Sunday, July 31, 2011

Birdland - Birdland


Birdland's self-titled debut is rooted in the spiky power pop of the late '70s, featuring a number of speedy, catchy songs that all clock in at around three minutes. The notable exception is a pedestrian cover of Patti Smith's "Rock n' Roll Nigger," a tribute that doesn't quite work. However, that leaves enough prime material 
to make the record worthwhile for new wave revivalists.

1 Shoot You Down 3:12
2 Sleep With Me 3:50
3 Don't Look Back 4:58
4 Paradise 2:35
5 Wake Up Dreaming 2:37
6 Rock 'N' Roll Nigger 6:23
7 Everybody Needs Somebody 3:42
8 Letter You Know 4:09
9 Beat Me Like A Star 4:11
10 She Belongs To Me 3:32
11 Hollow Heart 2:19
12 Exit 5:43


Sunday, July 24, 2011

Rolo Tomassi - Cosmology


Y’know, they say the kids of this generation are nothing but lazy scumbags, the disinterested products of a society that has nurtured them into apathy, boredom and an unjustified sense of self-worth. Even the television bores them to mindless tears; it just isn’t the same if there isn’t a bit of simulated murder and rape in your Play-wii-three hundred and sixties, or so says the Daily Mail. Well, try telling that to the young rebels who make up Rolo Tomassi. Having been dealt one pretty bad hand in their early lives by growing up in gloomy Sheffield, they’ve stunned many with their ferocious take on math-core, or whatever embarrassing name you chose to label it. Tomassi, despite their age and environment have done with their music what the majority of UK bands could only wish to do – give it a pair of heaving balls and dump them in your face. Warning: if that analogy leaves you feeling a bit queasy, then it might be an idea to skip Cosmology altogether…
So let’s get down to the nitty gritty of what these examples of the creative spectrum of the disillusioned youth have put together. The first half of Cosmology is Rolo Tomassi as you would expect them to be; frantic, chaotic and utterly confounding. It’s almost as if they took the template of debut Hysterics and decided that that just didn’t have enough disjointed rage hurling out of the speakers.
It all opens innocuously enough: we’re led down the garden path by a softly-softly SNES synth and some staccato guitars in ‘Katzenklavier’. But then, out of nowhere James Spence jumps out of the bushes and knocks our innocent faces to the ground with a devastating blow of snarled, and completely incomprehensible, vocals on ‘Agamemnon’. It’s short, but then again this isn’t the kind of abuse you want dragged out over anything longer than two minutes.
These short opening salvos all seem to follow a similar theme, like nuclear bombs dropping intermittently across a variety of war-torn locations. It isn’t until ‘Party Wounds’ that the lovely Eva Spence gets to offer her vocal contributions. And thank god she’s there, because without her grace blossoming some of the tracks then Cosmology is in danger of becoming far too much.
There’s a smattering of influences throughout, from the more obvious (HORSE The Band fans will relish the synth elements) to the more obscure (someone in Tomassi has definitely been listening to a heavy dose of prog rock, with ‘Unromance’ paying a big debt to The Mars Volta).
Even though everything gets a bit too relentless at points (there are some terrible synth-lines on ‘French Motel’ that are forgivable when you consider the band’s youthful naivety to making noise) it’s as the album nears its inevitable end that Tomassi start to show a certain degree of maturity. Sure, all this noise and chaos is wonderful to revel in, but they hit the nail dead on with the closing title track, which takes all the things that makes Rolo Tomassi different and mixes them into something a bit more palatable, a bit more mature, resulting in something a bit more listenable to.
Cosmology doesn’t see Rolo Tomassi play it safe, which is remarkable given the kind of company that the band have started to keep. Playing with the likes of Biffy Clyro, it must be very tempting to make things more palatable for the average ears, but there’s very little of that settling down evident here. In all fairness, the majority of Cosmology does suggest a band that is trying a bit too hard to turn your brain inside out. But it’s those last few monumental tracks that suggest that Tomassi have got the foundations in place to make some truly awesome music, using all the remarkable talent their young bodies can muster.
Take nothing away from Rolo Tomassi. They are hard-working, energetic, and imaginative younglings, and are steadily proving themselves to be one of the most disorintating shining stars within the UK music scene universe.



Saturday, July 23, 2011

Senseless Things - Postcard CV


At only only 22 minutes long the debut from London's Senseless Things is proper awesome, it pretty much sums up the gigs they were playing around the time of the late 80's, fast,furious and good fun , often seen supporting Carter USM and the like in the early 90's, Senseless Things were the real deal, if you go see muse live look out for one of this band playing guitar.... 

Trevor
Come Together
Sneaking Kisses
Laura Lamorna
Shoplifting
Drunk and Soppy
Back To Nowhere
Teenage
Someone In You
Too Much Kissing


Wednesday, July 20, 2011

I *heart* Mom

             Everyday I miss the lady.  Much.   I'd give anything for a hug.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Various - Indie Top 20 vol 11


1. Anytime anyplace anywhere - Carter USM
2. Pray - My Jealous God
3. Spirit - Bridewell Taxis
4. Fishes eyes - New FADS
5. Phobia - Flowered Up
6. Listen - Honey Smugglers
7. Magic - Cud
8. Moody 'live' - Rig
9. I wanna talk like Iggy Pop - Upholstered Eldorados
10. Get higher - Moonflowers
11. Then - Charlatans
12. God knows it's true - Teenage Fanclub
13. Half life remembered - Pale Saints
14. Cry blood - Welfare Heroine
15. Oxygen restriction - Shamen
16. Tragedy for you - Front 242
17. Kaleidoscope - Boo Radleys
18. Decadence - Bleach
19. Bird brain - Buffalo Tom
20. Dig for fire - Pixies

A mid point for the tremendous indie top 20 series, I actually think there are better ones out there ( volume 15 my own personal highlight) but the high points on this are many nonetheless. Flowered Up's 'Phobia' is bizarrely great, Cud's 'magic' a forgotten, slinky singalong panther of a tune, the Moonflowers do the whole spacey indie (as perfected by early Verve singles) thing very well, the Pixies crop up and the mighty Boo Radleys set out there stall with the frighteningly feedback driven 'Kaleidescope'. It wasn't all pop and trumpets in the early days, oh no. Special mention also to proto slacker anthem "God knows its true" and the tremendously riffed "Birdbrain", possibly Buffalo Toms' best...


the Cd version didn't have tracks 8, 9 and 18 (Rig, Upholstered Eldorados and Bleach, a blessing in 2 out of 3 cases, you decide which), the tape did (possibly the vinyl too)...but he'd also found a Dutch import with those tracks listed (Though it is possible it's mis-listed)..odd.


click here




Spitfire - Feverish


Famed for living every rock and roll cliche going Spitfire were hailed as influential by many New wave of new wave bands, and regularly gigged with bands such as S*M*A*S*H and These Animal Men between 1994 and 1996, the height of there infamy!  The Pitcher brothers were resident DJs at Brighton club The Basement, which with Camden's Good Mixer pub and Blow Up club was at the core of the pre-Britpop scene.


you should also check out there tune wild sunshine for a pure blast of rock and roll fun


  1. Superbaby
  2. Sunflow
  3. Wombchild
  4. Dive
  5. Translucent
  6. Six Million Dollar Man




Monday, July 18, 2011

The Darling Buds - Pop Said


Ahhh the darling buds.... a poor mans primitives? certainly the media cashed in on vocalist Andrea Lewis' good looks and striking similarity to Tracy Tracy and to an extent Wendy James from Transvision Vamp, without the commercial success of either it should be said the album did ok and charted in the 20's, after 2 melody maker covers and a further 2 poorly received albums the band went the way of many and quit, probably not missed by many but a decent album all the same



Friday, July 15, 2011

The Stone Roses - Demo's and Rarities


The best band in the world? yea everyone has the own opinion on that particular nugget and im quite sure everyone could list a few contenders for the title.... however best album in the world is a different kettle of fish entirely, the stone roses debut album is the best album in the world and anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is wrong...... here today however are some early demo's live tracks and rare stuff from around the mid 80's, some of these made it onto that debut album

01. I Wanna Be Adored
02. Heart On The Staves
03. Tell Me
04. This Is The One
05. Boy On The Pedestal
06. All Across The Sands
07. Hardest Thing In The World
08. Sun Still Shines
09. She Bangs The Drums
10. Waterfall
11. Hardest Thing In The World
12. Elephant Stone
13. Sun Still Shines
14. Going Down
15. Sugar Spun Sister
16. Waterfall
17. Shoot You Down
18. She Bangs The Drums
19. Waterfall
20. Made Of Stone
21. This Is The One
22. Elizabeth My Dear
23. (On A Beach In) Normandy
24. When The Wind Blows

1-3: Piccadilly Radio sessions 24/03/85
4: Strawberry Studios, Stockport, 1985, 3am (first ever take)
5-8: Rehersals, Chorlton, Manchester, 18/03/86
9-10: circa '86
11: Demo, Yacht Club studios, Bredbury, Manchester 1986
12-15: Chorlton, Manchester, 12/12/86
16-17: Demos, Manchester Late '87
18-21: Suite-16 Studios, Manchester May '88
22: Battery Studios, London Jan '89
23-24: Demos 1983. Pre-Roses band called The Waterfront who included Squire, Mani & Ian. Kaiser is singing as Ian didn't turn up


Monday, July 11, 2011

The Milltown Brothers - Best Of



I was going to write some long gushing statement of fact about how the Milltown Brothers could change your life.... you all know that would be utter bollocks but anyway... this brings together all the singles which aint a bad thing let me tell you.....

In the heat of the late 80s UK scene, many bands came and went, leaving no trace but a single memorable song (if they were lucky). Milltown Brothers, however, rose above the pack and, although they may not have reached the heady heights achieved by some of their contemporaries, left behind them an enjoyable catalogue scattered with a handful of hits and timely anthems. This expanded Best Of collection contains singles from both A&M albums, a sprinkling of demos and alternate versions, as well as the classic debut album Slinky in its entirety. Far from a forgotten band, the Milltown Brothers still find themselves held in high regard, and are occasionally active with live shows and online activity.


Sunday, July 10, 2011

Zombie Jo

                                                             How I feel after I've poured a bowl of cereal, only to find out there is no milk!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Lake Trash, Fishing, Jefferson, Angels, Death, Garbage Truck, Mom... (I think the technical term for what takes place in my head is called Associated Looseness)

My goal in life is to grow old and be Lake Trash.   Is that too much to ask?  I want to walk out my back door and drown a worm while sitting under a tree.    We go to Crips camp often.   And enjoy our self and getting to see friends.  But... there were a lot of folks there this weekend.   Took away from the relaxing part of our weekend.  You can't rent peace and quiet. 


Ron and I enjoyed our time there (despite the sometimes crowd)  We caught bream, saw friends, visited Jefferson, TX and I took a lot of pictures.  We visited a cemetery in Jefferson and I was in heaven (pun intended).   There were beautiful angel monuments everywhere.   By the time I inspected the beautiful face of one, another would catch my eye.   There is just something so special about these hand carved memorials.   The people long gone that bought them to memorialize those that came before them.   I love the bit of dark marble they use in the angel's eyes to form the iris.  And angel feet... always barefoot...   Always one foot stretched.    One was a little girl, a toddler.   

Ironic, I love memorials so much, but I want to be cremated. So does my husband.    I have no special requests... or at least I didn't.  Always figured you can mix me with clay and make me into an ash tray for all I care.   But my husband said the most romantic thing to me the other day.   :)  He wants to mix our ashes.    Seriously.. can ya get any more romantic than that?   I think not!   We plan to keep the other's ashes and when the survivor passes... have them mixed together (Ryan, this will be your job).    A mixtures of his & hers.    That is TRUE love.   My husband wants them to go in the Atchafalaya Basin (Also your job Ryan).   Death will imitate life... I always tell him, " I do what you do".    Let me just add though....that I will be furious if I'm the one that goes first, he remarries and my ashes end up in a garbage truck.   ( Like how I went from the lake to Jefferson to death to being thrown in a garbage truck?  I know... it's a gift.  HA!)   And no Honey... we can't all three be mixed together.     I know, every man's fantasy, right?  

I dusted Mom the other day.   Her ashes sit on a table in the foyer (or as we plain folk call it, the doorway) area.   I have to take them where she wanted to go.  I don't look at the urn and cry or anything.  It's the actual "letting go" and the act of taking the ashes out there that has me procrastinating.    Surely Mom would have understood and not minded spending a bit of time on the shelf overlooking her daughter's living room.   I used Pledge.  If you're curious.  To dust the urn.  It's wood.  

I'll need a look out, while I spread the ashes. This could include a cute bright orange jumpsuit!!!    Any takers?



(just an added note: if you google anything with the word "looseness" in it... you'll find interesting data on bowels, vaginas and such,..)

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Barafundle


Barafundle was released by welsh mentalists gorky's in 1997 ... a lost classic?

  1. "Diamond Dew" (Childs/James) – 2:50
  2. "The Barafundle Bumbler" – 1:53
  3. "Starmoonsun" (Lawrence) – 3:04
  4. "Patio Song" – 2:43
  5. "Better Rooms..." – 3:46
  6. "Heywood Lane" (Lawrence/Childs) – 2:52
  7. "Pen Gwag Glas" – 3:59
  8. "Bola Bola" – 1:53
  9. "Cursed, Coined and Crucified" (Lawrence) – 2:27
  10. "Sometimes the Father Is the Son" (James) – 3:21
  11. "Meirion Wyllt" – 2:48
  12. "The Wizard and the Lizard" (Lawrence/Childs) – 1:58
  13. "Miniature Kingdoms" (Lawrence/Childs) – 4:17
  14. "Dark Night" – 4:49
  15. "Hwyl Fawr I Pawb" (M. Childs) – 1:48
  16. "Wordless Song" – 3:20