Thursday, June 30, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Every now and then, I drive just to get away
This a repost of a rough version of the post because the one I made disappeared...just like that. Not cool, blogger.com! This was the second to last edit, so there may still be some slight typo's or grammatical errors, I don't feel like correcting them for the second time around, so you'll have to bear with me.
Dance/Elektro
Katy B - Lights on
Katy B is - or so I'm told - the comtemporary queen of commercial dubstep-influenced music. Really digged the "Katy on a mission"-single and the collaboration with Magnetic Man, and here comes the second single. Ms. Dynamite is kind of annoying here, and Katy only barely pulls off a Beyonce-style vocal in the second verse, but all in all, another good track, even though the version I hear on the radio seems to have the little bit of punch that this youtube version is lacking. Lyrically, this is the English counterpart of "Nein Mann". Funny thing is, they try to make a glamourous video with lots of flashy lights, but we see Katy mostly in oversized sweaters and simple tank tops. Oh, and for someone from a dubstep origin, I expected her dance moves to be a lot better, I must say.
Robyn - Call your girlfriend
Yet another excellent elektro-pop track by Robyn, she's clearly on a roll with her string of Body Talk Ep's and albums. Although I was a little disappointed when I saw she performed with a voice track running in the background on Jimmy Kimmel.
Poolside - Do you believe?
Nice and superchill track based solely around a piano-riff. Could just as well have been a Chilly Gonzales track.
Morning Parade - Under the stars
I've heard some people say this is a promising band and this song has a nice build-up. Unfortunately, this is all very untrue. The structure of this track is just a mess, the elektro parts of this track have been done a lot better by Animal Collective and Delphic, and to make matters even worse, the singer sounds a lot like the one from Linkin Park on certain song parts. Skiiiip.
Miami Horror - Sometimes
And now for the New Order adepts of the week, Miami Horror. Decent enough track, the video has a distinct Lost-feel.
UK
Arctic Monkeys - Don't sit down 'cause I've moved your chair
On their previous album "Humbug", we got to know the slower, heavier side (reminds me of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club a little) of the Arctic Monkeys, and looks like they're trying to develop that side even more on the new album. To me, it sounds a little generic and boring, and lyrically, Alex Turner seems a little lost here too. "Do the macarena in the devils lair" is a disappointing line from the man that once poignantly described contemporary British youth culture. And besides, Mauro is the only person I know that can pull that style of nonsensical lyrics off.
Miles Kane - Rearrange
Incidentally, the other member of Last Shadow Puppets is also back and recently released his first solo single (without his - now defunct?- band The Rascals). Definitely closer to Last Shadow Puppets than Alex Turners latest endeavours. Not the kind of stuff that has me running to the music/iTunes store, but this is well orchestrated pop, perfect radio material. Oh, and Miles, I just got off the phone with Sir Paul McCartney, and he wants his sixties haircut back, sorry matey!
Adele - Set fire to the rain
So I wasn't too found of Adele's first single of her "21"-album. I like this one better. I read somewhere that she's a good and loose performer so I checked out her performance in the Jools Holland show, I found her to be a little too static.
Everything Everything - Schoolin'
And now for something completely different, how about some prog-rock people? A modest hype in the UK, but I doubt this is material continental Europe is going to fall for. Really rhythmic with some slight African influences, I guess you could make a Talking Heads reference? Summarizing: if you decide to check this out, chances are you will be horrible annoyed by this track, but I can guarantee it won't bore you.
Cat's Eyes - Face in the crowd
Faris Badwan from The Horrors pairing up with a female opera singer to make girl group influenced record (well, an EP to be exact). That's interesting to say the least. Luckily, it's not one aria after another on the debut single, Badwan sings most of the verse and Rachel Zeffira sings the chorus, the tempo of the latter being the main appeal of this song. Fans of The Raveonettes should normally dig this. The director of this video might just be a big fan of the "Bohemian Rhapsody"-video.
The Vaccines - If you wanna
Yet again, the new single by The Vaccines fails to really deliver a surprise, but it's a poppy up-tempo track and the singers voice is a lot less annoying on this one so I can dig this. The video is a simple performance video.
Belgium
Hooverphonic - Anger never dies
This is Hooverphonic in full "James Bond soundtrack"-mode, pretty much what they are best at. A lot of strings, a functional rhythm section and some subtle, well dosed guitar licks, and a track that fits the new vocalist better than the previous one. Most played track on Italian radio this week, and in fact, most video comments seem to be in Italian. The video featured Noemi Wolfs performing in a club (gentleman or sailors, I can't really tell), dancing away, alternating between Japanese martial arts stances (I definitely see the cranebird at some point) and Vanessa Chinitor "Like the wind"-esque moves.
SX - Black video
Already featured this song in the previous post, but they played an excellent live version at the radio studio so here they are again. Also caught their live set in Roeselare a couple weeks back, but that was mildly disappointing, to be honest. Couple of good ideas, but not enough to fill a half-hour set, and the soundmix was also sub-optimal. Check the live version of Black Video here.
Amatorski - Soldier
I can be really short here, the Portishead "Three"-album influence here is inevitable. Good thing they are evolving into new areas, but you really can't top Portishead - Machine gun when it comes to eerieness.
Hong Kong Dong - Lesbians are a boy's best friend
(First of all, let me warn you now that the video below contains some (albeit non-vulgar, I might add) display of body parts that are usually kept (and hidden from sight) in a brassière and should therefor be watched in a discrete non-working environment.) Hong Kong Dong is a Ghent-based band with Sarah Yu and Boris Zeebroek (siblings and comedian Kamagurka's human progeny) sharing vocal duties, although you will be hearing mainly Boris on this one. This is arty(-farty), alternative rock, and does a good job at sounding different. This is sexy and catchy, and stands out because of the high-pitched falsetto vocals. Boris is sporting white shoes and ditto pants, and a bright pink shirt and ditto bathrobe. In a Belgian music video environment where the only way to look pimp is to wear a costume (Triggerfinger, Customs and Hooverphonic spring to mind) or be a hipster (hello Bent from Das Pop), we've reached a whole new level of super-pimp right here. Good stuff.
Hong Kong Dong - Lesbians are a boy's best friend from lallali on Vimeo.
Hessian - Sang-froid
My homies in Hessian made a video for a song of their debut EP. Get ready to be blown away, video's really well done as well. Heavily metal-influenced hardcore (don't expect any mosh parts), the guitar sound brings Entombed to mind.
Other
Foo Fighters - White Limo
Well, Dave and his mates (teaming up with Pat Smear from Nirvana and The Germs fame) released yet another seemingly mediocre record, but at least this advance single was lots of fun. Big thumbs up for the nineties performance video parody and the Andrew WK headbanging moves.
Jonathan Jeremiah - Happiness
Hearing the song on the radio, I expected a Barry White-shaped Afro-American, but turns out Jonathan Jeremiah is bearded,slim Caucasian. Nice little track, not too much more I can say about this. For fans of: Ray Lamontagne.
Crystal Fighters - At home
Crystal Fighters is Spanish-English band. They use some traditional Basque instruments and elements, but luckily, they don't sound too folky. This track has a distinct eighties feel, and truthfully, when I first heard it, I really heard Asian influences.
Lykke Li - I follow rivers
This is a really simple song, but the playful production with the fun bongo sounds make it a fun song nevertheless. The same playfulness Lykke Li seems to have lost a little, judging from her Jools performance. Stale and boring, nothing like the Pukkelpop performance a couple years back when she actually moved around on stage and did Vampire Weekend-covers.
Foster the people - Pumped up kicks
This is a strong candidate for the "summer hit 2011"-award. Still not that sure if the song is really about shooting kids, but this laid-back track is hard to resist and the chorus is likely to be lodged in your skull for several days to come.
Smith Westerns - Weekend
In every interview I've read with this band, the interviewer tends to focus on the young age of the band members. They're the American counterpart of Freaky Age, so to speak. If you're having Hanson flashbacks right about now, don't worry, it's not that bad. This is a supermelodic, dreamy track with a lot of "ooh ooh" backing vocals, a lot of good influences and an fairly obvious Beach Boys-reference in the short intro. "Do you think it's normal/to go through life oh so formal?"
Best Coast - When the sun don't shine
I shot a couple of videos at the nearby Best Coast concert a couple of weeks ago. They don't have the best live reputation, but the set left little to be desired. No shortage of "oooh-oooh-oooh"-type vocals to say the least. Bobb Bruno (on the right) was wearing a shirt by some obscure black metal band. That guy rules. Check the video below and you can easily find the other ones I also uploaded.
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Heart in your heartbreak
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart is back with their second full length album called 'Beyond'. "Heart in your heartbreak" is another fresh, poppy track that does not disappoint for a second. In the video, the band is wearing whigs and helping out in a music instrument store.
Random nineties
Sugar Ray - Mean machine
Sugar Ray's first couple of singles were pretty cool, but then the band chose a commercial pathway and things got less interesting. This song still sounds as awesome as it did 15 years ago, I just love the attitude. The singer is going for the Bobby "Twin Peaks" Briggs look, the bass player is going for the Scott "red hair phase" Weiland look, the guitarists moves are just plain awesome and there's also a bulldog in there.
LOL
Rebecca Black - Friday
Closing off with the LOL song of recent times, you probably saw this video already.. Plenty of laughs in both the lyrics and the awkward dance moves-department, although I must say I kind of enjoy the particular language accent."Gi'in down on Friday!"
Sunday, March 20, 2011
I thought that pain and truth were things that really mattered
International
Beth Ditto - I wrote the book
As you may have heard, Beth Ditto from Gossip recorded a solo EP with the help from Simian Mobile Disco. First single has an interesting theme, and sounds like a more electronic, slowed down en toned down version of the Gossip. The video is stylish in black and white, apple cheeks!
The Strokes - Under cover of darkness
In one way or another, the media always treat a new The Strokes single like we're back in the year 2001 and The Strokes are still the next best thing in rock, whereas in real life, following the lackluster succes of their Room on fire album (their best), the big masses have long moved on to other bands and genres. So turns out, The Strokes aren't going to save rock and roll, but this up-tempo single is their most infectuous track in a long time.
Noah And The Whale - L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.
The verse from this band's new track undeniably has a melody and rhythm similar to this or this. And the melody in the "and you're going your own way"-line is also something I recognize from something.
Glasvegas - Euphoria, take my hand
The new Glasvegas album is entitled "EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\" with the slashes and backslashes symbolizing the emotional rise and fall of a love crush. Man, that's real deep. Wasn't all too convinced of their debut album, on the new album, the vocals seem to get even more productional emphasis, not really my liking. The Scottish accent also seems to have increased, rendering the lyrics even more non-intelligible. Also, the guitars on this track have a slight bagpipe feel, which has been done better in the past (see Big Country below) . This video looks quite expensive, unfortunately, we don't get a good peek at the new percussionist.
The Raveonettes - Recharge & Revolt
Their new track isn't really exciting. There, I've said it. It's long, it drags on, nothing much happens. This being said, I'll probably end up buying their new album anway, because I'm a fanboy like that. The video makes it painfully clear why Sune Rose tends to wear his sunglasses. I'm estimating he's at 0.8 Robert Smith on the scale of facial puffiness.
Dance
Chilly Gonzales - You can dance
Straight males and females of the lesbian persuasion should have no problem whatsoever keeping their focus on this video. I like the disco touch and the overall simplicity of this track a lot.
Nero - me and you
Looks like Nero used to be a Streets of Rage and Out Run fan. S to the Ega.
Chase And Status - blind faith
Another comtemporary dance track by drum and bass heroes Chase and Status. I like both vocalists.
Gyptian - Hold ya
You'd think that to accompany this emotional, heartfelt reggae track, they'd stray from the standard reggae music video concept. But you thought wrong, this is buttgrinding to every imagineable nearby surface once again. Shame.
Biffy Cliro - Folding Stars
This track dates from a while back, but I saw it on the new Xite music video channel, and boy, does this track sound a lot like Foo Fighters "The Colour and the shape"-era or what? Even the frontman's beard reminisces of the late nineties Dave Grohl.
Compatriots
SX - Black video
Spectacularly good and atmospheric track by a new band from Kortrijk. Very promising stuff. The video features a nerdglasses-adorned blonde girl with freckles, which just so happens to be the singer. In other words, you have no excuse not to check this out.
Intergalactic Lovers - Delay
I already mentioned Intergalactic Lovers a couple of blog posts back with their debut single. A lot has happened for the Aalst-based band since then apparently, they signed to a major record label, and return with a new single, which sounds bigger and more mature (even though I appreciated the naivety in their earlier work). It took me a couple of listens to get used to the rock sound meets jazzy vocals formula, but the chorus definitely sticks. Not sure if this is special enough to break through internationally. The music video seems to have been delayed (get it?), until the international release, I'm guessing?
Marble Sounds - Sky high
Nice, fragile track from the dude that used to be in Plastic Operator .
Mastercab - Strange
I used to think this band (featuring a radio station producer on vocals) was just a hobby project, but this single reveals their ambitions lie beyond that. As ambitious as the cleavage in this video?
Teddiedrum - Miami
It took some time, but we finally have a (slightly less funky) Belgian response to Chromeo . The lazy phrasing of the vocals kind of reminds me of Balthazar. Excellent moustaches too. Good stuff.
Das Pop - The game
Packaging your new album with a magazine for an interesting fee, that's nothing we haven't seen before. But Das Pop found a new edge to that concept, by selecting horrendously ugly cover art for the pre-release. I guess people that like the discount won't mind too much, but it's definitely not an album you'll put in a prominent physical position in your cd collection, I'm guessing. Usually, the waiting period for a new Das Pop album is quite extensive, but this time around, seems like things moved pretty fast, even though the album was recorded/mixed/mastered pretty much everywhere (being able to record your album in exotic locations is pretty much what separates the little fish from the big boys in the Belgian music industry). Song itself isn't bad, and does sound a little different than we're used to.
Lady Linn & Her Magnificent Seven - Cry Baby
So apparently, Lady Linn wants to conquer the French market now? Professional track (Lien masters the whole sixties American accent and song buildup, the song does lack a bit of a punch and excitement however, don't you think?), professional (and leggy!) video. Lien rocks a pro asymmetrical haircut (kinda makes her look Joke Devinck -> bonus points) and a light purple blouse that seems to be just a teensy bit too tight.
The Bony King Of Nowhere - Eleonore
Like this track, but I probably couldn't bear listening to a 20 minutes (live or record) of this however. Nice job on the Boudewijn De Groot haircut, man. #irony
Random eighties
Prefab Sprout - King of rock 'n' roll
A track that regretfully didn't come to mind when I was feverishly making eighties compilations (I did get Cars and Girls by the same band though) a while back. Came across this music video while flipping through some channels and I got the kind of goosebups you get when you hear a track you used to know again for the first in 15 years. I have literally watched/listened to this a hundred times in the last weeks. Flawless track (the guitar licks!, the question-response mechanics of the verse melody!, the speedup in the chorus!, the la-la-la-la backing vocals!, the utterly nonsensical chorus lyrics!) and a completely silly video to top it off. "Now my rhythm ain't so hot/but it's the only thing I've got/all the pretty birds have flown/now I'm dancing on my own/I'm the king of rock and roll/completely". See for yourself if you can resist the blue-eyed, spectacled ginger singer!
Big Country - In a big country
I know, trying to make guitars sound like bagpipes is a scary prospect, and brings nightmarish folkrock-visions like The Levellers to mind, but this track actually succeeds in making it sound cool. Of course, eighties Top of the Pops videos are always cool. Check out the haircuts and pants in this one. I think this track also contains my favourite pronounciation ever of the word 'Desert'. Kinda sounds like "Deeeeseeeeuuueueurt". The bass player is really feeling it, too.
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