Wednesday, 7 January 2009

Little Boots



Jumping on the bandwagon is never cool. Luckily I've been listening to Lil' Boots (Lil' Wayne's sister) since she got her first Casio keyboard in Year 4.

Mathematics was released last year, and takes pop-hook-ability and extended metaphors to the next level

N.B. Relationships = Complex Maths Equations.

The relationship graph of Cool vs Popularity dictates that Lil' Boots (Lil' Wayne's sister) will become less cool over the course of the next few months. But who cares!? Little Boots is everything that intelligent mainstream British pop music should be.

Aled

Little Boots - Mathematics

Read More...

Barney's Picks for 2009 Part1

As is customary with this time of year it's time we see what we'll all be listening to in 2009. However due to the impending destruction of western civilisation this year will be slightly different and the only way we will be able to hear these great bands will be on wind up radios huddled together in skips eating suspect meats out of lable-less tins So here's some bands i think will or should make waves in 2009. (this will be updated over the next week or so)

The Gaslight Anthem



My first tip is the one i have the most faith in because essentially the job is already half done. The Gaslight Anthem dropped my album of the year last with The '59Sound and they keep winning fans and critical acclaim wherever they go. Led by the impossibly charming Brian Fallon, who even made the NME cool list, they have the potential to follow The Hold Steady into the hearts of a lot of devoted fans and '09 can only see them get bigger and better.

Read More...

Friday, 19 December 2008

Aled's 7 Memories of 2008

7. The Last Shadow Puppets



Because Shirley Bassey is a classy lady.

Read More...

Thursday, 18 December 2008

X Factor is over! Hallelujah?



So that happy time of the year has come about at last. Simon Cowell and his smarmy panel of cronies have successfully whittled down nearly two hundred thousand hopefuls to one contestant deemed to have the holy grail of commercial pop music – the X factor. Winner Alexandra Burke can now look forward to a record contract with Cowell’s record company Syco, no doubt with modest percentage of record sales going to the artist, given that those who win the X factor rarely have time for song writing/contract negotiating. No, that time is dedicated to rounding off square edges, to fit into the round holes of commercial accessibility and musical mediocrity.

Read More...

Tuesday, 16 December 2008

Barney's Top 10 Albums of 2008

10 The Night Marchers-See You In Magic (Vagrant)



Jon Reiss, He of Rocket From The Crypt, Hot Snakes and Drive Like Jehu fame, does not make bad albums. When he surrounds himself with former members of Hot Snakes and CPC Gangbangers he is not going to make a bad album. See You In Magic is not a bad album, it's a great album. Bred from four guys who just know what they like and know how to write dirty, hooky, swaggering tunes.

Read More...

Paddy's Top 10 Albums of 2008



10. Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs

Death Cab are a band who go from strength to strength, and had achieved cult sensation status with their last album, Plans. The follow-up was therefore going to be difficult, but is a commendable effort; although not as melodic and powerful as ‘Transatlanticism’, it is a rich and vibrant album with a very individual sound, and has one of the best songs ever written on it, ‘Cath…’, a song which reminds us why Ben Gibbard is one of the greatest songwriters alive today.



9. Johnny Foreigner – Waited Up ‘Til It Was Light

2008 has been a big year for Johnny Foreigner, who released their debut album proper over the summer in the midst of a lengthy tour which included Reading, Leeds and Latitude, among other festivals, at all of which they gave sterling performances. With intelligent lyrics, distinctive guitar tone and the boy/girl vocal harmonies down to a tee, this is an excellent album – surely the first of many from these bright young things.



8. Sam Isaac – Sticker, Star and Tape EP

Despite being based around already released singles and re-recordings, this EP chronicles some of Sam Isaac’s best work to date. His sound is augmented by slick production and instrumentation, which combine to make his songs emotional and powerful, in particular ‘Annie, Why Are You So Angry?’. This EP is only a taste of what’s to come when Sam releases his debut album proper next year, so keep him on the radar.

Read More...

Thursday, 27 November 2008

'Love gone cold in the shades of doubt ' - Pete Doherty and Carl Barat


Since the Libertines split in 2004, rumours have been rife about a reunion in the music press and every year fans yearn for Pete Doherty and Carl Barat to get back together. We’ve been teased by Carl’s appearance at Pete’s solo show in 2007 but the reunion has never been fully or officially consummated. To be honest, I think it’s probably for the best

Read More...