Then please click HERE and read Marina’s (Marina & The Diamonds) blog. It’s a beautiful idea that will hopefully happen. If only more famous people used their fame for the good. I really don’t need to mention any names.
Marina, you really are a diamond.
x
Bless the BBC for showing some amazing sets over the weekend. A few songs in particular made me cry. Not even sorry or ashamed about it. So, I’ve found some of the best ones that have been put up so far :
Ellie Goulding-Starry Eyed. If Salt Skin had been put up, I’d put that on. But seeing about 7,000 people sing every word back to Ellie looked pretty damn beautiful. What’s even better is that Fin aka Starsmith is on the side watching it. Just amazing.
The xx & Florence Welch- You’ve Got The Love. Stunning. Totally stunning.
La Roux- Quicksand and Temptation. A very special guest joins the band on stage!
Florence + The Machine- Heavy In Your Arms and The Chain. Covering Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain was mindblowing. So gorgeous. I know they said they were only doing it once…but they need to do it again. Mark KILLED the bass solo. It’s the best bass solo in the history of music and he nailed it. The whole band nailed that song. It’s perfect.
Marina & The Diamonds-Guilty. My favourite Marina song off the album. I just adore it.
x
Finally Marina’s debut album is out today. I no longer have to play the EP over and over wishing and waiting for an album. It is finally out and I am currently listening to my favourite album of the year. Of course this will more than likely change next week when Ellie Goulding’s album comes out. So I shall just say, before I go into some kind of detail of how amazing The Family Jewels is, that this year- is a good year for debut albums. Lights and The Family Jewels are going to be the best albums you will hear this year.
The album opens with Are You Satisfied? which SHOULD be a single, but I’ve heard that Oh No! is the next release-it doesn’t matter what the next single is because this album is beautiful from start to finish. I remember hearing about Marina early last year and just finding as many songs as I could by her. One was Hermit The Frog, which I’m happy is on the album. I love her track, Porn Is Good For The Soul but sadly, it isn’t on the album. There’s a different version of Hollywood and of course I Am Not A Robot and Obsessions are on there.
Basically, you need to go out and buy this album. There is not a bad track on there at all. I know it’s a brief review but you really don’t need me to throw a bunch of descriptive words around. It’s a fantastic album, so go out and buy it 🙂
Cold Cave are playing a few dates in England in May. I’d go to the Manchester one but….it’s the same night as Florence. I can’t miss Florence oh no!
There’s a Marina & The Diamonds tour in May too.
The gorge Ellie Goulding is doing a few dates in June.
Oh, and The Strokes are recording for the new album!!! Also Garbage may be doing some new tracks/album!!!
x
Okay so I’ve done albums of the year, now I’m going to attempt doing the songs of the year. I’ll edit this at least 10 times before being content with my choices. No order, until the last 3…as usual!
Ou Est Le Swimming Pool-Dance The Way I Feel. I firmly believe that this song can make the most miserable person feel happy listening to this. They are a friggin’ brilliant live band and I hope next year sees them becoming massive.
Frankmusik-Better Off As Two. Best friend got me into Frankmusik. I love this song.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs-Zero. The video alone was good. I want Karen O’s jacket from this video. I think a sense of power or something would come from wearing it.
Ellie Goulding-Under The Sheets. She’ll be big next year, by rights.
Marina & The Diamonds-I Am Not A Robot. The lyrics tug at your heartstrongs and make you think it’s all going to be okay because let’s face it, it always is 🙂
La Roux-I’m Not Your Toy. I could’ve gone for Bulletproof, but I didn’t. I prefer this song to what’s been released so far. BUT, Quicksand will ALWAYS be a personal favourite.
Norah Jones-Chasing Pirates. I’m pretty much in love with her new album.
Lightspeed Champion-Marlene. I know this out next year but the video is already out so….fuck it! Besides, his new album will probably be one of the best albums out next year.
Girls-Lust For Life. I was very happy that this wasn’t an Iggy Pop cover. Nobody should cover Iggy Pop. EVER.
Camera Obscura-French Navy. Goosebumps everywhere when I first heard this. Still happens now.
Golden Silvers-True Romance. A band that I’m so glad I saw live. This song has some good memories tied to it. The main one being seeing them support Florence, and Florence touching my shoulder saying “excuse me” to get past and dancing in front of me and my best mate to this.
The Saturdays-Forever Is Over. This has “FUCK YOU” written all over it, which is probably why I love it.
Lady GaGa-Bad Romance- RA RA AH AH…You know how it goes. I love this an unhealthy amount (some would say..I disagree) The reference to Hitchcock’s films and the video just make it even more amazing than it already is.
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys-Empire State Of Mind. Two of my favourite artists on the same record. Musical heaven. Reasonable Doubt will always be my favourite Jay album but this reminds me why I love him.
The Dead Weather-Treat Me Like Your Mother. The video is amazing and I love Alison. No more needs to be said really.
Julian Casablancas-11th Dimension. This was enough to make me forget that The Strokes haven’t put an album out since 2005.
Florence + The Machine- You’ve Got The Love. Seeing a few thousand people around you sing along to every word is probably the best thing I’ve seen this year. My favourite cover EVER.
Metric-Help I’m Alive. I hate the word epic but that’s the only word to use to describe this song.
The Raveonettes-Last Dance. Sweet, cute, perfect.
Spinnerette-Baptized By Fire. The lyrics alone are pretty friggin’ cool. I love Brody, who doesn’t?!
Bat For Lashes-Daniel. Natasha Khan possess one of the best voices in the world right now.
Bloc Party-One More Chance. Sounds like a 90s dance track and it’s Bloc Party. Perfect.
thecocknbullkid-I’m Not Sorry. This may have come out last year? But whatever, I still love it. Album next year. ‘BOUT TIME!
The Horrors-Sea Within A Sea. 7 minutes of musical genius. I remember waiting for the countdown to end on thier website and seeing this.
Doll & The Kicks-You Turn Up. Love this band to pieces and I think they need to be signed. NOW. Lovely people and amazing live.
The Chapman Family- Virgins. Kingsley Chapman is lovely. The Chapman Family also need to be signed ASAP.
White Lies-To Lose My Life. So dark and haunting.
TOP 5!!!
Fever Ray-If I Had A Heart. Strange and beautiful.
Morrissey- I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris. Anything Moz does is genius, but this is easily my favourite single of his in a long time. The lyrics speak to me and probably most of Moz’s fans. It just reinforces our unconditional love for him.
The xx- Crystalised. Favourite new band of the year. Awesome live. The album is brilliant from start to finish.
Florence + The Machine- Dog Days Are Over. Pretty much the same as what I said about You’ve Got The Love. I love the video to this. Makes me want to run through a forest in a tux. I won’t though.
Florence + The Machine-Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up). I remember where I was when I first heard this and I remember crying because..it just like, hit me in the gut. Right in the gut and I got this feeling of “shit…everything is pretty fucked up right now but I’m going to be fine.” Lo and behold I am! Morbid story aside, this song is just brilliant. The live version of this with Isabella doing the 90s balaric keyboard solo makes me weak and fucking happy. You need to physically see it to understand. I don’t need to go into detail about the importance of this song to me. If I was writing about album tracks too, I’d put Blinding, Howl and Cosmic Love in the list.
Beat In My Bones. 