Friday, May 30, 2008

A lesson in romantics...




So, as most of you are now aware, i recently fell in love with Mayday Parade. I heard a couple of their songs a while ago, but stayed mostly clear of their stuff until i could get hold of the new album, A Lesson In Romantics. It, is, awesome. It's actually nigh on impossible to work out which track you need to hear, hmmmmm. Let's see....


# Champagne's For Celebrating (I'll Have A Martini) - Mayday Parade

Ok, that one will do, heh. Let's face it, most of you will already have the entire album, and i'd like to think my exceptionally annoying continuous harassment played a part in that. Maybe one of you might even buy it =P Karma's made slightly better by the fact i already own it twice. Damn bonus tracks. And my weekness. ANYWAY. As the title suggests, the whole album is a very typiacl emo-y relationship fest of wonder, which suits me like, erm, alcohol? Although with less of a hangover. This is really going off topic. The album is kind of like one big emotional cliché, but in a good way. Try it. Love it.

Save a sad song for the sing-a-long.


# Your House 2007 - Jimmy Eat World

I picked up this lovely edition of the Bleed American album in hmv the other day (i know i normally link Amazon, but HMV are selling it £9 cheaper!). It has a total of 21 bonus tracks, a combination of b-sides, acoustic and live versions. My personal favourite though has to be this new version of Your House. At first i thought it was just a bit odd, now i can't really see why i liked the older version, heh. It's a really good improvement, and sounds awesome. Again, buy this album!

I had you once, but i can't forget that, sometimes i wish i could lose you again.


# Not Asking You To Leave - Motion City Soundtrack

As well as an iTunes bonus track (BOOO!) this track was the b-side for one of the This Is Real 7" singles. And? Suprise suprise, it's great, heh. I prefer this to most of the tracks that actually made it on to Even If It Kills Me. I'm just glad i finally managed to get an mp3 copy of it! If anyone fancies buying me a better soundcard to rip my 7"s it'd be muchly appreciated =P
Whilst on the topic, you also need to buy Even If It Kills Me. My personal favourite MCS album so far. Awesome band.

I'm not alone, just lonely all of the time.


# Shut Up And Dance - Love Automatic

Let's finish up with a random bouncy song shall we? Myspace and PureVolume wanderings are such excellent ways of finding great new bands. Who cares if they ever produce a great album, or even if they get signed. So many bands that never make it produce at least one great song. It's not groundbreaking. It's not the best song ever. But it's good, and makes me want to dance (dance dance dance dancing the night away =P).

The doctor said for me to see if i can sweat you out of me.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

We live like vampires

It's been annoying me how many songs I want to tell everyone about at the moment. Lots of little bits and pieces keep cropping up. But I spose if i told you about them all it wouldn't be as fun =P
Anyway, just some randoms today.



# Slow Suicide - JamisonParker

I bought this album a while ago, purely based on the wonderful Here's Everything I've Always Meant To Say, but never really got into the rest of the album. Maybe i'll give it another go, as i somehow missed this song back then. It came up on shuffle, and i've fallen madly in love with it at the moment. Typical general-emo-ness but with a great tune to back it up that just makes me want to dance. Or, like, jiggidy flail. Yeah...

It's the smoke and the drinks, and the smiles that it brings, it's the pain and the sex, disguised as innocence.


# Do It Again! - You, Me, And Everyone We Know

Free songs are great. Free EPs are even better. I'm not even sure where I came across this band, but I was most certainly enticed by 8 whole tracks for free. What's strange about this band is they seem so familiar yet, not? For me they emit the vibes of Panic! [I refuse to drop that exclamation mark], Fall Out Boy and even Say Anything. You can get the whole EP here. I personally love the song title I'd Be More Interested If You Were Already Spoken For... I wonder why? =P
Oh, and, I've found the song title as Do It Again (You're Not Making Me Want To Touch You) which is probably the 'correct' way but i've already uploaded the song, so change it yourself in the unlikely event you care, heh.

I'm feeling wreckless and i feel the need to stress this, i'm stepping out and i'll do this 'til im somebody else.


# Imperfections - 2 Hour Parking

Saving money is considerably harder when albums you just *have* to buy crop up. I've wanted this cd for absolutely ages. I tried many times to get hold of it from various places but i just never could. Thankfully i was randomly looking at their myspace page the other day, and found a link (in the COMMENTS for fook sake) for buying the album from a print on demand supplier. Anyway, i love a number of songs on here, and have posted most of them already, but i thought i'd share another today.
This band are far from groundbreaking, but they have good lyrics and good tunes, and that's what counts.

In our hearts we both know that all my imperfections will never add up to all your high expectations.


# You And Me (demo) - One Night Only

Another Emma pick here (isn't she great?), this band seem to have appeared out of nowhere to be lauded by various radio presenters and music magazines as an up and coming Kooks-esq hit. On first listen i wasn't blown over by the album, but i've been distracted by lots of other things lately. It'll get another rotation soon enough i'm sure. One thing i did notice though was the massive drop in quality of this song, from the version Emma sent me to the album version. Admitadly, the album comes with three bonus downloads, including this version of the song. I think it sounds so much better, i'm not quite sure why they've toned down the track on cd. But anyway, it's still great. Albeit a bit cheesy.

People say, I only hear what I want to, that much is true. People say, I only see what I want to, so why do I see you?

Thursday, February 14, 2008

*That* day.



So far in my life, i've celebrated V day just the once, so, it's fairly easy to ignore. I mean, one day out of over 7,000 isn't really that big a deal to forget, heh. And apparently i had because i'd forgotten about the pasta. But anyway. Instead of going for anything remotely romantic, i thought today should be about music love, so here's the only four tracks that have a 5 star rating in my iTunes. All are gorgeous songs that i truely adore.
And yes i'm pretty sure all of these have been posted previously. I'm making an exception. It is Dan's 21st today after all...


# I Wish - Semisonic

From the awesome album All About Chemistry, this rather length song is a really beautiful yet somewhat emo ramble of love-ness. Obviously it's perfect for me, always wanting to be the sad little puppy or some such! It's still a gorgeous song, you can do so much for someone you care about, but you can't make them love you. You can't control how they feel about you and what you do. Continues to stay true. Maybe one day, i'll create some form of Pax deely...ok, may have just watched Serenity. Hushing.

I can climb the trees for you, twist in the breeze for you, but the one thing that I can never do, I can't believe for you, I can't believe in me for you.


# Self-Conclusion - The Spill Canvas

Suprise suprise I like a song about suicide. But this one's special. It's the lovely story of a girl, standing at the top of these cliffs, about to kill herself. But someone else is there. He just gives her a simple alternative. Give living another shot. It's just so...hmmm. Makes me happy.

Settle precious I know what you're going through, 'cause ten minutes before you got here I was gonna jump too.


# Dear You (Far Away) - Zebrahead

Ok, I don't really think many people i've ever spoken to have not been somehow forced to listen to MFZB, but there's a good reason for that. It's a brilliant album. And for all the awesome actchy and bouncy songs on there, i think this will remain my favourite part. After all the rest, all the heartache and problems, it all comes down to a calm chat and a drink. Ignoring The Fear of course...

She said that's right, i don't wanna leave now.


# Disintegration - Jimmy Eat World

I randomly picked up the 5 track Stay On My Side EP in HMV as soon as I saw it, not really sure such a short little cd could really be worth £6. However, it rapidly became my favourite Jimmy Eat World cd, and probably my favourite ever EP. This opening track, and an equally brilliant follow-up Over make this a must-have purchase. Or at least must-have download for all you scummy non-cd-buying student types =P

This poison comes instruction free. Do what you want, but i'm drinking.


On a slight tangent, i've finally switched over to using iSproggler for Scrobbling Last.fm tracks. It seems pretty good so far.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Have me! Have me, i'm a love albatross...

Heh, just watched the first episode of Bottom, and i'd forgotten how awesome it was. The above quote is from about five and a half minutes in...



Anyway, i suppose some form of music is in order. [Note: due to limited webspace, i've had to take a couple of tracks down a few days early. But it's your fault for not picking them up already if you haven't =P] In the mood to just pick some tracks from awesome bands. I may have posted before, but i doubt it, heh. First up...


# His World (Zebrahead version) - Zebrahead

This track was done for a recent Sonic game, but the game version was done with Crush 40 so doesn't have the proper Zebrahead sound to it. They decided to randomly record this version too. Well, ok, i doubt it was entirely random, but y'know. It's not that great a song, but i still like it. Because it's Zebrahead. They also have a new dvd out, so go buy that.


# Glutton Of Sympathy - The Format

This was a b-side to the UK 7" release of Time Bomb, and it made buying my turntable worthwhile. It's a cover of Jellyfish, but i only discovered the original through this. They both rock. But this one's The Format. Mor recently it made its way onto their b-sides and rarerities album, awesomely titled B-sides and Rarerities.
I am however absolutely gutted that the band have basically now 'split', although on apparently happy terms. However, despite an awesome new Dan Wilson album, a similar parting of ways with Semisonic hasn't exactly been a massive advantage over some form of shouty break-up. I suppose they *might* eventually do another album this way. Boop.


# Never You Mind (live) - Semisonic

Talking of Semisonic, i might as well post a track. I think i prefer this more vocally based live rendition of the song over the studio recording, but maybe that's just beacuse it's a nice change? This was also a b-side, to the lovely Get A Grip single. Which i now also want to post. But hopefully you have that already. If not, you really should go and buy both Feeling Strangely Fine and All About Chemistry, both very necessary purchase albums.


# Outlaws Of Love - Bon Jovi

Had to finish this up with a Bon Jovi track. Probably the hardest to pick though. Wanted to pick something a bit more random, so 100,000,000 Fans... was the album of choice. However, i've already posted my favourite two tracks from it, being Good Guys Don't Always Wear White and Why Aren't You Dead? which are both easily full album quality in my books. This one's a moderately rocky number, but it's far from original for them. Then again, that's not why we love them is it? No Ste, no it's not.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Woop, another post. Yeah, currently increasingly concerned with any repeat songs? I know it's not really a big deal, but, it feels wrong, so i'm having to actually think back. It's tough =P



# In Our Bedroom After The War - Stars

Now, i know I posted another track off this album last wednesday, but since then i've fallen madly in love with this track. It's equally sad/lovely, but on a better topic. This one's all about the end of a relationship, and just, no matter what you had, how you feel, the fighting's done, the hard crap is *over* and that's enough. Yup. I love it =)

If there's no one there, then there's no one there, but at least the war is over.


# Find Me - Lost Anthem

I founs this track a while back on the ever-wonderous PureVolume. Completely random pop-rocky band, but i really love this track. I know i use the word 'bouncy' way to often (mayhaps i should just start using the turtle dude here...) but it *is*. The band don't seem to be up to loads though, and their official website seems to have just died, but oh well. If all the random bands we'll never really know can just produce one great song, i'll be happy.

I'm not in the mood to be on Earth tonight, I don't even wanna be a satellite.


# Somebody More Like You - Nickel Creek

Mackenzie was the first person to tell me about this band. Shortly after The Long Road came out, her mum went in to HMV to buy a Nickelback album, got confused, and bought a Nickel Creek cd instead. Apparently, it was really good. Didn't think much of it until i saw a random post about them a while ago, and low and behold, they *are* actually pretty damn good. This has to be my favourite song of theirs at the moment, certain feelings and all that, but not quite in the way you think. If you do so at all. Yeah...

I didn't hear you say you're sorry, the fault must be mine.


# Blackest Eyes - Porcupine Tree

I don't think i posted this after Download, which is a bit of a suprise. I only really saw this band because they ewre right before Paramore, and also because their name amused me. I was really not dissapointed. This and Halo really stuck with me, and were awesome live. As yet, more of the studio recordings haven't really made me go "wow", but i'm still happy enouhg to now know and love this song. Awesome mix of heavy guitar and soft lyrics.

I will try something under the trees that made you cry, it's so erotic when your makeup runs.

Friday, February 01, 2008

What you gonna spend your free life on?

I know, i know. Maybe more than anything this just shows that i need to get out more, but i like the idea of getting this blog back onto a regular thing. Yay =)
On with the show-ness...




# Head Spin - Jamestown Story

# Distant And Faded - Jamestown Story

So, i've bene looking at the random google referals i keep getting for this site, and this post is one of the most popular by far. The bands first album has come back into moderately heavy rotation in the kitchen at the moment. The one thing that bugs me about them is the name change. The've changed their name twice, starting out as ...and then i turned seven... , then like P!ATD have recently done, and in my mind equally crazy, they dropped the punctuation. However that wasn't good enough either, so And Then I Turned Seven became Jamestown Story. They're still good, and a name isn't everything, but at least for me it's one of the main reasons i'll check out a band in the first place, and i doubt i would have bothered with Jamestown Story? But oh well. You'll just have to take my word that they're coolies, heh.


# Frequently Baby (She's A Teenage Maniac) - Mêlée

Now this one's for all you pop-loving 'i don't care how sad you think this is possibly because i'm wasted' bouncy people out there. Or maybe just me. This band were recommended on the One:Day:Life Podcast a while back, and i really liked them. The whole album is really nice and has coolies lyrics, but this is the track that i love listening to the most. There's better on there, but I find addictive songs like this the best openers to really getting into them.


# Breathless - Dan Wilson

One of my all time favourite bands has to be Semisonic. They're brilliant, the All About Chemistry album especially is that great combination of soft-rockin' and amazing lyrics. Now, the band haven't really officially split up (they played a gig June '07 i believe), but they are all working on seperate projects. The lead singer, Dan Wilson, has realised a solo album that is easily on par with all the best of Semisonic. The song above is a perfect example, and for me the whole album keeps to the same quality. I ordered my copy through Newbury Comics and got a beautiful extra signed lyrics booklet. Well worth getting!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

The increasingly rare blog post...

I'm not going to ramble on about why i keep neglecting this. I can't help it. But you know you prefer the one on one recommends anyway =P
Anyway, new music eh? Spose it'll be a bit of a random mix today, but very much in a bouncy pop-punky phase, so, i hope you like it?





# Routine Scars - Foolproof

Once again, Emma is a legend. Another band i've fallen madly in love with after she's pointed them out to me, Foolproof are excellent mixture of bouncing rock and pent up emo grrrr/*sobs*. Yeah... Heh. Sadly, the band have now split up, however, the good news is you can download the album Everybody Dance for free via PureVolume. The whole album is great, although after eBaying it, i have to say i prefer the tracklisting of the Japanese physical release over the iTunes one. The former also includes 3 tracks not seemingly up for download, including this one here. Get the whole album, it's awesome.


# False Pretense - The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

I've only just got the full album by these guys, but this song especially is highly addictive. At first i found the whole "guitar" bit cheesy, but now i adore it. Why? Who knows. But if the rest of their work lives up to this, then i'll be very happy. I'm a sucker for anything remotely emo.


# Personel - Stars

Taking things in a completely different direction, i recently bought the new Stars album on a bit of a whim. It's pretty good, but little of its so far stuck, with the obvious exception of this song. It's so random and different, which is why i really like it. It's basically the correspondence between two people through a Personal Ad service. And i think it's really pretty, albeit kinda sad.


# An Ear For Baby - The Thermals

I've had this song for quite a while. It used to come up every so often on shuffle, i'd like it, but then think no more of it. However, more recently it keeps getting stuck in my head on loop. Wonderfully catchy sing-a-long indie-ness.
And that's that, i'm keeping this short. Who knows, as i always say i may well try and keep this more up to date again. That'd be cool. Or something.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Download Festival

So, this time last week i was in Lee's car with Dan, Lauren, Emily and unsuprisingly Lee. Can't believe it was so long ago. I don't have many pictures from Download yet, and none from our lot, so i can't really be bothered uploading/showing anything yet. Nor can i really be faffed to go through it all in detail. I've been reliving it enough in my head, suffice to say we had a fucking awesome time and i can't wait for next year/ what i thought i'd do is pick a few new things i came across at download. So here goes...


# Crazy Bitch - Buckcherry

One of the many bands there i'd heard of before, but had never really bothered looking into at all. No one had recommended them and i didn't have a clue what they'd be like. However, the performed an enjoyable set, especially this song which i think was last up, and a few people around us were singing along and it was my kinda "my girls fucking mental" song. So enjoy.


# Get Stoned - Hinder

Again, this may have been the last song by this band, who played right after Buckcherry. Mike told me to listen to them, and i really wasn't dissapointed. This is the song that most stuck out at the time (because i just wanted to go get stoned maybe...) and since i've also been listening to Lips Of An Angel. I think if you like Nickelback you can't really go wrong with this band.


# Get Um Up - Army Of Freshmen

So i actually had this song before seeing AoF but hadn't really bothered listening to it. They played an fantastic set at 11:45 Saturday morning. I wasn't sure how anyone would be that early, but they were the most energetic band i saw, and really seemed to be having fun, along with all the crowd in the tent. Again this is the song that really stuck in my head afterwards and will hold many long fond memories of Download.
They also announced the October Get Happy Tour in the UK - Bowling For Soup, Bloodhound Gang, Zebrahead and themselves. AWESOME! Really can't wait, although no dates hav been confirmed yet as far as i'm aware. Bowling For Soup also confirmed this during their set in the afternoon on the main stage.


# S.R. (The Many Versions Of) [Live] - Reel Big Fish

Ok so slightly cheating here in that i already knew this song, but Reel Big Fish were definately the best and most entertaining band i saw all weekend. Best way to finish off the whole sheboodle. They played some awesome songs, including this which i was SO happy about, but also did a short 'secret' set in the Nokia tent about 2 hours before their headlining set, and played half a dozen different songs including Ban The Tube Top and Kiss Me Deadly. Amazing stuff. Buy the live album. It's awesome.

And that's it for now. I also found another great band Porucpine Tree, and Saosin were quite good too. However I didn't overly enjoy either Evanescence nor Paramore live, and Enter Shikari were downright shit. Very dissapointed. But otherwise it was all so much fun, and i can't wait for next year. Everybody's coming right!? XD

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Time Flies

and all that malarky. Yes yes i'd basically forgotten all about this thing, heh. Blame a new computer, and i'd like to say 'an exciting life' but we all now that's not true =P
Anyway, the last tracks had been up far too long, and it seemed like i might as well pop a few new songs up while i'm at it. Oh, and, i now have a new computer, which currently has almost 3 solid weeks of music on it, mostly straight from my cd collection. It's fantastic being able to have so many songs at the click of a mouse. So that should only make my music selections easier, or better, or something? Yeah something... I just gotta get myself, over me [Couldn't resist...]



# Bring A Trident, That'll Learn 'Em - Fleeing From Finales


I was lucky enough to go and see Zebrahead again a few weeks ago (read about it here) who were unsuprisingly awesome. What was a rather unexpected though was how good the support would be. Far and away most notably, this gem of a band. They have a very strong Starting Line/Something Corporate feel, and i can't get enough of their 6 track self-titled EP which i highly recommend purchasing!



# Don't Wake Me Up - The Hush Sound


It was Eddie who first got me to listen to this fantastic band whilst having a drink down the Fat Cat. We Intertwined had me utterly hooked and i bought both of their albums within a couple of days. Their second outing, Like Vines, is definately the better of the two. Despite being on Fuelled By Ramen and therefore already being known by thousands of fans worldwide, i can't help but feel this album is underated. As with The Format's Dog Problems album, i can only envisage this getting more and more airplay. It's a beautiful album, and i think this song really shows what they can do. Oh, and, they have two singers, male and female. They sort of take it in turns doing the lead vocals for songs, and it really works well.



# Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too - Say Anything


First up, it must be noted i've heard precious little else from this band, and i haven't been overly impressed with what i have, but this song deserves very special mention. I only came across this song whilst listening to my full library on shuffle. It was on one of the Rock Sound magazine cd's Sound Check which comes with it each month. If someone told *me* about it, i wouldn't expect to like it, but somehow i was utterly won over by the chorus "I called her on the phone and she touched herself" heh. Goes to show that free cd's, like this and the HMV ones really are worth holding on to!



# Apeman - The Format


And finally an old favourite, The Format. Still can't really remember life before them, heh. This time you get a cover of The Kinks song which they gave away as a 1 track single with online Merch purchases in November. I'd never heard the original, but as soon as i put this into my cd player i knew i'd love it for a very long time. I'm not really sure how the Format manage to cover songs so well but they don't seem to have struck out with anything i've heard. Which reminds me, i know own a turntable (finally) and being able to hear their cover of Glutton Of Sympathy was worth the £40 alone. I'll try and rip it in the near future but, that would take quite a lot of effort!

So that's it for now. Not a very exciting post, but maybe i'll actually keep up posting. It's something to do right? =P

Thursday, October 19, 2006

White and Nerdy

I can't believe it's been like 6 weeks since i last potsed. Argh! But, like, since that last Format post... I saw them live! Heh. And they were AMAZING. One of those bands that were just made for live performance-ness =) For the "low-down" you'll have to check my myspace blog though because i can't be bothered to go all into it again. Really really good though!

Anyway, it's time to move along. Suprise suprise i've got far too much music to share so i'll just pick a few current favs. First up has to be the new "Weird Al" Yankovic song. I watched the video on Myspace (thanks Tom =p) and fell in love. The lyrics are really great but it's best to watch the video first, so...



Appologies for that not being great quality but, oh well. Check it out as noted on MySpace or something. And hope it gets released as a single over here! Until then.

# White And Nerdy - "Weird Al" Yankovic


Next up, an older song. I was sorting out my albums the other day (after buying my 4th cd rack...) and i came across the Tom Vek album, We Have Sound. I'd forgotten how much i liked it, especially this first track. So for those of you who haven't heard it before, or perhaps anyone else like me who just totally forgot all about its existence, here's track numero uno.

# C-C (You Set The Fire In Me) - Tom Vek


A Glasgow band next. The wonder of the internet, and in turn random internet people to talk to and discover new music from, shines through! Heh. It took a few listens for this song to really get under my skin, but once it did i was utterly hooked. Just listen to this song and tell me it isn't catchy! Ok, i'm sure a few of you will now. Bastards. Anyway if you like this, Futuro have got quite a few pretty decent tracks. You can pick up their latest single/ep with a bonus EP, P&P included, for £1.99. Excellent deal. Get it here.

# Slow Motion - Futuro


Finally... I think this might actually be the first time i've put one of Ed's tracks on here. For those who don't know, the lovely Eddie has for the past few years been producing lots of random tunes on his computer, most notably The Stars. That was until now. I don't know how long it's been up, i haven't yet had a chance to talk about it with him, but he's currently got Bottled as a downloadable track on his MySpace page. And basically, it's awesome. I love it. It's a really quality piece and just has a really good tempo and feel to it. See what you think. And check out his Myspace to make him happy =p

# Bottled - Wind Chill Factor


And there we go. I'll try to update a bit more regulary again, but i always say that and seem to fail. Oh well.

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Get in to: The Format


Right, i've been nice about this. I've tried my best. Now, those who haved paid attention to my recomendation of this band have been very happy with the discovery, but there's a lot of you akward buggers being stubborn. I don't think you get it. They. Are. Great. I like to try and think of it as a cross between Bright Eyes and Dogs Die In Hot Cars. But also nothing like that =P Oh sod it, on with the songs.


# The First Single - The Format

Now most mp3 blogs have already featured lots of random Format tracks already, so, to try and be a bit different, i thought i'd pick a single track from each of the two EPs and two albums. First up comes from, as far as i'm aware, their first release, purely titled EP. The track above is actually also the opening track for the following album; Interventions & Lullabies, but the version here is much more rough, and personally i just love the "one two three four" at the beginning (because i'm weird). I've left the title as purely The First Single because i believe it was only altered to The First Single (Cause A Scene) for the single release. I'm sure you're very excited to know such important information *sighs*. Moving on...

"Let's cause a scene, clap our hands and stomp our feet, or something, yeah something, i just gotta get myself, over me."


# Wait, Wait, Wait - The Format

Coming from Interventions & Lullabies, this is the second track and is a lovely little number. I love how soft and relaxed it feels, but then how bouncy the chorus kicks in. It's an excellent combination that really gives the song some *oomf* I'm sure that has a correct spelling but i have no idea what it might be.

"The song won't stop 'til the tape runs out"


# Janet - The Format

This version of Janet comes from the Snails EP, wich is available on its own, but personally i picked it up as part of the combo pack from here. It's another great happy bouncy song that just, god, i wish i had've had all this tracks for the entire summer, but sadly i just didn't get hold of most of their stuff until too late. I guess there's always next year...

"I'm falling in love with you balloons or no balloons, so it's time i forget the past and just learn to love what i have, 'cause i love waking up to your laugh."


# The Compromise - The Format

Finally, i think the hardest choice is the track to pick from Dog Problems. It's a great album and the one that really is grabbing the Format new fans by the hundreds if not thousands. If you're still not sure about this band, get hold of this album. I really don't think there's anyway anyone could regret it. It's so, awesome! And, of course, it has dogs on the cover. DOGS! =D Anyway, a few people have told me this is their favourite track off the album, and i've just wacked it up as i'm finding it increasingly difficult to pick any tracks out over the rest.

"Meet me in the middle, well come on lets make up a dance, and we'll agree to call it the compromise."


And that's The Format. I could chuck on a demo or acoustic track on the end here, but i'm not gonig to. Four tracks. Lsiten to them. Love them. BUY THE ALBUMS!

Monday, August 07, 2006

10% luck, 20% skill, 15% concentrated power of will...




# Remember The Name - Fort Minor

I saw Eddie last week and we exchanged some new stuff we'd each been listening to (i guess one of the few bonuses of friends being away at uni is they find lots of new cool music!) and this was one of my favourite he got me listening to. It's a side project of Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda if you didn't know, bringing a rap/hip-hop outing. I'm sure already that's bringing up some flags but just listen to this track. I'll admit some of the stuff off the album isn't that great, but at least 3 of them (Remember The Name, Feel Like Home, Where'd You Go) are *decent* in that i'd happily have them alongside any LP tracks on my mp3 player. I've put a link on the above picture though because Amazon are currently selling the limited edition version of the album with a bonus dvd for £1.96. That's right, less than two pounds! It's insane, but they quite often sell off the cd/dvd sets for under than a fiver. Gotta love that website...


# Gangster Trippin - Fatboy Slim

I really think everyone should buy the Fatboy Slim best of album, Why Try Harder. There aren't many people who could say they don't like *any* of Norman Cooks excellent tracks, and it features the legendary Rockafeller Skank and Weapon Of Choice as well as the superb remixes of Groove Armada's Shakin' That Ass and Cornershop's Brimful of Asha. Those alone are tracks everyone should have, before you start adding in the others such as Praise You, Wonderful Night and Right Here, Right Now. Hmv sell the 'normal' version of the album for £9.99 with the limited edition that suprise suprise comes with a bonus dvd of ten really good music videos for a little extra at £11.99.


# Two Left Feet - The Holloways

Han got me into this bouncy little indie band with the track Generator that i've undoubtable already posted some time back. I've only heard a few other tracks of theirs, but they've all been fairly good, so when i saw this new little single at hmv i had to pick it up, and i'm really glad i did. Two Left Feet is the A side and not suprisingly the best track on the cd, but if you like it, why not splash out a whole £1.99 for 3 tracks and the video =) (and "because singles suck" is not a valid reason!)


# Already Over - Orson

When i first heard about this band i just thought "meh" basically and didn't intend to bother with them. However, i kept getting Bright Idea stuck in my head and against my best intentions found myself liking it. A lot. Damn radio! Anyway i went for it and bought the album and i'm muchly glad i did. I've been finding it rather hard to define the quality of the album that makes it feel so familiar. It just seems to be kind of stereotypical american radio rock, but somehow in a really cool and enjoyable way, at least for me. When i first played the album through i found myself wondering how i could've only jsut purchased the cd when almost every song felt like a part of my musical past already? See, i can't really word what i mean. But yes, it feels really nice and familiar. Sometimes that can be a bit shite, but at the same time not every single album i buy has to be ground breaking or amazingly fresh because that just gets dull. Hopefully you feel the same.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

My Bubbles...

It's been longer than i would've liked, but i spose less than two weeks is still an improvement on previous gaps. Once again i have far too many new bands/songs to share with you than i have webspace/time for, so i'll just pick a few and hope you think as great as i do. Lets start off with the wonderful new cd that showed up at my door today...




# Intro & Fanfare
# Theme From Family Guy

Above you'll find the first two tracks from the cd, and i think you'll see why i love it already. I wasn't sure what to think when i first saw about this cd, but it really is good. A whole set of random Family Guy songs including the lovely "All Cartoons Are Fuckin' Dicks" which tells us how big an arsehole various cartoon characters really are, and also spills the beans on Scrappy Doos parents! The album also comes with a bonus dvd featuring the 'making of' as well as Stewie Griffon's Sexy Party, a rather odd but as ever brilliantly funny little song (with full music video). Buy it!


# Underwear Goes Inside The Pants - Lazy Boy

I heard this song on radio 1 last week sometime. I wasn't paying much attention until the part about giving money to the homeless guy came on, and i just thought "that's so fookin right!" and upon obtaining the song, i just fell in love with practically everything it says. It's like sunscrean, but actually really good!

"This homeless guy asked me for money the other day, I was about to give it to him and I thought, he's just gonna to use it on drugs or alcohol. And then I thought, that's what I'm going to use it on."


# Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks - Los Campesinos!

Keep an eye on this band. I really think they're going to make a proper name for themselves. As far as i'm aware they've only recorded four songs, which comprise their upcoming EP. They are great. I've already shared You! Me! Dancing! with you and i've just got hold of this track and i'm loving it already. Someone make them come to Ipswich please!

"One blink for yes, two blinks for no, sweet dreams sweet cheeks we leave alone."


Okay, i'm tired. Trust me there's loads more where those came from, and i'll try and post again at the weekend or early next week. I doubt you really care, but, y'know.

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Googlewacks 'R' Us

Ok, sorry, that's "Googlewack", singular. But still. I was just going through some page referals (exciting stuff) and for some reason, no one else comes up for that, which i find odd. Oh well. I'm sure ste will try and ruin that now =P
I've had a busy weekend, with work, ODL gig and of course the funtastic Swanfest. It's been a good weekend, i mean any is where you not only get to drink and hangout with your friends, but also see your two favourite local bands. If only Zebrahead had've randomly shown up... Ok ok, on with the music.


# White Trash - Junior Senior

I rambled on about this song far too much in regards to the PopWorld advert it featured in, which was a great add. Find a YouTube of it somewhere down below. But yea, i really like this song, and i'm sure you do too. I spose i should find some more Junior Senior, maybe even try and get hold of an album, based on one song. I'm smart *taps head* This is why i'm always poor.


# Dreaming Of Flying - Celestial Aeon Project

So i occasional pop Last.fm radio on jsut for the fuck of it, and i'm glad i did the other day. I had Recommendation Radio on for less than half an hour and i'd discovered a good half a dozen songs i loved. This is by far the prettiest of those. It's just random atmospheric music that this dude has done, and he's released the whole lot for free download. Check it out.


# Round The Twist theme tune

As downloaded from RoundTheTwist.com, it's the fantastic theme tune from the classic Aussie kids programme. I'm sure it was crap, but i remember liking it =P Am i allowed to feel old at 19? No? Excellent.


# Sheila's Wheels - Adam K & Suman Biswas

Aka the Amateur Transplants, these two parody singers rarely fail to put a smile on my face. By now i'm sure most of you have enjoyed the wonders of the London Undergound song ("They're all lazy fucking useless cunts") and the fantastic Paracetamoxyfrusebendroneomycin ("We tested it on animals and none of them survived, but that's ok cause when we wrote the paper up we lied"), and here's one of their latest additions to their album.

Friday, July 21, 2006

I'm not dead!

It's not like i haven't wanted to post... I keep thinking "i really must post this song" or "i wish everyone knew about so-and-so" but i just never have the time, full-consciousness or focus (id argue in that order =P). Anyway, yea, enough with the excuses.

# She Doesn't Get It - The Format

There was quite a bit of intermaweb chatter about these guys a while back, but i didn't really pay much attention. I've had a few of their songs for ages, but i never bothered playing them. However, a few weeks ago, as sometimes happens, i was feeling kinda 'indie' and trawled through my music to see what i could find i liked. And, anyway, i came across this awesome song. I love the singers voice in it, it's perfect. Expect more soon as i'm buying the album next week =P

"All the girls pose the same for pictures, all the boys got the same girls hair"


# You! Me! Dancing! - Los Campesinos!

See above for how i discovered this (and i also think that's a double credit to Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good). It's perfect hot weather music, or at least i think so, heh. There's very few songs i'll endure a 2 minute intro for. I just like getting straight into the juice, as it were. But, well, this song is totally worth it. Sadly there doesn't seem to be *that* much about or of this band around. Make them big. Someone?

"It's sad that you think we're all just scenesters, and even if we were it's not the scene you're thinking of"


# Graduation Day - Head Automatica

I'm sure most people are aware that i loved Decadence. Well, the follow up album Popaganda gives it a firm booting. Pure, fantastically catchy pop-rock. God i love this band! I know some of you are already going to ignore this because of the word 'pop' alone, but you shouldn't. Just give it a go. The whole album is great, so, yea, you should buy it. Or even just the Graduation Day single, which comes with an acoustic version of the song as well as a demo of God, and of course the video. Excellent!

That's all for tonight folks, i'm getting really hot sitting here, and it's gone 2am... Silly Camden messing up my body clock. Oh well... Expect more SOON. I mean it dammit. I really do *nods* Oh, that's the other excuse, work. I've got lots more time off atm (and i think i actually mean it finally) so yea. See you soon? =P

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Get in to: Simple Plan



I know i know, they're far from *new* or unknown these days, but i was sitting here, toying with a few different things to blog about (just sharing *new* songs can get a bit dull) and going through my media library, i realised how little i've ever really blogged on this band. Now, i'll admit, SP aren't renowned for being the coolest or most original band out there, but they've really got a lot of bouncy pop-punk-ness that really is great to jig around to. Hehe. Jig...


# Jump - Simple Plan

This song comes from their second album (Still Not Getting Any...) and is just an awesome "get hyper now" tune, all about enjoying the bouncy guitars and jumping around to energetically. Hopefully it's not just me... The song title does bode well =D But yea, it took a while for the song to grow on me, until it came on once when i was in the prefect mood for it. Just try this when you're really looking forward to going out after having a shite day. Pre-zest-heaven!


# I'm Just a Kid - Simple Plan

I'm sure most people have this track anyway, it's a perfect example of their first album, being a great little teen-angst song. I know now being 18+ somewhat dimishes the whole relating to it thing, but it's still a good song with a good tune. In the unlikely event you don't already own the first album (No pads no helmets...just balls) and you like this song, buy it now. In fact, buy it anyway. If only for Perfect. Everyone has that already though =P


# Happy Together - Simple Plan

This cover was used for Freaky Friday. I'm fully aware the film had Lindsey Lohan in it, but it wasn't too shabby! Especially the soundtrack in fact, which besides the horrid little princess herself also included the awesome likes of Bowling For Soup (covering Baby One More Time) and American Hi-Fi. Anyway, this song appears right at the beginning and really got me liking the film from the start, hehe.


# What's New Scooby Doo? - Simple Plan

I had to finish off with this track. The band actually featured in a whole episode which i haven't seen in ages. Not that i'm a secret massive Scooby Doo fan. I just happen to have seen a fair few episodes, and the live show... Totally for Bradley of course. It was rather good though! So were the Chuckle Brothers. Oh dear, when should i have stopped?

Friday, May 26, 2006

Yup, two posts in two days!

So, here we are again already, with a few more tracks to try and keep your dull lives slightly more interesting =P Hehe. Oh, and, there's a lovely little extra track at the bottom i'm sure you're all dying to download, so, scroll down now!




So, i saw about this new album from the Punk Goes set quite a while ago now, but, to be honest i just didnt think it was gonig to be that good. Going on the covers for Song 2 and Wonderwall i feel such an opinion was well justified, the songs just aren't as good as the originals and it's pointless. But, as i scrolled down the list, i saw something that got me almost as excited as the thought i'll be seeing Zebrahead in two weeks (WOO!). A Third Eye Blind cover. That alone would provoke interest. When they then pick by far the best track on the self-titled album [for an emo loving retard anyway =D] i was ready to explode! Jumper is one of my all time favourite songs, amazingly beautiful and one of my happy/suicidal type songs. I'd try to explain that better but it's hard and *i* don't care enough, let alone you. The cover is done really beautifully and sounds just as wonderful as the original. Awesome stuff.
I also took the opportunity to check out the Alanis Morisette cover (hehe, "No ticket...") which is pretty awesome itself. I quite like miss Morisette (when not 'acting') but i think for me the song (You Oughta Know - is that middle word spelt right? Feth knows...) was made for a more grrr pop-punk manly band approach. Maybe i just prefer blokes? Ha! ;) Anyway, after that horrid overuse of brackets, you can see why i like these two songs now. Go on, you know you want to.

# Jumper - BEDlight For BlueEYES

# You Oughta Know - The Killing Moon




On an entirely random little tangent, i discovered Fall Out Boy (Well, okay, Patrick Stump, but he's blatently the best) were/was on the Live Lounge yesterday, performing Sugar, We're Going Down and a Ne Yo cover. Now, i was like "who the HELL is that" but once i listened to the song i knew what it was (thank my family's poor tastes in music!) but found myself suprisingly impressed by how well the song works when done acoustic. Appologies for the little splurt of conversation at the end but, well, sorting that out would take just too much effort =P

# So Sick (live acoustic) - Fall Out Boy


Now, i promised a bonus didn't i? Oh, here you go then. Hehe =D

Thursday, May 25, 2006

I'll make you crazy

So, it's almost the end of the month and this is only my second post =( I've just been a bit preocupied lately. I miss doing this though so i'll do my best to keep things a bit more lively in June. Should be a good month, seeing as i'll be turning 19, working full-time at Waterstones and, best of all, seeing Zebrahead! That's right, hehe. I'm off to Peterborough on the 9th of June to go see them and i'm already well excited =D
Anyway, enough of me, let's just get on with some music shall we?


# Love Punch - The Chalets

Ok, so, after like a week of lsitening to this track it suddenly hit me that i'd ehard it before. Where? The awesome PopWorld advert(see below). Or so i thought... I hadn't seen the advert for ages, and i've been having second thoughts about my blurred memory (it's amazing quite what you can combine when it's what you want to "hear"), The song in question is in fact White Trash - Junior Senior, so, where the fuck did i hear this track?! ARGH.
Oh, right, the song. Yea, it's awesome. The chalet's have a great little poppy-indie-bouncy vibe that i really enjoy. To me they feel like a more mature version of Ley Royal Scam. Great stuff.





# Nervous - DJ Fresh Ft. Mary Byker

So i've been paying more and more attention to HMV's New Music section/booklet/cd recently and here is one of the many rewards from it. The final track on the latest cd (May 06) is this wonderful little number. It has a very strong Pendulum vibe and i've become addicted to it in an amazingly short space of time. If you like Slam, try this.


# Crazy (live acoustic) - The Kooks

I believe this is a live lounge track (i'd listen to it more if it didn't always make me spend ages trying to track down the covers i adore!) and is an excellent cover of the already awesome (although sadly now overplayed) Gnarls Barkley track. It's got an insanely different feel to the whole song, which is great, although i must admit that the lead singers voice is *finally* starting to grate a little bit. I can't see a second album being so popular...


As a random extra, the following is the Lithuanian entry for Eurovision which i'm quite happy to say i didn't watch. However, Han got me to watch this video of their entry and i LOVE it! The song itself is oddly catchy and addictive, but, just watch it for the crazy bald man on the left! He's so relaxed and seemingly un-energetic untill about 90 seconds in... =D

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Are you feeling my disco?

I'm feelin a bit retro tonight. Thank Sarah actually, she got me thinking about two of the following songs, and, yea. It's amazing the songs you just forget about, even when you used to lsiten to them all the time *back in the day*. I miss these songs, and hope you do too?! =P


# Bother - Stone Sour

Currently still the only song i've heard by the band i've really liked, if anyone knows of any others that are on par, then by all means let me know! Until then, if you haven't heard this, well, listen to it... I'll admit, this has quite a Nickelback/Silverchair feel, and it's not overly happy, but i think the song's rather purdiful.

"Wish i was too dead to care, if indeed i cared at all..."


# I Feel So - Box Car Racer

Wonderful little angst song which made buying the album basically just for There Is (one of the most purdiful songs *ever*) muchly worthwhile. Great for when you're feeling really messed up and depressed, but also a damn good rockin listen when you just want something a bit *harder* and, angrier. Sitting inside all of us is the parent/life/tarffic warden hating daemon that needs to be fed.


# Voices - Disturbed

Talking of teenage angst... XD Hehe. The Sickness by Disturbed is an amazing album as a whole for being a messed up kid. It's something you can so easily get lost in, jump around and sing madly to, until you get pent up enough to let all your rage out on the nearest inanamate(sp?) object (in my case mostly the kitchen door). It's quite a odd song ("I'm gonna talk about some freaky shit now") but it's a perfect intro into the whole Sickness album. Get angry. Buy the album. Possibly the other way around. Actually...neither of those sounds good. Oh well, spread the anger. =P


# Running From Your Dad - Bowling For Soup

On a much lighter note, we have a great song, origianlly recomended to me by the, lets face it, insane, Libby =D This is a quality song that still makes me smile. It's not mature, i sincerly hope no one can actually relate to it, but with such an awesome chorus, who cares?!

"I can still see your dad, running after me with a shovel in his hand. I don't remember much after that..."

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Gig-ness: Hell Is For Heroes



So, Monday night, i went to the Soul Tree in Cambridge to go see HIFH's with Han. Now despite owning both their albums, i still haven't got into them properly, but do like quite a lot of their stuff. This emant i went with a bit of trepidation, unsure of how much i'd enjoy the gig to be honest, but i still usually enjoy local gigs where i dont know much, but, it's just not the same as singing alnog the whole way through is it =P
Anyway, we'll start with the support. First up were Orko, a rather cool band from Glasgow. I thought the lead singer was rather cute, haha, and the bassist looked like he was having a lot of fun, although spending most the set facing the drummer did seem somewhat odd. They were pretty good though, and had a nice friendly kinda presence thing going on, which i liked.
Next up were the equally "pretty damn good" Keiko, and their bassist was mcuh more entertaining. He did, weird, leg, dancing, type....stuff.... Yea, i spose you had to be there. But Han and I really liked him! The lead wasn't so great though in my opinion, both in presence and attractiveness :/ He tried a little too hard for my liking. It was towards to end (i assume) of their set, that, well. I, fainted... Opps? It wasn't the alcohol (i was only 5 bottles down and i think pretty much everyone i know has seen me capably walking after more than double that most weeks at Zest =P) but the packed-in-ness and heat just made me totally go. I dont really remember it well, but i remember feeling more and more...well, sleepy i guess is the ebst description. Next thing i know i'm outside with Han and a couple of really nice people who were just random gig-going-lovelies. The woman was a Canadian nurse person, and her bloke a Cambridge student, and, yea, they were really nice, and she got me water *nods* I'd also like to point out Han was willing to go home at this point, instead of seeing HIFH's. She rocks. But obviosuly i couldnt do that too her, so we went back in. Didnt feel that great in there, so just stood at the back to watch HIFH while Han wwedged her way forwards again.
So, moving on from my little adventure, the main band themselves! As noted, i wasnt feeling that great, so i couldnt pay heavy focus on their set, but i *did* really enjoy I Can Climb Mountains and Boys Don't Cry. It wasnt a life-changing set (sorry Han!) but would definately be up for seeing them again. They played a load of pretty decent songs which i couldnt help but jig/tap/generally be weird to. Muchly good stuff.
Thanks to my state though, besides the two aforementioned songs, i didn't recognise anything else played. Bad Jon-man. Add to this that i think i've already posted I Can Climb Mountains, and don't *have* their cover of Boys Don't Cry, this leaves the mp3 side of this post a little weak. You'll just have to make do with the three bands MySpace pages. Sorry!