Joanna Newsom has a brand new album out! It's called Have One On Me and I have to say it's every bit as good as Milk-Eyed Mender. There is a track on the new album that clearly stands out for me, and that is 'Good Intentions Paving Company'.
The song is amazing on so many levels. The lyrics are just great. My favourite line is 'How I said to you 'honey, just open your heart' when I've got trouble even opening a honey jar.' I also love the changes in tempo, the harmonies and the general message of the song. It's so honest, pure and real.
Just in case you needed to be reminded of just how amazing this woman is, have a look at this live performance from Later...with Jools Holland.
Thursday, 24 June 2010
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Born Free - MIA
For those that haven't heard of M.I.A, you seriously have catching up to do!
She has a new song out, Born Free. Since Paper Planes, everything seems to have gone quiet, but with this new release, she's suddenly getting a lot of attention. It's a very controversial video, and one that you can watch the full nine minutes of at her website. I will warn you, it's not for the faint-hearted. As a film it would be rated 18. You can't see it on Youtube.
As a song, I really like it. It's got a 'Born Slippy' feel to it, and maybe that was the intention, the title is a bit coincidental! But anyway, Born Free has attitude. I love M.I.A's voice, especially in this. It's got a spirit of passion and rebellion that's infectious. It's something I can imagine people going mad over at clubs and something that would be fun to listen to while driving. Initially it sounds like a load of noise that's been thrown together randomly but after a while you start to like it!
Getting back to the video, I'm not sure what to make of it. Obviously intended to be controversial, it's a political statement against ethnic cleansing, but the use of ginger-haired boys as victims has left me with mixed feelings. A lot of people don't seem to like ginger hair and find it funny to say things like 'ginger-haired people should be shot'. This always gets to me because I've always thought of myself as having a bit of ginger in my hair. So it's good that she's tackling the issue. On the other hand, it does seem a bit silly to have a source of humour for so many in a serious context.
As usual, a M.I.A. song provokes debate! What do you think about it?
She has a new song out, Born Free. Since Paper Planes, everything seems to have gone quiet, but with this new release, she's suddenly getting a lot of attention. It's a very controversial video, and one that you can watch the full nine minutes of at her website. I will warn you, it's not for the faint-hearted. As a film it would be rated 18. You can't see it on Youtube.
As a song, I really like it. It's got a 'Born Slippy' feel to it, and maybe that was the intention, the title is a bit coincidental! But anyway, Born Free has attitude. I love M.I.A's voice, especially in this. It's got a spirit of passion and rebellion that's infectious. It's something I can imagine people going mad over at clubs and something that would be fun to listen to while driving. Initially it sounds like a load of noise that's been thrown together randomly but after a while you start to like it!
Getting back to the video, I'm not sure what to make of it. Obviously intended to be controversial, it's a political statement against ethnic cleansing, but the use of ginger-haired boys as victims has left me with mixed feelings. A lot of people don't seem to like ginger hair and find it funny to say things like 'ginger-haired people should be shot'. This always gets to me because I've always thought of myself as having a bit of ginger in my hair. So it's good that she's tackling the issue. On the other hand, it does seem a bit silly to have a source of humour for so many in a serious context.
As usual, a M.I.A. song provokes debate! What do you think about it?
Saturday, 15 May 2010
Hem
Hem are an alternative folk group that I am just getting into. They have been going since 1999 and are fronted by Sally Ellyson who I must say has a beautiful voice. Here is the song that got me interested:
Saturday, 3 April 2010
An apology
Hi everyone, I'm really sorry I'm hardly ever on the blogosphere. I started at University in September and I've been crazy busy since then. I'm going to try to post more often from now on but I can't promise anything.
I'm at University in Greenwich (London, UK), which happens to be a very good town for jazz and I have been going to see some very good jazz bands lately. I can't stress enough how important it is to go and see live music, whatever it is. It's good for your stress-release, your enjoyment, the local economy, culture and of course for music.
Last December I went to see Hawkwind live. They're not really my sort of band but I went with my mother who loves them. They had two professional dancers with them on most of their songs, and that was what I really enjoyed about the night. Each dance routine was different, the costumes kept changing and it was all incredibly inventive and inspiring.
Have you been to see any good live bands lately? Why were they good?
I'm at University in Greenwich (London, UK), which happens to be a very good town for jazz and I have been going to see some very good jazz bands lately. I can't stress enough how important it is to go and see live music, whatever it is. It's good for your stress-release, your enjoyment, the local economy, culture and of course for music.
Last December I went to see Hawkwind live. They're not really my sort of band but I went with my mother who loves them. They had two professional dancers with them on most of their songs, and that was what I really enjoyed about the night. Each dance routine was different, the costumes kept changing and it was all incredibly inventive and inspiring.
Have you been to see any good live bands lately? Why were they good?
Saturday, 6 March 2010
Blame It On The Boys
I love Mika's new album! Here is my favourite song from the album. It's fabulous.
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
UK Christmas Number One
It's official! Rage Against The Machine are UK Christmas Number One, beating the X Factor!
If only we had the same victory last year with Jeff Buckley!
I think The Guardian sum it up quite nicely for me.
If only we had the same victory last year with Jeff Buckley!
I think The Guardian sum it up quite nicely for me.
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Christmas is nearly upon us!
Here is an amazing video from the Fleet Foxes, appropriate for the season!
Tonight the UK Christmas Number One is being announced, and due to a lot of dedicated and organised heavy metal fans, X Factor winner Joe McElderry's 'The Climb' is going head-to-head with Rage Against The Machine's 'Killing In The Name'!
Apparently, Rage is beating Joe in the charts at the moment. This could make history. The first X Factor Christmas single not to go straight to number one! I really, really hope so.
Tonight the UK Christmas Number One is being announced, and due to a lot of dedicated and organised heavy metal fans, X Factor winner Joe McElderry's 'The Climb' is going head-to-head with Rage Against The Machine's 'Killing In The Name'!
Apparently, Rage is beating Joe in the charts at the moment. This could make history. The first X Factor Christmas single not to go straight to number one! I really, really hope so.
Friday, 4 December 2009
Quilla Constance ' Snow Daddy'
About seven months ago I introduced you to the fabulousness and outrageousness that is Quilla Constance.
Now I am delighted to be able to tell you that her single, 'Snow Daddy' will be released - very appropriately, may I add - on the 23rd of December, 2009!
To celebrate the release, Quilla is throwing a launch party at Proud Camden, Chalk Farm Road in NW1 London on 23/12/2009, from 7:30PM - 4AM. Everyone is invited, and the tickets are pretty cheap from what I gather. You can get them here.
Also at the launch, Quilla - whose costumes are designed by Holly Lloyd and Debbie Waygood - will be showcasing the video for 'Snow Daddy', along with a remix by Drew Blake, who's worked with Kanye West. Sounds pretty darn cool to me!
You can listen to 'Snow Daddy' at her psychedelicmyspace page. I never get bored of this track, I discover something new I like about it every time I listen, kind of like David Bowie's 'Life On Mars'.
Quilla Constance is seriously exciting right now, she is definitely nothing like anything that's in the charts, which seem to be dominated by indie, pseudo-folk at the moment, whereas Quilla is daring, edgy and punky! This is just what music in the UK needs!
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Paloma Faith
I've never really paid that much attention to Paloma Faith but I heard her latest single "Do you want the truth or something beautiful?" on the radio and it made me sit up and go "wow!"
There is something quite striking about her but I can't put my finger on it. She's very unusual. According to Wikipedia she has an MA from St. Martin's College in theatre direction, and she's a former burlesque dancer!
Anyway, as always, judge for yourselves!
There is something quite striking about her but I can't put my finger on it. She's very unusual. According to Wikipedia she has an MA from St. Martin's College in theatre direction, and she's a former burlesque dancer!
Anyway, as always, judge for yourselves!
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Feeling Good
This is a beautiful piece of music with a universal resonance, in my opinion.
What do you guys think of it?
What do you guys think of it?
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