Friday 27 November 2009

Why are bluebells decreasing in Britain?

No reason for the title. No, there is a reason. I typed "W" into the box and that came up. I thought i'd keep it.
Right. Its been a while hasnt it? - Been writing for an actual website - will link once its up - so thats where i've been currently channeling my energy into (without sounding too much like Most Haunted)
Planning on doing a top songs/albums of the decade so to keep the interest here's what I've been listening to recently at this very cold, winter moment:

"Julie & The Moth Man" - Kasabian
B-Side for Underdog and opener in their current arena tour. This is a fantastic song and even better live. Almost better than Underdog. Not quite, but the unlikeliness of the situation makes it more exciting to proclaim.

A Certain Romance - Arctic Monkeys
With ...Dancefloor being a contender for song of the decade I've been listening to/playing along with this an awful lot. Good tune.

Crazy In Love - Snow Patrol
Ahh its a good'un. It should be terrible but just isn't. Ok, Gary Lightbody hasn't got the thighs or the bootyshaking just yet - but thats, quite frankly, reassuring. The original definitely is not top song of the deacade (NME)

The Universal - Blur
After releasing a mini Live album in The Sunday Times I had to get it. It includes the Hyde Park version of this, which i was at, and i still get tingly when i hear Damon shout "Londaaaan" before the last chorus. Classic song.

There you have it, and I've also discovered the bold button

Do you like it?

Monday 9 November 2009

Be Here Now and Daylight Robbery

Theres' a downside to having a cashpoint in your village now. Especially next to a Tesco. "Ahh Arctic Monkeys on the front of Q" was among the first of my thoughts as i entered the new Tesco Express. "3.90?!" was the next thought as i turned out 57p i had hiding in the depths of my new coat. I like the new coat. Its got a furry hood. Which is pretty cool. I feel like a mid nineties Gallagher if i put my hands in my pockets and swagger a touch. So i had to go and withdraw money to then go back into the store to buy the mag. Tesco 1 - 0 Sam.

Along with that, being the cool kid i am, i bought some sort of cinnamon bun as well. I used the self service as its generally more exciting than being faced by a middle aged bloke with dodgy hair. Shock horror as the afore said cinnamon bun was not on the selection menu, the only other option was to choose a muffin, which was about 20p cheaper. Tesco 1 - 1 Sam. This won't be the end, Tesco.

Ive had a bit of an Oasis week, listening to Definitely Maybe and Morning Glory in one day on friday i decided to tackle the almighty beast that is Be Here Now. All in all its a fantastic record. A highly underrated one (how could anything follow the previous two albums). Some of Noel's best songwriting is on show here, with a 'rocky' theme supported by generally good melodies and catchy choruses ('I hope, I think, I know'). There is one major problem with this album though. Due to their heads exanding at such a big rate (the popularity of the previous two albums) they decided not to use a producer. This was a bad idea. All of the songs are over 4 minutes, with some hitting the 9 minute mark. Now, a producer would have sat them down and said, "look lads, this is a bit daft". And as we do get fed up with hearing "all around the world....", the songs could have done with a little cropping. Saying that, i get as bored as the next vaguely-interested-in-music person with 2 minute pop songs, and, although they are slightly repetative due to the length, the songs are of good enough quality to carry it along.

All in all an album which had all the quality, the potential, but less delivery.

Top Tracks

1: Stand By Me
2: My Big Mouth
3: Magic Pie
4: I Hope, I Think, I Know

Monday 2 November 2009

Looking Forward

Oasis have split up, beginning the conclusion to "The Noughties". Although they will be remembered as one of the greatest bands Manchester, no, Britain, has created, I am glad they are gone. In truth, they were a 90s band, creating little quality music in the last ten years. They lasted that little bit too long and, inevitably, a split was always on the cards. I was lucky enough to see them, not just that, but their last ever appearance, at V Festival this year. And as much as they were 'good' (it was a greatest hits evening) they did not match the performances of Killers, for example.
What we need is to look to more new music, instead of clinging on to the "rear guard" of the music industry. All in all, 2009 has been a fantastic end to to the musical decade, with both Kasabian and Arctic Monkeys producing their best albums, and, in turn, two of the best albums this decade. As far as reunions go, I think Blur have got it right, they have reformed, played a few festivals, two fantastic gigs at Hyde Park and now they are going their separate ways again. Their legacy remains unspoiled by a tepid attempt at another album.
Don't get me wrong, if you want to go on popularity, one band has managed to reform and be successful. Take That. Okay, they are no indie-kid's first choice on the iPod, but they are now arguably more successful that they were in the nineties.
Jarvis Cocker has denied reports Pulp will reform. Good. Far too many bands have reformed, eyes fixed on big money deals available, then produced poor records. Spandau Ballet are one of the 'latest' bands to do so. Releasing an album consisting of their "greatest hits" re-recorded and a few new songs. All they need to do now is name it "Rip-Off" and watch the money come rolling in. Because thats what it boils down to. All manner of 70s and 80s bands have reformed (some more than once!) for the cold, hard cash and that does not bode well for the future.
If all of these old bands are getting the press, then where do they new bands stand? The old bands were once new bands, and the reason they were 'successful' was because they got the attention they deserved and they were new and exciting, different. So, by reforming you are losing that one thing that made you in the first place, originality. Hypocrits.
New bands, who are as exciting now as these old bands were are going to get nowhere without the support they are lacking. If they don't get enough support, they will just fade away and Radio One will just become a constant playlist of reworked 80s tracks, intertwined with anecdotes from Chris Moyles. And who wants that? *Shudders*