Sam
BLOGGER
19
Blog Profile
myspace
email: supasam7AThotmailDOTcom
this site runs best in firefox
CREDITS
LAYOUT DESIGNER
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
19th May 2006: Dead but not forgotten RIP
Many appologies for my lack of posts, been very busy with exams and coursework finishing my first year of uni. I finish on the 26th but then I'm recording with my band so a few sporadic posts until the beginning of June when I can give the blog my full attention. The amount of hits I'm getting is ever increasing so thanks for the support, tell your friends and email me any suggestions. Anyway on with the music.
8th May 2006: The new frontmen?
Women in rock have had a very limited role in music and usually the stuff they do achieve is very cliched or just plain shit. Well here is post about the lovely ladies of the alternative scene and the great stuff they're doing.
6th May 2006: Appologies
30th April 2006: Cochlea surgery
26th April 2006: Back to you Trevor
I am going back to uni on friday and have lots of work to do tomorrow and the weekend so i thought id bring you a quick post before I leave. Not the hardcore post I promised but that will be here asap.
25th April 2006: Everyone loves pop
Now some people like myspace and others hate it. Well I think its genius, ok forget the emo poses and needy kids and look at how much music is available on there. Obvious successes include the Arctic Monkeys and the Test Icicles, whether you like them or not they have used myspace and done very well for themselves. Well fortunately for us myspace has brought me to the attention of a spanking new band.
A quick tribute to the man that brought us so much enjoyment and was the ultimate A&R man.
Today I have a post dedicated to celebrating of some the great bands that have decided to split. This post may seem a little counter productive to many people out there however many of the bands that we have liked in the past shape our musical taste for the future. I also personally still love the bands included in todays post, and thought, its good not to forget.
McLusky I feel were one of the greatest understated bands of their time. They weren't a band that you could take completely seriously yet produce some of the greatest tunes . . . . ever. Lyrics such as 'turning me on with my lightsabre cocksucking blues' and 'note to self be erect by half past 10, be strong, be proud, be able, be charmed' are just genius. Now I did try to understand what they hell they were going on about but the best bet is to just enjoy these fasntastically humours lyrics and appreciate Mclusky for the truely alternative rock it was. Stand out tracks for me are 'Alan is a cowboy killer', 'lightsabre cocksucking blues', 'She will only bring you happiness' and 'KKKitchens, what where you thinking?'.
If any of you had the fortune of seeing them live then you really were in for a treat. I saw them at Reading 2004 not knowing that a few months later in January 05 they were to split. Except for the guy shouting in my ear the show was fantastic. It's a shame to have lost these guys as an outfit but with bassist John Chapple concentrating on 'Shooting at unarmed men' and with Andy (guitar / vocals) still writing with Jack (drums) then there is still an opportunity to catch these guys doing what they do best.
No new updates on their site *obviously* but you can still buy their back catolgue and download some mp3s.
Next band is The Holiday Plan. I suppose they woul
d be described as a post hardcore / emo styled outfit. Well what ever it is, it was as catchy as flu. Great guitar solos, catchy songs with a well timed scream here and there and it created something seriously impressive. The husky, rasping voice of Matt Rider works really well in the context of the music. A repertorie consisting of very chilled out melodies to rip roaring screeching guitars and vocals always kept me interested. What surpirsed me most is that after successful UK tours with Billy Talent, Thrice, Matchbook Romance, Jackson United, My Awesome Compilation and Reuben from 2000 - 2005 that the band never released an album. A couple of singles and 2 Eps were the extent of THP releases. Im sure if they had been given the opportunity to record an album earlier in there career than they would probably have still been here now. A Lp was in production at the time of the bands split but nothing of yet has appeared, however I hear on the grape vine that it may be released on vinyl sometime soon. Just writing this blog and listening to their stuff again makes me realise how much I liked this band and how gutted I was when I heard they split.
Check out the myspace for 3 tracks to listen to.
Last but n
ot least is probably a band that most people will have heard of. Million Dead had a stunning career, again ending in 2005 (this was a band year for music). Two phenomenal albums were released in the bands 4 year history, the aclaimed 'Song to Ruin' debut and 'Harmony no harmony' two years later. I think what made Million Dead so popular was that the quality of the songs was always so high. With lyrics that really made you pay attention, talking about everything from politics to smiling at strangers on trains. This is one band that I think everyone should listen to. Million Dead really are an education in quality music and it was such a shame they split. However Frank Turner is now persuing a solo career and seems to be doing very well at it, he shows how acoustic / folk doesn't need to be shit. Juls (bass) and Tom (guiatr) have set up a new band and are looking for a vocalist, check here if you think you've got what it takes.
Check Million Deads myspace for four great tracks.
Well thats it. Remember, just because they're gone doesn't mean you can't still enjoy them. Thats all for now.
Other than the occasional woman in the 70's prog era, womens role in rock music 
was very limited. It took until the punk era of the 80's for things to begin to change. The punk mentality of 'do anything and look the way you want' opened a path for many female artists. This however was fraught with dangers; many girl musicians or girl bands were heckled off stage or just seen as mere sexual objects. The first real impact of women onto music was the Riot Grrrl scene. A hardcore punk genre but with a feminist stance that wasn't restricted by the previous macho punk movement. Often seen in conjuntion with the rise of 'queercore' many people were involved in both movements. Embracing the punk ethic, riot grrrl played with controversial clothing and imagery such as writing 'rape' and 'slut' on bodies or clothes. Bands such as Bikini Kill and Bratmobile are often considered the instigators of this very progressive movement, opening the path for women to become involved in the music we all enjoy today.
This era of change has now meant that many more women are present in 'rock' music; still in the minority but producing some really good music. First band that I really noticed with a front woman was The Distillers. The catchy punk rhythms and the cigerette / alcohol induced husky voice of Brody Dalle really appealed to me. Since then my musical tastes have diversified and over the years I have found some awesome girl fronted bands.
Le Tigre are a band a lot of people have heard off. Forming in 1998 they tagged on to the end of the riot grrrl mov
ement but have managed to survive. This stuff is some of the best electronic / dance / disco / punk you will ever hear. Catchy beats and ingenius lyrics its not hard to see why they have lasted as well as they have. It is something that many people wouldn't consider but when its as infectious as this why not? Deceptacon is probably their best known song and it was the first song I heard and I havnen't stopped dancing yet. Signed by the music giants Universal in 2004 they soon released This Island. Now with big label support all I can see for Le Tigre is bigger and better. This is what disco should be. However the disco is just a shrowd for le tigres real concerns. "Better thank your brain-dead clientele/For all the money that you’ll spend in hell, " (Seconds) This is a wonderful lyric thrown at the ruling classes and the Bush administration in particular. Its not all about leg warmers, pink things and dancing like 'spazs' for this bunch. They really do have an agenda: promoting gay rights, anti-war, anti republican etc etc. If you want to enjoy some great music and expand your mind at the same time then this is essential.
Their myspace isn't updated very often but it has 4 tracks for you to listen to.
Excellent video 'After Dark'
You can see their site here.
This next band are wondrous *yes that is a word!* Im not exactly sure how i came
about them but im glad I did. The Chalets are an 2 girl 3 guy irish outfit that play indie / pop / rock. Now if I'm honest the main reason I noticed The Chalets was because Peepee and Pony *yes that is their names* are extremely attractive ladies. Some of you indie scenesters may know Peepee as she is dating Art Bruts Eddie Argos, lucky fellow. Once I got past the looks I noticed the music and I was pleasantly suprised. The music is a mix between typical indie hooks, electro, glockenspiel and groovy dancing. Tracks such as Nightrocker, Kiss Chasing and Love punch are infectious tunes that just make you wanna dance. This is happy music if you have ever needed a definition. Ive seen them live numerous times and met the band and they are really nice people, always happy for a chat and to sign stuff. Their live set is quite unique. All their shows include the girls performing little dance routines whilst rocking out. Theres banter with each other and the crowd and its all very enjoyable.
Myspace with a few tracks and a very impressive video.
Web site.
Metric are a band that I have only heard a few things by at a party a while ago. I liked their stuff a lot, but dont really know enough to write about them, go see what they're like. Only one myspace song and 30 second clips of there back catolgue on their site.
Im done for now, appologies for the long time between posts. Lots of exams and coursework atm. I'll try and keep the posts up more regular.
Sorry for the lack of posts for almost a week, ive been distracted by alcohol and uni work. New post up tomorrow hopefully. Until then, enjoy this
Hardcore as a descriptive music term has often been used (incorrectly) to describe various different styles of music. Some thrash and metal has been included under the 'hardcore' banner and so people's definitions often differ. Im no expert but lets start from the beginning; from my limited knowledge two of the most influential bands that have defined the hardcore scene are Black Flag and the iconic Minor Threat. A lot has changed since then and not always for the better. As with most styles of music there is a lot of cliches and this is especially evident in the hardcore scene. Black eye liner, 3/4 shorts, spin kicks etc etc. I admit i am a fan of the 'commercial' side of hardcore but through this I have discovered some truely great bands.
Norma Jean was probably my first encounter with hardcore closely followed by He is Legend. Both hugely popular bands that inspired me to find more of its kind. Now actually trying to define music is quite a hard thing and im not a huge fan of genres *so if you think im wrong including a band in this post please tell me*, but one band i think that optimises hardcore within the last few years is converge. Converge now are recording a new yet untitled album at the moment and im sure it will continue their impressive 15 year run.
However my focus is on a band that has recently been getting alot of public exposure and seems to be pushing hardcore into new and exciting realms. Some Girls have recently come into the forefront of the hardcore scene after forming in 2002. Described as some form of alternative supergroup, Some Girls do have an impressive history that reads: American Nightmare, the Locust and Plot to blow up the Eiffel tower just to name very few. With an article about them in rock sound this week they confirmed it was all about making gutt renching music and "none of this
eyeliner-wearing, cupcake shit!" Some girls for me are the new wave in musical expression. Instead of just trying to make cliche ridden, stereotypical music that we've all heard before they play an uncompromising musical style of there own. Just finishing a brief tour of the UK Some Girls have brutalised many peoples ears. Personally I just hope that with Some Girls on the verge of greatness that they aren't consumed by hype and still manage to create the kind of music they have already done to date. Their newest release Heavens Pregnant Teens is yet another orgy of upbeat, ear splitting madness. There is a fine line between musical genius that manages to do something new and just people making noise. What makes Some Girls so good is because they dont try and keep to what they've done in the past. This project has allowed them to create their purest form of musical expression. Adopting the same mentality as the early punk movement, yet with the benefit of being hugely talented musicians.
To see some of the bands stuff and them interviewed, check out this video!
Again with most things i think hardcore is a bit marmite esq. With a mission statement including "Basically, we wanted to brutalize people and have each song punch people in the face and not let up until they were choking on their own blood" you cant help feel that its gonna exclude some people. Well personally im excited, very excited. It seems to me that across many genres things are changing, the emphasis is again on moving forward and creating something new. I think a good clean out of the 'clone bands' is much needed, and Some Girls are definately the men to start the job.
Other hardcore bands that have impressed me and deserve your attention:
RIP - The Suicide File
Malkovich - Great catchy hardcore. Supported Some Girls in recent tour.
Strike Anywhere - Hardcore punk, catchy shit
Well thats it for now. Only a brief insight into hardcore but i hope it wetted your appetite. Until next time
The impressively devistating Black Dahlia Murder have confirmed their line up. Drummer Pierre Langois and bassist Bart Williams are now full-time members of the band.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Staying with metal, Trivium have posted their version of Metallics 'Master of puppets' on there myspace - http://www.myspace.com/trivium.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Fall Out Boy have finally finished pushing their 'From under the cork tree album' and are going back into the studio to record a yet untitled album. Taking Back Sunday and My Chemical Romance are reported to be interested in guest apperances
-------------------------------------------------------------
Billy Talent have a new song 'Devil in midnight mass' You can listen to it here - or just right click and save as to download it - after my first listen im disappointed.
------------------------------------------------------------
Snow Patrol have begun the launch of their new album 'Eyes Open' today, just finishing a gig at the London Royal Opera House this afternoon. Album out May 1st.
------------------------------------------------------------
For those of you lucky enough to have Truck Festival tickets the line up has been announced and it looks a good'un. Stand out bands for me are !forward, russia!, Hundred Reasons, Fell City Girl, jetplane landing and theres rumours of McLars performing. Congrats to the organisers on another impressive line up. To see the whole list go here.
------------------------------------------------------------
Give it a Name festival is occuring this weekend. The Bled, UnderOath, Panic!, Thrice, Billy Talent, Atreyu and We Are Scientists are the bands that impress me most. I think the headliners My Chemical Romance and Lost Prophets are pretty poor but each to there own.
Im off to watch malcom in the middle - so much for uni work.
chowchow are a powerpop / indie outfit from London. They combine synth effects, indie rifts, shouting and melodic singing into a musical form that many bands out there just wish they could achieve. Im a big fan of this new intelligent powerpop / indie or whatever you want to call it. Its not same indie over and over again and theres lots of variation in the music to keep even the most MTV obsessed person entertained. chowchow have no label as of yet but with constant gigging around london i dont think it'll take them long to be picked up and have NME raving about them . . . . . . wooo nme.
They have four awesome tracks to listen to and download on their myspace.
Remember this band aren't signed so go see them or buy something, help them out, they deserve it.
Now the next band I'm gonna show you I have particular affinity towards 
as one of my uni lecturers is the drummer. A few mates and I thought it would be funny to go see him play but ended up pleasantly surprised with how much we liked his band. Sarandon are not quite the conventional 3 minute indie pop band. You'll be lucky to find a song longer than 2 minutes and their albums can fit onto a 7" vinyl. Dont let this fool you however, each song is hook laden madness that keeps you gripped *not hard when each song lasts less than the time it takes to make a piece of toast* and wanting more. Their live shows are also particularly impressive. In conjuntion with the music the lead singer spasms around the stage flinging his guitar about and makes the whole event one enjoyable mess. If you wanna try something different, then this is it.
If you don't believe my words of wisdom, then heres some proper journalists telling you the similar things:
"An undeniable low-key genius." - the wire
"Sarandon songs consist only of the good bits'." - unpeeled
"Pretty much essential." - unpopular
Check out the myspace to get two downloadable tracks. Also buy their 3 mini albums for only £7 from here. More greatness as well at sarandon.net
Ending the night on a slighty more conventional note heres a band that have also impressed me with their great live sound. Fell City Girl headlined a gig at my union in March this year. Even though the place wasn't packed you still felt the band put every effort into pe
rforming their songs. What Fell City Girl have in common with the rest of bands in todays post is that they're slightly different from the norm. Its hard to be creative and inventive, and most people dont like to stray from what they know, however I think they have the 'X factor'. Fell City Girl aren't as 'unique' lets say as Sarandon but theres definately enough there for you to step back and take notice. Soulfull tunes that I honestly dont think people should be without.
Unfortunately i couldn't find any downloadably mp3's but they dont mind you copying some of there stuff, honest, they say so on their sites music section. But I say buy some of their stuff, its definately worth it.
Thats it for another post. I think thats enough indie pop for now, expect the wonders of hardcore next post. Also i haven't worked out how to add a comment feature on my page yet but please email me any thoughts and suggestions. Until next time.
