Florence And The Machine.

Posted on Apr 20, 2008 by Olivia

Florence And The Machine

Girl With 1 Eye was one of the best songs to have been sang by a beautiful unsigned artist, Florence And The Machine. A cover by a band called The Ludes.

On her Myspace there are now more additions to her wonderful,growing collection of songs. Yes, she will be compared to a certain Kate Nash but realistically- she sounds NOTHING like her at all. Her lyrics are deeper and it doesn’t feel like she is reading a diary entry to you (Kate is the only one to actually do this well)

Florence is good mates with Dev Hynes (Lightspeed Champion) and on YouTube there’s a lovely clip of them singing together.

Anyway, Florence is supporting MGMT on their UK tour next month- I suppose that’s a reason to go!

She deserves to be signed, and hopefully within the next few months she will be 🙂

The Smiths.

Posted on Apr 20, 2008 by Olivia

The Smiths

Pick your favourite song by The Smiths. Now, pick your favourite lyric by them. By the time you’ve read this piece, I bet you’ll have changed your mind.

Everyone knows the haunting sound and powerful words to ‘How Soon Is Now.’ Personally, not a favourite song by The Smiths. It’ll always be, for me- ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.’ I adore that song. Everything about it. I just love that song to pieces.

It’s the specific one-liners that make this band the best group to have ever come out of the UK. It’s one-liners such as : “I would go out tonight but I haven’t got a stitch to wear” or “Why do I give valuable time to people who don’t care if I live or die.” I could go on about how lyrically, The Smiths are the best band to have ever existed.

Marr is fanstastic, as are Rourke and Joyce. But people, stop calling Morrissey “arrogant.” His clever lyrics influenced cheap imitations that bum ‘The Queen Is Dead.’

‘This town will drag you down’- every time I come back to the Isle of Man during uni holidays, that lyric seems to be stuck in my brain. I feel that this line was written for me, and anyone who is from a desolate place that oozes negativity.

Some may say, to appreciate The Smiths you had to have been there. I was born in 1986(the golden era of hip hop!) So, I guess I was late! But, I found The Smiths when I was lost. There are a handful of bands that have influenced my life and maybe changed it. I’m not the only one who feels this way about The Smiths.

I don’t want them to reform, as much as I love them- I just don’t want them to. I’m unsure of my reasons, I suppose they are odd. Maybe you feel the same, maybe you don’t.

I’ll leave you with this. If The Smiths stayed together- they may have burnt out and made “bad” records(I doubt it). Instead, they quit whilst ahead and Morrissey became a great solo artist and Marr gave us Modest Mouse.

So, before you become a small minded fool and label them as “depressing.” Then proceed to label Morrissey as “arrogant”- just remember, they said what you thought in such a charming and sarcastic manner- and also with great wit.

Lightspeed Champion- Falling Off The Lavender Bridge.

Posted on Apr 20, 2008 by Olivia

Album cover.

I wrote this when the album came out :

Dev Hynes used to be in Test Icicles, what you need to know is that Lightspeed Champion is NOTHING like Test Icicles. His new project is calming and gentle. Test Icicles were the opposite, however both are excellent.

Falling Off The Lavender Bridge does not sound like a debut album. It actually sounds like a masterpiece that an artist for years and years has been aiming to release, after putting out mediocre albums to kill time. This will be the album you’ll play constantly from now until the summer and even after the summer- you’ll be buying another copy because your first one is scratched to hell.

Ladies and gentlemen I am not lying. This album is so beautiful and will leave you in awe. Some are quick to call Lightspeed Champion our version of Bright Eyes, fair enough really. The album is produced by Mike Mogis, a producer from American independent record label, Saddle Creek and has produced some records by Bright Eyes.

The imagination in the lyrics is astounding. Every song just oozes 100% and more genuine originality. The name of the band comes from Dev’s comic strips he did in his maths books at school- and who said maths was a useless subject!?

Midnight Surprise is ten minutes of musical heaven- check the video out too. Other singles to be taken off the album are Galaxy Of The Lost and current release, Tell Me What It’s Worth.

Devil Tricks For A Bitch has a lovely violin arrangement and has a tone to it that reminds me of The Smiths, I Could Have Done This Myself and Dry Lips are my two favourites- but the whole album is magnificent and is currently being streamed on his myspace page but please please please buy this next Monday when it hits record shops.

Lightspeed Champion’s February tour is at intimate venues which is possibly the best way to experience this album. To hear this work of art live will cover your body with goosebumps and your eyes with tears.

Album of the year? I’d gladly put money on it.

The Dykeenies.

Posted on Apr 19, 2008 by Olivia

The Dykeenies

One of the most underrated bands to have come out last year are The Dykeenies. Nothing Means Everything was one of the best albums to come out last year, and alongside The Enemy they both put out 2 great debut albums.

I’ve only seen them live once at the Birmingham Barfly, they were perfect. No other word to describe them.

Here are their videos, and I’ve put a live version of Stitches too because the song is beautiful.

ENJOY! 😉

Bright Eyes.

Posted on Apr 19, 2008 by Olivia

Conor Oberst

For the past week I have been listening to Bright Eyes none stop. I already had a few songs on my old PC, but I got a laptop last year for my brithday and I’ve never really got round to transfering much music. I should get round to that…anyway.

I borrowed three albums off a friend, and I’ve been listening none stop for a week. I don’t know what to class Conor Oberst’s music as- apart from excellent. There’s no other word. His lyrics and the way he sings them are powerful, you just have to listen.

The songs that I keep playing arrrrrre :

Take It Easy (Love Nothing)

Hit The Switch

I Believe In Symmetry

Easy/Lucky/Free

First Day Of My Life

Lover I Don’t Have To Love.

I’ve heard his new stuff, well..it came out last year. But yes, his new stuff is pretty damn good.

Weezer!!!! WEEZER!!!

Posted on Apr 17, 2008 by Olivia

Just heard the new track Pork And Beans. Is it amazing? OF COURSE IT IS!

This has made my day, and I’ve only been up for 2 hours!

Weezer.

Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by Olivia

Weezer

ABOUT BLOODY TIME!!!! 🙂

from nme.com

A sneak preview of Weezer‘s new single, ‘Pork And Beans’, released on April 22, is available to listen to online.

A clip of the song is now being streamed on Amazon.com.

The song is taken from the highly-anticipated forthcoming album from the band, which is likely to be self-titled, as was the case for two previous Weezer albums.

A message on the Weezer website explains that the album is likely to be released on June 17 in the USA and have predominantly red artwork, fitting in with the band’s last two self-titled releases, known as ‘The Blue Album’ and ‘The Green Album’, respectively.

The album was produced by Rick Rubin, Jacknife Lee and the band, and mixed by Rich Costey.

Love Music.Hate Racism.

Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by Olivia

In a few weeks, LMHR will be hosting an awesome carnival in London. The poster has the site on for you to checkout.

Here’s some news regarding the event take from their Facebook page :

LMHR CARNIVAL 08

VICTORIA PARK, LONDON.

SUNDAY 27 APRIL 2008

Highlights of the Love Music Hate Racism Carnival include:

Three stages – two live outdoor stages + big dance marquee

Some of the biggest and most exciting contemporary acts: hip-hop / indie / grime / bhangra / rock / reggae / dubstep / r&b / funky house / jungle

Stars of the original 1978 Carnival playing live
Unique collaborations
Carnival procession against racism leading to the main event
Speakers, debates and information on fighting racism and fascism
Transport to the event being organised from across the UK
Entry to the Carnival FREE – but donations welcomed.

LINE UP….

Hard-Fi
Roll Deep ft Tinchy Stryder & Jammer
Drew McConnell (Babyshambles) & friends ft very
special guests

Rock Against Racism Allstars
Jay Sean
Jerry Dammers
Poly Styrene (X-Ray Spex)
Wiley
The Paddingtons
Patrick Wolf
Get Cape.Wear Cape.Fly
Bashy
Natty
Nihal
Skream & Benga
Don Letts
Dennis Bovell’s London Lovers’ Rock Crew
Heartless Crew
Ace & Vis
Bishi
Juggy D + MC Special
Ny
Dj Hype
Riz MC
Snakeyman
Target
Mistajam
Statik
The Thirst
Adelaide Mckenzie
No.Lay
Alex Mills
Natascha Eleonoré
Metz & Trix
Hoodstars
The Tribunes
Lil Rascals
Stylo G
DJ Rugrat
Nathan ‘Flutebox’ Lee
Decypher Collective

ROCK AGAINST RACISM
30TH ANNIVERSARY

“Love Music Hate Racism Carnival 2008 – Rock Against Racism 30th Anniversary” promises to be LMHR’s biggest event yet. It celebrates 30 years since the famous Rock Against Racism carnival, which also took place in the Victoria Park and was played by The Clash, Steel Pulse and other legends.

Our carnival will see all kinds of musicians uniting against racism and fascism – creating a diverse and vibrant mix of music. There will be a lively carnival procession through London beforehand.

We want to give everyone the chance to get involved with this exciting event and are asking for the following:

Regional Coordinators to get people from your area, college, university, etc to Carnival. This may mean organising transport or displaying publicity.
Join other LMHR supporters and artists at Unite Against Fascism’s annual conference on Saturday 1 March. We’ll be discussing plans for Carnival and distributing publicity. For more information, go to http://www.uaf.org.uk. Help with transport may be available – contact LMHR for information
Help us fund the carnival – an event like this doesn’t come cheap! That’s why we’re appealing for donations or help, such as holding a LMHR fundraiser or a “pre-carnival party”. See our website for ideas, or donate online.

_______

Go on. Support the cause. Get rid of the facist scum that is, the BNP. There is no need for such facist, racist, homophobic disgusting people in the world. If you get a leaflet- BIN IT!

Cat Power- Metal Heart.

Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by Olivia

Cat Power- Metal Heart (live)

Yes, I sure do adore Chan Marshall aka Cat Power. I’ve heard the old and new versions of Metal Heart..I’m not sure if I’ll ever have a favourite version. The song is so painfully beautiful and heartbreakingly wonderful. One of my favourite songs ever by one of my favourite singers ever. I can’t wait to see her in June, it’ll probably be the best gig I’ve ever been to (how many times have I said that?!)

After beating depression and alcoholism, Cat Power now plays at her best. She does more than sing- she gets to your heart. That’s a true artist. The words in this song mean more to me than any other song I’ve ever heard. If I could marry a song, I’d marry this one. If I could only listen to one song for a long long time- it’d be this one. It is perfect.

I hope you enjoy!