Spector have released their new single and music video called 'Never Fade Away'. A quintessentially indie music video, follows the band being some sort of prisoners of war (what I think anyway), while someone films it with a bad camera. The song itself has a brilliant hook that finds itself inside your head within the first minute or so (And I only just got Celestine out of my head!). It's a simple video and a simple track that works brilliantly together and it's shows another slightly sombre side to the band, which I would love to see more. Have a watch of the video below, and tell us what you think. Their debut album 'Enjoy It While It Lasts' is releasing 13th August 2012.
Tourist History, the début studio album from the Northern Irish indie band, Two Door Cinema Club, was released February 2010 and it was not without positive reviews. The indie band sky-rocketed to quick fame with the release of singles such as I Can Talk and Undercover Martyn.
When listening to this album, I thought that it was a vibrant, eclectic mix of fast-paced bass and guitar. Their music gives off quite a pop-punk, upbeat, techno sound. Especially when listening to the Deluxe Edition of the album. The normal edition of the album is comprised of 10 normal songs. However, the Deluxe Edition comprised of 11 remixes, more songs than on the actual album! I found this not only overwhelming, but slightly repetitive and pointless. Most bands usually feature a separate album for remixes, but I was a little surprised to find they would have all the remixes on the same album. That in mind, there's only one remix on there that I really loved. Come Back Home (Is Tropical Chilla Black Edit Remix) has a real Dubstep style to it, and it instantly makes me want to get up and dance. If you know what's good for you, check out the link below and give the remix a listen!
The songs on the album are all really fast paced and there's no doubt about it, they're all pretty catchy too! However, when listening to all of the album, I found that it started to get a little repetitive. They used the same instruments in the same style and for some songs, you couldn't really tell them apart. Although, there were a few exceptions to this. Songs like Something Good Can Work and Kids sound slightly different from the rest of the album. Something Good Can Work has a beach pop sound to it, and Kids sounds much more powerful as opposed to the rest of the album.
So, because of the reasons given, I am awarding this album a 4/5 stars! The sound of the band sounds very original and unique, however, given the fact that a lot of the songs sound the same slightly ruins the experience for me and it therefore becomes a little repetitive.
Music Bloggery Recommends:Something Good Can Work, Kids, I Can Talk, What You Know, Undercover Martyn, Come Back Home and Do You Want It All?
That's right, earlier today, the legendary Red Hot Chili Peppers released their long awaited music video for their great track from the new album, 'Look Around'. This song is a fast paced uplifting song, which is quite synonymous of the band. The song is a typical concert song. By that, I mean that it's a great song to get the audience pumped up - the clapping in the chorus really proves this.
In terms of the video, it's a really cool, artsy style video that really outlines each band member's individual personality. The video features each band member in their own room. For example, there's Flea doing his signature crazy dance moves with an equally crazy lady, in one room, Anthony with his actual son, Everly Bear in another, Chad drumming and boxing away in a different room, and finally, Josh, the latest addition to the band, simply sitting in a darkly lit room, reading with a lamp. I love how they've brought all of their personalities together, by Anthony running through each room (2:30).
If you didn't know already, I'm a hardcore RHCP fan, or as I call it, THE RHCP fan! Although I agree it's no 'By The Way', the video itself is very interesting and inspiring in it's own right and I definitely recommend giving it a watch. If you're really interested in how it was made, make sure you check out the official making of video below the official music video.
Okay, so I'm going to be pretty busy this month because I've got tons of school work and exams coming up, so I have to at least try to revise, therefore I might not post as much as I have been recently.
So, before I go on my little break for a while, I'd like to show you a song has recently grown on me. Now, I remember hearing it when it first came out, and I did like it. However, when I heard it more and more on the radio, I fell in love with it. This song is by new British alternative soul artist, Michael Kiwanuka, and it was released this year in 2012, as his second release. It's a truly beautiful song, stripped of any falsities. It's really just an acoustic song with a simple melody and simple lyrics, but the way Kiwanuka has brought them all together is really amazing. I know it's been done before, but I don't think it's been done quite like this.
Kiwanuka is definitely an artist to look out for in 2012. I can just tell this year is the year for him - when he will rise to fame.
'Given To The Wild' is the new 2012 release from British indie rock band, The Maccabees. This is the
third studio album release from the London based band. The whole sound of the album was quite a transcendental, eerie sound. The band's first single from the album, 'Pelican' is fast paced, repetitive and just too damn catchy! I personally like the meaning of the song. How I interpreted it as was that we grow older, holding more and more responsibilities on our shoulders until we die. What's your interpretation? Have a go in the comments below!
The album starts off with a two minute instrumental, then immediately carries on into the second song, Child. This song is one of those songs that starts off beautifully harmonious, and continues doing so until it reaches the last minute or so, where it becomes more louder and builds into a crescendo-style instrumental. There's quite a few songs in the album that use this same technique which becomes a sort of motif of the album. The album itself is a much more refined version of the band. If you have a listen to their older stuff on their album 'Wall of Arms', you'll find that it's quite a mish-mash of different ideas and I find they don't work as well as 'Given To The Wild. With better piano melodies on songs such as 'Ayla' and much more experimental, emotional lyrics, it makes for a much more pristine album.
However, there are a few things that didn't really stand out for me. For example, the title of the album is Given To the Wild, and as the album artwork suggests (a picture of a bushfire in a deserted area), you would think the sound would be more similar to the sound of their first album Colour It In, a more 'wild' sound, yet it is more peaceful and toned down. How can you be given to the wild if the sound is completely the opposite?
If you know me well, you'll know that I hate when you can't hear the lyrics of a song properly. With such a good sound, the fact that vocalist Orlando Weeks doesn't make an effort in actually enunciating his words and making sure that they're clear to the listener ruins the experience for me. It's only when I actually research the lyrics that I understand what he is saying fully and therefore enjoy the song a whole lot more. I just don't understand why there is such a style in indie music of having distorted vocals and not singing like a normal person.
Another point is that a lot of the songs have a habit of sounding similar to one another. I know this is bad of me, but it usually takes me a while before I become completely used to an album, and can be trusted to remember the song fully when I haven't listened to it recently. With this album, it took me about 10 listens before I remembered most the album off by heart, which tells you something really. I found that songs like Glimmer and Heave (to name a few), were too similar to one another, and I just hoped that they would have more experimental songs on the album, with it being called Given To the Wild.
So, for the following reasons, I am awarding The Maccabees' Given To the Wild a 4/5 stars! A very good effort, but for me, still needed a but more something. There's potential for more chart-toppers, but there are no actual hits there.
Music Bloggery Recommends: Pelican, Child, Feel To Follow, Glimmer, Go, Slowly One, Grew Up At Midnight
The penultimate day and yet another amazing great Blink-182 song. This song, 'Down' is released from the band's self titled 2003 album, which some people regard their best album (including me). I find the song quite similar to 'Feeling This'. Nevertheless, it is still a great song.
The repetitive singing of the word 'down' as the hook works really well, and doesn't fail to get into the listener's head straight away. According to guitarist Tom DeLonge, the song came from a picture he had in
his head about a girl and a boy in a car with it raining outside (hence
the repetition of the word 'down' in the chorus). The song is on the same album as 'I Miss You', but I find that it's still a great song and it's too underrated. It did feature on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, but quickly fell off, therefore the song received mixed success. The song begins with a great punk rock riff that is consistent throughout the song.
The video features the actor Terry Crews who you may recognise as playing the father in the TV sitcom 'Everybody Hates Chris' as a policeman entering a backyard party (in which the band are attending), in search of a gang member, resulting in a chase. It's another one for the books, so make sure you give it a watch!
This is the third instalment of our '7 Days of Blink-182' segment and we've already featured one massive hit - time for another one! Today's song is one of the band's biggest hits, selling more singles than 'All The Small Things'. Although 'All The Small Things' gained more radio play, this song had more sells through singles. The song was a top ten hit single in the UK, peaking at number eight in the charts in 2004.
This song defines the new-found maturity of the band and it is the first of many heartfelt romantic Blink-182 songs to come. With a catchy chorus and beautifully simplistic lyrics which still manage to capture the raw yearning of love, this song is most definitely one of the band's most iconic songs and will be remembered for a very long time. If you hadn't guessed already, today's Blink-182 track is, 'I Miss You', and even if you think you haven't heard of it before, trust me, after listening to the chorus, you know that you've heard it before.
Okay, so to pay tribute to one of my favourite punk-rock bands who have been consistantly good throughout the years, we're feauring one outstanding song everyday this week by the wonderful, Blink-182! TNext week, who will it be, no-one (apart from me, really) knows! If you would like to request a band, feel free to comment below.
Today we're featuring the new Blink-182 track off the new 2011 release 'Neighborhoods', entitled 'After Midnight'. The reason this song is featured is because it's simple Blink-182 at it's best. The lyrics are similar to that of 'I Miss You'. Travis Barker (drummer) has actually stated how this song is his favourite of the new album and the band have agreed that it's like 'I Miss You' part 2. The song shows a much more mature Blink-182, as does the video. If you look at the band's older stuff, such as the video for 'Dammit', one of the band's first singles, you'll see the complete transformation from boys to men. The video features a boy and girl, both in a Youth Psychiatric Ward, both clearly have feelings for each other and they're just letting loose and having some fun, even if it is for a short while. It's quite sweet really. A very good song too, make sure you check it out in our first installment!
We've introduced a new feature here at Music Bloggery, and it's our song of the week! A song that pushes all the boundaries and is outstanding in our minds will be featured on the blog every week! This week it is 'Pelican' by the British indie rock band, 'The Maccabees'. This song is the first single off the band's new January 2012 release 'Given To The Wild', which will be released this Monday (9th January)! (I will be getting my hands on their new album and will be reviewing it soon, so watch this space!)
Pelican is a great song, with such a quintessentially indie chorus that it will leave you singing for more. The video itself is pretty odd, but it is pretty cool, if you do ask me. The Maccabees are definately a band to watch out for in 2012, so make sure you check out this great indie song!
Fool's Gold are a fairly new Los Angeles based indie band emerging to the music scene in 2009, with the release of their debut album 'Fool's Gold'. Then earlier this year saw the release of 'Leave No Trace', one of their stellar achievements to date. Although I have not had a chance to listen to their previous album and therefore cannot compare the two, I believe this album is an amazing array of different musical sounds.
What Fool's Gold are best at doing is creating a great fusion of Western 80's pop styles and African melodies and rhythms. I was lucky enough to see them back in November when they were warming up for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and they were brilliant! Their interaction with the audience and clap-forcing beats made every aspect of the concert phenomenal. Also, it surprised me how humble and modest they are, because they acknowledged my constant screaming by waving at me!
When you first listen to this album, you'll be blown away by the amazing variation of their music. From memorable guitar riffs in songs like 'Leave No Trace', to sharp harmonies in songs like 'Street Clothes', it all works so well. The mesmerising riffs of Lewis Pesacov (guitarist) and intoxicating vocals of Luke Top are a force not to be reckoned with. The swerving range of vocals and guitar melodies float away with the listener and as cliche as it sounds, makes you feel at one with the music. Each song is a new melody and rhythm and doesn't sound like it's predecessor.
One of the songs, 'Tel Aviv', is spoken in Hebrew and constantly alternates to English. Personally, I love the fact that Top chose to do this, it just shows how proud he is about his roots and is not afraid to hide it! It offers something new and interesting to the listener and this almost epitomises the meaning of Fool's Gold. The theme of this album is quite an upbeat, lively one. All the songs make you want to get up and dance without even trying. I personally like how there is one exception to the theme. The song 'Lantern' is a peaceful, arms-in-the-air, ballad type song, without going over the top. I think it's a really beautiful song that shows another side of this mysterious band.
From an indie band, you would expect the lyrics to be somewhat inconsistent and of a simple style. However, Fool's Gold create a feeling of meaning that other bands lack. My personal favourite lyric is from the song 'Wild Window', that says: 'No, you have not ruined me yet, despite all your best efforts.' It's a complete 'you won't knock me down' song.
Therefore, for the reasons given, this is why I'm giving Leave No Trace 5/5 stars. This is only their second album, and you can tell that they have got so much more to give, and I can't wait! I'm definitely not psychic, but I can tell that this band are going to achieve fame pretty soon.
Leave a comment to share your views or if you disagree on anything I've said.
Music Bloggery Recommends:Wild Window, Leave No Trace, Narrow Sun, Tel Aviv, Mammal and Balmy
Portamento
is The Drums' first studio album after the release of self-titled debut
album 'The Drums' (2010). No doubt that Portamento is completely
different to that of their first release. The album begins with the
catchy song, 'Book of Revelations' and the rhythmic bass and the
background harmonies are toe-tappingly addictive. As you delve deeper
within the album, the theme seems to be one of self-loathing and
cynicism. Other critics seem to despise the fact that The Drums have
such a downbeat theme when they were expecting 60's style peace and love
in this album. Personally, I think these critics are completely wrong.
Some artists find contentment in morbidity and they find inspiration in
it, so what's wrong in doing so?
The album itself is filled
with a lot more memorable hooks and choruses, especially 'Money', one of
the first singles released from the album. And what a good decision it
was! Although the rest of the album becomes dreary and repetitive,
'Money' stands out from the crowd. It's great guitar and bass melody
re-enforce the Morrissey-like vocals of frontman Jonathan Pierce.
Another great breakthrough song from the album is 'I Need a Doctor'. The
great uplifting, bouncy melody and lyrics give a great sense of a
decent into madness and simply re-enforces once again the meaning of the
whole song.
However, The Drums' major downfall on this album was the lack of
meaning in lyrics. Lyrics such as 'You hit me yesterday, and you made me
cry', lack poetic structure and underlying meaning that all the great
songs have. Yes, this is part of the attraction to the
band, but if they want to gain a wider audience, better lyrics are the
way to go. Come to think of it, most of the songs on this album are
filled with extended oohs and aahs as opposed to actual lyrics.
Overall, this album is a very good album, but when listening to it, I
feel as if there is a void that can only be filled with the joyous
merriment of the band's previous album. This, and various other reasons
provided, is why I have awarded it 4/5 stars. If you are new to the world of The Drums, I would highly recommend
listening to their first album,The Drums, and then move on to Portamento once you have become used to their style
Music Bloggery Recommends: The songs I recommend from the album are 'Days', 'Money', 'Hard To Love', 'I Need a Doctor' and 'How It Ended'.
