If I were an alternate DJ for one set.

Okay, so I know nothing about getting a room pumping, but all I do know is what gets me off in a club.
Mostly undanceable tracks, and more sitting back sipping songs for me to just be like "ooh I like this one"..

Just so you know, I am so unqualified at this, I cleared the d-floor in Q Bar this Friday by requesting a Smiths song.. boourns.

If I were a DJ..

Idioteque - Radiohead
How Soon Is Now - The Smiths
Wash The Day Away - TVONTR
Kool Thing - Sonic Youth
Burn My Shadow - Unkle
Obstacle 1 - Interpol
Operate - Peaches
Laika - Arcade Fire
Gravel Pit - Wu-Tang Clan
Shove Your Hope - Santogold
Bigmouth Strikes Again - The Smiths
Right Here Right Now - Fat Boy Slim
Coffee and T.V - Blur

Click Click CAMERAS!

Delayed, but oh sooo worthy.

About 2 months ago I was reading, Drum Media or was it The Brag? One of the likes and in a tiny, itsy bitsy blurb I saw the names Cat Power and Radiohead. Now, these titles are like food to a homeless person to my eyes so I read the blurb for proper inspection and of course to check the names were not used in vain.

It went on to read how this Sydney band was a talent collision of the two prestigious sounds, that of melancholy, whimsical vocals and alternate bars and synthesis. If you know me, I instantly became wet at the though of something that magical deriving from out local Sydney suburbs.

Turns out, lead singer and keys artist Eleanor Dunlop is Triple J unearthed alum. The talented songstress has intended on going solo for some time though when Fraser Harvey (vocals, guitar) pressed the idea of starting a band for the last time Dunlop conceded to the idea. With Ben Kingssott (drums) in tow, they were then ‘Cameras’. Rad.

Anyway, after obsessing about these guys for months I finally caught wind of a show they were doing at The Hopetoun. I was on that train so fast I am pretty sure I left my keys inside, which I do a lot.

The three piece were competing in the Hopetoun Homebake Incentive, which takes place every Monday up until well, Homebake.

The first song they played is by far my favourite ‘Defeatist’, which features Harvey predominately on vocals and Dunlop harmonizing in the background. The contrast and dissimilarity between male and female vocal harmonies always portray that effortless edge of melody.

'The Bolshelviks' is a second favourite. It bears a more psychedelic influence, that of The Rolling Stones and old rock and roll. It's a considerable variation from the other tracks but isn't too left field and just picks you up if you're doing a roll through all the tracks.

Most songs feature focuses mainly Dunlop on vocals as her huskily smooth voice as sexy as that of Chan Marshall. Her haunting melodies lull you into some kind if indie hypnosis.

CAMERAS.
See them, you'll know what I mean and their Myspace player creates excellent ambiance for the whimsically sleepy.

Check them out here;

http://www.myspace.com/camerasband

From The U.K to Kalifornia - The Subways

Ladies and gentlemen, I write to you from a grimy train on its way to the often-misunderstood Gosford City, and often referred to by me as, well G-town. Fortunately, this entry is far more appealing!

The Subways. I love them, I love them.
They played at Big Day Out in January 2006 and because I was ignorant enough to make no effort due to unheard sounds, I missed them. In Early March I heard a song in Sanity that just grabbed me. I had to have ‘Young For Eternity’. So in saying that I confirm that yes, most advertising does work on me.

I took the record home and sure enough, every other song rocked me. I was going through a messy break-up at the time and though I had learnt the singer was actually engaged to the saucy bass player, they touched the torture and frustration of love so bitterly, I could just relate.

The raw energy of ‘I Want To Hear What You’ve Got To Say’ still executes me. Though that time in my life had passed and that angst of someone not loving you back had disappeared, I can still feel it in my stomach.

The 2006 release suffered an extreme case of high rotation and received plays from multiple car stereos, which resulted in the loss of the disc, leaving me only with the case. Nothing burns me more that a scratched CD. Utter disrespect to a rarity, some people feel the same, someone I know would burn copies of all his records for the pure suicide of the disc traveling. He also hated this CD, which doesn’t surprise me it was his car it disappeared in..? Hmm.

Other than the plays it amounted from moi, The Subways remained frightenly quiet in Australia. Hailing from the U.K, I often questioned if they’d be back and when the news broke of the split between Billy Lunn (guitar/vocals) & Charlotte Cooper (bass) honestly doubted another record let alone a show.

Thankfully, the two somehow (and I just don’t know how they could be in a room together let alone a band) co-wrote music throughout the break-up and produced the new record ‘All or nothing’.

It amazes me and I can hear the pain in songs like ‘Shake Shake’. You can witness the need for attention yet the anger. The lyrics “I got a need to feel so I shake, shake! You got a problem with me say it” that run over an angry riff personifies the hostility not only in the band during the split but even the relationship itself.
I just love the repetition of “I COULDN’T CARE IF WE LOSE”. And I can’t help to think if this was penned in the event of the demised union.

I just fucking love these guys and I’m normally anxious of Vines’esque follow-up but the U.K kids have prevailed and are coming to Australia in 2009!

I will die.

Im Not Dead.

No, not the p!nk record, just me.

Little old blog abandoner, you know, I'm sorry. lalala.

I've been such a busy bee and I'm not over you and I'm not full of fat excuses.

I have some stuff to go up on some hot bods like Cameras, The Vines, The Subways and general tirades of rubbish.

However until then, in case you hadn't already, here are some of my MTV articles you might just like ;)
Music Industry Support Obama
http://www.mtv.com.au/news/946/
The Smiths to reunite
http://www.mtv.com.au/news/930/
Award smoes
http://www.mtv.com.au/news/906

Click here for my MTV story on Digital Distribution + Radiohead!

http://www.mtv.com.au/news/895

:):):):)

Still here! Promise!

Hey lovely boys and girls,
So I have been lagging with the posts buuut there will be some coming up!

If you don't already know, I have been writing for MTV.com.au in the Digital Media department, so if you see an article by one Samantha Dickson or Samantha Miller (pen name)in the news section, that would be moi.

I also went to Parklife on Sunday, which was a big fat bag of fresh dog shit.
I have never actually been to a festival which was predominately sweaty men playing records and people popping drugs. Can't say I will repeat this, though I did purchase a Field Day ticket :S

Who I did catch, Papa VS Pretty, Art VS Science, Grafton Primary, Ajax or what I could hear, steaming dog shit ... and then Peaches who blew me away. I will write a more detailed entry about them all but basically I just learnt that "house" music isn't my bag, and either is the scene, really, people should take more drugs... they look amazing!

Crouching Coast, Hidden talent - FIREROOM.

During my time trapped inside the beached in confines of the Central Coast, I actually got to discover a few things.. A) Nothing news worthy goes on here, and B) We actually breed some gutsy rock ‘n’ roll!
The definition of “rock” is fitted and used loosely to a lot of acts these days and I don’t know if it even has its own genre these days or if it is simply sub crossed? Like oh, pop/rock, electro/rock or even ghetto/classical/house/rock/alt .. who even knows yeah?
To me, rock is the sound of beer.. yes, beer.. Sticky floor, dark flavored wood and red carpet pub accessory. Maybe it was the way I was brought up, or maybe it's just Australian rock as I like to see it.

Upon thought of this solid genre disappearing all together, I did pay attention to a little Coast gig that I've seen progress and take a few shapes over the past two years.
Now when they first caught me by the ears, they were a 3 piece titled Deep Water, Kurt Ellis Manning vocals and guitar, stealing the show.. There were two other guys playing drums and bass though they have since moved on. The bass player, I think his name was Pat, had trouble not being the focus of the band and it was like watching a three year old getting jealous of a newborn. Ellis always delivers. Writing all the songs and even playing the guitar behind his back! Outrageous.

When you hear the songs, you think of driving through the outback, summer, warm beer and probably early 90's mixed with the riffs of the 70's. With influences like Hendrix also evidently a solid Elvis undertone. It's classic ultimate music for men. The sound is an interesting mix, vocals are classical and similar sounding to those of Elvis, actually almost exact and the riff is catchy backed up wit a touch of funky bass lines.

Now what appears to be just Ellis and a few temp guys have just finished recording in Brisbane with Chartsong Productions (The guys that brought you The Veronica's) and recording their percussion's at the famous Albert Studios Sydney. Is something brewing here?

My only criticism is towards their track "Oh My Darling" which you can listen to on their Myspace Music Player, is that it is simply too "old school". At the end of the day, if you're an artist, you want people to hear or see you in some kind of commercial domain, and to be honest, this will never be on radio. It would appeal to those of you who crave some 50's do do's and whoa's but this isn't rock. Not a bad song, but it is just too retro for my style.

My favourite is Mullumbimby Madness. Good rock 'n' roll. Not utterly lyrically genius, but everything a good song needs.

I see a bright future for Ellis, pure talent.

Click here to check out the sounds of FIREROOM!