Joe Strummer - punk rock warlord

Myself and the boy Wainwright slipped inside an old cinema just behind where Islamists were careering a Mercedes Benz full of petrol and nails into litter bins the other week. The shady besuited owner opened up the doors and we made out way through narrow corridors into a tiny empty auditorium in the early afternoon. It was as if Juliem Temple, the director, had requested that the volume be turned up to max- we were blown apart by the sheer noise in those front seats- wonderful! As for the film: Joe Strummer - true rock and roll bandit. Super stuff.

"The problem of history is the history of the problem."

Voxtrot - Real Live Version

Voxtrot - Ghost

(Click on each link and download from the relevant site!)

Minus the Bear - Pachuca Sunrise

Super song, even if it does border on being the dreaded 'emo' at times! Nice use of macro shots in the video also.

Song of the Day - Alleluia by Odawas

I was blown away as I discovered this beautiful song during the early hours of yesterday morning. This is the indie version of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's 'The Power of Love'! Check it:

Odawas - Alleluia

The Verve - On Your Own

Hurrah! The Verve have reformed!

Ryan Adams and The Cardinals - Two

Word to yer mother! How is yer mother?

Given my Lancastrian heritage I am hugely impressed by the latest outfit bursting out of the bustling Chorley scene, a MUST for all fans of 'Phoenix Nights'- presenting The Lancashire Hotpots:

http://www.myspace.com/thelancashirehotpots

Downloads of the day:

First up is a little number that displays all of the verve and swagger of the Rolling Stones from the latest Queens of the Stone Age album, 'Era Vulgaris':

Queens of the Stone Age - Make it Wit Chu

And something to whet the appetite of Ryan Adams fans, here is a tasty little morsel from his up and coming release, 'Easy Tiger':

Ryans Adams - Two

And now for something proper old school but entirely irresistable to get you through ya days:

The Source feat. Candy Staton - You've Got The Love

The Citrus Returns!

London calling!

Finally, the hiatus is over! I have been struck by a sudden urge to resurrect this here blog shindig. I have unearthed a number of musical gems lately- it would be highly unfair if I did not share them with you sweet and tender hooligans!

I'll keep things simple for now...

The National - Mistaken for Strangers



The Teenagers - Homecoming




(Simply click on the above links and download the files via YouSendIt within the allocated time span of one week!)


Enjoy!

March 2007: Compilation

Click on the image to enlarge it and discover my listening habits over the last month!

Low 'Drums and Guns'; Voxtrot 'Self-Titled'

Firstly, I'm sorry that I haven't posted anything in a little while! I thought I'd better add another post to keep everyone switched onto my blog, especially since I will be in beautiful Regensburg for a few days as of tomorrow.

Regensburg, Februar 2004

I am currently hotly anticipating getting my grubby fingers and thumbs on Low's new album 'Drums and Guns'. The Duluth, Minnesota three-piece have consistently produced albums that have defined the 'slowcore' genre. Their minimalist sounscapes combined with their appreciation for melody have offered some of the most stark yet moving moments in music over the last decade or so.

Their new album, 'Drums and Guns' seems to offer a slight departure from their previous releases as they embrace a few more beats and glitches and some heavy organs to pan out their textured soundscapes. Check out 'Breaker' anyway, I understand that there will also be a new version of 'Murderer', but here is the old version anyway:

Low 'Breaker' (Sub Pop Records, 2007):
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=78E0AB1742B0C98F

Low 'Murderer':
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=392D17734CC141C1

More information on Low can be found here:
Low (Sub Pop Records): http://www.subpop.com/artists/low

Meanwhile, I am positively going to burst if I don't get to listen to Voxtrot's self-titled debut album soon! Following the release of three EPs, their debut album has been a long time coming.




When I recently spoke to Ramesh, lead singer of Voxtrot, I could sense he was feeling pretty nervous about the album, I think the weight of all the great albums of his heroes was bearing down upon his shoulders somewhat - but this is understandable in any musician committed to their craft and eager to please. On the evidence of these two numbers then I would suggest that Ramesh has nothing to worry about - they sound great!

Voxtrot 'Kid Gloves':
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=5695EDB64073F957

Voxtrot 'Firecracker':
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=BF59D6883E289EEF

Download of the Day: Shipwreck 'Black Moon'

Recently I asked my friend Courtney, chief Floridian devotee of the Curious Orange music project, to send me a list of her current favourite tracks - sure enough, she introduced me to some belting new bands, one of which was Shipwreck.

'Black Moon' is a truly atmospherical 4 minutes and 6 seconds of music that recalls the sound of a brooding British post-punk bands of the early 1980s. If you enjoy 'Black Moon' then take a listen to the songs 'Walk in the Woods' or 'Orphan'.

Shipwreck 'Black Moon': http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=EDE71E32449321E1 (YouSendIt)

p.s. Thank you, Courtney!

Download of the Day: The Carrots 'Ladies of Givens'

Over the last months a whole host of my friends have been urging me to listen to the Pipettes. They would ask me tentatively, "By the way, have you heard that Pipettes album?". Sure enough, I simply found there was something unsatisfying about this group. Granted, 'Pull Shapes' is an excellent dancefloor number, but otherwise I failed to see the attraction to this girl group, they seemed cliched, something just did not add up for me, above all, they seemed superficial. Then I heard The Carrots from Austin, Texas and suddenly I feel justified in my coldness towards the Pipettes.

The Carrots: Rock n' roll vegetables!

Presenting The Carrots in a lesson in how 1960s-style girl pop harmonies should be done...

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=7BD57F7C3613B6B2

(YouSendIt)

(Thank you to Ramesh of Voxtrot for introducing me to these guys!)

Download of the Day: Sparrow House 'Foxes (Sighing Like a Furnace)'

The sun sets over South Ealing Underground Station

As I rode the tube home this evening I was entirely lost in this beautiful song by Sparrow House, the side-project of Voxtrot's Jared van Fleet. It provided the perfect addition to the warm glow of the sunset stretching out across the carriage windows.

Sparrow House contrasts the modern flavours of Adem with Simon and Garfunkel to beautiful effect on 'Foxes (Sighing Like a Furnace)'. Check it out:

Sparrow House 'Foxes (Sighing Like a Furnace)':

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=7CEE8CF23D0BC6C5 (YouSendIt)

Saturday Bliss! Liverpool 0 - 1 Manchester United

Gary Neville and Edwin Van der Sar celebrate - these fellas are unlikely to be handed the freedom of the City of Liverpool anytime soon.

What a result! Manchester United somehow managed to snatch victory over arch-rivals Liverpool in front of the 'Kop' and in the final seconds of the game. YAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John O'Shea's injury-time winner in front of the Kop - GET IN!

Artist Spotlight: Diplo

Over the last months the work of 'Diplo' (a.k.a. Wesley Pentz), a Philadelphia-based producer and DJ has had me mesmerised!

Diplo is the current master of the 'mashup' (a musical genre that is bound to take on an increasingly greater resonance!). Diplo has the ability to meld two separate pieces of music together to create a piece that gives you enjoyment for a seemingly entirely different reason to the original piece, or he can urbanise a piece that was made by and probably intended for bedroom indie geeks like myself. Above all I admire the way that Mr. Pentz draws upon an excellent breadth of knowledge of both alternative and hip hop music and uses this to such refreshing effect.

Fact! Pentz's alias is short for Diplodocus and derives from his childhood fascination with dinosaurs!

Check out the downloads before YouSendIt gobbles them up again!

MP3: Shake It Over & Over (Hot Chip Remix): http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=EC5851AD5C120535

MP3: Staring at the Sun (TV on the Radio Remix): http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=4153DA17717762EE

BONUS:

'Shake It Up' - Diplo has fun with the Beatles: http://beatkids.org/music/beatlesvsdiplo-shakeitup.mp3 (Simply right click your mouse on the link and select 'save target as' for this one!)

Download of the Day - Born Ruffians 'Piecing it Together'

The naughty boys!

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=17F12ECD1F4A71C0

(Quick! Click the link and download the song from YouSendIt before it expires in one week!)

I had an immediate affection for this band from Toronto. I thought I'd upload 'Piecing it Together' if only for the interesting guitar work from 1 minute 54 seconds into the song. If you enjoy this then try to get your hands on the song 'This Sentence Will Ruin/Save Your Life' from their Born Ruffians E.P.

Modest Mouse Sunday

Over the past few days I have stumbled across a few cuts from the latest Modest Mouse album ('We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank'). I am particularly excited since former-Smiths guitarist and a personal hero of mine, Johnny Marr, is now in the the band doing what he does best - working that six-stringed piece of wood!

Head over to this Swedish blog and download 'Florida' and 'Dashboard' - they sure whet the appetite with those jagged guitars!

Click the link: http://www.wesaydisco.com/?p=1094

February 2007: Compilation

Click on the image to discover my picks for February 2007!

Voxtrot, Water Rats, London, 21 February 2007