Tunes along time.

2011 has seen an explosion of new music on the scene. I say new, i mean old music that has transformed from kids with the knack of flicking fringes and writing pop-punk hooks, to mature musicians who treat each track with depth. Thought it would be fun to have a nose at a few of the bands that have blossomed in my life time, and decide whether it was for the better.

I have this dirty secret that i am often looked down upon for... I think the Red Hot Chilli Peppers are a bit over-rated...i'd go as far as to say i dislike them. When musicians become famous for a certain style, they usually take the opportunity to flex their musical muscles and experiment with something new. Rather dissapointingly, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers seem to have not done that, but rather stuck to their old ways. They swear by the template of jazzy bass intro, drum beat, funky focals and catchy chorus. I bought "I'm With You" last weekend, and every track is so similar it's boring. Yes, i'll admit that "The adventures of raindance maggie" is catchy, but it's only as good as their old stuff, nothing gob-smacking like "By The Way" Also, without Flea (who is, by the way, a god) RHCP would be more like slightly-limp-green-capsican peppers- nice enough, but nothing to really look forward to.
The "hey now" bit could easily slip into "Californication" or other soft whiny verses. If you're a fan of this band's previous albums, then chances are, you'll lap this album up. I on the other hand, like a bit of variation in my music, and i'm afraid that the peppers aren't that hot this time around.

A band that i feel lately have been pressured to pump out the songs is Arctic Monkeys. Previously, i thought this band could do no wrong. I loved everything they wrote, from their very first album "Whatever people say i am, that's what i'm not" they have a flare, an aching coolness that the world hadn't seen since The Libertines. The album name itself implies that this is a bunch of misunderstood, cynical, and therefore appealing individuals.  "Crying lightening" hit all the right buttons to please the "Indie-Cindy" inside me. I was still getting to know "Humbug" when out of nowhere came "Suck it and see." An album that I feel was over-laiden with tracks which were, in short,  somewhat alien. 'Brick by Brick' never really kicks in, despite the opening line being ''I wanna build you up.' (ironic) and 'Black Treacle' is a song that has no hook, but just hums on somewhat soporifically.  It says alot when your favourite song on the new album sounds like it belongs on their first or second one. (See Library pictures, and tell me it wouldn't better fit ''Favourite Worst Nightmare.) I get the feeling they just can't bebothered anymore, even the minimalistic look on the album cover looks as though they just couldn't be bothered anymore.

My Chemical Romance. Oh how i adored you. You were the bane of my mother's life, what with the sound of music bleeding through the walls, and the blue-tack pulling the paint off because i have so many posters up. I loved how each album showed another side of MCR, Three cheers was better produced and planned than "Bullets". (Although it was the rawness of bullets that we all fell for) Then they breathed an element of maturity into "Black Parade." They weren't just talking about drugs and parties and girls anymore, this alum was about the afterlife, world wars and terminal illness... Once you have made such heart-throbbingly amazing music, do you regress a decade and act like children in your new album? Most of the songs aren't that great on "Killjoys", not to mention the tights and plastic guns, They are 5 men with wives and children for Christ's sake. This is what a mid-life crisis looks like if you have the music industry at your beck and call.

Let's end on a high. 2011 hasn't been all rushed re-inventions of bands that were perfectly good before.
The Kooks were introduced to me by my boyfriend 4 years ago. I started the transition by listening to Konk; It's slightly more rocky than "inside in inside out" and really lodged itself in my ears. There are so many songs on the album that make you think "why isn't this released as a single? It has merit enough!" So when "Junk of the heart" came out, it was a pleasant collection of songs that, although different enough to be refreshing, retained enough of the Kooks' essence to stay familiar and not altogether foreign to my ears. "I wanna make you happy!" In a world that sings of death and heartbreak, this is a nice little breath of air. Full on characteristic sing-along anthems and uplifting tracks, this album gets played everytime I'm in the car. Whilst i adore track number 10 for it's ballady beauty, the song "Is it me?" oozes vintage chic aswell as musical brilliance. Luke Pritchard's voice is second only to the amazing playing of Hugh Harris. Every member knows their instrument inside out and produce music that is time after time, intricate, and methodical and flawless.


My eyes are starting to blur and my head hurts. Might have something to do with the fact that England decides to have a bloody stupid heat wave right as i look forward to new autumn outfits. I can't take this weather anomaly and am therefore going to bed. So come back later in the week for  the next installation.
-T'rrah!

My mixtape, for you lovely people.

My work experience with Kerrang!Radio has reached it's mid-way "Hump" As KateLawler would say; I'm half way through and loving every second of it. 

One thing that the old 105.2 regularly asks of their Kerrang!utan fans is their favourite "tune of the year" I like this enough to take it a step further and collate a mixtape of, well, whatever the hell i wanted really.

This blog is all about sharing music, so here is a couple of tracks, both new and old, not always my favourite, just what i fancied today...so come and gettem' whilst they're hot off my iPod. 

 

(In no order)

Regina Spektor- Fidelity

I say no order, but there is a good reason this is top. It's not necessarily my favourite, nor is it  the best technically. It's not the best seller, and it's not the most famous. However, it's at the top of the list because i remember the second i heard this song-she was on some silly talk show- i fell in love, not just with the track but with the singer. You know how you look at someone's eyes-nothing else- and Bam you're in love? This song was the gateway into a love affair with every song she has ever written. Spektor breaks conventions whilst still creating music that is fantastic, quirky and brilliant.

Iggy Pop- I wanna be your dog
Iggy is Legend. Fact. This was one of the first songs i ever learned to play on my bass guitar when i was in my dad's cover band aged 13. Very much like my dad, Iggy point blank refuses to acknowledge he is no longer a teenager, and is therefore growing old disgracefully. I doubt this man even knows that there is in fact alternative trouser-wear out there, not just skinny drainpipes. (Thankfully, my dad does) Although he looks slightly like a melted candle, Iggy is going strong, and it's songs that stretch as far back as the 60s like this one does, that means he can act like a kid even if he is grandad age.
Vocal howls, tambourines, dirty dirty dirty guitars; this song is what is means to lose control and rock without a care in the world. Funnily enough, it started ife as a ballad about his girlfriend stroking his hair like a pet dog, but Iggy doesn't do soppy. No, that's not his style, this is as close to a love song as he gets. And my hat goes off to this guy for teaching us a valuable life lesson; Grow old with as little dignity and with as much noise as possible.

Rise against-Give it all

I went to see these guys at the little Civic in Wolvo, and they Blew. Me. Away. Listening to this track takes me back to that moment of pure energy when everyone was dancing and singing along in unison.  Screw redbull, Rise Against give you wings; they make your toes tingle with energy that pulsates through your earphones. 

Just don't play this song on the train, you can't help but headbang, and there's a very real risk you'll end up flicking the ticket man the middle finger just 'cause you're wound up.

Patrick wolf- childcatcher

Another strange one for you. This is music that sounds like it's crawled out of a child's storybook... but at midnight, and all the characters have pointy teeth.  "Gonna be your right of passage" This is the point at which the irony of using a childhood villain from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang  hits you; it's disturbing, it's uneasy listening... but it's morbidly brilliant. Then the rave-like bass and drum kicks in, and you don't know if you're still in the realms of metaphor, or a nightclub. The lyrics "I think you  enjoyed it" are contrasted with the chilling childish pipe-playing, and it's this that Wolf ends the track with, leaving you with goosepimples, but unable to resist listening to it again.

Muse- Unintended

Aaaand we're back in the realms of the soppy and ballady. I don't care, it's my mixtape. Plus this one's a korker.

The guitar is hauntingly soft, and it's Bellamy's voice that shoulders the weight of this song and carries it. "I'll be there as soon as i can." How HOW HOW can a man's voice be so delicate and damn beautiful as that?! "You could be my unintended choice" -Matt knows the genius of addressing the listener accordingly, you end up breaking your heart over a voice, thinking "what me? He's talking to me?"

It's not Muse's loudest or most technical song. I could rave about New Born, Plug In Baby, Showbiz, Hysteria, or Time is running out (which i'm sure i will in due course) but this is one of the under-rated gems that i think deserves a look-in.

And for the record, feel free to download those muse tracks above mentioned. Legally of course, don't be a t*t.

Damien Rice- Cannonball 

This song is 5.08 minutes of Escapists' paradise, sinking into Damien's typical breathy voice and signature folk guitar. 

My Chemical Romance- House Of Wolves

Okay, let's liven things up.

The intro is bold, ballsy and foot-stampingly catchy. The lyrics fit perfectly into the conceptual album "The Black Parade." And boy, isn't that just a brilliant album? Seriously, i'm a Huge fan. It's like their music matured enough to appeal across the board, but kept the dark rocky edge that their fans fell in love with years before. 

Shame they regressed about 20 years and released a dissappointingly awful fourth album.

Three Days Grace- I Hate Everything About You

The intro is dark, cool, edgy. You instantly feel yourself becoming more cynical about life with each passing second. It's not exactly uplifting, but it's got a brilliant chorus, and i guess it's good for letting off steam when you've had a bad day. Not to mention the booming, driving surge of the bass guitar thumping along to the drums, this song definitley deserves a spot in my mix tape.

Mumford&Sons-The Cave

 M&S get alot of stick from the music industry for being handed fame on a plate because they are 'wealthy'. Shame on you, Music industry, you would applaud a poor musician for breaking stereotypes, so why not these guys too? Is their music not infectious, inspiring and altogether brilliant?! I watched them on the telly at Glastonbury last year, and they took my breath away. They really know how to make folk-music commercial, but without making it overly-twee. Huzzah for Mumford and all his sons that there may be.

Dresden Dolls-Girl Anachronism

You are either going to love or hate this song, but being as it's my mixtape i'm hoping you're going to love it. It's about a girl with schizophrenia; the word 'anachronism' is defined as a "chronological misplacing of letters in spelling." this is reflected in the piano; practically bashed at a dizzying pace, combined with Amanda's squeals and shouts as she adopts different characters;

"It's just the way the medication makes her." "The attention just encourages her." 

"I might join your century but only on the rare occasion." 

In short, it's crazy, but it's intentionally so, as that's the story it's telling. As always, Dresen Dolls' Lyrics are razor sharp and delivered with edge and Amanda's characteristic caberet showiness.

Tracy Chapman -Revolution

This woman is legend. She's a Black, Gay, American Female Musician living through the pre 80s. Heavens, Chapman should be given awards just for making it through alive! The title of this song indicates her entire approach to life: The album is a plethora of political and social debate. Again, i've picked this song, not just for it's individual merit, but because it represents everything that Tracy is. She's not just inspiring, but taken at face value, her songs are catchy and fresh- enjoying plays on modern music stations today.

In fact, i paused this blog for 15 minutes so i could put this song on repeat for a while.

Arctic Monkeys- Brianstorm.
Alex Turner has a tongue like a knife. His lyrics aren't just good, they tell an entire story with wit and with more than a pinch of cheek. He oozes a coolness that rubs off onto his music; The Arctic Monkeys walk that fine line between the genres of uplifting indie and rock. They're respected as a rock band, but retain the melodic catchiness attributed to other indie bands such as the Kooks. They're my favourite band, and i think this song encapsulates the oomph they inject into all their albums.
Give them a listen, if -yanno- you're cool enough.

E.P Review; The Sinful Digital

I did see this band at Pulse fest, but unfortunately i had to leave half way through their set-not by choice mind- so thought it unfair to do a review based on one song. Since then, they got in contact asking me  check out their facebook and to listen their E.P.

The aptly named "Kung-fu Stereo" begins with the tranquil, melancholy song of the Chinese violin, You begin to think 'what the hell? -Some kind of classic/rock mash up?' ... Until you realise its all a joke and you've just fallen for it. It will make you laugh. "You think you are ready? You are not ready!" (got to say guys, this bit sounds more Russian than Chinese) It's like the narrative from some weird xbox game, but once the gimmick is over they actually start with the music. Not sure i appreciate what this beginning bit is all about, but at least it makes it quirky...

The vocals come in and they ooze with angst, energy and passion. "Kicking on back with a Kungfu- stereo" "his voice reminds me of "Caged Elephant" ...but on speed. And the rest...
Although heavy rock is at the heart of this track -(the pulse that is the crashing drums, trying it's best to smash though your speakers)-the lyrics are audible and it's still extremely catchy. They don't make the mistake of just playing as hard as possible; they remember that its the makeup of the song that counts; and it works! By the second chorus you're singing along, and by the time you've listened to it a few times (as you do when writing a review) you're singing it in the shower word-perfect, even that stupid dialogue from the beginning. (damn)
 At the beginning i said that  didn't quite "get" the starting dialogue, but now i see that it's because it's stupid and a bit of a mess around that makes it brilliant; In a word it's fun- you can hear how much of a laugh these guys must have had in the that they play so enthusiastically. 
And what is music if you don't enjoy playing it?

The Kindling-(From out of the wreckage) 10/10

At first, it's tempting to turn up the volume to make sure you've got the song playing properly. You hear a rattle-"are my speakers working?"- Then the drum beat makes you jump out of your skin. But that's a good insight;
As the first song, the whole of ''Dancers'' has a creepy, jump-out-of-your-skin texture to it.
I really love this song. Like, really love it. It's dark and slow paced, but the jagged ice-like "rewind" effect punctures the velvet smoothness. Yet it still stirs that feeling in your gut that an uptempo song does, a trait that is definitely due to Leon's driving drumbeat and the reoccuring and infectious melody of Ben's echoing bass. It's the kind of song that gazes into your eyes over coffee and makes you fall slightly in love. You know when something is so strange and beautiful that it kind of hurts a little? That's this track.

The soft guitar, stringy banjo and deep bass lines of ''Runaway shoes'' transport you to a past time, you can practically hear the sepia tints in this antiqity-kissed track. It has just a flavoring of country, like Jeff Buckley, Nick drake and Mumford and sons got ground up and spiced the edges. To put it bluntly, this is my favourite.Although a good dose of melancholia is indeed injected into the veins of this song, it stays on the right side of solemn; beautiful without being at all boring. Guy Wier's vocals whisper intimatley in your ear, the occasional lyric is inaudible for the breathy sound, but this just makes the feel of the song more intense and sensual. "Take me back home take me back home" -with a voice like that i'm sure many would love to.

''Acrobats''; Someone is speaking to you, directly to you-almost as though they are on the phone. "Was i drowning?" (with a cymbal roll coming in at precisely the perfect time.) It's a little disturbing, as though this person is not quite balanced; like an old war hero who has seen one thing too many. (This is the judgement i made from the character anyway, i invite and encourage you to make your own...) As he reflects, he half sings the odd line, creating yet another layer of intregue for this mystery man. The rguitar builds suspense, relieved by the melodic voice of the chorus. Trumpets. Yes, perfect. why didn't i think of it. the seemingly random addition of this instrument seems, after consideration, perfect. The whole song after all is nostalgic; a trait that the mournful song of this instrument adds to. It may seem that 5 minutes is a little long for a track, but not so-once you come down from the trip that is this song, you'll wish it lasted longer.

I haven't decided whether "Throw it on the fire" is a track that makes me feel uplifted, or a little low.  ...But then there's the lyrics, oh those heart-wrenching lyrics. "I know that it's over. I know that i am through. I'm just so tired of playing these riddiculuous games with you.' His voice flickers, as though at any time he may fade out... "Throw it on the fire..." Could there be a flicker of hope simmering beneath the weight of such a song? This song reaches into your chest cavity and gives your heart a good squeeze. They capture both hope and despair, serenely mixing radiating guitars and yearning vocals in this all-enveloping taste of beauty. This is however probably my least favourite song on the album, as I don't feel it has the same catchy rhythm, or experimentation, but i suppose that's like saying it's the worst of the best-and still pretty damn good.
(Author'sNote: I came back to this track 4 month's after this post was written, it's now January 2012 and ThrowItOnTheFire is now my favourite track. Goes to show what a quality album these guys have."

Have i mentioned Jeff Buckley yet? I can't help but draw the comparison. Listen to "you and I" or "Last goodbye" and tell me the soulful tone to his voice isn't somewhat familiar. However that's not to say that The Kindling sound much like anyone, they are a taste of something totaly new.
"From out the wreckage" can boast genius, individuality, and experimentation. There's a sence of real passion and individuality that raises this band from the status of "just another good band" to "a really amazing band like i haven't heard for a long time"
I wasn't going to do this, but what the hell, I think that Guy is the next Matt Bellamy. He's played seven parts on this EP; Banjo, Glockenspiel, Mellotron, tape effects, Lap steel, and of course guitar as well as singing! Jesus effing christ, in my eyes he is a genius. Let's not let this man overshadow his accompanying band mates, all of whom are exceptionally talented and were born to come together in this band.

I've listened to this band all weekend literally on repeat, and i'm still gob-smacked by them.  I'm proud that i've been asked to review such an extraordinary album, so get listening!

http://www.thekindling.info/the_kindling/Music.html

Mini review

I've been really busy this week, and will be this weekend also, so I haven't had chance to go to any gigs. Here's a "reviewlet" to keep you going until next Thursday

I was asked by TYPE40 to write just a few lines about what i thought of their EP

This was my response.

 The first notes of "fun in summer'' fall on the ears with a torrade of guitar and catchy lyrics. A brilliant opening that hooks you in, toys with you, and then blasts you back with walls of sound. It's good, but there's another that's my favourite...
With a title like "wounded man" one would expect the typical ballad of slow pace and somewhat tedius pining. What you don't expect is to be greeted by the crunchy opening riff that is somewhat reminiscent of metalica, acdc and green day. That's one mix of music, but what the hell-it works. Yeah it's a ballad, but instead of wallowing, it gets up and flicks a middle finger at the world.
Rock and roll is dead? I guess Type 40 never got that memo...