Category Archives: Uncategorized

Lightspeed Champion. Birmingham Academy 2. 1/5/08

Posted on by

DevLightspeed ChampionOperator Please

Firsty, I was probably one of the eldest there- not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.

Secondly, I think everyone there pulled their clothes out of the same wardrobe.

Let’s proceed with the review, shall we?

The first support band on were Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man. They reminded me a little bit of Editors, yes I know- that means they aren’t that good, but ya know..it’s better than saying they were like James Blunt or something. Their music gave off a Shakespeare kind of vibe, rather haunting too. I wasn’t blown away- just quite amused.

Second band up were a wonderful Australian band called Operator Please who played a handful of songs from their album Yes Yes Vindictive. The album is amazing, and to hear it live (again!) is one heck of an experience. They are are aged between 17-19 but play like complete professionals. There are absolutley no faults in their performance at all. It was truely wonderful. They played with their new keyboardist, no idea what his name is. He looked a bit bored, but maybe he was nervous. Sarah used to bounce around and play the keyboard. The new guy just sort of stood there with his head down. Operator Please even treated us to a cover of Devo’s Whip It, and what a treat it was. I saw Operator Please in October last year and hardly anyone danced let alone sang along- but luckily, it was different last night. People were moving and singing. A band worth taking note of.

And finally, the main event. Lightspeed Champion. Dev Hynes walks on stage saying “Hey guys” down the mic and picks up his guitar. Every song from Falling Off The Lavender Bridge is played along with 2 new songs. The prostitute song, which is now called Madam Van Damn included- this version no longer sounds like a demo. It is awesome. The other new song is described by Dev as being “funky” it’s more than that though. His killer guitar solo mid song is perfect. In fact, the whole set is perfect. First saw Dev play in February and Dry Lips was played acoustic but tonight- full band and electric guitar. As this is my favourite song off the album- this version just blew me away. I was in awe of everyone on stage- not just Dev. The Star Wars theme was crazy too. Playing that before Midnight Surprise was wicked. Mid set, Dev took his jacket off to reveal a fetching shirt- blue polo shirt with yachts on. He bought it earlier in the day- only Dev could make this shirt look cool, and yes- the hat was on too!

You cannot find any fault in Lightspeed Champion’s performance, going from strength to strength. Dev’s live shows are something you really do need to see for yourself. He’s got a really really good stage presence too, after every song there was a bit of banter, saying “thanks everyone” at the end of every song was really cute. A little diss to The Wombats was amusing too, he wasn’t dissing them, he was just being silly, or something 🙂

 My words do not do it justice. I took some photos but they didn’t come out that well because we were stood on a box at the back of the venue eating Wham Bars (they’re still 10p! In your face Space Raiders!)

 

 

Am I The Only Person Who Can’t Stand….

Posted on by

Madonna. Bloody hell.

I gave in and watched on YouTube her new song (4 Minutes..lasts longer and is crap). I wish I didn’t. It hurt my ears and the video hurt my eyes. Oh how I wish I didn’t bother! It’s awful. Just sheer crap. How did they even manage to let this excuse for a song to be recorded? I don’t know what I hate most…her or Justin Timberlake. I do like Timbaland..the stuff he did with Aaliyah is timeless and always will be. His partnership with Missy Eliott was beautiful too. Timbaland, Missy, Ginuwine and Aaliyah..some of the best music I’ve heard- but we can’t go back.

Anyway, this “song” is awful. Madonna is awful. I’ve never liked her music and I’ve seen interviews of hers- I don’t think much of her to be honest.

4 Minutes is 4 minutes of crap really. The song doesn’t go anywhere. She should have quite like 10 years ago.

I’m going to stop before I completely go off on one!

I just feel like the only person who simply cannot stand Madonna.

Florence And The Machine.

Posted on by

Girl With One Eye(LIVE)

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 by

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 by

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 by

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.

 

Clean Up Your Eyes.

Stitches

New Ideas

Waiting For Go.

Stitches (Live) 

 

ENJOY! 😉

Bright Eyes.

Posted on by

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.

Posted on by

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.