The tune "Almost Ready" from Dinosaur Jr.'s most recent album, Farm, came up on the iPod the other day. What a great song. I just love the loud guitars, the raspy, sometimes strained vocals, with the great melodies and hooks. This guy has been making great music for decades and he just keeps on getting better! I love seeing great artists evolve over the years.
The guy behing Dino Jr. - J. Mascis - has recently released an acoustic album called Several Shades of Why. Here are a couple of videos.
And here are some classic Dino Jr. vids.
August 30, 2011
August 28, 2011
Howling Bells have a new album on the way
Howling Bells from Sydney have a new album coming out. It's release date is September 12 and it's called The Loudest Engine. The first single is called "Into the Sky" and here's the video. The tune sounds great!
Here's "City Burning Down" from their 2009 release, Radio Wars.
And a couple from their 2006 self-titled release. "Low Happening" and my personal favourite "Wishing Stone".
Here's "City Burning Down" from their 2009 release, Radio Wars.
And a couple from their 2006 self-titled release. "Low Happening" and my personal favourite "Wishing Stone".
August 25, 2011
Guilty Pleasure or Just Pleasure? I like Lily Allen
Here's another post I wrote about two years ago and never published...
I've said before that I like a good pop song. Lily Allen delivers great pop songs. She's got a great mixture of sass, beauty, cutesy delivery, and unbridled honesty. A number of similar artists came out after Lily, such as Kate Nash, but they never matched the playfulness in the sometimes harsh delivery. The backing music on many of the tracks on Alright, Still added to the fun, too. Her second album It's Not Me, It's You came out on February 10.
Her new video for "Not Fair" looks like it was pulled right from an old episode of Hee Haw.
As always, George Stroumboulopoulos does a fantastic interview. I've been listening and watching George since he was on Edge 102 and MuchMusic. He's got an amazing way with an interview whether he's talking to a Nobel Prize winner or a rock star. Here he is with Lily on The Hour. A sample exchange:
George: Were you a Clash fan?
Lily: Yeah, of course, who isn't?
George: Dumb people.
Nice!
And her "encore" story right at the end. Nicer!
Here's a version of Lily performing the first single from It's Not Me, It's You, "The Fear" accompanied only by piano and guitar, from Studio Q
"The Fear" on Later with Jools Holland
"He Wasn't There" on Sirius/XM - her singing is awesome on this take!
And finally, "LDN" on Jools
I've said before that I like a good pop song. Lily Allen delivers great pop songs. She's got a great mixture of sass, beauty, cutesy delivery, and unbridled honesty. A number of similar artists came out after Lily, such as Kate Nash, but they never matched the playfulness in the sometimes harsh delivery. The backing music on many of the tracks on Alright, Still added to the fun, too. Her second album It's Not Me, It's You came out on February 10.
Her new video for "Not Fair" looks like it was pulled right from an old episode of Hee Haw.
As always, George Stroumboulopoulos does a fantastic interview. I've been listening and watching George since he was on Edge 102 and MuchMusic. He's got an amazing way with an interview whether he's talking to a Nobel Prize winner or a rock star. Here he is with Lily on The Hour. A sample exchange:
George: Were you a Clash fan?
Lily: Yeah, of course, who isn't?
George: Dumb people.
Nice!
And her "encore" story right at the end. Nicer!
Here's a version of Lily performing the first single from It's Not Me, It's You, "The Fear" accompanied only by piano and guitar, from Studio Q
"The Fear" on Later with Jools Holland
"He Wasn't There" on Sirius/XM - her singing is awesome on this take!
And finally, "LDN" on Jools
August 24, 2011
Everything Everything: This year's Mercury Prize Winners?
What do you think? Will Everything Everything take home this year's Mercury Prize?
I think they've got a solid chance.
I think they've got a solid chance.
August 21, 2011
Hard-Fi are back with Killer Sounds
Hard-Fi were one of the British bands that hit me really hard, in a good way, in around 2005. Along with Bloc Party, Maxïmo Park, Editors, The Bravery, and Kaiser Chiefs, among others I'm probably forgetting. They have a new album coming out on August 22. It's called Killer Sounds and they have the second video out.
I featured the first tune, "Good For Nothing", a while back. The second single, "Fire In The House", doesn't have the so much of the pronounced guitars of their previous albums, but it does have a strong chorus, a groovy bass line, and some nice and soulful backup vocals.
They also have another full song and samples of the rest on their audio player. Check it out. Sounds like the band is evolving and I like what they're coming up with.
Hard-Fi - Killer Sounds Sampler by Hard Fi
I featured the first tune, "Good For Nothing", a while back. The second single, "Fire In The House", doesn't have the so much of the pronounced guitars of their previous albums, but it does have a strong chorus, a groovy bass line, and some nice and soulful backup vocals.
They also have another full song and samples of the rest on their audio player. Check it out. Sounds like the band is evolving and I like what they're coming up with.
Hard-Fi - Killer Sounds Sampler by Hard Fi
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