Issue #4 January 2006
Click the headline to unveil the full story
Protocol are the sort of band that are sure to get up the noses of the indie purists. For starters, they make the sort of ambitious synth-tinged pop rock that reminds you of tailored suits and Ferraris rather than pints of Stella and Rothmans, and on top of all this they don’t feel the need to suffocate their songs with pointless feedback and shoegazing lyrics about their girl ‘doing them wrong’. Their new single, ‘Where’s The Pleasure’, is a simple slice of pop genius, a white hot piece of chart-bothering mayhem that is sure to dent the hit parade this coming Sunday. I was fortunate enough to catch up with the band recently, and whilst many may look at the band (as I originally did from all that I’d seen and heard of them) as an opportunistic bunch of gormless zeitgeist-chasers, in fact I found the exact opposite to be true. Read on…
BGR: So how did Protocol come together?
John(vocals): I met Dave about five years ago. I`d always wanted to be in a band and make music. I was always going into London trying to escape suburbia, and so was Dave. We met in a club and we got chatting, and we both found out that we both wanted the same things and that we both loved the same bands, and that we`d both moved from where we`d lived because we wanted to be in London and we wanted to get a band together. The second time we met we moved in together, and we started writing songs from that moment on. Shortly after that we met James, and James brought Steve along with him, and then two years ago we met Dom.
BGR: Did you always feel the need to escape from suburbia? Did you feel that it was slightly suffocating in any way?
John: Yeah, especially where I grew up, there was never anything to do, and London was always this dream place to me, and I always wanted to be in a band, and London was the place to do it. I don`t know why, but ever since I was a child I always thought `I`ve got to move to London`, and I think it was the same for Dave as well...
Dave (Keyboards): Yeah, that`s right. I`m not saying that Dundee is a bad place to live or anything like that, but from an early age I`d always said to my mum and dad that I wanted to move to London. There`s this big city-feel to London, you feel that you have the opportunity and the freedom to express yourself. I got bitten by the bug when I travelled down south, and got excited by the music scene down here as well.
John: We just wanted the opportunity to meet like-minded people who all wanted to do the same thing.
Dave: In Dundee it was really hard for me to try and meet people who had the same ideas about what they wanted to do with their lives, so the first time I met John it was great because we talked about all of the bands that we were influenced by and it helped us find the direction we wanted the band to go in. It was great.
BGR: So you clicked straight away then...
John: Yeah, totally...
Dave: It`s that gut instinct where you just know that something works, and you can`t pinpoint what it is. But we all had the same goal, which was to get a load of amazing songs together and try to take over the world.
BGR: You spent a lot of time rehearsing and developing your sound before you started gigging seriously. It must be quite easy for bands to book a couple of rehearsals and then go out onto the London toilet circuit. But you didn`t do that, did you?
James: Playing live is really exciting, and we`ve all done it before anyway. Meeting people and playing live is what we all love doing.
Dom (drums): We put a lot of emphasis on the writing though before we started gigging, which is a great thing because we`ve all had the same experiences of being in a band and gigging straight away. You tend to get flattered without actually having the songs to back it up. You suddenly start thinking a song`s really good just because of a crowd’s reaction to it. It worked better for us because we had time to work on the songs before playing them live.
Dave: and also with songwriting it`s very much a craft, and you learn something or write something new every day. This is more than just a job to us, we want to be doing this for the rest of our lives, not just for a couple of years, so you`re constantly developing and learning something, and finding out what direction you want to take in the future...
Dom: Having an image is also very important too. It`s easy when you start in a band when you`re younger to forget about that, but it`s just as important as the playing and the writing. It all needs to be there at the same time for things to happen.
John: I think it all came about by growing up and being fascinated by pop music and pop culture. For us the most exciting thing about music is when you go and see a band and the aesthetics and the music come together. Just like Bowie, just like Madonna and lots of other acts like that...
Dave: It was Malcolm McLaren that recognised that music and fashion go side by side, and that was his whole concept behind the Sex Pistols. Our main mission statement is to have a strong image as well as a strong sound. We want you when you come and see us top be just as excited by what you see as what you hear, and you can just go into Protocol world to escape to it, not to go and see a band and feel sorry for them or worry about them. You should want to be that band for the time that they are onstage, because those were the sort of bands we looked up to when we were kids.
John: And when that pop band come together once every ten years or so, you really feel it.
BGR: So you want to be a band that a kid kids put the posters on the wall and dream about being, rather than the sort of band you`d meet down the Slug & Shithole on a Wednesday night?
James (guitarist): We want to be inspirational, not dowdy. We fucking love doing this, and we want everybody else to have a great time too.
Dave: When I was growing up in Dundee, the idea of putting a band together and selling records, and wanting to dress differently and act differently confused people a little bit. People would say "Why don`t you go and be a joiner or go and work for BT?". Do what you want to do, and if it works it works, but if it doesn`t there`s always jobs at BT... (laughs)
John: It`s quite funny sometimes when you come off stage sometimes and you get some kind of yobby-looking rugby player comes up to you and says "Great gig mate... Where`d you get your shoes from?” That`s great, giving the chance for people not to be scared of pushing the boat out, pushing boundaries…
Dave: Just going for it and believing in yourself and having the confidence within yourself to give it your all in every aspect of your life.
John: It`s down to ambition, not arrogance.
Dave: Ambition and arrogance are two completely different things.
BGR: You`ve set up you`re own club night called Vanity, haven`t you?
Dave: Vanity is a side project to what we`re doing in Protocol, but our dream would be to eventually take Vanity on tour. It`s great, absolutely anything goes. We`ve got a lot of friends who have been studying film and studying art, and we work hard to make it a night where everybody showcases what they can do. We show case our music alongside other bands, and there`s live films playing as well as lots of other things going on. It`s more of an event than a club night, and it also gives us a chance to explore some of our deepest fantasies too.
(The whole room erupts with laughter)
Dave:…Each one`s got a different theme, and lots of stuff happens too.
BGR: was it a good way of generating a fan base for the band?
John: It built an awareness, definitely…
Dom: You can`t really compare doing a gig in your own club to playing on tour in front of four thousand people, they`re two completely different things.
Dave: It`s more of a side project, we were just lucky enough to be able to showcase the band too. In terms of generating a fan base, The Bravery tour was a lot more beneficial for us.
BGR: You`ve already got a major fan base built up, and you haven`t even put your second single out yet!
James: It`s been really great watching that grow, it`s fantastic.
Dave: It`s great to see the people who are setting up fansites and getting behind us.
Dom: That`s been one of the highlights of the past year for us, seeing people who have travelled for miles to come and see us. We never expected that to happen as quickly as it did…
James: we were listening to the radio the other day and somebody from Tokyo emailed the show and requested the record, and that`s the power of the internet. It`s amazing to watch it grow.
BGR: It must be great for you when you see the fans really pushing for you and trying to get you noticed too…
Dom: We keep it really personal with them, and we love the responses we get from them. We try to reply to all the emails they send us.
BGR: So what`s the single (`Where`s The Pleasure`, out now) about? It`s been getting lots of airplay…
John: I suppose you can interpret it in a million different ways, but we wrote it about a person who you really really want that you can`t have. But I don`t want to tell people how to relate to the song, it`s up to them to interpret however they choose.
BGR: John, you have said that you want Protocol to be `ambassadors for pop`. What do you mean by that?
John: There was a time when pop had a bad name for itself, especially in the period when we were writing this record. All we`ve really wanted to be is a really great pop band.
Dave: I think bands like The Killers, Franz Ferdinand and Scissor Sisters have really helped to change people`s perception of what pop music really is. The word `pop` for us means incorporating great visual with great songs with real lyrical depth and content too.
John: It`s not a case of us doing certain things to get into `indieworld`. We just put it out there; we are what we are and we`re proud of it.
Dave: Music shouldn`t be confined to an age group, either. You either like it or you don`t. One day I may want to listen to one type of music, but on another day I may want to listen to something else. We want to appeal to everybody.
Dom: That`s why it`s called `Popular` music…
BGR: And of course all the best pop music is timeless…
John: Exactly, and we feel like we`ve written a really great pop record.
Dave: Pop culture is fascinating, and I love everything about it. It veers from one extreme to another, and I love the workings of it. It incorporates everything from the Cheeky Girls to U2.
John: And without The Cheeky girls there`d be no U2...
Dave: …And who came up with a lyric as great as "Zig-a-zig aaaah"? It`s genius!
BGR: So if you could sum up in three words where you want the band to go or achieve in the next year, what would they be?
James: I`ve got one. Seven Million Albums. This year.
Arctic Monkeys fans may be cursing into their pints of Boddingtons as I write this article, but frankly I don’t care; believe it or not we still need bands like Protocol around to make us realise how beautiful it can be when style and music have a filthy one night stand together. Whether Protocol will conquer the world or not is a moot point; all that we can be sure of is that pops landscape is certainly all the more beautiful for having them walk across it.
‘Where’s The Pleasure?’ is out now.
Ben Goldrun (View Original Article)
Fin were a short-lived band in the early to mid 90s who very nearly made it but, as with so many of these bands, it never happened for them. The band used the classic indie four piece line-up, gaining bonus indie points for having a girl (Stella Ferguson) on bass and released four singles between 1993 and 1995. The first of which was a song championed on radio one by fledgling Evening Session DJs Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley, this song was called `Headstrong`, something of a cross between Gene and Radiohead, and a live recording of which I still have in my collection. This version comes from the Bristol Sound City in April 1995 which coincided with the band`s final release - the `Jetstream EP`.
The quality is somewhat ropey, coming from a second generation cassette recording I think, but it is certainly listenable.
Two interesting facts about Fin are that they once got thrown off a tour with The Tindersticks for being "too cheery" and playing football while the Tindersticks had their noses stuck into very large books. The other is that the band may not have made it at all had the BBC not accidentally used a song from their demo tape in a programme. The band were paid their dues and used the cash to press up the `Headstrong EP`. So, if you`re wondering who best at the BBC to send your demos to kids...don`t bother with Zane Lowe or One Music. Send them straight to Michael Grade!
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Here`s possibly the best ever free cover tape. Jon Carter`s Heavenly Social Mixtape
Select At The Heavenly Social mixed by Jon Carter
A sort of cut down version of the Heavenly Social Mix CD he put out shortly afterwards, but with some different songs and some different mixes. Something of a legend as far as covermounts go: known to inspire many to DJ ...
Side A:
Saint Etienne: Filthy (Monkey Mafia Remix)
Slo Moshun: Bells Of NY (Hip Hop USA)
Bitch: That Other Hip Hop Track
Audioweb: Yeah (Monkey Mafia Gucci Mix)
Monkey Mafia featuring Patra: Work Mi Body (Edit)
Side B:
Ruby: Tiny Meat (Meat For The Feat Mix)
The Charlatans: Nine Acre Dust
DJ Voodoo & The Liquid Method: Everybody Thinks I`m High (Original Mix)
The Ragga Twins featuring Junior Reid: Shine Eye
Melting Pot: Assault 1
Freddie McGregor: Carry Go Bring Come (Gussie`s Ska Mix)
(covermount from Select Magazine July 1996)
Each mix lasts around 17 minutes and is around 25MB in size. Download Managers are advised.
The complete mix is still available from Amazon, so if you enjoy this tape we strongly suggest you get the full mix. It`s absolutely mind-blowing!
Andy J (View Original Article)
Click the headline to unveil the full story
Hailing from Brazil, the three stong crew spit rhymes over the rawest, and catchiest rhythm tracks you will hear this year (and in fine hip hop tradition, I can guarantee you will hear their rhythms appropriated by other acts this year). I have no idea what they are saying, but it really doesn`t matter - it`s hip hop reborn with genuine street swagger that has been abscent for many years. You can find them, together with samples of their tunes on the increasingly omniprescent myspace, but if nothing else you need to track down `Funk Da Esfiha` for this years killer sample. I`m not going to tell you who it is, but you will be grinning from ear to ear when you hear it.
Andy J (View Original Article)
The album could sell up to 200,000 in its first week.
Chart expert Gennaro Castaldo said: "We might be entering the Chinese Year of the dog, but as far as the Music Industry is concerned 2006 is very much the `year of the monkey`."
We at CDX would like to agree with Mr Castaldo and hope all the fever pitch excitement caused by the Arctics will hopefully spread to all Monkey releated musical projects.
Nick Foster (View Original Article)
Wilson Pickett was 64, and enjoyed a career spanning over 40 years and was recently inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.
Tributes have poured in from contemporaries, Aretha Franklin describing him as "one of the greatest soul singers of all time".
His music enjoyed a revival in the early 1990s through it`s inclusion in the Alan Parker film The Commitments, bringing his sound of soul to a whole new generation.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
In March 2003 Meg mentioned that a guest appearence on the show would be amazing, but hopefully not on a Lisa episode as they are kind of boring.
Nick Foster (View Original Article)
The band have been busy in London recording the album with producer Jim Lowe and will soon announce a tour to promote `Simpatico`.
The provisional tracklisting for the album is as follows:
1. `Blackened Blue Eyes`
2. `N.Y.C (No Need To Stop)`;
3. `For Your Entertainment`
4. `Dead Man’s Eye`
5. `Muddy Ground`
6. `City Of The Dead`
7. `Road To Paradise`
8. `When The Lights Go Out In London`
9. `The Architect`
10. `Glory Glory`
11. `Sunset & Vine`
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Nick Foster (View Original Article)
The Follow up to 03's Happy Songs For Happy People will be released on the 6th of March, with a single at the end of January.
They are also playing across the country in March, April, and 1 date at the Royal Albert Hall in September. Here's the skinny on when and where:
29 March - Bristol, Academy
0117 929 9008 / www.seetickets.com
30 March - Southampton, Uni
0115 912 9000 / www.seetickets.com
31 March - Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Hall
0115 912 9000 / www.seetickets.com
01 April - Oxford, Brookes Uni
01865 484750 www.wegottickets.com
02 April - Cardiff, Coal Exchange
029 20 494 917 / www.ticketline.co.uk
04 April - Cambridge, Junction
01223 511 511 / www.junction.co.uk
05 April - Liverpool, Carling Acdemy
0870 771 2000 / www.liverpool-academy.co.uk
06 April - Newcastle, Northumbria Uni
0191 261 2606 / 0191 233 0444 / www.seetickets.com
07 April - Sheffield, The Plug
01142 492 208 / www.the-plug.com
27 April - Edinburgh, Queens Hall (Triptych Festival)
0870 903 3444 / www.ticketweb.co.uk
22 September - London September, Royal Albert Hall
Dan Tappin (View Original Article)
Venue box office - 0207 589 8212 www.royalalberthall.com
2006 is the 20th anniversary of the Bandits first ever release, and during that time the band has been an ever-evolving supergroup of the cream of Glasgow's alternative scene. Former members include Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub, Eugene Kelly of The Vaselines and Soup Dragons Sean Dickson, Jim McCulloch and Sushil Dade.
New album 'My Chain' will be out in February which David describes as 'really beautiful and sad and sometimes funny and sometimes a bit, you know, ouch, but most of all truthful and uplifting'.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The band will also be playing near you soon on the following dates, so get along and check them out :
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The band will release new single `The Boy Who Ran Away` a week earlier on 27th February backed with a cover of a Noisettes song, `Sandy Drake` and a remix of the single courtesy of Riton.
The band are on tour later this month taking in the following venues:
January 2006
25 - Dublin Ambassador
25 - Belfast Ulster Hall
26 - Belfast Ulster Hall
27 - Glasgow Academy
28 - Edinburgh Corn Exchange
29 - Newcastle Academy
31 - Nottingham Rock City
February 2006
1 - Leeds University
2 - Liverpool University
4 - Manchester Academy
5 - Manchester Academy
7 - Sheffield Octagon
8 - Birmingham Academy
9 - Norwich UEA
11 - Cardiff Great Hall
12 - Cambridge Corn Exchange
13 - Bristol Academy
15 - Portsmouth Guildhall
16 - Brighton Dome
17 - London Carling Brixton Academy
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Posting on their new official website under a comment titled "Return of the King", the unknown band member with an undefinable hair style released this comment:
"It`s official. Kula Shaker has arisen from the bottomless pit. How and why will all be revealed in good time, as this site grows, swells and expands."
What England has done to deserve this seems still to be a mystery, with their only demand so far is to sign up to the mailing list, possibly to inform authorities of what horrors are yet to come.
A source close to the arse end of the internet pipe where this story surfaced has already claimed that a gig or gigs with the new lineup have been played at locations so secret, not even he could be bothered to find out.
With further investigation, a Myspace site promoting the band was uncovered, only to find that it was passing off T-Rex & Deep Purple songs as originals.
In times of hightened security, please keep all your unwanted 90`s indie bands firmly in your cupboards. Thankyou
Dan Tappin (View Original Article)
The charges relate to his arrest in November when his car was stopped by police. It is alleged that Doherty invited fans at a Babyshambles gig last night to join him in court today.
The short tour continues in Stoke tonight, however the band are now without guitarist Pat Walden who walked out yesterday. They are expected to shortly release `The 32 of December` as their next release from debut album `Down in Albion`.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Preston is joined in the house by Goldie Lookin Chain rapper Maggot, and the GLC have also enjoyed a 4x increase in sales as a result.
There has been no indication of an increase in the sales of Dead or Alive records via Pete Burns` appearance on the show, but their classic single `You Spin Me Round` is understood to be climbing the download charts.
The house has also launched the career of Essex Paris Hilton impersonator Chantelle who is tipped to release a single as Kandy Floss following the show. If the record gets to number one it will prove once and for all that the pop charts are no longer an indication of how good the song is, just how much time you spend on television (cf. Shayne Ward)
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
They claim that the `easy access` to music via the Internet means we are less excited at discovering new music and that the huge sales in MP3 players has led to music being a `soundtrack to life` rather than a `life changing experience`. Bizarrely, these misinformed researchers also claim that programmes such as the X-Factor are popular because they give listeners a "rare chance to engage and appreciate music and live performance that is missing for today`s iPod generation." rather than cash-spinning rip-offs of Opportunity Knocks featuring cash-spinning rip-offs of songs we`re all sick to the back teeth of.
It`s not often that I express opinion in a Culturedeluxe news item, but here I must. I feel this has been an absolute waste of time and it proves nothing unless a similar experiment had been conducted in the past to set a precedent, which I do not believe has happened. There are also no details available on what music was played or the musical backgrounds of those taking part in the survey.
I`d also contend that the ability to download has, in stark contradiction of their hypothesis, enhanced many listener`s musical lives. The medium has become essential for small bands without major labels and thousands of pounds of PR behind them to break into the limelight. By offering songs as free downloads, as most do when starting out, they can build up a small fan-base who will then buy official releases based on their enjoyment of the MP3s. It is these people who appreciate music, and always have done. Those who are willing to dig a bit deeper to discover aural delights, and not those who simply now download the latest Robbie Williams album instead of buying it during their bi-annual visit to HMV.
Lead researcher Dr Adrian North contends, "In the 19th Century, music was seen as a highly valued treasure with fundamental and near-mystical powers of human communication". Yes, people in the 19th century didn`t have iPods, but then they didn`t have CD players, cassette decks, wirelesses or phonographs either.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
British Male Solo Artist
I`m confused at Ian Brown and Will Young`s inclusions here for what amounts to one single each when I would argue Mylo had a considerably more successful year with a huge album and a string of top 20 singles. This one will be fought out between Blunt and the panel`s favourite Mr Williams. Neither deserves it either.
British Female Solo Artist
This category has always been notoriously thin on the ground, and Kate Bush used to frequently get nominated having done nothing the previous year. This year she came back with a very well received album and will fight it out with KT Tunstall. The others need not bother turning up, and Natasha Bedingfield must wonder how a year sat on her arse saw her more fit to be nominated than Jem.
British Group
This is the first of the Kaiser Chiefs 5 nominations and is not a category they are likely to win. This is a huge three way tussle between Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand and the band I think will beat them all - Gorillaz.
MasterCard British Album
I haven`t heard Back to Bedlam. But this will fight it out with X & Y and Employment for the statuette.
British Single
(Winner chosen by UK Commercial Radio listeners)
Commercial radio - the aural equivalent of Kentucky Fried Chicken. An army of wacky local characters talking about Eastenders in between adverts for the local glazier and the latest Robbie Williams record. So, this category is hereby declared null and void. Unless the Sugababes win.
British Breakthrough Act
(Winner chosen by Radio 1 listeners)
Now, Radio 1, there`s a station. Wacky "fat" or "gay" DJs talking about Coronation Street in between Madonna records. Ah, but at least there`s no adverts for the glazier, eh? It really depends on which shows this is advertised on and I`d really love to see the Arctic Monkeys grudgingly accept the award. But I see this as a two way between evil (Blunt) and good-ish (Kaiser Chiefs).
British Urban Act
(Winner chosen by MTV:Base viewers)
Well, it has been a thin year for British urban acts hasn`t it? Kano must win this, despite a dodgy track record in singles. The others have barely done a thing.
British Rock Act
(Winner chosen by Kerrang! TV viewers)
Enough to make Kerrang readers sob into their Metallica t-shirts. The rock award has been fully taken over by "alternative" acts. As a result I expect Oasis to win, but it should go to Franz Ferdinand.
British Live Act
(Nominees chosen by a panel of experts in association with The Live Music Forum. Winner chosen by Radio 2 listeners)
The experts consulted here have obviously never been to an Oasis gig or they would have realised it to be the most boring experience of anyone`s life. Two hours watching five blokes standing stock still with a lead singer who can`t sing in tune. Awful. While the Kaiser Chiefs put on an awesome live show, I expect this to be won deservedly by Coldplay...three blokes standing stock still with a lead singer who CAN sing in tune.
Pop Act
(Winner chosen by CD:UK viewers, readers of The Sun Bizarre column, and customers of O2 and Motorola)
This should be renamed the Westlife act. For the second year in a row I have to wonder why American acts are nominated for this and not for anything else though.
International Male Solo Artist
There is only one winner here and that is Kanye West. Late Registration is the best hip hop album in years, and the only reason John Legend is in that five is due to Kanye`s production!
International Female Solo Artist
Madonna`s latest reinvention (read rip off) gave her one of the singles of the year. This should be enough to secure the statuette.
International Group
The Arcade Fire could pull off a surprise here, and with one of the best albums of last year they would deserve it. Green Day, however, must be favourites here, with the biggest threat coming from those awards-friendly Black Eyed Peas.
International Album
Green Day or The Arcade Fire could pull off a double here. But I think the favourite is likely to be Madonna`s, rather Jacque Lu Cont`s, recent album which was a massive critical success.
International Breakthrough Act
If the Arcade Fire don`t win this then I will stick my foot straight through the television set. If Daniel Powter`s on the screen then expect it to come out the other side.
Outstanding Contribution to music
Ha! Well, I`m prepared to admit the Jam were pretty good. The Style Council had their moments, well one or two, and up until Stanley Road it looked like he might have been going in the right direction as a solo artist. But, this man had a hand in the destruction of Oasis. His influence on their atrocious third album Be Here now is there for all to see...and the Brits want to honour him? Nonsense.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Last year Sway surprised everyone to take the Best Hip-Hop Artist award at the MOBO awards beating 50 Cent and The Game at, er, their own game and took the influential Channel U`s Best of British award - and the channel gets a namecheck in return on this record!
You can watch the video for Little Derek by clicking here.
`Little Derek` is released on Sway`s own DCypha Productions label on 16th January.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
ATD promises, and I quote direct from his official website, "Music hall can-can girls, Tropicana male Go-Go dancers and Victorian inspired burlesque performers".
Sound like one not to miss. Doors open at 8pm, it's a fiver to get in and your nearest tube is, just like in Monopoly, the Angel.
Further Info:
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Recorded over the course of 2005 in Rome with longtime collaborators Boz Boorer, Alain Whyte and new collaborative partner Jesse Tobias, the album has been described by Morrissey himself as being possibly his "most beautiful" piece of work to date, and has also been described by industry insiders as a radical departure from his trademark sound, embracing elements of Ennio Morricone as well as being fired up by new producer, Killers knob-twiddler Tony Visconti.
The album, scheduled for release on April 3rd, is preceded by the new single `You Have Killed Me`, which is released on March 27th. The single is backed with two original non-album tracks (`Good Looking Man About Town` and `I Knew I Was Next`), as well as a cover of `Human Being` by the New York Dolls.
The album tracklisting is:-
- I Will See You In Far-off Places
- Dear God Please Help Me
- You Have Killed Me
- The Youngest Was The Most Loved
- In The Future When All`s Well
- The Father Who Must Be Killed
- Life Is A Pigsty
- I`ll Never Be Anybody`s Hero Now
- On The Streets I Ran
- To Me You Are A Work Of Art
- I Just Want To See The Boy Happy
- At Last I Am Born
Morrissey will be touring extensively accross the UK to support the release, with a mammoth 30 date tour scheduled for this year alone. All that remains to be seen is if the new album will sell as well as his last solo effort, 2004`s `You Are The Quarry`, which went on to become his most successful solo album to date. Only time will tell...
Still, good to have him back though, isn`t it?
Ben Goldrun (View Original Article)
Mr Daniels (officially "the coollest teacher ever" according to his pupils) never expected the band to invite the class to sing on a song, expecting at best a reply, a visit or some sort of interaction.
The song will be b-side of the forthcoming single, `I See You, You See Me` out on 13th February on Heavenly Records.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
`Fiddy`, real name Curtis Jackson, apparently owes the bar`s DJ a favour and, in recompence, has agreed to make an appearance at the drinking establishment. We cannot confirm, but do believe he will be changing the lyrics of `Candy Shop` to `Canny Shop` for the night.
This news item was broken in the UK`s Sun newspaper. So, please deliver your torrents of hateful abuse in their direction when 50 Cent fails, as I`m sure he will, to turn up.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Speaking to NME.COM, Kele Okereke said,
"With `Silent Alarm` I wanted to talk about how it felt being a 20-year-old in the western world. I think a lot of kids, me especially, just kind of felt in their 20s that they had all this passion, and it was very hard to find a focus. And that`s what I want `Silent Alarm` to represent. I don`t want things to be as brash as they were. Slightly more considered: that`s where the next record`s going. But that`s not to say we`re going to turn all MOR!"
It is unlikely that late-2005 single `Two More Years` will be included as the band were keen at the time of release for it to be a standalone single, and a future exclusive.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The album, from the foursome fast approaching an aggregate age of 200, will be the follow up to 2004`s `Sonic Nurse` and is being recorded at Sear Sound Studios where they recorded their previous `Sister` and `Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star` LPs.
There`s no clue to what the songs will sound like but titles have been mooted already including `Pink Steam`, `Do You Believe In Rapture?`, Or and `Sleepin Around`.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The album is a huge mash of different styles ranging from the acoustic hippyness of Flock of Seagulls to Prince-style funkiness on the excellent Gotta Go through experimental jazz on Airstream finishing with heartfelt balladry on Celia`s Ghost and Mareel and a hip hop workout on the colourific Remember Vibgyor!.
This is without doubt an album with something for everyone, and is at all times a fantastic voyage through the sound of Victor Scott, where you never know which direction you`ll be heading in next.
The album is out on download only through the SVC Records website and will only cost you £3. All tracks are mp3 and encoded at a very high 256kbps rate. If that wasn`t enough, you will also receive the Happy Days B-Sides album gratis.
CDX heartily recommend this album, but if you`re still not sure then try these two tunes from the album, courtesy of SVC Records!
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
There are sixty tracks in all, from which ten will be culled before the countdown is broadcast later this year. So, if I may be so bold, please limit your votes to five from these songs in order to keep them in the fifty.
Can You Dig It? - Mock Turtles
Pump Up the Volume - M/A/R/R/S
Rapper`s Delight - Sugarhill Gang
Doctorin` The Tardis - The Timelords
Since Yesterday - Strawberry Switchblade
Groove is in the Heart - Deee-Lite
I`m The Urban Spaceman - Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
Je T`Aime - Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg
Jilted John - Jilted John
There She Goes - The La`s
Trouble - Shampoo
Louie Louie - The Kingsmen
Turning Japanese - The Vapors
Click here for the voting form ...and whatever you do...don`t vote for the fucking Rembrandts.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
They have provisionally named six of the tracks...
`Worry`
`Thursday`
`Yes/No`
`Cope`
`Fallout`
`Return Of The Beserker`
There is no official word about the next single, or when we can expect this album in the shops, however keep checking their official site - http://www.thefutureheads.com/ - for more news on progress with the album.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
There are a few familiar names on the roster. Most notably of all, perhaps, is ex-Gamesmaster presenter Dominik Diamond who fronts the breakfast show, while Beat 106 favourite Jim Gellatly is another aboard.
One of the most exciting new shows is the McSleazy show which promises to feature bootlegs, remixes and mash-ups. McSleazy AKA Grant Robson also promises some "un-mashed" content which, in a three hour show, is bound to be welcome. During the show, he promises to let the listeners set a challenge for the legion of bedroom remixers out there. The results will be played on the following week`s show and the audience will again be invited to vote on the best one.
McSleazy`s show follows in the footsteps of the XFM Remix and we at Culturedeluxe wish him all the best with it in 2006.
Read an interview with McSleazy
XFM Scotland
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
12% are re-releases
8.5% of the chart are Elvis songs.
1.5% are tied in to ring tones
1.5% are based around 1 song by Boy Meets Girl!
90% are shit.
| 1 | Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay | (Is This The Way To) Amarillo | 1100233 |
| 2 | Shayne Ward | That`s My Goal | 874444 |
| 3 | Crazy Frog | Axel F | 526740 |
| 4 | James Blunt | You`re Beautiful | 471388 |
| 5 | Pussycat Dolls Ft Busta Rhymes | Don`t Cha | 369520 |
| 6 | McFly | All About You / You`ve Got A Friend | 338250 |
| 7 | Akon | Lonely | 335026 |
| 8 | Madonna | Hung Up | 325463 |
| 9 | Westlife | You Raise Me Up | 319976 |
| 10 | Sugababes | Push The Button | 303301 |
| 11 | Daniel Powter | Bad Day | 296280 |
| 12 | Nizlopi | JCB Song | 295056 |
| 13 | 2Pac Featuring Elton John | Ghetto Gospel | 275683 |
| 14 | Gorillaz | Feel Good Inc. | 258903 |
| 15 | Will Smith | Switch | 199775 |
| 16 | Bodyrockers | I Like The Way | 187232 |
| 17 | Arctic Monkeys | I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor | 177792 |
| 18 | Robbie Williams | Trippin` | 164241 |
| 19 | Snoop Dogg & Justin Timberlake | Signs | 163581 |
| 20 | Audio Bullys | Shot You Down | 162840 |
| 21 | Mario | Let Me Love You | 161893 |
| 22 | Mariah Carey | We Belong Together | 158977 |
| 23 | Jennifer Lopez | Get right | 158924 |
| 24 | Nelly & Tim McGraw | Over and over | 157021 |
| 25 | Black Eyed Peas | Don`t Phunk With My Heart | 152290 |
| 26 | Gorillaz | Dare | 148270 |
| 27 | Sean Paul | We Be Burnin` | 146693 |
| 28 | Kelly Clarkson | Since U Been Gone | 141649 |
| 29 | 50 Cent | Candy Shop | 140738 |
| 30 | Oasis | Lyla | 137705 |
| 31 | Pussycat Dolls | Stickwitu | 137699 |
| 32 | Rhianna | Pon De Reply | 128129 |
| 33 | Charlotte Church | Crazy Chick | 128026 |
| 34 | Oasis | The Importance of Being Idle | 123278 |
| 35 | Stereophonics | Dakota | 122779 |
| 36 | Kanye West | Gold Digger | 122229 |
| 37 | Black Eyed Peas | My Humps | 120809 |
| 38 | M.V.P | Rock Ya Body Mic Check 1, 2 | 120723 |
| 39 | Amerie | 1 Thing | 117892 |
| 40 | Mylo vs Miami Sound Machine | Doctor Pressure | 115980 |
| 41 | Coldplay | Speed of Sound | 112593 |
| 42 | Razorlight | Somewhere Else | 111526 |
| 43 | Simon Webbe | No Worries | 110906 |
| 44 | Eminem | Like Toy Soldiers | 107065 |
| 45 | Ciara | 1, 2 Step | 104510 |
| 46 | Gwen Stefani | Hollaback Girl | 102952 |
| 47 | Gwen Stefani Featuring Eve | Rich Girl | 99836 |
| 48 | Sunset Strippers | Falling Stars | 99516 |
| 49 | 50 Cent ft. The Game | Hate it or Love it | 97415 |
| 50 | Green Day | Wake Me Up When September Ends | 90486 |
| 51 | Simon Webbe | Lay Your Hands | 89876 |
| 52 | Chemical Brothers featuring Q-Tip | Galvinize | 88670 |
| 53 | McFly | I`ll Be Ok | 88447 |
| 54 | Westlife featuring Diana Ross | When You Tell Me That You Love Me | 88265 |
| 55 | Studio B | I See Girls | 86361 |
| 56 | Missy Elliott featuring Ciara & Fatman Scoop | Lose Control | 85200 |
| 57 | Coldplay | Fix You | 83948 |
| 58 | Foo Fighters | Best of You | 83531 |
| 59 | Akon | Locked Up | 82904 |
| 60 | Black Eyed Peas | Don`t Lie | 82244 |
| 61 | Jem | They | 81433 |
| 62 | Craig David | Don`t Love You No More | 80503 |
| 63 | Ciara | Goodies | 79532 |
| 64 | Katie Melua | Nine Million Bicyicles | 79096 |
| 65 | Eminem | Mockingbird | 77948 |
| 66 | Girls Aloud | Biology | 77423 |
| 67 | Mariah Carey | It`s Like That | 77378 |
| 68 | Brian McFadden & Delta Goodrem | Almost Here | 75894 |
| 69 | Kaiser Chiefs | I Predict A Riot / Sink That Ship | 75409 |
| 70 | Bobby Valentino | Slow Down | 73752 |
| 71 | Uniting Nations | Out of touch | 73304 |
| 72 | David Gray | The One I Love | 71352 |
| 73 | Jessicca Simpson | These Boots Are Made for Walkin` | 71297 |
| 74 | Liberty X | Song 4 Lovers | 70675 |
| 75 | Jay-Z / Linkin Park | Numb/Encore | 70250 |
| 76 | Cabin Crew | Star to Fall | 68835 |
| 77 | LL Cool J | Hush | 68113 |
| 78 | Kelly Clarkson | Behind These Hazel Eyes | 67585 |
| 79 | Kaiser Chiefs | Everyday I Love You Less and Less | 67520 |
| 80 | Natalie Imbruglia | Shiver | 67187 |
| 81 | U2 | Sometimes You Can`t Make It On Your Own | 66170 |
| 82 | Sugababes | Ugly | 66105 |
| 83 | The Coral | In The Morning | 65576 |
| 84 | Phantom Planet | California | 65475 |
| 85 | Ashanti | Only U | 65249 |
| 86 | Green Day | Boulevard of Broken Dreams | 64429 |
| 87 | KT Tunstall | Suddenly I See | 64368 |
| 88 | Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl | Fairytale of New York | 62922 |
| 89 | Athlete | Wires | 62917 |
| 90 | Goldfrapp | Oh La La | 62187 |
| 91 | Oasis | Let There Be Love | 60911 |
| 92 | 50 Cent featuring Mobb Deep | Outta Control | 59697 |
| 93 | Kanye West | Diamonds from Sierra Leone | 59498 |
| 94 | Daddy Yankee | Gasolina | 59196 |
| 95 | Franz Ferdinand | Do You Want To | 58382 |
| 96 | Ciara featuring Ludacris | Oh | 58214 |
| 97 | The Game featuring 50 Cent | How We Do | 58062 |
| 98 | Lemar | Time to Grow | 57730 |
| 99 | The Killers | Somebody Told Me | 57561 |
| 100 | Lee Ryan | Army of Lovers | 57355 |
| 101 | Eminem | Ass Like That | 57329 |
| 102 | Pharrell Featuring Gwen Stefani | Can I Have It Like That | 56752 |
| 103 | Bob Sinclar Featuring Gary Nesta Pine | Love Generation | 56604 |
| 104 | Gorillaz | Dirty Harry | 56367 |
| 105 | Kelly Clarkson | Because of You | 56143 |
| 106 | Destiny`s Child Featuring Lil Wayne | Soldier | 56107 |
| 107 | Max Graham vs Yes | Owner of A Lonely Heart | 54132 |
| 108 | Girls Aloud | Wake Me Up | 53600 |
| 109 | Crazy Frog | Jingle Bells/U Can`t Touch This | 53477 |
| 110 | Destiny`s Child | Girl | 53188 |
| 111 | 50 Cent | Just A L`il Bit | 52911 |
| 112 | Kaiser Chiefs | Oh My God | 52797 |
| 113 | Son Of Dork | Ticket Outta Loserville | 51730 |
| 114 | Britney Spears | Do Something | 51711 |
| 115 | U2 | City of Blinding Lights | 51076 |
| 116 | Jennifer Lopez Featuring Fat Joe | Hold You Down | 50832 |
| 117 | Mariah Carey | Get Your Number/ Shake It Off | 50459 |
| 118 | Rob Thomas | Lonely No More | 49433 |
| 119 | Hard-Fi | Hard To Beat | 49162 |
| 120 | Eminem | When I`m Gone | 48936 |
| 121 | James Blunt | High | 48638 |
| 122 | Steve Brookstein | Against All Odds | 48409 |
| 123 | Caesars | Jerk It Out | 48249 |
| 124 | Basement Jaxx | Oh My Gosh | 48213 |
| 125 | KT Tunstall | The Other Side of the World | 47976 |
| 126 | Elvis Presley | Jailhouse Rock | 47965 |
| 127 | Gwen Stefani | Cool | 47140 |
| 128 | Elvis Presley | Are You Lonesome Tonight | 46977 |
| 129 | Akon | Belly Dancer (Bonnanza) | 46845 |
| 130 | Friday Hill | Baby Goodbye | 46748 |
| 131 | McFly | I Wanna Hold You | 45916 |
| 132 | Liberty X | A Night To Remember | 45911 |
| 133 | Elvis Presley | Wooden Heart | 44857 |
| 134 | Girls Aloud | Long Hot Summer | 44728 |
| 135 | Kylie Minogure | Giving You Up | 44572 |
| 136 | Will Young | Switch It On | 43618 |
| 137 | Charlotte Church | Call My Name | 43546 |
| 138 | Kate Bush | King of the Mountain | 43469 |
| 139 | Elvis Presley | (Your The) Devil In Disguise | 43444 |
| 140 | Elvis Presley | Good Luck Charm | 43205 |
| 141 | Elvis Presley | Rock -A-Hula Baby/Can`t Help Falling In Love | 42985 |
| 142 | White Stripes | Blue Orchid | 42704 |
| 143 | White Stripes | My Doorbell | 42655 |
| 144 | Les Rhythmes Digitales | Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat) | 42381 |
| 145 | Roll Deep | The Avenue | 42346 |
| 146 | Scissor Sisters | Filthy / Gorgeous | 41770 |
| 147 | Craig David | All The Way | 41613 |
| 148 | Elvis Presley | (Maries the Name) His Latest Flame/Little Sister | 41435 |
| 149 | Elvis Presley | A Fool Such as I | 41356 |
| 150 | Mario | Here I Go Again | 41317 |
| 151 | Elvis Presley | One Night/I Got Stung | 41190 |
| 152 | Elvis Presley | The Wonder of You | 41068 |
| 153 | Elvis vs JXL | A Little Less Conversation | 40887 |
| 154 | Babyshambles | Fuck Forever | 40768 |
| 155 | The Bravery | An Honest Mistake | 40689 |
| 156 | Jamiroquai | Feels Just Like it Should | 40683 |
| 157 | Inaya Day | Nasty Girl | 40621 |
| 158 | Elvis Presley | Crying in the Chapel | 40614 |
| 159 | Bloc Party | Two More Years | 40592 |
| 160 | Elvis Presley | It`s Now or Never | 40466 |
| 161 | Elvis Presley | Return To Sender | 40456 |
| 162 | Backstreet Boys | Incomplete | 39960 |
| 163 | Hillary Duff | Wake Up | 39906 |
| 164 | Usher | Caught Up | 39892 |
| 165 | Kelly Osbourne | One Word | 39645 |
| 166 | Elvis Presley | She`s Not You | 39488 |
| 167 | The Game | Dreams | 39328 |
| 168 | Elvis Presley | Surrender | 39126 |
| 169 | Pond Life | Ring Ding Ding | 39054 |
| 170 | DHT Featuring Edmee | Listen To Your Heart | 39018 |
| 171 | Tom Novy | Your Body | 38941 |
| 172 | Nelly | N Dey Say | 38703 |
| 173 | Mylo | In My Arms | 37728 |
| 174 | DJ Sammy | Why | 36537 |
| 175 | Rooster | Staring at the Sun | 36021 |
| 176 | Elvis Presley | Way Down | 36019 |
| 177 | Lucile Silvas | Breathe In | 35734 |
| 178 | Tatu | All About Us | 35614 |
| 179 | Darkness | One Way Ticket | 35589 |
| 180 | Freeloaders | So Much Love to Give | 35537 |
| 181 | Jem | Just A Ride | 35530 |
| 182 | Depeche Mode | Precious | 35500 |
| 183 | Bon Jovi | Have A Nice Day | 35179 |
| 184 | Damian Marley | Welcome to Jamrock | 34812 |
| 185 | One World Project | Grief Never Grows Old | 34316 |
| 186 | Eric Prydz | Call On Me | 34246 |
| 187 | Mattafix | Big City Life | 34076 |
| 188 | Sean Paul | Ever Blazin` | 33959 |
| 189 | Faithless | Insomnia 2005 | 33649 |
| 190 | Xzibit Feat. Keri Hilson | Hey Now (Mean Muggin) | 33441 |
| 191 | Uniting Nations | You & Me | 33142 |
| 192 | Elton John | Electricty | 32410 |
| 193 | Rachel Stevens | Negotiate With Love | 32377 |
| 194 | Rachel Stevens | So Good | 32299 |
| 195 | Girls Aloud | See The Day | 32122 |
| 196 | Robbie Williams | Advertising Space | 31992 |
| 197 | Dana Rayne | Object of My Desire | 31559 |
| 198 | Raghav | Angel Eyes | 31395 |
| 199 | Iron Maiden | Number of the Beast | 31221 |
| 200 | Shapeshifters | Back to Basics | 31179 |
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The lead track is likely to be `The Boy with the Blues`, a track written by frontman Liam which wasn`t quite ready to make it on to `Don`t Believe the Truth` and according to Noel sounds a bit `like Spiritualized, y`know when they do that gospel thing`.
Noel admits that he hasn`t spoken to the band about this, but he reckons if they can get into the studio in January then it could be released in a few months.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
There`s also news on new live shows from Colin, an exclusive track to download called `This is Hope (The Birth of Promotea)`, a feature on his recent Scottish Parliament Club and the Society book club!
Wow, now if I don`t just spend the rest of the afternoon over there...good to have you back Colin!
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The Monkeys rose to fame on the back of mass word-of-mouth hysteria through the Internet, and now it looks like the same medium could lose them a significant number of sales. However, chatting on-line to file-sharers, CDX understands that fans who have downloaded the album fully intend to buy a copy when it hits the shops and that they have simply been willing to effectively break the law in order to listen to the studio-grade versions of the tracks they`ve grown to love over the past year.
The album `Whatever People Say I Am, That`s What I`m Not` is released officially through Domino on 28th January, with brand new single, `When the Sun Goes Down` released on the 16th and expected to hit the CDX top 10 this sunday.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
"While everyone else is out partying and drinking, I'm downloading some goofy Talking Heads cover band song""
Meanwhile, another fan describes the tunes as "horrible". However, if you're a big fan of the 'Head and you don't want to find yourself bidding up to £100 on ebay for poor quality bootlegs, you'd do very well to go track these down.
Tracks have been identified as:
'Climbing Up A Bloody Great Hill'
'Somebody'
'Mr B'
'What's That You See?'
'Everyone Needs Someone To Hate'
'Upside Down'
'The Greatest Shindig Of The World'
'Give It Up'
'How Can you Be Sure?'
'Life With The Big F'
'Keep Strong'
'Rattelsnake'
'Burning Bush'
'Tell Me Bitch'
'New Generation'
There's been no word from any member of the band on the release of these demos, and it is likely they really don't give a shit.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Here is the top 20 in full...
1. Frasier
2. Fawlty Towers
3. Seinfeld
4. Porridge
5. The Larry Sanders Show
6. The Phil Silvers Show
7. Dad's Army
8. Blackadder
9. Spaced
10. The Office
11. Father Ted
12. Cheers
13. I'm Alan Partridge
14. Yes Minister
15. Curb Your Enthusiasm
16. The Good Life
17. The Fall & Rise of Reginald Perrin
18. Hancock's Half Hour
19. Rising Damp
20. The Young Ones
So, are you enraged by the omission of Steptoe and Son? Can't believe that the memory of Phoenix Nights has already been soured by the stream of shite Peter Kay now produces? Or are you simply confused as to why great old school sitcoms such as Man About the House and Terry and June were snubbed? Let us know below.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Arctic Monkeys - 'When the Sun Goes Down' (Domino)
How does a band follow up a number one single? How does a band follow up an aural achievement such as I Bet You Look... which crashed into our hearts last year? Well, the simple answer is they don't...at least not quite. However, this track, already known to many in demo format as scummy is by no means a disappointment.The lyrics tell the initially separate stories of an out-and-out scumbag kerb crawling in his Ford Mondeo and the lady out the night he meets of an evening. In fact, this is the first tune on the subject I've heard since Johnny Hates Jazz gave us the girls with the pure Heart of Gold. But I digress.
The tunes three minutes and twenty seconds are split into two distinct sections, the verse a sparse Libertines-ish sound, while the main hook and chorus return to the sparky clang we enjoyed so much on 'Dancefloor'. They have little chance of hitting the top of the chart again, but they're losing none of their quality.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Be Your Own Pet - 'Let's Get Sandy (Big Mistake)' (XL)
One thing teenage sensations BYOP do not offer is value for money. This single clocks in at 59 seconds and features such lyrics as `You can take a twelve year old and break his arms twice/We can guarantee that it wont` be very nice`. Actually, hold up...I can`t remember the last time a couple of quid has given me a minute of such pleasure. So, forget the length "issues", just listen to it three times over.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Beck - 'Hell Yes' (Polydor)
Beck goes 8 bit. Again showing why he`s some considerable distance ahead of the competition, he releases one of the better tracks from the excellent Guero album in a stronger remix guise. Hopefully the other 3 8 bit style remixes from Guero will also appear on the single, but in the knowledge there`s a fully remixed album coming out you may just have to wait for the rest.
Andy J (View Original Article)
Cat Power - 'Greatest' (Matador)
Cat Power`s new single has a real air of the Tindersticks about it, instead, of course, without the lead singer sounding like they`re down a drain (which I really like, actually). It sounds as though it`s escaped from the saddest moment on the saddest film you can think of, yet is also curiously uplifting.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Clearlake - 'Good Clean Fun' (Domino)
Does the world really need a band which plays fuzzed up lo fi guitars overlaid with Beach Boy melodies.In this reviewers opinion, yes it does. Great stuff.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The Crimea - 'Lottery Winners on Acid' (Warner)
The Crimea are what Athlete think they sound like in their thick, Virgin radio-addled minds. But whereas Athlete sound like the Beta Band writing the incidental music for a Clarks shoes commercial, Davey MacManus and Co. deal in the kind of skewed, glazed over and genuinely affecting indie rock that never goes out of fashion.Pumped full of psychedelic wonder, 'Lottery Winners On Acid' should be the theme tune to your post Christmas/New Years comedown, tucking you in bed and giving you Lemsip whilst playing you your favourite Flaming Lips album. This is what smiling sounds like.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The Early Years - 'All Ones and Zeroes' (Beggars Banquet)
The Early Years were one of the success stories of BBC One Music in 2005 and it was the demo version of this song which sparked interest in the band when it was played to death by top jock Huw Stephens. This is a huge sound standing somewhere in between new wave and shoegazing, the sort of sound Bloc Party would make if they'd made a little room for Ride in their diet of Gang of Four. The third part of the song welcomes a cacophony of wah wah fuzz guitars building into a wall of feedback not heard since the Jesus & Mary Chain finally stopped standing with their backs to the stage. Just spellbinding, and, even in a week which gives us a new Arctic Monkeys tune, easily the single of the week!
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Editors - 'Munich (Re-issue)' (Kitchenware)
... or the one that goes "People are fragile things you should know by now, Be careful what you put them through, People are fragile things you should know by now, You'll speak when you're spoken to". A cracking chorus if ever there was. 2005 was a good year for the Editors - I would expect 2006 to be an even better year, and although this is a re-release, it's worthy of a strong chart position which the band so urgently now need to secure their position as "the next big thing", which they deserve so much. If you lot help, it should get the top ten at least in the dead January market. If you don't buy this, please go and buy their album instead - I promise you won't be disappointed. And I think I've just worked out why this is called Munich.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The Go! Team - 'Ladyflash (Re-issue)' (Memphis Industries)
so,... it`s almost time to bid my farewell to the majestic Go! Team as they continue to become ever more popular and the music fascist within me tells me to go and find some other completely obscure band and wibble about them until they gain public acceptance.Not that I had anything to do with the `team getting so popular they were on Soccer-pissing-AM the other morning. Nope, they did it themselves by giving us a slice of cheerleader-led block-party funk that bubbled under all last year and is now set to trounce every dance floor up and down the country.
And me? I`m off to listen to a band that hasn`t even been invented yet!
Jason Maybury (View Original Article)
Louis XIV - 'Pledge of Allegiance' (Atlantic)
A band who should finally break through to huge popularity in 2006 begin the year with this huge stompin' glam racket with such tender lyrics as Milkshake, Milkshake, I love to feel your sweat / We don't need to go to the pool if you want me to make you wet and an overall hyper-misogynistic message to his girl to pledge her allegiance to the United States of me. Which is all very well when presented with buzz guitars so sharp they'll slice the tops of your fingers - but let's just keep that between me and you.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Mogwai - 'Friend of the Night' (Pias)
Mogwai continue on the beautiful music front, making that stuff that proper musicians locked away in studios can only make.
I get the vibe from this track they were deprived of choccy digestives to draw inspiration for the track (don't let the title fool you, the "Friend Of The Night" is the 24 hour Tescos)
Anyway, lovely piano througout, nice swoopy musical peaks. I want choccy digestives. DB
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Supergrass - 'Fin' (Parlophone)
Every year it becomes more and more amazing that Supergrass ever recorded Caught By The Fuzz. This is dangerously close to the kind of horrible ballad the "over 40s" on X-Factor sing, but through liberal use of the "rhumba" rhythm on their organ it comes down on the right side of indie cool. Just about. RB
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Sway - 'Little Derek' (DCypha Productions)
As mentioned before on these hallowed pages, the backing sounds like a meandering demooooo from an old-school casioooooo keyboard. Don't let this foooooool you. A wonderful vocal line elevates this from so-soooooo UK hip-hop to a frighteningly original, remarkably summery, altogether wonderful little tuuuuuune.
Jason Maybury (View Original Article)
Test Icicles - 'What's Your Damage?' (Domino)
I'm scared to see Test Icicles live. I fear I may lose a clump of hair, or a finger just going mental to them.Shouty vocals, great fast guitar riffs, head banging drums. Does you right over and leaves a good hefty kick for the end.
Dan Tappin (View Original Article)
Tunng - 'Pioneers EP' (Static Caravan)
Tunng are one of the leaders of the new "twisted folk" scene, shunned by traditionalists, yet celebrated by the open-minded. This is a cover of the Bloc Party single from last year, adding fuel to the indie-folk connection which is becoming more and more apparent in today`s music.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Click the headline to unveil the full story
You see, Phil could never move between the positions as well as the sprightly Stuart (the drummer, the singer, oh and the keyboard player) and then yelp like a loon over the top of the sonic clattering of guitar (Lee) and stomach rumbling bass (Jon). Oh, and the fact they are a lot better than Genesis does help dispel the dippy assessment forthwith.
The set consisted of a foot moving indie dance-a-rama set of tunes that come somewhere between The Rapture and Jesus & The Mary Chain. But they still break out of the pigeon-holes us reviewers try and put them in with the audacity to have more instrumental than singing, and when singing, giving the best yelpy shouts for lines-per-minute you could usually only get from smashing Rick Whitter`s toes with a hammer.
Make no mistake, The Longcut are one of the best live bands you could catch for a foot shuffling evening, just be ready to rock out when Stuart walks behind them drums...
Check out the official site at http://www.thelongcut.com/, and hear a few of the tunes on their Myspace page, http://www.myspace.com/thelongcut
Dan Tappin (View Original Article)