Bloc a la KCRW

Bloc Party session/interview at KCRW

I'm liking this performance, laid back, chilled vibe going on. Decent questions from the interviewer also so have a look!

Watch here

I am a banana

We all say we are tired of feeling alone

Hello Chaps and Females

The Xcerts have just announced their debut album entitled 'In The Cold Wind We Smile' (I like it) will be out March 23rd (finally!!). 'We Smile' will be preceeded by the single release of 'Crisis in the slow lane' which is TREEEmendous, a must hear, follow the link below to hear the final studio version. Lets hope these chaps get the appreciation they deserve this year!

Myspace

I Like This.

The twilight colour setting, the gentle wind emphasizing the hotness of the actress, the crew at work, late night on the job.
Something about this photo on the set of Transformers 2 really grabs me.

Expect more?

This isn’t a tale of heroics, nor is it merely some kind of ‘cynical account’; it isn’t meant to be, at least. It’s a chunk of two lives running parallel for a while, with common aspirations and similar dreams.

Ernesto Guevara, during his travels through South America, where he changed.

So, not long back from seeing Bloc Party at the newly named O2 academy and to be honest, I dont really feel anything. What do you mean? Well, invisible readers, let me tell you. There was once a time (Silent Alarm era) that I was a sucker for any song which included the four blocettes working together to create something which was far greater than the some of its parts.
Matt's drumming was intense and danceable, always, inventive? sometimes, stood out? yes sir.
Gordy's bass antics were like nothing I had witnessed before. At seemingly random moments within a song, a bass line would be dropped, thick and dark and totally engaging, always making me think, why would he choose to put that riff there. Not the most skilled bassist by any means, but he approached it differently from the rest, which impressed me
Russel's solo's, fast, danceable, during silent alarm they were great, they felt new!
Kele, the shy, limelight declining singer/songwriter, songs like modern love and like eating glass showed his range. Bloc being seen as the new 'Smiths' of our generation, what could go wrong?

Jacknife Lee?

Nah, that would be too easy. Kele's ego? Kele's direction?

To be honest, I dont know, but one thing I do know is that somewhere along the way, they lost whatever they had which attached me to their music. I know this is a single perspective view on the band which I once called 'my favorite', but at this point it's the view I feel compelled to write.

So I'm at the gig tonight, they blast through all the new songs and some from the 2nd album and some from the first. They perform well and do genuinly appear to be enjoying themselves, which is definetly reflecting onto the audience. This being bloc's comeback gig after some time off. The first encore begins and I still havent felt 'moved'. 2nd encore kicks off, the opening notes of 'This Modern Love' echo around the vast hall and it hits me. Silent Alarm still is, and will probably always be 'the album' for me, and the reaction I felt when 'Modern Love rung out justified it once more.

Bloc Party to me, is Silent Alarm.

self referential rant over.

Found a great 'making of' narrow stairs doc

While on current.com I found this great video of Death Cab For Cutie. It gives an amazing insight into the band. Before I wasnt too familiar with them as people, just musicians. Interesting.

Sigur Ros at moma

Sigur Ros playing at the museum of modern art in new york. Seen this a while back and just rembered how amazing it was, thought I would share!

Slumdog v The Wrestler

Right, now I've been hyping up The Wrestler in my mind for quite a while now. Finally went to see it this afternoon, and truth be told, I wasnt blown away. Dont get me wrong, Rourke was amazingly casted for that role and he was brilliant. My point is not the acting. One of the disapointments was the musical score.
Where was it? A repeated guitar part used every so often. Poor. It makes the film appear more real life you say? Nah, this aint true. Many dialogue cliche's also, ''What do you want from me'' for one.
But perhaps the reason I was slightly disapointed was the fact I watched Slumdog Millionaire last night. Slumdog blew me away. I never expected to like it all that much after all the hype, but shit, I was so wrong. The film was a modern day fairytale taking place in a world which is very much not. I was fully awaiting Walt Disney's name to be mensioned as Dead Executive Producer, but no such luck. The score and music throughout was very impressive, so much so I might buy the OST just to hear it all again. The acting was superb, specially the 'Millionaire' host who was outstanding and all the young cast were great. Danny Boyle brought a real fast paced, grimey,rough feel to the slums and inner city life. Amazing. Favorite for best picture and Director oscar in my opinion.

Chigurh

Finally got around to watching 'No Country For Old Men' this morning and was totally blown away. After watching (around 7am) I found myself for the next hour searching through the internet to find out if it was just me who thought that the Cohen brothers left so many things unsolved.

Turns out, many others were in the same boat. When I say many others, I really mean everyone and when I say boat, I really mean pick up truck.

Not going to ruin it for anyone so I wont talk anymore about the loose ends, but fuck that dude Chigurh is creepy. His voice for one! His hair for two! He talks slowly yet quick, his hair is fun yet evil. What?

When it hit the big screen last year I couldnt drag myself to go see it. The film just looked so damn dull, poor excuse I know, but meow I'm a year older and perhaps now the title apeals more to me. Yeahhh, that must be it. The first 100 minutes of the film are classic, essentially a chase film, but as it enters its last half hour, the pace and feel completely shifts, for the better? maybe, maybe not, what it does though is stay true to the book on which it is so closely based upon. Much to the delight of the author Cormac McCarthy.

A total must see.

Feist and Benooey

Zooey Deschanel
So here is a new track featuring Feist and Ben Gibbard (decided to call ben 'Benooey' because of his recent engagement to She and Him singer Zooey Deschanel, pictured above, jealous much?)

So yeah, its a cover, a nice one I guess, not really blowing me away, but I'm sure someone will lurve it.

Train Song

The Middle East

Wow.



Just heard what would be the love child of Win Butler, Sufjan Stevens and Jonsi from Sigur Ros.



I am aware that there was no female in that list so lets just say for 'realistic reasons' Win brought along his crazy ass wife. 3 dad's you ask? Is that possible? For arguments sake lets settle with yes.



Right, back to wow.



This song 'Blood' is awesome, the band from Australia are rather unacessible from where I'm sitting (posterless Glasgow apartment) but man, I want that 'album'. Cant find a download and it appears it must be imported for the cheap price of $30. Aye. Right.



So I'm stuck with this one song, and one song on their myspace I've yet to listen to. So yeah, download the song and be like me, patiently waiting for their next move.



As you were.

Lost

Just finished season 4 and maaan im syched for the new season, which starts in like a week. I am aware its daft and over the top, but I'm stuck with it, at least it aint heroes (awful). Is it just me or does Sayeed straighten his hair when he gets back home? I hope these last two seasons manage to clear up everything! or else that will suck! And if the whole thing has just been a frigment of Hurleys imagination then I will be meeting JJ personally, yeah right, but how cool would that be to meet that guy, anyway...In truth, anyone who does watch it, is merely just staying tuned to find out what the fuck happens to them. I know thats why I watch. peace.

Photobooth

So no posts yesterday as I had an exam and a drink. Do you notice that the older you get, the harder they word stupid questions, why do they feel they need to do this? Whose they you may ask, I dont know, but they deserve a slap. SO yeah, here is an absolutly great song from death cab, its an old one and is often overlooked by the narrow stairs era fans, so if you aint in love with it yet then get a' listnen. And if you had a toy that made that sound when you were a kid let me know. You'll get what I mean when yall hit play.

Best Scottish music Photo of 2008

The winner of above competition was awarded to John Lewis for his photograph of Sam McTrusty.

'The photo we chose for the inaugural award was a clear and thoroughly deserved winner. We think it's an incredible snapshot of drama, energy and youth. Congratulations to John Lewis.'
The Pop Cop

Photographer: John Lewis, Glasgow
Subject: Sam McTrusty, Twin Atlantic
Location: ABC, Glasgow; October 6, 2008

John Lewis: "The image itself was a big slice of luck and fortunate timing to be honest. I have shot Twin Atlantic a few times before so I was familiar with how they perform and move on stage. I remembered that Sam jumps at a particular point in What Is Light? Where Is Laughter? I focused on him and it was just a matter of waiting to see if he would do it. I shot one frame and was lucky enough to capture it. The lighting had been awful, but for whatever reason there was a strobe of spotlights just at that point. Without that I wouldn't have caught it."

pretty sweet photo eh.

here's a Twin Atlantic live vid from the Mill in glasgow. The albums out in the spring chaps.

Synecdoche, New York

Preview
So syched to see this movie, have to wait until May for its UK release though! Which sucks. But yeah, Charlie Kaufman is a genuis. Written and directed by Kaufman who previously wrote the screenplay for 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' and 'Adaptation'. Playing the lead role in this impossibly hard-to-pronounce named film is the amazing actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, from Charlie Wilson's War, Capote, Patch Adams to name but a few. With a great supporting cast also. The trailer sold me straight away, rather dark and quirky, gets epice when the soundtrack kicks in 'I'm just a little...'

So look out for it in the coming months, it may get lots of press atention, then again, it may not.

heres the trailer.



If you dig the song then here you go. Little Person

The Wrestler

Mickey Rourke and Bruce Springsteen both picked up awards at the Golden Globes yesterday for their work on the new movie 'The Wrestler'. Rourke picked up best actor award and Sprinsteen for best soundtrack. Based on the trailer (not out until next week in the uk) rourke performance looks great, but I'll need to see the whole film to give a decent review. Springsteen song is pretty special, you can hear it in the background of the trailer, lyrics fit superbly with the story. So yeah, check it out when it hits the cinema's. I will.

Would have written a review on Che part 1, but its been almost 2 weeks since I seen it and my memory sucks. So I'll wait till part 2 comes around and give that a bashin'. But yeah, part 1 was brilliant, dragged slightly in the middle as I wasnt too aware of all the politics involved before I went to see it, and they were basically trying to put accross everything he is fighting for. Which was apparently alot as I couldnt keep up! lets just say socialism? anyway, first hour was great, the pace and narritive were perfect, its almosty like watching a documentary/biography of the events leading up to the revelution. Middle 45 mins, hmmm, pace slowed right down and found myself out of the experience, which isnt good. Last 45 minutes-amazing. The action picked up and the flashbacks and characters got more intresting. The final few scenes were amazing, nothing spectacular, but they just closed the film up beutifully. Soderburgh puts across Che Guevarra as he was seen in the eyes of others, not perhaps the personnal portrait that was promised. But Benicio Tel Toro's portrayl of Ernesto 'Che' Guevarra is nothing short of brilliant. The screen presence he commands makes the film what it is.

Animal Collective

Merriweather Post Pavilion
Right, this album is being bummed to the highest right now, to be honest, I dont see what the fuss is about. It just doesnt grab me, apart from maybe 'In the Flowers' and 'My Girls'. The songs sound messy, and I dont mean 'edgy' bloc party style messy. Much more like Kaiser Chiefs (insert any other shit band here) messy, maybe I'm being too harsh, but it just isnt for me, but clearly it works for a load of people so thats fine. 9.6 at Pitchfork. No Sir.
My Girls

Bon Iver

A bit late to the party but maaan this guy is good.

Skinny Love


just purchased 'For Emma, Forever Ago' yesterday and I was seriously blown away on first listen. How can an album be that perfect? anyway, if anyone reads this then they must stop what they are doing (reading this I'm guessing) and download it! Just listening to the new EP Blood Bank, sounds pretty solid on first listen, especialy the title track, I'm not too sure on 'Woods' where Vernon uses auto-tune, I like that he's not scared of trying diferent tools but I just feel the song itself is perhaps his weakest.


Head over to their myspace to stream the new EP http://www.myspace.com/boniver

Pull Tiger Tail

Pull Tiger Tail, thats a name I hadnt heard in a long time, turns out they are apparently disbanding, sad news huh? Those guys had some great songs, generally fast paced, danceble tunes with great hooks. Comparisons to old school PATD are fairly accurate. PTT are a great example of how a record company can fuck up a bands success.

Pull Tiget Tail-Mary Jane http://www.megaupload.com/?d=K3LUSU3T