Bombay Bicycle Club – Always Like This
Who?
Bombay Bicycle Club return with their new single Always Like This. They’ve been heads down in the studio working on the debut album for months after playing a years worth of gigs and festivals in Europe throughout their Sixth Form days.
Now they’ve all left Sixth Form and I hope none of them are considering University anytime soon as this a raw talent.
I’ve got my tickets for the KCLSU gig in London on the 13th and they’re still available from Seetickets.
What?
The new single is finally here and it’s already on my Best of 2009 list and we’re so early on in the year!
Lead singer Jack initially sang in a distinctive shaky voice but seems to have changed his stance slightly or he simply didn’t find it appropriate for the track.
I went to school with some of these guys, admittedly they were in a much lower class but it’s amazing to see such young talent produce such a good sound.
Bring on the album!
Bombay Bicycle Club – Always Like This
Check out our previous post here.
Chiddy Bang – Kids ft. MGMT
Who?
Philly based group Chiddy Bang are bringing some seriously good vibes with this little cover – it seems like along with Asher Roth we’re getting a nice taste of college rap for the early Spring.
PMA scooped these boys early on – they seem to be keen on the covers previously doing Radiohead’s ‘Because’ – What’s next I wonder??
What?
Class A remix of MGMT’s Kids – it’s hip-hop take on the track is refreshing after all the electro-remixes (which we love all the same).
Chiddy Bang – Kids feat MGMT
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Chiddy shout out Pretty Much Amazing at the start of the track – It’s a great blog so check it out.
Chris Brown Should Get His Ass Kicked
Who?
Jump Smokers are C.W. Griz, Reydon, V-Scratch and Johnny Digital from Chicago who recently made a great little club track which is a pure diss on Chris Brown.
CW Griz and Co will be donating profits from the track to charities that support victims of domestic violence. Now that’s what I’m talking about.
What?
Finally someone has come out with a track about that whole wife-beating fiasco that happened a while back.
The song is very radio friendly and many US stations have started playing it! I can imagine Chris Brown becoming a social recluse scared that the track will be played whilst he is in a club or something.
Jump Smokers – My Flow So Tight (Anti-Breezy)
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Little Shadow Set
Who?
Here are a couple of boys from North London with a hell of a lot of potential. They played as a band N.N.Y. (No Name Yet) a couple of years ago but put playing on hiatus for one reason or another.
They’re back now with a slightly different sound and a focus on recording professionally.
What?
Their new Myspace tracks are up after a year long absence from what was traditionally a chorus-heavy indie band.
I Don’t Want To Do and Load are my favourites from the current selection of four.
It’s a very acoustic sound so far which might be down to the fact they haven’t been in a big studio. The front-man Freddie possesses a great voice and serious musical talent and it’s going to be exciting to see where he goes.
Where?
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The Fym FIg Bar | London, London and South East | ||
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The Good Ship | London, London and |
Link
Rogues – Not So Pretty
A darker and less electronic version of Foals. Keep an eye out for them this year.
Rogues – Not So Pretty
Asher Roth – I Love College
Who?
New kid on the block Asher Roth is bringing a middle-class flavour to rap in the US and if I was 16 years old again this song would have been my summer soundtrack.
I don’t really know how to handle Asher Roth – Do I like him or not?
So far I like him.
What?
I like the track enough to put it on the blog but I’ll want to hear the album fully when it drops. I hope it’s a light-hearted take at rap which is currently in it’s worst place ever!
To be honest to hear anything different from the current mainstream rap is amazing.
Asher Roth – I Love College
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Youtube have taken down the Asher Roth one so here’s a hilarious spoof
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Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Who?
Hailing from France, Phoenix have been around for quite some time but have only come to the mainstream eye of the UK and the US in recent weeks with their single, 1901, from their upcoming album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.
They’ve been doing the rounds since 1999 and formed even earlier than that – with strong personal ties to Daft Punk and Kitsune they’re definitely pushing in the right direction.
What?
The album is a lovely 9-track record which is best described as a electronic camp version of The Strokes. But as they’re European it comes across like they’re a little more open minded to experimenting with new genres.
There’s no doubt that the album sounds a little samey at times – but I don’t understand why that’s sometimes criticized. Isn’t an album meant to be about a certain place a band is in??
It’s an easy listening album with some really nice stand-out tracks dotted around and a nice 7-minute track in the middle.
Phoenix – Fences – 
Phoenix – 1901 –
Phoenix – Lisztomania
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