocoder at work in this song at all. Nope, all that wibbly-wobbly voiceness - aka "The Cher Effect" - is done through Auto-Tune.
Auto-tune is the audio equivalent of skin concealer. It smoothes out inaccuracies in vocal performances, and can be used in the studio but also in the live arena. Hometracked.com have a very interesting article with ten examples of "auto-tune abuse" - Sean Kingston, Natasha Bedingfield and Avril Lavigne all feature, and once you know what an auto-tuned vocal sounds like you'll be spotting it every time you turn on the radio.
Since this is dated March 2007 on YouTube, I need to preface it with "you may have seen this before, but..."
You may have seen this before, but if not here is Lionel Richie singing his slush classic "Hello" after inhaling helium. On German TV, naturally.
[video: Magurae]
[via Fark.com]
The Little Ones are what you might call a power-pop band from LA. They play catchy, guitar-y indie-pop, like lots of other bands. But there are a couple of reasons why you might want to give them at least a chance to impress you.
Reason no.1: "Ordinary Song", their current single, which you can buy from a music retailing outlet right now. It's a breezy, West Coast-y number which recalls the less irritating moments of the likes of The Thrills and The Magic Numbers.
Reason no.2: The video to the above song, which you can see over the page, shows the lifespan of a song from its recording, to its airing on radio, to its use as work-out music in an aerobics class. This is all done in a very clever manner which I quite frankly can't be bothered describing. Maybe just watch it.
Who the hell are ESG when they're at home? Well, bucko, ESG were a group that influenced loads of bands, from the punks to the post punkers, to the disco kids, to the hip-hop heads, to just about anyone who liked to go mental on a dance floor. You probably know 'em from the Mini clubman advert with a brilliant elastic bassline and congas.
ESG hailed from the South Bronx and were an "art-funk ensemble". Don't let that put you off though. They've shared a producer with Joy Division and been sampled by TLC, Wu-Tang Clan, Beastie Boys, Big Daddy Kane, Gang Starr, J-Dilla... and more. If you need your memory refreshing, read over and you'll see a video which has the track on it... you'll know it as soon as you hear it.
Valentine's Day is the day of love, or, if you're an idiot, lurve. Nothing says 'I love you' like quoting bits of song at people or, better still, making them sit down while you play a record at them, pointing and shushing them so they have to listen to the lyrics. Of course musicians are far better at putting our feelings into words than we are. So who should you turn to if you really wanna say 'I love you'?
Well, most love songs are dramatic and heavy, managing to miss the complete joy of new love... but that's where Spiral Starecase come in. Their "More Today Than Yesterday" is the single most joyous love song ever recorded. It's the sound of bounding up to your new girlfriend's house. It's the sound of being so happy that your heart might pop. When love is good, it's hard to beat and, if there's a record that comes even close to capturing that feeling, it's 'More Today Than Yesterday'. If you wanna hear it, click over and press the play button.
This landed in my inbox recently, and, with it being Valentine's Day, it seems reasonably apt to put it up here. This acappella version of The Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" is a pretty enough rendition, and let's face it, it's the most realistic romance song ever made - it's sad, desperate, hopelessly in love... In short, it's nothing short of fantastic. This version? Make your own mind up when you click 'play'.
At the weekend Peter Robinson, in The Guardian, wrote a piece about Nickelback's "Rockstar" which made a lot of sense. He made the point that the song's lyrics lead you to suspect some kind of satire or postmodern irony is at work - only for the punchline, or whatever it is you're expecting to confirm your suspicions, never to emerge. "It's like a Smack The Pony skit without the laughter track," says Robinson. Maybe I should just have quoted him to begin with.
Now it seems that the song described as "the worst thing of all time" in the same article may go and break a bloody record.
Remember R.E.M? They were the biggest band on Planet Earth once upon a time, and were led by a superhero named StipeMan, who you can see above. Then they got a bit old and you kind of forgot about them, you flighty flibbertigibbets. Well if you wanted them to disappear, IT HAS NOT WORKED.
R.E.M are all kinds of back, and the pleasing news is that their new single is pretty good - a satisfying mix of crunchy riffage and those lovely Mike Mills backing vocals you'll always associate with them at their best. The video isn't much to write home about, but I don't suppose you can expect middle-aged men to do bloody cartwheels, so give them a break, OK?
Check out the music with moving images after getting your click on below.
Happy Valentine's Day everyone! How many cards did you get? Did he send you flowers? Is she going to put out tonight?
What's that you say? None, no and not unless you can get her good and drunk? Oh well. At least the pain you feel every other day of the year will be slightly less than it is today, when your shocking lack of attractiveness is cast in a stark, blinding, unforgiving light. See? It's not that bad!
And hopefully you're not in as bad mental shape as this chap. Kisses! xxx
[video: butterflycarnival99]
Get this. How much would you spend on some old underwear that was once worn by your hero? Okay, my heroes are all dead, so I'd probably give it a miss, but a Shakira fan has spent a whopping $3,000 for a Roberto Cavalli-designed bra which once supported her boobies [insert 'small and humble' joke here].
The Latino warbler is flogging a load of her old clothes to raise funds for the charity Bare Feet Foundation, which is currently building schools for poor children in Shakira’s native Colombia. I suppose it's better than sticking them all in a bin bag and dropping them off at the local Cancer Research.
Just because a band is hugely influential doesn't mean I have to like 'em. Even if I like cruddy third-rate versions of said band. In this case, I'm talking about the Sex Pistols. For some reason, I just can't get into 'em. They've got a couple of songs that I love. "Pretty Vacant" is a masterpiece in schlock pop and "God Save The Queen" is a hilarious piece of rockin' trash... but for me, that's about all they've got to offer.
Now, I've already touched on it, but I feel that I'll have to reiterate. I understand how incredibly important the Sex Pistols are to British music, but I do sniff at the idea that punk came about because of Johnny Rotten & Co. Punk is something that'd been around for more than a decade before 'Year Zero'. The thing that the second punk movement had was great timing.
My headline is so thorough that it's almost impossible to write an article that accompanies it without feeling like it's full of needless padding. I mean, who wants to read endless sentences that don't really mean anything? It's patronising to the reader, uninspiring and downright lazy. Writers who fill their articles with useless waffle should be strung up AND shot.
Bob Mould, who was in Husker Du and Sugar, will play a handful of shows following the recent release of his 'District Line' solo album. He'll play at; Glasgow ABC (May 23), Manchester Academy 2 (24), Birmingham Academy 2 (26), London KOKO (27).
As more filler, here's a Husker Du video.
[viaNME] [video piper108]
So first that NERD track "Everyone Nose" leaked, with its not-so-subtle lyrics hinting at girls in clubs taking drugs in the toilets. And now Dallas Austin, producer extraordinaire and probable Joss Stone nemesis, has come up with "Hot Girls In The Bathroom", which is about... well, pretty much the exact same thing. I wonder if Pharrell, Chad and Dallas were all at the same party. I'm sure there can't be that many shindigs with rappers, producers, models and drugs all in the same place.
Anyway, Dallas's track - which you can hear here, with your ear - is a bona fide club banger which quite possibly takes a bit of inspiration from Kanye West's adventures in electroland. And, as Popjustice remark, it's very different to anything he's come out with previously.
But you know what? Let's just hand over to Mr. Austin here, and see what he has to say about how he composed this piece.
Read over for his ENTIRELY CAPITALISED MYSPACE BLOG POST ABOUT "HOT GIRLS IN THE BATHROOM".
I REALLY want a pair of those lighty-uppy glasses Kanye wears in this performance of "Stronger" with Daft Punk from the Grammy Awards. Sure, I'd need to be in the dark to make sporting them worth it, but that would mean I could legitimately become one of those tools who wears shades in nightclubs.
Check them out for yourself below. Oh, and there's music to listen to as well. All in all it's a bit like Tron: The Musical.
[video: nextel669]
Let there be no doubt that Mariah Carey is rather fond of sexy sex. Her new single, a clip of which has landed on the internet, is rather lyrically raunchy.
"Put me on the floor, wrestle me around," she says in "Touch My Body". Imagine! If this snippet puts you in mind of dull R&B; pantathons worry not, however - the tune is actually quite a sweet, poppy confection and you won't feel like you have to be naked and covered in strawberries to enjoy it. Bravo. If you choose to do that, of course, that's up to you.
Listen to a wee bit of "Touch My Body" at Mazza Cazza'a MySpace
Hey, want to hear a Korean child sing The Beatles even though he can't speak English? Want to see it with video that suggests the poor little mite has been imprisoned in a Fab Four-themed cell for the duration of his short life? Want to feel a little worried that he's going to be forced to don a Sergeant Pepper outfit as soon as his parents can find one that fits?
This is your lucky day.
[video: heroisborn]
OK, this is in English, so it kind of breaks one of the unwritten rules of our Lost In Translation section. But apart from that, it's as foreign as crapping into a hole in the floor.
Armi and Dany, from Finland, croon their way through this sub-Eurovision travesty backed by what can only be described as slightly deranged dancing cult members. I'm sure someone prances across the floor holding a toaster at 2:04. Watch this and realise that even if Let Loose were to return and go to number one for 12 weeks, we ain't got it that bad.
[video: Aarniza]
It's time to jump on the Grammy bandwagon again, while simultaneously trying to steer the Amy Winehouse bandwagon. Phew. It's not easy, y'know? Anyway, Mark Ronson, who won Producer of the Year at the Grammy Awards, spoke at the ceremony about his relationship with Amy Winehouse. RELATIONSHIP? IS HE GETTING IN THERE WHILE HER HUBBY IS SHACKLED? No no no... calm down...
Ronson, who produced the marvellous Back To Black LP, which helped Winehouse bag a stunning 5 gongs, said he was shocked at the warm reception the album has received in America. "The whole way the record has gone from its inception to the way it's been received has been a surprise," he said. "I wish Amy was here because she's my mate and you've been through this ride together. We created a record and tonight is the pinnacle of that because it's the most prestigious night in music, but the INS had other plans," said Ronson.
On this very day in 1965, Pye Records announced to the world (or at least to anyone who was listening) that they'd signed 'the British Bob Dylan'. Which reedy-voiced acoustic bard was to step up and doff a cap? Of course, it was folk legend Donovan.
Donovan came to fame pretty quickly as Britain was ready to have a Dylan of its own. A series of live performances on Ready Steady Go! saw his popularity grow and ultimately spread to the US. Now he was taking on Dylan on his own turf. A few number ones later proved that Donovan was more than ready to take a pop at the crown of folk.
This week sees the reissue of Michael Jackson's Thriller LP. Now, there have been remasters and reissues over the years, so quite why the world needs another reissue is a bit of a puzzle. Maybe it's because he's a bit broke? Maybe it's because the album, now more than ever, demands reappraisal? Whatever the reasons, you could argue that Thriller is being rammed down our throats... but you may not have noticed how.
The conspiracy theorists in the My Chemical Toilet offices have noticed a spike in MJ activity. There's been a lot of “co-incidental” marketing. Getouutahere! You're talkin' crazy! Is that right? Apart from the horrific retouch of "The Girl Is Mine" (featuring will.i.am) there's been a lot of MJ in other people's tunes. Is someone getting paid to make Michael Jackson common currency again, or is it just testament to his influence?
Every time you go to a gig, or even a club, chances are there'll be one bloke there, having a pint and smiling politely. He's not hating the experience... it's just not really his thing. Whilst everyone else gets their rocks off, he usually ends up minding the coats. Of course, these people aren't always sat around politely grinning. Sometimes they join in. Sometimes they provide comedy gold.
I've DJ'd for years, and quite often 'Bloke Dragged Along By Mates' sits getting pissed, then when the beer has kicked in, he dances with wild abandon. In fact, he dances with such abandon that you think that someone has reprogrammed him but forgotten to put the coordination bit back in. Then, hammered, he comes up to you, foaming at the mouth yelling "I'm not rreally incho this (hic) shtuff... but av had a rreaally good... night... ch... (does sicky burp)...eers man." And with that, he's off into the night searching a kebab and a lamp post to dance with.
Amy Winehouse is a bit of a mess so couldn't go to the Grammy Awards. So, to compensate, she performed for the ceremonials, live, by a link-up with one of those satellite things. Crazy. Anyway, to reward her efforts, she promptly went and won loads of awards... five, to be precise.
The soulstress bagged three awards for 'Rehab': Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Female Pop Vocal Performance, as well as taking home the prize for Pop Vocal Album for the Back To Black LP and the prestigious Best New Artist Grammy. Even though I'm a massive snob, it really is a cracking album worthy of the attention. Some other people won awards as well... if you're interested, read over.
Moonfaced Aryan wetdream and X Factor runner-up Rhydian Roberts was left all down in the dumps after the Welsh rugby team got their great hulking shoulders and turned them to cold. What I'm trying to say is that Welsh rugby union chief executive Roger Lewis had asked the talent show loser (who is Welsh... as if his name didn't give it away) to perform the Welsh national anthem before a match. Then execs changed their minds and banned Rhydian from appearing. This is presumably after hearing him sing.
A WRU spokesman said: "Our focus now is on using community choirs." The translation for this is 'Oh dear God. When we realised it was that freakshow from the telly, we couldn't get away quick enough.' Personally, I'm surprised that the rugger lads didn't invite him down and then pole-axe him on the pitch. That would have been a brilliant future clip for It'll Be Alright On The Night 2097 (featuring a robotic Dennis Norden).
Sorry, how did I miss this?
"We're such a non-conventional couple, we had a lot of penis balloons everywhere."
Christina Aguilera there, on the "party" that followed her son's circumcision.
Sure, floating cocks bobbing before the kid's eyes moments after he's been snipped - I'm sure there's no chance of that image seeping into his subconscious only to resurface in the middle of the night thirteen years from now. Or maybe it'll flash into his brain while he reads from the Torah at his Bar Mitzvah? That would be entertaining.
The bris is usually a rather sober affair, with family and close friends invited to the event and then a meal afterwards. But Xtina, the wacky lass, decided to up the hitherto little-suspected funfair-type elements of ritual circumcision. Can't wait to see what she's got in store for Yom Kippur. Fasting on a rollercoaster, perhaps?
[via contactmusic.com]
"I remember getting the best bj ever to this song in 1984."
So says YouTube commenter kb7787 of REO Speedwagon's exemplary perm-ballad. You don't need to have fellatio-related memories attached to this beauty for it to make you feel all sorts of special, however. Nope, all you need to guiltily enjoy this mullety delight is a pair of ears and a functioning heart. Don't even try to deny it. I sang this at karaoke once, you know. Weeping at the song's close was probably a step too far, but I had some stuff on my mind.
"Can't Fight This Feeling" is here reproduced with subtitles, for our Spanish viewers. Vaya con Dios.
[video: quezada7]
Everyone's heard the Bananarama tune "He Was Really Sayin' Something", but not many know that it's a cover by ace 60s girl group, The Velvelettes. The group had a few hits ("Needle In A Haystack" being this writer's fave), but no-one did a famous cover of that. So, let's listen to some grade-A soul to get us in the mood for the weekend.
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