Fucked Up- Do They Know It's Christmas?

Kyp Malone <3, David Cross <3 <3

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July: Blog Highlights

Rubbish month, too hot, I moved house, I still don't have a sofa. Here's the best of the blog.

Arctic Monkeys debut their great new song and new look. Here

Mercury Prize predictions and nominations.

The Mae Shi split and confused the world. Luckily I found this on a messageboard.

Download the new single from The Big Pink for nothing. Here.

TV On The Radio in Brixton. Here.

Jarvis Cocker auditions for Outnumbered. Here.

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TV On The Radio@ Brixton Academy 13/07/09

TV On The Radio are one of those bands you suspect some people pretend to like to seem cool. Y'know the ones, Animal Collective, Burial etc. Sure they are good and people like them but there's a healthy group who see dropping choice names as a short cut to credibility. Perhaps this explains TVOTR selling out Brixton Academy to it's capacity or perhaps it is down to the fact that the Brooklyn band are possibly the finest band of the decade.

A heady claim it may be but look for another band who have evolved, experimented and grown as consistently and confidently as this band and you will be grasping at a small few. Taking to the stage as heroes before they play a note the band take it all in their stride. Guitarist and producer du jour Dave Sitek stays mute throughout, swaying into his amp with an impractical wind chime attached to his guitar neck. Similarly, Kyp Malone is a static performer hiding behind both his instrument and huge amounts of hair. The heart and soul of TVOTR however belongs to Tunde Adebimpe, a man with a voice that moistens and warms ('Shout Me Out') whilst never veering to far from something near apoplexy ('Red Dress', 'Dancing Shoes').

Playing a set which leans heavily on 2008's 'Dear Science' TVOTR are in sleek festival mode and play through the hits with vigour. Malone takes over vocal duties on the bouncing 'Golden Age'
and again on 'Crying'. His falsetto tones might not be as rich as Adebimpe's but they offer an interesting friction and antithesis to the performance. Amidst guest appearances from support act Noisettes (who come on to play percussion in the penultimate song) and a stunning run through 'Desperate Youth...' cut 'The Wrong Way' the 6 men whip the crowd into a frenzy, we tap feet and nod heads one moment then look on contemplatively the next as the bi-polar extremities of the music rear their equally attractive heads.

The evening's performance ends with a positively tribal version of 'Staring At The Sun', the room is united in a visceral sense of community, this is the sound of apocalyptic music being brought to you by true talent and all lit by a piercing red light show. The band leave heroes, all future shows have a damn high bar to leap now.

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War Child: Heroes

Originally for Drowned In Sound

It’s a common held theory that you can’t criticise a charity record. The phrase ‘but it’s for a good cause’ is often used as a defence against a half thought out album compiled with little care for the listener and leaving said punter out of pocket and with eleven more tracks to skip on their Ipod. 2009 has seen the bar well and truly set though with the release of ‘Dark Was The Night’, the National compiled album in aid of the Red Hot Organisation. That album features Feist, Ben Gibbard, Arcade Fire, David Byrne and Sufjan Stevens amongst many others so now a charity record has to really stand out or why should we not just donate via direct debit right?

It has to be said ‘Heroes’ is not, nor is it trying to be as credible as ‘Dark Was The Night’ but it does have some Drowned In Sound friendly names involved. The basic premise is that an established act picks their favourite current band to cover one of their old tracks, hence the name ‘Heroes’. This sees the likes of The Clash, David Bowie, The Ramones and Bob Dylan rubbing shoulders with TV On The Radio, The Hold Steady, Beck and Hot Chip.

TV on the Radio’s version of ‘Heroes’ by David Bowie is as impressive as you would imagine, Tunde Adebimpe’s vocals encapsulate the spirit of Bowie but retain the distinct and idiosyncratic TVOTR sound. A typically spacey and expansive production job from Dave Sitek adds to an already impressive job. Similarly notable is Hot Chip’s take on ‘Transmission’ by Joy Division. They take the morose classic and turn it into a typically asymmetrical and woozy electro pop ditty, most notable for how Alexei Taylor’s angelic vocals are juxtaposed against himself with his voice streamed through a vocoder at various points on the record. It’s an effective method and you wouldn’t be surprised to hear it used on the next Hot Chip album. ‘Transmission’ is the least faithful to the original recording on the compilation and the most innovative with it. Elsewhere on the positive side Lily Allen turns The Clash’s ‘Straight To Hell’ into a stoner lullaby nicely accompanied by Mick Jones on backing vocals whilst Beck turns in an exemplary version of Bob Dylan’s ‘Leopard-Skin Pil-Box Hat’.

Obviously The Kooks covering ‘Victoria’ by The Kinks is as teeth grindingly Radio 1 Live Lounge as you would expect and Estelle’s version of the Stevie Wonder favourite ‘Superstition’ is as karaoke as it comes. The same can be said for The Hold Steady covering Bruce Springsteen, rumours the organisers chose ‘Atlantic City’ over Gene’s version of a Smiths song are as yet unconfirmed. As the album end with disco floor fillers by The Ramones and Blondie by way of Yeah Yeah Yeah’s and Franz Ferdinand respectively you know you have had a fun if not entirely unforgettable experience.

Overall ‘War Child: Heroes’ is a success and whilst it may lack the credibility and tunes of ‘Dark Was The Night’ it is as they say all for a good cause.

7/10

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Albums of 2008- (#25-11)

The end of the year has arrived and so comes with it a barrage of lists compiling the best of the year. Over the next few weeks I will be counting down my favourite 25 albums and 50 singles. Starting here with the album chart numbers 25-11.

What is your favourite album and single of the year? I'd love to know what other people have enjoyed over the past 12 months.

Mystery Jets- 'Young Love' (From '21')

11. Mystery Jets- 21
12. Vampire Weekend- s/t
13. Crystal Castles- s/t
14. Blood Red Shoes- Box Of Secrets
15. The Last Shadow Puppets- The Age Of The Understatement
16. White Denim- Workout Holiday- REVIEW
17. Young Knives- Superabundance- TERRA FIRMA REVIEW
18. TV On The Radio- Dear Science
19. Metronomy- Nights Out

These New Puritans- 'Elvis' (From 'Beat Pyramid')

20. Cut Copy- In Ghost Colours
21. Lykke Li- Youth Novels
22. These New Puritans- Beat Pyramid- LIVE REVIEW
23. Los Campesinos!- We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed.
24. Dodo's- Visiter- REVIEW
25. British Sea Power- Do You Like Rock Music?- REVIEW

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Singles Round Up- October 6th

Kaiser Chiefs- 'Never Miss A Beat'

Finally we learn what is repsponsible for Ricky Wilsons increased waistband- he has crisps for tea. Jamie Oliver would sort him out, maybe Ricky is pregnant like that girl from the show? I digress. That awful line aside this is a return to form for Kaiser Chiefs with a song as insistent and poppy as ever but harking back to the 'Employment' days and in particualr old B-Side 'Take My Temperature'. If Kaiser Chiefs sold no records and played toilet venues they would be lauded as indie geniuses- the fact their music sells the amount it was always destined to just irks the cool brigade. This is another pop hit to add the the Wembley set-list.

Jack White & Alicia Keys- 'Another Way To Die'

Is Jack White trying to make people hate him? Having spent years on the Detroit underground creating a mysterious and riotous band in the White Stripes he meanders into writing songs for Coca Cola and the occasioanlly amazing often indulgent Raconteurs, and now this? In it's favour 'Another Way To Die' is VERY James Bond- glamorous, sleek and confident. It is however very un-Jack White, a ramshackle blues riff machine. It all sounds very expensive and slightly soulless, Alicia Keys also sounds subdued- she has a massive voice in those lungs but do we hear it? No. As the Bond films get better it seems the soundtracks get worse.

TV On The Radio- 'Golden Age'

TV On The Radio hardly need any more praise lauded on them but here comes some more. 'Golden Age' is a glorious cocktail of ideas, innovation and melody- better still its nowhere near the best song on the 'Dear Science' album. in a world of money chasing careerists TV On The Radio stand head and shoulders above their peers and should be celebrated at every avenue.

White Denim- 'Shake Shake Shake'

This is how garage rock in 2008 should sound. With an eye on the past but with two feet and a shaking ass firmly in the present. White Denim craft an amzing blend of punk, rock, jazz and anything else lying around- these disparate styles combine to create a distinct and unique sound. 'Shake Shake Shake' is a stand out track from one of 2008's best albums 'Workout Holiday'. It's galloping beats, buzz saw guitars and frantic chants are symptomatic of the energy and vigour running through this band. Amzing.

'Shake Shake Shake'

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New Albums In 100 Words Or Less- September 22nd

Kings Of Leon
‘Only By The Night’

The ‘Southern Fried Strokes’ (NME) become ‘Y’all2’(Pitchfork) on album number 4 with mixed results. Four albums in five years is impressive however like ‘Because Of The Times’ the latter half of ‘Only By The Night’ runs out of steam around the half way mark. Alongside the Number 1 smash ‘Sex On Fire’ other highlights include ‘Closer’ and the humongous ‘Use Somebody’ which is destined to play over the credits of a thousand reality TV show finales. Things descend into Stadium Band™ territory soon after however and things lose the heart and passion KOL have always been about. Close but no cigar.

TV On The Radio
‘Dear Science’

Brooklyn demigods emerge for album 3 and shock all by becoming more accessible than ever. Siteks’ experimentation permeates throughout with loops and beats colliding perfectly under the soulful vocals creating a ceaselessly engaging atmosphere. ‘Dancing Choose’ channels Talking Heads, Outkast and Prince to create a cerebral floor filler whilst ‘Family Tree’ flexes the bands dexterity taking things down a notch with a piano led ballad. One of the most adored and revered bands of the modern day have delivered yet again on an album that will surely see their stock rise from underground chic to populist recognition.

Ladyhawke
‘Ladyhawke’

Revivalism reaches it’s zenith with one of the best debut albums of the year. ‘Ladyhawke’ is cool retro fun spread thick showcasing Pip Browns love of Stevie Nicks and Chrisse Hynde to the full. All the tracks are packed full of huge choruses and enough hooks to last most bands a career, ‘Magic’, ‘Professional Suicide’ and ‘Manipulating Woman’ stand out in particular. Hipster points are retained through the albums release on Modular and being produced by Australian sex pots Van She. More 80’s than a John Hughes film about Live Aid in leg warmers but brilliant for that very reason.

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