“Things to say down a microphone, eh?” says frontman Liam Sullivan to the largely disinterested crowd of about 30 – if that – people before him, in a desperate attempt to engage the crowd. No Trays Or Foxes are six songs into an eight song set, and still there is little interaction from the audience. The Parish Huddersfield is an intimate venue; physically, there is nothing to separate the band from the crowd and so their reluctance to involve themselves with the hometown four-piece becomes increasingly obvious – as does the band’s wariness of the crowd.
No Trays Or Foxes don’t belong in this venue, but this is something that works in their favour. An acoustic/electronic band that describe themselves as creating “sounds that intertwine sections of light and dark,” they breathe life into a virtually non-existent genre. Their sound is iridescent and atmospheric – melancholy, yet powerful enough to fill an arena. Playing an ill-suited venue that is effectively a desolate old barn with boarded up windows completely enhances this sound; all four members play as though they are playing a sold out show at London’s O2 arena, rather than a dimly-lit outbuilding with cobwebs hanging from the rafters.
Opening track ‘All There Is’ begins with singer Sullivan strumming his guitar as delicately as though playing a piano, gradually beginning to sing in coarse vocals that contrast with a steady rhythm of sounds provided by electric guitar, bass and synth. The song is striking and fills the room, with music that wouldn’t sound out of place on a film score. It sets the basis for a promising show, although this is knocked slightly when the singer has to communicate with the sound man to get their levels right, which serves as a reminder that the band still have a way to go.
Disregarding this slight hitch, No Trays Or Foxes glide through the rest of their set, delivering a wide range of songs that emphasise the wide array of talents that each member brings to the table. They soar through songs featuring beats so irregular they become regular, others whereby the synth sounds like a psychedelic descent straight into Wonderland before reverting completely into thrashing guitars and riffs that are reminiscent of bands like Foo Fighters and Biffy Clyro.
As they progress through the set, one thing becomes obvious – No Trays Or Foxes are masters of their art. Their ability to combine the most unlikely of partnerships becomes uncanny, whether it’s making the soft strums of acoustic guitar compliment the innate heaviness of the bass, or playing electric guitar with a drawl that emanates a sense of dread against heartfelt, soulful vocals. Their songs manage to be simplistic at the most complex end of the spectrum. They sound familiar, yet unlike anything ever heard before. It’s something that shouldn’t really be possible, but No Trays Or Foxes have taken this and run with it, and it works in a way that it really shouldn’t be able to.
By the time the band reach their final song ‘Spiralling,’ the once distant audience are now mere steps away from the stage. Even after No Trays Or Foxes have left the stage, the soaring, echoing and at times chilling effect of their music takes hold, surviving in the ears and minds of the now captivated audience.
https://www.facebook.com/notraysorfoxes
https://twitter.com/NoTraysorFoxes
http://notraysorfoxes.bandcamp.com/
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Friday, 4 April 2014
Saturday, 19 October 2013
Panic! At The Disco – Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! review
Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! is a series of hits and misses, I assume a lot like a typical night out in Las Vegas, the lifestyle which frontman Brendon Urie kept in mind throughout the creation of the band’s fourth album. The hits are spectacular, whilst the misses leave me wondering what happened to this band that once soared upon the release of their debut album A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out way back in 2005. Panic! At The Disco are still magnificent, but they’re undoubtedly succumbing to the temptations of popular music – their uniqueness is waning, coming and going in an uncertain manner.
The opening track ‘This Is Gospel,’ however, is an absolute gem of a song. The album plunges straight into a song that is truly Panic! At The Disco; it’s powerful and certain, as strong as the sound of the heartbeat that the track opens with. ‘This Is Gospel’ is inspired with a passion that unmistakably comes directly from the heart, the lyrics ‘this is the beat of my heart’ suggesting that the track is what is keeping Urie going.
To go from such an empowering track to the album’s first single ‘Miss Jackson’ is an unexpected disappointment. Sure, it’s a great song, but it has a strong sense of déjà vu attached to it – I personally feel like Panic! lose themselves slightly here, almost as though they’re trapped under the influence of the returned Fall Out Boy; upon listening to ‘Miss Jackson,’ all I can think of is FOB’s brilliant comeback single ‘My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark.’ The song fails to satisfy lyrically too – the words run like a broken record, looping the same lines for 3 minutes and 12 seconds, and so I can’t help but think that since ex-guitarist Ryan Ross parted ways with the band after 2008’s Pretty. Odd, Panic! have gone downhill lyrically.
The third track ‘Vegas Lights’ has a closer sound to the band’s debut album than most songs on the fourth album, ringing almost reminiscent of ‘But It’s Better If You Do,’ yet crossing over somewhat with the overall sound of their third album, Vices & Virtues. It returns to the spectacle image that Panic! At The Disco often employ and it’s a good song, but still, it’s nothing special and I find myself yearning for more. This feeling carries on into the next song on the album, ‘Girl That You Love,’ a song so insignificant compared to the splendour of the band’s back catalogue that I feel no need to comment on any part of it.
Halfway through the album, we are met with ‘Nicotine,’ an infectious and catchy track which has an entirely suitable title. If Panic! were to record another album in the style of ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out,’ this song would be perfect for it. It’s almost as though the band have regressed back to 2005, but not quite as their sound has certainly developed in the eight years that have passed since the release of their debut. I’m impressed with ‘Girls / Girls/ Boys’ too, which carries on the ultimate sound of Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! and is undoubtedly one of the album’s highs, though not one of the strongest, especially not in the lyrical sense. ‘Casual Affair’ is another of the album’s highest points, a slightly toned down song that somehow still manages to capture the record’s overall sound. It’s not a significant song on Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! but it makes just the right amount of impact to ensure that it’s not overlooked either.
The album’s eighth track, ‘Far Too Young To Die,’ is one of two truly incredible songs on the album. From my first listen to the record, this song has always stood out to me and for no obvious reason either. It sounds highly similar to plenty of the remainder of Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!, but there’s something noticeably different about the energy of the track and the general feeling of it that’s impactful and somewhat electrifying. The penultimate track, ‘Collar Full’ is bright and happy and should really make as much impact as the previous song, yet actually comes up short. It sounds similar to the bonus tracks of Vices & Virtues and for me, that is exactly where this song belongs. It’s lost on this current album, out of place, a notion which echoes my current feelings on Panic! At The Disco as a band.
The final track of Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! is another of the album’s two truly incredible songs. ‘The End Of All Things ‘ is an orchestration of stunning simplicity, completely unlike any other track done by Panic! At The Disco, and completely unlike anything else on the album itself. I’m in awe of this track, its impact and its inspiration. It’s saddening to think of the extent to which such a pure, beautiful, romantic and honest song is undermined by the album’s previous songs.
And that captures the overall feeling of Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! It’s truly saddening that such obvious talents seem to be worsening with each release because although their fourth release is still quite brilliant, there are just as many hits on the album as there are misses. And in comparison to the amazing albums that are A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out and Pretty. Odd, it’s clear to see that Panic! At The Disco are losing both their direction and their authenticity.
The opening track ‘This Is Gospel,’ however, is an absolute gem of a song. The album plunges straight into a song that is truly Panic! At The Disco; it’s powerful and certain, as strong as the sound of the heartbeat that the track opens with. ‘This Is Gospel’ is inspired with a passion that unmistakably comes directly from the heart, the lyrics ‘this is the beat of my heart’ suggesting that the track is what is keeping Urie going.
To go from such an empowering track to the album’s first single ‘Miss Jackson’ is an unexpected disappointment. Sure, it’s a great song, but it has a strong sense of déjà vu attached to it – I personally feel like Panic! lose themselves slightly here, almost as though they’re trapped under the influence of the returned Fall Out Boy; upon listening to ‘Miss Jackson,’ all I can think of is FOB’s brilliant comeback single ‘My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark.’ The song fails to satisfy lyrically too – the words run like a broken record, looping the same lines for 3 minutes and 12 seconds, and so I can’t help but think that since ex-guitarist Ryan Ross parted ways with the band after 2008’s Pretty. Odd, Panic! have gone downhill lyrically.
The third track ‘Vegas Lights’ has a closer sound to the band’s debut album than most songs on the fourth album, ringing almost reminiscent of ‘But It’s Better If You Do,’ yet crossing over somewhat with the overall sound of their third album, Vices & Virtues. It returns to the spectacle image that Panic! At The Disco often employ and it’s a good song, but still, it’s nothing special and I find myself yearning for more. This feeling carries on into the next song on the album, ‘Girl That You Love,’ a song so insignificant compared to the splendour of the band’s back catalogue that I feel no need to comment on any part of it.
Halfway through the album, we are met with ‘Nicotine,’ an infectious and catchy track which has an entirely suitable title. If Panic! were to record another album in the style of ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out,’ this song would be perfect for it. It’s almost as though the band have regressed back to 2005, but not quite as their sound has certainly developed in the eight years that have passed since the release of their debut. I’m impressed with ‘Girls / Girls/ Boys’ too, which carries on the ultimate sound of Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! and is undoubtedly one of the album’s highs, though not one of the strongest, especially not in the lyrical sense. ‘Casual Affair’ is another of the album’s highest points, a slightly toned down song that somehow still manages to capture the record’s overall sound. It’s not a significant song on Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! but it makes just the right amount of impact to ensure that it’s not overlooked either.
The album’s eighth track, ‘Far Too Young To Die,’ is one of two truly incredible songs on the album. From my first listen to the record, this song has always stood out to me and for no obvious reason either. It sounds highly similar to plenty of the remainder of Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!, but there’s something noticeably different about the energy of the track and the general feeling of it that’s impactful and somewhat electrifying. The penultimate track, ‘Collar Full’ is bright and happy and should really make as much impact as the previous song, yet actually comes up short. It sounds similar to the bonus tracks of Vices & Virtues and for me, that is exactly where this song belongs. It’s lost on this current album, out of place, a notion which echoes my current feelings on Panic! At The Disco as a band.
The final track of Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! is another of the album’s two truly incredible songs. ‘The End Of All Things ‘ is an orchestration of stunning simplicity, completely unlike any other track done by Panic! At The Disco, and completely unlike anything else on the album itself. I’m in awe of this track, its impact and its inspiration. It’s saddening to think of the extent to which such a pure, beautiful, romantic and honest song is undermined by the album’s previous songs.
And that captures the overall feeling of Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! It’s truly saddening that such obvious talents seem to be worsening with each release because although their fourth release is still quite brilliant, there are just as many hits on the album as there are misses. And in comparison to the amazing albums that are A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out and Pretty. Odd, it’s clear to see that Panic! At The Disco are losing both their direction and their authenticity.
Thursday, 1 August 2013
Kids In Glass Houses: Fibbers gig review
I first saw Kids In Glass Houses on 6/02/10, a couple of days after 'Matters At All,' the second single to come from their second album 'Dirt,' was released. They were supporting Lostprophets at Hull City Hall and I distinctly remember how good they were live; after a truly terrible opening from first support band Hexes it's perhaps no wonder that I remember it so well, but to engage and capture the less-than-impressed audience the way that KIGH did is no easy feat, yet they managed it effortlessly. I've been a firm fan ever since and so you can imagine that I jumped at the chance to see them again, over 3 years later, this time headlining a show in York.
Much like the first time I saw them, the supporting bands were polar opposites. First up were Summer City, who at first seemed pretty good, though I had to question my initial judgement when they engaged with the crowd gathered before them. Their on-stage personalities are similar to that of a certain YouTube "vlogger" worshipped by millions of fangirls worldwide, and not in a good sense - I was regrettably left trying to control my laughter rather than being able to listen to their music, which really wasn't too bad. It's just a shame that their songs are undermined and let-down by their cringey on-stage mannerisms. On a high note however, Summer City do have guts; they made an extremely brave choice to cover Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Call Me Maybe,' which they pulled off as well as any band covering one of the most annoying songs in the world could do.
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Fall Out Boy - The Phoenix
It occurred to me today that I haven't yet shared the second
single to come from the upcoming Fall Out Boy album on my blog yet, which I'm a
little shocked at. To put it simply, The Phoenix is a masterpiece. Released
last week, it's already my second most played track of the year (the first
being FOB's comeback single, My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark) - as it
stands, the play count is currently at 420. It's inconceivably good. I
frequently listen to songs that I love and can't even begin to comprehend how
someone can be genius enough to think each component up. The Phoenix is
definitely one of those songs.
Judging from the current songs released from 'Save Rock and Roll' (which can be pre-ordered here), the album is going to be amazing, and I have extremely high expectations for it. The artists FOB are collaborating with are completely brilliant, featuring none other than Elton John and Courtney Love. I particularly can't wait to hear the song with Courtney Love. Though both songs that have been released so far are considerably different from previous Fall Out Boy songs, I'm a huge fan of what they're creating from the ashes of their hiatus. It's like a whole new band, yet somehow it's still the same FOB I know and love.
Over a week on from its release, I'm still playing The Phoenix on repeat. As with pretty much every other Fall Out Boy song, the lyrics are wonderful, the guitars and the drums are crazy. I love the bridge of the song, I love the chorus and I love the verses - this is a song that soars, so it's title is definitely appropriate. The Phoenix is one of the closest things to perfect I've ever heard, providing further evidence that Fall Out Boy are unarguably and undeniably one of the most talented bands of their time. With a comeback like this, Fall Out Boy have the potential to blow every other band out of the water.
Over a week on from its release, I'm still playing The Phoenix on repeat. As with pretty much every other Fall Out Boy song, the lyrics are wonderful, the guitars and the drums are crazy. I love the bridge of the song, I love the chorus and I love the verses - this is a song that soars, so it's title is definitely appropriate. The Phoenix is one of the closest things to perfect I've ever heard, providing further evidence that Fall Out Boy are unarguably and undeniably one of the most talented bands of their time. With a comeback like this, Fall Out Boy have the potential to blow every other band out of the water.
Monday, 25 March 2013
My Chemical Romance Break-up
It absolutely kills me that I'm having to write something like this. I first discovered My Chemical Romance just after my 11th birthday. They're the first band I truly loved, and naively, it never really occurred to me that one day they might cease to exist as a band. When I heard the news that they had disbanded yesterday, it came as a massive and unwanted shock. I never thought I'd be so saddened at a band breaking up. I wasn't this sad when Fall Out Boy, the second band I really dedicated myself to, went on hiatus, simply because it was only a hiatus and even it was a decade or two away, there was a glimmer of hope that one day they would be coming back. A break-up seems so final. I know their music will live on and it's always going to mean so much to me, but the thought of them not making music together anymore and the fact that I'll never get the chance to see them live is something that I won't be able to comprehend for a little while yet.
This break-up was definitely unexpected. In the past, each member of the band has said that MCR is forever, for life. They've always been lightyears ahead of every other band during their 12 year reign of rock music. Listening to their music now doesn't feel right somehow now. The day I heard about the break-up, I mourned them. Wore the t-shirt, listened to all their albums in order of release, watched the DVDs. My heart wasn't in it, and 3 days on from that, it still feels surreal that I have to refer to them in the past tense now. Maybe it's because of the message that broke the news - an eight-five word paragraph that seems so cold and impersonal, coming from a band - and one of the few bands - that are all about the fans, readily acknowledging that it's because of the fans that they got to make such a brilliant mark in history.
Since then, both Mikey and Gerard have tweeted about it. Two brief and sincere tweets from Mikey just thanking everyone for the 'unforgettable journey' while Gerard writes a lengthy and touching, though slightly vague, letter to the fans offering an explanation for the progress that kick-started My Chemical Romance's diminishing. After 12 incredible years, their hearts just weren't in it anymore. And for that reason, I have to accept their decision. If they were to continue as a band, unhappy and strained, the amazing efforts of the band so far wouldn't be succeeded. And both the band and the fans deserve for something amazing to be delivered. So despite all the rumours that MCR are breaking up just to reform under a new name, fuelled by tweets and messages from loved ones and close friends, the only thing I can do now is wait for whatever Frank, Ray, Mikey and Gerard do next. And I really do look forward to it, because, for me, they're some of the most inspiring and talented guys that I'll ever get to know of; I have no doubt that whatever they each do next is going to be equally as inspiring and incredible as the amazing journey they shared together as a band, as My Chemical Romance.
So while I'm truly devastated that My Chemical Romance have split up, I'm ultimately just really thankful that they existed in the first place, that they made it this long, and that they created some of the most meaningful and amazing songs that this world will ever be blessed with. The legacy that they've left behind is brilliant and it's one that I can't see any other band ever coming close to, a notion which I'm sure thousands of other fans will echo. Because it's true, My Chemical Romance are a band that have truly touched and united millions of fans across the planet. They're a band that has saved lives and they're a band that will continue to save lives. Even after their untimely demise, the music and message of My Chemical Romance will live on in the hearts and the souls of devoted fans. Though they no longer exist as a band, they will never truly die. They'll never be gone and forgotten. And that's just one part of their legend.
My Chemical Romance: 2001 - 2013.
This break-up was definitely unexpected. In the past, each member of the band has said that MCR is forever, for life. They've always been lightyears ahead of every other band during their 12 year reign of rock music. Listening to their music now doesn't feel right somehow now. The day I heard about the break-up, I mourned them. Wore the t-shirt, listened to all their albums in order of release, watched the DVDs. My heart wasn't in it, and 3 days on from that, it still feels surreal that I have to refer to them in the past tense now. Maybe it's because of the message that broke the news - an eight-five word paragraph that seems so cold and impersonal, coming from a band - and one of the few bands - that are all about the fans, readily acknowledging that it's because of the fans that they got to make such a brilliant mark in history.
Since then, both Mikey and Gerard have tweeted about it. Two brief and sincere tweets from Mikey just thanking everyone for the 'unforgettable journey' while Gerard writes a lengthy and touching, though slightly vague, letter to the fans offering an explanation for the progress that kick-started My Chemical Romance's diminishing. After 12 incredible years, their hearts just weren't in it anymore. And for that reason, I have to accept their decision. If they were to continue as a band, unhappy and strained, the amazing efforts of the band so far wouldn't be succeeded. And both the band and the fans deserve for something amazing to be delivered. So despite all the rumours that MCR are breaking up just to reform under a new name, fuelled by tweets and messages from loved ones and close friends, the only thing I can do now is wait for whatever Frank, Ray, Mikey and Gerard do next. And I really do look forward to it, because, for me, they're some of the most inspiring and talented guys that I'll ever get to know of; I have no doubt that whatever they each do next is going to be equally as inspiring and incredible as the amazing journey they shared together as a band, as My Chemical Romance.
So while I'm truly devastated that My Chemical Romance have split up, I'm ultimately just really thankful that they existed in the first place, that they made it this long, and that they created some of the most meaningful and amazing songs that this world will ever be blessed with. The legacy that they've left behind is brilliant and it's one that I can't see any other band ever coming close to, a notion which I'm sure thousands of other fans will echo. Because it's true, My Chemical Romance are a band that have truly touched and united millions of fans across the planet. They're a band that has saved lives and they're a band that will continue to save lives. Even after their untimely demise, the music and message of My Chemical Romance will live on in the hearts and the souls of devoted fans. Though they no longer exist as a band, they will never truly die. They'll never be gone and forgotten. And that's just one part of their legend.
My Chemical Romance: 2001 - 2013.
Sunday, 10 March 2013
LostAlone Album #3
One of my absolute favourite bands on this planet just announced details for their third album, that is 100% being released later on this year. I was super excited for it anyway, especially after hearing them play a new song from the album called ‘Hostages’ (which was absolutely brilliant) last month, and this news has only increased that. To further add to my excitement, LostAlone have teamed up with PledgeMusic in order to offer the fans a truly unique experience in the run-up to the album. By pledging, fans can gain inside coverage of the album, both the making of it and the run-up to it’s release, and also plenty of exclusive merch designed specially for pledgers, amongst other things including gigs and signed items – my personal favourite is the ‘Acoustic Show Anywhere on Earth,’ but unfortunately, I don’t have £1000 to spare.
Each and every pledge will go a long way in supporting LostAlone which is worthwhile in itself, but the rewards definitely make it that little bit more special. I have yet to make a pledge as I’m finding it really difficult to make a choice on which one to go for, I just want it all… Obviously some of the fans have made up their minds though, as the project was only launched 2 days ago and already, 25% of the band’s goal has been met, which is absolutely great. Hopefully, I'll be able make a decision and add to that before the project closes in 177 days.
If you want to make a pledge and support LostAlone during the making of their third album, which I have extremely high hopes for, this is the link: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/lostalone. If you’ve never heard of LostAlone, definitely go and check them out at http://www.lostalone.com/. Once you’ve realised their complete and utter genius, please head over to PledgeMusic and make a pledge towards their goal – it’s definitely something that you won’t regret.
Friday, 8 March 2013
Song Of The Day: Fall Out Boy – Thnks Fr Th Mmrs
Thursday, 7 March 2013
Song Of The Day: No Doubt - Just A Girl
‘Just A Girl’ captures female strength perfectly. It flaunts a total disregard of the stereotypical expectations of women and I think that’s why I love it so much. Gwen Stefani, both in No Doubt and as a solo artist, is one of my biggest inspirations because she stands out as a strong force in a male-dominated industry and I love everything she stands for. She paved the way for a more liberated music industry, in which females in bands are taken seriously and don’t have to demand the respect they deserve – it’s automatic. She truly is a massively influential icon. This aside, this song is pretty much one of the best songs in existence anyway. It's an anthem for all strong females who truly believe in themselves, as despite a huge social movement and adjustment of expected views and stereotypes, it is still (arguably) a man's world. And though it’s not the song that made me fall in love with No Doubt (a feat evoked by both ‘Hey Baby’ and ‘It’s My Life’), it’s one that I’ll never tire of. Or one that I hope I never tire of. This goes for pretty much all of No Doubt’s other songs too, but I’m probably biased, as they are undoubtedly one of my favourite bands ever.
Saturday, 23 February 2013
LostAlone: The Cockpit gig review
LostAlone have been one of my favourite bands for a while now and, for me, they’re one of those bands that can do no wrong. I find it’s usually the giants of the music scene that have a sound that’s completely their own, but LostAlone are one of those rare bands that, even on a small scale, have mastered an incredibly unique signature sound that’s fully theirs. I struggle to think of one song, demo, anything that I dislike even a little bit. After seeing them twice as an opening band, once supporting InMe and another supporting Tonight Alive, I finally got to go along to a headline show at The Cockpit in Leeds, on 20-02-13.
Monday, 4 February 2013
Fall Out Boy Are Back!
The hiatus is (finally) over! I can’t even find the words to announce it probably. When I first heard that Fall Out Boy had reunited, I spilt my coffee all over myself. That’s how excited I am. They’re one of my favourite bands ever (and also one of the greatest bands in the universe), so this is a dream come true for me. They’ve announced tour dates, they have a new album coming out May 7th and today they released an absolutely brilliant new song…
Friday, 21 December 2012
Sandy Relief Concert: Nirvana Reunion, Featuring Sir Paul McCartney
Nirvana and The Beatles are two amazing bands respectively; both were at the top of their games in their separate eras and continue to have a massive influence on artists today, but when I heard about Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl reuniting as Nirvana but with Sir Paul McCartney replacing the legendary Kurt Cobain, I was unconvinced. The idea of the 90’s grunge sound of Nirvana being belted out by co-vocalist of 60’s rock and roll group The Beatles just seems so wrong, especially as both bands existed more or less 30 years apart. While I love both bands a great deal, the styles of their music are worlds apart and I can’t comprehend combining the two.
Nirvana’s surviving members, including touring guitarist Pat Smear, and McCartney joined forces for a very worthy cause however – a relief concert held on 12/12/12 in support of the victims of Hurricane Sandy. And unlike the Nirvana songs I thought they would be playing, the four performed an original song called ‘Cut Me Some Slack.’ It’s (surprisingly) not bad either; the entire song has a Beatles’ ‘Helter Skelter’ vibe to it, with Cobain-esque vocals and an equal mixture of the signature sounds of Nirvana and The Beatles met with the music of the guitars and Grohl’s insane drumming talents.
The entire performance is borderline awesome - each person up on that stage is a legend in their own right. It’s also great to see that at the grand old age of 70, Paul McCartney’s still got it.
Nirvana’s surviving members, including touring guitarist Pat Smear, and McCartney joined forces for a very worthy cause however – a relief concert held on 12/12/12 in support of the victims of Hurricane Sandy. And unlike the Nirvana songs I thought they would be playing, the four performed an original song called ‘Cut Me Some Slack.’ It’s (surprisingly) not bad either; the entire song has a Beatles’ ‘Helter Skelter’ vibe to it, with Cobain-esque vocals and an equal mixture of the signature sounds of Nirvana and The Beatles met with the music of the guitars and Grohl’s insane drumming talents.
The entire performance is borderline awesome - each person up on that stage is a legend in their own right. It’s also great to see that at the grand old age of 70, Paul McCartney’s still got it.
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Conventional Weapons Number Three
The third set of songs to come from My Chemical Romance’s originally
scrapped album Conventional Weapons were released yesterday.
‘The World Is Ugly’ and ‘The Light Behind Your Eyes,’ have proven to be two of the most beautiful songs that the band have ever produced. They’re full of pure energy and meaning and feeling, with invoking lyrics and what I think is the rawest sound on any MCR songs since their first album. For me, ‘The World is Ugly’ and ‘The Light Behind Your Eyes’ lead a clear pathway to Danger Days, particularly the songs ‘SING’ and ‘The Kids From Yesterday.’
‘The World Is Ugly’ and ‘The Light Behind Your Eyes,’ have proven to be two of the most beautiful songs that the band have ever produced. They’re full of pure energy and meaning and feeling, with invoking lyrics and what I think is the rawest sound on any MCR songs since their first album. For me, ‘The World is Ugly’ and ‘The Light Behind Your Eyes’ lead a clear pathway to Danger Days, particularly the songs ‘SING’ and ‘The Kids From Yesterday.’
I can’t really find the words to capture either of the songs.
‘The World Is Ugly’ and ‘The Light Behind Your Eyes’ are two songs that move
you; they’re striking and inspiring. I
love both songs. They are proof that My
Chemical Romance are one of the most perfect rock bands in existence.
Conventional Weapons Number Three can be purchased on iTunes
here.
Monday, 17 December 2012
Song Of The Day: The Misfits – Dig Up Her Bones
‘Dig Up Her Bones’ is the first song I ever heard by the Misfits and even after listening to (and loving) their other songs, this one has remained my favourite.
The song is just completely great. While it’s not the best example of the typical Misfits sound due to it being the first single to come from the reformed band, after the break-up of the original band in 1983, their heavy influence on rock, metal and punk music has stayed strong. I personally think that the Misfits are one of the best things to come out of the late-70′s rock music scene.
‘Dig Up Her Bones’ can be found on the Misfits’ 1997 album, American Psycho, an album that is definitely worth checking out (especially the song ‘Crimson Ghost.’) The early Misfits sound is best showcased by ‘Die, Die My Darling,’ another really awesome song.
Thursday, 13 December 2012
Rock’s Best Christmas Songs
Most fans of rock music will agree that the majority of classic Christmas songs are aged and cheesy and overplayed, and it’s hard to escape them. So this is my playlist of some of my favourite Christmas songs, either created or covered by some of the best in rock music…
1. LostAlone – I Want Christmas Always
2. blink-182
Where to start with blink-182? They’ve made three great Christmas songs, all of them with the signature blink-182 sound. The lyrics in both ‘I Won’t Be Home For Christmas’ and ‘Happy Holidays, You Bastard’ are probably the most anti-Christmas lyrics possible for a Christmas song, yet I still always listen to them around this time of year to get me in the festive spirit. The band recently unveiled a new song from their upcoming EP, ‘dogs eating dogs,’ called ‘Boxing Day’ – while it’s only standard blink-182, with a folksy spin on their sound, it’s still a pretty good song.
3. Fall Out Boy – Yule Shoot Your Eye Out
‘Yule Shoot Your Eye Out’ is a typical FOB masterpiece and manages to be un-Christmassy whilst still being a Christmas song, which I guess the title defines well. Opening with the sound of sleigh bells and ending with an electronic snippet of Christmas carol ‘Deck the Halls,’ the lyrics refer to Christmas in a completely un-festive way. Its acoustic sound makes a nice change from all the cheer from classic Christmas songs, and it’s Fall Out Boy, so of course it’s going to be an awesome song.
4. All Time Low – Merry Christmas, Kiss My Ass
The pop-punk sound and cheeky lyrics of All Time Low are what really make this song; like the classic Christmas songs, it’s catchy and it’s funny, but ‘Merry Christmas, Kiss My Ass’ sounds nothing like the classic Christmas songs, which makes it 10x better. I love this song and it always leaves me looking forward to the holiday.
5. The Killers
Like with blink-182, there’s not much I can say about The Killers’ Christmas songs – they speak for themselves. Every year the band come out with a new song specially for the season, and every year they are amazing.
I’m a fan of anything No Doubt, but their ska twist on this song (originally by The Vandals) is brilliant and manages to be a Christmas song without sound even remotely Christmassy, except from the guitar which maintains the sound of a festive song throughout.
7. My Chemical Romance – All I Want For Christmas Is You
In the first 40 seconds of this song, the only way you’d be able to tell that this is a My Chemical Romance cover of the classic Mariah Carey song (an unlikely choice, I know) is Gerard Way’s distinctive vocals. The full band make themselves known eventually though and pull the song off so well; I especially love the raw edge they’ve put on what is otherwise the classic Christmas song I hate the most. Basically, MCR’s take on this song makes for one of the best Christmas covers of all time.
8. Kids In Glass Houses – Secret Santa
So that’s my list of some of the most awesome Christmas songs of all time, in no particular order because they’re all bound to leave you in the festive spirit and looking forward to Christmas. Less than two weeks to go now!
Friday, 7 December 2012
Song Of The Day: The Smashing Pumpkins - Stand Inside Your Love
I can never pin-point exactly what it is I like about this
song, I just find it insanely beautiful. A combination of soaring riffs, Billy
Corgan's simultaneously gravelly yet soft voice and inspired lyrics, it's a
song I can listen to again and again without ever tiring of it; it's possibly one
of the most perfect love songs ever. 'Stand Inside Your Love' is the epitome of
the classic Smashing Pumpkins sound, and the video accompanying it is
completely mesmerizing too.
The song can be found on the band’s fifth studio album, Machina/The Machines Of God.
Sunday, 25 November 2012
LostAlone February 2013 Tour
LostAlone have announced their first headline tour of 2013, with dates ranging from the 15th to the 24th of February.
LostAlone are without a doubt one of the best British bands to ever exist. They're one of my favourite bands and I've had the pleasure of seeing them live twice and meeting them afterwards - not only are they a really amazing band, they're also awesome guys too. They put on a great show; these upcoming shows have a promised 'HUGE headline set' which I'm excited for already, despite the shows being just under 3 months away.
For the super cheap price of only £7 per ticket (not including any booking fees), you should definitely go along to one of their shows, which are happening all across the country, and check them out! Support acts have yet to be announced but if previous LostAlone tours are anything to go by, they'll be almost as good as the headlining band themselves.
I've already bought my tickets to the Leeds show on 20/02/13 - tickets can be bought at the links below:
Plymouth - www.seetickets.com
Bristol - http://www.alt-tickets.co.uk/
Birmingham - www.ticketweb.co.uk
Newcastle - www.ticketweb.co.uk
Leeds - www.lunatickets.co.uk
Glasgow - www.lunatickets.co.uk
Manchester - www.kililive.com
London - www.kililive.com
These dates can also be viewed over at www.lostalone.com. Check out LostAlone here on YouTube and also on iTunes.
LostAlone are without a doubt one of the best British bands to ever exist. They're one of my favourite bands and I've had the pleasure of seeing them live twice and meeting them afterwards - not only are they a really amazing band, they're also awesome guys too. They put on a great show; these upcoming shows have a promised 'HUGE headline set' which I'm excited for already, despite the shows being just under 3 months away.
For the super cheap price of only £7 per ticket (not including any booking fees), you should definitely go along to one of their shows, which are happening all across the country, and check them out! Support acts have yet to be announced but if previous LostAlone tours are anything to go by, they'll be almost as good as the headlining band themselves.
I've already bought my tickets to the Leeds show on 20/02/13 - tickets can be bought at the links below:
Plymouth - www.seetickets.com
Bristol - http://www.alt-tickets.co.uk/
Birmingham - www.ticketweb.co.uk
Newcastle - www.ticketweb.co.uk
Leeds - www.lunatickets.co.uk
Glasgow - www.lunatickets.co.uk
Manchester - www.kililive.com
London - www.kililive.com
These dates can also be viewed over at www.lostalone.com. Check out LostAlone here on YouTube and also on iTunes.
Saturday, 24 November 2012
Song Of The Day: deadmau5 – Professional Griefers (feat. Gerard Way)
The result of what is possibly one of the unlikeliest collaborations in music between electro/dance music mogul deadmau5 and My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way, Professional Griefers is probably one of my favourite tracks of the year. If I’m being completely honest, I only listened to it because Gerard features on it and I’m a dedicated MCR fan, but I’m super glad I did listen to it because, all bias aside, the song is so good.
Not only is it a really awesome song, it has the most expensive electronic dance music video to date accompanying it. The video and it’s concept as a whole are pretty cool, but my favourite part is 4:58 simply because Gerard’s reaction reminds me of Alan Grant in Jurassic Park when he first sees the dinosaurs.
So that’s the soundtrack of my day; I hope you like it as much as I do. It can be purchased on iTunes as part of deadmau5′s latest album ‘> album title goes here <’ here.
New Mindless Self Indulgence demo
As a result of reaching $100K on their Kickstarter campaign, the electropunk rockers have released a demo of a new track.
The Kickstarter campaign acts as ransom for the new Mindless Self Indulgence record, held captive by the band – only after the $150,000 pledge has been met will the album be released. In a random act of kindness that I, along with many other MSI fans, am extremely thankful for, singer Jimmy Urine debuted a demo of an unnamed song that can be heard below:
And it’s typical Mindless Self Indulgence – even with a more evolved sound, the track (even though it’s only at demo stage) is unlike anything any other band could even dream of creating, combining an insane infusion of sounds and crazy lyrics that make up the eclectic song that only MSI could pull off. With a track like this, I can’t even begin to imagine what their new record sounds like – all I know is that it will be completely awesome and I really hope the band reach their $150K pledge because that is one album that the world needs to hear.
To release the new Mindless Self Indulgence record that’s currently being held hostage, head on over to their Kickstarter page and make a pledge, with donations ranging from a mere $1 to $5000 – fans who pledge don’t go unrewarded either, with prizes including digital downloads of the album, bassist Lynz Way’s tour shirts and having your name featured on one of the album’s song names. Basically, some of these rewards are completely once-in-a-lifetime so please go and support the band by making a pledge towards the new MSI album!
The Kickstarter campaign acts as ransom for the new Mindless Self Indulgence record, held captive by the band – only after the $150,000 pledge has been met will the album be released. In a random act of kindness that I, along with many other MSI fans, am extremely thankful for, singer Jimmy Urine debuted a demo of an unnamed song that can be heard below:
And it’s typical Mindless Self Indulgence – even with a more evolved sound, the track (even though it’s only at demo stage) is unlike anything any other band could even dream of creating, combining an insane infusion of sounds and crazy lyrics that make up the eclectic song that only MSI could pull off. With a track like this, I can’t even begin to imagine what their new record sounds like – all I know is that it will be completely awesome and I really hope the band reach their $150K pledge because that is one album that the world needs to hear.
To release the new Mindless Self Indulgence record that’s currently being held hostage, head on over to their Kickstarter page and make a pledge, with donations ranging from a mere $1 to $5000 – fans who pledge don’t go unrewarded either, with prizes including digital downloads of the album, bassist Lynz Way’s tour shirts and having your name featured on one of the album’s song names. Basically, some of these rewards are completely once-in-a-lifetime so please go and support the band by making a pledge towards the new MSI album!
Conventional Weapons Number Two
My Chemical Romance, possibly one of the best rock bands in existence, unveiled the second set of songs from their scrapped album on Friday.
Conventional Weapons is its own era in the band’s discography, a post-Black Parade and pre-Danger Days secret album that fans could only have dreamed of hearing. So when guitarist Frank Iero broke the news that two songs from the record would be released per month running from October 2012 to February 2013, the whole fan base exploded.
After the release of ‘Boy Division’ and ‘Tomorrow’s Money’ last month, which are both completely phenomenal and can be purchased here, it’s safe to say that I was super excited for ‘Gun.’ and ‘AMBULANCE,’ which the band posted on their official YouTube account yesterday. Whilst the songs are no Conventional Weapons Number One (which is going to be extremely hard to match, those songs are amazing), they are definitely worth checking out, and can be heard below:
Both are melodic anthems boasting a sound that the band have obviously put their hearts and souls into creating; ‘AMBULANCE’ reminds me more and more of Queen every time I listen to it and ‘Gun.’ is just incredible in general, with lyrics that just beg you to sing along; it’s clear that these are the songs that led to the creation of the 15-track wonder that is ‘Danger Days,’ MCR’s most evolved sound to date. The songs that make up ‘Conventional Weapons’ so far show exactly how versatile My Chemical Romance are – the difference in the songs is almost astonishing yet all four tracks are inconceivably good, to put it mildly.
Conventional Weapons Number Two is now available to download on iTunes, and can currently be ordered on vinyl from the band’s official website here. Other CW merchandise and vinyl’s are available to purchase here, and more will be available to buy as the further songs are released.
Future track-listing and release dates from Conventional Weapons are as follows…
Title: Number Three
A-side: The World Is Ugly
B-side: The Light Behind Your Eyes
Release date: Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Title: Number Four
A-side: Kiss The Ring
B-side: Make Room!!!!
Release date: Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Title: Number Five
A-side: Surrender The Night
B-side: Burn Bright
Release date: Tuesday, February 5, 2013
LostAlone Christmas Show 2012
LostAlone have announced their annual hometown Christmas show, featuring some very special guests.
LostAlone will headline their 2012 Christmas show on 21/12/12 in their hometown of Derby alongside some of the UK’s best bands – it’s basically my dream line-up. In support of LostAlone will be Fearless Vampire Killers, Follow You Home (another two of my favourite bands) and Crushing Blows, also featuring a DJ set from Matt Stocks, resident DJ of Kerrang! Radio. This show really is going to completely phenomenal, and it’s definitely one of the best, if slightly unconventional, ways to celebrate Christmas 2012.
And if that’s not enough, after the show LostAlone hold a karaoke party, featuring singer/guitarist Steven Battelle singing ‘big diva anthems,’ as I found out after seeing the band supporting Tonight Alive in Leeds. Basically, the Christmas show is going to be all kinds of awesome. And how amazing is the poster promoting the gig!?
Tickets for what will potentially be one of the best shows you will ever go to in your entire life are a mere £10, and can be bought from www.thevictoriainnderby.co.uk/lostalone, or over the phone by calling (01332) 204873. I'm genuinely devastated that I won't be able to go, so people need to buy tickets and have a great time for me.
And if that’s not enough, after the show LostAlone hold a karaoke party, featuring singer/guitarist Steven Battelle singing ‘big diva anthems,’ as I found out after seeing the band supporting Tonight Alive in Leeds. Basically, the Christmas show is going to be all kinds of awesome. And how amazing is the poster promoting the gig!?
Tickets for what will potentially be one of the best shows you will ever go to in your entire life are a mere £10, and can be bought from www.thevictoriainnderby.co.uk/lostalone, or over the phone by calling (01332) 204873. I'm genuinely devastated that I won't be able to go, so people need to buy tickets and have a great time for me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)