8TRACKS.COM – FRIDAY GLASTO PLAYLIST
55 DAYS TO GO
Follow the Link to a great website 8tracks.com where you can create mixes to listen to and for others to listen to. I have done one for bands to see at Glastonbury on the Friday. it includes, Mumford & Sons, Primal Scream, Fleet Foxes and Cocoon as well as a few others.
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 – GLASVEGAS – EUROPHIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\
63 DAYS TO GO
I’m still not to sure about Glasvegas debut offering, it was heavy with attitude and cleverly marketed and it took them all the way to a sub headline at Glastonbury in 2009.
A gig that they managed to pull off even though they were only 1 album in.
So although I liked the album I think I liked Glasvegas more as band than what they had actually delivered.
So it was with some trepidation that I waited for their second record, thinking it would be easy for them to fail to deliver up to their first album which would be for me disappointing.
That they haven’t and that in fact their new record is better in all ways than their first is a triumph.
Yes it is an attempt at Stadium Rock but unlike The Kings of Leon’s latest offering they pull it off. Every track is awesome so it’s hard to single out anything in itself, Jamie Allen’s vocals are magnificent in all the songs and when you can hear through to what he is saying it’s a real treat. There does appear to be a backlash critically and even by fans against this album, my recommendation is to listen to your own ears, buy this and see them at the John Peel on Saturday night. Get there early because it could be packed.
Glasvegas on the Other Stage 2009
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ALBUM OF THE WEEK – THE VACCINES – WHAT DID YOU EXPECT FROM THE
77 DAYS TO GO
And the answer to the question is exactly what we get.
The Vaccines are not out to win any prizes for originality but they do produce excellent rock n roll. It puts the recently reviewed Beady Eye to shame with it’s ruckus rock and it’s oasis like thrills.
Again it is another album where the lyrics take a backseat, in fact some of the lyrics are plain embarrassing.
It looks like The Vaccines will play Glasto, and they will be well near the top of my must see list. I expect they will play the John Peel, a good night should be had by all.
ALBUM OF THE WEEK – ANNA CALVI – ANNA CALVI
96 DAYS TO GO
Could Anna Calvi be the British debut album of the year, in a crowded field already, this album and Anna Calvi are stand outs.
It has taken me a while to warm to the charms of Anna Calvi, in fact she has changed my album reviewing process. If I had written this review the week I bought the record, this review would not be so glowing, so I am going to give every album a 2nd week or more listen before deciding it’s fate.
Anna Calvi is one original lady, Slide Guitar, soundtrackish influences, this is one out there album. It has touches of sublime beauty, Desire stands out but a half dozen songs pull at your heart. Suzzane and I builds and builds and you really want to know what is it about Suzzane by the end.
Anna Calvi is already confirmed for Glastonbury so must be on everyone’s list of must see artists.
I for one can’t wait to see this Slide Guitaring, diva rock Glasto.
Related Articles
- Anna Calvi: Anna Calvi (Review) (popmatters.com)
- Hear Anna Calvi’s debut album: Exclusive stream (guardian.co.uk)
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.
This Week’s Album Releases: 31 January 2011
140 DAYS TO GO
A few big releases today The Go Team, visiting Australia in May to play Groovin the Moo, Chase and Status release their celebrity filled Drum and Bass effort and 2011 BBC Sound band Esben and the Witch release their debut. I have been listening to the latter for the past couple of days to review next week so you don’t. Early listens are leaving me unsatisfied.
Albums released today:
Aggro Santos – ‘Aggrosantos.com
Boy George – ‘Ordinary Alien – The Kinky Roland Files’
Eva Cassidy – ‘Simply Eva’
Chapel Club – ‘Palace’
Chase And Status ‘No More Idols’
Esben And The Witch – ‘Violet Cries’
The Go! Team – ‘Rolling Blackouts’
Hercules & Love Affair – ‘Blue Songs’
Jeff The Brotherhood – ‘Heavy Days’
Ben Marwood – ‘Outside There’s A Curse’
Portico Quartet – ‘Knee Deep In The North Sea’
Skepta – ‘Doin It Again’
Regina Spektor – ‘Live In London’
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- Album: Esben and the Witch, Violet Cries (Matador) (independent.co.uk)
ALBUM OF THE WEEK – THE JOY FORMIDABLE – THE BIG ROAR
142 DAYS TO GO
The Big Roar is pure rock and roll. the Joy Formidable are in a sense a hard rock band but they have the sensibility of an indie band and the tunes of a stunning pop band. The formidable are indeed formidable and they have produced a big Roar.
This is an Album that hits you head on with the amazing 7 minutes and 44 seconds that is the pure adrenalin rush of The Ever Changing Spectrum of, and then neatly cannonballs into The Magnifying Glass. If you need some ruckus and genuine beauty then check out Whirring. This is a sensational record, one that you will find yourself coming back to time and time again.
I expect to see the Joy Formidable raging in the John Peel Tent sometime after 8 one night, check for me down the front.
Related Articles
- The Joy Formidable: The Big Roar – review (guardian.co.uk)
ALBUM OF THE WEEK – WHITE LIES – RITUAL
150 DAYS TO GO
White Lies were one of my bands of 2009, I saw them at Glasto and then back in Sydney soon after for a Splendour sideshow, so I was really looking forward to Ritual their second Album. Released nearly 2 years to the day after their superb debut, however that’s about all it has in common with To Lose My Life, as Ritual is a dull sounding update of my least favourite 80’s band Duran Duran.
There are a couple of good tracks, Is Love and The Power and the Glory stand out but the White Lies bandwagon has seemingly stalled at Album No 2. In a recent interview they have said they wanted to have a Kings Of Leon like career, well unfortunately they have skipped putting out 4 great Albums and gone straight to a turkey.
The only upside is that Live I feel that this material could stand up and that with their great songs from the first album they are a good bet for a good time at Glasto 2011.
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- White Lies: Ritual, CD review (telegraph.co.uk)
- White Lies – “Is Love (Stereolab Remix)” (Stereogum Premiere) (stereogum.com)
THIS WEEKS NEW ALBUM RELEASES 17/01/2011
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White Lies release second album ‘Ritual’ today (January 17), while Anna Calvi releases her self-titled debut album. There are also new releases from The Decemberists and Pearl Jam. Avril Lavigne drops her comeback single ‘What The Hell’, while there’s also a newie from Everything Everything with ‘Photoshop Handsome’, Adele puts out ‘Rolling In The Deep’ and PJ Harvey releases ‘Words Maketh Murder’. Albums released today: Anna Calvi – ‘Anna Calvi’ The Decemberists – ‘The King Is Dead’ Fujiya & Miyagi – ‘Ventriloquizzing’ Pearl Jam – ‘Live On Ten Legs’ Scarlette Fever – ‘Medication Time’ White Lies – ‘Ritual’
Having had a quick listen to White Lies, I am in the not sure camp at the moment, I loved the debut, but even some of that was Duran Duran esque, this is even more so, a full review at the end of the week.
Anna Calvi is garning rave reviews the NME dropped a 9 bomb on the album, it is on the wish list so should be reviewing it in the near future
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- Hear Anna Calvi’s debut album: Exclusive stream (guardian.co.uk)
- BBC Sound of 2011 (glastoblogger.com)
ALBUM OF THE WEEK – KANYE WEST – MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY
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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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Glastoblogger Top Ten Albums of 2010 – No 3 – Warpaint – The Fool
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174 DAYS TO GO
One of the BBC Sounds of 2011, Warpaint are stunning, their sound has more layers than Inception. At their worst they remind me of Veruca Salt, a favourite of mine from the 90’s, at their best they are a dreamy concoction of Portishead and Oasis.
This album is a trip that you need to be riding. If you don’t believe me check out the Majestic Majesty or the subtle Undertow.
Sydney’s Laneway Festival has Warpaint playing and they are one of the must see bands of that day.
On Glastowatch they most definitely will be playing, I would hazard a guess that they will get an early Other Stage gig and play in the evening somewhere possibly The Queens Head. Stick them on your laminated Clashfinder.
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- Warpaint: The Fool – review (guardian.co.uk)
Glastoblogger Top Ten Albums of 2010 – No 6 – Bombay Bicycle Club – Flaws
177 DAYS TO GO
When I first heard this album, it weird-ed me out and to a certain extent it still does. Is this a one-off for the bicycle clubbers or will they attempt more of this in the future , will this be part of their live non acoustic shows, so many questions so few answers.
Anyway the album is awesome, for me better than Laura Marling’s.
The guys have played the last 2 Glasto’s and it wouldn’t surprise me to see them back for 3 in a row, a mid afternoon Other Stage slot beckons or they could headline The Acoustic stage, wouldn’t that be something.
Glastoblogger Top Ten Albums of 2010 – No 7 – Jenny and Johnny – I’m Having Fun Now
181 DAYS TO GO
The surprise package of 2010, Jenny and Johnny’s album is pure lyrical genius, from Scissor Runner right through to Straight Edge of the Blade , every nuance and tone is finally crafted which brings us an awesome album.
Playing the Laneway Festival in Feb I hope to report back on their live show.
I expect they will make an appearance at Glasto 11, possibly opening the Other Stage or high up on The Queens Head, or both
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- Jenny and Johnny: I’m Having Fun Now – review (guardian.co.uk)
Glastoblogger Top Ten Albums of 2010 – No 8 – Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
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182 DAYS TO GO
It’s been no 1 in most end of year reviews including NME’s round up of critics reviews, but it comes in at no 8 on mine. This is not to say it’s not a lush, gorgeous album worthy of anyone’s record collection it is, there are just some better albums out there.
I hope Arcade Fire tour next year and that their live show puts this record in perspective and then possibly embarrasses me with my lowly accolade of No 8.
What about Glasto ? it would be a travesty if they don’t play Glasto next year, they should play a late performance on the Other Stage, and I will be there to get my first taste of their live show.
Glastoblogger Top Ten Albums of 2010 No 10 – Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
184 DAYS TO GO
It’s a wierd album cover, but there is nothing else weird about Deerhunters Halcyon Digest, this is amazing guitar driven pop at it’s best. Desire Lines is as good a pop song as you will hear all year except with a 5 minute musical freeform at the end and Memory Boy is just downright gorgeous.
I am off to see them at Laneway Festival in Feb so will report back then on their reputedly awesome live show.
With regards to seeing them at Glasto 11 My Guess is that they will play Glasto 11, either The Queens Head or John Peel so get this record and meet me at the front !
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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Album Releases for Week 29/11/2010
204 DAYS TO GO
Duffy returns with her second album this week and a number of greatest hits. Yeah Xmas. I saw Duffy live at V Festival Sydney a couple of years ago and quite enjoyed it but won’t be buying the album.
NME this week has their top 50 albums of the year, that will be interesting, I am thinking that The National will beat Arcade Fire to No 1
Albums released in the UK today:
Harry Hill – ‘Funny Times’
Olly Murs – ‘Olly Murs’
Duffy – ‘Endlessly’
Black Eyed Peas – ‘The Beginning’
N-Dubz – ‘Love.Live.Life’
Bruce Springsteen – ‘The Collection: 1973-1984’
Glee Cast – ‘Glee: The Music – The Christmas Album’
Nelly Furtado – ‘Best Of’
Simian Mobile Disco – ‘Delicacies’
Alesha Dixon – ‘The Entertainer’
Robyn – ‘Body Talk’
Jenny And Johnny – ‘I’m Having Fun Now’
Gary Numan – ‘The Touring Principle ‘79’
Paul Weller – ‘Find The Torch, Burn The Plans’ (CD/DVD live album)
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- This Week’s Interesting Music Releases – November 30, 2010 (largeheartedboy.com)
The Drums – The Other Stage – Sunday – 4.30pm
212 DAYS TO GO
The Drums were one of the surprise packages of the week, I had only just bought the album a couple of weeks prior, mainly because that was when it was released. My initial thoughts were that it was a bit average and the Drums a bit uninspiring. Live this proved to be incorrect. Finding that I didn’t really want to see much else I found myself in The John Peel tent waiting for The Drums, I am glad I went as it was great, they were energetic, the Frontman a real live wire, they probably deserved a later slot.
Since that show I have revisited their Debut Album and I now love it.
Enjoyable and moorish
4 out of 5
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- The Drums part with guitarist (bbc.co.uk)
Weekly Album Releases for Week 22/11/2010
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212 DAYS TO GO
The major release of the week is from the Kings of Emo My Chemical Romance ( Yuck ) , Regina Spekto releases a live album.
I am going to get hold of Jenny and Johnny later today and will give you an un-depth review on Sunday
Albums released today: Jenny & Johnny – ‘I’m Having Fun Now’ Josh Groban – ‘Illuminations’ Kanye West – ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ Kate Rusby – ‘Make The Light’ Middle Class Rut – ‘No Name No Color’ My Chemical Romance – ‘Danger Days: True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys’ Nicki Minaj – ‘Pink Friday’ Regina Spektor – ‘Live In London’
NEW ALBUM RELEASES FOR WEEK 15/11/2010
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218 DAYS TO GO
Looks like they are starting the countdown to Xmas with popular artist releases starting to happen. So no new purchase from this weeks releases for me.
I will review Biffy Clyro‘s latest on Sunday downloaded from itunes for 4.99. Is that value for money ?
Albums released today:
Brian Eno – ‘Small Craft On A Milk Sea’
Bruce Springsteen – ‘The Promise’
Nelly – ‘5.0’
Norah Jones – ‘Featuring’
Rihanna – ‘Loud’
Stereolab – ‘Not Music’
Take That – ‘Progress’
Tinchy Stryder – ‘Third Strike’
My Featured Photo is of Laura Marling who I caught at the BBC Introducing stage along with Broadcast 200 on the Sunday
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ALBUM OF THE WEEK – DEERHUNTER – HALCYON DIGEST
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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 – THE FOALS – ANTIDOTE
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226 DAYS TO GO
The Foals first album Antidotes was released way back on the 28th of March 2008. It garnered rave reviews at the time, but slipped under my radar. However after purchasing Total Life forever and having tickets to see them at the Laneway Festival coming up in Sydney next year, I thought I better get it.
Although it is a good debut effort, I don’t think it’s a patch on their Mercury nominated follow up. Well that’s what I wrote a few day ago, but further listening’s to the album and I am a convert. The Foals are a decidedly brilliant band.
There are some gorgeous songs, check out Red Sox Pugie and Big Big Love if you don’t believe me.
This album should be in every right persons record collection alongside Total Life forever.
I’m glad the Foals are record of the week for a 2008 release, as they are my find of the year, along with The National, I know a lot of people already knew them but if it wasn’t for Glastonbury, I wouldn’t have.
I might have missed them this year, but I have tickets for both bands next year and that’s down to my favourite festival.
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Frightened Rabbit – The Other Stage – Sunday – 12pm
230 DAYS TO GO
It was a bit of a Frightened Rabbit Festival , on the way down in the car, FR were played with monotonous regularity( the trip took 12 hours ) and then when we arrive, we find our next door neighbours are major fans, so we spent most of the week, feverishly looking forward to FR. The first thing that struck me when they started was that the lead singer was the spitting image of Johhny, our ndn.
No wonder they loved them. Anway FR were excellent, they are a band ready to hit the big time, to become the next travis, to scale the heights idlewild never reached but should have. With the swimming song they have an instant hit, now they just need another one. If there is a folkie revival going on, there is also a pop comeback, lead by 2door and FR. Let’s hope they start churning out the hits
3 out of 5
Below Nicky with the Lead Singer of Frightened Rabbit
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