ALBUM OF THE WEEK – NAKED AND THE FAMOUS – PASSIVE ME AGGRESSIVE YOU
59 DAYS TO GO
New Zealand’s best band get a great Friday Other Stage gig and going by this, their debut album they will be well worth going and seeing. Recent winners of the NME best new band award, they also played the main stage at Big Day Out this year, so they are definitely on everyone’s radar and should be on your’s.
Passive me Aggressive You Is the album Mgmt should have come up with but didn’t. Does this mean that NAF are just a copy band of Mgmt. The answer to this is no, they have definitely got their own sound , they surely take the best bits of Mgmt but they add the 80’s pop sensibility of New Zealand’s other pop star Ladyhawke.
Passive Me’s obvious hit and best tune is Punching in a Dream, but there are plenty of other great tracks to keep you coming back for more.
Pop Debut of the year? Possibly. Well worth anyone’s hard-earned, go out and listen for yourself.
ALBUM OF THE WEEK – THE STROKES – ANGLES
65 DAYS TO GO
The comeback kids are here, and this album is not to bad. Don’t get to over excited I here you say. Well there are plenty of positives and a few negatives but before I get into that I will give you my personal 2010 recollections of The Strokes.
I hadn’t listens to them for a while but because Is This It was voted best album of the noughties and JC was playing Glasto, I revisited their precious back catalogue, and yes they are a band for the times, but best album of a decade, not likely.
The Strokes headlined Splendour last year so I procured Sydney sideshow tickets before heading off to Glasto.
I was around the JP tent when Julian started so I thought I would drop by, I caught a few tracks but because I was seeing the real thing in less than a month, I buzzed off.
Back in Sydney , wife pregnant, money in short supply decided to off load Strokes tickets, so in the end didn’t really catch much of them during the year.
Anyway back to the album at hand, one of the positives is the awesome start to the record, Machu Picchu and Under Cover of Darkness are vintage Strokes, everything you expect of them, but I suppose nothing new. Then the album takes a violent middle of the road twist, The Cars come to mind, Steely Dan as well, maybe underlining how hard it is to write really good pop songs.
All in all it’s an okay album, not to inspiring but it’s better than say Kings of Leon’s latest and probably Brandon Flowers. Is that the right genre to put The Strokes though, shouldn’t we be comparing them to Yuck and say British Sea Power where they are simply outclassed.
My recommendation save your dosh, listen to on Spotify if you must.
Related Articles
- Stream The Strokes’ New Album ‘Angles’ A Week Before Its Release (radio923fm.radio.com)
- ALBUM REVIEW The Strokes slip back out of whack (tech.mit.edu)
ALBUM OF THE WEEK – BEADY EYE – DIFFERENT GEAR STILL SPEEDING
Image via Wikipedia
Beady Eye‘s debut album is not that good. It is good to hear Liam singing again, as he ahs a great voice and when not used as an imitation of John Lennon it is Unique and quite simply awesome, apart from that there is not much to recommend about this album.
At its best it is a poor pastiche of Oasis’s worst album’s, lyrically it is a mess, lyrics are not just random words joined together to form sentences, they must have meaning and be interesting.
At it’s worst it is a miserable attempt to sound like his former hero’s.
This album recently made NME’s top 25 of the first 4 months of the year, and they left out the brilliant soulful British Sea Power a record Liam could only dream of making.
Saying all that I would love to see them Live.
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- Music Review: Beady Eye – Different Gear, Still Speeding (blogcritics.org)
ALBUM OF THE WEEK – YUCK – YUCK
108 DAYS TO GO
Could this be the British debut of the year. Yuck have steamrolled 2011 with a vibrant rock n roll album worthy of The Arctic Monkeys or The Libertines.
They however have seemed to have missed out on the marketing juggernaut that has been the pathway to success of those bands and bands like Hard Fi and the up coming Vaccines.
Yuck starts out the way all good rock albums should with 2 absolute classic barnstorming tunes and gathers pace from there.
This band are heading for greatness and it is with a sense of excitement that I wait to see if they can translate this album into a great live performance in the John Peel Tent at Glasto.
This is the sort of band that Liam et al should be championing and not half arsed oasis wannabes like Twisted Wheel and well for that matter Beady Eye.
Rock and Roll is alive and well.
ALBUM OF THE WEEK – ESBEN AND THE WITCH – VOILET CRIES
132 DAYS TO GO
Okay, I wrote this out once before, on my crappy work computer, and I lost it all, so I can hardly be bothered to start again, as that review was especially negative.
Basically I slated the album from start to finish, so do I need to include all those snide comments again or could I begrudgingly be kinder this time round.
The answer is no, the album bores me to tears, it’s a second rate attempt at cashing in on The XX bandwagon.
It seems to me this music is for the uninspired, pass me the sick bag.
Photo is of the Car Park Stage at Laneway Festival, just before Stornoway were to play.
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- Esben and the Witch: Violet Cries – review (guardian.co.uk)
ALBUM OF THE WEEK – KANYE WEST – MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY
Image via Wikipedia
164 DAYS TO GO
Kanye West seems to be the man. The critics are raving about this new album, so finally cementing his place back at the head of the hip hop brigade after that infamous outburst against Taylor Swift. Did anyone just think that maybe the man was right ? or at least had a point.
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy starts off with Dark Fantasy where he name checks Kings of Leon, and in a way Kanye West is the Kings of Leon of Hip Hop.
It’s a star studded event as is usual with most of these Moguls of Hip Hop, Gorgeous the second track features Kid Cudi and Raekwon and like its title is Gorgeous, in fact it is hard for the album to live up to the start with these 2 songs setting a strong start.
However it does and must be in the list of hip hop albums you must buy before you die list.
There is a lot of swearing and a lot of the n word but it is all done pretty well. I recommend you have a listen to this it may surprise you or you maybe one of the ones already who knows it.
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ALBUM OF THE WEEK – LAURA MARLING – I SPEAK BECAUSE I CAN
Cover of I Speak Because I Can
192 DAYS TO GO
Sorry about the last weeks blog less glastoblogger, I have been Xmas Partying and then feeling like crap the next day, it started on Wednesday with our work managers Xmas Party, to start with we went out Sailing and then we got on the piss, and it was actual Sailing, Gibbing, tacking all that stuff and since then I have had a sore body and sore head. Anyway, less about that and more about Laura Marling.
At Glastonbury we saw Laura play a couple of songs at the BBC Introducing stage, and it was a bit average, pretty girl, immense voice and all that but I didn’t think, fuck me better buy her albums.
But you know what its like at the end of the year there are pretty much no albums to go out and get and as she is scoring big time in the end of year critics reviews I thought it was about time I listened to I Speak Because I Can.
Laura Marling is a pretty cool chick, this album is a definite 4 star record, every song is immersive, it wants you to play it again and again, and you are rewarded time and time again with every listen.
So if you have put off buying Laura and you have loved Mumford, Bicycle and Stornoway then you better go out and get it.
ALBUM OF THE WEEK – THESE NEW PURITANS – HIDDEN
199 DAYS TO GO
Well it was the NME No 1 album of the year, so I thought I better buy it listen to it and review it for those of you out there like me who hadn’t before. I have only had 2 listens so I hope my review won’t come back and bite me in the bum , but I don’t like it. I had purchased We Want War before Glastonbury so I could decide on whether or not to see them and decided against it. After listening to the album I am still happy with my decision.
I pity the NME, their decision, also this week they looked back at their last 35 albums of the year decisions and there are some pretty odd ones there. No Radiohead, No Sex Pistols amongst others. Even last year The XX and Florence were beaten by the Horrors. One of the best fiasco’s was Franz Ferdinand album of the year but then couldn’t get in the top 100 albums of the decade.
I will not be able to fit These New Puritans in my top ten this year.
Back to the album, its okay, just nothing special, in a year where they have been some great albums.
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- These New Puritans Top Nme’s 50 Best Albums of 2010 (hangout.altsounds.com)
ALBUM OF THE WEEK – JENNY AND JOHNNY – I’M HAVING FUN NOW
206 DAYS TO GO
Jenny and Johnny first started working together in Los Angeles in 2005, after being introduced by Conor Oberst. That was back in 2006 and since then they have worked on each others solo albums. Now they have produced their own together.
I’m having fun now, is a brilliant piece of work, musically it reminds me of early REM when they were in a country mode. That’s not to say this is a Country record it certainly has the feel but it also has a pop sensibility. The start of the record sounds like an ode to summer ( sorry you in England ) and listening to this is pure joy.
As you listen again and again you realize the pure lyrical genius that is going on here.
Take a chance and buy Jenny and Johnny you won’t regret it, I am sure they will be playing a festival near you soon.
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ALBUM OF THE WEEK – BIFFY CLYRO – ONLY REVOLUTIONS
Image via Wikipedia
214 DAYS TO GO
Biffy Clyro, not really heard any of their old stuff, but don’t they sound like the Foo Fighters. Is that a bad thing to say, I know they have a massive Scottish following, but hey so did The Proclaimers.
Biffy were one of this years surprise guests on the Park Stage, so I suppose Emily Eavis is a fan. Also fans were our Scottish Neighbors at Glastonbury. I won’t mention names but one of the young ladies had taken things to a stalker like level and seen Biffy about a million times. It wasn’t a million but the number was so staggering a huge intake of breath was heard in the John Peel area when we heard the number.
What about the album I hear you say, how good is it, should we buy it. Well in most parts it does sound like a Foo fighters album but occasionally they reach higher heights and sound like, well , Biffy Clyro I suppose.
Bubbles is a great song, one of the best of the year and God and Satan is pretty cool to. Hey its only 4.99 on itunes including a load of video’s so probably its worth a listen.
I am going to go see them live next month in a 800 capacity venue, so will report back about their live show. They are over here supporting Muse and are playing a one-off. I haven’t been to the venue so it’s going to be pretty great.
Hard Rock night here I come.
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ALBUM OF THE WEEK – DEERHUNTER – HALCYON DIGEST
Image via Wikipedia
220 DAYS TO GO
Mixing woozy ambience, hypnotic Krautrock, art-damaged squall and classic, 60s-inspired pop into one wholly arresting package, Athens, Georgia four-piece DEERHUNTER have quickly cemented themselves as one of the most compelling and combustible bands of their era. Led by the magnetic presence of frontman Bradford Cox, Deerhunter’s live show has become the stuff of legend – an utterly immersive, noisy, gauzy, ecstatic, propulsive thing that the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Karen O describes as ‘a religious experience’.
Deerhunters fourth album starts slowly but builds towards a climatic finish, a tour de force that needs repeated listening but is compelling and well worth the investment in time and money.
Recorded on 4AD, the legendary British record label, who had amongst other acts, The Birthday Party and The Associates.
A deserved album of the week, if Deerhunter visit a town near you take the time buy the album, get tickets and go see them.
By the way photo is of Crystal fighters the next reviewed band from Glasto 2010
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ALBUM OF THE WEEK – WARPAINT – THE FOOL
Image by davesag via Flickr
234 DAYS TO GO
Laneway Festival is reviewing an album a week from a band that is playing for them in February. The first review was of Warpaints, The fool which was also released this week. I rushed out to buy it so I could review it as well and I love it.
I can’t really add much to the review they did, which I have included below. The NME gave it 9 out of 10 in their mag this week as well.
All-girl psychedelic quartet Warpaint have taken their time bringing us their debut album. The L.A.-based band began writing songs six years ago; since then, they’ve endured a couple of line-up changes, toured the world, released an acclaimed ep and signed to venerable indie label Rough Trade. Now, finally, with hype surrounding the band building to levels only known in the internet age, it’s here: The Fool, Warpaint’s debut long player. And what an album it is. A hazy, immersive, genre-defying, beautiful thing, The Fool carries the spontaneous feel of an open-ended jam, the intimate, serendipitous air of four friends playing music together deep into the night. In short, you have to hear it.
Hopefully they will play Glastonbury, also I hope that I get to see them at Laneway.
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ALBUM OF THE WEEK – KINGS OF LEON – COME AROUND SUNDOWN
Image via Wikipedia
240 DAYS TO GO
Most reviews of Come Around Sundown have been pretty negative and this review will start that way. On a couple of occasions whilst listening to the album I have felt physically sick. I am not sure why as it’s not a bad album.
Is it that I get the feeling I am listening to the next Bon Jovi. They are certainly heading that way, their music is much tamer now than in the past , I don’t personally own any Bon Jovi but I am sure that if you have your parents over for dinner you can play it as background music. I have the feeling that KOL are becoming that sort of band. They may already be that band.
I remember playing Milk for some friends once back in 2004 and they said that not only could you not understand a word they were singing but that it was probably only gibberish. I got them to listen on headphones and they couldn’t believe that not only was every lyric understandable but that it was even quite brilliant you don’t get that from come around sundown.
As I said before its not a bad album but I feel as though I have wasted a week of my life listening to mediocrity when I could have been discovering a new band with new ideas and thoughts.
Been a big stadium band does not mean you have to resort to mediocrity, REM produced Automatic for the people when they went huge, U2 Joshua Tree.
It can be done, KOL need to go away and think about what they want to do next. Do they really want to become Bon Jovi or do they want to be the real KOL.
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ALBUM OF THE WEEK – THE NATIONAL – BOXER
Cover of Boxer
248 DAYS TO GO
The question foremost in everyone’s mind is, is the Boxer as good as High Violet, and the answer to most extents is yes.
The National are without doubt the break out band of the year for me, I know they have been going for years, but this is the first time I have heard of them.
The Boxer was released in 2007, and shows a band comfortable in their own skin and producing fine music already, some of the songs show what they are heading towards in 2010 but are in their own right excellent.
Fake Empire the opening track could easily sit in High Violet and Apartment Story is also awesome. As a whole the album is probably a rung or two below High Violets lofty heights but this is more a tribute to the brilliance of their latest album rather than to say the Boxer is not excellent.
Go out and buy this if you enjoyed High Violet if you don’t have both albums already go get them now.
Also Photo is of my dog watching telly, just thought it was cute.
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ALBUM OF THE WEEK – MORNING BENDERS – BIG ECHO
255 DAYS TO GO
The Morning Benders are from California and play a similar style to the Drums with a shot of excellent pop thrown in for good measure, think Two Door Cinema Club meets Phoenix.
As Morning Benders are touring Oz in January and were playing the very small intimate Oxford Arts Factory I thought I would get tickets, which I did, this was due to listening to the incredibly infectious Promises that was the itunes free single of the week in recent months.
This meant I finally gave way and bought the rest of the record, I hate knowing only 1 song of a bands when I see them.
Not to mention that currently the download is only 5.99, which is pretty reasonable value.
Luckily I am not disappointed, the album is another great slice of Californian pop, joining the likes of best Coast as great bands out of the US Pacific coast recently.
Promises is still their best song, but check out cold War, Excuses and All Day Daylight are also excellent,
Can’t wait to see them
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ALBUM OF THE WEEK – WE HAVE BAND – WHB
I have seen We have Band 3 times in the last 2 years at Glastonbury, so I thought it was about time I bought their debut album.
We have band are a 3 piece that produce intelligent entertaining dance music. Their first album is a mixed bag, with some excellent new order type dance and a few tracks bordering on novelty value.
It’s close to been the best dance release I have listened to this year but just misses out for its lack of consistency.
It is currently available on itunes for 5.99 and is probably value for money at this price for anyone that likes their dance music a bit softer than the current vogue
ALBUM OF THE WEEK – FRIGHTENED RABBIT – THE WINTER OF MIXED DRINKS
A busy week in my life and one where listening to music took a back seat, so for these reasons , I finally took the opportunity of getting the latest offering from Frightened Rabbit.
I spent a lot of time listening to the record on the long trip to Glastonbury. This was because we only had about 4 cd’s and the IPod fm receiver lived up to its reputation and was crap.
So after 2 further run throughs I can confirm my original observations that this is a superb album from a confident band on the rise.
Obviously the swim song is a standout but by no means the last and as a complete whole matches the Arcade Fire record for power and honesty.
I look forward to many more listens and will be buying their next record the day it comes out, not waiting 6 months, and that is as high a compliment you can pay a band.
Well it’s pretty high.
ALBUM OF THE WEEK – FOALS – TOTAL LIFE FOREVER
Like The National, I missed the Foals at Glasto and I am devasated that I did.
The first time I really heard them was at The BBC introducing stage where in between bands they were playing a real wicked song. We shazamed it and found out it was Cassius by the Foals. Ever since then I have been wanting to get their albums but hadn’t got round to it. This week I finally bought the second. Record Total life Forever and I wish I had done it sooner.
Now don’t get me wrong I love the XX but this is nearly as good and must have been a close run thing for winning the Mercury Prize award.
The album starts off slowly building it’s way up until it hits it’s stride with 3 absolute belters in tracks 4,5 and 6 and Spanish Sahara is definitely one of the tracks of the year.
This is a stunning second album that I implore everyone to get. Currently only 5.99 on itunes
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ALBUM OF THE WEEK – BRANDON FLOWERS – FLAMINGO
Image by mistress_f via Flickr
The Killers Brandon Flowers has one awesome voice. I have loved the Killers since they started, and have seen them twice since I have been in Australia, so i was always going to get their next album. It just happens that their next album comes in the disguise of a Brandon Flowers solo Album.
So the NME amongst others has got stuck into him, accusing him of all sorts of evil deeds done to music.
However I disagree, I was initially thinking that he may go down the path of other Solo artists from bands and try something considerable different. Thank god he hasn’t and the album is a mini triumph.
Once again Brandon Flowers invites us into his vision of America. From Las Vegas to San Fransisco he evokes a USA that we can dream about but struggle to see when we visit.
If you like the Killers but have been put off by reviews check it out, if you have never given the Killers the time of day, then this is not going to convince you.
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ALBUM OF THE WEEK – THE KLAXONS – SURFING THE VOID
Is it me or do The Klaxons sound alarmingly like Duran Duran. This their second album Is getting some very mixed reviews. The NME gave it an 8 out of 10, high praise indeed.
On early listenings opening track Echoes is without doubt the highlight of the album alongside the awesome album cover of a cat in a spacesuit. Again is it just me or if you say an album is a sleeper or a grower that it is just downright shit.
The Klaxons take on Dance indie seems to have moved into a more glam punk 80’s take on their original album which is not a compliment.
After a few more listens, the album is definitely not a grower it’s just patchy there are some fine songs and then there are some that could be on a Andrew Lloyd Webber musical soundtrack.
At this stage if you are in two minds about whether to purchase said album, I would not recommend it.
On the other hand if you don’t yet have The National, why not, last weeks album if the week is this years must own and The National the band I most want to catch up with when they are playing.
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- The Word On… Surfing The Void, Klaxons (independent.co.uk)
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ALBUM OF THE WEEK – THE NATIONAL – HIGH VIOLET
This is the National’s fifth album and the first that I have listened to. formed in 1999 they are a 5 piece with a lead singer Matt Beringer and two sets of brothers.
So I would like to say is how fucking good are The National.
Starting with Terrible love a rock n roll tribute similar in scope to Bittersweet Symphony.
After that they change the form of the album completely.
What is in the water in the Americas that they can produce Arcade Fire and The National, I can’t remember loving the US so much since the days of Rem and Nirvana .
This is 51 minutes of unbridled unexpected joy. Why didn’t anyone tell me about them before the Glasto trip .
Afraid of everyone continues for me the Verve type of intensity without resorting to Richard Ashcroft hysterics. This is a band who knows what they want to say and how they want to see it.
High Violet is a unique record.
I suggest anyone who has read this blog and said hey I agree with that guy and doesnt yet own the Nationals latest album goes to their local our price or wollies and buy it. If you can’t find one of those spotify it or download it from iTunes even at the outrageous price of 7.99.
Listen to lemonworld it’s awesome I’m not sure what the fuck it’s about but what a great song. Every track is a beauty and I would say this record will be contesting a lot of critics top of the year charts later this year.
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- The National: High Violet, CD review (telegraph.co.uk)
ALBUM OF THE WEEK – JAMIE T – KINGS AND QUEENS
My album of the week is the 2009 Jamie T release Kings and Queens. I think Jamie has gone from Strength to strength and has produced a finer second album than his first. This is a fine achievement and certainly musically it us a step up from his first album. You can currently get the download for £4.99 on iTunes at the moment which is a veritable bargain.
ALBUM OF THE WEEK – ARCADE FIRE -THE SUBURBS
Is Arcade Fires new album The Suburbs a masterpiece ? If you read the reviews coming out of the press you would think so. I am not so sure. I am certainly not going to say it isn’t a good album. it definitely is. it’s easily the best post Glasto album this year.
It is a sprawling work encompassing a lot of different genres from Bruce Springsteenish rock to indie through Xmas Corals.
I think the album will need a bit of work, so it will be on high rotation next week as well.
With Florence and the Machine and the Magic Numbers in town, I was listening to a lot of their work this week. Remembering how good that first Magic Numbers album is.
Also I finally replaced my rubbish apple earphones this week as well. I used to have a pair of Seinnheisers but the dog eat them so I went back to the apple ones.
Well what a difference a decent pair of headphones makes, the detail in the songs is so much better, sometimes scarily so.
I got a pair of Klipsch S4I’s , they are cananlphones and very comfortable.
I recommend buying a better set of headphones if you are still using the out of box ones for whatever mp3 player you have.
ALBUM OF THE WEEK – MAGIC NUMBERS – RUNAWAY
Album of the Week is the new one from the Magic Numbers Runaway. For some reason the release date was put back 2 months which was a pity as it meant that when they played Glasto, no one had heard the new songs. The Album is a departure from the first 2 in that their jangly pop melodies are replaced by a more psychedelic sound. It certainly takes a few listens to get used to, but after that starts to seep into your sub conscience. I think like the second it will take a while to hit home. I love the Magic Numbers but I am not sure this is their best album. Maybe it can be put down to difficult third album experience. Be here now anyone?
Glasto Blogger 