so I thought I'd stick some stuff on here.

Two recent album reviews for the Mancunion Newspaper

The Joy Formidable - Big Roar (Canvasback/Atlantic)

Two and a half out of five

In the last few years, Indie Pop Rock has produced a stale production line of young acts begging to be seen as raw but accessible. North Wales trio The Joy Formidable are no different. Following 2009 mini album A Balloon Called Moaning, the band’s debut full length is raucous, dark and serious, but craves depth and originality.

Recurring themes throughout include a tiring “the world is going to end but we’ve all been brave” vibe, huge doses of jackhammer basslines and a never ending assault of irate guitar riffs. These combined create a record with drenched sound and attitude, but without a pen to write home with.

Ritzy Bryan’s vocals are flawless, but are rarely complimented by a guitar melody of any form. And here’s a bit of Physical Geography for you, the seemingly endless layering of guitars causes song structures to become crushed under the pressure, forming a verbal and instrumental landslide, destroying the chances of any of these songs becoming memorable.

Big Roar does have its highlights, namely the Smashing Pumpkins-esque creeping tones of ‘Buoy’ and the progressive, thumping feel to opener ‘The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie’. However, even their best efforts are starved of any absorbing bridges or choruses, bringing everything down just a notch or two.

This is partly what the band promised to produce since their 2007 formation, but without anything deviant of the current norm. Maybe in 2007 this would have settled perfectly into the world they intended to send it to, or at least it would have had a much better chance of success. With this, I fear new listeners have little to hold on to.

________________

R.E.M - Collapse Into Now (Warner Bros)

Three out of five

After over ten years of a seemingly decaying sound following the departure of original drummer Bill Berry, R.E.M.’s latest effort to return to the golden era falls well short again.

That’s not to say Collapse Into Now is a disappointing record, however. Opening with the pounding, thunderous tone of ‘Discoverer’, shortly followed by the sober pace to ‘All The Best’ whereby Michael Stipes’ monotonous vocals form perfectly, it’s clear to see that even in their fifties there is still creation left in the tank.

The eerie ‘Every Day Is Yours To Win’ combines contrasting cloudy and buoyant tones to create a beautiful track, whilst ‘Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brandon And I’ slowly builds to a shuddering finish.

The remaining eight tracks pass with a reduced tempo and few highlights, as blunt chord progressions (something the band have manipulated exquisitely in the past) and Stipes’ blank lyrics contribute to making this an OK record.

The prodding vocals to ‘Uberlin’ and the clichéd spoken lyrics in ‘Blue’ contribute to the alarming number of barely adequate fillers on this record, while the juvenile ‘Alligator Aviator Autopilot Antimatter’ and happy clappy ‘That Someone Is You’ sounds like the theme tune to something on Cartoon Network.

The sound itself is what we have come to expect from R.E.M. The result, when brought together with stiff lyrics, simple beats and tiring guitars, is nothing more than comfortable. This is a band, a legendary band, stuck between maintaining a past tone and creating a new one, perhaps running out of ideas.

MUSIC and toast.

ALBUMS OF 2010: in a few words

Local Natives - Gorilla Manor: Serious but harmless, brilliant songwriting with a touch of rust, reproduced emphatically live. Released late 2009 but get over it.

Surfer Blood - Astrocoast: An album to take to the British coast when it’s pissing it down, simple and brilliantly full-bodied riffs.

Tame Impala - Innerspeaker: Psychedelic but with distinct two-chord riffs throughout perfectly entwined with Beatles-esque vocals.

Deerhunter - Halycon Digest: Accessible and experimental, progressive riffs without too much emphasis on the beats.

LAST FEW MONTHS INFLUENCED BY:

The Streets - Original Pirate Material

Tom Waits - Rain Dog

R.E.M

Chief - Modern Rituals

Coldplay - Rush of Blood (sorry)

Air - Virgin Suicides Soundtrack

Grace Jones - Nightclubbing

The Walkmen - Lisbon

TOP FIVE THINGS TO HAVE ON TOAST (all with ketchup)

1. Tuna and Cheese

2. Tomato and Mozzarella

3. Thin Cut Steak

4. Sloppy Joes

5. Half Patte, Half Philadelphia

Some top fives…

Listing can sometimes undermine music.

For instance, a piece of music could be considered outstanding in accordance to a certain time, a certain mood, but not overall…

Having taken this savvy perception in, here are some top fives, carefully thought up.

LIVE MUSIC

5) Red Hot Chili Peppers - 2nd July 2006 - Ricoh Arena, Coventry.

My first gig. Having arrived home the morning after a house party, hungover and still mourning the brutality of England’s World Cup exit the night before, the phone rang. Mum answered jubilantly. My Dad had just won two tickets for RHCP from Kerrang Radio (he wins everything). Having grown up in awe of Kiedis & Co, the excitement was too much to comprehend - hangover slowly diminished. For me, the show was incredible, but I had nothing to compare it to. Perhaps today if I had seen the same show I would have looked back with less bias, but for a 15 year old kid, this was a pretty special first gig. A mix of old and new tracks (particularly old, dating back to 1987 with “Me and My Friends”) profited in comparison to the dreadful Reading 2007 show.

4) Rage Against The Machine - 22nd August 2008 - Reading Festival

This essentially served as a colossal middle finger to Blair and Bush, something the Reading crowd were always going to warm to. Expectation was unbelievable, to the extent that it seemed people had come that weekend just to see Rage, nobody else. Tune after fucking tune, intertwined with long rallying speeches directing us to “riot in the streets”, made this a performance that will always stick around in my head. Ultimately, one of many highlights that weekend.

3) Arcade Fire - 25th August 2007 - Reading Festival

Being the last band before headliners RHCP, the sun was setting after a spectacular Reading day, producing a screen of orange on stage. I had only taken slight interest in Arcade Fire before this, but was hooked from the start and ever since. The pure energy of the band dictated the show, particularly Richard Parry, who was often seen aimlessly throwing his bass drum up and down 20 feet in the air in a frantic manner. The music was delivered with unrivaled taut, paired with the crowds peaceful and still reaction. Brilliant.

2) Pearl Jam - 11th August 2009 - Shepherds Bush Empire, London

I’ve never known a gig with such demand - having to buy the new CD to even have a chance of buying a ticket on pre-sale, which then in-turn sold out in 2 minutes. We bought a CD, waited for pre-sale, and ultimately failed like thousands of others. However, my Dad shrewdly noticed a flaw in the terms and conditions of ticket sales, as they stated that pre-sale would open at 9am GMT (10am BST in August). Big fucking mistake, ticketmaster, as he managed to pretend he thought the tickets would be out at 10am, being an American unfamiliar with the change of time in British summertime. He got two free tickets, blasphemy to REAL Pearl Jam fans, some of whom I witnessed pay up to £350 for ONE TICKET outside the show. We contemplated making a tidy £500+ profit, but instead took the trip down to witness what all the fuss was really about. I was only a moderate Pearl Jam fan at the time, but Dad had been into them since the early 90’s. What we witnessed was fucking unbelievable. Every person in that place was a die hard, except for me on the back row of the third and last tier of the beautiful Shepherds Bush Empire. This was so big, there was even a whole TIER for celebrities and those in the business. The set was mostly unfamiliar but spectacular, with every single word of every single song sung out in unison from the adoring crowd. Ronnie Wood joining Eddie Vedder on stage for “All Along the Watchtower” was a personal highlight, even if the outro was 10 minutes long. Frontman Vedder seemed drunk and drained of energy by the end, with every last member giving every ounce of ardor from their immensely talented figures. The smallest show they’ve done in years and ever will do for some time. This band were completely outshadowed by Nirvana in the early 90’s grunge scene, which is a shame but in a way pleasing, as most of my friends haven’t heard much of their material, meaning I can have them all to myself. Unbelievable memory, a memory that even in these hard economic times of being student, I sort of probably maybe possibly wouldn’t swap £500 for…

1) Radiohead - Sunday 30th August 2009 - Reading Festival

Having waited pretty much all day to see my favourite band, morale and energy was extremely low after a long, long weekend. Having took a few pro-plus an hour before the show in the desperate hope that my spirit would lift, it seemed no amount of caffeine could wake me up. I wasn’t nervous, I knew they’d put on something amazing because they’re not a hit and miss band live or on record. What followed is pretty much a blur; whether that was to do with the weekends activities or the subtle euphoria of the show, who knows, probably a blend of the two. Tracks that I had previously ignored such as “You and Whose Army” and “The Gloaming” were stand out, and the decision to start playing “Creep” again was a pleasant surprise. The crowd, like at Arcade Fire two years earlier, were silent and lazy, but not through lack of entertainment. This wasn’t background music, this was more of a psychedelic trip into an unknown pleasure but with no confusion. Understanding Radiohead is difficult, it took 2 years for me to really get to grips with them after my Dad first introduced me in 2005. After 3 years of them always being my most-played artist, I still find new wonders that have previously been ignored. Their live show compliments this, with their own style of performance and unique character on stage. I’ve been lucky enough to see them twice, and both times with the right people. They still haven’t got too huge commercially, but are still considered the best band in the world on record and live by critics and people in the know, not those in the business to please others and make money, namely Radio One and NME. Lecture over, this show left me amazed, I would be extremely lucky to witness anything like this again.

You may have noticed that my favourite shows are all big shows. The fact I’ve never been amazed by an artist I’ve spontaneously seen in a small venue does bother me, I can’t quite put my finger on what it is…

Some more lists, with less of the boring detail:

5 Albums of 2010 so far:

5) Wild Nothing - Gemini

4) Four Tet - There Is Love In you

3) Beach House - Teen Dream

2) James Blake - CMYK EP

1) Local Natives - Gorilla Manor

Favourite meat

5) Rump Steak

4) New York Steak

3) Rib-eye Steak

2) Sirloin Steak

1) Tenderloin Steak

I was recently to vote for my top 10 bands of the decade, to be compiled with other Manchester Student Direct writers into a list of 20.

Here’s my list and the reasons why these albums are so fucking good.

10. Libertines - Up The Bracket - 2002 - It’s pretty ridiculous how much this record influenced me during the latter years of high school and early sixth form. The Doherty obsession stung me hard. Now I realise he’s a bit of a lowlife. Nonetheless, what an album. Song: The Good Old Days.

9. Jay Z - The Blueprint (one) - 2001 - Released on the same day as the 9/11 attacks, still sold half a million in the first week. Not a big rap fan, but this guy is a genius and is at the top of the rap game. Some huge songs on here. Song: Izzo (H.O.V.A.)

8. Yeah Yeah Yeah’s - Fever To Tell - 2003 - Full of punch and attitude, exactly what these guys are good at. Would have liked to have seen more of this sort of tempo in ‘It’s Blitz’. Song: Y Control.

7. Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights - 2002 - Debut from one of my all time favourite bands, full of gutsy, dark rock here, works unbelievably well with Paul Banks eery vocals. Song: Roland.

6. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People…blah blah. - 2006 - Another debut, shaped my days back in year 10. Teenage, working-class lad-rock at it’s best. The direction they’ve gone since this album has been fantastic too. To follow up such a debut with a good record, followed by another very, very good record is more than credible. Song: Still Take You Home.

5. Daft Punk - Discovery - 2001 - Only dived into this recently, but my word, what a record. Perfect example of how a house record should be shaped, variety of loud and slower tracks. If only most nightclubs played this dirty shit. Song: Something About Us.

4. Radiohead - In Rainbows - 2007 - Purchased for £0 (legally) from Radiohead’s ‘pay what you like’ scheme. This seemingly profitless scheme worked wonders for the band, earning them millions as a huge amount of the public actually chose to pay, such is the respect for this utterly timeless band. If I had to go back, knowing what this album was like, I would not hesitate to spend money. The record is like one 42 minute song, no track feels out of place, each with a different epic feel. Still listen to this pretty much every few days. There was a period of around a year and a half where this would be on every morning and afternoon before and after school. The first Radiohead record I gave the time of day. Thank fuck I did. Song: Reckoner.

3. The Strokes - Is This It - 2001 - A record that recaptured the indie imagination, not enhanced by the amount of studio technology you would expect. This album isn’t necessarily clever, but it’s raw, staccato edge that hadn’t really been in the public eye before 2001 makes it an absolute classic. Song: Hard To Explain

2. The Arcade Fire - Funeral - 2004 - A true masterpiece, reveals new brilliance with every listen. A debut completely unmatched in recent years. The lack of radio airplay and media rimming has made it even more special. So much goes on in each track (makes sense, they have 7 members), yet the record seems to uphold the same euphoric intensity from start to finish. Admittedly, it takes a while to get over the novelty of it all, but all great albums take time. Song: Neighborhood 2 (Laika)

1. Radiohead - Kid A - 2000 - I can’t believe I was only 9 when this came out. Listening to this today, it could have been written in any decade. An absolutely timeless classic, given a mixed response at the time by Radiohead fans afraid of a change in direction. This is the sound of a broken band, nearly at the end of their psychological boundaries after the huge success of ‘The Bends’ and especially ‘OK Computer’. This breakdown produced a completely new direction, major influences including electro and DnB, completely unheard of for a band tipped as “Just another Britpop imitation” in 1994. Trying to pick which Radiohead album I like best is like asking a mother which one of her 7 children she loves most. However purely because this album changed their whole character, direction and image (and inevitably produced huge worldwide critical acclaim in the process), if a gun was pointed at my head, I would say this was my favourite. Song(s): The National Anthem, Idioteque, Everything In It’s Right Place.

(In case you didn’t notice, only 2 of the albums I chose were released in the second half of the decade, I’ll leave you to debate why that is…)

The actual top 20 read like this:

1. The Strokes - Is This It
2. Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
3. Queens of the Stone Age - Rated R
4. Radiohead - Kid A
5. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
6. System of a Down - Toxicity
7. White Stripes - White Blood Cells
8. Burial - Burial
9. Joanna Newsom - Ys
10. LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem
11. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever people…
12. Daft Punk - Discovery
13. Queens of the Stone Age - Songs For the Deaf
14. Libertines - Up The Bracket
15. Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
16. Muse - Origin of Symmetry
17. Godspeed You Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven
18. The Streets - Original Pirate Material
19. At The Drive In - Relationship of Command
20. Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around

Until next time xxx

MOOSIC MUSIC MOOZIK MOOZICK ETC.

Here are some bands, albums, things I’ve enjoyed in the last few weeks.

Mylo - Destroy Rock and Roll LP - 2004

Caribou - Swim LP - 2010 - (this is brilliant)

Le Tigre - Le Tigre LP - 1999

Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbals - 2007

Portishead - Dummy LP - 1994

Air - The Virgin Suicides (motion picture soundtrack LP) - 2000

Band of Horses - The Funeral single - 2006

Surfer Blood - Astrocoast LP - 2010

52nd Street - Cool As Ice Single - 1983 - (this is also brilliant)

Artists - Films - People - Second City Derby - Link

Peeps, a few artists/albums that I’ve taken a shine to in the last 2 weeks.

Beach House - Teen Dream LP

Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer LP

At The Drive In - Relationship of Command

Orbital in general

Pearl Jam in general

Girls - Album LP

and these guys

While driving down a busy A road in Manchester recently, for the first time Salford Lads Club really stood out and grasped my attention - and from nowhere The Smiths were belted out on XFM radio (like every fucking band that even has the slightest relation to Manchester). Coincidence? Probably, who gives a fuck, they’re my band of the week.

Films I’ve watched recently

Teeth - the most entertaining, horrifying, gory, funny, awful thing film I have ever seen. This must make you want to watch?

Zac and Miri Make A Porno - not bad to be fair, expected worse, worth a mention purely for ‘Hey’ by Pixies at the end.

The Pursuit of Happiness - don’t judge me on these choices, they were watched purely due to boredom and the fact megavideo had ran out. But seriously, what an emotional film.

Once Upon a Time In America - portraying gangsters in New York around the time of the Prohibition:

People I have been drawn to in the last couple weeks:

Rick Stein - Chef/All Round Hero - I often find myself on sky channel 249 drooling over his dishes when I really should be doing some form of work. Bastard.

Lionel Messi - Footballer who actually deserves the hype, unlike Sir Goldenballs.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8602344.stm 

Nuff said.

Second City Derby

It would be a crying shame not to mention the football, as it’s my first and prioritized love.

It’s that time of year again, in my opinion the biggest derby in England (but of course I would think that), Villa v Blues.

I must admit, slightly anxious about this one.

I remember 8 years ago, 12 years old, sitting on the curb outside my house having seen villa get sacked 3-0 at the Sty, sobbing to myself and wondering what the mauling would be like at school in the morning. Since then, there have been a few more awful days, but 5 wins on the trot against the trout from down the road have made up for it.

It’s still the biggest game in my eyes, no trips to Wembley or European ventures even come close. Some may disagree, but those people can fuck off.

I was there when Dion dropped the nut, I was there, I was there…

Charles Walker

Check this blog out, he shortly but surely onslaughts the state of music today, keep connected to his views, because by God he has them, and they’re good. This boy also introduced me to George Carlin - for this I am eternally grateful.

http://postrumoursonforums.wordpress.com /

Zeitgeist

Zeitgeist - Peter Joseph

I ask any of you possessing even half an open mind to carefully watch this and let me know what you think, positive or negative.

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-594683847743189197&ei=58SvS4C_Osup-Ab5_pTfBg&q=zeitgeist+movie&hl=en&client=safari

“The last thing the men behind the curtain want is a conscious informed public capable of critical thinking. Which is why a continually fraudulent zeitgeist is output via religion, the mass media, and the educational system. They seek to keep you in a distracted, naive bubble. And they are doing a damn good job of it.”

artists/songs/albums/people that I’ve warmed to in the last couple weeks

four tet

daft punk - voyager - from discovery

smashing pumpkins - siamese dream LP

george carlin - comedian/all round great guy (thanks to Charlie Walker for this one)

dananananaykroyd - pink sabbath - from hey everyone

errors - it’s not something but it is like whatever LP

gang of four - entertainment LP

gary numan - cars

holy fuck  - LP LP

massive attack - blue lines LP

pixies - hey - from doolitle LP

Tiffany Page w/ Noisettes - Academy 1 - Manchester -

1 and a half / 5

Prior to the phenomenal escapade that is a Noisettes gig, indie-inspired pop rocker Tiffany Page treated a decent sized Academy 1 to a set full of snarling punk, timidly performed.

Her mix of simple rock and husky exhibition is seemingly attractive to a wide audience of teenage girls, but this comes with an inevitable downfall. The mild and manageable songs are textbook – perfect for the radio, which will undoubtedly kick-start her for future success.

She has a lot on her side – her gleaming looks, her connection with the surrounding members of the band, she also has a lot of time before she is really judged, with an expected flurry of gigs before an album later this year.

It seems the time could be welcome, as her friendly soft rock is all too common to everything else. Adding a different edge to her performance and tracks would surely set her aside from the tedious field of solo singer-songwriters. 

With more reminiscence to Pink than Courtney Love, her rock-chick persona is tripped up by her teenage-targeted lyrics and predictable melodies, perfectly encapsulated in ‘Walk Away Slow’ and ‘7 Years Too Late’.

This type of mundane, unoriginal teen-rock will not sit well with the critics of the industry, as this has been done time and time before to no avail. A strange choice of support, considering the rapturous and sunny contrast of Noisettes.

It is evident Page attempts to subsume a sense of attitude, and her tone is heavier than your typical pop starlet, but this is all to often let down by her simple 4-chord structured bruised ballads. This type of pop-rock has a huge market, especially across the pond in the States, but this type of obediently bite-sized music has no longevity and sits like a bad kebab. 

Hot Club de Paris - Deaf Institute - Manchester - 15th February 2010

4/5

Along with the welcome blend of intelligent, sparky lyrics with sharp, articulate punk, this Liverpudlian trio create an unprecedented air of enjoyment and comic value all too seldom in modern alternative music.

This isn’t your average jumpy, punky guitar band reminiscing of young love and the seriousness of life. Instead, Hot Club tell life how it is in humorous fashion, with emotional cliché’s replaced by lyrics with actuality and punctuality.

It is in such an intimate venue that Hot Club can show off their acute affiliation with the audience, both in musical and comical terms. The prompt wit that accompanies each break between songs is refreshing in its hilarity, and the tunes weren’t bad either.

Their unreserved vocals and catchy hooks are undoubtedly their strongest points, but this is not to say they lack elsewhere. The unexpected time signatures, fragmented drum fills, reggae-style melodies and unpredictable verse-chorus combinations contribute to the fresh and multi-directional sound Hot Club stand for.

Although not the most innovative of bands, ‘Yes/No/Goodbye’, sees the trio cram 4 minutes worth of material into 1 minute and 11 seconds, with a mix of stop-start verses and frantic harmonies.

Personal favourite ‘Your Face Looks All Wrong’ is full of mixed-tempo guitar and drums, while ‘Hey Housebrick’ brought the audience into a communal swagger with an incredibly catchy trademark chorus typical of Hot Club’s work.

Although new tracks haven’t differed or improved on first album Drop It ‘Til It Pops, the undeterred energy of the trio bring about comparisons with Dananananaykroyd and Johnny Foreigner, though the verbose edge and jocularity of the lyrics put them in a sub-league of their own.

This form of jumpy punk should form robust lumps when mixed with indie-pop, but Hot Club’s weaving mix of sound and temp achieves this beautifully and with faultless timing.