First Listen: Erik Hassle ‘Taken (Still In My Blood)’
From my favourite singer for the last year and half. Stunning.
RATATAT video… Freaky!
This is RATATAT’s new video for ‘Drugs’. Who knew smiling was so… scary…
New Music: Mads Langer
Tipped to become a big big Danish pop star. Does an excellent cover version of Olive’s ‘You’re Not Alone’. Check out here.
New Music: Parmalee
Good American rock- the kind you want to listen to on a long road trip across a dusty highway. Check out here.
New Music: Christina Perri
Christina Perri has had a huge online following thanks to just one song, ‘Jar of Hearts’. And I can kinda see why, it’s a really well written track. Look forward to hearing more from this talented lady. Check out here.
New Music: Everybody Else
This band have a bit of a unique sound, if their song ‘First Class’ is anything to go by. Young garage rock. Check out here.
New Music: K.A.Y
This lady’s version of ‘Bang Bang’ by Nancy Sinatra is so good. Just needs a little refining. K.A.Y has that look of Gaga about here, but with a bit of Ke$ha thrown in there with some Robyn to add… Check out here.
New Music: Breathe Electric
American electropop bands always either get it really wrong or they get it really right. I think Breathe Electric are pretty good. They’ve got an interesting tagline… ‘Breathe Electric was created with you–the listener and soon-to-be biggest fan–in mind. They know the melodies you want to hear and have no qualms with delivering them through heaps of hook and catchy sing-a-long choruses’. I guess they’re totally not fussed about being called commercial, which makes a change! Check out here.
New Music: Rob Cowen & The Dissidents
I really like this band- they’re very British rock, and have a pretty lively sound to their songs. ‘The Heartlands’ is a bit of an anthem. Check out here.
New Music: Rumer
I guess the first thing you think of when you listen to Rumer is that it’s all a bit Karen Carpenter. But what’s wrong with that? It’s the sort of music you want to listen to when you’re on your bike on a sunny day in the park… Check out here.
New Music: Still Corners
Beautiful summery soft pop music, gives me the same shivers that melodic trip hop does. Check out here.
Whatever happened to Unklejam?
I was so excited when this band was around… I think I saw them live a couple of times before they just kind of vanished… I guess they got dropped by their label but that’s no excuse not to check them out if you haven’t already. Electropop with serious soul mixed with a load of attitude. I hope it all picks up again soon. Check out here.
First Listen: Kylie Minogue ‘Get Outta My Way’
Kylie’s second single from the amazing Aphrodite. This is probably my favourite track on the album, perfect pop pop pop. Next single will be Everything Is Beautiful I reckon… If I had my way!
The Count & Sinden with Mystery Jets
Live: Active Child at The Lexington
There’s something so brilliant about Active Child– his music catches you from the beginning and draws you through a weird and wonderful world of complex beats and choir sounds. And the harp he carried around with him is simply cool. Active Child was playing with a couple of other bands tonight (Phantogram and MOPP) although I chose to only see him perform.
Live: Europe & Foreigner at iTunes Festival, Roundhouse
I think, like a lot of people, I went a bit crazy with this year’s iTunes Festival and applied to win tickets for all the gigs. Of all those gigs, this was probably the one that I was least interested it- so karma worked it’s way to make sure this was the only one I won this year! These two power rock bands (both huge in the 80’s) haven’t lost their rock- I actually really enjoyed it. Go see Europe on their tour next year in the UK: start growing your hair long and ripping your black t-shirts in the mean time.
Monroe
“I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.”
“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring”
“Its better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what your not”
“When it comes down to it, I let them think what they want. If they care enough to bother with what I do, then I’m already better than them.”
“I’ve never fooled anyone. I’ve let people fool themselves. They didn’t bother to find out who and what I was. Instead they would invent a character for me. I wouldn’t argue with them. They were obviously loving somebody I wasn’t.”
“If I’d observed all the rules I’d never have got anywhere.”
“It’s all make believe, isn’t it?”
“I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.”
Monarchy are dicks
So a couple of weeks ago I mentioned Monarchy on my blog… I had a clip from one of their gigs on my Youtube and they sent the website one of those legal notices threatening me and taking it off. It even mentioned who was behind it- the guy with the curly pubey hair.
I wasn’t making any money off those videos, only to share with the world their music but whatever. First they cancel their own gig without refunds, and now this. I now look forward to receiving an email from WordPress telling me off for posting their picture on this post no doubt. So thanks Monarchy for making a fan feel like a criminal. Maybe sell some records before you get all high up on your internet threats yea?
New Music: Rai Knight
Rai Knight are getting a lot of buzz right now thanks to their single, ‘New New’. I love it. If you want to shake your bum around and smile like you’ve just been poked by a rainbow then check out here.