Song Of The Day - 31/08/2011

The Bay - Metronomy


I heard this song at about 1am last night, when I was almost asleep. I liked it so much that had to wake myself up to google what it was! It has a super-cool bass line, and I love the way he says 'Berrrrrlin'! It's incredibly catchy, and combines electronic synths with normal instruments which works really well. This is without a doubt one of the best electro-inspired songs i've heard in a long time.

Song Of The Day - 30/08/2011

Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden


I have to admit I know literally nothing about this band, but I heard it on the radio yesterday, and really liked it. I could research them, but I like the mystery...and also can't be bothered.

Song Of The Day - 29/08/2011

My Body - Young The Giant


I don't know how Young The Giant have managed to slip past my musical radar, but I'm glad i've finally discovered them! This is great, and has a very 'sing-along-able' chorus. Enjoy!

This Many Boyfriends

NME recently described This Many Boyfriends as "Leeds' newest indie pop superheroes". While I'm yet to hear enough of them to make a such a eager judgement, I suspect their enthusiastic review isn't far from the truth. Their first single, Young Lovers Go Pop!, is so infectiously upbeat and ridiculously catchy that you can't help but appreciate it. It's the sort of song that would chase you around with guitars and throw plectrums at your head if you said you didn't like it, until its unrelenting poppiness becomes too much to ignore, and you change your mind. Their style is far more positive in comparison to many of the bands also in the "indie pop" category, and this makes them stand out hugely. They claim to want to change the face of indie music in Britain, by fighting against the "pop posers" and "Britpop bores" - I suspect and genuinely hope that they'll do just that.

Song Of The Day: 28/08/2011

Common People - Pulp


I watched the BBC footage of Pulp playing at Reading last night. It was a fantastic set - full of energy, and they had incredible stage-presence. Considering that they were meant to be co-headling with The Strokes, it's laughable how much they outshone them! Constant interaction with the crowd, and boundless amounts of energy put their set to shame! Common People is a completely genius song, and I never get tired of hearing it. The crowd went crazy when they played it, and it's easy to see why!

Song Of The Day: 27/08/2011

We Don't Need Another Song About California - My Chemical Romance


I know this completely contradicts my last post about not over-doing it with MCR-type songs, but I was so excited to find a few B-sides to their latest album, that I had to choose one as my song of the day.

Smile! It might never happen...

"Have you heard the news that you're dead?
No one ever had much nice to say
I think they never liked you anyway
Oh take me from the hospital bed
Wouldn't it be grand? It ain't exactly what you planned.
And wouldn't it be great If we were dead?
Ohh dead."

This is the chorus from Dead! by My Chemical Romance. It's a great song, from an equally great album, but it's hardly chirpy, is it? Now, I'm not saying we should all throw away our MCR albums (i certainly couldn't), and start listening to Cher Lloyd or Tinie Tempah (God forbid!), but I do think that everybody needs a few happy songs, inamongst the sad, angry ones! So, i've compiled a list of positive, upbeat, but still halfway decent songs:

If You Haven't Got Anything To Say - Luke Leighfield
Roshambo - The Network
The Luckiest - Ben Folds
Mr. Brightside -The Killers
Dreaming Of You - The Coral
Chelsea Dagger - The Fratellis
Friday I'm In Love - The Cure
Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus
Friday Is Forever - We The Kings
Star Song - Bowling For Soup
1234 - Plain White T's
The No No Song - The Sounds
Adelaide - Ben Folds
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Surfin' USA - Beach Boys

Here is a playlist of all the songs:http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL86A1E5253140E7A5&feature=mh_lolz

And if you're still not convinced...then stick on some MCR!

Song Of The Day: 26/08/2011

Arlandria - Foo Fighters


As I turned the radio on this morning, I was so relieved to hear this song playing. It's not that I didn't wish to hear the latest Kasabian song played for the 30th time this week, only it was great to hear a real rock song in amongst the endless plays of The Drums and Bombay Bicycle Club. Foo Fighters are a band that never seem to run out of talent or fresh ideas, and Dave Grohl without a doubt has one of the most distinctive and powerful voices the rock industry has ever known. I'm off to listen to their latest album now...

Top 10 Songs Ever!

Choosing my 10 favourite songs, was about as easy as getting a degree in Mathematics. Or running a double marathon. Backwards. And incase you're under the illusion that I'm some sort of genius mathematical child prodigy, with the athletic ability to rival Usain Bolt, you could not be more wrong. I have literally no grasp on maths, and have the fitness levels of an asthmatic sloth.

Anyway, after searching through the 135 CD's in my room (yes, I counted), an entire bookcase full of albums downstairs, and the thousands of of songs on my iPod, I managed to cut in down to 10 worthy songs.

1. One Way Or Another - Blondie

I'd love to know how many times I've listened to this song. I love the raw quality it has, the lack of perfection and editing most recent bands rely on, is what makes it so good.

2. Christie Road - Green Day

There's not a lot I can say about this song, other than it's simple, endearingly messy, and utterly brilliant.

3. I Don't Like Mondays - The Boomtown Rats

I was only recently that I discovered the meaning behind this song. Reading more into it, I realised how clever a song it actually was.

4.Waterloo Sunset - The Kinks

I love this song. And I love The Kinks. I read recently that to create the guitar distortion in their song Sunny Afternoon, they slashed their amps with razor blades. It's such a clever thing to think of doing. Their simple but wonderful songs make them without a doubt, one of my favourite bands ever.

5. Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra) - The Vaccines

I fear that my love of The Vaccines is simply because their music sounds old, but I think that's their appeal. I'm listening to each song as I write about it, and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to write this, because i'm so busy 'Ra Ra-ing'! And I think that's all that needs to be said.

6. Speechless - Lady Gaga

I'm aware that I haven't really delved into the world of pop yet, and while generally I prefer rock, or punk, or indie, I will always love Lady Gaga. Speechless is the most listened to song on my iTunes, I know it inside out, and back to front. It's beautiful, heartfelt, and stands out completely from the rest of her songs. My paws are well and truely up, Mother Monster!

7. Basket Case - Green Day

You may now have realised that quite like Green Day. I listen to so many different bands, genres, and styles of music, but Green Day will always be my favourite. Basket Case is the song I listen to, whatever mood I'm in. Happy, sad or angry, it always fits. I honestly don't think it's possible to listen to it while in a bad mood, and still feel the same when it's finished.

8. Nantes - Beirut

Beirut stand out hugely in my record collection. I'm a bit of a music-geek at heart - I love their use of an orchestral section. Their songs are beautiful, and Nantes is particularly great. Zach Condon's voice is so beautifully imperfect, that I can't help but love them.

9. Dead - My Chemical Romance

There are two reasons, and two reasons alone that I love this song. The first is that Gerard Way has an astonishing voice, and the second is the truely awesome guitar sections.

10. Star Girl - McFly

Right. There's no point trying to hide it anymore, so I'll be honest... I love McFly, I've seen them live 4 times, and I've even met them. Although I've grown out of my previous tweenager McFly obsession, I still love them. Star Girl is such an upbeat, unbelievably happy song, that it had to make my Top 10.

So there you have it, my favourite songs. There were sadly some casualties that didn't make the final cut, but I'm sure they'll inevitably make an appearance at some point!

Poor Jedward...

I am genuinely worried about Jedward. They don't seem to be entirely normal. If the questionable music and sparkly outfits they love so much are not example enough of their 'individuality' shall we say, their behaviour in the Celebrity Big Brother house surely is. I'm not proud to say i've seen, and almost enjoyed a couple of episodes, but incase you've missed this gem now airing on Channel 5, they spend a great deal of time singing and dancing in unison, to imaginary audiences, completely unaware of the world surrounding them. What worries me even more however, is that the simplest of remarks or conversations seem to perplex them.

Ordinarily, I would find people such as themselves unspeakably irritating, but somehow they possess a certain charm and bizarre likability. Although I think it's safe to say I won't be rushing out to buy their next contribution to music, well not unless they ditch the quiffs and decide to collaborate with a band like Mumford & Sons, in some sort of strange Indie/Childrens Pop mash-up, (which would be epic, incase you're reading this, Marcus Mumford), and my like of them may well be some sort of subconcious maternal instinct to feel sorry for them, but I can honestly say I don't really mind them anymore. They seem so innocent and helpless that it could be seen as cruel to mock them. And it has to be said that those quiffs must weigh them down a little in their everyday life, so you have to admire their perseverance. Well done Jedward, you are now almost tolerable. And that's more than I can say for the Gallagher's.

MB: I was almost about to sign off, when I found this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmrmZahuGvU&ob=av2e
Of all the songs to ruin, why this? Oh dear, oh dear...

Song Of The Day: 25/08/2011

Up All Night - blink-182


I literally could not be more excited about blink-182's new album. This is the first single release, and to say it's promising is an understatement! It seems much darker, and heavier, than previous songs, but it works well. I would be disappointed if the whole album is as dark and kinda downbeat, but maybe it's the next logical step for them. All I can say, is I hope they used the 8 years inbetween albums to make the fantastic album they're capable of. If the first single is anything to go by, then they've done just that.

Song Of The Day: 24/08/2011

Always Something - Cage The Elephant


Always Something, the first track from Cage The Elephant's latest album, Thank You Happy Birthday, has been rattling around my head for the past week, and whatever I do, it just won't go away. There is something about Matthew Shultz's voice that is completely brilliant, and the atmospherical quality it has is almost magical. The slightly dischordant guitars, and completely compelling drum beats, intertwine to create a truely astonishing song, which leaves you wanting more.

I know that this is meant to be a song of the day, and ordinarily it will be, but I have been so impressed by Thank You Happy Birthday, that I feel I should write a bit more about the album. The second track, Aberdeen, is so incredibly catchy, that I had to stop myself singing outloud on a very busy bus earlier today, and Shake Me Down, the first single release from the album, is just as good, if not even better. I am pleased to see that this album reached No.2 in the US charts, as I think they really deserve it - it's a fantastic album. Shame on the UK though - it only reached No. 26 here...

(What's The Story) Incredibly Boring?

Liam and Noel Gallagher need to learn to be quiet. Their moaning and attention seeking can be likened only to the behaviour of small trantrum-prone toddlers. Sadly, it seems that they are under the illusion that Oasis were the single most influential band ever to have graced the planet, and Liam astonishingly seems to think that he is worthy of an almost God-like status. I'm by no means trying to argue that they are not talented, quite the opposite, but the constant twittering about their brilliance is frankly, tiresome. No one cares about their latest argument - the majority of humanity are far more interested in amending their ever-increasingly irritating haircuts. I think the best way to treat them, as you would a small child, is to ignore them. The perhaps they'll shut up, and go away.

A failure, and a big glass musical building.

This music blog of mine is a result of some truely terrible AS results, and a music-related revelation (epiphany if you will...) that I had last week. I was lucky enough to spend two days on work experience at EMI music, which is when this fore-mentioned 'revelation' happened. I've always been enthusiastic about music, and my first day there was no exception. My attempt at walking into this renowned, exquisite glass building, seeming cool and collected, was probably as convincing as Cheryl Cole's miming, but I did the best I could. They made the mistake of telling me prior to arriving that I would be going to a You Me At Six video shoot that afternoon, so naturally I spent the majority of the morning attempting to disguise the fact that I was more excited than a puppy with ADHD. I can honestly say there is nothing more exciting for someone who loves music, than being somewhere like EMI - album artwork litters the walls, the people who work there seem effortless cool, and have an equally cool knowledge of music. The thought of working somewhere where music playing randomly is considered perfectly normal, seems almost too good to be true. I could immediately tell that this was no ordinary office...this place was my destiny.

Okay...so I may have over-exaggerated with the destiny comment, but I am serious when I say that it changed the outlook I have on my future. On the day inbetween my visits to EMI, I got my dreaded AS results - 3 E's and a D, which I think it's fair to say, were really very crap. I was feeling bad, but on my second day at the glorious EMI, it suddenly occured to me - I may completely suck at exams, but I sure as hell know a lot about music. And as all people with half a brain cell know, it's often best to stick to what you know, which in my case, is music. So that ladies and gentlemen, is the story of how this blog began!