Ah yes its already the 4th of July tomorrow and let the picnics  begin. The crew here at Modern Mystery put together a mix for your ‘Indie-pendance’ day. Whether you are heading to the beach, barbecuing some hamburgers or getting drunk by your pool, we hope you listen to it on your celebration. We tried to keep the songs ’summer’ feeling. That makes sense, doesn’t it?

Animal Collective-Summertime Clothes (Dam-Funk Remix)
The Phenomenal Handclap Band- 15 to 20
Empire of the Sun- We Are the People (The Golden Filter Remix)
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart-Young Adult Friction
Passion Pit- Moth’s Wings
Sunset Rubdown-Idiot Heart
Little Joy- No One’s Better Sake
Yacht-Summer Song
Wavves-Gun in the Sun
Pepi Ginsberg (Featuring The Spinto Band)- In My Bones
Los Campesinos!- How I Taught Myself to Scream
Takka Takka- The Takers
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin- Think I Wanna Die
MGMT- Time to Pretend

Albert Hammond Jr. – Yours to Keep – 2006
1. Cartoon Music For Super Heroes
2. In Transit
3. Everyone Gets A Star
4. Bright Young Thing
5. Blue Skies
6. Back To The 101
7. Call An Ambullance
8. Scared
9. Holiday
10. Hard To Live (In The City)

http://www.mediafire.com/?vmbv0um2xte

© Adele Jancovici

Le break a joué en sa faveur. Après la décision de son groupe The Strokes de s’accorder une pause, Albert Hammond Junior se lance. Son premier album solo, Yours to Keep, sort en 2006. Jugé –à tort- un peu brouillon, il mettait en avant les premières amours musicales du jeune guitariste, désormais chanteur compositeur. Ecrits tout au long des tournées du groupe, sa musique rend un vibrant hommage au rock des 60’s. Les fans le suivent, et deux ans plus tard, un nouveau projet voit le jour : Como te Llama. Un disque qu’il voulait différent.

Rencontré à New York en studio lors de l’enregistrement de Yours to Keep en 2006, Albert Hammond Jr travaille entouré de ses amis et ne se prend pas au sérieux. L’impression se confirme deux ans plus tard, à l’issue d’une après-midi passée en sa compagnie.

Précédé de ses deux chiennes Violet et Lola, il ouvre grandes les portes de son domicile, dans le très hype –et toujours underground- Lower East Side… en tenue de yoga.

Vous étiez en pleine séance de gym quand je suis arrivée?

Albert Hammond Jr : De yoga. Mon truc, c’est le yoga. Pour apprendre la discipline, je n’ai pas trouvé mieux. Sauf peut-être les puzzles. Ce sont deux choses qui me tiennent vraiment à cœur et dont les structures sont assez semblables. Je trouverai ça bien que le yoga remplace le sport au lycée. Ça permet de se relaxer, de laisser derrière soi le stress de sa journée, et surtout, ça donne une force incroyable. Je suis sûr que notre société serait bien plus calme si on grandissait dans cet environnement. Sans parler de notre santé. Notre corps est la seule chose que l’on puisse contrôler et utiliser à son avantage. Le yoga est comme une danse aussi. La première fois, les mouvements sont plutôt rigides, sans harmonie ; avec le temps, tout devient fluidité. Les séances d’étirements sont particulièrement intenses. Il faut se concentrer sur sa respiration, on est hypnotisé. Je veux pouvoir apprendre ça à mes enfants. Je m’en étais toujours moqué, et le jour où j’ai essayé, ça a été une révélation! Ce jour-là, j’ai décidé de ne plus rien juger avant d’avoir vraiment compris le sens des choses. Le yoga élève l’esprit, exactement comme la musique.

Si vous n ‘étiez pas musicien, vous seriez yogi pro ?

Je serais une tout autre personne. Il me faudrait revenir à l’époque où je suis tombé amoureux de la musique et imaginer un nouveau coup de foudre. Pilote de ligne, tiens. Tous les petits garçons aiment les avions. J’adore ça! J’ai toujours rêvé de voler. J’aime cuisiner. J’aimerais réaliser un film. Ecrire une bande son aussi. La production me fait assez envie. A 13 ou 14 ans, j’ai eu un véritable coup de foudre pour Buddy Holly et Roy Orbison. Au début, il était surtout question d’écrire des chansons pour guitare et basse, les instruments joués par mes idoles. Tout tourne autour des idoles : dans un premier temps, on essaie de les imiter, de s’habiller et agir en fonction d’eux. Et avec un peu de chance, on rencontre d’autres personnes comme soi.

Et c’est à ce moment-là que vous avez rencontré Julian (Casablancas, chanteur des Strokes) ?

Oui. Au tout début, on ne parlait jamais musique, peut-être parce qu’il était plus âgé que moi. Quand on est ado, une année ou deux peuvent faire toute la différence! Je l’ai revu quelques années plus tard, après mon arrivée à New York, il avait monté son groupe et cherchait un autre guitariste. On s’est croisé par hasard, il se demandait ce que je faisais à New York. Je lui ai répondu que je prenais une année sabbatique avant d’entrer en fac de ciné, que je passais beaucoup de temps à écrire des chansons et jouer de la guitare… Et là on a réellement parlé musique pour la première fois, du groupe qu’il venait de monter et du second guitariste dont ils avaient besoin. Je les ai rejoints. On s’est mis à composer et à répéter. Je crois que ça a plutôt bien marché pour nous.

Je me souviens du premier concert parisien des Strokes, en 2001. Je me demandais si vous étiez intimidés, impatients ou encore inquiets.

C’était tout ce qu’on attendait, la scène. Nous étions très excités, un peu nerveux aussi. Heureux de pouvoir jouer notre musique, qu’elle nous fasse voyager. À force de vivre tous ces rêves, de les voir se réaliser les uns après les autres, on n’y prête plus vraiment attention. C’était fabuleux. Il y avait du bois partout non, dans la salle où nous avions joué ce soir-là? C’est ce détail qui m’a marqué avec Paris. Le bois.

De la création musicale, y a t il une étape que vous affectionnez plus particulièrement? La scène, l’écriture, la recherche…

Toutes ces émotions sont très diverses et interviennent à des moments très différents, c’est un peu difficile de n’en choisir qu’une. Elles ont toutes leur importance, mais il me semble que l’apogée est de réussir à trouver les mots et les notes qui vont avec la première idée, et de pouvoir partager ça avec d’autres personnes. Cet instant très précis où tu aperçois les 10 premières secondes d’un nouveau morceau, rien ne les vaut. Rien.

Enfant, vous vous sentiez proche de qui?

Woody Allen. Il m’évoque instinctivement des images de films. La manière dont il joue et se met en scène notamment. Et James Bond! Comment l’oublier…

Adolescent, lisiez-vous en cachette des magazines “sexy”?

Oui, mais pas en secret. Playboy n’est pas le genre de magazine qu’on lit en douce, bien qu’il y ait des filles nues. À quinze ou seize ans, on est suffisamment âgé pour faire la part des choses. Toutes les filles ne sont pas des playmates. On me prend toujours pour un mec bizarre quand je dis ça, mais les pages arts sont vraiment intelligentes et les grands entretiens sont parmi les meilleurs – celui avec Robert Downey Jr m’a vraiment marqué. En retirant les femmes nues, ça reste un bon magazine. C’est rare! Si les parents d’un gamin entraient dans sa chambre alors qu’il lit Playboy, je ne pense pas qu’il le ferait disparaître sous son matelas. Les magazines musicaux en revanche ont beaucoup changé. Pourquoi ne pas mettre en couverture un grand acteur et la semaine suivante un musicien indie inconnu au bataillon, qui n’a pas vendu un seul album, mais dont la musique est vraiment bonne ? C’est la même chose avec MTV. Une fois que fortune est faite, pourquoi ne pas réserver une partie de tous ces bénéfices pour proposer autre chose? Les gens vont se fatiguer de ce système à la longue.

Etes-vous habité par une quelconque terreur?

Des centaines oui! Le défi de la nature humaine est justement d’avoir peur mais de poursuivre sa route, de réaliser ses rêves malgré la peur. Si on parle de cauchemars, un en particulier me terrifie : me retrouver en pleine mer, seul, de nuit, après un crash d’avion. J’aime la mer et la respecte, mais me réveiller dans l’eau, sans rien à l’horizon, seul… c’est terrible! C’est ce qu’on appelle une mort lente, à retardement… Sinistre, non?!

Effectivement! Quelle serait votre idée de la révolution?

Je crois qu’il serait bon que la jeunesse soit unie, solidaire. Ce n’est pas si difficile. Et qu’est ce qui pourrait unir un groupe de jeunes mieux que l’art, quelqu’en soit sa forme! Musique, art, mode, une discipline qui relie les gens. On peut toujours trouver, même dans une forme ultra simplifiée, des liens partagés par tous. Ma révolution rechercherait ces liens, tenterait de les identifier, de mettre des mots dessus.

Vous pensez aux jeunes parce que…

Parce qu’ils devraient le faire! Aujourd’hui, à cause de cette absence de solidarité et d’union, les plus vieux ont pris le contrôle. Je ne sais pas vraiment comment ce renversement pourrait avoir lieu, mais il faudrait apporter du bonheur et de l’inspiration aux gens. Ce que les vieux n’arrivent pas à faire, apparemment.

Y songez-vous en composant un nouveau morceau?

Non, je pense à la musique. La plupart du temps, je joue jusqu’à obtenir un riff, une mélodie, sur laquelle je pose une phrase. Il m’arrive d’avoir des airs précis en tête, un refrain, ou juste un couplet. J’ajuste tout ça à la mélodie, et c’est parti. Parfois, il me faut une semaine entière pour trouver cette mélodie…

Vous êtes un guitariste autodidacte?

Non, j’ai pris des cours en arrivant à New York. Sur le premier album des Strokes (Is this it, 2001), notre prof, qu’on surnommait le Gourou, m’a beaucoup appris. C’était plus un mentor qu’un simple prof de guitare. On se posait chez lui pendant plusieurs heures, à parler d’histoire de la musique, à jouer en buvant des bières et en parlant de la vie, des femmes et de cuisine avant de se remettre à jouer. C’était un très bon prof.

Je vois que vous avez un piano dans votre salon…

Oui, mais je ne me considère pas pianiste pour autant. J’essaie, je transpose. Je fais aussi un peu de basse et de batterie, les cordes et les vents me plaisent vraiment. J’aime les sons produits au contact d’objets étranges et les mixer avec leurs doubles électroniques.

C’est-à-dire ?

J’ai un vieux vinyle abîmé et rayé, qui à la fin du dernier morceau reste sur ce son, ce scratch. C’est le son qui marque l’ouverture de Scared sur le premier album et qui revient sur toute la chanson. C’est de là que je suis parti pour l’écrire. Un soir, le disque passait et s’est arrêté sur ce bruit qui me rappelait un peu celui d’une batterie électrique. Ce qui a été amusant ensuite, c’est d’ajouter une vraie batterie sur ce son, qui en reproduit les caractéristiques. Le résultat sonore est très particulier, surtout quand on ne peut pas identifier le son d’origine. C’est amusant.

Avez-vous déjà en tête de nouvelles compositions?

Oui, je travaille depuis un moment sur un troisième album. Je n’avais pas vraiment écrit de nouveaux morceaux pendant les deux mois qui ont suivi la fin du mastering de Como te llama. J’avais beau jouer, aucun son n’était ni suffisamment bon ou différent. Et ce que je cherchais, c’était cette différence. Mais il y a eu du nouveau, récemment. Trois ou quatre chansons sont sorties qui sont, il me semble, les meilleures. Étrangement, elles sont plus naturelles et me ressemblent plus que toutes les précédentes. Peut-être est-ce dû au temps passé à s’exercer. À force de me pousser dans différentes directions, d’essayer, de recommencer, je crois que les mélodies me viennent plus facilement. Je les sens différentes, et ça me plait.

________________________________________________AJ_

Albert Hammond Jr, « Como te llama », Rough Trade

圖片來源HiGHNoTE Records

最近貓王推薦了一張獨立夢幻選輯《ROUGH TRADE FOR INDIE》，真的是大開眼界的好聽! 真的可以說是聽過最好聽的合輯之一!

為了慶祝Rough Trade這個音樂廠牌的30周年，雙CD中集合了精挑細選出來的三十首經典之作，絕對會是回味再三的優異選輯! 在這選輯中除了大家熟知的團，ex: The Libertines、Jarvis Cocker、Islands、Belle & Sebastian，其餘之中，最喜歡Albert Hammond, Jr和Super Furry Animals他們的音樂~

Albert Hammond Jr.有個超模前女友!
圖片來源

Albert Hammond Jr.的老爹過去是知名的鄉村民謠歌手，在繼承了父親出色的音樂基因，於2000年初成為The Strokes樂團陣中的吉他手開始走向成名之路。The Strokes以New Wave Punk的音樂風格贏得樂迷的注意，但小Albert Hammond於06年發行的個人首張新作《Yours To Keep》卻是以流暢輕快的indie-pop風格主導而成，受到許多樂評高分讚賞。

專輯中的一首〈In Transit〉更是極品! 簡潔輕快的旋律，奔放爽朗的鼓點，輔以灑脫歌詞助興，架構出來的輕鬆迷人的風格，證明了Albert Hammond Jr.高明的譜曲功力!

喜歡這短片，大家擠在一起，感覺很融洽
　　

Albert Hammond, Jr. – In Transit
lyrics: 森克 譯

Free from it all
I’m not gonna change till I want to
想在這一切中得到解脫
當我想要做，我就會去做些改變
　　

And I’m free it all
I’m not gonna change till I want to
我自由了!
直到我想要時，我就會去做些改變
　　

By the way she looked I should’ve calmed down
I went too far
Oh thats all I got to say
順便提一下
當她看著我，我應該冷靜下來
我走的太遠了
那全都是我該說出口的
　　

By the way she looked I should’ve calmed down
I went too far
Oh thats all I got to say
順便提一下
當她看著我，我應該冷靜下來
我走的太遠了
那全都是我該說出口的
　　

Free from it all
I’m not gonna change till I want to
And I’m free from the world
where I built too many roads
想在這一切中得到解脫
當我想要做，我就會去做些改變
我擺脫了這個世界
在這裡我開闢了太多條路
　　

By the way she looked I should’ve calmed down
I went too far
Oh thats all I got to say
順便提一下
當她看著我，我應該冷靜下來
我走的太遠了
那全都是我該說出口的
　　

By the way she looked I should’ve calmed down
I went too far
Oh I went too far
順便提一下
當她看著我，我應該冷靜下來
我走的太遠了
噢~ 我真的走太遠了

再來是Super Furry Animals !

在聆聽選輯中這首《Run Away》之前，請先大力撇開專輯封面這檔事，希望這古怪的封面不要影響聽這首的心情! (老實說，超多毛動物只有首張和第二張專輯比較正常，接下來的封面根本就是一系列的…………難以形容)

成軍十多載的威爾斯老團Super Furry Animals，各張專輯幾乎都為水準之作，在極為另類的怪異封面包裝下，已透露他們另類的音樂走向。

《Run Away》在主唱Gruff Rhys老派的唱腔下，有著獨特的節奏旋律跟隨著，骨子裡藏著的是道地的britpop吶! 尚未看歌詞和MV之前，光聽音樂原以為是個典型的傾訴內心的呢喃歌曲，看了MV之後差點沒有岔氣，基本上是一個完全惡搞的MV阿!! 哈哈哈~ 在副歌重複唱著run away時搭配的畫面，不就正是在台灣KTV會出現的你歌伴唱帶嗎? XD

將古怪的專輯封面、惡搞的MV放一邊，《Run Away》的確是帶著流暢吉他旋律的好歌~

Super Furry Animals – Run Away
lyrics: 森克 譯

I could have told you why
It would have made me cry a little
I could have told you lies
It would have made me die a little
I could have told you anything
Except the truth which burns my middle
我能夠告訴你為什麼
這讓我有點想掉淚
我也可以對你撒謊
但這讓我有點想不開
我也可以告訴你任何事
除了足以燃燒我內心的真相之外
　　

Run away that’s what I did today
Run away there’s nothing I could have said
逃跑吧, 那是今天我能做的
跑的遠遠的, 我也沒什麼好說的
　　

You found another love
Someone to wipe away your tears
I left it all behind of me
Never to turn and face my fears
We may have fought with teeth and nails
I still recall your banking details
你找到另一個真愛
有人拭乾你的淚水
留下不屬於我的一切
從來都不想面對我的恐懼
我們也許用牙齒尖指打了一仗
但我還記得你的銀行戶頭呢!
　　

Run away that’s what I did today
Run away there’s nothing I could have said
逃跑吧, 那是今天我能做的
跑的遠遠的, 我也沒什麼好說的
　　

Those who cry and run away
Live to cry another day
那些流著淚逃跑的人
改天再哭吧~
　　

Run away that’s what I did today
Run away there’s nothing I could have said
Run away that’s what I did today
Run away there’s nothing I could have said
Run away that’s what I did today
Run away there’s nothing I could have said
But cry a little
Lie a little
Die just a little
逃跑吧, 那是今天我能做的
跑的遠遠的, 我也沒什麼好說的
只流點眼淚就好
撒點小謊
不要太想不開
　　

Single Song Words by Artist / Band : Super Furry Animals
Taken from Album : Hey Venus!

First ever performance of Glass of Water recorder live in Antwerp, Belgium on Staurday 4th October. Guest Starring : Albert Hammond Jr. This recording only lasts 40 seconds though.

Gente, confesso, to viciadinha no “novo” album do Albert Hammond Jr., pronto, falei!

O album do Albert tem 13 faixas, se chama “¿Como Te Llama?” atorei o nome, beijos e foi lançado em Julho do ano passado. As minhas musicas favoritas são “G Up” Gui, lembrei de você e “Miss Myrtle”. GENTE ESCUTEM PELOAMORDEJESUS, É PERFEITO!

Ah, vale a pena lembra que o nosso Albert lindissimo tenho um tombo por cachinhos ja namorou a nossa musalindaeabsoluta Agyness Deyn, vou colocar uma foto dos dois porque eu achei muito casalperfeitoprasempre:

Beijo musico-romantico

Lari

P.S.: Sorry pelos erros, é obrigada por avisar. O google me engana as vezes! ):

It has been quite sometime since we’ve heard from songstress Regina Spektor. About to release her new album titled ‘Far’ out June 23rd on Sire Records, Spektor has already reached the number 20 spot on itunes within the first day of preorder. I remember the first time I saw or even heard her play. She opened for The Strokes on their tour for ‘Room on Fire’ at the theater at Madison Square Garden. Then she was just a girl with a keyboard, a snare drum and a voice. Most memorably, she performed a song called ‘Reading Time with Pickle’. It is completely amazing how much she has grown since then.  ‘Far’  like all Regina Spektor albums, is worth picking up.

You can catch Regina Spektor on tour starting in NYC on June 17th. From there she is off to Europe.

‘Far’  Tracklisting

01. The Calculation
02. Eet
03. Blue Lips
04. Folding Chair
05. Machine
06. Laughing With
07. Human Of The Year
08. Two Birds
09. Dance Anthem Of The 80’s
10. Genius Next Door
11. Wallet
12. One More Time With Feeling
13. Man Of A Thousand Faces

Tour Dates for Regina Spektor:
06/17 – New York City – Beacon Theatre
06/26 – UK – Glastonbury Festival
06/29 – London – Serpentine Sessions
07/01 – Paris, France – Le Batacian
07/02 – Cologne, France – Gloria
07/04 – Belgium – Werchter Festival
07/06 – Hamburg – Grunspan
07/07 – Berlin, Germany – Postbahnhof
07/09 – Sweden – Hultsfred Festival
07/11 – Ireland – Oxegen Festival
07/12 – Scotland – T in the Park Festival
07/14 – Amsterdam – Paradiso
07/15 – Milan, Italy – Villa Arconati
07/17 – UK – Latitude Festival

Watch Regina’s Video for ‘Dance Anthem of the 80’s’

Check out Regina Spektor on Myspace

Esse carinha aqui, é nada mais nada menos que Albert Hammond Jr.

Filho do Albert Hammond, é claro!

E acontece que eu estou viciado na música desse “junior”.

Já não bastava ele ser guitarrista da minha banda favorita, The Strokes, o cara com seu projeto solo é simplesmente fodástico!

Bom sou suspeito, é melhor que ouçam!

Espero que gostem!

Tchau.

Paul Banks lanzó un proyecto como solista bajo el nombre de Julian Plenti ya tiene nuevo disco el cual lleva por nombre: Julian Plenti Is…Skyscarper dicho disco sale bajo el sello Matador mismo que le diera la fma a inerpol en sus inicios con sus dos primeros discos.

El disco tiene colaboraciones de musicos como Mike Stroud de Ratatat, Charles Burst de Occasion y Sam Fogarino de Interpol. N o sé por eu me viene a la mente cuando Albert Hammond Jr. sacó su proyecto ya sin los Strokes pero con colaboraciones en su disco.

El track list:

1. Only If You Run
2. Fun That We Have
3. Skyscraper
4. Games for Days
5. Madrid Song
6. No Chance of Survival
7. Unwind
8. Girl on the Sporting News
9. On the Esplanade
10. Fly as You Might
11. H

Ahora escuchamos en la radio el track número dos que está bién pero creo que lo sigo prefiriendo con su banda y que gratuitamente lo pueden descargar desde aquí; ¿ustedes que opinan?

Julian Plenti – “Fun That We Have”.

vía.

Where were you last Friday? I was walking around Port Lymne Animal Park with my friend taking cover from the relentless rain under my plastic slome dome. Where i wish i was (and where you should wish you were) is Coachella music festival in California, USA.

With headliners like Sir Paul McCartney (love him), The Killers (what happened to them?!) and The Cure (they’re okay) it was sure to be a fantastic show. It’s not all about the headliners though. To name the best of the bunch: Franz Ferdinand (who are starting a tour of the 02 Academy’s later this year, I’m going to Brixton, tickets on sale now!) We Are Scientists, Noah and The Whale, White Lies, Cage The Elephant, Zane Lowe, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Horrors, Late Of The Pier and Friendly Fires.

That’s a lot of music.

The top news: Morrissey condemned meat eaters, how interesting, and MIA created a colourful dance party, amazing. 

But now for real news: Sir Paul McCartney gave an emotional set showcasing his entire career. The set opened with The Wings’ super-hit ‘Jet’ rolling into ‘Drive My Car’. Macca wore a casual black suit and white shirt and was accompanied by a four piece band for the first half of his set. After being glued to his guitar, Sir Paul grabbed his piano for ‘The Long And Winding Road’ and later said:

“It’s a very emotional day for me and my family today. April 17. Linda (McCartney) passed away 11 years ago. We play this for Linda tonight.” – Sir Paul McCartney

Then burst into ‘My Love’,visibly chocked up, which he wrote for his late wife. He also played The Beatles hits ‘Hey Jude’, ‘Let It Be’ and ‘Yesterday’ which resulted in an eardrum-bursting crowd sing-a-long.

Also, one of my favourite bands White Lies played an absolutely roaring set. Dressed in black, the trio from London played nearly every track from there incredible debut album ‘To Lose My Life…’ to the packed out Mojave tent. They hardly said a word throughout the set (as usual) but Harry McVeigh showed off his vocal talents to the max, winning over new fans.

As for The Killers… Are we human? Or are we dancer? Or are we just pretentious lyricists who were much better before we sold out to commercial megastardom? You decide.

Moving on to the achingly fashion savvy celebs that turned up.

Agyness Deyn is on top of the world (literally).

Agy pioneered a new trend, a casual paint-splattered dress (popular in River Island at the moment) and a red bandana, made into a head band. Also pictures, designer Henry Holland, singer Remi Nicole and presenter Nick Grimshaw, along with Agy’s rumored new boyfriend Alex Greenwald, singer in Phantom Planet (who have done collaborations with Mark Ronson, covering Radiohead’s ‘Just’) although we still miss Albert

This week it’s Camden Crawl. Festival season is well and truly underway. Look out for stone-washed jeans, loud tights, ponchos, bohemian dresses, leopard print and jumpsuits.

Tink°•.

Goodnight, I say to you, goodnight
Dream of all the impossible

And when you wake, you’ll see
That all these dreams, aren’t fake
They’re real, not impossible

Believe you’ll be alright
Sad things you keep inside

So go, tell me what it’s like
Tell me what you like about when you dream

http://www.deezer.com/track/cartoon-music-for-superheroes-T947653#music/album/106627

Here’s what you all (well, hopefully one or two of you) have been waiting for: the first Sarcasm And The City Playlist!

Today’s smörgåsbord features some leftover ham, hard-boiled eggs and 50% off candy, as well as some tasty tunes. Help yourself to a tune I just never really got into, even though I think I should have, then ladle on a Holy Fuck cover. Finally smother it all with a song I never would have expected to hear in a Gap Store. The mashed potatoes are fresh.

Albert Hammond Jr. – GfC (mp3) from Como Te Llama?

Holy Fuck – Balloons (Foals cover) (mp3)

K-OS – Sunday Morning (mp3) from Atlantis: Hymns for Disco

We took a day out to Whitby in North Yorkshire yesterday which is only about an hours drive from where I live in York. Many of you may know that Whitby is where much of Bram Stoker’s Dracula is set and much of the fabulously imposing structure of Whitby Abbey still remains. I think I will have to read the book again soon. Catwoman tells me that Whitby is supposed to be Goth Central, well apart from a couple of pre-teen girls with My Chemical Romance hoodies there was nothing even remotely close, maybe they just come out at night. By the way I know that MCR would not be considered goth, but really that is the closest thing I saw. But if the Daily Mail is to be believed, and I really don’t think it is, then these two kids were off to do some self harm and plan for suicide!

Whitby Abbey, it'll look good when it's finished won't it?

I did find a small independent music store though, as usual! I bought a copy of the supremely talented Julian Cope’s album ‘Black Sheep’ I got into Cope quite late really but I love his stuff now, especially his solo albums, I’m not so keen on the Teardrop Explodes. Incidentally did you know that the band got their name from issue 77 of Marvel Comics Daredevil from 1971 (which also featured Spiderman and Prince Namor)? Well they did and did you know that whilst I like Daredevil and Spidey the Silver Surfer is probably my favourite Marvel character? Well he is, but is followed in a very close second place by the Fantastic Four!

The page of the comic from which the Teardrop Explodes got their name

Whilst in Whitby we simply had to visit it’s most famous Fish and Chip restaurant, The Magpie and trust me it was well worth it! Click on the name to check it out. Speaking of fish,have any of you seen the new TV advert for Birds Eye Salmon Fish Fingers? I’m not sure if it is being shown outside the UK yet. Either way and just in case click here to see it. I think it is bloody hilarious and the best TV ad I’ve seen for ages.

I’ll cover just one birthday today 9th April. It’s the 29th birthday of Albert Hammond Jr off of the Strokes who has also produced a couple of solo albums in recent years too. He is the son of US singer songwriter Albert Hammond, I could make a joke here about his parents lacking creativity by giving him the same name as his Dad, but I won’t because that’s exactly what my parents did. no they didn’t name me Albert Hammond, he wasn’t my Dad ok, that’s just a “Big Stripey Lie” (you like the secret Kate reference Mickelodeon?). No my Dad, and therefore me too, were and are William Adamson, although no one ever calls me William anymore. Nowadays it’s Bill, Will, baldbloke or git. Anyway back to Mr Hammond Jr, I bought the Strokes’ first album ‘Is This It’ while I was on holiday in Canada in late August 2001. My copy contains the track “New York City Cops” which was removed from the US and some other territories releases after the terrible events of September 11th 2001. It was deemed disrespectful to the many public servants who risked and in many cases lost their lives on that day. I do understand that, but clearly it was written and recorded some time before those horrific murders so maybe now is a good time to reclaim it! Click here to see the band performing it live. Albert met Julian Casablancas, also off of the Strokes whilst at Boarding School in Switzerland. Albert’s dad had a massive hit in the early 70s with what I suppose would be termed one of my guilty pleasures these days, “It Never Rains In Southern California“. well maybe it does but surely it rains much, much less there than it does here in the UK.

Once again the Strokes fail to win at Giant Scrabble, spelling clearly wasn't their strong point!

It has been pointed out to me that Queen have not yet featured in my blog so far, well it’s nothing personal I do like them quite a lot. So here they are! On this day in 1973 Queen played a showcase gig for their new record label, EMI, at the Marquee Club in London. The late great (those l’s & g’s are getting very regular now, it must be all the Bran Flakes!) Freddie Mercury came up with the band’s name and claims he never even thought of it’s gay connotations, here is what he said about it; “I thought up the name Queen. It’s just a name, but it’s very regal obviously, and it sounds splendid, It’s a strong name, very universal and immediate. It had a lot of visual potential and was open to all sorts of interpretations. I was certainly aware of gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it.” For me Queen was more than just Freddie, it was a combination of him, Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor. That is why I really don’t get stuff like the newish Paul Rodgers and Queen album. I think Paul Rodgers has one of the great rock voices but he’s not a part of Queen is he? I’m sure that some of you will disagree but that’s my opinion. Anyway let’s end this Queen piece on a fun note with another excellent Freddie quote. Queen and the Sex Pistols were recording in the same London studio complex in 1977 when Sid Vicious went into the wrong room and saw Freddie Mercury sitting at the piano alone. Sid allegedly said something like “Freddie Mercury, still bringing ballet to the masses are you?” Freddie’s excellent reply was allegedly something similar to “Oh yes Mr Ferocious dear, we are doing our best” Here are the mighty Queen with my favourite of all their songs “Seven Seas Of Rhye“

Freddie loved to lord it over all those who were shorter than he was, which was basically..........everybody!

And finally this day in 1991 saw the death of record producer Martin Hannett. He was born in Manchester and had produced many Manchester bands including; the Smiths, New Order, Joy Division, Happy Mondays and Magazine. He also worked with U2 and the Psychedelic Furs. He was credited as Martin zero for his first production job which was the “Spiral Scratch EP” by the Buzzcocks. He died of heart failure in 1991 after years of heavy drinking and drug addiction, which included heroin. Many people have a real misconception of the nature of addiction, myself included until recently. I have learned a lot from an Australian blog which now features on my BlogRoll, it’s called ‘The Australian Heroin Diaries‘ and you really should check it out. As far as Martin goes I had to finish with Joy Division’ fantastic “Love Will Tear Us Apart”

Martin was constantly being followed by two small UFOs that no one else could see

Word: histrionic [his-tree-on-ik] adj. 1. of or pertaining to actors or acting 2. deliberately affected or self-consciously emotional; overly dramatic, in behavior or speech

Birthday: Charles Baudelaire (1821), Hugh Hefner (1926), Tom Lehrer (1928), Jim Fowler (1932), Carl Perkins (1932), Marty Kroft (1937), Peter Gammons (1945), Dennis Quaid (1954), Marc Jacobs (1963), Paulina Porizkova (1965), Jenna Jameson (1974), Albert Hammond, Jr. (1979), Keshia Knight Pulliam (1979), Jesse McCartney (1987)

Occurrence: 2003 – Saddam Hussein’s statue is toppled to the ground and destroyed by the Iraqi people as U.S. forces take over Baghdad. That was six years ago. When, exactly, did we win that war?

Standpoint: A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post about sayings or phrases that I find annoying. Since then, I’ve received emails and comments, both here and on Facebook, from all of you who wanted to share your annoying sayings. I found that what really bother some of you are frequently misused words. I picked the top three and did a little research. Here is that I found:

“irregardless” vs. “regardless” – “Irregardless” is not a word. At least, not an accepted one. According to dictionary.com, “Irregardless” is a non-standard word because of the two negative elements ir- and –less. The site presumes that “those who use it, including on occasion educated speakers, may do so from a desire to add emphasis.” On the other hand, “regardless” means, “having or showing no regard.”  The winner: regardless

“supposably” vs. “supposedly” – This one is going to disappoint some of you. Dictionary.com says both are fine. “Supposably” is defined as “to believe or assume as true; take for granted.” “Supposedly” is defined as “assumed as true, regardless of fact.” I don’t really see a difference, do you? The winner: it’s a tie

“orientate” vs. “orient” – “Orientate” is actually a word. It means, “to arrange in order; to dispose or place (a body) so as to show its relation to other bodies.” (No, I don’t think that means an actual human body.) “Orient” has many different meanings, including one that resembles the above one for “orientate.” However, the one that fits with the way most people use both these words is “to familiarize (a person) with new surroundings or circumstances.” So when someone says, “I had to orientate him into the new apartment,” they’re misusing the word. The winner: orient

So, there you go. I still can’t believe that “supposably” is a word. Thanks everyone for your contributions.

Quotation: It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer. – Albert Einstein

Tune: Over the weekend, I was having a conversation with a certain someone who insisted that all bands would choose making the big time over being a consistently working, moderately profitable one. I disagreed. Example of one such band? Cloud Cult. Here’s a blurb from the band’s official bio: “Despite offers from major labels, Cloud Cult has chosen to remain independent, recording and releasing their albums through Earthology Records, a not-for-profit environmental record label established by Minowa in 1998. On a self-funded shoe-string budget they have achieved top 20 CMJ radio charting for all of their last three albums, a domain usually reserved for the SubPops and Merges of the world.” My favorite Cloud Cult tune is “Hurricane and Fire Survival Guide.”

Link: Lights – Not sure if I’ve posted this before, but wanted to share it. Takes a few seconds to figure out.

Gallimaufry: Everyone’s talking about the Philadelphia Phillies’ new World Champions rings. Reviews have been good. I even overheard on lady call them “stunning.” I think the rings are pretty god-awful but I’d probably wear one if I’d just won the World Series. A shame they can’t present the team with the rings every night. The Phillies won in impressive style, coming back late in the game to win 12-11 after being down 10-3 (Thanks to Phinally Philly for the link)…Iron Man 2 began filming recently. Looks like Iron Man cast members Robert Downey, Jr. (Tony Stark), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts) and Samuel L. Jackson (Col. Nick Fury) will return for the second installment while Don Cheadle will replace Terrence Howard as James “Rhodey” Rhodes. New cast members will include Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Mickey Rourke (Whiplash) and Sam Rockwell (Justin Hammer). It’s rumored that there will be appearances by Jeff Bridges and Tim Robbins but nothing solid yet…Think status updates on Facebook and tweets on Twitter are getting impossible to follow? If so, you’re not going to like where Mashable’s Jennifer Van Grove is predicting for the future in “A Brief History of the Status Update.” Personally, I think it’ll be great.

Incoming: Tomorrow – My “Top 3 Incredibly Cool Things To Do in Philadelphia This Weekend” and some other amazing stuff.

Best news of the day ( its about 4 days late, but better late than never)

ALBERT AND AGYNESS DEYN BROKE UP like finallyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

HAHAHAHHAAHHAHA I AM SO HAPPY. bEYOND HAPPY. I coud die now and not regret it later. Im swimming in a pool of ecstasy or wdvr.

And yes I know my chances of him to fall head over heels for me is close to nil, but who cares! WOW Im damn happy siah omg

Cant wait for The Strokes 4th album in fall this year. omg omg omg omg omg

Heard nick and albert already had some stuff even before the band got together. Wow, soooooo dedicated <3 hahah

Albert Hammond Jr. was dumped by waif supermodel Agyness Deyn. They dated for almost an entire year! That’s a serious relationship in the wold of the Famous and Infamous. Maybe Albert will put on some weight and start playing rock and roll again…. probably not. I smell a sex tape coming!

Heute: Berner Zeitung

Verschreiber sind seit Newsnetz kein Aufreger mehr sondern eine Selbstverständlichkeit. Wenn Agyness Deyn ihren Freund, den “The Stokes-Gitarristen Albert Hammond jr. verlässt” (S.40), dann ist dies aber schon etwas peinlich. Schliesslich sind die Stokes „die erfolgreichste irische Musikgruppe im deutschsprachigen europäischem Raum“ (Eigenwerbung). Und ich wüsste nicht so recht, was Agyness mit einem irischen Folkmusiker anfangen sollte.

Immerhin haben die Stokes eine Auszeichnung des irischen Tourismusverbandes erhalten. Diese Ehre ist den Strokes bisher verwehrt geblieben.

eu tentei avisar pra Jana, mas ela não quis nem saber. Uma vez groupie, sempre groupie. Foi ela a morena que te disseram que o Albert Hammond Jr. tava catando, amija.

Mas como eu sou mais amigo da Jana do que seu… perdeu, preibói.

Albert, mais do nosso rolê do que Agyness

If all goes well, I will be done typing this in 5 minutes, as I’m totally dead from running 8  miles and consequently gaining a blister the size of Texas on my left arch.

1. the $1 trillion plan. Dude.
“The Obama administration formally presented the latest step in its financial rescue package on Monday, an attempt to draw private investors into partnership with a new federal entity that could eventually buy up to $1 trillion in troubled assets that are weighing down banks and clogging up the credit markets.” NYT

2. Sweet online vintage boutique – eat that, ebay! (While not as widely used or known – yet – this is an online treasure trove).
MARKET PUBLIQUE

For some reason, I love this. Me please!

3. Sweet La Perla ad.

Refinery 29.

4. Kermit, the new It fashion muse? (Taking the green revolution to a whole new level!)

Refinery29. From left: Louis Vuitton Fall 2009, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Terry Richardson (NYLON), and TopShop tee.

5. “Ingrid Sischy and Sandy Brant have just been named international editors at Russian Vogue and Vogue Deutsch; Robin Givhan of The Washington Post is relocating to DC from New York to cover Michelle Obama — she’ll continue a fashion-focused weekly column; and Teen Vogue senior fashion editor Aya Kanai is moving to LA” fashionologie

Eek! 2 mins over. Some random street style (JAK*JIL, Sart, etc…)

Heehee, puffy feathers!

Jacket + winning smile = cool 

7. From NYT:

“After Michelle Obama planted the White House vegetable garden with some kids, she talked to reporters about something far more interesting: her clothes. She said Barack tries to monitor her fashion purchases.

“He’s always asking: ‘Is that new? I haven’t seen that before.’ It’s like, Why don’t you mind your own business? Solve world hunger. Get out of my closet.”

She teasingly imitated him: “You didn’t need any more shoes. The shoes you had on yesterday were fine. Why can’t you just wear that for the rest of the presidency?”

Barack may not understand that there is no “need” in “fashion,” but he redeemed himself. Take MObama’s gray metallic belt:

“Barack calls it my ‘Star Trek’ belt,” the first lady said in an interview this week. “He doesn’t understand fashion.”

Why, that sounds like something we would say! Barack, you are always welcome to guest-blog here, like Beyoncé just did.”

Teehee. 

8. And oh, Agyness and Albert are no more. 

~ r

PS: Dang! 5 mins over.

it's "that hat again!" see, # 10

1. Yay!! David Letterman gets with the Obama’s program of ‘The  Romancing of America’ and finally makes an honest woman out of his Baby Momma,Regina Lasko, congrats to the happy couple! – eonline

2. Jake Gyllenhaal has a Michael White Amazing Race lunch session -justjared

3. Ashton Kutcher tweeter’s wife’s Demi Moore’s behind -egotastic

4. Kate Walsh loves getting rowdy – bowergriffin

5. Robert Pattinson <3 musician Will Young of Twilight -towle rd

6. Wow! LeAnne Rhymes knows how to PR! After affair rumors, LeAnn’s TV, movie, Northern Lights,  got 4.5 million audience watchers, a record for Lifetime TV Network! She is fierce! – hollywood reporter

7. She’s learnt his guitar chords already! Supermodel and wannabe rock star, Agnes Deyn splits with boyfriend Albert Hammond Jnr. of The Strokes - nymag

8. Elvis del Toro – Benicio del Toro is on the Elvis diet - lainey gossip

9. UK’s Celebrity Chef, Gordon Ramsay is getting Fox-ier in TV -hollywood reporter

10. Aretha Franklin’s inauguration hat gets caked at her 67th bday -dlisted

If you’re into Albert Hammond Jr. or The Strokes you will definitely want to be reading the article below. Also, School of Seven Bells has some content that you just have to check out whenever possible.  It may be up your alley, or not, but it’s worth expanding your horizons nonetheless.  There’s this great speak-easy in the LES (Lower East Side) of NYC that a member of Albert Hammond Jr.’s band by the name of Matt Romano founded called Cabin Down Below.  Read the article below from Rolling Stone’s Smoking Section that you can view on their website.

Our buddy, Matt Romano, who plays drums in Little Joy and in Albert Hammond, Jr.’s band, just opened an amazing bar in New York City. It’s called the Cabin Down Below — it’s literally under Niagara — but it’s only accessible through a secret door in an East Village pizza parlor.     

We partied there on Saturday night and Sunday morning and we saw some old friends like Little Joy leader and Strokes drummer Fab Moretti. Just about two weeks ago the Strokes reunited in New York to begin writing their fourth album. And though the details of what Fab told us are a bit hazy, the gist is that the process is going well. With everyone’s input they have strong ideas for ten songs. (Focused, they’ve resisted any urges to jam on old stuff). But don’t expect an album too soon. And they won’t tour without at least a pocketful of new songs.

P.S. We also ran into Ryan, who manages the Strokes, who told us he’s now working with School of Seven Bells, the awesome trio featuringBenjamin Curtis from Secret Machines and the stunning twins,Alejandra and Claudia Deheza.

If you haven’t heard them, check out “Half Asleep,” from their ‘08 debut LP, Alpinisms.