Blue Monday

Are you tired of being Monday's bitch? I know I am.. Anyway, I've put together a playlist to get you through the complete dick-taking that is the beginning of the week. Feel free to contribute.

• Money (That's What I Want) - The Flying Lizards
• Wake Up - Arcade Fire (Not funny, literal. Wake up, you bitch)
• I Didn't See It Coming - Belle & Sebastian
• I Wanna Be Your Dog - Iggy Pop & The Stooges
• Stockholm Syndrome - MUSE
• Satisfaction - Bjork and PJ Harvey
• Nantes - Beirut
• Cause = Time - Broken Social Scene
• Handle Me With Care - The Traveling Wilburys
• Six Different Ways - The Cure

The Price of Silence - 'A Hipster Note'

There are a lot of things you will read about on OWM before I bag out Thom Yorke. To me, Yorke is the orchestrator of my heart and the 'Pablo Honey' record aside, there is very little he could to to deter my love.
The Radiohead frontman has proved himself not only a worthy musician, but as an artist, entrepreneur, and all around fucking genius. This all comes with the territory of fronting one of the most innovative and influential bands in the world. From this you can tell I am probably one of the most annoying and pretentious Radiohead fans around and would just about sell myself to get my hands on anything Radiohead related, well until today.

This morning it was announced that Yorke alongside Mark Ronson and a couple of other people I don't care about, have teamed up with British Prime Minister David Cameron to record two minutes of silence. Yep, to record two minutes of silence and wait for it ... sell it as a single.. yep, still processing the perpetual wank of this notion? Me too.

The Single is appropriately titled 'Two Minute Silence' and will be released on November 7th to commemorate fallen soldiers on Remembrance Day. Yeah, it's for a good cause, blah blah blah, and maybe I'm a bad person for thinking this is ridiculous and wanky but I give to street artists occasionally so I'm not convinced of that. It's just that this is complete bullshit? I can see it now, my fellow Yorke fans sitting alone in their bedroom being 'sooooo post-modern' listening to their two minutes of silence. How about making us our new Radiohead record, Thom? How about that? I love you but really, you can only be so 'innovative' before landing yourself in a dickload of "YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS?".

And Aaron Diaz wanted to know if it was a cover or a remix of John Cage's 4'33"..

When God Programmed Rage

This past Saturday my literary idol Bret Easton Ellis programmed Rage -- it's moments like these that make me wish it were 1985 when he was announcing songs on MTV, you know when they played music.

The 'American Psycho' author recently visited our shores in August as a part of the Melbourne Writers Festival and promotion for the his most recent novel 'Imperial Bedrooms'. I won't turn a music blog into a book review however Ellis is known wildly as one of the more musically versed of the American literati. I was lucky to have met the genius when he visited Melbourne but will still do anything to get an insight into his twisted mind.

As predicted, Ellis made a playlist rich with popular culture but with enough taste to get by. We were treated to clips ranging from the appropriate Lady GaGa's 'Paparazzi' to huge dedications to the authors obvious influences like The National and Mr Elvis Costello.

So if you're a big reader of the books treat yourself to the essential Bret Easton Ellis Rage playlist here.

When you don't proof read your work

You try and tell people that The Pixies toured Greenday's 'Dookie'..

Human computer.

Top 15 Album Tours I'd Step Over My Own Mother For

So, I am always trolling the Internet for lists, I am a list kinda person, maybe I’ve read High Fidelity too many times or maybe I have too much time on my hands.. anyway, this morning I stumbled across Fasterlouder.com.au and their list for ‘Most Wanted Album Tour’. With a lot of major bands touring their prized records it’s becoming quite the trend. The first example I can think of is when Sonic Youth toured ‘Daydream Nation’ in its entirety back in 2007. No, I didn’t go. Yes, it still hurts me. But with The Pixies bringing ‘Dolittle’ to our shores earlier this year and Primal Scream about to bring us the spectacular ‘Screamadelica', the people are making demands!

Fasterlouder’s list is a mix of standard classics like The Boss’s ‘Born To Run’ and Radiohead’s ‘Kid A’ which came in at top spot. It got me thinking about my top 15 albums I’d like to see tour. Some are strange choices because I mean, some records would just tour better than the way they play alone in my bedroom so they may not be my favourite offering of said band but you know the rest.. here goes..

TV on the Radio – Dear Science

Radiohead – Hail to the Thief (Could you imagine '2+2=5' annnd 'There There')

Bob Dylan - Blonde On Blonde

Interpol – Turn On The Bright Lights (hidden track included)

Broken Social Scene – You Forgot it in People

The National – Boxer

Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Murder Ballads

Arcade Fire - Funeral

LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver

Sonic Youth – Washing Machine (mainly for Diamond Sea playage only reason I chose this over Goo)

The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead

At The Drive-in – Relationship of Command

David Bowie – Low

Talking Heads – Little Creatures

What would your dream list consist of?

The National Add Extra Dates

I really don't remember when or how I first discovered The National, which is pretty unusual for me. However all I know is that sometime in 2008 the five piece made an irretrievable entrance into my regular playlist and to this day still impedes my Top 25 Most Played on iTunes.

The National are easily one of my favourite bands, they cater to everything my miserable soul could lust for musically. The songs are catchy in ways but to me it's this form of poetry that really speaks to every part of me. I'm trying my hardest not to sound like a pretentious dickbag but my affair with The National is all things sacred and romantic to me.

I was unlucky to have missed the 'Boxer' tour in 2008 when the Brooklyn based boys appeared at the annual January Sydney Festival. Picture me falling to my knees in a heaps of tears. Wasn't pretty. So I guess you can gauge my reaction to the Falls Music & Arts Festival line-up this year. EEP! I was the happiest miserable girl to have ever lived. Interpol AND The National. Yes, yes., yes please. For weeks I stalked both bands websites, tour pages and googled 'sideshows' and finally I secured tickets to both acts sideshows last week. I couldn't be happier.

It was always speculated that after the success of 'High Violet', The National would play more than one show on our shores, and after the first string of shows sold out more have now been announced. I think I will go to both.

'High Violet' is so perfect. A dramatic friend of mine even said he could only listen to it once as it was so heartbreakingly beautiful. He's a drama queen, I be playin' that shit all day everyday. If you haven't heard The National before, take a hard look at yourself in the mirror and then do something about it.

Friday 7th January - The Enmore, Sydney

Saturday 8th January - The Enmore, Sydney SOLD OUT

Sunday 9th January - Palais Theatre, Melbourne SOLDOUT

Monday 10th January - Palais Theatre, Melbourne

I'm not going to review the new Kings of Leon stuff..

I'm just not.
I have to do some.. washing?

New Gotye

It seems Australia's favourite adopted Belgium has done it again! The blissful musical project known as Gotye by The Basics Wally De Backer, has just hit us with some new material and it's 3:07 of sheer essential summer bliss. The debut track is titled 'Eyes Wide Open' from Gotye's forthcoming album (no working title) due for release in 2011. This song is a little more upbeat than 2007's hauntingly beautiful 'Heart's A Mess', however 'Eyes Wide Open' maintains the eerie nature of Wally's musical experimentation whilst flirting with the sounds of pop. 'Eyes Wide Open' is really lovely and I can hear Summer. I'm looking forward to the rest of the new material to surface very soon!

Download 'Eye's Wide Open' for free here.

Copy Cats.

Is it just me being suspicious or does it somehow seem like the Laneway organisers are in bed with the Splendour guys? Twice now both festivals have borrowed from one anothers previous line-ups. This year Laneway boasted Florence and the Machine and Mumford & Sons, only for the two acts to reappear on the Splendour bill just a few months later.
Today St Jermome's Laneway Festival released their bill for the 2011 tour only to mention FOALS and Two Door Cinema Club who had just played Spendour. This isn't uncommon for local acts, but I just found it a little funny for these successful international bands to revisit our wonderful shores again so soon. Tit for tat? Same booking guy? I dunno. Either way, I'm still pretty pleased because I get to see FOALS as I missed them on their last visit. Celebration.

Check out the full line-up at www.lanewayfestival.com.au/.

Apparently Big Day Out tickets are going for a steep $170 (all bits and bobs included) this year.
Wow, get a fucking grip. I guess the benefit is they know idiots/veterans will pay it because they have no time to hesitate at check-out, but shiat. That is on expensive fucking ticket for a one day festival. I hate to sound like I'm old but my first BDO ticket in 2005 was $100. That's some serious fucking inflation.

Silversun Pickups Grace Australia

Since the release of California's Silversun Pickups sophomore LP 'Swoon', I've been dying to see them tour here in Australia. With every major festival line-up announced without the four-pieces presence, I began to feel like I was holding my breath beneath a sheet of ice. So, when Silversun Pickups appeared on the bill for Coaster Festival, I damn near spat my morning Coca Cola all over my Mac screen. Not to slag off Coaster, I mean it has done reasonably well in its own right, I just didn't expect this line-up to be the one to boast one of my favourite bands.

Angst aside, only momentarily, I was filled with joy. You may remember when I went through my huge Silversuns phase last year. I think that 'Carnavas' and 'Swoon' have been two of the more pivotal new records to me in the last two years. Although, frequently compared to Smashing Pumpkins, I sincerely shrug off the similarities and enjoy the music wholly and entirely as a standalone act.

There was more coke spraying when it came to light that Silversuns would NOT be playing their own sideshows, but only supporting Australian snorelax act Birds of Tokyo. I think the outrage was taken to the streets and the revolt got us here in Melbourne a very lucky chance to be the only city to see the band play their own show. The tickets went for a mere $30 or so, and sold out within minutes at The Corner Hotel.

On the night, Sydney lads Papa VS Pretty lads took to the stage first and performed to a near full house. PVP showcased some of their newer material, the crowd swaying and hypnotised. I was interested if people were there just to be early, but I saw many people mouthing the lyrics to 'Heavy Harm' and my frozen heart felt warm inside.

The Corner Hotel is a pain in my fucking ass when it comes to their bastard poles, so there was much moving around to get a look at Mr Brian Aubert and co. as the band graced the stage. Immediately falling into 'Swoons' 'Growing Old Is Getting Old', Aubert swayed playfully side to side and twisted his way through the song, swallowing the entire room with his distinctive vocals.

The set then moved into 'Carnavas' single, 'Well Thought Out Twinkles'. It was in this song I really noticed the talent of drummer Christopher Guanlao. His technique almost seems like it comes from some kind of emo-punk background. Call me an anti-percussionist but I very rarely notice a drummer but Guanlao is one talented fucking guy.

The four-piece played a healthy mix of both records, highlights include personal favourites 'The Royal We', 'Future Foe Scenarios' and 'Catch & Release'. It was clear the crowd favourites were 'There's No Secrets This Year', and an epic performance of 'Panic Switch'. There's just something so enchanting when Aubert lullabies ' I'm waiting and fading, floating away', followed by the crowd losing it as the song swings back in to chorus.

It was quite an interactive show, with bassist Nikki Monninger sweetly telling us a joke I still don't understand, all the while looking a million bucks. Also, there was a lot of apologies for an uncouth performance in 2007 at the Ding Dong Lounge, followed by a few references to Supper Club? I can only imagine what Melbourne did to Silversuns last time around, however they seem to look back on it affectionately hence choosing us as their only show. Eat shit, Sydney.

The set progressed from 'Panic Switch' straight into 'Carnavas' mega hit 'Lazy Eye'. This was a fine fucking performance and it was everything you would hope it to be. This song could honestly make a constipated Nazi smile.

After much applause Silversuns disappeared into the shadows of backstage and many wondered what else they could possibly close with, some even began to stray towards the door. I have always said the last three songs off of both records are my easy favourites, so when the band reappeared to play 'Substitution, 'Three Seed' and 'Common Reactor', it's fair to say I laid an egg right then and there.

It really was a perfect set full of the expected reverb and distorted guitars and all the songs I hoped they would play. I even caught them again at their supporting show the following Friday. Both shows were pretty fucking perfect and I can honestly say it was worth the wait.

Band To Watch - The Frowning Clouds

On a frosty eve this past winter, I was summoned by one of my trusted informants to check out a band that would surely blow my socks off. I'm often sceptical of bands that people say I will like, I often wonder if people know what music I actually do like. Every one's mate is in a band or their friend is doing sound for the 'next big thing'. Either way, I don't care. There are so many bands in Melbourne, it can often be difficult to wade through the array of mediocre acts to find something special. This was one of the few times someone wasn't talking out of their arse -- and then there was light, or at least a bunch of dudes playing instruments called The Frowning Clouds. It's been quite some time since a band got my attention quite like this.

These five Geelong lads wouldn’t surprise you if they were actually a Beatles cover band based on appearance -- haircuts and all. To quote Pavement, ‘But I don't care, I care, I really don't care, did you see the drummer's hair?’. I just dug the way they looked, maracas in hand and that's before they split the groove. The band do however stipulate that they do not do Beatles covers on their Myspace.
The first thing that came to mind when I first heard The Frowning Clouds was simply, London 1965. It's like you're taken back in time to a low-fi swinging sixties scene. Inhibitions at the door, twisting on the floor -- the music is immediately infectious. It's like you've heard it before but it's friendly not pretentious. Its attitude a sexy kitten with plenty of soul but not nearly intimidating.
So far I've recommended them to all my friends back home in the city of Sydney and friends are even traveling from the Central Coast to catch a taste of the ease and psychedelic beats of The Frowning Clouds.

I recommend you get to their nearest gig, maybe right now.
Click here for the lads Myspace for tour dates and tunes.

This week it's an IOU..

Still to come, Silversun Pickups reviews and Parklife.
It's been a long week of gigs and festivals, so please forgive a drunken blogger on her late entries.
Coming soon to a blog near you..