I seem to be particularly impared when it comes to liking music when it's released..I prefer to let it age, mature, let the times change and then and only then will I sit down and listen.. Crazy? always.
And now in no order...
Bigmouth Strikes Again - The Smiths 1986
Kiss off - Violent Femmes 1982
Shakin' all over - Johnny Kidd & The Pirates 1960
Untitled - Interpol 2002
kool thing - Sonic Youth 1990
100% - Sonic Youth 1992
Please Please Pease Let Me Get What I Want - The Smiths 1984
I Don't Blame You - Cat Power 2003
Gravel Pit - Wu Tang Clan 2001
How To Disappear Completely - Radiohead 2000
Monday, December 22, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Bloggers Resolution.
As overrated as they are, everyone has at least one.
One that we honestly believe we will not commit to, but sweeten ourselves with the mere entertainment of thought that we might hold true to it.
I do this every year.
And it's the same, save money, eat less McDonalds, stop cutting my hair on impulse.
I never listen to anyone, let alone myself but in the spirit of self belief I will attempt to commit to some musical resolutions.
Thou shalt listen to Fleet Foxes!
After mounting pressure to do so I've become ignorant and have purposely been avoiding this apparent "amazing band" .. There's too much pressure when you tell me they'll do to me what Arcade Fire did the first time.. Big shoes to fill but Kevin, Ally.. I will, in 09.
Thou shalt seek help for singing Metro Station!
This explains itself. And that's the biggest secret I'll ever tell you..
Apart from the fact I bounce around my bedroom in my underpants.. "shake, shake, shake, skake-eh, shake it!"
Thou shalt listen to more rap music!
I always forget how much I love it and thanks to some slammin' battles with Michelle Abraham at a certain concert back in October, I've rediscovered my love for 90's rap. Ah, bask in the broke poetry.
Thou shalt cease talking about attending The Hopetoun on a Monday night, and do it!
Again, self explanatory.. Lisa, this one is on you to help me through.
And of course, the obvious...
Thou shalt blog more often!
With my weekly contribution at MTV lightened, I should have more time to pleasure your eyes and ears and hopefully make this a better blog.
Well kids, it's been an interesting year but that's not all from me yet..
I will fill you in with some very me top 5's before the year is through but fuck.. make it a rockin' 08 and go out in style.. I know I will.
peace ...x
Friday, December 12, 2008
Top 5 Gigs of 2008!
It's been a fucking good year for live music in my books, I was able to see three of my all time favourite bands, two in which I was sure I never would get the chance..
So when I decided to write this Top 5 I didn't realise how much work I had ahead of me.
I've seen so many shows this year, the biggest acts in the world, to the smallest acts in Sydney and I'm not surprised that the little guys are making my list!
UNO.
ARCADE FIRE - ENMORE THEATRE 23/01/08 - Big Day Out.
Probably the best gig I've ever seen.
Intimate and in the front row I got to witness close up and personal the magic that is Arcade Fire.
No doubt one of my most favourite bands, I was ecstatic when treated to all my favourite tracks.
Opening the show with the illuminating 'Wake Up' and closing with an intense cover of Violent Femmes 'Kiss Off' with next to no instruments or sound .. My mouth was on the floor.
AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN. I'd kill.
Here is a moment I will never forget - god bless youtube. It gets going at 1:37
DOS.
SMASHING PUMPKINS - V Fest March
After spending most of angst ridden teenage years scribbling the lyrics from 'Siamese Dream' in my journal, I never thought I would ever get the chance to see them. Ever. It was up there with Nirvana as far as I was concerned.
To witness a mass of people chanting the lyrics to 'Today' reduced me to tears. I had been waiting for that day for almost half my life.
Many people will tell you it was shit, because they played new material which I fucking love so eh.. but it was an unexplainable moment in time to witness a musical god with a crowd in his palm and war peddle at his feet. I could even forgive them for leaving 'Zero' off the set list and playing Britney instead ;)
TRES.
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - Big Day Out Sydney
Another on the list of 'never going to see just give it up' however thanks to a year of solid comebacks the 90's alt gods blessed our shores headlining the Big Day Out.
Due to Bjork pulling out they played right after Arcade Fire and if I wasn't already in an amazing mood this sure as hell topped it off.
Opening with 'Testify' as it gently sprinkled rain upon the raging crowd, RATM were better than I could of ever imagined and ticked off one of my most life changing gigs yet.
QUATRO.
CHILDREN COLLIDE - The Metro - June?
I'm going to give this to a support act.
You don't expect your support on a bill to steal the show, but Children Collide pulled the rug out from under Grinspoon sometime in June.
I've now had the pleasure of seeing these guys four times but the show I am referring to was the second.
I was utterly hypnotized in the intense riffs and killer light show in sync with Johnny's rhythmic guitar spasms. Instrumentals and solid performances of the standard 'Cannibal' and 'Amphibious' it finessed as soon as it started and I couldn't get over the spectacle. It truly was CC at their best.
CINCO.
CAT POWER ENMORE THEATRE & Parades - The Annandale
Fifth spot is a tie between Cat Power & Parades.
The reason for this is because Cat Power, though amazing in performance, her voice as haunting as it is sweet, I was in the WORST mood during this gig.
I simply had so much trouble enjoying myself and really wasn't present for the gig.
However,when I think back, with vocals as smooth and husky and a room in awe of brilliant echo, her performance really was breathtaking.
And the runner up is Parades - My most favourite Sydney band!
Back in June these guys were playing at The Annandale in between acts such as Dappled Cities and The Seabellies and to tell you the truth, the small sets performed in intermission of tore up these headline acts in my opinion.
I've mentioned this gig before, and it still takes my breath away. Small room, beer on the floor, these guys playing meters away from the bar but worlds away from any other alternate band in Sydney right now, they really brought it.
I still remember just standing still in bouts of awe even after the band had clearly disappeared from sight. Killer. Intimate. Real music.
I've missed out so many shows and it was really hard to pick but these shows were the life changers :)
Let's hope I am as lucky next year!
So when I decided to write this Top 5 I didn't realise how much work I had ahead of me.
I've seen so many shows this year, the biggest acts in the world, to the smallest acts in Sydney and I'm not surprised that the little guys are making my list!
UNO.
ARCADE FIRE - ENMORE THEATRE 23/01/08 - Big Day Out.
Probably the best gig I've ever seen.
Intimate and in the front row I got to witness close up and personal the magic that is Arcade Fire.
No doubt one of my most favourite bands, I was ecstatic when treated to all my favourite tracks.
Opening the show with the illuminating 'Wake Up' and closing with an intense cover of Violent Femmes 'Kiss Off' with next to no instruments or sound .. My mouth was on the floor.
AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN. I'd kill.
Here is a moment I will never forget - god bless youtube. It gets going at 1:37
DOS.
SMASHING PUMPKINS - V Fest March
After spending most of angst ridden teenage years scribbling the lyrics from 'Siamese Dream' in my journal, I never thought I would ever get the chance to see them. Ever. It was up there with Nirvana as far as I was concerned.
To witness a mass of people chanting the lyrics to 'Today' reduced me to tears. I had been waiting for that day for almost half my life.
Many people will tell you it was shit, because they played new material which I fucking love so eh.. but it was an unexplainable moment in time to witness a musical god with a crowd in his palm and war peddle at his feet. I could even forgive them for leaving 'Zero' off the set list and playing Britney instead ;)
TRES.
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - Big Day Out Sydney
Another on the list of 'never going to see just give it up' however thanks to a year of solid comebacks the 90's alt gods blessed our shores headlining the Big Day Out.
Due to Bjork pulling out they played right after Arcade Fire and if I wasn't already in an amazing mood this sure as hell topped it off.
Opening with 'Testify' as it gently sprinkled rain upon the raging crowd, RATM were better than I could of ever imagined and ticked off one of my most life changing gigs yet.
QUATRO.
CHILDREN COLLIDE - The Metro - June?
I'm going to give this to a support act.
You don't expect your support on a bill to steal the show, but Children Collide pulled the rug out from under Grinspoon sometime in June.
I've now had the pleasure of seeing these guys four times but the show I am referring to was the second.
I was utterly hypnotized in the intense riffs and killer light show in sync with Johnny's rhythmic guitar spasms. Instrumentals and solid performances of the standard 'Cannibal' and 'Amphibious' it finessed as soon as it started and I couldn't get over the spectacle. It truly was CC at their best.
CINCO.
CAT POWER ENMORE THEATRE & Parades - The Annandale
Fifth spot is a tie between Cat Power & Parades.
The reason for this is because Cat Power, though amazing in performance, her voice as haunting as it is sweet, I was in the WORST mood during this gig.
I simply had so much trouble enjoying myself and really wasn't present for the gig.
However,when I think back, with vocals as smooth and husky and a room in awe of brilliant echo, her performance really was breathtaking.
And the runner up is Parades - My most favourite Sydney band!
Back in June these guys were playing at The Annandale in between acts such as Dappled Cities and The Seabellies and to tell you the truth, the small sets performed in intermission of tore up these headline acts in my opinion.
I've mentioned this gig before, and it still takes my breath away. Small room, beer on the floor, these guys playing meters away from the bar but worlds away from any other alternate band in Sydney right now, they really brought it.
I still remember just standing still in bouts of awe even after the band had clearly disappeared from sight. Killer. Intimate. Real music.
I've missed out so many shows and it was really hard to pick but these shows were the life changers :)
Let's hope I am as lucky next year!
Monday, November 24, 2008
What A Fucking Joke.
Kids, kiss goodbye freedom, festivals and fucking fun.
The future looks dark as early finish threatens music festival...
The future looks dark as early finish threatens music festival...
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Now it's time for all things nice! PARADES.
A few months ago I spawned this little blogging machine and my first post was all about my favourite Sydney Indie band Parades!
At the time of print, the alternative group had just lost their magical, capricious female counterpart in a move best for the bands direction. At the time I was worried Parades might lose their niche and became increasingly stalkerish in attempt to gain details of a reformed line-up.
Sneaky Parades quietly surfaced with a female stand-in at the Jebediah concert at The Annandale in September, though unfortunately the shoe didn't fit and the the unlucky hopeful was sent packing. Not today disco lady.
Shortly after, a lovely young lass was plucked from Sydney's musical obscurity and with no more than a months practice Oriana De Luca was thrusted upon our feasting ears and eyes in a very intimate gig at Sydney's Spectrum.
It's safe to say I am their harshest (annoying) critic (apart from the band themselves and it's only out of love) and to be honest, I wasn't feeling the new addition. I probably jumped the gun too quick and maybe it was that I felt a loyal affection to the previous co-vocalist. As the gig progressed, Oriana became more and more comfortable on stage, her harmonies slipping into Daniel's and Parades began to form and come together like a perfectly constructed puzzle.
Still in love, I haul ass to Q Bar before 11pm (fright) a Friday or two ago to pledge my support and bring along some new ears, fellow blogger http://reel-around-the-fountain.blogspot.com/. Although I was almost too drunk to stand (I was actually requested by miss Reel to eat something) Oriana tore it apart and everything was perfect!
Co-voaclist and music extraordinaire Daniel, always the showman actually performed his drumming solo amongst the crowd in the middle of the floor! My jaw hit the sticky floor quicker than a teenage girls panties at a Jonas Brothers concert. Unbelievable.
Only getting better man, trust me, catch these guys it's too good to miss, even Triple J thinks so, putting the Spotlight on them for their famed comp Unearthed. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! So rate them here, def worth it!
http://www.triplejunearthed.com/Artists/View.aspx?artistid=19421
And for you Coast people, I'm bringing them to you for Tubes 4 Googs this January so fear not.
http://www.myspace.com/parades
| The Hopetoun | Sydney, New South Wales | ||
| Peats Ridge Festival w/ Pivot, Firekites, The Devoted Few, Sparkadia, + 195 more | Central Coast, New South Wales |
Also check out www.t4g.com.au for line up info on the event including PARADES!
p e a c e.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
You And Your Little Dog Too!
So my blog is pretty new, and I am still getting used to all that comes along with it, this includes criticism and open argument.
Yesterday I posted the below entry about Aussie rockers The Vines and I received some notable feedback which at first I didn't know quite how to take it, however I felt I didn't make myself clear.
Mental illness is a serious matter, so serious it is not something I take lightly nor something I base my music values on.
My blog below doesn't point the break down of the rock machine that is The Vines at mental disease or illness, but a troubled past and continuous chances post erratic behaviour.
Whatever the cause is behind The Vines pulling out of their tours, they are conducting their music and their lives in a public media sphere, ergo anything they do or do not do is subject to criticism to the public, no matter the cause.
We all watched the famous meltdown of Ms. Britney Spears late last year and you know what? Shit happens and when people act erratically in public or let down fans alas the backlash will no doubt follow.
Now my blog is just a place for me to review, and shout out bands I like and believe you me, it's not something I'd "quit my day job" for. However my day job is at MTV Australia where I am a published music news writer so I like to think I know a little about "what not to write".
If every blog was as ego stroking as the next don't you think you'd be a little bored? You're not going to agree with everything I write but in saying that I regret if I offended anybody who suffers mental illness or knows someone who does.
Be unmerciful. Be Honest. Be cool.
Sincerely wishing Craig all the good help he can get not to mention a speedy recovery, who knows, maybe I'm wrong?
:)
Yesterday I posted the below entry about Aussie rockers The Vines and I received some notable feedback which at first I didn't know quite how to take it, however I felt I didn't make myself clear.
Mental illness is a serious matter, so serious it is not something I take lightly nor something I base my music values on.
My blog below doesn't point the break down of the rock machine that is The Vines at mental disease or illness, but a troubled past and continuous chances post erratic behaviour.
Whatever the cause is behind The Vines pulling out of their tours, they are conducting their music and their lives in a public media sphere, ergo anything they do or do not do is subject to criticism to the public, no matter the cause.
We all watched the famous meltdown of Ms. Britney Spears late last year and you know what? Shit happens and when people act erratically in public or let down fans alas the backlash will no doubt follow.
Now my blog is just a place for me to review, and shout out bands I like and believe you me, it's not something I'd "quit my day job" for. However my day job is at MTV Australia where I am a published music news writer so I like to think I know a little about "what not to write".
If every blog was as ego stroking as the next don't you think you'd be a little bored? You're not going to agree with everything I write but in saying that I regret if I offended anybody who suffers mental illness or knows someone who does.
Be unmerciful. Be Honest. Be cool.
Sincerely wishing Craig all the good help he can get not to mention a speedy recovery, who knows, maybe I'm wrong?
:)
Monday, November 17, 2008
And The Curtain Is Closing.
Remember when you heard this rockin' new band in 2002?
And NME predicted a second coming of Nirvana whilst they graced the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine?...
Yeah The Vines once had a A LOT going for them, it's been six years of turbulence and second chances though it seems no matter how many opportunities these boys get, they're destined to fuck them all up.
I say this with regret, one of my most life changing records is 'Highly Evolved' and my idea of sex is Craig Nicholls, so it saddens me to finally turn my back on the home grown lads and admit this ship has sunk.
You might remember their woeful antics in 2004 which saw the lads banned from giving interviews by management and being booed off stage. Not to mention the radio station boycotts and the paparazzi assault to which Nicholls was officially charged. Fuck.
'Winning Days' was in fact a production of losing all face and the lads disappeared into what most hoped a one-hit-wonder oblivion.
Alas, reformed and tail wedged firmly between legs, a new line-up Vines took to a bunch of secret shows promoting their unexpected third studio record 'Vision Valley'.
For those who saw the performances in 2006 will tell you just how agile and sorry Nicholls was, continuously thanking the crowd for their ongoing support and seemed genuinely thankful and anxious.
We've all seen rock stars, wreckless and living the dream giving countless unpredictable guitar smashing stage performances.
Nicholls seems almost retarded but resembles a grunge god all at once. Whether you appreciate his tanless bare body the singer will light up cigarettes in his glowing glory and remain shirtless for entire sets generating some kind or morbid sexy.
The return of The Vines was well received but it was not Rolling Stone profit worthy and the band still seemed a shaky mess at the end of all tours and promotion so back into the studio they marched.
This time around in 2008 The Vines released 'Melodia' and took to big stage with several highly anticipated shows booked around the country.
I myself checked out the show at The Metro theater which I was really quite excited about. The show was pretty darn good, Craig did his thing, demonstrating reflections of autism and mental instability but it came off sexy and sounded wicked. I was actually really impressed despite the thunderous "thank you's" and obvious anxiety.
This was on November 2nd, by now, Novemeber 18th, The Vines have canned the rest of their tour unexpectedly and pulled out of every Music Festival including the much anticipated Big Day Out festival they famously took by storm in 2003.
The Vines only cancelled a single show at first blaming it on Nicholls anxiety of flying and issued an apologetic Myspace bulletin to the fans. This was soon followed by the news of complete tour cancellation due to Nicholls decreasing mental health, also pulling out of their Japanese tour, heavy man
So, Craig Nicholls is a shitwreck, always has been but it seems they're finally blown their last chance. Will the fans actually welcome them back AGAIN or are we all just sick of their shit? I'm going to go with the latter, see how quickly their record company drops them?
Harsh but true.
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