Monday 28 February 2011

I want.....

Arcade Fire Illustrations

......to go to the Arcade Fire concert in Hyde Park in June.
So bad!
Arcade Fire, Beirut, Mumford & Sons, The Vaccines.



mmmmm......
such a nice vid as well, that one; cobbled together using bits of a Spike Jonze short film 'Scenes from the Suburbs'.

Anyone else as envious of those going to that gig as I am? Anyone out there GOING to it?

x

Thursday 24 February 2011

sing it

TVE. A term I just invented:
Total Voice Envy.


Of course everyone loves Ella, she's wonderful. But this track just gets me. Every time. To have a voice like this would make life so very complete, don't you think? Every note is just... there. It sounds completely effortless. I sing jazz, and my piano playing compadre Patrick always tries to get me to scat... It's a skill I'm working on. If one day I could scat even half as well as Ms Fitzgerald I think I could die happy.

Monday 21 February 2011

and i'd still be on my feet

This James Blake cover is truly truly one of the most beautiful things I've heard in a long time. I cried when I heard it for the first time yesterday. Granted I was feeling pretty emotional anyway, but still I want to get across HOW GREAT THIS COVER IS. Usually I'm skeptical about songs I love being covered, and I love the Joni Mitchell original, but James, you really nailed it. Mannn.


I still haven't got around to listening to his album yet - I'm too broke to buy it, for a start.... But I've heard great things, so I really hope I like it as much as I have everything I've heard so far.

(not just a pretty voice)

x

Saturday 19 February 2011

Locomotive


I first heard about Alex Winston through her beautiful cover of Jack Penate's 'Pull My Heart Away' which Persephone at 'One Girl and Her Ipod' posted a while back. A few days ago I noticed that she had popped up on my FAVE youtube channel 'Watch Listen Tell', so I decided to check her out properly. She's got an unusual voice, a bit Kate Bush-y I feel, and this is a really fun tune:


As usual I apologize for my absence recently... I'm a haphazard and sporadic blogger. I'm quite busy out in the real world and besides if I posted a lot more regularly they would probably be horrifically boring posts - I don't have that much to say of note!

Hope you're all well.

x

Sunday 6 February 2011

Oh, Brother


Despite looking like, as the Guardian so eloquently put it, the cast of 'Oasis: The Musical' in all their publicity shots, and acting a little too arrogant for my taste in interviews, I was pleasantly surprised by the first track I heard from these lads from Slough, Brother, entitled 'Darling Buds of May.'

The buzz around them is all 'return of britpop/"lad" bands' based, so I was expecting to find their first offering relatively hackneyed and underwhelming, but I didn't. In my view it's catchy, cleanly produced and very British. (And apparently it's GRITpop.)

I think perhaps their lead singer should tone down his Liam Gallagher act whilst being interviewed though. He thinks he's a bit too cool for school - yes, I rate this song, but they've still got a way to go as a band - they're not, as they themselves seem to believe, God's newest gift to the music industry. I reckon they have yet to prove themselves. And slagging off every other band currently in existence does not make them any better.

So here's 'Darling Buds of May',
What do you think? Done to death, or fresh in a retro sort of way?


x

Wednesday 2 February 2011

skeeenz


did anyone see the first ep of the new series of skins last week?

Although I feel that some of the characters have potential, I thought it was a MASSIVE let down. The blonde girl is possibly the MOST annoying person I've ever seen, Frankie's acting left.. a little to be desired... some of the scripting was SO awkward... Jeez! The most unbearable thing in my opinion is how it's just so try-hard these days. The first series cast were so realistic, and the episodes had so many funny and truly random bits, whereas now the show is trying SO hard to be alternative that it's just not realistic at all.

Maybe it will improve?

I have a feeling I may have had a similar rant about the second lot, Effie and gang. I maintain my viewpoint.. None will ever beat Tony's lot.

HOWEVER,

watching last week's episode did help me find out what this song is..

I know it's a terribly uncool way to find music...

but this is a TUNE.


I mean, 1:16 ?!?! It's like REGGAE?!? Where did THAT come from?!!? A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. !!!

x

ps. SORRY as usual I am stuck at school so haven't been able to get on any of your blogs to say hi. I'll be home at the weekend so will pop by if I can..! I still really appreciate comments, sooo, go mad.