Music to drink tea by
Archive for year 2010
Walter Mitty and his Makeshift Orchestra – Otterpops in the Icebox
21 year ago
in MP3s
I just watched the news for fifteen and goddamn am I depressed
And I just spent an hour on fucking Facebook until I realised I couldn’t care less
There’s something to be said about the first lines of a song immediately winning you over. It shouldn’t be that simple, but given the way I listen to music these days, it’s become somewhat essential. It’s not a good thing at all, but these days I’m judging the majority of songs on the first twenty or thirty seconds of one listen. So when I encounter a line like the one above, and it makes me smile, I tend to keep listening. Which turned out to be for the best in this case, as the five song EP it comes from is packed full of similar lines. As a record it’s completely ramshackle, but all that does is just add to the charm.
The Cliché Definitions of Success EP is available as a free download from the band’s Bandcamp. You can also download their previous album, Every Town Needs a Cowboy, for free too.
MP3 Walter Mitty and his Makeshift Orchestra – Otterpops in the Icebox
The Just Joans – Card From A Multipack
01 year ago
in MP3s
If I’m honest, I hadn’t quite considered what a Christmas EP from The Just Joans might sound like. I certainly wasn’t expecting such a record to appear either, particularly as they only just released their last proper EP only a few months ago. If Card From A Multipack is any indication though, The Just Joans doing Christmas is just like the Just Joans at any other time of year. As you might expect, it’s not exactly the happiest song, but there’s a certain wit to be found in the crushing realisation that your ex has given you a card that comes, god forbid, a multipack. The record also features the cheerful sounding Teardrops ‘neath Mistletoe and Last Christmas, which is exactly the cover you think it is.
Seasonal Greet will be released on December 8 via the ever brilliant WeePOP! Records. You can also pick up the band’s previous EP, Your Pain Is A Joke Next To Mines while you’re there.
Math the Band – Why Didn’t You Get A Haircut?
0I’m really not sure I have words that can come close to equalling the video above, so I’m inclined to let it speak for itself. I’ve had this song a little while, and thought it was good fun, if a bit nuts. Nothing prepared me for the video though. Quite possibly the best/worst thing I have ever seen. Probably should give it a miss if you’re prone to seizures too.
Don’t Worry is out now on Slanty Shanty Records. The band recently played New England Popfest alongside The Smittens, The Hush Now and 14 Iced Bears. Which sounds like fun.
Los Campesinos! – Too Many Flesh Suppers
01 year ago
in MP3s
Los Campesinos! are one of those bands where even their weakest material is still infinitely more interesting than what most other bands put out. Too Many Flesh Suppers is the ideal demonstration of this. Recorded as part of the Romance is Boring sessions, it was eventually left off of the album, finally being used as a b-side and an iTunes bonus song. It’s not hard to see why it didn’t quite fit. It’s not as coherent as most of the other songs on the record, jumping around all over the place, and it also has the kind of pace that would have cause a slight drag, similar to how Who Fell Asleep In does already. Yet it’s by no means a bad song. If I’d heard this from any other band, I’d likely be very excited about it, even if it’s little more than a curiosity for a Los Campesinos! fan.
Los Campesinos! will play an NME Awards Show (yeah, me neither) with Summer Camp at Shepherd’s Bush Empire on February 2. Heat Rash, whatever that might be, is apparently coming soon.
The Singing Adams – I Need Your Mind
01 year ago
in Videos
I came late to The Broken Family Band party, so I’m jumping in early with Singing Adams, the new band of BFB front man Steven Adams. If you’re already familiar with his former band, you know what to expect here. The alt-country leanings may have been toned down considerably, but there’s more than enough of the same catchy pop sensibilities and witty lyrics to go around. As a debut single, I Need Your Mind is remarkably self-assured and firmly cements the band as one to go to big things next year.
I Need Your Mind is Singing Adams’ debut single and will be released on December 6 via Records Records Records. Another single and then an album will follow in 2011. The band will playing XOYO on December 16 and Brixton Windmill on December 19. You should go.
Acid House Kings – Are We Lovers or Are We Friends?
01 year ago
in MP3s
Acid House Kings have apparently been going since 1991, which makes me feel slightly guilty for only latching on to them now. I’m not entirely sure why it’s taken this long. Usually if you say the words Swedish tweepop to me, I’m there. Yet somehow they have escaped me. That was until I got hold of Are We Lovers or Are We Friends?, which may well be one of my favourite songs of the year, for a whole number of reasons. It’s playful enough to be a nice easy listen, while also resonating a little more for those who have been in such a situation. Exactly what any good pop record should be doing then.
Are We Lovers or Are We Friends is taken from the upcoming fifth album by the band, entitled Music Sounds Better With You. It’ll be released March 22 2011 via Labrador Records. Feel free to recommend me one of their albums in the comments too, as I’m certainly curious to hear more, and have no clue where to begin.
Allo Darlin’ – Darren
01 year ago
in Videos
Here’s a random find from Youtube. A stunningly good quality version of Darren, a new song by Allo Darlin’ about the former Hefner frontman, Darren Hayman. They’ve been playing this live for a while, including the last time I saw them, but the sound was so muddy you could hardly make anything out in that instance. Recorded in San Francisco as part of their recent US tour, it just whets the appetite for new additional from the band. Handclaps “for the win”, as the kids might say.
Giant Sand – Fields of Green
01 year ago
in MP3s
Giant Sand are yet another band that I’ve long been aware of, but have been too intimidated by their discography to actually explore. If Wikipedia is to be believed, their upcoming album, Blurry Blue Mountain, will be their 25th release, with the band being active since 1985. When there’s this much of a back catalog, I’m never sure where to begin, so I inevitably don’t. That said, I am rather enjoying BBM (as the kids are sure to call it) and Fields of Green in particular. The song may set a new standard for world weariness in music. There’s a rich, dusty vibe to it, led perfectly by Howe Gelb’s richly layered and seemingly completely fed up voice.
Blurry Blue Mountain will be released on November 23 via Fire Records.
Phil Wilson – I Own It
0Each time I discover something new, a gaping hole in my indiepop knowledge is brought to the fore. In this case, we have Phil Wilson, who was lead singer of the legendary indiepop band The June Brides back in the 80s. Shameful as it may be, I’ve never heard of them, despite being aware of Phil’s music for the past year or so. Still, in the grand spirit of doing things backwards, I’m going to start with his latest release and work back from there.
Which shouldn’t really take that long as it would appear that the man has spent the last couple of decades having nothing to do with music at all. Only recently resurfacing, he’s now started releasing his own solo material, and rather good it is too. Unsurprisingly for someone active in the 80s, there’s very much a C86 sound to I Own It, just with slightly better production values. The video may be one of my favourites of the year too. Deceptively simple, but it’s ideal for the song. The full album is also more than worth your time. Now, onto The June Brides then.
God Bless Jim Kennedy is out now via Yesboyicecream in Europe and Slumberland in the US.
Johnny Foreigner and Stagecoach release split single
11 year ago
in MP3s
It’s been an odd period for Johnny Foreigner of late. There seemed to be a period where they were destined to actually breakthrough and become the next big thing. This never seemed to quite work out for them for whatever reason, and the band started to look like they wouldn’t grow beyond their small, if incredibly dedicated, fan base. Changes now seem to be afoot for the band though, most notably a change in record labels as the band jump from Best Before to Alcopop Records. Certainly a hell of a coup for Alcopop, and the DIY nature of the label should hopefully suit the JoFo ethic rather more than their old home did.
The first thing the band is releasing at their new home is a split single with Alcopop stalwarts Stagecoach. There’s only one original song here, entitled Tru Punx (below) and it’s just about what you’d expect from a Johnny Foreigner single. It’s hard, it’s fast, and features some great lyrics that will take you a lot of listens to pick up entirely. As a taster for their upcoming and awesomely titled You Thought You Saw A Shooting Star But Yr Eyes Were Blurred With Tears And That Lighthouse Can Be Pretty Deceiving With The Sky So Clear And Sea So Calm, it’s ideal. And yes, the EP really is called that. Good luck tagging it correctly in iTunes.
Tru Punx – Johnny Foreigner by alcopop
Stagecoach are a band that have seemingly gone from strength to strength over the past year. Ever since their superb We Got Tazers! single was released, they’ve started appearing all over the place, with slots at Reading/Leeds and End of the Road over the summer. They also managed to put out one of my favourite songs of the past year, the superb Break, and now they are back with their own contribution to the split single. Not Even Giles Would Say We’ll Be OK (which the nerd in me really hopes is a Buffy reference) may be their finest release yet, striking the perfect balance between 90s US indie rock throwback and their own sound. If any band has a chance of making it big in 2011, it’s Stagecoach.
Not Even Giles Would Say We’ll Be OK by alcopop
The Love In 7″ will be released November 15 (that’s this Monday) via the ever superb Alcopop Records. The single also includes Johnny Foreigner covering Stagecoach’s Good Luck With Yr 45 and Stagecoach covering JoFo’s classic Salt, Peppa and Spinderella. As you might expect, both of these versions are awesome.
