Guilty Pleasure
We’re all allowed our guilty pleasures every now and then but whether we make them publicly known is another thing.
Admittedly I’ve got a guilty pleasure this week. It’s the kind you put your car windows up for at the traffic-lights so your car neighbours can’t hear in a desperate attempt to keep musical dignity. I’m warning you all, it doesn’t get more pop-crap than this and that’s why I like it!
I’m thinking about starting a little guilty pleasures section so we can unashamedly rejoice and hold hands. Ideas for the first post?
Agnes – Release Me (Cahill Club Mix) – 
What can I say – I’m a sucker for strings and female Swedish singers!
(any abuse can be channeled through comments – no death threats please)
Trailer Trash
It’s a funny thing how a movie trailer can grab your attention and even earn a blog post despite it being something you wouldn’t necessarily go and see in the cinema.
That’s all thanks to the clever music coordinators who select perfect songs for that changing scene in a trailer – that transition that suddenly draws in your focus.
I watched a trailer for a film earlier called How I Got Lost – not really my cup of tea but a classic Clarence Carter song dropped in half way through and now I’m looking to buy movie merchandise in the form of shirts, hats and coffee mats. OK so not that extreme but it’s a great song and now I may just watch the film.
Clarence Carter – Patches –
Another great song from the trailer for Skills Like This is a song by a relatively unknown American singer who goes under the moniker of The Wheel. I love how he continuously switches from a dark, low tone to a emotionally charged high pitch.
The trailer looks like something I’d love to watch however I haven’t heard or seen anything about it since I first saw it back in February.
The Wheel – My Hanging Surrender -
You Want Sushi With That?
Jah Shaka live in Japan playing some dirty beats from his legendary sound-system.
Imagine how much better this sounded live!
Next time he plays in Europe I’m on the frontline!
Standing On The Shore (Lifelike Remix)
If you’re one that likes to download as much as your poor little internet hub can handle then you might enjoy RLS Log.
The bloggers spend their days uploading links to new movies, programs and music with many of them being top stuff and all great quality.
Whilst it’s not a torrent site, it simply links through to them if you want download the featured item.
I was making my internet router sweat like a goose on the slaughter last night and stumbled across this new Lifelike remix.
Lifelike is really blowing up at the moment – having stamped his name onto some great remixes, his name regularly appears in the Hype Machine chart – making record labels across the world jump at the chance of having his magic touch applied.
As well as stomping remixes – Lifelike has got some great music of their own which is available on the MySpace.
Empire of the Sun – Standing On The Shore (Lifelike Remix)
Enjoy.
Cast A Light
Cigarettes are disgusting.
If cigarettes got me high, I may reconsider the health implications occasionally.
If cigarettes tasted like Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream, then I may reconsider the health implications occasionally.
They don’t do either so I don’t understand how so many of you can actually spend your hard earned cash on the things when they do little for stimulation or taste. They also give you cancer.
Now I’m not just having a rant because I have a great song by Plan B which is based on the loss the sticks can cause. The song samples Crosses by Jose Gonzalez and is a real treat despite the grim setting for the song which may or may not have been based on his life as a child.
Haven’t heard of Plan B before? He provided the vocals for the Chase & Status track Pieces – their first big break into the mainstream.
Plan B – Cast a Light ft. Jose Gonzalez
Chase & Status – Pieces ft. Plan B –
Watch, Listen, Tell
The ‘Youtube Generation’ as we’re called nowadays has brought about some innovative and diverse musical projects including The Black Cab Sessions and Amsterdam Acoustics but now a London based pair of film-makers are making their voice and video heard through great bands and great filming.
There’s something about Watch, Listen, Tell that stands out above the rest. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s filmed around North London, where I live or the fact that its clear these guys are great film-makers.
As well as the filming, the sound recording really makes you feel like you’re outside with the bands and the locations are fantastic as well – it just shows how music can be played and enjoyed anywhere and everywhere – even graveyards in Stokie!
Watch, Listen, Tell have already captured some amazing live renditions with HD available for some of the new ones. The only way is up for this project and we’re totally behind it all the way.
Check out their Youtube Channel to see what’s available.
Bombay Bicycle Club – Dust On The Ground –
Broadcast 2000 – Run
We’re big fans.
Original Sheffield Crooner
It’s a Sunday morning and whether you’re preparing lunch, relaxing at home or preparing for a visit to the shops there’s no doubt music can play a part today.
I’ve got a flat tyre on my car so now I need to scour the internet for an establishment open on a Sunday – slightly stressful but this Richard Hawley number is what I’m going to play whilst I ‘try’ and put a new wheel on.
Richard Hawley’s musical background runs long and deep – after playing with Pulp for years he went on to pursue a solo career when the band went their separate ways.
Hawley is on his 6th studio album this year and it’s fantastic. ‘Truelove’s Gutter’ encapsulating the working class of Sheffield whilst keeping a low and romantic tone. Soothing realism.
The Only Road is an older song from Richard’s catalogue and is my absolute favourite.
Richard Hawley – The Only Road –
I’d recommend buying any of his six albums.
Ian Brown Returns
Ian Brown is back and he’s returned with one of his strongest songs to date.
Stellify is the first single from the upcoming album and the original monkey man has blown me away.
The video is as definitive as the song itself. Brown is trooping through Manchester with a full marching band behind him like a musical army. He’s never strayed too far from where he grew up and that’s one of the most important things after you ‘make’ it. Northerners are as loyal as the bloody Gurkhas!
This has been added to my ‘Best songs of 2009′ list.
Ian Brown – Stellify –
