Although contextually different I've been asking myself quite a bit "what do I do wrong" for the last week or so. An sort of relationship when it dissipates for what feels like an unknown reason (romantic, sexual, work, friendship, etc) it feels like a sliver in your brain. There is never ending second guessing that eventually will cause you to be bonkers "mad" if you let it.
After unceremoniously getting my ass handed to me last Wednesday I've been searching for something that conveyed the level on confusion I'm experiencing... and along comes Kele (from Bloc Party), along with Lucy Taylor (his keyboardist), with a pop dubstep banger that creates a lot of anticipation for Kele's Hunter EP (out November 7th). While the song is obviously about romantic entanglements it does express the desperation of someone who can't full put together why they've been kicked to the curb. It's songs like this that help us move past such traumatic moments and it seems Bloc Party and Kele are prime musical fodder for the difficult moments in life.
Whether we will see another Bloc Party release remains to be seen (although their camp swear up and down the band is still together despite NME posting phone calls that express the opposite)... but until then we have this gem.
Every year this is a very difficult list to make... this year it's even harder. NOT because there weren't a bunch of brilliant releases... but because I had a lot going on personally this year that kept me out of the music world.
As usual I'll be updating this all the way up until New Years Eve (most likely)... so, enjoy, and I can't wait until next year because I promise it will be the BEST on this blog has ever had :)
Best Albums of 2009 Pete Doherty - "Grace/Wastelands" Morrissey - "Years Of Refusal" Little Boots - "Hands" Frankmusik - "Complete Me" (plus "Recomplete Me" & "Completely Me") Arctic Monkeys - "Humbug" Editors - "In This Light And On This Evening" Dot Allison - "Room 7 1/2" Heads We Dance - "Love Technology" (plus "Dance Technology") The Whip - "X Marks Destination" (released in the U.S. this year) Simian Mobile Disco - "Temporary Pleasure"
Honourable mentions: Bloc Party - "Intimacy Remixed", Franz Ferdinand - "Tonight", La Roux - "La Roux", Echo & The Bunnymen - "The Fountain", Bad Lieutenant - "Never Cry Another Tear", Doves - "Kingdom Of Rust"
Best Singles Morrissey - "Something is Squeezing My Skull" Arctic Monkeys - "Cornerstone" Pete Doherty - "Broken Love Song" Thom Yorke - "Feeling Pulled Apart by Horses" Simian Mobile Disco - "Audacity Of Huge" Heads We Dance - "Take My Picture" Bloc Party - "One More Chance" Frankmusik - "3 Little Words" La Roux - "In For The Kill" Franz Ferdinand - "No You Girls"
Honourable Mentions: Lily Allen - "The Fear", White Lie - "Death"
Best Dance Tracks Hostage - "I Get High" The Count & Sinden - "Mega" The Prodigy - "Invaders Must Die" Bloc Party - "Trojan Horse (John B Remix)" Frankmusik - "Confusion Girl (Russ Chimes Remix)" La Roux - "In For The Kill (Skreams Lets Get Ravey Remix)" Little Boots - "Remedy (Rusko's 'Big Trainers' Remix)" The Black Ghosts - "Full Moon (Marlow Remix)"
Best Compilations Various Artists - "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" Various Artists - 5: Five Years of Hyperdub FabricLive.44 - Commix FabricLive.47 - Toddla T
As I said, I'll keep it coming but these were the first albums/songs to come to mind. Thank all of you for all your support; I wouldn't be where I am with out you all!
Well, short of 'official music' to post (as the IFPI have lost their minds with their fancy anti-piracy software that can't tell the difference between legit and illegal songs)... I might as well report on something of interest...
Bloc Party are officially releasing a remix version of their album Intimacy. I'm excited to hear the remix of "Letter To My Son"!
Here's the press... We’re very excited to announce that on the 11th of May we will be releasing ‘Intimacy Remixed’ on limited edition CD or triple 12”. It will also be available digitally.
The album will include remixes by Gold Panda, Mogwai and Filthy Dukes and will lead off with a remix of ‘Signs’ by Armand Van Helden which will be released on the 27th of April.
The full tracklisting is: 1. Ares – Villains remix 2. Mercury – Herve is in Disarray remix 3. Halo – We Have Band Dub 4. Biko – Mogwai remix 5. Trojan Horse – John B remix 6. Signs – Armand Van Helden remix 7. One Month Off – Filthy Dukes remix 8. Zephyrus – Phase One remix 9. Talons – Phones RIP remix 10. Better Than Heaven – No Age remix 11. Ion Square – Banjo or Freakout remix 12. Letter To My Son – Gold Panda remix 13. Your Visits are Getting Shorter – Double D remix
A MASSIVE HD video of the Van Helden mix is up on Youtube... but why not watch it here!
Well this is a little impromptu... but as things have been going lately I'll be coming BACK to finish this post a little later. Right now Hype Machine wants my URL :)
EDIT: I'm almost done as the year is ending... BUT DON'T BE SURPRISED if it keeps changing right up until NYE lol!
I initially wrote that I wasn't pleased with music this year. Then I realized I was just in a god awful mood and remembered the boat loads of albums and singles that I loved this year! Suddenly there were more and more albums I was remembering and stuff I forgot about... so instead of being bitchy and writing about how lame things were, I'm perking up and trying to remind both you and myself how dope 2008 was...
British best of... EDIT: Ok, I wasn't sure about this... but... I thought Radiohead didn't count because the digital version of "In Rainbows" came out like September last year. Then the boxed set came out in December 2007. Then I suddenly realized that the physical release actually came after the beginning of 2008! So if you recognize "In Rainbows" as being a 2008 release then that's my number one. If not then the list stays the same... 1. Portishead- "Third" 2. Hot Chip- "Made In The Dark" (download Hot Chip- "Sensual Seduction (Snoop Dogg Cover)") 3. The Black Ghosts- "S/t" (download Black Ghosts July 2007 Mini Mix) 4. Bloc Party- "Intimacy" 5. The Streets- "Everything Is Borrowed" 6. Foals- "Antidotes" 7. The Last Shadow Puppets- "Age Of Understatement" 8. Metronomy- "Nights Out" (download Metronomy - "A Thing For Me (Sinden Remix)" from the single of the same name) 9. Dizzee Rascal- "Maths & English" (came out in the U.S. this year which is fair play) 10. Benga- "Diaries Of An Afro Warrior"
Best Single: Bloc Party's "Mercury" was my favourite single of the year. Not just because of awesome remixes from CSS and Flosstradamus but the mesmerizing b-side "Idea For A Story" (which was included on the 'indie retail' version of "Intimacy" in the U.S)... the song's tense anxious strings, it's menacing chorus, and perfect production made it stand out amongst a lot of good tracks this year. What really made it my fav though was the verse... "When I saw you last night, I wanted to say, `Run away with me, away from the cynics That this could be the start of something truly real` But all that I could say was, `hey`, Was, `hey`, was, `hey`, was, `hey`" ...which is totally fucking brilliant in my opinion. Fantastic stuff. Now if only I could get my Bloc Party Pioneers account to present the right profile info lol...
Best Compilations: This is very difficult because pretty much everything that Fabric released was really really good. Perhaps... I'm gonna go with Fabriclive 42: FreQ Nasty and Stanton Warriors: Sessions Volume 3. There isn't a way to say one is better than the other because they were both phenomenal. Here's a taste of that Stanton Warriors...
Best 'Best Of': Chemical Brothers: "Brotherhood" album (which came with the amazing 'Electronic Battle Weapon' tracks they've been releasing on vinyl for the last few years) was really awesome. I think I'm giving import copies of this away for Xmas lol... (download The Chemical Brothers- "Electronic Battle Weapon 8")
Best British labels:Hyperdub for sure. They haven't had one release that was anything less than bangin'... Fabric of course makes the list because they're outdoing what they did last year and keep expanding the scope of what they're doing.
Best U.S. label of the year:Ghostly International/Spectral Sound Ghostly International/Spectral Sound for having released Michna, Osborne, Kate Simko, Tycho, School Of Seven Bells, JDSY, The Chap, and just about every other electronic or avant-pop record that you should have listened to at home or in the club.
Best E.P.s both U.S. and U.K... Frankmusik- "3 Little Words EP"
JDSY- "Understander EP"
The Cool Kids- "Bake Sale EP"
Best of the rest... of the world... Kanye West- "808s & Heartbreak" Osborne- "Osborne" JDSY- "Adage Of Known" Sébastien Tellier- "Sexuality" The Presets- "Apocalypso" Flying Lotus- "Los Angeles" Lil Wayne- "Tha Carter III" T.I.- "Paper Trail" Cut Copy- "In Ghost Colours" Crystal Castles- "S/t" Satnogold- "S/t"
Albums I'm still waiting on (that I wish would have come out this year lol)... Kid Sister- "Dream Date", The BPA album, and of course the Frankmusik's debut full length...
And even though we only JUST saw and EP this year out of him... ARTIST OF THE YEAR (and probably next year) easily goes to Frankmusik! Vincent Frank is the summation of everything I've hoped I'd see in an electronic pop artist in my lifetime. His favourite film is Blade Runner (which obviously informs his aesthetic and his songs)... he does his own take on streetwear culture looking like an accessible dude you'd hang out with at Fabric... and at the same time can turn around and look, not just respectable in a gray wool coat, but enigmatic and distant. He can put out a cheerfully frustrated song like "Confusion Girl" and within months give us the wistful longing of "Done Done". With Stuart Price (aka Jaques Lu Cont/Les Rythmes Digitales) working with him on his full length album, after being at the helm for grip of very successful Madonna tunes, it's obvious that he will not just be 'one to watch' but he very well may be one to change the course of crossover pop music as we know it. Unlike some of his peers (if you can even call them that) who will only be remembered for one song, Vincent Frank will endure, and by my estimation end up being one of the most important and successful songwriters of our generation. So while his output was relegated to remixes, and freebies, this year he still outperformed nearly every new British artist in every way. From how he handled the press, to how you can't pin down what he's doing next, to the fact that I haven't met a person who didn't enjoy his music, he's without question the artist of the year. This typically enthusiastic review isn't because Frankmusik is a friend of Arcadia but because he is a much needed breath of fresh air in a sometimes dismal musical landscape. Check him out at The Heaths Of Thornton. So hats off you to Vincent...
Best Festival Of The Year: Is very obviously Lollapalooza. I mean... how could it not be? We got to see Radiohead and KanYe rock the pants off insanely huge crowds, saw Spank Rock get like 10,000 college ho'bags nearly dropping their pants, Flosstradamus (on Curt's birthday none the less) and Franki Chan (and our once upon a time friend? Dani Deahl) wreck the dance tent, see Foals play to a group of people so large it was most likely unsafe and then have a chat afterwards about Ghostly International, and so many more awesome moments I can't even try to write about them. Believe it or not the only thing that sucked about it was that I was ripped on Morphine (due to a tooth infection, don't get it twisted) and some of the intensity of how cool it was disappeared before my tiny pupils could transmit the info to my brain. Even then we still had a ball! Veronica of Cream Team fame put the wife and I up for the weekend, which lead to going to Todd Kane's b-day party, watching an insane show with Hollywood Holt, Mic Terror, GLC, Skyler, and then chatting with the above people... we also got to avoid the velvet rope all weekend, even finding our way in to the sold out Battles/Foals show (for an interview that never materialized). And the only bad bits were that we were 3 feet away from my ex and her best friend at the entry gate on the first day (yeah, close one, as far as I can tell she didn't notice), that interview never happened, and I got a $100 parking ticket. But all things considered it doesn't get better than that. And I got to drink for once lol...
Best Concert:Bloc Party Apparently Bloc Pary did well this year as far as this blog is concerned lol. Bloc Party in Royal Oak (around Detroit) was amazing. It was the first official show to tour in North America for 'Intimacy' and it was blazing. Charles (of 'The Spirit Of Albion' fame) and I stood really close to the stage and got to see all the kids mobbing Kele when we jumped into the crowd. Much different than their Lollapalooza gig but in a good way. The band were at their very best and of the three times I've seen them this was the one that proved they had their live show perfected. Runner Up: Hot Chip at The Metro.
Keep your eye on this page... I'm not quite done with this 'best of' thing... but I'm working on it!
So, not entirely unlike Bloc Party, The Streets just sort of came out of (almost) nowhere and said "Oh yeah, the album will be out next week". Now this wasn't AS big a surprise as Bloc Party... I suppose we've very quickly come to learn that if we're seeing free tracks, or a single floating around, an album is probably around the corner.
So with all this in mind... how about a little "first listen" review?
The first one, "Everything Is Borrowed", almost reminds me of Kanye West in it's monumental sound. It's a big album opener... I've gotta say right now though that I can't really sit down and enjoy the lyrics because I'm trying to get this written as fast as I can lol...
"The Way Of The Dodo" is a guitar based track that reminds me of his earlier stuff. This song is sort of stark, the rapping is tight and quick... this is a real attempt at showing "Yes, I do really rap, not just write singles"... another strong showing, making me think this album could be a classic if it keeps up like this!
"Heaven For The Weather" (and, of course, 'hell for the company') is a sort of gospel track. I'm sure Fatboy Slim is itching to remix this puppy because it has that feel to it. Mike says (quoting someone I think) "I refuse to end up on fire with lowlifes and liars; then you're destined to for the world ???? and sweatin', the eternal boredom of heaven". Any way you cut it this is a total sing-a-long song. Still going strong, this album...
"On The Flip Of A Coin" is full of scales, a harpsichord? And a guitar that is riffing (think like SRV) a lot but not overpowering the song. This is one I want to come back to and really listen to the lyrics. There is strong songwriting on this album... truly each album he's become more and more of a song writer and not just a producer or rapper.
"Never Give In" is the first song bound for a full on disco remix (a la Basement Jaxx, or Ashley Beedle, or Braxe & Falke) as it's sort of stripped down 4/4 rock. I would nominate this as a single. Certainly there is a pattern emerging of taking things to the mountaintop and then back to the basement sound wise... epic and straightforward, which are frankly hallmarks of any Streets album.
"The Sherry End" is still stripped down disco but on it's ear (think Larry Levan's "Heartbeat" but faster with guitars and funk). It's got funny squeaks and horns and just begs to be danced to. It's really starting to seem like musically this is a great departure from the last three albums but in a really good way... you can't peg this album, but it also doesn't sound like a calculated mess. No one sat down and said "OK, we're going to do this many songs that sound like this, and this many like that..." I love this song.
"The Strongest Person I Know" I all harp really. I mean very quiet and different from the rest of these songs. This is the really personal number like "Never Went To Church" but not a single... which doesn't mean it's not good! It's just more of a lullaby type song. I'm not sure if it's a love song or about a family member because I'm not able to listen to the lyrics in such a cursory listen.
"The Escapist" was given away for free of course by Vice and from what I understand is the first single. It's pretty epic with lots of instrumentation. I don't need to tell you much about this because I just posted it. It's a huge track and you should just go listen to it!
"I Love You More (Than You Like Me)" starts with piano and a stomping beat... once again stark but captivating. Mike Skinner has gotten smart by 'hiding' sounds deep in the mix of these more low key songs so you're actually hearing more than you notice. It seems there's not a lot going on but there really is a bunch going on. There hasn't been a Men vs Women type song so far and this is it. How could you have a Streets album without a song where women don't quite get Mike?
"On The Edge Of A Cliff" is really funky and almost psychedelic. Like really a merging of 3 different types of 'stoner' music lol... there are funk guitars again, horns, rapping... This is groove based, and ironically reminds me a little of the same TIME PERIOD (nothing else) as Elton John's "Are You Ready For Love" (ironic because of the Elton cover Mike Skinner did for Radio 1)... like that late 70's fusion sound. This song is not really similar to the aforementioned one outside of style... it's rock influenced by both disco and Gil Scott Heron.
"Alleged Legends" is MEGA EPIC and is very very very string heavy. The beat is urgent and mysterious. This totally sounds like someone driving away in an Aston Martin surrounded by fog from something secretive. Very cinematic, and a great ending to an album.
I'm not sure I should hook you up with new songs so... instead chew on this...
"If you can't wait to hear why the critics are getting their knickers in such a twist over the album, then head over to Mike's MySpace. There, you can hear seven of the record's tracks on the music player. Plus, as Mayhem's latest News blog explains, the other four tracks have been hidden on other bands' profiles, scattered across MySpace. So if you look hard enough, you'll be able to hear the whole shebang. And, while you're on MySpace, head over to the music homepage to watch Mike on his trip to Prague to record strings and to check out some of his favourite bands. Deep."
Word.
Here's the new video from The Streets called "Everything Is Borrowed"
While were on new releases, here's the video for Bloc Party's new one "Talons"... can't get enough of these guys!
Ok, that's it for now. Sorry I couldn't get more in depth... just wanted to give you a quick idea what you're in for! Be back soon!
I SWEAR I'm going to get the Howie B interview up today... I'm shit at preparing and transcribing interviews...
You guys have missed out on 3-5 good interviews because of that (speaking of interviews one of the good women at Bang On is still following up on the Foals interview; you will get it eventually!).... but given the increase in this site's profile, and the seriousness with which other people are regarding it, I can no longer treat this like some 'dog and pony show'.
Arcadia has become of interest to people who I only could have dreamed of speaking with, much less working with... so I promise that from here on out this will be a professional operation... you know besides my lack of punctuation, my use of swear words, total over enthusiasm, and fan boy-ish tendencies.
With that said... Atlantic Records hooked your boy up with two tickets to see Bloc Party last night. I know they've been getting a lot of coverage here on the site... usually I don't like to do back to back to back to back posts (unless it's about Flosstradamus lol... who you may remember did work on the 'Mercury' single)...
...Charles and I had to skip out on Bronco Bash which is a GREAT way for 'The Spirit Of Albion' to reach out to new students in the area... we couldn't get a sub so we had to miss out on a great opportunity :( Sorry students... we'll make it up eventually!
Charles hadn't heard the new album so we listened to the whole thing on the way over to Detroit (Royal Oak really). I explained to him of course that my preference is in the 'weirder' tracks on the new album... it got us really psyched to see the show for sure.
When we got there I remembered suddenly spending time in Royal Oak with my ex and her graphic designer friend so it was easy to find parking lol. I also remembered seeing Craig David there a few years ago.. but we won't get into that lol... First, before I tell you of this awesome show, let's give you some tracks! I try to only upload tracks that a) are non-album tracks, and b) will spark your interest to look into more of their work, not steal their music. My belief is that if you really feel dedicated to a band, and their art, you'll buy the music... especially if someone gives you some free stuff to fuel that fire lol...
Side note: The latter track is a track from the 'non-album' (whose title came from the blogosphere) called 'Another Weekend In The City'... it's quite a good album I might add! It's just more proof that these guys want to please their fans... 'A Weekend In The City' got leaked so they had a WHOLE 'NOTHER ALBUM ready for the fans when it was actually released! You may have all this as it's kind of old news but if you're just getting into Bloc Party (or are just becoming a fanatic) this is what the tracks for the non-album are... they can be bought online and we're the "bonus tracks" for the album in each region the album was sold in...
We Were Lovers/ Cain Said To Abel/ Version 2.0/ The Once And Future King/ Secrets/ Rhododendron/ England/ Vision Of Heaven/ Selfish Son/ Atonement/ Emma Kate's Accident
Anyway, Holy Fuck we're the opener and it was nice to hear them play 'Lovely Allen'! I picked up a nice shirt with a girl covered in a scarf that says Bloc Party at the bottom. We stood in a crowd of mostly freshman age kids waiting for them to start playing. The crowd was completely ecstatic awaiting their arrival... This mood prevailed all night long and was visible in the bands demeanor as well. It was an important show because this is the first "North American" show for the new album Intimacy. It was also the first show with Gordon Moakes back on bass (he was off taking Daddy Leave)... and it was the first time a lot of the new songs were played. Seeing them (dazed on my end due to that Morphine for my then infected tooth) at Lollapalooza was cool but as good as it was it seemed like preparation for this show. They we're excited and ready to go!
To give you an idea of the awesomeness that we witnessed here's the setlist from Blog Party...
Halo (first time played live) / Hunting For Witches / Positive Tension / Waiting For The 7.18 / Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Banquet / This Modern Love / The Once And Future King / Mercury / The Prayer / One Month Off / Like Eating Glass
Ion Square (first time played live) / Price Of Gasoline / Flux / Helicopter
The band was literally all smiles. Kele bounced around and almost acted out the lyrics, thrusting his hips, throwing his arms around... they were all really into it. The obvious high point was Kele jumping into the crowd for 'Mercury'... I didn't rush to get close to him because I've met him before (and I'm a 26 year old man so it would have been more than a little dorky)... he's a nice guy, very level headed. He was impressed that I had the first EP on vinyl for him to sign when I met him, and his desire to have a little convo made me a Bloc Party convert for life... I feel like I could sit in a room right now with the band and spend a whole day with them and get along really well. That's how it should be with bands, not this holier than thou bullshit. Bloc Party are a band of the people and really respect their fans... because of this the crowd didn't maul him, they treated him like they knew and respected him.
'Halo' was amazing... all the new songs we're really good... especially 'Ion Square' (which is a new favourite). These four songs, Waiting For The 7.18 / Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Banquet / This Modern Love, elicited loads of applause and excitement from the crowd. This was where the band got really relaxed and was starting to really soar. They made mention of this being the first North American show, and Kele said the first time they played Detroit he lost his voice saying it was one of his worst shows ever. Of course the crowd disagreed with him!
During 'Song For Clay' Kele struggled to find the notes at first so Russell played the chords to guide him and they took off. It was brilliant. Charles who is a fan, of their 'recorded work' as he put it, said he is more of a fan now after seeing their spirited live show. This was my third time seeing them and I think it was their best. Kele's voice sounded perfect, and his practice was obvious for this tour... the rest of the band kept it really tight, and powerhouse drummer Matt Tong helped keep the show moving during technical difficulties (which the audience didn't even seem to car about).
They did play what I've been calling the 'American radio bound singles' (i.e. "Halo" and "One Month Off") and despite the fact I prefer the more experimental songs, their dedication to playing these songs made me enjoy them more though! I gotta say... this band, despite people being critical of them *cough, Pitchfork*, are getting to the point where they can do no wrong (in my eyes, and I guess most of that audience last night).
"Ion Square" was the first song in the encore, and it was so good I was content with not staying (I knew 'Flux' and 'Banquet' were going to be in the encore and I've seen those... we caught part of 'Price Of Gas')... I'm glad I was able to capture some of this for you guys...
Bare in mind before you watch these that cameras WERE NOT ALLOWED AT THE VENUE. I was searched right before I went in, but as a member of the new school press, a camera magically appeared in my hand although I had not brought one to the show! I didn't want to break any rules so 'swim' took the pictures and videos while standing right where I was for the sake of documenting a historic show for the blogosphere :) What a nice magical thing to have happen. Not unlike the recording from Lollapalooza I didn't make!
Here's "Mercury"... it's dark and distorted.. but Kele jumped into the crowd for most of the song which is why (at one point he was standing right over Charles and I though). Despite the loss of quality it's still worth taking a look at :)
The final word is (and has been) that Bloc Party are an all around AMAZING band, the new album is great (IMHO), and they are killer live. Go and see them if you get a chance... peep an interview over at P4K... go to their YouTube channel... and if it's your thing, appreciate that one of the best and biggest bands of our generation wants to be on the ground level with us.
Ok, come back soon and I PROMISE you'll have the interview you've been waiting for :)
P.s. Here's so videos from the making of 'A Weekend In The City'...
So, I just got done doing an interview with the legendary Howie B... the man can be described as nothing other than a legend, is a really nice bloke, and I could have talked to him for an hour. Apparently his next big move is drilling for oil but you're going to have to wait.
Oh what little treat can I throw your way to satiate your musical urges for a few hours? Hmmmmmm... I gotta give you something to fuel these end of summer parties, club nights, back-to-mines, love affairs, dorm parties... whatever the hell you kids are into now! Hopefully this will do it :)
This is a wicked little rework that came from Prodigy on a comp here recently... surely a better fit than that "Love Buzz" rework.. I mean I LOVE Prodigy but... that wasn't quite my style... this is... The Prodigy- "Ghost Town" YSI
I can't get enough of Bloc Party and that new album... in fact I'm hoping to see them on Saturday night! Let's cross our fingers on that one :) Bloc Party- "Flux (BBC6 Session)" YSI
Now I lost interest in Gnarls Barkley when I lost my copy of their first cd... I'm sure it's in my ex-girlfriends car. Whatevs. But this Radiohead cover is pretty sick.. check it out... Gnarls Barkley- "Reckoner (Radiohead Cover)" YSI
This has been out for a while as the American extra on the Dizzee Rascal album... but I just got around to listening to it... too much music... Enjoy it though! Dizzee Rascal- "Megamaster 1.0 (Mixed by El-P)" YSI
And lastly this is the leak from Vice for the new album by The Streets... this album is going to be off the fucking hook and I hope you all buy it the day it comes out to make records! The Streets- "The Escapist" YSI
I thought I would also mention Franz Ferdinand have started blogging on MOG (which if you haven't figured out yet I'm quite fond of. Here's a few links to what they have going on...
Speaking of blogs, you'll notice in the blogroll that Klaxons are in full blog fever... I'm not going to link them all here but you can find them on the side! That second album will no doubt be amazing. The moment that James Ford mentioned it when I was interviewing him my heart jumped... I am obsessed with hearing that record! Even the demos! Come on guys?!?!
Anyway, the Howie B interview will be up soon... it's a hoot. You guys will love it. Check back soon...
I'm very happy they managed to not have this one leak. I like being surprised by an album's release. They were pretty tight lipped about this one!
I've mentioned them in the blog a few times recently (*Cough*Flosstradamus Mercury Remix)... but I thought I'd post some oldies to get you ramped up for the new album!
NOTE: I will be back to put in 'backup downloads' soon. If YSI won't let you download it, there will be new links up shortly.
I've only been listening to this new album since I woke up... but I already really like it. AND I THINK YOU SHOULD BUY IT, NOT TRY IT ON FOR SIZE AND WAIT A FEW MONTHS AND FORGET TO BUY IT!
I initially wasn't sold on Bloc Party. I didn't like Silent Alarm... at first. I thought they were impostors or something. Boy was I wrong. On top of being wrong I not only loved the first album but became a strong supporter of the oft maligned A Weekend In the City. I also got to meet the band in between album one and two, and have to say Kele is one of the nicest front men I've ever met. So with all that said... please don't C&D me Bloc-Party's-label :)
Here's a little video to remind you why you fell in love with this band to begin with... I love that it's 'Helicopter' is about George Bush. It makes me feel good that someone can write a political song that doesn't make me want to sleep...
Ok I gotta haul ass to work. Getting a new boss and stuff... or at least a new owner. Which means today needs to be a BIG production day. Wish me luck! And be on the look out for my review of the new Fabric discs...
So, here and there I throw in a little mention about my buddy Curt from Flosstradamus (shit they got mentioned in the last post)... I love their shit, I believe that Flosstradamus (and the children) are our future... and this guy doesn't even mention to me that he's remixing Bloc Party! Whaaaaaaaa? I had to text him the other night and congratulate/give him shit about it.
Anyway, by asking the right people politely, I got us a STREAM of the song.
Nope. Sorry. Can't let you download it.
In this case it really would be like taking money out of my friends wallet and handing it to you... and I hope you respect that. I try to stay away from streams but this I feel is appropriate.
The remix is sick as fuck... it's really electro-y... but there's a point where you totally want to mix in a Bonde Do Role song... which basically means it can find itself getting put into lots of different mixing genres (without sounding all over the place). The original is hype, this is remix just takes it to another level.
Now are you going to Lollapalooza to see both Bloc Party and Kid Sister and Flosstradamus? I hope so! If you can't make it, check this out and get a Bloc Party Fan Club Membership, as well as three versions of the single. Holla...
Anyway,ee ya there. I'll be the sweaty guy holding his jaw with the really hot wife. Post again soon!
It's... I've been crazy busy. More like I've been crazy. Whatever... this time of year is kind of fun for all of us that don't have normal families. Or it's crazy for those of us that don't have normal work situations and get blamed for things we couldn't have possibly done because we don't even have the permissions in the programs that these alleged things happened in. *COUGH* I'm real sick of getting blamed for things I didn't do. Just in case you were wondering WORK.
ANYWAY... since there is no coherent theme to anything I'm saying... lets do the same with the post!
I'm fucking super mega stoked about this AWESOME 8 Bit insanity that Quarta 330 is dropping on Hyperdub. Those guys can do no wrong... as you know from my Last.fm account, Burial is like all I'm listening to... and I'm one of Kode 9's top listeners... I'm all about that Hyperdub! BECAUSE OF THAT I'M NOT GOING TO BE KEEPING THIS UP LONG! YOU SHOULD SUPPORT QUARTA 330 AND DOWNLOAD THIS SONG ON eMUSIC!
Gorillaz are releasing another b-sides collection, this time called "D Sides"... there is a remix disc, and come on, who doesn't love remixes... if you read this blog I know you LOVE em... I'm all about Metronomy...
And while I'm talking about Metronomy... they were on the first Kitsune Maison album... and Kitsune is NOW ON FUCKING eMUSIC!!! HOW FUCKING INSANE IS THAT!?!?!? Get it while it's good (Ed Banger made it like one month and then took all their shit off)... Check it out... just search of Metronomy and click on the only link and it will take you there... you know... after you sign up via my banners :)
And... uh... what else? How about more Hyperdub... I love Bloc Party so you need to go buy the "Flux" single to get this little gem. Why you ask? Because a) this music is supposed to be for evaluation purposes only and deleated 24 hrs after it is downloaded and b) the fucking single looks awesome. Also as people keep buying less and less and less from the music world the singles are going to become crazy collectible because no one is going to have th physical copies. Have you seen "Flux"? IT LOOKS FUCKING AWESOME!
And that's that. I'm just going to have a depressathon for now and figure my life out really really quickly. Sorry if you don't reach me in that time. I'll be back soon... I've got so many other blogs I'm working on, songs I'm writing, family members I'm helping, people I'm trying to entertain, things I'm getting blamed for that I didn't do, that I forget sometimes to give you guys love. Just ask my girlfriend. It's not easy. But I love you... you'll get your music... don't worry... everybody else may not get they shit though... ya heard?
WORK! YOU AIN'T GETTING MY NECK YA HEARD! I DIDN'T DO THAT SHIT... BLAME IT ON THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY DID IT (hint: It's not me, or the other person you are blaming it on even though all the circumstantial evidence points there; have you ever read a detective novel? Or, you know, recognized that it's possible that everything isn't always as it seems... and people DO try to frame people? Well my easy target ass is sick of that... seriously... leave me alone... I do a really good job, especially given the fact that you blame everything that goes wrong on me. Funny thing to do to the guy who just got Employee Of The Month lol...)
So I still haven't been around as much as I would like to be... I'm working on it. Doing and album (or rather demos) you end up having way more shit to take care of than you can even remember to do. I'm trying to hit all the bases and make it happen this time... so if any of you have a good hookup in the electronic music world and want to help your favourite blogger it would be appreciated!
ANYWAY... I have a renewed faith in "new rave" (if there is such a thing... which of course there isn't... just a large coincidence that people started noticing dancy bands again) right now. I like my British rock and I like my dance music (as you very well know from the multiple "new rave" posts... I want to shoot myself for using that word) so it fucking rocks my world like nothing else. I can't tell you anything you don't already know about the scene at the moment but I can offer up some sweet tunes.
Hadouken are like the most absurd fucking band I have ever heard. They come off like a dare... but they are also completely enchanting in some way. Like a white Spank Rock kind of... kind of. Except not. There really isn't a parallel. I just suggest you check them out. Why not start out with their indie kid bashing single "That Boy That Girl" and their wicked Bloc Party remix of "The Prayer"...
Another band who's songs I've had stuck in my head recently is These New Puritans. Their demo for "Elvisss" is fucking awesome (we played it on 'Albion' Friday night)... I first heard it on NME's Dancefloor Distortion that Simian Mobile Disco did and have been in love with it ever since... after you download the song, peep their website that has LOADS of demos (and bits and bobs) that you can download! These guys are the greatest band you may not have heard about if you live here in the U.S... expect to hear more of them on our show!
Speaking of Simian Mobile Disco... if you weren't aware James Ford from SMD did the production of Klaxons "Myths Of The Near Future"... but it doesn't just stop there! He has also done productions for others and remixes for the likes of Shitdisco! Below is his banging remix of "I Know Kung Fu" (btw I totally suggest you pop over to eMusic and pick up both of their E.P.s because they are totally worth it... and of course if you sign up for eMusic from this site you make me a little money lol)...
Tomorrow I'm going to try to post again... I want to do a post on Paul Epworth (aka Phones) because he's been a super big part of the scene... hopefully you guys will dig it... in the meantime, thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave some comments... you guys are the best!
Yours truly (to the left) at a Bloc Party signing @ Intonation Festival 2006
Boy do I love some fucking Bloc Party. When this album leaked I was equal parts sad and excited. It took me quite a while to decide if I was going to review or post from it and I finally decided I would post... but not any new 'album' tracks. This is the second part of my review with all sorts of (non-album) awesomeness to get you excited. Let's start with a little video from the above festival...
And here's the video from that day @ Intonation Festival... it's actually pretty good quality!
As I've taken a more in depth look at the theme and the lyrics, it's become apparent that this is the 'grown up' version of the Arctic MonkeysWhatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not... It deals with going out, getting fucked up, feeling great, having a good old time, and having to deal with the fall out afterwards. In fact, fall out is one of the main themes of this album... What happens after terrorist attacks? What happens when people feel displaced? Where do I belong NOW? Is there anyone here for me? Is any of this real? Is this really worth it? Can I go on? There have been a lot of albums tackling the day-to-day working class grind in 2006 but this album comes at it from a different angle. Is there hope after things (i.e. buses, buildings, brain cells, adolescence) are destroyed or disappear? I hope you guys enjoy my assessment and PLEASE feel free to comment!
Here's the b-side of the album... 7) Where Is Home? This is another identity/immigration song starting out "Everyday, we are reminded, that this is not home for us..." adding to further the existential dread on this album a little more. I think this is quite a strong song on the second half, and makes good use of 'choir vocals' (like 'The Prayer') and stutter effects. This certainly isn't a hard sounding song, nor is it a light ballad... this is one of the songs that shows their new approach holds water. A driving beat with a tortured melody. (Btw I think this song is about Kele's cousin who was killed in a 'racist attack' and, OBVIOUSLY, how his family dealt with it). 8) Kreuzburg This starts out with an intro that will remind you of 'This Modern Love' but to write it off as derivative would be silly... that most certainly isn't the case, because the moment the drums kick in and Kele starts singing "I/ I have decided/ At 25/ That something has to change" this song will wrap itself right around your heart. That is unless you hate Bloc Party. Because if you do I don't think this track is going to convert you... in short if you like them this song will captivate you after one listen on a pair of headphones, but people who don't like Bloc Party will site this song as being a weak link. And they will be wrong. If you ARE in your mid-twenties then lines like "After sex/ The bitter taste/ Been fooled again/ The search continues" will really resonate (especially if you DO live in the city)... but if you're a 36 year old surly music critic this shit will seem so far away and so opposed to your need for another 'Gang Of Four like' album that you will hate it. End of story. 9) I Still Remember Bloc Party- "It Started In An Afternoon (Live @ Northumbria)" which is an early version of I Still Remember Bloc Party- "It Started In An Afternoon (Live @ Northumbria)" zShare
This is a song about a love that could have been, and how if reminded Kele would still remember and it could blossom now... and that is a nice sentiment. Problem is this is one of the weaker songs on the album. Don't get me wrong, it's a pretty little song and will grace MANY mix tapes... but it just doesn't aim for (and hence doesn't achieve) the greatness that the rest of the album does. I think cursory listens to the album made people say it's front loaded because of this song. Because it doesn't have the depth or the experimental reach that the rest of the album does (I mean it's not bad, it good enough, but it should have been a b-side and it could have held it's own). AND it also drags down the song before it and the song after it....
10) Sunday This is the song that the LAST song should have been. It tackles adult themes saying "I love you in the morning , When you’re still hung-over/ I love you in the morning, when you’re still strung out", saying 'no, this wasn't a one night stand, I really care about you even after the magic of our booze and drug filled nights ends'. The lyrics on this song are fucking fantastic and show that even if a Bloc Party song is softer it can still carry a wallop. Anybody agree with me on this? Because this song is not fluff. It really helps the theme work as more of a story.
11) SXRT By this time, I will admit, you are probably saying "What's up with all the slow stuff, huh Bloc? You guys lost all the party on the first half of the album!" and I can't blame you. But listen close to the lyrics (just like on the last song) and you will appreciate how fucking great this song is. This album is a great album closer... especially since it's about killing yourself (and frankly we know their isn't anything more rock'n'roll than that right? lol). "If you want to know what makes me sad/ Well it's hope, the endurance of faith/ A battle that lasts a lifetime/ A fight that never ends" is a perfect description of a life led in too much quiet desperation seeking a final solution. These are some of the best lyrics they've ever written by a mile. Outside of one song this whole second half has been really emotionally intense and (I think) the better for it.
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO what's my final assessment? I think this is a great sophomore album. I also think it's going to be a sort of Kid A sort of thing where people are either going to love it or hate it. Once again if you're looking for a direct descendant of post punk it's not here; this album has post punk influences but it's not just that, this has a lot more ambition than that. People who only really liked the really guitar driven Bloc Party songs will hate this album and talk it into the ground, whereas people who appreciate the bands vision and enjoy their more sensitive stuff will love it.
BUT, for all the nice things I've said about it, I think "Uniform" and "I Still Remember" are the two weak-er songs on here. It's not that they aren't good but, they just aren't as strong as the rest of them. "Uniform" and it's cock rock guitars I've heard 7 million times bore me to a degree but it's still a good song (however I think this is the track that the 'guitar' loving BlocHeads will dig; I will only deduct .5 for this) and "I Still Remember" does sort of seem like Laguna Beach fodder in comparison to "SXRT" (for which I will take off a whole point). But I think it's a fantastic album overall and I can't stop listening to it!
Final Rating: 8.5/10
(But it's a 10 in my heart!)
This is a track I'm REALLY excited to hear as a b-side... from what I've read in the official Bloc Party Forum this should have been on the album it's so good...
And while you're at it... there's a BUNCH of recently arrived Bloc Party EPs over at eMusic for you to enjoy... from the 'Dimmakified' remix EP, to 'Two More Years' to the original 'Bloc Party EP' that I had Kele sign this summer... it's all there! And if you click on the link below you will make me some MUCH needed Christmas money!
FAIR USE NOTICE: This page may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This website distributes this material, without profit from said material, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research, criticism, and journalistic purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107. IF YOU ARE THE OWNER OF THE COPYRIGHT, OR A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE OWNER, please email me to have the content removed. This site is meant to promote the artists and help spread the word... before making a complaint please contact me.
This blog is a place for me to share music I love in hopes of spreading the spirit of albion. This music is only here for sampling - if you like the song, support the band, buy the album, or go to the show. If you are the owner of a sound file and would like it removed, please contact me: ifallforeveryone AT gmail DOT com
