It's My Kind of Scene

You Wanna Go To Eurovision?

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Wed, 22 May 2013 02:33:00 +0000

EUROVISION 2013:

The Benefits of Crazy Ideas...

by Jo Michelmore, living it up in Europe!

Eurovision. It's done. It's over for another year. I explained the beginning a few weeks ago, just a simple Eurovision gathering in a friends lounge room last year and an innocent conversation turned into an adventure I had only ever dreamt of, but it's happened. I have been to Eurovision. At the thought of the idea, I was questioned; "You're doing what?" and some mocked, but those that got it really got it and something that sounds so complicated from somewhere as far away as Australia was actually so very simple.

That conversation, "you wanna go to Eurovision?" and the answer "why not?" turned into the holiday of the year and a night I'll never forget. Sometimes crazy ideas really are crazy and that's what makes them the best and sometimes crazy ideas teach you valuable lessons.

Sweden is a beautiful country and Malmö, host to this years Eurovision was breathtaking, but this isn't a travel blog, so I'll save those stories for somewhere else. However, in the cobblestone streets of that delightful little town is where my Eurovision experience truly began. I witnessed a little teen hysteria first hand. When you see cameras and minders and hear girls squealing in the street, you just have to investigate. A little running, dodging of traffic, a couple of Swedish apologies and what we found was a group of people gathered around a cute boy, who we later found out was Robin Stjernberg, Sweden's entry in Eurovision and runner up in Swedish Idol. It's funny how hysteria works, because even though I had no idea who he was, a little teenage part of me wanted a photo....

Lesson one: when you hear teen hysteria, investigate. You can only be rewarded and trust me, it's hilarious.

That excitement done, next we stumbled across Julia Zemiro, host of Australia's telecast of Eurovision. It was probably the loud Australian accent that gave it away, Julia with bags of shopping and a girl, chatting so excitedly to her about how she'd traveled all this way to see the spectacle. I'm sure Julia is a lovely lady, but my friend and I watched from a distance and witnessed the slow backward movements Julia was making, trying desperately to get away so she could finish her shopping, have a coffee and buy another souvenir. Just seeing her in the street was enough for us, it made Eurovision seem like an actual reality. It was. It actually was.

Lesson two: people on the TV like shopping in peace too. Don't bother them too much. They need a Sweden snowdome as much as the next tourist. Leave them be.

Malmö Arena is not large, but the excitement that surrounded it at Eurovision time was massive. The crowds were covered in flags of every country imaginable (European and various others) and the positive vibe of the fans is not like any I've experienced at any gig before. I've no idea of most of what was being said or sung around me, but it was all being done with a smile, so I like to think it was all good. Someone handed us flags, I have no idea which country they represented, but that flag was waved at every opportunity, just like the magical light up wristband we were given as a memento. It's not hard to have fun at Eurovision, the pop beats are addictive and the songs are simple; don't think, just enjoy.

Lesson three: sometimes the karaoke rule applies to other aspects of life too. Open heart, open mind and everyone has fun.

The girl that sat next to me in the arena was alone. She showed me her ticket and in broken English asked me if she was in the right seat. I said yes and we proceeded to have a conversation about how we all got to Eurovision. She was from Russia and had traveled to Sweden that day just to see her favourite singer, Dina Garipova. She loved that we were all the way from Australia and when we said our fave was Denmark, she agreed to cheer loudly when they performed. We did the same for our new Russian friends fave.

Lesson four: Sometimes it's worth chatting to strangers. You never know, you might end up dancing to cheesy pop music with them and that's unforgettable.

The night was too short, but at the end my face was hurting from smiling so much. There was glitter, there were fireworks, there was a giant man and some cute boys, there were undisguised political statements, a lot of choreography, there was Loreen and a whole lot of hilariously catchy pop songs. It's a once in a lifetime experience I hope to make a two, three, four and more times in a lifetime experience.

Ultimately, the biggest lesson is this. Sometimes you or someone you know are going to have some crazy ideas in life. Don't ignore them. Remember those crazy conversations. Have them again and again. Take those ideas and follow through with them, make them reality, turn them into memories you'll never forget. What do you have to lose? If they don't work out you'll have a really good time planning them. Thankfully, my love of all things music took me to a holiday far away from home, to places I may never have visited otherwise. Eurovision is now forever one of those crazy ideas I brought to life...and a whole bunch of hilarious memories and stories that my beautiful friend and I will share for a long time.

Here's a crazy idea. Eurovision 2014? We're going. Anyone else interested?

The K-Tizzle Sizzle - Greatest Disappointments, Vol. I

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Wed, 22 May 2013 02:01:00 +0000

Greatest Disappointments, Vol. I

Because sometimes things suck...

by Katie Langley

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a breakfast where Sir Richard Branson was speaking. Maybe I let the hype get to me? Maybe I built it up too much in my mind? Maybe Dick was hung-over? All I know with certainty is that the event could be summed up in one word – disappointing. Richard was not the confident, charismatic man that I had heard about but rather nervous and bumbling. T, t, t, today junior!

Katie's disappointment was thiiiiis big.

Later that day I saw Example play at The Tivoli. Maybe I let the hype get to me? Maybe I built it up too much in my mind? Maybe I was jaded from the Dick experience? Yes, it was a disappointment. I was expecting more of a drum’n’bass feel, or at the very least being able to hear these instruments given the impressive nature of the drum kit. But all I heard was tsss tsss tsss. The synth was turned up so high that my ears ached the entire next day.

Earlier in the year Mindless Self Indulgence played at the Soundwave Festival. I’ve been a fan of their music for a couple of years now. It’s quirky and cheeky. They were scheduled to play early in the day so I bathed in sunscreen and kitted up first thing. Vocalist Jimmy Urine spoke to the crowd and I knew then that things were going to go from bad to worse. I’ll admit there’s a certain arrogance to Jimmy that’s part of their style, but he came across as a bitter, self-involved arsehole.

My love of cheesy rap and r’n’b took me to The Arena a couple of years ago to see Chingy. Yes, you read that correctly. My critical error was agreeing to be the designated driver. At 1am squeezed in between gangsta wannabes with no Chingy in sight I began to regret my decision. When he did finally grace us with his presence I was too tired and annoyed to really care.

That right thurr is disappointing.

In the pop punk glory days I tried to ride the Blink 182 wave. In the lead up to the 2000 Big Day Out I bought their CD’s and learned all the words. I bought converse shoes and put in my own checked shoelaces. Turns out my money would’ve been better spent on, I don’t know, anything else… An extra dagwood dog? Driving lessons? The amount of fart jokes told was out of control. I’m all for crowd interaction, but there’s a point at which one must shut up and just play.

There’s nothing worse than a disappointing live music experience. Well, there is, but you don’t want to hear about the time I fell arse over tit at work losing my shoes, papers and dignity. Or do you?

Gig Review - Deftones

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:56:00 +0000

DEFTONES

Live @ The Tivoli, Brisbane (14/05/13)

Review by Katie Langley

Walking into The Tivoli last Tuesday evening to see the Deftones I was filled with such anticipation. They have been one of the few bands over the years to whom my love has been unconditional. I've always felt an affinity with their music, through my teenage years and beyond. And without sounding like too much of a fan girl, Chino's vocals still make me go weak at the knees.

I timed my arrival perfectly, as the band opened with "Rocket Skates". I spent "Diamond Eyes" finding the perfect spot to set up shop, and found myself with a side stage view. The crowd was taken on a trip down memory lane with "Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)" and "Shove It (My Own Summer)". I was amazed and delighted to see how many people were singing along.
Other highlights included current single "Swerve City" and old favourites "Around the Fur" and "Change (In The House of Flies)".

My side stage view was the perfect vantage point to take in all of the on stage antics. There were moments when Chino flipped on his hood and did his gangsta lean when I was convinced I'd been teleported back to the 90's. One lucky punter was invited on stage to sing during the encore and you could feel the jealously pulsing through the room. It was such a cool moment, made cooler when he dived into the crowd. I saw the guy moments later and he was shaking and grinning like mad.

Yes, the show was laced with nostalgia but Deftones proved they've still got 'it', and they're still relevant. They took us from Adrenaline through to Koi No Yokan, and I loved every moment.

New Music Monday #53

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Mon, 20 May 2013 02:02:00 +0000

This Mess EP

by This Mess (out now)

This Mess EP by This Mess

The Electronica genre holds a massive piece of my musical heart, with some of my first true music loves being part of this expansive category; Goldfrapp, Bjork, Moloko, Portishead and Everything But the Girl, just to name a few. This Mess are a duo of music fledglings hailing from Illawarra, NSW, who according to their Facebook page have had a big 2012 and have some pretty high calibre engineering expertise in the studio on their current EP. Let me give you the low down on what they have to offer this golden genre after I checked out their self titled EP this week.

Gentle ebbing and flowing in a dream like state, trimmed with gentle pulsing beats is something this duo seem to have down pat. Each song on their current EP is filled with beautiful synth, hypnotic beats and dreamy atmosphere to boot. Portions of it take me back to the late nineties/early noughties electro and alternative scenes (think George and Everything But The Girl), with hints of current darlings of alternative music like The XX.

After consuming each song several times, listening and probing; making assumptions and conclusions, I find them an appealing band in most aspects, they certainly show promise, though I don't feel totally captured. For a seemingly heavily produced sound, they deliver some of the goods, however there is still some polishing to be done before they release a full length album. Compared to their earlier single 'Two Hands' the vocals seem to be lacking a bit of the soul and grunt which was so good in that. Though well sung and "pretty", they are a little "paint by numbers" or generic in comparison. The question I ask is how will they make themselves stand out from their peers? I'm by no means a music pro but I know what I love and although they have the basic recipe, they need to add some ups and downs and light and dark to the formula with a little more oomph in the vocal to make their way into my music collection.

All in all this really is a collection of beautifully put together music offering a sweet, laid back Sunday afternoon listen. I'm interested to hear more of this duo to see how they grow musically over the next few years. Maybe with a few more stand out singles like 'Two Hands' they could be a force to be reckoned with. This Mess' self titled EP is worth a listen and I'll be keeping an eye on them but for now I'm giving it 3 Karen O heads out of five.

Nayt Housman gives the This Mess EP three Karen O heads out of five...

New Slaves

by Kanye West

Album: Yeezus (June 18, 2013)

Oh Kanye, you ego-maniacal music genius. Calling your new album Yeezus? It's so easy to forgive such an arrogant move when he releases a track like 'New Slaves.' West returns to his College Dropout roots to explore racism, politics, consumerism and social injustice right from the opening line in which he discusses his mother being born in a pre-civil rights world. The music is more stripped back this time around, a bare bones percussive synth line keeps you hooked on Kanye's rhymes. He definitely wants his message to be heard. Frank Ocean shows up too and does that thing he does where he sings all nice like. Even though it's title is going to appear in a few 'Worst Album Names of All Time' lists, Yeezus is already on its way to becoming another Kanye classic.

Matt Bond gives 'New Slaves' five Jay-Z heads out of five...

Ooh La La

by Britney Spears

Album: The Smurfs 2 OST (???, 2013)

Britney is back and this time it's a little less, "it's Britney, bitch," and a little more, "it's Britney, darling children of the world." 'Ooh La La' is aimed at children to promote The Smurfs 2, but that doesn't mean it's not terrible. It both sucks and blows, but hey, I ain't the intended audience so whatevs. What we should really take this moment to reflect on is the fact that Britters heads back into the studio this week to begin recording her eighth studio album. Cause for concern or celebration? Set your awareness levels to concerned because she'll be accompanied by will.i.am and the alleged album title is #britney. Be alert, not alarmed.

Matt Bond gives Ooh La La one Dannii Minogue head out of five...

City Riots

by The Wrath

Buckle up baby, because The Wrath's 'City Riots' will take you on fast and furious ride. But make no mistake, there's nothing Vin Diesel about these Gold Coast rockers. While vocalist Tommy Creeper croons through the track, it's delivered with a real punk rock snarl. Spectre Deano and Carina Hellbunny Deluxe inject the 'oi' attitude on guitars. 'City Riots' is guaranteed to make you curl your lip, stamp your feet and head butt anyone who gets in your way.

Katie Langley gives City Riots three Alanis heads out of five...

NEW MUSIC VIDEO OF THE WEEK:

Fall

by The Presets

Album: Pacifica (2012)

The Presets certainly aren't ones for sticking to the norm when it comes to music videos. With current single 'Fall', one of the most chart-worthy tracks from last year's incredible Pacifica, they've chosen to take things in a more literal direction with the clip. It is amazing what people are capturing on film these days and the captivating images of these two French dudes in Presets face masks falling out of the sky are amazing. With that said, by going with a visually arresting but still kinda boring video, I feel they've done 'Fall' an injustice. It seems that they've gone out of their way with Pacifica to shy away from the success earned with Apocalypso. Here they've got a track that should be sitting at the top of charts and unfortunately the video doesn't match that. Which is probably exactly what they wanted.

Matt Bond gives the video for Fall three Kylie heads out of five...

FREE DOWNLOAD OF THE WEEK:

West End

by Astrid and The Asteroids
download linkage

Hey! You know that awesome track 'West End' we reviewed last week? Well you can go get a sweet, sweet download of it right now over at triple J Unearthed! Viva la anti-faux-hipster revolution!

Top 25 - 19 May, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Sun, 19 May 2013 01:17:00 +0000

Songs of the Week, 19/04/13 from itsmykindofscene on 8tracks Radio.

1. Janelle Monae ft. Erykah Badu - Q.U.E.E.N (#1 for 2 weeks!)

2. The Presets - Fall (NEW)

3. The xx - Together
4. Kate Boy - The Way We Are
5. Ella Hooper - Haxan

6. Lurch and Chief - On Your Own (NEW)
7. MS MR - Head Is Not My Home (NEW)

8. Neon Wolf - I Can't Speak For You

9. Emma Louise - Mirrors

10. Lana Del Rey - Young and Beautiful

11. Abbe May - Sex Tourettes (NEW)

12. Florence + The Machine - Over the Love
13. Em George - Murderers On The Inside (NEW)
14. Owls of the Swamp - The Hypnotist (NEW)

15. Biffy Clyro - Opposite (NEW)

16. Queens of the Stone Age - I Appear Missing

17. Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams - Get Lucky
18. Crystal Fighters - LA Calling (NEW)
19. Flight Facilities ft. Elizabeth Rose - I Didn't Believe
20. Buchanan - Human Spring

21. Jeremy Neale ft. Go Violets - In Stranger Times

22. Say Lou Lou - Julian
23. Hey Geronimo - The Dan Kelly Song (NEW)
24. Sleepy Dreamers - Winter Make Way (NEW)
25. Wolf Alice - Every Cloud (NEW)

The Candy Shop #3

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:36:00 +0000

Get to cooking with the ABBA, ja?

The Candy Shop #3:

Swedish Candy

by Nayt Housman

In honor of the glitter balls, sequins, smoke machines and general glamour (I say glamour with a ‘?’) of Eurovision this week, we here in The Candy Shop are taking you all on a sweet trip TO SWEDEN! Every year Eurovision is like a journey of musical discovery, some good, some bad, some highly entertaining and some highly questionable. Let’s go on a whirlwind journey of my top three Swedish music acts (no, none of them have been on Eurovision. Not that there’s anything wrong with that).

My love for Swedish pop began way back in 1996 when The Cardigans super sweet song ‘Lovefool’ was featured in the soundtrack of the movie Romeo and Juliet; two years later I became addicted when the lead single to the album ‘Gran Tourismo’ was released. ‘My Favorite Game’ injected me with its distinctive “weow, weoooow” guitar riff, and made me soar with Persson’s softly echoed vocals, sang as if taunting an obsessed lover.

My Favorite Game

In 2006 I was introduced to a musician who shot straight into my top ten of all time. Already a two album veteran of Swedish pop (born from the band First Floor Power) Jenny Wilson’s track ‘Let My Shoes Lead Me Forward’, from her debut solo album ‘Love and Youth’; brimming with her unmistakably idiosyncratic, nervous sounding voice, wormed its way into my ears like laces in a shoe.

Let My Shoes Lead Me Forward

Perhaps quite befittingly my adoration of Jenny Wilson lead my musical journey to the discovery of The Knife. The 2003 single ‘You Take My Breath Away’, taken from the bands second album ‘Deep Cuts’, tells a story of Karin Dreijer Andersson’s idolization of Wilson while attending a First Floor Power gig. Double love.

You Take My Breath Away

Sweden you prove to be a powerhouse for musical greatness with your magical blend of power pop, rock pop, electro pop, poopy pop and all other delicious genres. What will this years Eurovision deliver? You’ll just have to wait for what Jo has in store.

Listen Or Die? #13 - Kenya...

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:51:00 +0000

KENYA

by Machito (1957)

Running Time: 35:46

1. Wild Jungle

2. Congo Mulence

3. Kenya

4. Oyeme

5. Holiday

6. Cannonology

7. Frenzy

8. Blues A La Machito

9. Conversation

10. Tin Tin Deo

11. Minor Rama

12. Tururato

All-instrumental, African inspired Cuban jazz. This should be interesting and I mean that. If Sabu's Palo Congo taught me anything a couple of weeks ago, it's that 50s jazz combined with Latin flavours makes for a much more exciting listen than your standard 50s jazz album. Machito's orchestra adds a well-developed personality to their performance that maintained my interest in spades. 'Wild Jungle' is quite manic; conga and bongo drums drive the rhythm into a tribal frenzy. 'Congo Mulence' offers a stark alternative. This one is all Havana nights, sneaky and mysterious until the horn section enters, backing up a mighty fine saxophone solo.

'Frenzy' takes the manic nature of 'Wild Jungle' and sends it into overdrive, while 'Conversation' proves an appropriate title as a whole host of instruments chime in and out like constant chatter. 'Tin Tin Deo' is sure to get all of us faux-Salsa dancers on our terribly uncoordinated feet. For some of us, it's best to listen to this one alone. Which means, why yes... Kenya is worth a good 'ole LISTEN boys and girls. Put it on and watch your inner dancer come to life.

The tally...

LISTEN - 7
DIE - 6

It's All Coming Back To Me Now - I Hate It But It Makes Me Happy

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Michelmore) — Thu, 16 May 2013 07:04:00 +0000

Just another night of karaoke for Celine....

Cover Songs? It's A Love/Hate Thing...

by Jo Michelmore

There's something that's been annoying me. It's been annoying me since the first second I heard it. I gave it a couple of minutes, I promise I did, as a lover of music and a music blog writer I felt it my duty to give it the full three minutes and twenty one seconds. It hurt. Every note was a little bit of pain. I hope you appreciate what I do for you, dear reader, but I won't do that again. I have probably never disagreed more with my editor on this one, when in his review he said this;

"...there's been enough work to create a unique take on it that you'll find enough to enjoy."

Nope. Matt, I disagree. What am I speaking of? It was this...

There is not one single second of that song I enjoy. I don't care how well it fits into the film, I don't care whether you're a Beyonce fan or not, there is nothing, NOTHING, not one thing, about this cover that is good. Ms Winehouse, I apologise on behalf of music to you...they suck. As usual, this got me thinking about something. Covers? Love them or hate them?

Let's talk about this. I have a love/hate relationship with the concept, because even when they're bad I find comfort in the fact that everytime the 'bad' version is played, the songwriter gets paid some cash, so there is some justice, I guess.

Like, for example, Stevie Nicks, in 1981, did this....

....and it makes me happy that Lindsay Lohan earnt Stevie some more cash when in 2005, she felt the need to writh around against her backing dancers (that's at 2:37, in case you were wondering) while singing the song Stevie wrote; Edge Of Seventeen, which is about the deaths of Stevie's Uncle and John Lennon. Yes, Lindsay, you know the song well, then?

The Red Hot Chili Peppers, in 1992, did this...

....and it makes me happy that RHCP got some extra cash when the All Saints did that awful, awful cover of Under The Bridge in 1998. What's that you say, silly girls? "Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner?" Er, yes, that's what heroin addiction feels like, Anthony Kiedis would know. Heroin addiction doesn't generally feel like a 90's r'n'b beat, baggy pants and crop tops. Strange, I know.

One more, probably my favourite. AC/DC, originally in 1980, did this....

...and it makes me happy to know they got some extra cash when Celine Dion and Anastacia decided they would sing it in 2002. It also makes me happy because I see that no matter how good your voice is, if you choose the wrong song and make the wrong dance moves, you look and sound like a 50 year old desperate divorcee at karaoke on a Saturday night. That makes me very happy.

....AND because I love our readers and can't bare the thought of you having to listen to that Beyonce monstrosity at the start, I'll leave you with this. Amy Winehouse, RIP. Hear that? That's soul, that's emotion and that's something Beyonce and Andre are still learning about.

It's My Kind of Interview - Ella Hooper

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:53:00 +0000

She's fronted Killing Heidi as one of Australia's most exciting rock stars, embraced her folky roots with The Verses, hosted national radio shows and now she's embarking on a solo career, reborn an indie-pop chanteuse. No matter where her artistry lies, Ella Hooper stands as one of the most fascinating figures in music. To say I was excited to have a chat with her is an understatement. For this blogger, it was a dream come true. Read on to find out about Ella's upcoming album, In Tongues, the future for Killing Heidi and The Verses (if there should be one), albums that have shaped her life and more.

ELLA HOOPER

Interview by Matt Bond

First up, welcome! How are you? What's been happening this week?

Ella: Well Hi! I'm great, thanks for asking. Busy but great. This week just passed I had a launch for Haxan my new single, which was a raging success if I do say so myself, a dear friend's wedding, a friend staying from out of town, and many, many other varied but fun commitments, hence the 'busy'..

You've (finally - woo!) headed down the solo road. After your time in Killing Heidi and The Verses, how has it been adjusting from the band environment to 'solo artist' Ella Hooper?

Ella: It's been really educational and rewarding so far. I suspect part of the reason why I wanted to do this was to challenge myself and see if I could actually survive and thrive without a band, or co-band leader, and so far I'm doing okay. I'm growing new skills every day, like being a heck of a lot more organised and assertive, which is pretty cool. (they said it couldn't be done…) Sometimes I do long for someone to tell me what to do, or what the better choice to make is, but then I snap out of it.

The tastes of In Tongues we've received so far, 'Low High' and 'Haxan,' have blown me away. Talk us through these two tracks and why did you think they were the best to introduce this new chapter of your career?

Ella: They both had the slightly darker, noir-ish feel I wanted to lead with. Though the album has more shades to it than that, i wanted to begin quite starkly, I guess to highlight the contrast between this project and what I've done before, which has often been quite lush and/or busy. This bunch of songs are a lot more streamlined. Plus, I think Low High is pretty catchy and I do love a good pop hook after all.

In Tongues is due out in 2013. What other details are you willing to share? Would you say there's a consistent theme to the album? Any collaborations other than the fantastic Graveyard Train appearing in 'Low High'?

Ella: It's themed around control, giving in and being taken over. Struggling with finding your path in life and love, it's my ode to Saturn Returning, where everything becomes topsy turvy, a second adolescence of sorts, one which I've found and am finding very inspiring and yet challenging. It's about what's revealed when things are a bit shaken up and stripped back..

Collaboration wise, I had many incredible muso's help me out. Ryan Caesar from Pearls and ex-Children Collide plays drums on half the tracks. Em from Tin Pan Orange sings backing vocals on one track. Mark from Jet also plays bass on a track. One of my best friends and the keys player in the Verses, Mads Davey, wrote and arranged the strings and also played the keys. Working with people you know well is so much fun!

Reflector was met with overwhelming success, winning four ARIA awards for you and Killing Heidi. Looking back at that early time in your career now, how do you feel?

Ella: I feel like it was an amazing and unique way to spend my youth. I'm proud of the hard work I put in and the way I handled the lows and highs (haha) of which there were many. Some extreme. Though, I think because of the nature of our success then (so quick, so high, so much) people became quite over it and immune to anything we did next, something that I'll still have to navigate and probably grapple with now as a solo artist, years later. The KH experience is definitely a double edged sword. But, it's my lot and I'm happy to work around and through it.

What led to Killing Heidi's indefinite hiatus? Do you still think of it as a hiatus, or something more permanent?

Ella: Permanent. I don't think I could sing such youthful, and youth based songs convincingly any more. It really did just run its natural course and I think it would be very unnatural to start it up again now. I'm very surprised by all these 90's / 00's reunions and reformations going on in the industry at the moment. I couldn't do it. But each to their own!

You teamed up with your brother Jesse to form The Verses. Seasons, your debut album was a gripping piece of Australian folk-rock and 'Want Everything' in particular was a beautiful piece of songwriting. Do you think there's more territory to explore with The Verses?

Ella: Thank you! I'm so glad you dig that song, it's one of my favourites too. I always love playing it. And yes I'd like to think so.. we had a great time in the Verses, exploring a different side of our songwriting and musicality. I'd love to add another chapter to that book one day. That style is always on my mind, song-stories, classic production, great playing, an earthy Americana - Australiana vibe... I just love it!

I'll keep you posted!

What are your thoughts on Triple J these days?

Ella: It's a hard nut to crack. I sometimes get upset by how even though I come from a Triple J background - being Unearthed, topping hottest 100's, Live at the Wireless's etc. there seems to be little acknowledgement of that time and relationship now. We never pop up in their Hottest 100's of all times or whatever, it feels a little like we (or KH) has been white washed, while other bands from the same time have been kept in the fold. Whether that's to do with 'crossing over' to mainstream radio etc I don't know, as Missy (Higgins) and many others have done the same and managed to keep JJJ onside. I'll definitely be trying to get my solo material on there, as it's still the gatekeeper to finding a larger, and especially regional audience, who I think would be interested in my music, but it's really quite tough as there's many artists trying and only so many songs they can play in the day.

What do you think is the best song you've ever written and which of your songs is the most fun to perform live (and why)?

Ella: Oooh that's so hard, like trying to pick a very best friend (I have three!). They're all good in different ways for different reasons, one to suit each mood, be it misery or jubilation! Winter by The Verses is very close to my heart, but there's a song called Everything Was A Sign on the new solo record that just might top it. It came out in a single flow 'stream of consciousness', and is incredibly intimate and true, and right now it is ridiculously poignant in my life. More so than when I wrote it. (that always happens… Maybe I should be more careful with what I write!)

If you had to pick five albums that have shaped who you are as a person, what would they be and why?

Ella: American Thighs - Veruca Salt

It was the first album I bought and it inspired me to rock. I was (and still am) smitten by the strong, sad, sexy, vulnerable and cheeky sides Louise and Nina showed us in this band and album. All adjectives I would hope someone could use on my new album too.

Siamese Dream - Smashing Pumpkins

I was a teenage Pumpkin's tragic. Just could not get enough of this band. Listened to them daily. Nightly. Hugely inspirational. The songwriting chops. The guitar chops. Not so much the singing chops, but hey, most of my favourite artists don't have 'perfect' voices.. The Pumpkins of my youth couldn't be outdone for both attitude and emotion, which are FAR more important than perfection anyway.

Astral Weeks - Van Morrison

I was obsessed from a young age by this album. I still love Van the Man. This collection showed me that song structure ain't everything, in fact it ain't anything if you don't got soul.. and Van has that in spades.

Rid Of Me - PJ Harvey

I think this was the 2nd album I ever got. She winded me. I was SO inspired by her howling, grunting, unapologetic blues.. Just crazy good. And the frighteningly raw production, I've always loved low fi, bare bones records, where you can 'hear the room' etc as well as lush ones.. and this is the most perfect example of the former.

Another Side Of - Bob Dylan

Personal and effortless songwriting, 101.

This is how it's done. He is my main man.

(said me and every other muso ever…)

Look, 11-year-old me would slap current-me if I didn't take this opportunity, so here goes... will you marry me? Regardless of how you answer, I'll still be excited about the release of In Tongues and wish you all the best in 2013 and beyond.

Ella: Well, I am recently single!! (haha)

Though, 11 might be a little young for me.. just a little.

;P

I'll take that as a maybe? Woo hoo! A massive, massive thanks to Ella Hooper for answering our questions. We can't wait to hear In Tongues! Her single Haxan is out now kids, so you can go get it on the iTunes and you can also keep an eye on the official Facebook page for updates on In Tongues, live shows and more.

Gig Review - They Might Be Giants (08/05/13)

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Tue, 14 May 2013 01:21:00 +0000

It's been some time since we've had a special guest blogger come and play, but today we've got amazing artist/designer/sister extraordinaire, Samantha Gilkes aka Jetta's Nest giving us a rundown of They Might Be Giants' Brisbane show last week. Enjoy!

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS

Live @ The Zoo - Brisbane, 08/05/13

Supported by Tara Simmons

Review by Samantha Gilkes

I couldn’t believe my luck when I heard that They Might be Giants were coming to Australia for the first time since 2001. I bought my ticket without a second thought knowing that I’d be in for something special that night.

I got to The Zoo and realised I hadn’t been there in around 10 years. Yep, it’s been a long time between gigs folks! I caught the support act, Tara Simmons and scanned the crowd noting the surprising mix of young folk and those on the more mature end of the spectrum.

After a short wait, the magic began. The band played quite a few songs off their new album and drove the crowd crazy excited with big hits such as ‘Don’t Lets Start’, ‘Birdhouse in Your Soul’, ‘Ana Ng’, ‘New York City’ and of course, ‘Dr Worm’ not to mention, ‘You’ll Need a Crane’, Puppet Head’ and ‘Why Does the Sun Shine’. The atmosphere was absolutely electric!

TMBG are big on crowd participation and true to form we all felt integral to the performance that night. They talked to us like old friends, made fun of their own New York accents and split us into opposing teams of people and apes for an old fashioned showdown (just in case you’re wondering, the apes won…how could we not have, we had both Johns!).

They played for close to two hours and generously gave the crowd not one but two amazing encores. They told us we were amazing but we all knew that it was them who were making us feel that way. They even gave out stickers at the end!

I spent the next couple of days grinning goofily and this is completely lame but thinking about it makes me a bit teary they were that damned good. If you ever get the chance to see They Might Be Giants make sure you do. See them twice if you can, you will not regret it!!

New Music Monday #52

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Mon, 13 May 2013 02:56:00 +0000

Extended Play EP

by Fleetwood Mac (out now)

When a band of Fleetwood Mac's caliber releases new music there's cause to celebrate. Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood; these guys and gal are living legends that, along with former vocalist/keys player Christine McVie in the Mac's greatest incarnation gave us some of the best albums of the 70s and 80s. So, ten years since their last full-length album, Say You Will, Fleetwood Mac are back on the road and testing the 'ole recording waters on the unimaginatively named Extended Play EP. Comprised of four tracks, it's a quick listen that shows that the band still has gas in the tank and Buckingham and Nicks show us why they are two of the greatest songwriters in music's history.

It's not all as amazing as you'd think I'm setting it up to be though. 'Sad Angel' and 'Miss Fantasy', Buckingham's opening and closing tracks are nice enough Fleetwood Mac listens, but could pass off as tracks that never made it onto past albums and weren't good enough to even be considered B-side material. Tracks two and three though, Stevie Nicks' 'Without You' and the Buckingham penned 'It Takes Time' are incredible. "In my life, there's been a few things worth singing," opens 'Without You' and finds Nicks in a happy place, taking a glance back. Lindsey Buckingham leads the piano ballad 'It Takes Time' and much like the previous song, he's in a retrospective mood. "And maybe I've wasted all this precious time, and trying to prove what is and isn't mine, wondering to myself if you knew, it was all for you."

By all accounts, Fleetwood Mac are in a pretty good place. There's none of the drama that made Rumours such a fascinating piece of work, no drugs... probably no booze. Just a handful of easy-listening rock and roll tunes that hold a sound of decades gone by, performed by four of music's greatest living musicians. While not their best work, it's definitely cause to celebrate. Extended Play is hopefully the start of something bigger. A new LP perhaps? If so, a more balanced blend of Nicks and Buckingham tunes would make for a great listen. Throw in Christine McVie too. She's gone her own way for far too long.

Matt Bond gives Extended Play three Supreme heads out of five...

Stay Awake

by Connor B. Fitz (June, 2013)

Before last week, I must admit I knew nothing about Australian singer-songwriter, Connor B. Fitz. Having now listened to his soon to be released second studio album, Stay Awake, I can comfortably say that's my loss. Every aspect of the recording process comes down to Fitz himself; he wrote all the songs, played all the instruments on the album... he even mixed it himself. The final product is an incredibly impressive collection of indie rock songs. You actually don't want to put a label like 'indie rock' on Stay Awake. Its sound lies somewhere in-between indie and modern Australian rock and roll, with the relaxed vibes of surf rock keeping things pretty chilled.

Stay Awake finds its greatest strengths to be Fitz's songwriting and vocal delivery. Having spent time finding inspiration while traveling Europe and a lifetime before that as a session musician, Fitz has a lot of interesting things to say through his music. Every song tells a story you can immerse yourself in and find relatable on some level. As far as the voice, Fitz has a calming delivery. However, he picks his moments wisely to show that it also packs a punch. 'Landslide,' one of the albums highlights is one of the tracks where Fitz lets go and howls out the lines "holding my eyes to the sun, saving their lives by a landslide." You've also got to give the man a ton of credit for his talents as a multi-instrumentalist. Keep in mind as the beautiful piano melody plays on 'In Your Stride' and you tap your feet along to the drums on 'Red Seas' that it's Fitz doing it all.

'Seventh Sense,' all hand-clapping, horn blaring goodness is the first track and a stellar introduction to Fitz's sound for the unfamiliar. The opening, attention-grabbing lyric, "you might move too fast, but you won't get far," leads into a bluesy guitar line that, well, rocks. 'Hit The Mark' feels like an insight into Fitz's decision to go from session artist to a more prominent role. "How do you hit the mark, how do you win the war, why does it start again, just like a hundred times before." Connor B Fitz certainly hits the mark with Stay Awake. To anyone that hears it, this is likely to go down as one of the best Australian releases of the year. I'd like to think that Fitz's hard work will ensure that the right people will hear it and introduce his music to a huge audience because it deserves to be heard. All I can say to you is, give Stay Awake a go. You won't regret it.

Matt Bond gives Stay Awake four Michael Hutchence heads out of five...

West End

by Astrid and The Asteroids

This right here. This song, 'West End.' This will make your day. You don't even need to be from the greatest city in the world (Brisbane, duh) to appreciate this amazingly catchy, sing to the high heavens verbal smack down against trendy hipsters taking over what once really was the most "alternative" part of town. I'm hoping their next track is called Paddington. Now there's a wank-fest on the weekend. In this 'Thrift Shop' day and age, it's nice to see someone taking hipsters to task. Most of them were emo a couple of years ago, right? Song. Astrid and The Asteroids. Focus. 'West End.' The video is straight-up fantastic and hilarious; keep your eyes on the constantly changing instruments the band are playing. Astrid Jorgensen's voice remains as powerful as ever and her "I'm singing with a really breathy tone" segment is one of those amazing laugh out loud moments that will earn the band a whole bunch of new fans. They deserve them. Brisbane's best kept secret aren't going to be a secret for long. 'West End' needs to be picked up nationally, internationally and beyond. Because beyond is kind of a 'space' reference and I need to include at least one when talking about Astrid and The Asteroids.

Matt Bond gives 'West End' five Nick Cave heads out of five...

NEW MUSIC VIDEO OF THE WEEK:

Young and Beautiful

by Lana Del Rey

Album: Music From Baz Lurhmann's Film The Great Gatsby (out now)

While there's nothing life changing to be found in LDR's video for the gorgeous Gatsby track, 'Young and Beautiful,' there's certainly more than enough to enjoy. From the opening house of mirrors-esque shots to an unexpected beautiful smile and moody, dramatic shots of the orchestra, you'll see why Sophie Muller has built a career in building imagery that will stay with you for a long time. Switch your filters to hipster and enjoy the cinematic ride.

Matt Bond gives the Young and Beautiful video three Britney heads out of five...

FREE DOWNLOAD OF THE WEEK:

Basements
a Promised Miracles mixtape
download linkage

Winter Make Way by Sleepy Dreamers

So you have an understanding that Australia is home to a wealth of incredible acts just waiting to be discovered, but you have no idea where to look for them. Promised Miracles have got you covered. Basements is their first mixtape to grace our ears and features eight tracks from emerging Melbourne acts. Indie and folk fans can discover Sleepy Dreamers and their heartwarming song 'Winter Make Way.' Sleepy Dreamers are definitely an act to keep an eye on and you can't help but feel big things are coming their way. Lurch and Chief are one rock band with a pretty sexy sounding vocal duo in Lily Hall and Hayden Somerville. Has triple J picked up their song 'On Your Own' yet? They'd be stupid not too. If you like your rock a little heavier, Damn Terran have got you covered. 'Rebels' is all blazing guitars and beating drums and it's awesome. Ali Edmonds has all the talent needed to be a future Aussie rock icon. Each month Promised Miracles will turn their attention to a different genre of Australian music on a new mixtape. This is going to be your new favourite way to meet brilliant up and coming Aussie artists. It's already become mine, I must have listened to the mixtape a bajillion times in the last week. Enjoy!

QUICK HITS:

Secondhand Rapture

by MS MR (out 14 May, 2013)

For fans of New York's MS MR, their debut album Secondhand Rapture will be everything you dreamed it would be... and probably a whole lot more too. We've already heard the jaw-dropping goodness of 'Hurricane,' 'Bones' and 'Fantasy' and now we find ourselves smacked in the face with a whole album of future classics. 'Head Is Not My Home' and 'Think of You' are like diamonds in a sea of gold, but nothing can top the dramatic 'Bones.' If you haven't found yourself a fan of MS MR after hearing their previous material, Secondhand Rapture isn't likely to change your mind. But seriously, how could you not love this?

Matt Bond gives Secondhand Rapture four Shirley Manson heads out of five...

Nocturnes

by Little Boots (out now)

Victoria Hesketh aka Little Boots wears her influences on her sleeve with the second LP, Nocturnes. For the most part, that's a good thing. This is more Kylie than Gaga's reinvention of Madonna and it's damn fine electronic pop. For some bizarre reason, Boots has found herself lost in the shuffle. When you listen to a brilliant pop gem like 'Motorway' or 'Broken Record' it's hard to understand why. She takes more risks that the average pop star and presents a darker side to this 'waiting in the wings' disco trend. Nocturnes is nothing groundbreaking, but it's an entertaining listen. There's still wonderful pop music out there. You've just got to look a little harder for it.

Matt Bond gives Nocturnes four Lady Gaga heads out of five...

Top 25 - 12 May, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Sun, 12 May 2013 03:53:00 +0000

The Queens of Funk...

Songs of the Week, 12/05/13 from itsmykindofscene on 8tracks Radio.

1. Janelle Monae ft. Erykah Badu - Q.U.E.E.N

2. The xx - Together
3. Neon Wolf - I Can't Speak For You (NEW)

4. Emma Louise - Mirrors (NEW)

5. Ella Hooper - Haxan

6. Florence + The Machine - Over The Love
7. Flight Facilities ft. Elizabeth Rose - I Didn't Believe (NEW)
8. Queens of the Stone Age - I Appear Missing (NEW)

9. Lana Del Rey - Young and Beautiful

10. Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams - Get Lucky

11. Buchanan - Human Spring

12. MS MR - BTSK (NEW)

13. Vampire Weekend - Ya Hey (NEW)

14. Jack Byrnes - You've Been Left Behind

15. Fleetwood Mac - Without You (NEW)

16. Jeremy Neale and Go Violets - In Stranger Times

17. Mr Little Jeans - Waterfalls
18. Say Lou Lou - Julian (NEW)
19. Strangers - Something New

20. Kate Boy - The Way We Are (NEW)
21. Sarah Neufeld (of Arcade Fire!) - Hero Brother (NEW)
22. Cold War Kids - Lost That Easy (NEW)
23. Birds of Tokyo - When The Night Falls Quiet (NEW)

24. Sia - Kill and Run
25. Bernard Fanning - Battleships

The Candy Shop #2

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:36:00 +0000

Don't feed Nayt after midnight.

The Candy Shop #2:

A Trip To The Cinema Candy Bar

by Nayt Housman

Get your bags of Jaffa’s and Jelly snakes ready, because IT’S MOVIE TIME!

What do you get if you combine 4 cups of “cheesy humor”, with two cups of “pop culture reference”, add three tablespoons “film/music/theatre” icons, and mix well? You have one of the BEST MUSICAL NUMBERS EVER! Imagine a Halloween party hosted by Frank Sinatra, with special guest appearances by Veronica Lake and The Phantom of the Opera, then, replace these icons with Gremlins; a recipe of pure genius.

Here in The Candy Shop we adore a bite of cult pop culture. Which got me thinking; seeing as the Gremlins were able to turn out this masterful tribute to past heavy weights, are some of our contemporary pop culture big guns able to shape up against them?

Brainy Gremlin vs. Michael Bublé

Brainy

Bubble

Frank Sinatra may be dead but his droning, crooning legacy lives on with Michael Bubble (this is not a typo). Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind Bubble, he’s charming, has a good sense of humor and a great voice. But, is he better than Brainy Gremlin?

Sure Bubble seems unrehearsed and it’s not really an official performance in this clip but the Gremlins had hardly been hatched 48hrs and they manage to put on a spread good enough for Queen Liz (that’s drag Queen Liz). I think this is a win for Brainy Gremlin.

Sexy Gremlin vs. Lil Kim

Sexy

... ... ... ...

I love looking at and reading stories about celebrities, no matter how fabricated they are (especially celebs with a ‘lil’ nip-n-tuck) almost as much as I love Gremlins, so how delighted I was, when the two came together so flawlessly. She’s no Veronica Lake but Lil Kim has perfectly captured the essence of Sexy Gremlin here, so who’s more badass? Lil Kim or Sexy Gremlin?

Lil Kim certainly puts in a convincing performance, but what takes her several minutes and a lot of gyrating to do, Sexy Gremlin takes about 5 seconds and a few “oohs” and “aaahs” to convincingly seduce us with her sexy badassness. Win for Sexy Gremlin!

Phantom of the Opera Gremlin vs.
Phantom of the Opera Gerard Butler


Phantom

That guy from 300

Sure the real Phantom of the Opera has Gerard Butler being all suave and mysterious and Emmy Rossum with her exaggeratedly sweet damsel persona but I really feel they’re missing that certain something the Gremlins manage to embody. I think we all know who’s going to win this… (Do I actually need reasoning after the first two?)

GREMLINS! In just over two and a half minutes, the musical prowess of those filthy, noisy green little monsters transcend puppetry to be crowned my champions of CULT POP CULTURE!

Do you think there is anyone who does it better?

It's My Kind of Interview - Brothers Grim and the Blue Murders

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Fri, 10 May 2013 08:30:00 +0000

Brothers Grim and the Blue Murders released the stellar Roll It In EP last month (check out Katie's review) and are currently in the midst of an Australian tour to support it. Leading man, James Grim was gracious enough to answer some questions while on the road about the EP, touring and how often he cleans his sheets. Enjoy!

BROTHERS GRIM AND THE BLUE MURDERS

Interview by Katie Langley

For our readers that aren’t familiar with all that is Brothers Grim and the Blue Murders can you give us a quick introduction?

James: If you took a 70's pornstar, dressed her in leather, put her on a mean motorcycle and sent her on a rabid man hunting mission armed only with a bluebird tattoo on her left breast and a penchant for dancing...then we'd be the only band she'd chase.

Basically: sex/voodoo/delta/blues/rock/'abilly

You recently released a new EP, “Roll It In”. One reviewer has said “you will probably end up drunk and pant less by the end, but this time you won’t regret it”. Sounds good to me! Do you think that’s a fair assessment?

James: Definitely, when writing a record we think it's important to consider the passionate lovers out there with alcoholic tendencies and provide an appropriate soundtrack for such beautiful behaviour. Also, it's great to think that our music is possibly enhancing people's sexual performance.

However, it should be noted several children have been conceived at our shows so take adequate precautions when playing our record or rollicking at one of our gigs

You begin your third track on the EP, “Ease On In” with the lyric “You say you never clean your sheets”. How often would you say that you clean yours?

James: The truth is not very often. But before any of your disgusted readers deflate any fantasies involving this band, it should be said that that is because all of us rarely sleep in our own beds. However it is also true that I slept in the bed mentioned in 'Ease On In' so perhaps insist that I shower...

Track six is a cover of ACDC’s “Kicked In The Teeth”. Have they always been a favourite band?

James: Definitely. Particularly the Bon Scott era. It's probably the only band that the whole band agrees had some form of real influence on them. They have never compromised and they always put their music and fans first. Plus Bon was a lyrical genius with a wicked sense of humor ... Any man that can sing a song about venereal disease and still get laid after the show has some serious talents!

If you weren’t making music you would be… ?

James: Probably wishing that I was standing on some spotlight street corner in red glitter hot pants waiting for my next John just so I could get my guitar out of hock and get back into it!

What’s the best thing that anyone has ever said about Brothers Grim and the Blue Murders?

James: The West Australian said we were "the roots of Rock writ large" which I was pretty chuffed with. But the best thing is having a whole room sing your songs back at you. Still gives me goosebumps

You’re known for putting in the hard yards when it comes to touring. What’s the one thing on tour you can’t live without?

James: Venues - they let us get away with what we get away with! Without them we'd just be driving around Australia aimlessly staring at our unused instruments wondering how in the hell we're going to cover this month’s rent.

You’ve got a soft spot for playing at The Joynt in Brisbane. What is it that you love about this venue?

James: Jodi [venue booker/owner]. The staff. The punters. Any venue that goes the extra mile for the bands that play there and pull an audience of people that love real music more than fashionable outfits and off the wall tattoos

Australian music has already been pretty awesome this year. Which local singers and bands have you been listening to?

James: Rattlin Bones Blackwood's one man band is going to take the world by storm! La Bastard are going to capture your attention with ease and you should check out anything that Frank Sultana’s involved in! Not that they need promotion but if you haven't heard of Mojo Juju or Kira Puru you should do yourself the favor.

Finish this sentence, the future of Brothers Grim and the Blue Murders involves…

James: ...a stage somewhere, four hairy old rockers on wheelchairs with colostomy bags and no teeth playing to a bunch of disappointed people screaming things like, "They used to be way better than this! They were like a Rock n' Roll revolution - now I can't even look at them without vomiting in my mouth a little."

Massive thanks to James Grim for checking in! Brothers Grim and the Blue Murders are on the road right now and you can still catch them at the shows below.

Sat 11 May - Polish Club, Canberra, ACT
Supported by Papa Pilko And The Bin Rats
Tickets $15

Fri 17 May - Mojo’s Bar, Fremantle, WA
Supported by The Dominics
Tickets $15 on the door

Sat 18 May - Indi Bar, Perth, WA
Supported by The Dominics
Tickets $15 on the door

Thu 23 May - Republic Bar, Hobart, TAS
Supports TBA
Tickets $15

Fri 24 May – The Workers Club, Launceston, TAS
Supports TBA
Tickets $15

Fri 31 May - The Joynt, South Brisbane, QLD
Tickets $10 on the door

Sat 1 Jun - The Joynt, South Brisbane, QLD
Tickets $10 on the door

Fri 7 Jun – The Matthew Flinders Hotel, Chadstone, VIC
Supports TBA
Ticket price TBA
http://www.matthewflindershotel.com.au/

Fri 14 Jun – The Reverence Hotel, Footscray, VIC
Support TBA
Tickets $15
http://www.reverencehotel.com/

#thektizzlesizzle

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Wed, 08 May 2013 10:14:00 +0000

Katie's about to scream and shout and let it all out.

#sizzle #itskatiebitch

by Katie Langley

There isn’t a polite way to say this… will.i.am is a wanker. Boom boom pow!

For me, the feeling I get from the Black Eyed Peas front man is akin to accidentally chewing on a piece of aluminium foil. It’s irritating, unpleasant and unwelcome. Every time I see his smug little face a real primal guttural groan builds deep within. No, not ‘50 Shades of Grey’ style. It’s more like ‘50 Ways I Want To Hurt You Including Beating You With a Toaster’.

What is it about this man that makes me face palm? What is it about this man that makes me change the channel quicker than Kim Kardashian’s marriage? What is it about this man that hurts my soul? Well, since you asked…

His nickname

Those strategically placed full stops have a lot to answer for. Look, I understand that Will Smith has nabbed ‘Big Willy’, but there must be something else we can work with? Here’s a crazy thought, what’s wrong with just calling him Will? Is it not cool enough? Not hip enough? Jason Derulo is quite content with using his real name, and isn’t afraid to remind us at every opportunity. You could learn a thing or two from him Will. Say it loud! Say it proud!

He’s a tramp

Will (let’s try it) is whoring himself around to anyone who’ll have him. He’s jumped into bed with Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, and Miley Cyrus. We get it, he knows people. It seems Will has taken Vanilla Ice literally. Less collaborating, please.

No.

His music is rubbish

Will’s attempt at futuristic electronica is piss poor in my opinion, and the fact that he called his latest album ‘#willpower’ is laughable. #daftpunkdoitbetter

He’s an ‘entrepreneur’

I’m wary of anyone who tries to push the ‘entrepreneur’ tag down my throat. Will says he’s all about ‘thinking outside of the box’ and ‘wants to make more than music’. Alright Will, what I’d really like is for you to make me a cheese sandwich and deliver it on the back of a unicorn. #makeithappen #douche

No chickens jackin his style.

What I fear I may be suffering from is a classic case of over exposure which is only going to get worse now that ole Will has performed on The Voice (that’s a whole other Sizzle). This can only mean countless television advertisements, radio plugs, and magazine articles. I’ll be keeping my toaster handy.

It's My Kind of Interview - Buchanan

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Wed, 08 May 2013 07:04:00 +0000

Buchanan have easily become one of our favourite emerging music acts over the past couple of months. Their current single 'Human Spring' has been a 2013 highlight and you can hear it these days being featured on the triple J hit list. The debut LP, also going by the name of Human Spring is set for release in Australia and New Zealand this Friday and we can tell you it's one of the finest indie pop debuts in quite some time (read our review). Today, we "sit down" to chat with Buchanan's leading man, Josh Simons about all things Buchanan. And some other stuff. Enjoy!

BUCHANAN

Interview by Matt Bond

Welcome! Introduce yourself; who is Buchanan, what type of music do you make and why do you make it?

Josh: Buchanan is myself, Josh, and my increasingly large rolodex of musical friends. Between us all we write and record that 'Buchanan' sound and then work out how to recreate that on stage. I do it because I couldn't imagine doing anything else.

Your LP, Human Spring, is out May 10 and is a ridiculously impressive debut album. How do you feel to finally get it out into the world? Can you talk us through the creative process behind the album?

Josh: Thank you! It isn't quite out there yet, but I feel like a massive weight will finally lift off my shoulders once it is. This part of the process hasn't been the most fun, I have to say! Waiting for it to drop but knowing it's done and there's nothing you can do to change it is quite frankly torture! The creative process on this album was one of patience. It took over 18 months to write and record the album and having the team available all at the same time to record when I was ready with new songs was always a bit like a game of Tetris, trying to make sure it worked for everyone. But we got to the finish line on our original deadline, so it kind of feels like we made good time! Working with a production team and having a mixer also made a big difference to the creative process versus our DIY approach with the previous EPs.

What's the Buchanan 'live in concert' experience? With the album out, what are your touring plans to support it?

Josh: We absolutely plan to support the album with a kick-ass live show! We are doing a launch show on June 6 at The Curtin Hotel in Melbourne and we'll announce one or two more east coast shows around that date. The plan is to then let the album breathe for a few months and come back with a headline tour and maybe a festival or two later in the year.

The video for the album's title-track, Human Spring is based on a talent show. Other than your gift for creating ear pleasing pop tunes, what special talents do you have up your sleeve?

Josh: Someone asked me this the other day and I seriously didn't know how to answer! Perhaps I'm just incredibly boring, but I really don't think outside of music I'm much good for anything! I can drink a pint extraordinarily fast!

Think of these questions as prep for the year/s ahead;

1. What song are you going to cover when Triple J's Like A Version comes a-knocking?

Josh: Mashup of Karma Police by Radiohead and Get Lucky by Daft Punk

2. When rage gets you in as guest programmer, what are five music videos you're definitely going to feature?

Josh: Around The World - Daft Punk, Here It Goes Again - Ok Go, The Scientist - Coldplay, Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen, Welcome To Heartbreak - Kanye West.

3. When you win an ARIA Award, who's the first person you're going to thank?

Josh: Mum, without a doubt. Which leads nicely into your next question!

Since it's Mother's Day this weekend, what's a song you'd dedicate to all the mum's out there and why?

Josh: Maybe our song Sit It Out from the new album?! Basically saying, "just chill, take a breath, I know he's an asshole, but in a few years he'll be out of home"! See what I mean?!

There's been a lot of quality Australian music released already in 2013. Which of your contemporaries would you name to be 'must-listen' material?

Josh: Tame Impala is the best thing to come out of Australia since Carlton Draught.

What makes a good songwriter?

Josh: Someone who's open and willing to try any approach to writing, and not limit themselves because of a narrow mind or 'their own' singular approach to songwriting. The best songs just arrive and if you've limited your inspiration to a specific set of tools you're probably limiting your chances of receiving a hit song from the gods!

When the Buchanan 'Behind The Music' airs in fifty-six years time, what are they likely to say about you?

Josh: Great hair, shit shoes!

Massive thanks to Josh for taking the time to answer our questions! Human Spring is out on Friday, but you can pre-order it right now over on the iTunes.

It's All Coming Back To Me Now - Eurovision. How I Love Thee.

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Michelmore) — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:44:00 +0000

"Wanna Go To Sweden?"

By Jo Michelmore

It's that time of year again. Eurovision. How I love thee. The whole concept appeals to me in so many ways. The strange and varied performances, the music, the dancing, the sequins, the glitter, the pyrotechnics, the bad choreography, the terrible lyrics and the sometimes awful singing, there’s so much to love.

Last year, I drank warm beverages, ate chocolate biscuits and watched Eurovision at a friend’s house, because Eurovision should always be a social event. The winner, Sweden, was predicted by my friend and not surprisingly, they won, because well, it’s perfectly pop and perfectly Eurovision.

During the extensive voting and counting process, my friend and I discussed how fun it would be to actually go to Eurovision, to see the glitter and sequins and all this kind of ridiculousness first hand.

When Loreen was announced as winner, a thought popped into both our heads.

“I could go to Sweden” I said.

“Yeah, I’d like Sweden” he said.

“Wanna go to Eurovision?” I said….and the rest is now history, because this week, my beautiful friend and I hop on a plane and head to our first ever real life Eurovision experience. Excited much? Yes. Yes I am.

Imagine the things I could witness, like in 1990, when Spain’s backing track didn’t work properly so the performers, Azuca Moreno just walked off stage. Brilliant. Please let me see something like this!

Or the German entrant from 1998, Guildo Horn. He’s old, he’s balding, he’s singing a song with his own name in it, he strips out of his pale blue velveteen suit mid-way through and then, when you think it can’t get better, he starts playing the bells. It’s weird, it’s Eurovision, it’s awesome. Please let me see something like this!

Or another German entrant, Stefan Raab, from 2000, probably the creepiest entrant I’ve seen. I just don’t know where this was going and no matter how many times I see it, I still don’t quite get it. Were they taking the piss? I can't decide. Cowboys? Sequins? Disco? Rap? What? Please let me see something like this!

But mostly; mostly I want to see something like In Culto, Lithuania’s entry in 2010, which is probably my second favourite entry of all time. Five boys, fake instruments delivered by a stage hand half way through and then, when you think it’s kind of average, at 2:10, things get real. Please, please, please let me see something like this!

…and just in case you were wondering, yes, my favourite entry of all time is future vintage, performed only two years ago in 2011 by Eurovsion entrants that I will always have a soft spot for, Ireland. It’s Jedward and I still unashamedly love it.

Keep your eyes on the blog over the next couple of weeks, where you can enjoy a Eurovision review in the style we do best…text style and get yourself following itsmykindofscene on instagram, where you'll no doubetedly see some strange and interesting photos from Eurovision Sweden!

Listen Or Die? #12 - Birth Of The Cool...

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Tue, 07 May 2013 09:46:00 +0000

Listen Or Die? Our weekly examination of the albums listed in the book, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Must you hear them? We'll be the judge of that...

Birth Of The Cool

by Miles Davis (1957)

Running Time: 37:56

Reviewed by Matt Bond

1. Move

2. Jeru

3. Moon Dreams

4. Venus De Milo

5. Budo

6. Deception

7. God Child

8. Boplicity

9. Rocker

10. Israel

11. Rouge

12. Darn That Dream

One would assume it's safe to say everyone knows Miles Davis is cool. The questions is, do most people know he's cool because of his game changing improvisational jazz? A more likely reason for the general belief he is 'cooler than cool' would be the line, "if peeing your pants is cool, consider me Miles Davis." Adam Sandler certainly had it going on for awhile there. Let's see if Miles Davis had it 'going on' too. This isn't our first 50s jazz experience. Let's hope it's better than the last.

Birth Of The Cool scores points for creating that dank, dimly lit, smokey hole-in-the-wall establishment jazz atmosphere. Take 'Venus De Milo' for instance. You feel like you've just stumbled upon a bar in New York that you're really not cool enough to be in. A trumpet player stands on stage, a lone spotlight keeping the focus solely on him until the saxophonist enters with a snappy improvised solo. The double bass player is at the back, probably wearing a beret and smoking a cigarette without the use of his hands. Drunkards, down on life, sit at the bar downing shots of whiskey. The bartenders look like fancy waiters. Audience members not coked out of their brains direct a look at you that screams, "join our depressing collective of lost souls." To me, that's good jazz and that's the feel of 'Venus De Milo.'

Don't despair, it's not as gloomy as the picture I poorly attempted to paint with words. For 'Boplicity' (which sounds like a terrible movie title), 'Rocker' and 'Israel' we're treated to fairly breezy orchestrated jazz arrangements. They retain Davis' penchant for the improvisational, but waiver dangerously close to falling into the 'haven't I already heard this?' trap. A bit too samey-samey for my liking. Thankfully 'Rouge' picks things up nicely, leading into the only song featuring vocals, 'Darn That Dream.' Those drunkards at the bar have burst into tears and begun lamenting their gal walking out on their sorry behinds. You've started to back away slowly to the exit... it's time to go.

At the very least, Birth Of The Cool confirms Miles Davis is one cool cat. Nope, not jazz savvy enough to pull of calling someone a cool cat. Maybe one day? Maybe not. Let's say this one's worth a LISTEN.

The tally...

LISTEN - 6

DIE - 6

We have a tie! With Billie Holiday, Little Richard and Ray Charles still to come in the 50s, will the listen's finally pull into the lead? Stay tuned...

New Music Monday #51

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Mon, 06 May 2013 09:08:00 +0000

Music from Baz Luhrmann's Film The Great Gatsby

by Various Artists (out now)

In the lead up to the release of The Great Gatsby, the hype for the film's soundtrack has come to match that of the movie itself. Overseen by Jay-Z and Baz Luhrmann and starring a who's who of the hottest acts in rap, hip-hop, indie and rock, it's no surprise that some were already seeing the potential for it to be the greatest motion picture soundtrack of, well, ever. The time has finally come, Music from Baz Luhrmann's Film The Great Gatsby is available for public consumption and at the very least, this definitely is the finest sounding soundtrack we've heard since the turn of the millennium (suck it, O Brother, Where Art Thou?).

Jay-Z throws in distorted audio lines from The Great Gatsby against choppy beats, a children's choir and one of the most serviceable flows he's delivered since Watch the Throne. Z's lyrical swag easily matches Gatsby's ambition, seen in the opening immortal line, "it's got to keep going up." Mrs. Carter herself teams up with Andre 3000 on a cover of Amy Winehouse's 'Back to Black.' Opinions have been divided and I find that while it (obviously) holds no candle to La Winehouse's original, there's been enough work to create a unique take on it that you'll find enough to enjoy. It does have Beyonce going for it and by that I mean the track is admirably performed while lacking any notion of real emotion. will.i.am's contribution... pass. Next up, another Black Eyed Pea takes centre stage. Fergie stars alongside Q-Tip and GoonRock on 'A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got),' a track so obviously destined for dance floor greatness slash annoyance. Variations on 'It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)' mark a welcome return for Fergie-Ferg.

At this point we reach something of a turning point as Lana Del Rey's 'Young and Beautiful' suitably raises the emotional stakes. Everything about this song screams Daisy Buchanan and Del Rey easily slides into the role of our female lead. You want to call it epic, but when you see Florence + The Machine is next on the bill you tend to keep a dramatic word like that up your sleeve. Unsurprisingly, Florence Welch makes best use of the source material with her 'green light' motif throughout her contribution, 'Over the Love.' Reaching for new vocal heights, Florence lets the drama slowly build and falter before the truly epic closing sequence brings the track to an end. Following the dramatic one-two punch of 'Young and Beautful' and 'Over the Love,' the addition of Coco O's 'Where the Wind Blows' is a light, breezy breather. She just wants to have a good time apparently. None of this 'what the future holds' drama that preceded it.

Emeli Sande continues to prove she can do no wrong. Against all odds she powers through a funky, old-time jazz rendition of 'Crazy In Love.' It's probably the Bryan Ferry factor working in her favour. In no way is it a standout number, but it's slightly better than the album's first cover track. Emotional turning point pt. 2 is lead by what will likely be the album's sleeper hit, 'Together.' The xx have a knack for housing restrained desperation in the voices of Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim and with the most delicious cinematic string ensemble providing back up to Jamie Smith's minimalist electronic composition you've got one of the most intense tracks you'll hear all year. Gotye is sure to earn further international acclaim for his pre-'Somebody That I Used To Know' masterpiece 'Hearts A Mess.' Jack White offers up a masterclass in the art of embodying rock and or roll on his cover of U2's 'Love Is Blindness.'

Living up to its 'something for everybody' promise, electo trio Nero and the haunting 'Into The Past' are sure to please even non-dubstep fans. There's a lot more to this than your Skrillexes and... that's all I really know about the genre actually. Sia Furler brings us home on 'Kill and Run.' Depending on its placement in the film, should it actually be in it, this could be a track that propels Sia to the next level. She's never sounded better than in the final choruses of 'Kill and Run.' Music from Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby is sure to sell like hot cakes upon release and at the end of the day, it deserves to. Jay-Z has assembled a crack team of incredible songwriters and performers for what we may call the greatest album of the year come awards time. Even the stain of will.i.am's bland nature isn't enough to knock points off. The songs perfectly compliment moments fans of the book know are coming, the highs and especially the lows. As far as soundtracks go, you'll be hard pressed to find a better one these days. Go get this album.

Matt Bond gives Music from Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatbsy five Nick Cave heads out of five...

Volume 3

by She and Him (out now)

Three years have passed since the release of She and Him's Volume 2 and much has happened in that time. Hipster nonsense has taken complete control as the dominant trend in fashion, indie music and social media. Skinny chinos to the left, stupid floral bow-ties to the right, here I am... stuck in the middle with She and Him. M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel's dreamy retro sound predates the hipster revolution (maybe it was even the start of it), so there's no better time than the present for She and Him to gain many a new fan with the release of Volume 3.

We launch straight into 'I've Got Your Number, Son' and you already know you're in for a treat. Beach Boy inspired oohs and aahs and a promise from Deschanel to shine her light on you. M. Ward's wonderful work has that incredibly joyous California surf-rock sound which is completely juxtaposed by the tinges of sadness in Deschanel's lyrics. As far as opening numbers go, this one is a winner. You'd be forgiven for thinking 'Never Wanted Your Love' is actually a 60s pop gem, all melodramatic words and sweeping string arrangements. Ward shines alongside his counterpart on the duet 'Baby,' a bluesier love song that shows how far both vocalists have come over the years. It's a shame Ward's voice only shows up sporadically as the sound of him and Deschanel together is perfection.

'Somebody Sweet To Talk To' is a true highlight, capturing the spirit of the 60s girl group. "I want you, I don't want to forget, if you go I'll surely get distracted." Oh. So. Dreamy. Following right after is the more country-acoustic 'Something's Haunting You.' It's a relatively quiet moment compared to many of the preceding tracks, but Deschanel's questioning of "what's a girl to do?" is fairly remarkable. 'Together' doesn't quite know what it wants to be when it grows up. Is it funk, pop, soul... some hybrid funk-pop-soul romp? A brief stumble, but nothing to impact on your listening pleasure. Speaking of listening pleasure, how about that cover of 'Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me'? Hearing She and Him's take on it pretty much made my day. "Dry your eyes Sunday girl." Making our way to 'Sunday Girl,' and it's all 'Pretty in Pink' like rockin' heartache. There's even the piano ballad 'London' about how bad the weather sucks in the UK. That's not actually what it's about, but... actually that's exactly what it's about. Maybe you'll hear something else.

Volume 3 is one of those gorgeous retro-revival albums only a special handful of artists are able to pull off today. Hipster friends should love it (if they're capable of such a thing, you can never be sure if they hold true emotions), established She and Him fans will certainly love it and I think those completely unfamiliar with the sounds of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward will be unable to resist the old-time charm that runs rampant throughout this album. Unsure? Find that cover of 'Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me' and go from there. You'll be a She and Him fan before you know it.

Matt Bond gives Volume 3 four Beatle heads out of five...

Human Spring

by Buchanan (May 10, 2013)

Is Buchanan Australia's best kept pop secret? If Josh Simons and his team are, they surely won't be for long if the debut LP Human Spring is anything to go by. One of those rare albums you feel like anyone and everyone can get behind, Human Spring bands together a polished collection of catchy tunes. Anthemic and rousing singalongs pleasingly dominate proceedings, but there's nice placement of a grungier number in 'Temptation' and the pleading desire to "start afresh" on the reflective 'Sit It Out.'

Human Spring opens and closes on two fantastic songs, 'Act Natural' and 'An All Clear?' The former is immediately engaging; a nice string arrangement leads into what I'd call the 'feel good song of the year.' I know that kind of sounds lame, but the song isn't. There's a likeable sense of romance in lines like, "when you find that there's so much left to do, we used to conquer now babe it's just me and you" and the track builds and builds to a satisfying conclusion. You'll want to immediately hear it again, but come back to it later and enjoy 'Par Avion.' 'An All Clear' vaults from good to great as soon as the "don't know where I've gone" chorus kicks in.

Hopefully you've already done yourself a favour and listened to the title track, 'Human Spring.' A sure thing for end of year lists already, 'Human Spring' is the right kind of auditory assault that just makes you want to go out and have fun. It's such a shame winter is coming because this song has 'summer anthem' written all over it. On the strength of this first album, big things are going to be coming Buchanan's way. I'd say make sure Human Spring doesn't become one of those absolute pop gems that finds itself lost in the shuffle, but really... there's no chance of that happening here. Australia's next big thing has arrived.

Matt Bond gives Human Spring four Michael Hutchence heads out of five...

Kiss My Apocalypse
by Abbe May (May 10, 2013)

You're probably going to need either a cold shower or a cigarette after listening to Kiss My Apocalypse. Unashamedly sexy as opposed to in-yo-face skanky, Abbe May and her self-styled brand of doom pop will leave you a little breathless, a little disorientated, but more than a little satisfied. 'Tantric Romantic' establishes the concept the album runs with, the death of love. This isn't one of the cheesy K-pop love songs May references in her opening line, this is all about the sexy time. Performed in a robotic spoken-word manner, you won't find any true love around these parts.

'Perth Girls' kicks all kinds of booty. A mirror image to the already released single 'Karmageddon,' (which appears in two tracks time) 'Perth Girls' is almost the last glimmer of light before May's vision of the end of the world is realised. Current single 'T.R.O.U.B.L.E' is the words 'something wicked this way comes' put into musical form. It's dangerous and alluring with the most striking electronic music to back it up. As Abbe takes a walk down sexual adventures memory lane, she offers the sage advice, "remember to lie to all of your other lovers." Someone's definitely going to find themselves in some trouble. With 'Perth Girls' still fresh in your mind, 'Karmageddon' drops May's vocal register and feels like the masculine reply to what came before it. This is sex and rock and roll and it's perfect.

On the haunting 'Want Want Want' there's a feeling that something's missing; a feeling of loss. It's hard to argue with the doom pop label on a song like this one, but when you're listening to May's voice and the music backing it up, you wouldn't have it any other way. Did I mention this album's pretty damn sexy? One listen of Abbe May crooning her way through the title track, "kiss my apoca-lee-ee-ee-ypse" and you'll be right where she wants you. Kiss My Apocalypse is sure to charm the pants right off you. Listen for the ballsy, risk-taking music... listen for the words and the message... listen for one of Australia's finest vocalists... listen for the sex factor. Just don't be surprised if you end up in the shower afterwards, with or without a cigarette.

Matt Bond gives Kiss My Apocalypse five Madonna heads out of five...

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS OF THE WEEK:

Q.U.E.E.N.

by Janelle Monae ft. Erykah Badu
Album: The Electric Lady (TBA, 2013)

As if I didn't already love this song enough, this is one of those rare-ish times when a clip makes me love the song even more and like the song, once I hit play once, I had to hit it again at the end just to be taken on the journey nmore. It seems silly to even talk about the striking monochramatic pallet, the awesome choreography, the beautiful mod girls and the incredibly stylish costuming (don't even get me started on those shoes, oh those fabulous shoes...) you just need to watch it. It's awesome. I can tell already while this is going to be one of my favourite songs of the year, this is going to be one of my favourite clips as well.

Jo Michelmore gives the video for Q.U.E.E.N. five Jackson Five heads out of five...

Killer Lights

by Future Relative

One of the things I like about writing a blog is that sometimes you get to discover things that might not neccassarily have found you while you're getting ditracted by clips of monkeys, taxidermy and amusement parks on youtube. Today I was lucky enough to have found the new clip form Future Relative, a Brooklyn based electro outfit we featured late last year with their single 'Deep End'. This year, things are looking promising, with the release of their latest clip and single 'Killer Lights', the trio show us some diversity. A little more pop than their last track, the clip is perfectly simple and repetitive like the incredibly catchy song itself. Close up head shots mixed with images of the band playing and, of course, a bunch of lighting effects make it a clip worth watching and yeah, like Matt did, I'm going to say it too, this clip is a perfect indication that this is an act you're going to want to keep an eye on this year. Future Relative have proven again that (dare I say it?) they have a big future ahead of them! There, I made the pun, I couldn't resist.

Jo Michelmore gives the video for Killer Lights four Shirley Manson heads out of five...

Top 25 - 5 May, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Sun, 05 May 2013 00:26:00 +0000

Songs of the Week, 04/05/13 from itsmykindofscene on 8tracks Radio.

1. The xx - Together (NEW)
2. Florence + The Machine - Over The Love
3. Jack Byrnes - You've Been Left Behind (NEW)

4. Ella Hooper - Haxan

5. Mr Little Jeans - Oh Sailor

6. Jeremy Neale ft. Go Violets - In Stranger Times (NEW)

7. Lana Del Rey - Young and Beautiful
8. Savages - No Face (NEW)

9. Strangers - Something New (NEW)

10. Crystal Fighters - You and I

11. Hamish Anderson - Howl

12. Mr Little Jeans - Waterfalls (NEW)
13. Chvrches - Now Is Not The Time

14. Buchanan - Human Spring

15. Thee Oh Sees - I Come From The Mountain (NEW)

16. Pigeon - Encounters

17. Empire of the Sun - Alive (Re-Entry)

18. Bernard Fanning - Battleships
19. Sia - Kill and Run (NEW)

20. Tegan and Sara - I Was A Fool (NEW)

21. Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams - Get Lucky
22. Janelle Monae ft. Erykah Badu - Q.U.E.E.N

23. Avicii vs Nicky Romero - I Could Be The One (NEW)

24. Sara - Horses (NEW)
25.Wolf Alice - Bros

The Candy Shop #1

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Michelmore) — Sat, 04 May 2013 07:05:00 +0000

This may or may not be Nayt. It's not, but it would be a dream come true for him. Maybe.

The Candy Shop #1

by Nayt Housman

Is life getting you down? Feeling a bit flat? You need a boost? Let me massage your sugar cravings with my sweet confectionary treats.

Welcome to The Candy Shop!

Cheap Sweets - Madonna

These days Madonna may be more like a moving lump of gristly, dried meat than a sexy, delicious, soft serve ice cream, but that don’t mean she still don’t know how to serve the sauce. So, who better to feature as the Candy Shop opening act than the queen of candy pop herself!

‘Candy Shop’ is like a $5 happy hour, jellybean cocktail. It gets me up off my seat (my seat), I get up onto the dance floor, it gives me something so sweet (so sweet), makes me feel like a cheap wh… What?

Though not released as a single, this live performance might as well be her official video.

Sexy Sweets - Kylie Minogue

She’s been Australia’s sexy, sweetheart girl next door since the 80’s and I like to call her “Princess Mini Madonna Minogue”. Less ‘Nestle’ and more ‘Lindt’, Kylie is top shelf supermarket confectionery. She can turn an average block of chocolate into a (almost) gourmet, finger licking good time.

‘Chocolate’ opens with a gentle crinkle of the foil wrapping, a firm yet equally soft snap, as each square breaks off in my mouth, then the sweet, sweet cacao essence melts on the tongue and becomes one with my body.

The video is exactly how I feel when I’m eating good chocolate; I dance seductively in sexy floaty dresses while little ladies twirl on my hat. Blisssss.

Repeating Sweets - Shanks and Bigfoot

“I’ll have a serve of Shanks and Bigfoot thanks!” You’d be forgiven for thinking this is a menu item in one of those novelty themed restaurants, but no… Shanks and Bigfoot were a one hit wonder duo from the late 90’s whose big hit was so sweet you could taste it for weeks with just one whiff and not a morsel touching your taste buds.

‘Sweet Like Chocolate’ is like when I eat M and M’s; I can’t stop at just one, but after a handful I know they’ll be repeating on me for hours. Chocolate people in a chocolate town doing “chocolate people” in “chocolate town things”? I get it, but it’s creepy. Get your dose of Mylanta ready because this sucker is sure to cause a bad case of heartburn.

It's All Coming Back To Me Now - The Wedding Of The Century....Or 1988, At Least.

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Michelmore) — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Well, who was John looking at during the first kiss...?

Lyndal and John, What Went Wrong?

by Jo Michelmore

Chatting on a friends balcony recently, we were discussing his latest aqquisition from one of his op shop missions; this time it wasn't a new/old piece of fabulous clothing, not a new pair of shoes, not even a new retro decorative item for his already stylish house. This time, his grand purchase was a champagne glass. Not just any champagne glass. This one was special. Engraved. Engraved with two names...Lyndal and John. 1988.

Oh Lyndal and John, what went wrong? You were such a lovely couple, how can things have turned so sour? Who were Lyndal and John? Oh, I don't know, but things must have turned bad for them right? If they were still married then the champagne glasses from their wedding wouldn't have ended up at an opshop, right? Right.

Their wedding day, 1988. What a beautiful day it would have been. So many puffy sleeves, so many unnatural fibres, so much hair. Lots of big big hair. LOTS of teased hair. So let's think about this, if it all went wrong, is it because they listened to too much music in 1988, or not enough?

When they met, maybe Lyndall thought it was cute, John yelling out his car window at her but Lyndal probably didn't realise John had taken Billy Ocean's words

"Get outta my dreams, get into my car
Get outta my dreams, get in the back seat baby"

and yelled them at her three bridesmaids as well....

Maybe John, on the other hand, thought Lyndal was someone she wasn't. Just because she was the last one he invited to the backseat of her car didn't mean she'd not seen any other backseats. After all, Lyndal was a big fan of Samantha Fox and liked to live her life by her words, then she met John...

"Temporary love's so bad, but it feels so good
Then along came you, now I know it's true
Naughty girls need love...too"

Love does strange things to people and somehow, Lyndal and John worked out, for a couple of years there. Maybe it was the thought of Phil Collins words during their first wedding dance that kept them together for a few years.

"When I'm feeling blue, all I have to do
Is take a look at you, then I'm not so blue....

We got a groovy kind of love"

So what tore them apart? Maybe John realised he'd made a terrible mistake. While Lyndal was a cute chick, maybe it was something else John was looking for all along, and that was something Lyndal just couldn't be. George Michael knew exactly what kind of person John was looking for

"I will be your father figure, put your tiny hand in mine
I will be your preacher teacher, anything you have in mind"

Or maybe it was Lyndal, she married so young, but all she wanted was some time to decide what she was doing with her life. If only she'd listened to Kylie more.

"I've got to be, got to be certain
I've got to be so sure, I've had my share of hearts broken
And I don't wanna take that any more"

Still, it doesn't matter what happened, or why it happened; all that matters is that John and Lyndal went on to find what they wanted, when they wanted, where they wanted it. As long as they ended up happy, who cares where their wedding flutes ended up? Like Fairground Attraction said in that fateful year of 1988, whoever they ended up with, as long as they ended up happy, everything ended perfectly...

"It's got to be perfect, it's got to be worth it, yeah.
Too many people take second best
But I won't take anything less, it's got to be, yeah

Perfect"

The K-Tizzle Sister Sizzle

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Wed, 01 May 2013 01:59:00 +0000

S2S... oppan Langley style.

The K-Tizzle Sister Sizzle

by Katie Langley

My sister Jess and I have always been close. Although if I had to pick a time when our bond really solidified I’d say it was the day I almost killed her. As children we use to ride our bikes down the hill beside the house, using our feet to stop us at the bottom, Flintstone’s style! After countless trips up and down the hill I had a brainwave – I should use a rope to stop her. My little neighbourhood pal and I stood patiently at the bottom of the hill, rope in hand. As Jess cycled down towards us we held the rope taut and BAM! It whacked her in the throat and she went flying off her bicycle. How her head didn’t come clean off I’ll never know.

Jess has always forgiven me. Even for the time that I pushed her so hard on a swing that she smacked into a wooden fence. Poor Jess was screaming “stop it! I’m hitting the fence”. And all I could do was laugh. In fact, I laughed so hard I wet myself. Yes. It was that funny (to me).

I hope she’ll also forgive me for what I’m about to share. Our favourite hobby as kids was to get all dolled up and make home videos of each other singing our favourite songs. Jess was very much into Grease and there’s an old tape of her floating around somewhere of her rendition of “You’re the One That I Want”. The kicker is that she painted her face, half male, half female so that she could do the dual parts. Hilarious doesn’t begin to describe it.

Let’s take a look at music’s famous brothers and sisters.

Gallagher brothers

Noel and Liam Gallagher of Oasis are famous for their public slanging matches. They’ve been locked in a bitter feud for years following Noel’s decision to quit the band in 2009. Wonderwalls to each other they are not!

Hanson brothers

Brothers (or sisters as some originally tried to have us believe) Zac, Taylor and Isaac Hanson are relatively squeaky clean. Mmm-boring!

Minogue sisters

The media have always tried to hint at jealousy between the Minogue sisters, but it seems there’s nothing but admiration between Dannii and Kylie. Admiration and Botox.

Madden brothers

Thankfully Good Charlotte twins Joel and Benji Madden have each other because it seems that Australia has had enough. Sparked on by over exposure, and a whole lot of finger lickin’, a petition is doing the rounds to kick the brothers out of the country. What can I say? It’s just the lifestyles of the rich and famous…

Sister2Sister

Christine and Sharon Muscat formed the duo Sister2Sister in the 90’s and had their 15 minutes of fame with their cheesy single “Sister”. Jess, I love you, but this is vom worthy.

Listen Or Die? #11 - Palo Congo...

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Bond) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:18:00 +0000

Listen Or Die? Our weekly examination of the albums listed in the book, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Must you hear them? We'll be the judge of that...

PALO CONGO

by Sabu (1957)

Running Time: 40:52
Reviewed by Matt Bond

1.El Cumbanchero

2. Billumba-Palo Congo

3. Choferito-Plena

4. Asabache

5. Simba

6. Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso

7. Aggo Elegua

8. Tribilin Cantore

Say goodbye to the brassy big band jazz sounds, at least for this week, and say hello to some spicy Latin jazz! Louis Martinez aka Sabu delivers a forty minute, non-stop percussive assault of Cuban rumba goodness, random Spanish rants (one assumes as one does not speak much Spanish - hola, bitchola) and world class conga drumming. Places you can expect to hear the music of Palo Congo these days include your fave local Mexican dining establecimiento, motion pictures that feature exciting/exotic dance sequences south of the border and that's about it.

Given Sabu's mixed heritage (Spanish, African and West Indian), Palo Congo percussive influences leap from Latin to African and beyond throughout. The tribal beats of Africa are most prevalent on 'Simba,' which should come as no surprise to anyone who has seen The Lion King and has a basic understanding of geography. Don't get used to the pre-'Circle of Life' circa-1957 Zulu chanting though, as you're bounced right back to a sunny, tequila-infused Sunday afternoon in Tijuana for 'Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso.' Percussion takes a backseat to the tres guitar, which favours latter day funk as much as the timeless sounds of classic Spanish music.

This back and forth between African and Spanish themed tracks keeps the listener invested. If the focus had been limited to strict Cuban rumba, Palo Congo would command just as much attention as your standard 50s jazz album. Did I mention how happy I am to be big band jazz free for a week? That fact alone would have earned Sabu a LISTEN for Palo Congo. Thankfully, the album's percussive genius does a lot more to earn it.

The tally...

LISTEN: 5
DIE: 6

New Music Monday #50

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Michelmore) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:15:00 +0000

#willpower

by will.i.am (2013)

The start of '#willpower' didn't help, why would anyone open an album with a track titled 'Good Morning'? The first time I listened to this was at 5.56pm, so I was immediately confused and annoyed, but you know, I'm a dedicated blogger, so thought I'd keep my commitment to our New Music Monday and keep listening. The problem was, the next time I actually realised I was listening was track six, because this album is so dull, during the first five tracks my mind wandered to what I was going to have for dinner and what I'm planning to do next weekend. As I said, I'm a dedicated blogger so I returned to track two and listened again, vaguely hearing "Britney bitch" a few minutes later, which is a small moment of light...and let's be honest, that's not saying much because that song should have had more Britney and been a lot better, but I digress.

My mind wandered through another five tracks and my blogging dedication got tested, so let me summarise; Bieber made an appearance somewhere, I didn't hate 'The World Is Crazy', the track with Miley Cyrus; 'Fall Down' sounded like a commercial for some kind of insurance company, I refused to listen to the track that appears fifth and by the time I got to the last track 'Bang Bang', I was embarrassed for the original 'Bang Bang' by Nancy Sinatra. How unfortunate that song has to have the same name as this piece of unintelligent, bland four and a half minutes.

I did get through the album and the thing is; this is a will.i.am album, it was never going to change the world, be deep and meaningful, reflective or life changing. It's only purpose is to entertain, but the problem I have? It doesn't. It's boring, it sounds like everyone put in minimal effort and that's not enough. I'm tired of celebrities like will.i.am getting exposure on radio and TV and internet just because they are who they are. Yes, pop music IS throwaway music, mostly, but that shouldn't mean I want to bin an album before the end of an album.

Hashtag this will.i.am -

#whatashame

#illnevergetthatsixtyfourminutesandthirtysecondsback

#thisalbumiscrap

#tryhardernexttime

#please

Jo Michelmore gives #willpower one Lil Kim head out of five...

Together

by The xx

Album: The Great Gatsby OST (6 May, 2013)

Are we in agreement that The Great Gatsby soundtrack is going to be one of the best albums of the year? We are? Great. Each of the original songs we've heard so far have blown me away. Florence + The Machine, Lana Del Rey, Nero and Sia have released mind blowing tracks in the past couple of weeks and now The xx offer up 'Together.' On first listen it gives you the same chills throughout your entire body that 'Angels' conjured up. This is even more of a questionable love, seemingly doomed from the start. The tension builds to the introduction of beautiful, cinematic strings as our two leads repeat the lines, "together, to be, together, and be." Adding The xx to his Gatsby team might have been Jay-Z's most inspired move.

Matt Bond gives 'Together' four Lady Gaga heads out of five...

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS OF THE WEEK:

Rosie

by Castlecomer

EP: Lone Survivor (2013)

It's a simple idea. A dude walks up to the screen with a sign that says "how do you dance?" and then a whole bunch of people show us how they pop, lock and pirouette etc. It's simple, but it's also a lot of fun, matches the upbeat nature of 'Rosie' the song and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. What else does 'Rosie' have working in its favour? A dude in a mariachi outfit dancing in slow-mo. You can also look at some of the dancers as an example of how not to dance... ever. Flexing while dancing makes you look like a wanker, spinning a basketball while walking is not widely considered to be dancing at all and only kids look cute when they jump around like a crazy person with minimal limb control. A video that's not only fun, but educational too. It's a winner.

Matt Bond gives the video for 'Rosie' three Kylie heads out of five...

In Stranger Times

by Jeremy Neale ft. Go Violets (2013)

Oh, Brisbane. So much better than every city in Australia and you're home to Jeremy Neale and Go Violets. This video is good (and by good I mean laugh out loud genuinely good), but I'll admit I didn't pay much attention to the song the first time I watched it. Once I finished enjoying moments such as pizza, pony club, moderately successful lucha libre, so dreamy (in slow-mo) and fighting, always fighting and never not fighting, I listened to the song and it's all kinds of retro-revival amazing. I don't want to make grand assumptions, but I'm of the opinion 'In Stranger Times' was made on a minimal budget. I love an over the top, fifty million dollar music video that's got Beyonce and one hundred back-up dancers shaking it in the desert while some near-extinct animals watch on as much as the next music fan. But it's always nice to get a reminder that an excellent music video can be made on the cheap, while not sacrificing on entertainment value. Jeremy Neale and Go Violets, you did good.

Matt Bond gives the video for 'In Stranger Times' four Michael Hutchence heads out of five...