Alternative Music Review

The Young Republic: Blue Skies - Single Review

2007-04-03T11:33:00.001Z

The Young Republic are formed of 8 college students 3 years ago and since then they have been churning out quality music which has spread through family, friends and the internet.

They have now released a digital single through
End Of The Road Records and it is available from Rough Trade digital store

Blue Skies opens with fantastic strings, military drumming and flutes almost exploding before lead singer Julian Saporiti and his folky, honest and thin, but brilliant voice starts with a great uplifting country-rock-pop song.

The second song on the single is the slower Small Town In A World War. It's a heartfelt song with the deep strings in the background before building up and ending elegantly well.

The band are now confirmed for Glastonbury and the End Of The Road Festival in September and will be headlining the End Of the Road Festivals monthly residency at the Social Club on Monday 25 June.

While their choice of having Small Town In A World War as their second is somewhat strange as I believe a lot of their other songs would be more popular, you can't help but see the future is bright for this group of youngsters who bring something new and old to the fore.

Check them out for yourself and you'll eagerly anticipate their album which is due to be released towards the end of the year.

You can purchase the digital release from here

The Young Republic website: www.theyoungrepublic.net//
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/theyoungrepublic

Shins: Wincing The Night Away - Album Review

2007-03-21T07:25:00.001Z

I'll admit firstly that I have not heard much of the earlier Shins music. But based on the good words I have heard from friends and fellow bloggers about them, I got this album.

To be honest at first, it just seemed like alternative-rock-pop and annoyingly so. The reason for my late review is that it was slowly becoming a likable album and I thought I'd let the process get near completion before passing judgement.

The album opener Sleeping Lessons is a very simple looped keyboard with James Mercers distorted voice over it before building up with more layers into an explosive finish. About half-way through is where it starts for me. This is followed by Australia, a very upbeat, pop-rock tune with has all the right ingredients.

One of the let-downs of the album is the next song: Pam Berry. It sounds like the Dick Dale track (Misirlou) from Pulp Fiction. It's less that a minute long incidentally.

Sealegs is another disappointing song. It sounds like a George Michael/Justin Timberlake pop song and unfortunately this grates. If you can get over the fake beats it's an alright track.

All in all the album meanders along nicely with it's pop beats and catchy lyrical intonations and riffs and is a worthwhile addition to a music collection.

There is no stand-out track or song that I am in love with. My reaction to it is similar to Belle & Sebastian's release The Life Pursuit. Great band, musically and lyrically very good, but an album that passes without too much comment either good or bad.

The final song Comet Appears is beautiful. Simple, poetic, and the best song on the album.

1. Sleeping Lessons
2. Australia
3. Pam Barry
4. Phantom Limb
5. Sealegs
6. Red Rabbits
7. Turn On Me
8. Black Wave
9. Split Needles
10. Girl Sailor
11. Comet Appears

Shins website: www.theshins.com/
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/theshins

Arcade Fire: Brixton Academy 15 March 2007 – Live Review

2007-03-16T11:25:00.000Z

Having managed to get down from the upstairs seated “circle” and into the standing area downstairs I started on my first Jack Daniel’s and Coke in anticipation of my first Arcade Fire gig.

I’ve been looking forward to this ever since I flukily managed to get tickets.

The support artist was Patrick Wolf, a flame-haired, strangely dressed man. I was only in time to catch his last song "Magical Position" which was enough to make me think I should have arrived earlier.

Arcade Fire's night started with a black and white film of a church preaching lady storming about stage pretty much shouting her speech. Then entered the band.

Win then “warned” us that he was due to have an operation as his throat was not holding up well. I don’t know if he was joking or not as he didn’t hold back one iota.

Starting with the upbeat drums and energetic vocals on “Keep the Car Running” Arcade Fire have announced themselves to the audience. “Black Mirror” follows showcasing the subtler, spookier side of their music. Then came the old “No Cars Go” originally on their EP and re-recorded for the new album.

“Black Wave / Bad Vibrations” which is as suggests a two-part track, then started with me getting into my second beverage of the evening.

What I noticed from the beginning is that the band members are all violently passionate about the music they create. From the 2 violinists, to the brass instrumentalists to the 3 guitarists, accordion, tambourine, and drums they all love what they do.

Regine’s versatility was particularly used as she went from singing to keyboard to accordion and then drums in the space of a few songs.

The empowering “Rebellion (Lies)” and “Wake Up” soon followed with the whole crowd singing along as the event seemed to be drawing to a close. The chorus for “Wake Up” continued well past the band completing the song and the whole audience was singing for about another minute.

After two encores, they returned to do “Neon Bible” which I thought was an unusual choice to end off on. Despite my love for the track, I thought it would be the least popular of the album and it certainly is not a crowd-lifter.

Overall, a great experience.

I don’t like superlatives, but at the moment Arcade Fire are simply the best band I have heard.

If you get a chance to see them live, take it. You wont regret it one bit.

Annuals: Be He Me - Album Review

2007-02-18T21:21:00.000Z

There is something refreshingly original, nostalgic and artistic to everything when embarking on the Annuals journey. This is a grown-up and refreshing album from the 6-piece band of North Carolina. And what's amazing is that no one in the band is over 22 years old.

The album opens with Brother, crickets in the background before a slow gentle guitar creeping in with violins before blasting into an energetic frenzy with all sorts of synthesizer noises coming in. A great introduction.

I've never been a fan of what is referred to as "experimental" or electronic beeps and strange computer whines infiltrating my headphones. However, with the Annuals, it fits in perfectly.

"The Annuals infuse their music with an array of intense emotions" per their website and I couldn't agree more. You get the whole gamut in this album.

Dry Clothes is a brilliant showcase for the variety you are to enjoy as the album progresses. From Adam Baker's friendly singing to shouts of glee, screams and back to the sweet slower version. And about 3 or 4 rhythm changes along the way.

BROTHER

I was presented with this album by someone who said "As far as quality of music is concerned, they are as good as Arcade Fire ". My first impression was to disagree. However, having now listened numerous times, I have found myself enjoying it just as much. Some reviews have compared their sound with the Montrealers, but I feel they are very different. With the Annuals you get a less frenetic and more calm side before having to "ride the storm".

There is no weak track on the album. Each one compliments each other. My favourite is Complete, or Completing with it's introductory piano, brilliant hoof-like woodblock percussion and the chorus:

"Silence all the clocks tonight
It's show time, with drinks to spill
Hear my mouth, I've got the sounds
to send you back home with peace of mind"

Ida, My shows the slower, laid back side of Adam's voice, before a flurry of electro-beats, rhythmical blurps and beeps hit in creating two completely different halves of the song.

Father, the most touching and melancholy song of the album is about a father losing a child asking:

"What debt has my boy to pay?
What crime has been to deserve this fate?
Lord, What debt has my boy to pay?"

I could go on. In fact there is so much put into this album that I could dissect each song at length, but I'll leave that to you.

As screamed at the beginning of Carry Around:
"I got magic in my head, magic up my nose, magic coming out my fingers, magic crying out my eyes. I've got magic everywhere I fucking look. I can't fight it either, I wish I could." I sure hope that magic returns and will look forward to their next instalment.

Overall, a brilliant album for those of us who are looking for something slightly different, unique and emotional.

Track listing:
1. Brother
2. Dry Clothes
3. Complete, or Completing
4. Carry Around
5. Chase You Off
6. Bleary-Eyed
7. Fair
8. Bull, and the Goat
9. Mama
10. Ida, My
11. Father
12. Sway

Annuals website: www.annualsmusic.com/
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/annuals
Free song: Bleary Eyed
Other free media: www.annualsmusic.com/audiovideo.php

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Some Loud Thunder - Album Review

2007-02-10T08:12:00.000Z

Brooklyn band Clap Your Hands Say Yeah return to release their second album Some Loud Thunder. Their self-titled debut was very well received after some rave reviews.

First impressions are not good. The opening title song is simply too distorted to be enjoyable. It sounds like it could be a good or even great song, but the continual blasts in your ears simply make it painful to listen to. Bizarrely, it's intentional. Big mistake in my books. However, they did the same with their circus announcer opener of the last album and in time I got over that. It's sad skipping the opening track every time - as I do with their previous album, but the rest partly makes up for it.

This album doesn't have the same sort of sing-along, catchiness to it and is a somewhat darker, more dense compilation. There are still some great tracks and they have experimented with their sound but what made their debut great was their all out energy, speed and application of themselves. I believe they have lost some of these ingredients at parts here.

Following the ear-bashing opener, is Emily Jean Stock with it's light strumming and Alec's voice accompanied by high pitched backing vocals and then Mama, Won't You Keep Them Castles in the Air and Burning? another slower, more "down to earth" track.

My personal favourite from this album is Satan Said Dance. With it's dancy, beepy, electronic assistance, with it's bizarre sing-along chorus, it makes it a track which I can listen to over and over. In fact on short car trips, it's the only one I listen to.

When listening to the first album I had to get used to the singers voice. This time I don't. And while obviously I've gotten familiar with it, but also there is less of what critics call the "over-wavering nasal singing" that was on their debut.

Goodbye to Mother and the Cove follows in the vein of the slower, downbeat trend through most of the album.

Yankee Go Home most sounds like it belongs on their first album. An energetic, riff-laden theatrical effort. It also has lines ending in words that use Alec's wail the most effectively.

The 2 pre-final songs are more life-like, enjoyable and upbeat but then it the experience is let down by the finale Five Easy Pieces with Alec dragging out words with an annoying cave-like echo. While the lyrics make a nice poem, the song is simply a drag to listen to.

Overall there are some good tracks, a couple of very good tracks, some ok and some duds. If you are expecting a fantastic album after all the hype, you may be in for a disappointment. If you are simply interested in which direction they have taken, then you may like it, but I would think many would be disappointed. Unfortunatley, I am somewhat.

Track listing:
1. Some Loud Thunder
2. Emily Jean Stock
3. Mama, Won't You Keep Them Castles in the Air and Burning?
4. Love Song No.7
5. Satan Said Dance
6. Upon Encountering the Crippled Elephant
7. Goodbye to Mother and the Cove
8. Arm and Hammer
9. Yankee Go Home
10. Underwater (You and Me)
11. Five Easy Pieces

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah website: www.clapyourhandssayyeah.com
Free MP3s (legit): Love Song No. 7
Underwater (You and Me)
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/clapyourhandssayyeah

Arcade Fire: Neon Bible - Album Review

2007-02-02T15:00:00.000Z

The eagerly anticipated second album from Montreal group Arcade Fire is due for release on 5 March. Having stormed the world with their debut album Funeral, this is possibly the most enthusiastically awaited second album of 2007.

They are on a tour in the Europe now until April. They just played in St. Johns Church and Porchester Hall, London and will return to the capital mid-March (I'm fortunate enough to have gotten tickets!)

While comparisons will be made with Funeral, which was my favourite album of 2005 (date of release in UK), that album "crept up on me" rather than instant love. I would suggest quite a few listens before deciding.

The opening track is Black Mirror (first single in the US) which hauntingly inches up on you with it's background wind, simple, repeated guitar strum, violins and piano. And of course Win Butler's wavering sometimes honey-like voice. When I first heard this track, I feared the "second album syndrome" as it didn't seem to offer anything new. Funeral was such an empowering body of work and upon first inspection this didn't live up to that. However, my tenacity has been rewarded. If you liked Funeral and have patience, you'll enjoy it.

Keep the Car Running (their first UK single of the album) starts off upbeat and is the most pop-like of all the album. It's an instantly likable, pop-rock track. Going through the album, it starts to offer what I have come to expect from Arcade Fire - making the unusual sound great, the off-notes sound right and the cacophony a harmony. That's what I came to love.

A new direction is taken with Neon Bible, with a somewhat empty and repetitive bass line with Win's echoing voice singing:
"It's the Neon Bible
The Neon Bible
Not Much chance for survival
If the Neon Bible is right"

It reminds me of Wolf Parades song, Modern World in that it's one simple tune and a deep underlying message about belief and direction.

No Cars Go, also on their Arcade Fire EP is more in line with what fans will be expecting, the blasting synths, accordion, group shouting, violins and fast drums.

Intervention live in Canterbury High School (Ottawa, Canada) January 2007
(best quality sound on video I could find, shame picture is not good)

As I listen through the album it edges closer and closer to me. The second half of the album is definitely more punchy and upbeat. This starts with Black Wave/Bad Vibrations which starts of with Régine singing alternately in English and French with a punchy drum as the main backdrop and then half way through it changes completely with Win laying on the vocals over a totally different and gradually more energetic sound.

From that point on I am sold. With each track getting simply better and better the more I listen.

Liked Funeral? Within time you'll love this.

Track listing:
1. Black Mirror
2. Keep The Car Running
3. Neon Bible
4. Intervention
5. Black Wave / Bad Vibrations
6. Ocean Of Noise
7. The Well And The Lighthouse
8. Building Downtown (Antichrist Television Blues)
9. Windowsill
10. No Cars Go
11. My Body Is a Cage

Arcade Fire website: www.arcadefire.com
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/arcadefireofficial

Blanche: What This Town Needs - EP Review

2007-02-01T19:49:00.000Z

Husband and wife team Dan and Tracee Miller head up Blanche, a Detroit alternative country rock band. The band have various other activities and interests such as Jack Lawrence's bass playing with the Raconteurs, Dan and Tracee's roles in the movie Walk The Line as Luther Perkins and wife, and Tracee's artwork which sells very well on her website.

Blanche's stated mission is: "To create, maintain and extend throughout the community high standards of musical standards."

From the name, the album cover and the bells outside at the start of the title track, I felt like I was in a cowboy movie. Dan and Tracee Miller then trade intense vocals over pedal steel guitar, banjo, raw guitar sounds, and sparse, driving drumming.

Child Of The Moon is much slower, less in your face track with the eerie pedal steel and banjo strumming making this a walk-home-after-a-long-day type of song.

Someday...

What impresses me most, surely purposely, is their ability to take you back in time. To when things were simpler, and clearer. Everything from their music's artwork, their website, to their sound and lyrics creates this.

The third track is the very harmonious and beautifully versed Scar Beneath The Skin. The most poetic and perfect example of this I feel is this verse:
"Floor board creaking once again
Each morning when your day begins
Brittle branches sprouted leaves
Wind chimes swaying in the breeze."

In order to get the beauty of it, you have to listen to the song. Sorry folks.

The EP finishes with more upbeat and energetic Never Again about love lost and taken for granted and a live version of Someday... which makes we want to see them live.

A good alternative country album which, with more listening, really grows on you.

They have an album due for release soon, which I look forward to.

Blanche website: www.blanchemusic.com/
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/blanchedetroit

The Besnard Lakes: The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse - Album Review

2007-01-25T21:25:00.000Z

The Besnard Lakes are Montrealers by way of Western Canada. Original members Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas are joined by some new faces for their second album. It's a deep, reverberating, emotional ride.

On hearing the beginning of the first song, Disaster, I was incredibly worried about what was to come. It starts with slow, plucked strings and Jace Lasek with his falsetto voice singing melodically over it. At first it grated and I felt it was limp. This was all to change.

Slow horns, violins, brass and woodwind instruments add to the slow, but powerful sound and finally (2 minutes into the song) the drums and guitars kick in. This builds up further and further and you feel like you are listening to a whole orchestra echoing perfectly in a cathedral with the ongoing chorus "You've got disaster on your mind"

This video is for the song called "For Spy Turned Musician" (not on this album - but nice).
"For Spy Turned Musician" Video

In Agent 13 the piano, organ and the synthesizer get a good work out. As with the opening track, it starts slowly and builds up and up and the wait is worth it. Again there is very little percussion until the final third of the song.

There are 3 bass players, 3 guitarists, 3 drummers and The Firth String Liberation Singers Choir in Devestation so you can imagine the powerful noise throughout.

On the album cover (below), there is A Dark Horse emerging on a dark night from a fire. This is now embedded in my mind as it's simply the perfect image for their music. Bizarrely, I just can't imagine seeing them in daylight.

Because Tonight is a Jekyll and Hyde song for me. The first half is slow and lacking bite. Fortunately my patience is rewarded when it unfolds and changes into something with some verve, kick and energy.

The final three songs are more upbeat and instantly likable tunes with more easily recognisable beats and the "usual" instruments.

The Album ends with Cedric's War which has a great marching beat to it and a nice end to a very well-crafted, emotional, creative and different album.

Track Listing:
1. Disaster
2. For Agent 13
3. And You Lied To Me
4. Devastation
5. Because Tonight
6. Rides The Rain
7. On Beford And Grant
8. Cedric's War

The Besnard Lakes website: www.thebesnardlakes.com

Myspace Page: myspace.com/thebesnardlakes

The Little Ones: Sing Song - Album Review

2007-01-13T08:06:00.001Z

This mini-album is released in February in the UK to coincide with their tour starting on 15 January where they are supporting The Boy Least Likely To, Tilly & the Wall and Magic Numbers.

I instantly enjoyed their uplifting and upbeat music. My first impression of this mini-album is a Clap Your Hands Say Yeah with a different singer, however that's not fair on them at all. Their use of simple chords, crescendos and a drummer who sometimes unconventionally, but very effectively adds to the excitement, blends well to create a sunshine filled indie pop album.

The first 2 tracks, Let Them Ring The Bells and Lover Who Uncover are both upbeat, catchy songs with the 'yeah's, 'la's, 'hey's and 'no's all conveniently placed for a good singalong.

The rising chords of Cha Cha Cha along with the brilliant line of "and the abacus says, 'keep on counting…'" makes this my favourite track - also it's great to dance to with my 2 year old daughter.

The song lengths are longer than the norm for this type of music, but they are of good enough quality not to be annoying.

The last 2 tracks are not quite as catchy, particularly in the final song, Heavy Hearts Brigade. There is a break from the higher pitched singing with a more "down to earth" track as the title suggests. This is the least pop-like tune and I get the feeling they didn't want to be pigeon-holed..

In the opening verse of Oh, MJ! is:
Fire your attention away from jaws to your feet where
We'll make 'em, make 'em move forward.

Ironically, this song is the least likely of the 6 to make your feet move forward, but it shows that it's not all simplistic, indie pop, sunshine stuff.

This mini-album clocks in at just under 25 minutes, which I think is a good length for this type of music. Not too long to get under your skin, and not too short to be forgettable. Definitely worth getting and giving a go.

The Little Ones website: www.wearethelittleones.com/
Free Downloads : Lovers Who Uncover, Cha Cha Cha, High On A Hill
Interesting remix of Lovers Who Uncover
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/wearethelittleones

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

2006-12-13T20:30:00.000Z

The first thing that struck me was this bands name. I conjured up images of a holy and religious black minister rallying the congregation. The second thing was the singers very nasal whiney voice. At first it was strange and ever so slightly annoying, with me thinking "it has got to grow on me at SOME point - Surely!"

Having endured the first track which is like a "roll up, roll up" circus music, I was scared. Having forced myself to sit through it I found myself slowly being captured by this very imaginitive and creative debut album.

With the exception of a couple of songs, the lyrics are very random and I'd be surprised if someone knew what it was about. For example, Alec sings:

I heard it from a friend
The Revolution never happened
Sigh
A little die
No more a child
Goodbye

It sometimes seems that certain lines rhymes were only made that way so he could use his voice to drag out the whines. This is not a criticism as what makes this album for me is not the lyrics, or the wailing voice, but the rhythm, riffs and melodic, quirkily catchy tunes that this group has created.

Is This Love? is an upbeat track, great backing vocals, and simply brilliant riffs. Heavy Metal starts with a riff and is joined by a harmonica with a bass-line taking over shortly after. There are no weak songs (apart from the horrible intro, if you could call it a song) and shows that the band has more than just one trick.

If you can bear putting up with the wailing, then give this album a go. I imagine you could split the nation on his voice, I just hope you can have some faith long enough for it to make an impression.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah website: www.clapyourhandssayyeah.com
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/clapyourhandssayyeah

Herman Dune: Giant - Album Review

2006-11-27T20:42:00.000Z

Once again, I have fallen in love with a Swedish band. Only recently having discovered them, they consist of André Herman Düne (guitars and vocals), David-Ivar Herman Düne (guitars and vocals) and Neman Herman Düne (drums and sometimes backing vocals).

The first track I heard is "I wish I could see you soon" which has an accompanying video which is simple and beautiful. Andre introduces 3 letters Y-O-U and says "when they are together they are a word, they are the best name in the world" before proceeding into the brilliantly crafted tune, with upbeat guitar followed by the "angels" singing and horns.

In fact, why not just watch it yourself....

There are some very witty, amusing little lines, especially in the song 1-2-3 Apple Tree with such as "if you're puzzled and if you don't understand me, you can play me like a DVD". It's a childlike love song with other gems like "If you called me Ray if my name was Raymond, your name ain't Suzanne but i would call you Sue, to show you how much i like to be with you"

I get the impression that David Ivar is not making fun of you, but just having fun with you.

The percussion through the album is particularly impressive with "Doctor Lori Schonberg" on the bongo drums on many tracks.

David-Ivar often goes from singing to talking and back which makes it almost like he's talking to you personally and much of the lyrics give you the same impression.

Overall a brilliant album with variation, personal tales and some touching love songs.

For some reason Amazon are not selling this album but you can find it on CD Wow or HERE

Herman Dune: www.hermandune.com
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/therealhermandune

Loney, Dear: Sologne - Album Review

2006-11-22T20:07:00.000Z

I wish I could start by telling you what the name of the band means. However, I can't.... Sologne, however, is a region in north-central France.

What I can tell you is that this band which is, in the main, the creation of Emil Svanangen is full of very personal songs. The beauty of the album is that Emil has artistic freedom and there are no shoe-horns into any category, style and you feel like this is an album created just as he wanted it. After all he did record it in his home.

The opening song "The Battle of Trinidad and Tobago" has Emil's quivering, beautifully imperfect voice, atmospheric guitars and backing voices building up to a mini-crescendo, then fading out into the distance along with the whistling and the "marching" drums. The 2nd track is another slower number "Where are you go go going to". As the title suggests the first syllable of many words are repeated. Personally I find this annoying, however by the end of the track you have a good idea of the quality coming on the rest of the album.

"The City, The Airport" is a upbeat, catchy tune with chanting, horns, drums, everything. It grows and grows with more instruments and you want it to continue forever.

There is a variety of sound on this album which makes it very easy to listen to all the way through without getting bored.

All in all a very good effort from another of Sweden's exports. True to his own style, this album reflects very well on Loney, Dear.

Loney, Dear website: www.loneydear.com
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/loneydear

Lambchop: Damaged - Album Review

2006-11-20T18:28:00.001Z

Some time ago I was introduced to this bands music. The first Album I got was Nixon which I still find brilliant.

I recently went to see them at Shepherd's Bush Empire.

To be honest I was somewhat disappointed by this album. Not because of the quality of the songs, but simply the variety. In the main, the songs are very slow, sedate tunes with Kurt Wagner's low voice over them.

The opening track "Paperback bible" is a slow song which is pretty much the contents of a local paper's "for sale section". It is an interesting topic for a song and quite something that Kurt holds it together despite it being a banal subject.

The atmospheric lead guitar and particularly the strings section create the mood perfectly. I just find it a shame that the mood is the same throughout the album. With Nixon, there were a few tracks which were more upbeat and faster. Up with People was a catchy number that that lifts it up above the doldrums.

While I'm sure there will be some Lambchop fans who will simply fall in love with this in time, for me it's simply too much of the same slow tunes with little to lift it up. Each song alone is really something to behold. Just a shame they were of the same ilk throughout the album.

I would suggest that you only get this album if you are a die-heard Lambchop fan, not as a first introduction to their work.

Lambchop website: www.lambchop.net/
Myspace Page:
www.myspace.com/lambchopisaband

I'm From Barcelona: Let Me Introduce My Friends - Album Review

2006-11-18T07:51:00.000Z

This 29 piece, child-like Swedish group have produced a pop album that is layered in unashamedly happy sing-along tunes to brighten the worst of days. I know that sounds cheesy, but this band manages to make it acceptable to be like a kid.

From the first track Oversleeping, which starts with an alarm clock and someone turning it off to the energetic line "Daaamn, oversleeping again". The riffs are upbeat and the chorus infectious.

I saw this band live in September and there were "only" 22 of them on stage. The lead singer was wearing a New Kids On the Block cap and they were all jumping around on stage singing. They sure woke us up at 12am!

Then there is "Collection of Stamps" a song about stamps from different countries of the world. The chorus is "You know I can't believe I'm telling everyone that I know, that every stamp in my collection is a place we could go"

Having heard a few of their songs live, I was intrigued and bought their album. I was expecting their live tracks to be the highlights of the album, but I was amazed at the pure life they excude on the whole album. Every band member contributes with an instrument or two and they ALL sing. With horns, glockenspiel, an omnichord, ukulele and skull shakers, the sound produced is rich and uplifting.

One of the final songs The Saddest Lullaby is about a little kid not knowing what is happening and being confused and sad. At the end of the song, you find out the kid who "fell asleep and wet my bed." This is the slowest track on the album.

Overall, listening to this album in the morning will start your day well and give you a lift on the way to work, will brighten your life and you will be better for it.

I'm From Barcelona website: www.imfrombarcelona.com
Myspace Page:
www.myspace.com/imfrombarcelona

Hemstad: Den Som Läser Detta Är - Album review

2006-11-17T20:31:00.000Z

Hemstad are a 6 piece Swedish band who I was unfortunate enough to miss at the recent End of the Road Festival near Salisbury.

Having heard their up-tempo, catchy music, I decided to by their album from CatBird Records (details below). My only criticism of the album is the short length. It is just under 23 minutes. But what it lacks in time it certainly makes up with it's enthusiasm.

While the lyrics are few and far between with the main singing being bah-bah-bah-bah, there is something memorable in of all the tunes. Listening, I can just imagine them all having a hoot playing away on stage as it's energy is very well transformed onto disk.

With the haunting organ, the horns and fantastic base lines, this an album worthy of getting. This is what I consider great "driving music". Just don't go too fast!

This album can be purchased from Catbird Records
Hemstad website: www.hemstadhemstad.com
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/hemstad

Jamieson Tobey: Everybody Feels The Same - Album Review

2006-11-17T07:50:00.000Z

I recently got sent a message from this chap on myspace. As it was a personal message rather than a random add, I decided to give him my time and listen to his music. (www.myspace.com/jamiesontobey) I was pleasantly surprised.

I liked it so much I got his album shipped to me from the USA. I have to say I am very impressed. He plays ALL instruments on the whole recording including hammer chimes, sleighbells and "bottles played with chopsticks" along with several more conventional instruments.

The 2nd song "Everybody feels the same" is a powerful tune with the chorus "Rest assured, that the world is fucking with me too". It's a somewhat poppy almost upbeat number, and rich in sound.

Smoke is another catchy tune. With a repeated bell theme throughout. Jamieson's myspace intro was based on our both being fans of Brendan Benson and you can hear that catchy pop music without the usual tripe. Jamieson has produce an album worthy of note, the tracks are uplifting in the main with a couple of slower ones for variety.

I highly recomend giving this album a go - you wont be dissappointed.

This album can be purchased from CD Baby
Jamieson Tobey website: www.jamiesontobey.com
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/jamiesontobey