1,2,3,4

O.K so its been a very long time since my last blog post (over a month) so why is this? Well it is a combination of writers block, laziness and the 12,ooo word dissertation which I handed in last Monday, oh and my finals coming up a little too shortly. Anyway, enough excuses first of all I want to thank everyone who e-mailed in during this period, and I will get back to some sort of posting pattern soon. Having done a Top 10 of January albums list I probably should do another one possibly February, March and April albums top 10 or something. The big highlight of my recent life though was undoubtedly seeing Feist at the Komedia, it was an intimate venue and I was right at the front, its a shame that I don't have a digital camera because well I think I'm in love, the gig itself featured a large amount of new 'Reminder' tracks and in itself was just brilliant, the live versions of the songs were kind of like souped up versions of the songs if that makes any sense anyway it was awesome. On non-music matters isn't Lost a brilliant show the 3rd series has been a absolutely top-notch t.v, especially 'One of Us' which has to be one of my favourite ever episodes, just great acting all round particularly from Elizabeth Mitchell (Juliet)Anywho, watch this space for some more blog posts, hopefully.

MP3s:
Feist-My Man, My Moon
Feist-Mushaboom
(both got played, both rocked)

Bonus Video:

filmed in Austria, and yet another superb video from Feist.

Edit: Go to Feist's MySpace to here 'The Reminder' in full.

MyFriend feature Return

So a few months back on this here blog I started a fairly adventurous feature where I take a band or artist and look at their MySpace page and see if among the top 8 (or however many friends there are) there is a good or great band or artist there, now todays return of the feature which actually features a band or duo who I just heard about on StG a blog that everyone should read just for the writing, and as luck would have it they happened to be on the top 8 of another Ontario based artist who I knew about already namely the fantasticly epic Basia Bulat, so I could link them in with the feature. Now Habitat (pictured above) are a band who make some oddly compelling indie-pop, songs driven by either guitar or keyboard with a nice male/female vocal combination, its good stuff.

MP3:
Habitat-Snow Song

Buy:
Self-titled E.P and download more tracks at their MySpace

Slightly tired

Maybe its because its getting late and I'm quite tired, but the music (from p4k) of Archives is very cathatic to me at the moment, in the best possible sense, and the title Sleepdriving feels very appropriate, enjoy and good night (or morning or afternoon, whatever).

MP3:
Archives-Sleepdriving
download another great track at their MySpace

Classic Video Day-Warning may cause Brian storm whatever that is

Hey its the new video from those Monkeys from the Arctic, certainly a new species, and its a rather well timed video suited to the barrage of guitar riffs and the overall frenetic fast pace of the song. Also my last radio show for a few weeks will be airing tommorow morning from 10am to 12pm as usual, with the usual mix of great music and more great music on Junction 11 around the globe from 1287am.com.

MP3:
Arctic Monkeys-Brianstorm

Pre-Order:
Arctic Monkeys-Favourite Worst Nightmare (go on, I have already)

Punk kick-start

Hi there its been a while (10 whole days) since my last post, this has been a result of certain things in my life right now, including but not limited to my dissertation, anyway I thought I'd make a quick post just to say if you happen to be at SXSW right this second (if you are I'm very envious of you by the way) then its well worth checking out a certain Jay Reatard, who essentially combines the punk ethic of The Ramones and Wire with a new wave sound, whilst hardly sounding original does manage to kick a hole in your ear and demand attention, and hes playing at Beerland, Red River Street apparently at 1pm today (although that might have already happened I'm not sure about time difference.

MP3 sample:
Jay Reatard-Hammer I Miss You

Buy:
Jay Reatard-Blood Visions

Classic Video Day-Its a whole army of me

Well with all the recent brilliant news about Bjork's upcoming brand new album Volta released May 7th I thought that this great old Bjork Video would be appropriate and it features a gorrila dentist as well.

Bring on the backlash...oh

So Uncle Zane cooked up a special treat on his show last night in the form of the brand spanking new Arctic Monkeys single, which was actually great, it sounded a bit like Klaxons which isn't a bad thing but still kept a element of Arctic Monkey sound and energy in a very full on almost metal sense (if you try dancing to this you will probably lose a few pounds). This is taken from their second album 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' released on Domino on the 23rd April. In other music news The White Stripes have suddenly (to me this came out of nowhere I thought Jack White was concentrating on The Raconteurs for now) got a new album ready, named 'Icky Thump' "We are doing our best (whatever that is) to release the album as soon as corporately possible. And though we are tired, worn, weary, hungry, cold and left without an ounce of nutrition amongst ourselves, we are in the midst of planning performance type shows around the world."

The tracklisting includes:

'Catch Hell Blues'
'Little Cream Soda'
'Rag And Bone'
'Clicky Bump'
'You Don't Know What Love Is (Just Do As You're Told)'
'I'm Slowly Turning Into You'
(from NME)

sounds cool

MP3:
Arctic Monkeys-Brainstorm (radio rip)
The White Stripes-Fell In Love With A Girl

Pre-Order
Arctic Monkeys-Favourite Worst Nightmare

Those damm Teenagers

I've been meaning to post about My Teenage Stride for a while now, basically before I saw a ton of other blogs post about them, the blog that first brought them to my attention was rhe always excellent Skatterbrain. Well what can I say about them? Well never before have I said that in many ways they sound almost like their beaming their music from the past (somewhere in the late 80s or early 90s) and that they do certainly show their influences clearly (Idolator said it best with the great quote "(their latest album, Ears Like Golden Bats) wears its influences like one-inch pins bearing the logos of Orange Juice and the Go-Betweens") but despite these potential obstacles they do not sound derivative in any sense, essentially down to a fantastic song-craft, great vocals and a indefatigable attitude (you could freeze that quote a put in on the CD cover if you want). In another thing which you hopefully didn't miss IGIF posted a brand new song from Arizona which is utterly out of this world, its called Thimble (it starts with the freaking sounds of the rainforest man before launching into one of their best songs yet, and a taster of what their second album will sound like (hopefully). Just realised that both bands are from Brooklyn, I guess I'll get no sleep till I get there. Oh and one last thing I did my radio show yesterday and you can listen to the whole two hour show here.

MP3s:
My Teenage Stride-To Live And Die In The Airpot Lounge
My Teenage Stride-Ears Like Golden Bats
Arizona-Thimble

Buy:
My Teenage Stride-Ears Like Golden Bats
Arizona-Welcome Back Dear Children

Classic Video Day-Wait What Do I Throw?

We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives


Its the new song from welsh wonders Los Campesinos! who I posted about back in the heady days of last month and even then I called the buzz surrounding them something of a bandwagon and now NME has waded in to their corner (this was expected, and hopefully it won't destroy this excellent band with an unreasonable amount of hype by which if they don't do a Wyld Stallions its a bit of a let down). Anyway the video has a real almost iconic style about it with the faceless soldiers and the 'Another Brick In The Wall' style marching feet, also the animation is incredibly well-timed with the song. The song itself combines punchy verses and epic chorus parts superbly and with a simple but effective message behind the song providing a insight into the genuine potential of Los Campesinos!.

MP3s:
Los Campesinos!-Sweet Dreams Sweet Cheeks
Los Campesinos!-Death To Los Campesinos
download video and song and artwork from their official website for free (dude that is truly most excellent)

Buy:
a Los Campesinos! t-shirt

(thats two Bill & Ted references there too)

Behave and watch

Heads up to the Forkcast, I think this is a really excellent video for Charlotte Hatherley's upcoming single 'Behave' its a great comic book/Sin City esq video that just suits the the slightly woozy (musically) yet focused (lyrically) song perfectly. Taken from her second solo album 'The Deep Blue' released on 5th March. As an extra treat I'll post an excellent track that was featured on her first solo effort 'Grey Will Fade' the uber-catchy 'Kim Wilde'.

MP3:
Charlotte Hatherley-Kim Wilde

Pre-Order
The Deep Blue

Absolutely Diamond

I have something of a love/hate relationship with finding out about bands who have already been on the scene as it were for a few years but I've just discovered them first of all you get the love, as in "wow this stuff is really great" (I don't think I actually say that though), then you get the hate, "hey they've just toured round the UK" and "why haven't I heard of this band before now they are signed to Rough Trade". This brings me on to Lavender Diamond who are a group signed to Rough Trade (in the UK) and Matador, and I've just heard about them on Idolator as their 'Stuck On Repeat' feature with the song 'Open Your Heart' which draws upon acoustic guitars, pianos, violins and an excellent drum together with vocals that almost get overwhelmed by the instruments before bursting into a chorus that will give you goosebumps and possibly cause temporary blindness (in the best possible sense), this is a song that will open your heart. Aside from that, I was pleasantly surprised that my little Feist post got a fairly large amount of attention, it was nice though so I thought I'd post the Mushaboom (radio edit) video as well


MP3:
Lavender Diamond-Open Your Heart

You'll need to make a memo

Yes its been posted to death all over the blogosphere, but there is a reason for that, its because it is a sublime slice of what looks set to be a must-buy album, it is My Man, My Moon, and for some reason the piano part in it bizarrely reminds me of Empire by Kasabian, however it really is beautifully minamalist and I really can't say enough about it, I will certainly be playing it on my show tommorow. For those of you who don't know Feist, well you probably know one of her songs anyway and that would be Mushaboom, which has featured on a few things on TV, and truly is awesome. Also seeing as this is also 'Classic Video Day' on this blog, I'll post the rather funky video for 'One Evening' where you constantly wish you were the guy in the video, except without the "end in one evening".

oh heck heres some more great Feist videos


and guess what I've just got tickets to see her in Brighton on 16th April, oh yeah I really can't wait.
Go and be Feist's friend, buy 'Let It Die' I insist upon it. 'The Reminder' will be out on April 23rd in the UK (and Rest Of the World), and May 1st in US and Canada.

Embedded Video Day- I'll get you next time Timberlake, next tiiiime

not really a classic video as such just an excuse to include Scarlett Johansson on this blog and just say that Mr Timberlake is a lucky bastard really (I'm not jealous, honest.....well actually thats a big fat whopping lie). Anyway a great video from Arcade Fire is here its a cover of 'Guns Of Brixton' which is cool. Also the sureally brilliant video for Knife by Grizzly Bear is great so check that out right here (thanks to Stereogum). Can I also remind everybody to tune in to my show 10am-12pm tommorow, on Junction 11.

MP3s
The Avalanches-Ray Of Zdarlight (WOOOO The Avalanches are back)
Dinosaur Jr-Almost Ready (Double WOOOO Dino Jr return from the dead)
(Cheers P4K)

Pictures (thanks Egotastic):

Join the Club

I'll start of this post by saying theres a heck of a lot of great music floating about on the Blogosphere and I am currently going slightly insane deciding what to post about, basically for now check out the sidebar links (theres also a few blogs which may join the Blogosaurus) anyway you may remember I posted about Tiny Dancers a band obviously going places (well they are signed to EMI which is probably an indication) well they have started a free MP3 club where by those who join get a free Tiny Dancers Mp3 every month which ain't all bad.

MP3:
Tiny Dancers-20 to 9

Buy:
Tiny Dancers-Lions and Tigers and Lions EP

Sound of Silver

So Silver Pyre a band from 19th Century Somerset by the sounds of 'Sovereign' a traditional sea shanty, but hang on a second their singing about "a hundred odd meatheads", seriously though if the musical genres of shoegaze and electro existed in the 19th Century then 'Saline' and 'Shurtan Bars Ammonite' (boy what a catchy song title) respectively would be how they would sound. Back to 'Sovereign' then as it sounds a bit like The Decemberists blowing up with a roaring accordion. Seriously this stuff will rouse some sort of collective cultural memory out of everybody, and their playing a session on Huw Steven's Radio 1 show tonight, so listen and enjoy this odd folky musique.

MP3s (samples):
Silver Pyre-Sovereign
Silver Pyre-Saline
more on their MySpace

Buy:
Silver Pyre-EP(i)

Classic Video Day-Mon The Park

I know its not Monday but I wanted to post something and I thought why not the video for the new single 'Our Velocity' from the awesome Maximo Park.

Geeky Post with added post-rock

OK lets get the geeky non-music part out of the way first, I'm rather excited to say that Deathly Hallows the seventh book in the superb Harry Potter series is being released on the 21st July 2007. Right now having got that out the way I should also mention my radio show which I broad casted on Tuesday which was kind of my anniversary edition you can listen to that here, I haven't posted the tracklisting because I've been a bit busy with a presentation as well as the 'mammoth' Best Albums of January 2007 post, which I was quite pleased about (although I don't really know why). Anyway on to the music and what great music it is from the already highly recommended Somme, a duo from Chicago who combine post-rock shoegaze (pretty experimentally) with conventional indie rhythms, see the handclaps in 'Massless' as well as some almost 'Pavement' like guitars to start 'Forge', I haven't heard the E.P but it should be awesome. It is certainly ear catching stuff and just to make this post extra geeky "it's post-rock jim, but not as we know it" (I'm not a trekkie though I probably should highlight that fact).

MP3s:
Somme-Massless
Somme-Forge

Buy:
Weight E.P should be available soon just keep checking their MySpace

Best Albums Of January 2007

Having not actually made a list post for 2006 really I decided why not do one for every month of 2007? So here it is the first in a hopefully monthly feature it is the Sessions of Breakfast Top Ten Albums of January 2007. Enjoy, and feel free to criticise (constructively) or make suggestions (anything you want). Also these are official releases not leaks or otherwise and they are mostly available in the U.K and the U.S but some would be imports. Here goes nothing:

#10 The Earlies-The Enemy Chorus (679)
mixing piano driven melodies, indie rock, shoegaze and Psychedelic into one heck of a great music pie, an album that I’ve only recently started to listen to but it certainly feels a grower and ‘Enemy Chorus’ is one hell of a song to stick on the headphones with some great usage of stereo sound. If you like the musical sounds of Elbow and Sigur Ros, Earlies kind of sound like a middle-ground between the two.
Buy it, Official website, MySpace, Hype Machine
MP3: The Earlies-Enemy Chorus

#9Clap Your Hands Say Yeah-Some Loud Thunder (Wichita)
I’ve always found that Alec Ounsworth's vocals sometimes cause temporary insanity for me which does to some extent put me off their music, but CYHSY have released an interesting second album, darker in tone then their odd yet cheerful debut, I’d say that it has flaws but is an overall a non-Sophomore slump from former(?) blogosphere favourite, and the Tambourine and piano melodies of ‘Love Song No.7’ makes it my current favourite track.
Buy it, Official website, MySpace, Hype Machine
MP3: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah-Love Song No.7


#8

Deerhoof-Friend Oppotunity (Kill Rock Stars)
Is this rock ’n roll? A fantastically and bizarrely catchy new album in which Deerhoof turn their hands to some rock and just making (fairly) straight-forward rock (almost going stadium like at one point with ‘Matchbook seeks Maniac’) although it still sounds like Deerhoof with the help of Satomi’s incredibly distinctive music and that it doesn’t really sound like Rock in a AC/DC sense which would have been odd, its worth checking out.With added marching drums and trumpets which is always a huge bonus ‘+81’ might just be my favourite track, for now.
Buy it, Official website, MySpace, Hype Machine
MP3: Deerhoof-+81

#7Menomena-Friend And Foe (Barsuk)
Electronic-Indie with a warm heart, I’d never heard of Menomena before but this is an excellent album as a whole, it will guide you through your day (seriously) starting with the opening clash of drums in ‘Muscln’Flo’, great to wake up to, up till the blissful melodic ‘West’ closer which should see you to sleep, this is an album to live in for a month and see how your life will improve.
Buy it, Official website, MySpace, Hype Machine
MP3: Menomena-Wet And Rusting


#6The Good, The Bad And The Queen-S/T (Parlophone)
Damon Albarn is incredibly prolific with about five hundred side-projects and bands at the last count (but seriously he is writing an opera at the moment) and G,B,Q is the latest in the line, with a apparent Super-Group who honestly knew how it would sound, well its downbeat but soulful. The smooth production is excellent and really brings out the beauty in the songs and that’s thanks to a certain Mr Dangermouse (‘History Song’ is my favourite with a great bassline and managing to evoke memories of some of the best bits of Blur and Gorrilaz), and there is also a slight element of fun with some top musicians playing about a bit with their influences and back catalogue sounds.
Buy it, Official website, MySpace, Hype Machine
MP3: The Good, The Bad And The Queen-History Song



#5 Klaxons-Myths Of The Near Future (Polydor)
Does New-Rave actually exist? Well no probably not however this has not stopped Klaxons from making some excellent catchy art-rock indie (with an element of rave and Madchester) and an album which just has a loud almost Wall of Sound quality to it and it is incredibly danceable. ‘Atlantis To Interzone’ is the monolith that remains the best the Klaxons have delivered and the one that most obviously incorporates dance/rock crossover particularly with the obvious re-mix potential, and sticking the melodic ‘Golden Skans’ straight after was a great tracklisting move in my opinion it’s the come down after the rush .
Buy it, Official website, MySpace, Hype Machine
MP3: Klaxons-Gravity's Rainbow


#4Of Montreal-Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? (Polyvinyl)
This is an absolute blistering return from an excellent band, singer Kevin Smith remains most absolutely at the helm and completely re-works the bands sound to some sort of electro-glam complete with personal lyrics, this will make you giddy if not already with it’s driving chorus (still keeping some Elephant 6 elements in the music) and drum-machine sound in back up, the blogosphere loves this and with good reason, ‘Gronlandic Edit’ which summons up a disco bass-line, combines it with Bee Gee style vocals and still sounds modern, how is this possible?
Buy it, Official website, MySpace, Hype Machine
MP3: Of Montreal-Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse


#3Gruff Rhys-Candylion (Rough Trade)
An album that surely should make no sense when not heard in the summer preferably on a beach somewhere, yet its acoustic beauty just transcends any seasonal boundaries (besides it should keep you warm in this weather), Gruff just pulls brilliant melodies out of his bag, almost all of these songs could go on a SFA album, although they would make more sense as a B-sides collection in the very best sense. It also makes for a superb album which even has a jokey beginning track and a majestic story-telling finish with some absolutely joyous music in between, sometimes sung in Welsh or Spanish, I really like ‘Court of King Arthur’ currently with some excellent hi-hat and harmonica use on show, and there apparently is a Super Furrys album on the way, life is good.
Buy it, Official website, MySpace, Hype Machine
MP3: Gruff Rhys-Court Of King Arthur


#2The Shins-Wincing The Night Away (Sub Pop)
So the band that will ‘change your life’ return and what a strong return to make, they expand their sound bringing in a certain ambient electronic style similar to what Animal Collective do yet still sounding very definitely like The Shins also a certain number of less musically upbeat and jangly which still sound great and quite different to whats gone before, certainly enough to keep me a fan, and possibly enough to bring many more on board, and excellent as an album in full too, what more could you ask for? (Brafflash, what Brafflash? it's not even a word) I would say that ‘Australia’ is the best track on the album its just incredibly strong and sticks with you, even if it could have quite happily have fit on either of their previous albums (the la, la, la bit is great), true brilliance (it even has a banjo in there), maybe Natalie Portman was right then.
Buy it, Official website, MySpace, Hype Machine
MP3: The Shins-Australia

#1Field Music-Tones Of Town (Menphis Industries)
Now I bestow upon this second album from the fantastic Field Music, their debut was full of post-pop goodness, and they’ve followed it up with a great expansion, going a bit more pop, thinking a bit more grander and just making a sublime album. ‘Give It Lose It Take It’ has a great kick-in guitar riff and it’s heart complete with trademark Field Music vocals and a piano in the mix, ‘Sit Tight’ brings in a super walking bass line and some violins, the title track creates a uncertain melody that feels like an itch that just doesn’t gets scratched until 01:50 with a confident groove, then a reprise then a odd little bit to end almost ska like and I seriously could go on about each track on their, its such a great album which really sounds like nothing else about at the moment. I can't really reccomend it highly enough, it will make you forget your worries for a moment. Officially released in the U.S on 20th February, but you can get it from the MI shop with a PayPal account.
Buy it, Official website, MySpace, Hype Machine
MP3:Field Music-Tones Of Town

So there you have it Field Music have the masterpiece of January 2007, in next months edition expect to see Bloc Party, and the one after that is pretty likely to include Arcade Fire.

Saturdays Videos

As if one embedded video post a week wasn't enough I now give you three videos in one post, namely three of the best videos of 2007 so far....

Kaiser Chiefs-Ruby, I have to admit I'm quite surprised that after initial disappointment over this song I actually rather like it now, and the video is particularly groovy, in three words "Kaisers start civilisation".

Of Montreal-Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse, this song is amazingly catchy although I suspect prolonged listening could result in insanity presumably this goes someway to explain this bizzarrely brilliant video, in three words "COME ON CHEMICALS". This album is just awesome by the way, I'm throwing my hat in with the rest of the blogosphere.

The Good, The Bad and The Queen-Kingdom Of Doom, a video well suited to the song and the album really (check out the opener History Song, given that I study History it gets bonus points), although it is melancholic in a very good way. Plus the kitchen, oven and crokery in the video is not all that disimilar to my one here in Reading which gives it more bonus points, in three words "monochrome breakfast cooking".

Buy/Pre-Order:
Kaiser Chiefs-Yours Truly, Angry Mob
Of Montreal-Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
The Good, The Bad And The Queen-s/t

London, Ontario Calling

So once again I can't really take full credit for bringing Basia Bulat to your attention (that goes to StG via NBGL), still that doesn't stop me from talking about how darn exciting this lady's music is, and that's just the key its exciting with vocals that you could draw a comparison with Feist for example but they are actually striking enough to feel that trying to pin down a definite comparison, musically you can hear a piano that often sounds like it playing from a different time era, a acoustic guitar trying to keep things together, some strings lending a beautiful backdrop at times and then suddenly getting caught up in the song and as for the drums well they don't know if their supposed to be in a marching band or some sort of jungle beat thing. I'm very excited, and you should to or you could go and read what Sean at StG said.

MP3:
Basia Bulat-Snakes And Ladders
more excellence at her MySpace

Buy:
the album Oh, My Darling should be out in March on Rough Trade.

Edit: something I'd never thought I'd be typing but head over to Marathonpacks (now a Pitchfork reviewer) for a comprehensive post about James Mercer's face it is far more interesting then it sounds honest.