It's hard to believe that Soko hasn't had an actual album out yet. She's been the poster girl for the French singer songwriter movement for a while now (see the playful angst of I'll Kill Her and the almost heartbreakingly sweet If You Break My Heart) but amazingly enough, she's yet to release a full album of her own. So after so much buzz about her on teh interwebz over the past few years, it's about time she show us all what she can do. Just as well she's (allegedly) bringing one out in February then.
After taking a break from music due to her self-proclaimed "death,"it appears that Soko is set to be resurrected with new album I Thought I Was an Alien. I think I speak for all of us when I say yay!
From the sounds of the teaser track which goes by the same name, I Thought.. is going to be a much more dreamy, whimsical incarnation of the Soko we (vaguely) know and love. I've got a good feeling that this album will be worth the wait and will give her the success she deserves- definitely one to watch out for.
Feeling Christmassy yet? No? Me neither. Infact, I'd probably be silently judging you if you were; it's early November for goodness sake, let's not wish the year away quite yet shall we? Nevertheless, I think we can all agree that this time of year has no other redeeming qualities. We can all gush about the falling leaves and the festive glow but when it comes down to it it's still bloody cold and everything feels like far too much effort. So, after one of those days, I've decided to start Christmas that little bit earlier, just this once.
As far as collaborations go, I wasn't expecting the likes of Tim Wheeler to team up with Emmy the Great, but it kind of works. Although 'Home for the Holidays' is almost nauseatingly sweet, it's definitely a grower. Perhaps by the time Christmas rolls around you'll be ready to forgive the sleighbells and find something to relish about winter, even if it's still miserable outside.
Time for my annual 'sorry I've neglected you' post it seems. Whenever the school year starts again my priorities tend to go out of the window and everything musical gets put on the backburner- ridiculous I know. I mean really, what's more important than blathering on about the veritable cornucopia of new releases and hype bands that's out there? So naturally, with 3 essays due in the space of a fortnight, I've done the sensible thing and returned to where
I belong for those extra few minutes of procrastination. Ah, it's good to be back.
Anyway, narcissism aside, over the past few weeks I've been collecting new music with the same vigour of a nerdy 90's kid collecting Pokemon cards. Over the next few days I'll be showcasing some of the spoils of my quest in the hopes of forgetting about the imminent coldness and melancholy that is winter.
First up is London based 'goth' quartet Veronica Falls.
Cool, simplistic and very very hipster, Veronica Falls make music designed to charm. Despite suicide, stalkers and all manner of bleak things featuring on their debut self titled record, the group's naive harmony and 80's inspired swirling guitar leaves one feeling more chilled than creeped out.
While there isn't much in the way of diversity here, it doesn't seem to be entirely a bad thing. Each song effortlessly drifts into the next to ensure maximum mellowness; not great if you're looking for something to awaken your senses and get you on the dancefloor, but perfect for the morning after the night before.
If you're planning on donning some black rimmed glasses and dipping your toe into the pool of hipster, Veronica Falls is a great place to start.
After stumbling across this over on The Recommender, I literally can't get enough.
This is exactly the kind of sleazy, devil may care grunge that's just perfect for a friday night. Everything from the ambivalent vocals to the mesh of musical styles both old and new, to the (rather inventive) comic book she's released to coincide with the single indicate that Foe isn't just another female alt artist, but something much more fresh and exciting. Foe is definitely one to watch out for, it's only a matter of time before she becomes a permanent fixture in the UK's indie and alternative scene.
Another day, another songwriter. Or at least that's what it's starting to seem like lately. Maybe the lukewarm summer sun is bringing them out from the shadows or perhaps they're just spurred on by the likes of folk posterboy Frank Turner: either way it's clear that everyone and his horse wants to get in on a bit of the action. While this can only be a good thing in terms of music as a whole, it's easy for a genre of this calibre to become stagnant and bland. However, every so often you find one artist interesting enough to make up for the stream of generic folk types, and today that's in the form of Mr Ben Parcell.
With an album entitled Humble Beginnings, Ben Parcell certainly lives up to expectations. Laidback and carefree, it draws on both punk and folk influences from the likes of Green Day and Billy Bragg to create an upbeat vibe that's perfect for accompanying days spent lazing about in the sun. Parcell, a self-confessed Turner fan, has clearly taken a leaf out of his hero's book when it comes to making music both passionate and distinctive; something that songs like Close Your Eyes do very well.
While it's not going to completely alter your conception of reality and there appears to be a distinct lack of hooks, this is a record that doesn't boast anything other than what it is. A good, solid, humble beginning. Having only started making music in 2010, Parcell has clearly got a long way to go until he draws in crowds on the scale of Turner and Bragg, but it seems to me that he's definitely one to watch out for in the future. I think I'll be keeping an eye on him (in a non-stalkery capacity).
From JLS condoms to Manics party poppers, there seems to be no end to the lengths musicians (or rather their labels) will go to ensure we buy tacky crap with their logo on, moreso now that bands have to contend with a recovering economy and largescale piracy, amongst other such bother.
Personally I've never been one to buy into that kind of thing; admittedly I've been known to get a poster or two in my time, but largely I think the music is more than enough. I'd much prefer to use the money to see them at a gig rather than get some t-shirt that my mother will inevitably shrink in the wash.
However, the latest addition to the mountains of merch is something I think I can get behind. Rather appropriately, Northern band Elbow are set to release their very own brand of beer.
Robinson's brewery have created their very own brand of beery goodness as a tribute to the homegrown band's current success, having played some of the biggest festivals in the country and managing to pick up a second Mercury nomination for Build a Rocket Boys!
While the beer had previously only been available in the band's local city of Manchester, Robinson's have decided to roll out Build a Rocket Boys! beer and cask ale to the rest of the country as from October, with a significant percentage of sales going towards Oxfam's East Africa famine appeal.
As a fan of the frothy stuff, I'm intrigued to see if this will actually be any good. It's certainly a marketable idea in an age where many are scrimping on the luxuries but still want to enjoy a nice cold pint or two.
If you're interested in finding out just what Build a Rocket Boys! tastes like, keep an eye on 'Elbow beer' on Facebook for more info on when the beer will be released.
Thursday 11 August 2011
This mysterious video has just been tweeted by Sigur Ros..
A rather topical rant in the form of another charming folk ditty by emerging talent Grace Petrie.
Grace has been a firm favourite of mine ever since I stumbled across her set one sunny day at Glastonbury's Leftfield stage last year and she's yet to disappoint. Both genuinely thought provoking and refreshing, it's difficult to ignore this young woman's talent. Full of tales of love ire and the odd political diatribe, Petrie's new album Tell Me a Story is a fine testament to just how great the folk scene is at the moment. Every song packs as much punch as the last and one cannot help but hang on every word. If you like gutsy, real folk without an ounce of conceit, then look no further.
Everyone's favourite pretentious electro outfit IAMX are back with another shiny track from recent album Volatile Times.
Supposedly written about "a child of the infinite," Bernadette sounds like the soundtrack to some twisted fairground scene in a horror film (or at least a particularly creepy scene from Scooby Doo). While catchy and sleek like much of IAMX's work, the strings and rather trippy theramin just send shivers down my spine. If I were Bernadette I'd be a bit freaked out.
So after a day reliving my youth with some Maiden, I now find myself in uncharted waters. This is where I begin to crawl out of my comfort zone and into the deep dark depths of metal, and already I'm missing the safe comforts of the xylophone. Still, onwards and upwards to my next recommendation.
For a band with such a quaint and unassuming name, Parkway Drive are certainly anything but.
Parkway Drive don't seem like a band for the fainthearted. Each song is like being shoved against a wall of sound and then screamed at for 4 minutes; something that shouldn't seem all that appealing, but surprisingly, is (though maybe that's just me..). This is most definitely the yang to Maiden's yin.
Although I was expecting something perhaps more measured in terms of vocals and at times it sounds like the poor man needs a soother, overall I was left mildly impressed.
Nevertheless, I can't say they've managed to convert me to the dark side just yet. The guitarwork, while strong, just feels a bit relentless and samey at times: there's just not much in the way of dynamics (aside from loud). But then I suppose that's kind of the point. What they lack in subtlety though they make up for in atmosphere and consistency, making it the kind of metal you can dance to without necessarily killing yourself.
All in all a very interesting, if striking band. I don't think I've quite found my metal band yet, but it's a jolly good place to start.
6/10
Monday 25 July 2011
Noel Gallagher's new solo stuff may sound a bit like Oasis 2.0, but having been in such a successful and influential band it's not entirely surprising to see. What is noticeable here though is, shockingly, a touch of class; something virtually non-existent in Noel's previous incarnation. I'm certainly intrigued by Noel's upcoming solo stuff, it's already sounding a thousand times better than anything Beady Eye have done thus far.
I think we can all agree that the past week or so has been difficult to stomach. After a couple of days of 24 hour news coverage and watching everything seemingly implode, I'm about ready to crawl inside a cave and stay there until the alien invasion, or at least until things calm down a bit. One of the two.
It's so easy to lose faith in the world when you see what some people are capable of, but it's worth remembering that for every barbaric Nazi twat there's a calm stoic Norwegian there to remind us just how strong the human condition really is. And for every moment of desperation and Justin Bieber there's a band that can elevate your soul to an entirely different dimension and make even the darkest day that little bit brighter.
So make a cup of tea, play this song and hope for a better week. It's about all you can do really.
My heart goes out to all those who have been affected by the atrocities in Norway, the famine in Africa and the train crash in China. You can donate to the disaster relief fund for Africa here. The world is a scary place, thank God we've got music there to soften the blow.
Saturday 23 July 2011
A talented woman taken way before her time.
Amy Winehouse
14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011
RIP
Friday 22 July 2011
This is stunning in its simplicity. Makes me long for the cold marble floors and unearthly acoustics of the cathedral more than ever. It's amazing how just a few voices and an organ can create such a beautiful sound.
If you haven't heard the new album from The Horrors yet then you're missing out. Having not been tremendously impressed with Primary Colours, I was a bit unsure whether to give the band a second chance. However, after one listen to Skying I'm firmly back in the fan club. As difficult as it was to accept the new dreamy style the band have adopted since the days of Strange House, it seems to work well here. Each song is distinctive in its own way, making something much more memorable than anything on their last album. There's more than a touch of The Stone Roses here as well, a factor which certainly works in their favour. The combination of synth and reverse guitar work manages to create a trippy yet optimistic atmosphere which, unlike their previous work, leaves one feeling happily dazed rather than seasick.
The Horrors are a band who have been constantly evolving since their conception. It's clear that after a few initial teething pains, the band have grown up to become one of the post punk scene's strongest players.
To celebrate the release of eagerly anticipated fourth album Happiness V Sadness, Robots in Disguise were due to throw yet another raucous electro riot down in good old Brizzle this evening. Unfortunately, for reasons unknown, the venue cancelled the gig at the last minute, leaving one very disappointed music blogger in our midst.
One is not amused..
You can't help but really feel for these guys, they seem to be constantly fighting an uphill path. Despite this being their fourth album, the band have never quite achieved the levels of success they deserve. With tracks more energised than a toddler on crack, Sue and Dee have managed to capture the essence of what it is to be young and carefree, making them the perfect soundtrack to teenage debauchery and house parties gone wrong. And yet I'm still met with a resounding 'who?' when I mention them. Honestly, some people!
But despite their underground status and the difficulties they've faced in terms of funding the new album, what's really great to see is that after all this time and effort they're still just as wired as ever. Robots in Disguise are a band that works hard and parties harder, check them out if you want to join the fun.
Already being a fan of Iron Maiden I realise this is a bit of a cop out. But hey, I'm in for a long, loud month so just give me this one, ok? Truth be told, I haven't had a good listen to Brucey and co for far too long. I remember being given Somewhere Back in Time by my dad when I'd just started getting into music and playing it constantly; so much so that years later, after not listening to it since then, I still remember pretty much every word. Thinking about it, Iron Maiden was always going to be the perfect place to start my metallic escapade really, it just feels like coming home.
In order to widen my palette which is, afterall, the entire point of this, I opted for an album of theirs I wasn't too familiar with: A Matter of Life and Death. I'd say that for anyone wanting to get into this genre of music, AMOLAD is a fine place to start. It's clearly a well constructed album that seems to just flow from one song to the next without becoming too heavy. The contrast in dynamics throughout the album really help to draw you into the music and Dickinson's vocals just glue the whole thing together perfectly. For someone who's had no professional vocal training, his range is insane. There's also plenty of hooks here to keep those with even the shortest of attention spans entertained. Infact, the entire thing just comes across as incredibly polished. Whether this is actuality a good thing or not is up to interpretation, but for me personally, it works.
A Matter of Life and Death is an album that completely shatters any preconceptions you may have had about metal. Contrary to popular (ignorant) belief, it's not all angry shouting and insane amounts of distortion, metal can be as riveting and finely crafted as any other artform. This is pretty much everything I love about rock, so if my experiment yields no other benefit, at least I'll have rekindled an old flame.
10/10
Wednesday 20 July 2011
There's something so achingly bittersweet about this, makes me want to give the lead singer a hug and yet hit him in the face at the same time.
That's normal, right?
After taking a seven year hiatus, Death in Vegas are set to come back with a bang.
Man at the helm of the electro krautrock ship Richard Fearless is back from a stint in Brooklyn and currently in the process of mixing new album Trans Love Energies. The album, the first since 2004's Satan's Circus, comprises 12 new tracks and also features guest vocals from one Katie Stelmanis of Austra fame. After producing albums from the likes of Dark Horses and remixing everything from The Horrors to The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, it's great to see Fearless back in the driver's seat.
Trans Love Energies is set for release on 12th September, but if you're keen to find out just what DIV have been up to, new single Enforced Peace is available to download from their official site. Fearless and Holmes will also be shortly announcing a UK tour in the autumn, so keep a look out for that.
Here's hoping the new stuff sounds as good as the likes of this:
Yes, you heard right. For the next 30 days I'm going to delve into a genre of music that's fascinated yet intimidated me for years: metal.
As those of you who've read my blog before will know, I'm not usually one for the meatier side of things. Sure I did the whole emo thing at 14 when I thought the world was out to get me (who didn't?), but since growing up I've settled into a rather hum drum complacency. One which, although comfortable, has stifled any curiosity I'd had in the past over anything that doesn't include whistling or sugar coated harmonies. So after a weekend being exposed to all things raaar, I've decided to check out some of what I've been missing.
For the next 30 days I'm going to be listening to one metal band a day, with at least one full album being clocked up on my last.fm page as evidence. I'm hoping that by throwing myself into the scene headfirst I may find something new and exciting to sink my teeth into. Plus it gives me the chance to expand my horizons a bit and that can be no bad thing.
I'll be checking in every few days on Irrelevant Twaddle to chronicle my adventures, but for those of you worried that I'm going to be growing a beard and joining the next circle pit I see, fear not. I'm going to try and keep this as a sidebar to my usual lo fi ramblings. That way everyone's happy.
In order to ease myself into the scene, I've been recommended a lovely acoustic cover of Black Sabbath's Paranoid. Not quite metal, but it's just too pretty not to mention.
In the meantime, feel free to recommend me some metal bands, I'm somewhat out of my depth here!
One of the stand out moments for me this summer, nay year, was standing in a sunny field, listening to some of the most beautiful, spine-tingling music I've ever heard live. No it wan't U2 and shockingly not Morrissey either (sacrilege I know) who reduced me to tears with their glorious sunset show, but Elbow.
Elbow's 2011 Glastonbury set had everything you could possibly ask for in a performance, with my only qualm being lack of older material (but it's not as if their new stuff is sub-par at any rate). Every song packed as much punch as the last, whether it was the psychedelic The Birds or something thrilling like Grounds for Divorce.
But what made this something truly special was the band themselves. If there's one act that knows how to work a crowd, it's Elbow. Reverse Mexican waves, a mass happy birthday singalong and even some Freddie Mercury style call and response; Guy Garvey totally had us in the palm of his hand. And what's better is that it wasn't just us who were entranced by the magnitude of it all, the entire band looked just as giddy as we did. For me, that's what makes gigs that little bit more special- the fact that you know the band are right there with you, in spirit as well as body.
There's a lot to be said for the setting here too, which could help to explain some of my gushing. If you've been to Glastonbury before you'll no doubt have experienced the 'sunset moment:' i.e. a period of awe and contentment with the world. It sounds pretentious and maybe it is, but those moments are few and far between outside the gates of Worthy Farm so you have to take what you can get really. Standing in the crowd, singing Hey Jude with thousands of people before the set, then listening to anthems like Lippy Kids as the sun went down- it just doesn't get better than that. It just encapsulates everything I love about festivals. They're a chance to escape and get back to what you love, whether that be watching music, making clay pots or even performing music, in the case of Mr Garvey. At any point across the weekend you'd hear the phrase 'we love Glastonbury' being banded about like nobody's business, but when he says it, you can tell by the look on his face that he means every syllable.
Makes me teary just thinking about it.
Elbow's 2011 Glastonbury set is a fine testament to the Glastonbury spirit, where musician and audience both share something that can only be found at a certain time of year (usually in a muddy field). At 20 years old, Elbow have certainly paid their dues and deserve the success they're currently enjoying. What puts the icing on the cake, however, is knowing that amidst the album sales and gruelling tour schedule, they still love what they're doing. Long may they continue to do so if these are the kind of performances they produce.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have something in my eye.
Sunday 10 July 2011
It's been a busy few months for Radiohead. What with an impromptu album release, newspaper publication and even a 'surprise' set at Glastonbury (as if we didn't know..), they've clearly come out of their reverie and back to doing what they do best.
But it doesn't stop there. Fans of the band will know that Thom and the boys have also recorded a session from The Basement, long term project of friend and collaborator Nigel Godrich. The session features, among tracks from latest album King of Limbs; a new single in the form of The Daily Mail, which someone has been nice enough to put on Youtube for our delectation.
If there's any band perfectly suited for a Sunday morning, it's Radiohead. So sit back and enjoy.
Music music everywhere and lots of songs to, umm, drink.
There's more music around this summer than you can shake your Raybans at. Honestly, a bit of sunshine and all of a sudden every Tom Dick & Indie band crawls out of the woodwork to bury their electroindiedancerockfolk tunes into our skulls, never to escape.
After returning from a shall we say challenging Glasto (and falling into the mud at least once a day), I've come back with an increased lust for all things musical. Amidst my musical meanderings I've uncovered literally dozens of new tracks to sink my teeth in. Infact, I've bombarded myself with so much good music of late that I've needed a good sit down to accommodate the giddiness. In order to attempt to shuffle through the chaos, I've decided to make a list of my favourites and share them with you lovely folk. Aren't you lucky?
1. Bon Iver
I'm not sure why I've never bothered to listen to Bon Iver. Perhaps it was the name or maybe it was mere idleness, but they were always 'a band I'll check out later.' However, after caving into peer pressure, I eventually had a listen and what I heard left me wishing I'd checked them out sooner. They take the layered harmonies circa Beegees and meld them together with sprinkles of light jazz, elevator music and more than a little folk: an odd combination on paper, but somehow it works. Although at times coming across a bit too much like a Disney soundtrack (see Beth/Rest), Bon Iver largely produce very delicate, structured songs that seem to radiate warmth. Nice to have on in the background whilst watching the stars on a cool summer's eve.
If anything I think this album really lets Peckinold and co shine, moreso than in their humble first album. They may not be ready to launch into a death metal number anytime soon, but they're definitely a lot more willing to venture into wilder terrain, whilst still managing to retain their softness. The Shrine/Argument is a fine example of this, balancing the two extremes beautifully (or as beautifully as a dying trumpet can sound anyway- you may not want to listen to it at full volume if you don't want a fright). Fleet Foxes are good, strong musicians who are willing to take chances, they're just taking baby steps.
After seemingly coming out of nowhere, Warpaint have become one of the hottest acts this summer. Why, you may ask? Well, for starters they're hot chicks with guitars. In a scene so starved of a feminine touch (at the moment anyway), it's rather refreshing to hear a band so seemingly dainty lead into a heavy, sprawling groove that can only be described as a wall of sound in one swift move. There's just something so effortless and cool about them, which I suppose has much to do with the hipster connotations they've accrued thus far in their tenure. Even the vocals sound like she's still half asleep, which only manage to provide a sleek, sensual sound that leaves you hanging on every word. This, combined with the dark, intense undertones make Warpaint the epitome of dreamy rock and the perfect soundtrack to a summer spent prancing around in fields of daisies. Or something.
I was in the middle of finishing a post on my verdict of the new Radiohead album (like the rest of the world's music bloggers I'm sure), when I discovered a piece of information that could put the spring back in the step of the many Sigur Ros fans longing for an end to their 'indefinite hiatus.' That's right, Jonsi, Georg, Kjartan and Orri are allegedly set to pick up from where they left off and return to the studio.
According to a tweet sent to @HeavenSentTNT by Jonsi's online staff, "Sigur Ros [are] in the studio during 2011 :)," meaning that Jonsi will be back to what he does best, making beautiful music with his pals in Sigur Ros. Now don't get me wrong, I ADORE Jonsi's solo work; his colourful 'joy de vivre' shown throughout Go Do is truly stunning and certainly distinctive to SR's previous work, but for me, nothing beats the calming, therapeutic vibes that Sigur Ros alone can create. After being an avid listener to the Icelandic troupe for years, they're still my go-to band if I want to relax and just get lost in music.
Not much has been let slip about what is to come of the studiotime, but one can only hope that they continue to enchant us all with music that is both inspiring and otherworldly. Watch this space.
If you've yet to hear Sigur Ros, then where have you been? Check them out here:
Tuesday 8 February 2011
Unless you've been living in some fanciful world where the internet doesn't exist (in which case, what are you doing reading this? Weirdo.), you'd
know that fairly reputable entertainment site Holy Moly have revealed what they believe to be the three Pyramid headliners of this year's Glastonbury Festival.
Glastonbury celebrated its 40th birthday last year.
This follows on from a supposed Sun 'exclusive' at the weekend solidifying suspicions that Michael's "two comebacks and a woman" were well and truly in place for this year's festival. Unlike previous rumours (Rolling Stones, Bowie, etc, etc,.. basically every rock band on the planet if forums are to be believed), this time in a rather unexpected move, the media have actually agreed on something. And isn't it marvellous. Unless of course you don't like Beyonce, U2 or Coldplay, i,e. the 3 headliners supposedly set to grace the Pyramid stage this June. The observant amongst you may have noticed that I wrote all this build up in a bid to postpone mentioning said headliners for as long as possible- needless to say I'm not impressed.
U2 was always going to be a given after their cancellation last year, so I'd already resigned myself to the Other stage on that particular night, but Coldplay? Really?
On the basis of their thoroughly disappointing last album, I can't say they're particularly 'deserving' of the spot. 5 years ago? Definitely. Now? I'm not so sure. They're bound to put on a good show, but after a night of U2 who aren't a million miles away from Chris et al, is this really what people want? Well, maybe. I guess on the one hand you could say that the gloominess of Coldplay at their best (back in the days of The Scientist and Clocks) is still as relevant as ever, considering the current political and economic situation we find ourselves in. None of us are getting any richer (besides the bankers), Cameron's out to destroy the trees using books as kindling and dead things keep falling out of the sky. So perhaps now is the time for a Coldplay resurgence. Besides which, with Martin's falsetto and the solid musicianship of the rest of the band, they're sure to make their presence felt, a lot more than can be said for past headliners *cough KOL cough.*
As far as Beyonce goes, she's alright but I'd have thought perhaps an afternoonish 'Shakira' slot would be more apt- mostly because a large proportion of her fanbase will have gone to bed by the time the headline slot rolls around. As for me, if if she ain't playing Destiny's Child (the soundtrack of my childhood), I'm not interested. Her new stuff is very good and there's no denying her amazing voice, but it's just not my thing anymore. That's not to say she shouldn't headline however; she's certainly got the album sales and fame to warrant it, even if it's a bit 'different' for a festival that has always had a strong indie/rock emphasis over the years in terms of headliner material.
So all in all, I can't say I'm thrilled. After 3 years of remaining loyal to the Pyramid stage for at least one of my summer evenings, it seems I shall be deflecting to the 'dark side.' But that's ok, because believe it or not there's more than just the one stage at Glastonbury, so the dark side will involve the surreal wonderment of Shangri La, which excites me just as much as the music.
Pyramid stage?
What Pyramid stage?
Oh, and if anyone was wondering what my favourite part of Glasto was last year, it wasn't the music. Actually, it was being fed sambuca through a syringe by a PVC clad nurse wearing clown makeup. You don't get that at the Pyramid, though I'd never say never..
I had meant to post this before the show aired, but didn't get the chance. Apologies.
On Thursday of last week I found myself at the O2 Indigo, cheering my head off for The Wanted as I watched them perform a shabbily choreographed dance routine to a backing track. No, this isn't some kind of hallucination, you are still on Irrelevant Twaddle (I'm not about to let loose on a rave about how TOTES AMAZIN Bieber is or anything like that, don't worry, I haven't quite lost my marbles yet). Why then, you may ask? Well, you see, it was a very special night. It was the night in which the nominations for this year's Brits were announced. And I was there to witness all the excitement.
Ooh arr.
Photo taken from the Brits site.
Now if you know anything about the Brits, you'll know that in all honesty it's nothing more than an excuse to shift a few more copies of dreary mainstream pop fodder to the nation's chavs and write stories about celebrities getting plastered and making arses of themselves (which in turn creates more sales. Ah the circle of life). But it's not all bad; the shortlist for this year holds a few gems amongst the predictable fools gold of Cheryl Cole et al. Both Mumford & Sons and The XX each received 3 nominations, including one for the former for Best British Breakthrough Act. Not too shabby. Shockingly Biffy Clyro even received a nod for Best British Group: which, considering they've been going strong for at least 10 years, is good to see, even if their latest album is the tiniest bit sub par. Considering they're up against the likes of the 2 mentioned above as well as the mighty Take That however, the chances of them actually obtaining the little statuette remain forever elusive. Sorry chaps.
But of course it's not what most of the blogging world has been buzzing about since the release of the nominees. Since New Year I don't think I've gone a day without hearing about The Vaccines and how amazing their 2 songs are. Now I can even find them in the nominations for Critics' Choice Award. Sadly, they missed out to Brit school alumni Jessie J (conspiracy? Hmm...), but it does show that whoever draws up these lists has actually had their ears on more than just Radio 1 for a change, it's quite refreshing. Jessie J was actually at the launch night and treated us lucky people to a beautiful acoustic rendition of her appallingly written Do It Like a Dude. Dressed as some kind of Egyptian princess, she managed to make a song I originally despised sound wonderful; not the easiest of things to accomplish by any means. She really does a remarkable voice, the Brit School have clearly trained her well.
While I'm nattering about performances, I may as well explain the rather bizarre position I found myself in back at the beginning of this spiel. That-band-that-appeared-from-nowhere-to-become-one-of-pop's-rising-acts, aka The Wanted, performed a track that was not only live, but so catchy it seems to have wormed its way into my head (where it has lodged itself for the past 4 days. I am not amused). Obviously a live setting can make all the difference when it comes to the more commercial side of music, but they definitely lived up to the teenage hysteria that seemed to exude from the slightly pissed crowd. I'm not exactly going to go around wearing an 'I love The Wanted' t-shirt after watching their performance or anything, but I will admit that for what they are they're pretty good at what they do. Mcfly watch out.
The best performance of the night however was obviously going to be Tiny Tempah and his electropop sidekick Ellie Goulding. Whilst I'm not a huge fan of Ellie, I bloody love the Tempah for reasons unknown, and his rather bombastic performance failed to disappoint. In theory I shouldn't like Tiny, but his charisma and energy always make up for his achingly elementary lyrics (rap by numbers anyone?). I can't say it was much of a duet though; from where I was standing you could hardly hear Goulding, not that I'm saying that's a bad thing necessarily. All in all, an interesting if slightly mind opening evening.
If you're actually bothered about the results of the Brits then you'd better get voting. Voting is taking place on the Brits 2011 website until 12 noon on February the 11th. Just do me a favour and vote for anyone but Scouting for Girls.
Saturday 1 January 2011
I can understand why there’s so much hype surrounding The Vaccines. I wouldn’t have thought it possible to make a perfectly formed, solid rock track in only 1 minute and 28 seconds, yet here we are.
