Friday 5 October 2012

Lets Go Safari - BYOB

Hi All!

All around the world we have people angry at each other. We have wars in Iraq, Syria and other places. We have people willing to blow the shit out of other people, and people killing other people just because they live on the other side of a hill.

And in the midst of all this turmoil comes a band.

A band with a mission.

A band who are almost saccharine in their happiness.

A band who want you to bring your own beer.

This song is....is...happy. It makes you want to smile and jump around. It's a summer tune, so I'm a bit out of season here, but its very likeable. It's like a run on the sea shore, or in a forest somewhere out the way. Gets the heart rate going but is a pleasant experience.

This track is possibly one of the most original, clean, selfless songs I have heard this year.



Thanks for reading.

Monday 1 October 2012

Jenni Alpert - Who We Are

Hi All,

Why isn't this playing in every night club and every student bar in England?

"Who We Are" is a great track. I can easily see groups of young women holding bottles of drinks in nightclubs desperately trying to sing this song.

 Jenni Alpert is a great singer. Powerful without being too harsh, and gentle without being too weak. I'm not sure I like the multi tracking. Or the effects. I think one or the other would have been fine. It sounds a little fuzzy to me. In my opinion, vocals for tracks like this need to be a bit cleaner.

Its got a catchy tune. It's got catchy lyrics. Meaningful without being too dull. It's got a good beat too. No it's not my thing, but I think that if you're looking for something light that you can dance and sing to then go for this. Its the chicken salad of music. Everyone likes it, but sometimes you just prefer a steak.

I'm not entirely sure about the video either. It seems a bit half assed. Either show lots of people, or none. It seems a little pointless to do something in between.

Here it is, let me know what you think:


Friday 28 September 2012

Lillian Todd Jones New Video - Butter Soul

Hi all,

Somewhere in that place. That place between being awake and asleep. In the early Morning. You drift aimlessly between conscious and sub-concious. In this place you dream.

You dream of hills and valleys, you dream of what is and what could be, and you dream of blue skies and clouds.

Suddenly the sky darkens. The wind rises. The moon peeks out from behind the grey and forboding clouds. Thistles tear at your legs, and briars scratch and force your blood to drain slowly down your skin. It is this place that Lillian Todd Jones comes from for Butter Soul.

The song is emotional and powerful. And dark. So dark. The video is something special too. I can't imagine having dinner with Pan and the green man but having seen it I'm not sure I want to.

This is an epic track, and an epic video and I highly recommend it.




Stone Them Crows - Joker in the Pack Video

Hi All,

Whats black and white and rock all over? Well if you actually read the title of this rather than just idly clicking by because its lunchtime then you would know that its Stone Them Crows new video for Joker in the Pack.

Joker in the Pack is an aggresive, industrial themed rock track. It intros with a sturdy rhythm guitar riff and drum back beat as the video leads into american muscle car heaven.

The vocals are powerful yet lazy. No need to shout here (not until the end anyway). The question the band raise here is "Are you Listening?"

The track has a well constructed and well executed bass line which takes the lead during the choruses, which is a nice change from the usual quiet guitar, loud guitar format.

The guitar solo is almost effortless, but angry and fits the track perfectly.

Congratulations go to Matt Long, the drummer, for the video. It's fantastic.

So here it is:



thanks for reading

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Another Cover - Time is Running Out - Muse

Hi all!

Time for my stuff. I've done another joint cover with a friend of mine.

This track by Muse is one of my favourites, and I don't like Muse at all really. I'm not sure what it is about them. I think it's the number of effects they use to cover the fact that their songs appear to be amazingly simple.

Don't even ask me about their new album. I hate it with a passion. There are no redeeming features at all other than the individual songs are only a few minutes long. At least with their original stuff I can stand it long enough to listen to it or learn how to play it.

Anyhew without further ado, here it is:



Thanks for listening


Arrow Haze - Music Factory - Casino Review

Hi all,

Arrow Haze are a rock band based in Belgium. On the 23rd November they will release their debut album Music Factory which is completely unlike the geography of their home country.

The opening track is a rolling, falling, flying, part anthem, part rock, part metal monstrosity. the intro holds a powerful repeating guitar riff that is almost trance-like in its appeal followed by some tech almost RHCP vocals.

The song then changes into the track proper. If you can imagine Pink Floyd on uppers, playing a song to Metallica, then Metallica playing it to Iron Maiden from the late 80's then that is pretty much what its like.

Chinese whispers then from the guys from Belgium. All in all the track is quite good. I quite like the way it changes over time, keeps you interested.

As a bonus, I'd like to add I found a track called Elly Kedward they did last year. This is a lot heavier, a lot darker. Again it's got a taste of Metallica. But this time, if they worked with Ozzy. The vocal pickups are very similar.

Here they are on youtube:





thanks for reading

Thursday 30 August 2012

The Hazy Eyed Smiles - Redeemed

Hi all,

The Hazy Eyed Smiles who I reviewed very quickly last month or so have released their first EP on band camp.

Here's a taste of Redeemed. A song I know all the lyrics to already. I'd love to hear this at a festival somewhere. It's powerful, will scale well, with great guitar work and great lyrics.





There are elements of Oasis, Stereophonics and lots of others, someone mentioned Arcade Fire...listen for yourself, let me know in the comments.

You can find their EP here:

http://thehazyeyedsmiles.bandcamp.com/album/the-hazy-eyed-smiles-ep-1

Thanks for reading