“That’s sure a lot of tags, Pa…“

As many of you readers know, Austin Girl Music Guide’s tagline is Reviews for Regular People (new readers check out my “About This Blog” page to learn more!).  I love music and the main goal of this blog is making music accessible.  I want to share the music I’m currently listening to with whoever decides they might want to read/listen.  Many times that means talking about stuff from the 90s that I’ve just discovered, alternative genres, and also it means that I don’t necessarily listen to every new album as soon as it’s released.

So, when thinking about what AGMG might do to mark the end of the year (really only 8 months of blogging to date – wow!), doing the typical End of Year list didn’t seem quite right considering I haven’t listened to a bunch of albums released in 2009 yet.  In keeping with AGMG’s theme and goal, I decided to implement a new Christmas tradition…the first annual Austin Girl Music Guide’s Christmas Tuneskies!  I made some simple burned CDs for my friends and family (some of whom don’t frequent blogs) in order to share some of my favorite music discoveries from the past year.  The ever-creative Seanningham created this badass CD cover, printed and cut them at Kinko’s, I assembled everything together in a colorful CD case, and there you go…one Christmas tradition begun just like that!

Click on the jump to read what tracks I chose and why, plus get the links to the 15 songs on YouTube and links to the reviews I’ve done and lots more (and if you’re a friend or family member reading this early, um, Merry Christmas)!

Track Listing

1. “2000 Miles”, Coldplay, Charity Recording – 2003 (Pretenders Original 1983)

I wanted to bookend the Christmas Tuneskies album with actual Christmas songs.  For my money, Coldplay has recorded some of the best covers of Christmas songs, starting with this great cover of the Pretenders’ Christmas classic, “2000 Miles.”

2. “Highly Suspicious”, My Morning Jacket, Evil Urges – 2008

A great album and one of the very first reviews I wrote.  Of all the songs on this Evil Urges, nothing signals Christmas mayhem quite like “Highly Suspicious.

3. “Victims of A System”, Rootz Underground, Movement – 2007

I’ve written quite a lot about Rootz Underground this year, including an album review, a concert review, and a musing about their FREE live album, AND I got to interview their lead singer, scoring a shout out.  What other reason do I need to include them in the 2009 Tuneskies?

4. “Waitin’ For A Superman”, Iron and Wine, Around the Well – 2009 (Flaming Lips Original 1999)

Iron and Wine is one of my favorite artists in general and earlier this year, I reviewed his 2007 album The Shepherd’s Dog.  I just recently downloaded Around the Well and was amazed by this cover of The Flaming Lips song “Waitin’ for a Superman” from The Soft Bulletin.  Review of Around the Well to come in the new year!

5. “Southern Point”, Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest – 2009

I reviewed Veckatimest shortly before the ACL Music Festival where I saw them live and they blew me away.  They’re an amazing band and this song is particularly fantastic.

6. “I Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None O’ This Jelly Roll”, Willie Nelson with Asleep at the Wheel, Willie and the Wheel – 2009

I saw the ACL taping of Willie and the Wheel earlier this year and it was terrific.  I just got the album and decided to include one for all the Willie lovers out there.  Just for fun, check out this version of the song.

7. “Living Thing”, Peter, Bjorn and John, Living Thing – 2009

Peter, Bjorn and John are another band I’ve talked about nonstop on this blog.  Earlier in the year I reviewed the album Living Thing, then more recently, I reviewed their Austin show.

8. “Wavin’ Flag”, K’naan, Troubadour – 2009

I made up for missing half of K’naan’s ACL show by including one of his great tracks here.  “Wavin’ Flag” was recently named as the FIFA World Cup anthem for 2010.  Look for my review of Troubadour in the new year!

9. “The Mountain”, Heartless Bastards, The Mountain – 2009

Again, making up for missing the great Heartless Bastards ACL show by including a song from The Mountain.  Keep your eyes here for a very special guest review of The Mountain after Christmas!

10. “Will It Grow”, Jakob Dylan, Seeing Things – 2008

One of the very earliest AGMG reviews!  A great folk album that didn’t get listened to by nearly enough people.

11. “Holes”, Mercury Rev, Deserter’s Songs – 1998

Deserter’s Songs was one of my absolute favorite discoveries of 2009.  Why did I not know about this band or album before?  No idea, but it’s probably because I was listening to Tom Petty and The Beatles instead.

12. “Sabali”, Amadou & Mariam, Welcome to Mali – 2008

I reviewed Welcome to Mali back in May and then shortly after, saw Amadou & Mariam open for Coldplay in Dallas and Houston.  This song, produced by the Gorillaz Damon Albarn, is one of the most interesting from the album.

13. “Watching the Planets”, The Flaming Lips, Embryonic – 2009

It’s no great secret that I love The Flaming Lips and talk about them constantly, so it’s only natural that I include a song from their latest album.  Despite the naked video, “Watching the Planets” is as family-friendly as the Lips get.  Watch for the review of Embryonic in 2010!

14. “Alcohol”, Gogol Bordello, Super Taranta! – 2007

Another of my earliest reviews was of Super Taranta! and recently I reviewed their live show at Stubb’s and posted an awesome video edited by Seanningham.  What Christmas album would be complete without a song called “Alcohol” anyway?  Eugene Hütz also played a major role in the Christmas Tuneskies CD cover.

15. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, Coldplay, Mince Spies – 2000

Alright, it’s official…I talked about Coldplay more than any other band on my blog in 2009.  Like The Flaming Lips, it’s no secret that Coldplay is one of my favorite bands.  I reviewed their live FREE album LeftRightLeftRightLeft, travelled to Dallas and Houston two days in a row to review their shows, and created the very first AGMG “…In 10″ video based on footage we took of their concerts.  Closing out Christmas Tuneskies with their beautiful version of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” seems very fitting.

There it is folks!  Try out my mix…I’m sure you’ll find it just as delightful as I have.  Merry Christmas all!

Dimitri, from Anastasia:

Yeah, he’s not real. But that hasn’t stopped me before. I think it’s his hair, to be honest. I don’t know which compositor had the lovely task of making sure his hair had just the right volume and movement, but I’ll be damned if they didn’t win an Oscar. An Oscar made of Lisa Frank stickers and pogs.

Next up is Alan Tudyk, whose crooked teeth and staggering jaw line make me swoon every time, without fail!

JUST LOOK AT HIM. How has he managed to play such incredible characters yet still be under the Hollywood radar?! From Firefly to Dodgeball to Knocked Up, Alan is always good about making whatever small parts he has totally memorable.

Check out this clip from the film “Death at a Funeral”. It’s pretty obvious why I enjoy it so much:

Man, I remember watching A Knights Tale in middle school, trying to figure out why the camera kept cutting to Heath Ledger when I so clearly had Alan Tudyk’s gingery hair setting my heart equally aflame, right along the side of…

Paul Bettany. We need to make a new rule about how the blue eyes + red hair combo far surpasses the “tall dark and handsome” triumvirate that so many women try to obtain. I mean look at those freckles! I bet he burns easily in the sun. Oh white people, you’re so adorable.

Other redheads of note? Damon Albarn, Rupert Grint, and  Patrick Fugit. Well, Patrick Fugit is more of a burnt sienna. But I’ll let that one slide.

Day Seventeen, Day Seventeen, all over the town… yes, it’s Blur’s little-heard Christmas Single, from the days when you’d never heard of them but I had and so am therefore ‘best’.

A WINTERTIME FAST

I hope you appreciate the cheesy snowflakes on my blog. As the daughter of a farmer I am obsessed by the weather. I can’t help it. It’s in my genes. I watch the Countryfile weather forecast every week and let out a sad sigh when it finishes. If there was a weather channel I would watch it all of the time. Imagine it, The Shipping Forecast in cinematic scope. The king of the weather readers is Tomasz Schafernaker, aka ‘T.Schaf’ as he’s known in our house. T.Schaf also does the Radio4 forecast. He once predicted the Glastonbury forecast as being a ‘muddy shite’ which makes him alright in my book.

In addition to the Countryfile forecast (the most in-depth one I have managed to find) another good one online is Metcheck. It gives you a 14 day forecast. I have been following it with anticipation this week. Oh yes. Yesterday it told me that Calderdale was expecting -13c temperatures on Saturday night. THEN heavy snow showers (I am picturing myself curled up in front of the Inglenook, dog in my lap and thermal long johns on. With earmuffs. Crooning to Chet Baker’s Angel Eyes. It’s not a pretty sight…).

I remember in the early 80s, I must have been about six years old. It snowed so heavily that my Dad had to dig us out of the house on Fairfield Rd. He scooped a big tunnel out of snow. School was cancelled for a week and we spent the days making giant snowmen. I don’t know if it’s my child’s memory making it appear to be more exciting than it actually was – but I still think about that winter, my mittens on strings, burning my lips with hot soup and getting hit in the face by ice balls.

With this in mind, I wondered if we might have a white Christmas this year. I want Ben to dig a tunnel of snow. I want to sledge down the hill in front of our house and eat Roast Chestnuts baked in the fire. Apparently though – this is on the cards. I can’t quite work out if Metcheck is playing a nasty trick on us all, luring us into a false sense of security. But right now they have forecasted four days of snow over Christmas – but knowing our luck (and the drab Yorkshire weather) it will be a soft brown slush by Christmas day.

Other stuff: I’ve been listening to Marc Riley’s BB6Music show quite a lot this year. He really makes me laugh. Always good banter and who can knock a DJ that plays the full 17 minute version of Can’s Yoo Doo Right in a primetime broadcast slot? I used to listen to him on Hit The North with Radcliffe back in the early 90s. Simon Armitage would read poetry, people like Damon Albarn would read from their favourite books (Siddharta in his case), Mark Kermode hosted a cult film slot – and they’d have guests slots from Mr.Methane the human ptomaine. That show totally switched me on to music and poetry. There’s nothing quite like it on the radio anymore.

Anyhow, last night Marc played a session from Kurt Vile and The Violators. It totally blew me away. He has an incredible voice. He’s from Philadelphia. His vocals are droney, he’s a bit Iggy-ish with shades of David Johansen. And Cobain. I think it was one of the best sessions I’ve heard on Marc Riley this year. Hunchback is a killer. I’m going to run off and buy Kurt’s LP right now. The other band I have really loved this year are Girls. Their singer Christopher Owens grew up in the Child of God Cult and I was really excited by their video. The uncut version shows lots of naughty things. Their songs remind me of being a teenager. Both Girls and Kurt Vile are my big tips for 2010.

The Horrors are the Cinderfella’s of England capping a phenomenal year that had the boys selling-out gigs with Muse and Placebo in support of 2009’s critically acclaimed Primary Colours.

2010 show no signs of slowing for the Mercury Prize winners with two dates confirmed in Japan Feb 3rd at Club Quattro in Osaka and Feb 4th at Duo in Tokyo. Prior to Japan the band can be found on the stages in Australia starting with Big Day Out in Auckland January 15.

If their schedule permits the band will head into the studio sometime in March to lay down tracks for a third album to be self produced, a suggestion made by Primary Colours producer Geoff Barrow. Bassist Ryhs Webb mentioned to BBC6 he and the band were looking into sufficient locations because “we’re hoping to build our own studio this time around.”

Meanwhile, The Horrors can be heard on the 2010 Gorillaz album tentatively titled Plastic Beach. Blur frontman Damon Albarn and main man behind the animated Gorillaz, invited The Horrors into the studio to record a track for the upcoming album back in September.

Sun 12/13/09 Liverpool, United Kingdom O2 Academy Liverpool 2

Mon 12/14/09 Glasgow, United Kingdom S.E.C.C.

Wed 12/16/09 Sheffield, United Kingdom O2 Academy Sheffield 2

Thu 12/17/09 Portsmouth, United Kingdom Wedgewood Rooms

Fri 12/18/09 Brighton, United Kingdom Concorde 2

Sun 12/20/09 London, United Kingdom HMV Forum

Fri 01/15/10 Auckland, New Zealand Mt Smart Stadium

Sun 01/17/10 Gold Coast, Australia Parklands

Fri 01/22/10 Sydney, Australia Sydney Showgrounds

Sat 01/23/10 Sydney, Australia Sydney Showgrounds

Tue 01/26/10 Melbourne, Australia Flemington Racecourse

Wed 01/27/10 Richmond, Australia Corner Hotel

Fri 01/29/10 Adelaide, Australia RA&HS Showgrounds

Sun 01/31/10 Perth, Australia Claremont Showgrounds

Wed 02/03/10 Osaka, Japan Club Quattro

Thu 02/04/10 Tokyo, Japan Duo Music Exchange

Today, it’s all the way back to that crazy Christmas of 1991, when between The Return Of The Magic Roundabout and that awful Up Pompeii! revival special, a certain floppy-fringed indie band tried to get a way with a bit of no money for sleighbell-enhanced old rope…

It’s official, Plastic Beach will be the title of the new Gorillaz album and the list of performers for the 2010 release includes Lou Reed, Barry Gibb, Mos Def, and Snoop Dogg! Add that to the demos we’ve already heard, and this is shaping up to be the Merriweather Post Pavilion of 2010.

- Christian BC

I miss the Gorillaz.

They changed the whole music scene for me when I was still in high school. I hadn’t heard of anything quite like that before and they introduced me to possibly my favorite producer now Dan the Automator. And I’m a huge advocate of both cartoons and genre-bending so they seemed like a band tailor made for me.

It was four years between the release of their debut and sophomore albums, which would have put them on pace for another album in 2009, but as the year draws to a close it’s clear we won’t see it before the 31st of December comes around. At first there were reports we’d never see another Gorillaz album. Then reports that another one was on the way with newly designed characters (I’m a big fan of the existing designs). Then there were some underwhelming leaked demos, and some reports of guests as varied as Snoop Dogg and Barry Gibb, and a title: Plastic Beach. No news of a release date however, and more importantly no news of a producer.

In the virtual band’s short history, they have cornered the market on picking my new favorite producer. In 2001 they introduced me to Dan the Automator, of Deltron 3030, Dr. Octagon, Peeping Tom, Lovage and Handsome Boy Modeling School. All projects of sheer unadulterated brilliance. He immediately became my favorite producer. In 2005 they introduced me to the architect of the Grey Album, Danger Mouse, who went on to create the stupidly dope duos Gnarls Barkley and Dangerdoom, which composed my life’s soundtrack for the next few years. With no news of a new producer for “Plastic Beach” or whatever the new album will eventually be titled, I’ve decided to try and anticipate the band’s pick for a new album, and therefore create a sort of self fulfilling prophecy for who my new favorite producer will be (the Automator may still have it all-time though).

There are a few pre-requisites it seems to being the next Gorillaz producer, that hopefully I can use to predict the new producer.

1) They need to have started as a DJ.

2) They must have a basis in hip hop production.

3) They must be comfortable working in multiple genres.

4) They must be an up-and-comer in the music industry.

And most importantly…

5) Their name must start with a D.

For some reason the Gorillaz seem to employ a number of personnel who’s names begin with the letter D, including their only two producers to date. Also the Gorillaz founder is named Damon Albarn, and their in house rapper for their first album was Del the Funky Homosapien. On their second album Demon Days, without Del to rap they brought in De La Soul and DOOM. Also randomly, Dennis Hopper is on a track. I think I’ve made my point.

So what follows is my list of candidates for the new Gorillaz producer:

Damon Albarn

He’s been the brains behind the outfit since the beginning, and while he’s not a DJ or a hip hop producer, he has to have picked up some game from the first two albums while working with some of the mad geniuses of hip hop. And since no producer has been announced, who did those first leaked tracks (sure as hell wasn’t Gorillaz artist Jamie Hewlett, who’s seen Tank Girl)? If Damon does in fact produce the new album, expect a lot of old Blur joints to start popping up on this blog.

Dub L

No faster way to look stupid than to tattoo your own name on yourself.

The small amount of material I’ve heard from this man, is still some of my favorite music period. His collaborations with my second favorite rapper Aesop Rock are brillaint (Shere Khan is one of my favorite songs ever) and his work with Ann Colville as the Controls proves he can work outside rap if not necessarily hip hop. Still, he’s very downtempo and I don’t know he has the versatility to pull off a Gorillaz record plus calling him an up and comer is a stretch, he’s seemed to remain in obscurity for years and I don’t think he’ll be coming out anytime soon.

Dabrye

Another niche producer who has quite an underground reputation and not much of one elsewhere. Just the kind of producer Gorillaz love to pull from obscurity. However Dabrye is an IDM (Intelligent Dance Music – the worst named music genre since alternative) artist, and although he produces for mostly rappers (including Gorillaz alumnus DOOM on “Air”) his sound remains clearly in that electronic vibe. Also, like Dub-L, he’d need to pick it up to give Gorillaz those left field dance hits they’re become known for.

Daft Punk

Doesn't this picture make it look like they really walk around like this...

Daft Punk at this point are more than up and comers. They’re an established solo act, and are too established to step backwards and do a Gorillaz album. And although they’re basically DJs, they’re very clearly electronic house, and rarely deviate from that, with few ventures into hip hop or alternative rock. But seriously, how dope would a Daft Punk Gorillaz album be? Come on. Fuckin’ redefine dance music, that’s how dope.

The Dust Brothers

Appointing the Dust Brothers wouldn’t really be recognizing an up and comer, but more like a rescue from irrelevance. The once legendary architects behind the Beastie Boys’ “Paul’s Boutique” have laid pretty low in recen years. They’ve handled a number of Beck albums, none of which have really caught the fire they captured with Odelay (Beck went with post-Gorillaz Danger Mouse for his latest effort). That said they’re versatile enough (did you now they produced Mmm…Bop?) hip hop enough, and definitely ill enough. They’d almost be a shoo-in if they weren’t so old.

Dr. Dre

What? Dr. Dre can do anything.

DJ Shadow

He's already been Gorillazified...

My personal choice for the new Gorillaz album for years, the godfather of instrumental hip hop, is big enough to be a huge get for a new Gorillaz album without overpowering the Gorillaz name. Most people gettin’ busy to the next Feel Good Inc. may have heard of DJ Shadow, but won’t be familiar with his work. Plus DJ Shadow has worked on Gorillaz-esque projects before with the first UNKLE album (pure dope). And DJ Shadow could use a rebound after the disappointing solo hyphy effort The Outsider. That said as INCREDIBLY BRILLIANT AND DOPE as a DJ Shadow Gorillaz album would be, it would also be the most depressing Gorillaz album to date. Shadow CAN make upbeat music, as shown by the Outsider, but it’s not his strength, as shown by the Outsider. So although I think DJ Shadow would make the best Gorillaz album, I think there is a better choice for producer…

Diplo

Diplo is that shit. And it’s not just ’cause I live in Philly, he’s that shit. He’s a DJ, with a hip hop basis, whose worked in different genres and he is the definition of up and coming. He is absolutely perfect for the new Gorillaz album.

One of the masterminds of the electro Hip Hop movement coming out of Philly and Baltimore, Diplo is coming off the success of producing M.I.A.’s Paper Planes (nominated for record of the year at the Grammys) as well as producing for Santigold and Amanda Blank and and being half of another animated character based band Major Lazer.  He’s got his hand in careers of a bunch of hipster hip hop acts that are about to pop as that trend heads closer and closer into the mainstream. And he’s good. Plus his Philly sound will give the Gorillaz another influence after going with Bay area funk in Dan the Automator, and Atlanta soul in Danger Mouse. Diplo can do the dance shit easy, but he can do the alternative shit too. He’s the go to guy.

But obviously, none of these guys are going to be the new producer. Why? Well mostly because this list was basically compiled based on how many producers could I think of who’s names started with a D. Secondly because the Gorillaz always pick a producer that I don’t know of, and I then discover through them. I’m pretty familiar with everyone on this list.

So Gorillaz… who’s it gonna be?

Watch it be Dre Day…

So I had to post again because I just read THIS.

Damon Albarn is one of my musical heroes – Blur has been one of my absolute favorite bands and I have listened to all those records too many times to count! I am a huge huge fan of Gorillaz too and I am mad excited to hear that a new album is forthcoming.

Through the years I have basically learned to follow the tenet that if DA is involved in something, I will like it.

But even more importantly.. good old DA is uniting with some of my other heroes. Most notably, ALAN FREAKIN MOORE. WHAT THE HELL. SO COOL AHHHH. I could barely believe my eyes when I read that. For those who may only know the name because of Watchmen, be aware that Alan Moore is basically… the demigod of the graphic novel format, and everything he writes is pretty much guaranteed to BLOW YOUR MIND – more on this soon, for SURE.

And not only that, DA is forming a new threesome (ha, no, not like that, pervy pervos) with Flea from RHCP! (The third dude is Tony Allen, the percussionist for Fela Kuti and also in DA’s project The Good, the Bad, and the Queen).

This is all most pleasing to me. It’s kind of my real-life League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Now I just need to hook Joshua Clover into the equation… (haha sorry, fantasies carried me away for a moment there)

Gorillaz are back to devour your brain with British pop goodness!

WATCH Gorillaz perform their classic B-side “Hong Kong“

Damon Albarn is truly one of the consummate music artists of our time. Unlike a lot of these once-great, so-called “artists” that have been reforming their old bands to make an extra buck. Albarn has put the whole Blur thing aside and is back to focusing on his “post-Blur” career by revealing that a third album by Gorillaz is almost complete.

For the new album, to be titled Plastic Beach, Albarn will be going socio-political as he goes after the shallowness of British pop-culture (and definitely by extension–American pop-culture) as seen through the original American Idol type show–The X Factor. Where in a recent interview with The Guardian, Albarn goes off on fairly comparing the artists that come out of those shows to “buying a ready made meal in loads of plastic packaging” which reflects our shallow, celebrity obsessed culture we have today.

In terms of the music Plastic Beach, which is due out next year, sounds as if it will be the biggest sounding thing this band of cartoon’s has put out yet, while “still maintain(ing) a lot of that melancholy.” Ah! Just how I like my Gorillaz! Sad but still larger-than-life!

Unlike other Britpopers and American Alt. Rockers from the 90s, Damon has always been creating fresh and enjoyable music, no matter what genre or band he is in. Albarn is up there with any great artist by utilizing and reuniting certain bands that suit him best–just for the purpose of making the best music possible. It’s a tradition many other greats like Neil Young have done. Whether it has been to achieve the ragged glory sound of Crazy Horse, to the clean and lovely harmonic sounds of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Damon Albarn will no doubt be looked back as on that similar level of greatness.

–Charlie Weeks

Damon Albarn has said that he has almost finished the third Gorillaz album, which is entitled ‘Plastic Beach.’ Since the highly successful album ‘Demon Days’ the band has taken a break and not released any material, but Albarn has recently said that he is putting the finishing touches to the new album. He told The Guardian: “This whole Gorillaz album, ‘Plastic Beach’, which is nearly finished now, started off as ‘Carousel’. It’s sort of about the mythical aspects of Britain.” He added: “Obviously, because it’s Gorillaz we’ve moved it to a different place, but it still mantains a lot of that melancholy.”

Albarn described the album as ”the most pop record I’ve ever made in many ways.”

The singer revealed that he failed to get the famous musician Engelbert Humperdink to work on the record, Albarn said “you win some you lose some.”

Gorillaz are back!  Their third record, Plastic Beach, is “going really well” according to Damon Albarn, one of the masterminds behind the virtual band.

The new album may not be what you’re expecting though…  Albarn told the Guardian that Plastic Beach is “most pop record he has ever made,” with guest appearances by Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, and Mos Def, among others.  Keep checking back for release info and to hear some of their new music.

Sintomas de quem não sabe estar quieto, coisa crónica próxima de doença. O génio pop de Damon Albarn assegurou recentemente que vai existir um novo álbum dos Gorillaz, Plastic Beach, com edição prevista para o próximo ano e com uma lista de convidados de referência: Lou Reed, Mos Def, Barry Gibb e Bobby Womack dizem estar por lá garantidos.

Sobre os blur, é estar atento ao que está para chegar às salas de cinema americanas e inglesas no próximo mês de Janeiro, o documentário No Distante Left To Run, sobre o regresso aos palcos que a banda protagonizou este ano. Será algo assim:

Aún no se sabe a ciencia cierta si la reunión de Blur continuará, si grabarán un disco, o todo quedó en unos pocos shows este verano, pero gracias a Dylan Southern y Will Lovelace, el año que viene vamos a poder disfrutar de este documental.

Como vieron, los dos directores tuvieron acceso a ensayos, entrevistas backstage y seguramente el material será de lujo. Mientras esperan puede revisar la Página oficial de la banda y ver el trailer en resolución gigante.

Damon Albarn sa come far parlare di se stesso e dei suoi progetti, non c’è che dire. I Blur tornano a suonare dal vivo e fanno uscire l’album gratuito della performance con un importante quotidiano britannico, il chitarrista Graham Coxon preme per tornare a suonare con lui e i giornali ci vanno a nozze e, come se non bastasse, i Blur hanno ricevuto la Blue Plaque, targa che commemora il primo concerto della band tenuto col nome Seymour nell’Essex.

Se pensate che le notizie siano finite qui, state sbagliando. Già, perché i Gorillaz stanno per tornare sulle scene: sembra che il nuovo disco si intitolerà Plastic Beach, che i pezzi siano pronti, che Alan Moore abbia partecipato ai testi e che la lista degli ospiti includa Lou Reed, Bobby Womack, Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, The Horrors e Barry Gibb.

The Good, the Bad and the Queen é de uma banda de rock britânica, formada por Damon Albarn (vocalista), o ex-baixista do Clash Paul Simonon, o ex-membro do Verve e guitarrista do Blur e Gorillaz Simon Tong e o baterista da banda Africa ‘70 de Fela Kuti Tony Allen.

Inicialmente “The Good, The Bad and the Queen” (O Bom, O Mau e a Rainha) seria o nome de um disco solo de Albarn, porém mais tarde foi anunciado que o projeto solo foi descartado e o nome seria utilizado pelo quarteto.

O autointitulado disco de estréia do grupo, cujo tema principal é a cidade de Londres, tem previsão de lançamento em janeiro de 2007. O álbum conta com a produção de Danger Mouse, da dupla Gnarls Barkley, que já havia trabalhado com Albarn e Tong no disco “Demon Days”, do Gorillaz. O primeiro single da banda, ‘Herculean’, será lançado em 30 de outubro, após uma apresentação ao vivo em Londres no dia 26 de outubro, cujos ingressos já estão esgotados.

(Fonte: Wikipedia)

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Dopo la recente pubblicazione dell’EP Splitting The Atom, i Massive Attack sono pronti a tornare sulle scene con un ellepì di inediti nuovo di zecca che segue la colonna sonora di Danny The Dog e il pregevole 100th Window. Il nuovo album si intitolerà Heligoland – qui accanto ne potete ammirare la copertina – e sarà nei negozi il prossimo 8 febbraio.

Alla realizzazione dell’album hanno partecipato vari artisti tra cui Damon Albarn dei Gorillaz e dei Blur, Guy Garvey degli Elbow, Martina Topley-Bird e Hope Sandoval. Ecco la tracklist:

01 Pray For Rain
02 Babel
03 Splitting The Atom
04 Girl I Love You
05 Psyche
06 Flat Of The Blade
07 Paradise Circus
08 Rush Minute
09 Saturday Come Slow
10 Atlas Air

I am a fan of Blur. In so far as I like their music and have some of their CD’s. I have also always wanted to see them live. By the time I got ‘into’ music I had only got into the ‘Best of’ that my brother had. I remember in my early days of musical education, my Brother (one of my favourite guitarists) saying “I love Graham Coxon’s sound. he’s very unique.” From my brother that is a BIG compliment. He never compliments anything, let alone anyone. So it stuck with me. Later, when I joined the Psychotic Reaction having loved their album Rumble, and found Alex Williams (another of my favourite guitarists) was a fan of Coxon too. This became more evident as his choice of guitars came to light and certain idiosyncrasies in strumming, chords etc. Prior to this I had always drawn parallels between my friend Josh’s frontman actions to that of Albarn. Both high-energy and stirring stuff. My other friend James can also be said to have a similar presence. So all in all many of my ‘closer-to-home’ influences counted Blur as an influence. As such I got into them and have enjoyed their work eversince. I did, however, miss their heyday and whilst ThinkTank was different and Gorrilaz are great, Coxon solo had the edge but still none of the err… stuff Blur had. So when the initial reunion was mooted I got very excited.
So I got paid yesterday and while paying a bill online I got a targeted add on Facebook that told me there were still tickets available. I checked. There were. They were also expensive. Ticketmaster has a timer on the page so it acts like a virtual ‘que’. With seconds to spare and no one responding to my texts I caved. Normally I buy tickets waaaaaay in advance so I was excited all day today for a gig I hadn’t planned for, for a band i really wanted to see. So I went home and washed and brushed up then headed straight out. Took me half an hour to get to the MEN (I loooooove Manchester) picked up my ticket and went in.
The MEN is a tomb. A frickin’ barn of great proportion. All concrete with little charm. Doesn’t even feel that big. Not an auspicious start. I went in to glance at the support.
As a parenthetical aside, who books, suggests, demands, hires, feels they need support bands? I can count on the fingers of one hand the amount of good or relevant support bands I’ve seen when seeing a headline act. They do little to warm-up, enhance or reflect the head bands music/performance normally. In fact, i have plaid a few gigs where I thought “What the hell am I doing here?”
Anyway, I don’t know who the fuck Florence and the Machine are but all I know is I want her dead. I truly haven’t seen a band play a gig that big, that Baaaaaadly. They were actually bad. The girl cannot sing an iota and everything was out of her range. Truly, truly dreadful. I stomached a song and a half then walked out. First time I have ever walked out of anything. Ever.
The Klaxons were up next, who I had at least heard of. I’m not a fan of theirs either. I didn’t like Rave the first time round and I like it less now. They were very energetic and ‘exciting’ but as my Dad used to put it, “All fur coat, no knickers”. Lots of style, no substance. I managed two songs then left again. Dull, dull, dull.
I returned for the main event and realised the MEN can change with more people in it. When the boys came out I experienced that weird sensation you get when you see people you’ve only ever seen in photos and on telly. With barely a hello they Launched into She’s So High and I was in Heaven.
Albarn, say what you will of the man, is a force of nature on stage. Far more so than his oh-so-arrogant counterpart/nemesis L*am G*ll*gh*r. He really goes for it and even more amazingly for a man well in his 30’s kept up the pace and didn’t chicken out on any of the notes. Melodies were almost always note for note and hardly embellished. I was really impressed.
James looked a tad bored, which I might be mistaking for ‘looking-cool’ but the bass sounded excellent and Girls & Boys and Tender were pretty much carried by him.
Rowntree is of the Ringo school of drumming, simple but effective. No real ‘fills’ or showy-off bits but played for the song all the way. Very solid. What more do you need?
Then comes Coxon. As stated, I’ve always liked him but now he is my new favourite guitarist. He seems to match Mathmatical precision with all-out WROCK! He really threw himself around (even causing the guitar to cut out for a good minute) but had a note for note, pitch for pitch guitar sound from record. As such he did the work of 10 guitarists. He favoured his Tele Deluxe and an lovely Gibson ‘59 or ‘60 with P90’s. Twin Marshall stacks pushed a truly bassy and roaring sound out that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Beetlebum sounded Fan-fucking-tastic, I still don’t know how he wrote or plays that riff. Brilliant.
The other thing that was really great was, unlike the G*ll*gh*r brothers, they really seemed to ENJOY the gig. Albarn and Coxon mucked about and laughed and smiled. They all looked rather, well… happy.
Downsides; too bloody loud (i’m getting old) and the rather predictable “Poor Jacko” moment. Blah, blah, blah.
Highlights; Beetlebum probably my favourite. Country House and Parklife- I have never seen an audience go TRULY Ape-shit before (and I mean seriously Gaga) but you really get swept along. Wow. This A Low – Felt the love, man. The first set of encores – punk-tastic! And the truly Epic finale of The Universal. Awesome in the truest sense of the word. Awe inspiring.
In Summation, after REM and Ed Harcourt it comes a very close third in my top 5 best gigs. If you haven’t already seen them, do so. Catch ‘em quick or you might just get a Blur.
(God that was cheesy…)
Leo