tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63140064471541044952024-03-13T10:50:44.804+00:00When We Were BeautifulA blog devoted to the world of music and everything inbetween, as seen through the eyes of a young man.Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.comBlogger263125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-18311721379830043632014-06-26T19:35:00.000+01:002014-06-26T19:35:46.359+01:00Video Alert: The Black Tibetans - 'You're Cold'Are you a fan of the Black Keys or just love a dirty rock n roll? If you said yes to either question, you're sure to love You're Cold from Californian rockers The Black Tibetans. Produced by front-man for the Black Keys, Dan Auerbach, this dirty rocking number is sure to get hearts beating, feet tapping and sweat glistening as it's released this summer.<br />
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The video looks fantastic, setting a tour-diary back-drop to the track and was exclusively premiered by Fender. Auerbach also picks up his six-string, taking the solo for the track after having sat in the producer's seat for 'The Nashville Sessions' EP for The Black Tibetans.<br />
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The trio have recently been on the road supporting the likes of the Arctic Monkeys, Eagles of Death Metal and Brody Dalle and the EP, from which You're Cold is taken, is available now on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-nashville-session-single/id881501570">iTunes</a>. You can watch the video below. Enjoy :)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/95255864" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <a href="http://vimeo.com/95255864">The Black Tibetans - You're Cold - (Official Music Video)</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user19317291">SRCE production</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-79996730214531727052014-05-08T22:22:00.000+01:002014-05-08T22:22:12.502+01:00Destination Unknown: BANK FashionBANK Fashion are running an exciting competition that closes <b>tomorrow</b> for you and a friend to win tickets to 3 chosen festivals this summer!<br />
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All you have to do is visit the<a href="http://www.bankfashion.co.uk/page/destination-unknown/&stop_mobi=yes"> BANK Fashion</a> website and enter the competition by writing a themed blog post, talking through your favourite festival wear, a fantasy festival or a festival gone wrong.<br />
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The first 50 people to submit a blog post will also be entered into a prize draw to win £200 towards their summer festival wardrobe!<br />
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The more creative the better, so what are you waiting for?!<br />
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Hurry hurry, you've got 24 hours. Good luck!Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-52569747828512348952014-05-01T17:56:00.002+01:002014-05-01T17:57:10.550+01:00Dying Under the Doctor - Prescription Drugs and Rock and Roll<span style="color: white;">- Check out this post contributed by Imogen Reed!</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><u>Dying Under the Doctor - Prescription Drugs and Rock and Roll </u></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Music
has been associated with booze and drugs since the dawn of time. Ever
since Dionysus danced through Greek myth with his wild music and his
distinctly altered states of consciousness, mind-altering substances
have woven themselves in and out of the lives of musicians, leaving an
indelible imprint upon their output. Due perhaps to the association of
rock music with rebellion and nonconformity, the drugs which spring to
mind when people <a href="http://backwhenwewerebeautiful.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">consider rock music</a> are
invariably of the illegal variety – cocaine, heroin, marijuana, LSD and
so on. However, there is a trend just as prevalent for musicians to
overdo it with these street drugs’ less cool cousins – prescription
medication.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><b>Mind-Altering</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Prescription
drugs can have effects on the mind just as powerful as those of illegal
drugs. Rockers who cite the altered states of consciousness brought
about by illegal drugs as a creative aid could just as easily – and
legally – gained the same effect from prescription medications such as
the benzodiazepene commonly known as ‘Xanax’. Xanax, <a href="http://www.detox.net/articles/xanax-detox/" target="_blank">as the experts at Detox.net explain</a>,
“is commonly prescribed to treat anxiety and panic disorders”, and is
also highly addictive if used recklessly. Using anxiety medication
doesn’t carry quite the same street cred as mellowing out with cannabis
or heroin, which is perhaps why we don’t hear quite so much about Xanax
abuse in rock’n’roll circles – but the fact is that many musicians have
in fact used and abused it in the same quantities (if not more so) as
its illegal counterparts. As <a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/xanax-2012-3/index1.html" target="_blank">the New Yorker mag have pointed out</a>,
“U2 and Lil Wayne have written songs about Xanax”, and it has been
found in the toxicology reports of many a dead celebrity – including
Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and Heath Ledger. Xanax is not the
only prescription medicine which is commonly found in the musical drug
cabinet, however. Sleeping pills, heart meds, antidepressants,
painkillers…all of these and more have been cited as reasons for the
erratic behaviour, musical brilliance, and even deaths of many a
musician.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><b>Elvis's Toxic Cocktail</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Although some may believe Elvis to live on (although he’d be approaching
his eightieth birthday by now), the fact remains that he died in 1977, <a href="http://www.theweek.co.uk/entertainment/14795/elvis-presley-%E2%80%98died-chronic-constipation%E2%80%99" target="_blank">allegedly in less than salubrious circumstances</a>.
The ultimate cause of death is usually attributed to heart failure and
drug dependency. However, what drugs, precisely, he was dependent upon
remains little known. People hearing the word 'drugs' in association
with a musician assume that the drugs in question were illegal. This is
not the case. <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/mar/25/channel-4-show-discovers-cause-of-elvis-presley-death" target="_blank">According to a Guardian report</a> on
a new show, ‘Dead Famous DNA’ aired on Channel 4, Elvis suffered from
“a heart disease that causes a thickening of the heart and weakening of
the heart muscle”. The paper also points out that Elvis “relied heavily
on prescription drugs” which may well have weakened his heart still
further. <a href="http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/harrymount/100073988/elviss-shopping-list-a-haunting-premonition-of-modern-american-illness/" target="_blank">The Telegraph report</a> that
Elvis’s doctor, George Nichopolous, “prescribed over 10,000 pills to
Elvis…They included narcotics, barbituates, amphetamines, sleeping
pills, tranquilisers, hormones, and laxatives”. It’s a toxic cocktail
which could cause terrible problems for anyone – let alone someone
suffering from genetic heart disease. And Elvis is by no means the only
musician to have gone out in such a fashion.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><b>A Stressful Business</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">‘King of Pop’ Michael Jackson’s posthumous toxicology report made
headlines worldwide, as did the subsequent trial of his doctor, Conrad
Murray, for ‘involuntary manslaughter’. Jackson, <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/michael-jackson-bedroom-king-pop-surrounded-prescription-pill-medical-supplies-article-1.1370099" target="_blank">as the New York Daily News breathlessly reported</a>,
died surrounded by “oxygen tanks, prescription pill bottles and other
medical supplies” - and it was the prescription pills which finally
finished him off. Of course, Jackson was never a model of sanity, so his
fate may not be indicative of general trends within the music industry,
but it does seem that musicians are fatally drawn to the lure of the
pill bottle. Perhaps at the high-performing end of the industry
anti-anxiety aids such as Xanax are considered necessary to keep down
the stress of the high-powered demands upon musical celebrities.
Stress-busting is a big deal even for ordinary people, with companies
worldwide offering stress-relief products like Aromatherapy Associates <a href="http://www.aromatherapyassociates.com/bath-and-body/collections/de-stress.html" target="_blank">“De-Stress Mind Bath and Shower Oil”</a>,
which can be sold at a premium to desperately frazzled customers.
Self-medicating for stress is something which easily gets out of hand in
anyone, let alone those who live constantly in the spotlight (and have
the resources to employ personal doctors who will prescribe precisely
what they desire them to).</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><b>The Creative Mind</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">The
fact cannot be denied, however, that musicians and other creatives do
seem particularly prone to mental peculiarities – some of which they
wish to exacerbate and some of which they wish to control. John Lennon
and George Harrison both found themselves drawn to Sivananda Yoga, which
promises such mental benefits as “a calm mental attitude” <a href="http://lightyogaspace.co.uk/Sivananda-Yoga-in-Dalston.html" target="_blank">according to the Light Yoga Space</a>.
Indeed, the Beatles are by many considered to have been instrumental in
bringing about yoga’s current popularity in the West. Other musicians,
however, sought this ‘calm mental attitude’ elsewhere. Mental illness
appears to be particularly common amongst musical artists – <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2010/dec/17/musicians-depression" target="_blank">the Guardian report that</a> “creative
artists are fifth in the top 10 professions with high rates of
depressive illness”. The reasons behind this phenomenon are as yet
unknown, but that many musicians have suffered from mental illness of
one sort or another – often depressive - is self-evident. While the
Beatles may have brought their creative minds under control through the
practice of yoga (although they were <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/3769511.stm" target="_blank">not immune to the allure of drugs</a>), others have sought solace in medication. Jimi Hendrix died of a sleeping pill overdose after he, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/18/newsid_3528000/3528692.stm" target="_blank">as the BBC delicately put it</a> “fell ill with stress and exhaustion”, while Def Leppard’s Steve Clark died of an antidepressant overdose.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><b>A Problem Deserving of Publicity</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Clearly even ‘good’ drugs can do bad things if abused, and musicians
appear to be particularly prone to such abuse. While so-called ‘hard’
drugs get all the press (in a move perhaps perpetuated by the rockers
themselves in a desire to seem rebellious), it is the doctor-prescribed
ones which frequently prove fatal. This may be because people assume
that prescription drugs are inherently ‘safe’, while harder drugs come
with an awful lot of societal messages regarding their dangers. Many
musicians ‘get clean’ from the illegal substances and, to all intents
and purposes, present a sober face to the world. However, they are
sometimes still ‘high’ off the effects of drugs prescribed for them by a
doctor. Keith Moon ironically fell prey to the drug Heminevrin, which
he had been prescribed to help get him over his alcoholism. Prescription
drug abuse is a big problem in the world in general, so it is perhaps
time that the tales of the musicians who perished due to prescribed
drugs should receive greater publicity. The deaths of artists who
overdosed on cocaine and heroin are always held up as salutary (if
tragic) examples to society – why not so with those who died of legal
drugs? If nothing else, it may help to prevent the loss of more musical
talent in the future.</span></div>
Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-12448775595094779742014-04-08T19:23:00.003+01:002014-04-10T16:33:29.541+01:00Guest Post: Rock and Roll Legends: Izzy and Ozzy—A Prevalence of Potty Problems<div style="text-align: left;">
Check out this rockin guest post from Alice Morell! </div>
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<u>Rock and Roll Legends: Izzy and Ozzy—A Prevalence of Potty Problems</u></div>
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Sometimes the human creature finds itself obsessed with the basest of behaviors, somehow returning back to the animal brain demanding to mark its territory. Sometimes it's alcohol that does it, sometimes it's perversity. In the case of our favorite Rock Gods, maybe it's just a touch of the same insanity that makes them the pinnacles of riotous and anti-social behavior they are. Whatever the case, when thing get a little tense, or a Rocker wants to have a fun, how often a little urination comes into is, perhaps, reason for pause. These next two stories have to do with instances of that exact thing, and how sometimes such a thing can come back to haunt you, yes, even as a Rock God, a long time later. </div>
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<u>Hey Ozzy, Remember the Alamo?</u></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VPGrQaIZzE/U0Q-gnz-l3I/AAAAAAAAAjg/OqPFklJPs34/s1600/Ozzy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VPGrQaIZzE/U0Q-gnz-l3I/AAAAAAAAAjg/OqPFklJPs34/s1600/Ozzy.jpg" height="206" width="320" /></a></div>
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Back in the height of his career, while travelling with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sabbath">Black Sabbath</a>, Ozzy found his way down to Texas to perform in a concert on his ‘<a href="http://supremelyrics.com/ozzy-osbourne-diary-of-a-madman/">Diary of a Madman</a>’ tour. The concert was a smashing success, and unsurprisingly, after the concert the band got smashed to an equivalent degree. At some point during the night, Ozzy found himself down by the Alamo, and urinated on the Cenotaph across the street. Ozzy himself admitted to having something of a predilection with defacing such things. Now, fast forward years later, and Ozzy is now travelling as Osbourne, and sure enough he found his way down to that little corner of Texas again. Well, this time the locals had gotten word that the Prince of Darkness had taken to defacing and peeing on such a thing, and a near riot broke out at his concert. Ozzy saw it fit to apologize and pay $10,000 to the <a href="http://www.drtinfo.org/">Daughters of the Alamo</a>, those who were charged with taking care of the monument. Next time, maybe he'd best find his way to an outhouse.</div>
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<u>Stradlin the Thin Yellow Line</u></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ky5Hsx5Rdr8/U0Q-mlY1TJI/AAAAAAAAAjo/Amy_pZgcUQY/s1600/izzy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ky5Hsx5Rdr8/U0Q-mlY1TJI/AAAAAAAAAjo/Amy_pZgcUQY/s1600/izzy.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
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We promised you two urine based stories, you twisted metal head you. Sure enough, we're going to deliver. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izzy_Stradlin" target="_blank">Izzy Stradlin</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns_N%27_Roses" target="_blank">Guns N' Roses</a> found himself on a plane crossing the United States, and was rather eager to use the restroom on the plane. It just so happened that, at the moment he desired to use it, it was occupied. Most people faced with this situation would stand and dance awkwardly outside until the person inside finished their business. Not Stradlin, no—instead, in true Rock God style, Stradlin saw it fit to drop his trousers and urinate right there in the galley area of the plane to the gasps and annoyance of both passengers and plane staff. He was, of course, arrested on landing, and was forced to write an apology letter to the staff of the plane.</div>
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Just like rock music can inspire the animal inside of us and cause us to riot against this pale thin veneer of civility we've painted over the human animal, so do the Rock Gods themselves live close to that line. Powered by the adoration of millions and the money to pay away almost any violation of the status quo, these boys and girls of Rock have less fear of crossing the human/animal line then most, and out of this is born some of the more riotous and extreme behaviors of our favorite Rock Gods. </div>
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But perhaps that is the purpose they serve, to remind us that underneath all these trappings of civilization we're just animals playing house with propriety. They serve as icons railing against the wall of humanity, demanding for us to remember our roots, run wild, and maybe, just maybe, to piss wherever we want sometimes. A beast has to mark their territory once in a while, right?</div>
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You can follow Alice on twitter by <a href="https://twitter.com/AliceMorelll" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.</div>
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Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-18190455179684281252014-02-08T18:51:00.002+00:002014-02-08T18:51:37.939+00:00New Artist Alert: Fans of Faye<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Vb-kHDWZV0/UvZ8nPKuhYI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/_Bd35o5XLqM/s1600/FoF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Vb-kHDWZV0/UvZ8nPKuhYI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/_Bd35o5XLqM/s1600/FoF.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Alternative-rockers Fans of Faye are the latest band to feature as my New Artist Alert, putting Birmingham on the musical map after 10 years performing under the name around the Midlands, UK. The 4-piece's debut album, Designed to Be, was released in November 2012 which saw the release of lead-single Paint the Sun taking the band into their next chapter.<br />
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The album opens timidly and delicately, not as I was expecting from an alternative rock band however it's not long before a Foo Fighter's sounding guitar sound opens up alongside lead vocals and, almost two minutes into the album, is backed by the whole band. The second verse returns to the much more relaxed affair, showcasing the range of lead-singer and founding-member Zachary Hart's vocals.<br />
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Lead-single Paint the Sun builds steadily; a lyrical showcase that explodes with passion at the first sniff of a first chorus. The sound is great and very strong and definitely one I'm sure is even better suited to a live venue.<br />
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The band's sound is well-established by Are You Finished sitting almost mid-way, with the lead vocals and guitar leading the line in powerful choruses. Interlude Breathe allows us to, well do just that, providing a momentary respite before Ghost re-establishes the band's full-flow and sound with a great sounding groove in the verses and typically-powerful choruses.<br />
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The relentless charge to the finish is halted by Hunting Season Begins with it's Incubus-sounding lead-guitar line but it's not long before it's clear this is yet another momentary lapse in energy. The band's sound is consistent yet not predictable and the songwriting is excellent.<br />
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You can download Designed to Be for free from the band's <a href="http://fansoffayeuk.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a> page but be sure to keep up to date with them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fansoffayeuk" target="_blank">Facebook</a> to support them at a live venue near you.Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-58929105979571298062014-02-07T19:30:00.000+00:002014-02-07T19:30:00.532+00:00New Artist Alert: White Clouds & Gunfire - Since You Were Gone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gYmDU8peVVU/Uu0BNVQU3PI/AAAAAAAAAjA/Cdox3MiYdJg/s1600/wcag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gYmDU8peVVU/Uu0BNVQU3PI/AAAAAAAAAjA/Cdox3MiYdJg/s1600/wcag.jpg" height="320" width="274" /></a></div>
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It's been a while since part of the I Am Mighty Records family has been featured but have no fear, newbies White Clouds and Gunfire are here with their debut single and video for Since You Were Gone to right that.<br />
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Hailing from Peterborough, UK, WC&G are a female-fronted 'pocket-rocket' pop-punk explosion waiting to happen. The quartet, who have been together since 2009, released their debut album For All the Non Believers through I Am Mighty Records back in September last year. The single is a real pop-punk powerhouse full of energy that builds steadily as the track progresses, climbing ever-closer to the heavily backing vocal-laden chorus that packs an ever harder punch.<br />
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In a song-writing sense it's nothing out of the ordinary but this shouldn't take anything away from the energy and the production of the track and the video looks great; a narrative featuring the band's lead singer running in parallel with live footage. The genre is still very much alive and current which the band suit perfectly and, complete with crowd-pleasing wooh-oohs-oohs, WC&G are sure to have a great time on the road with Taking Hayley. The tour includes two headline shows at the Crauford Arms in Milton Keynes on Feb 14th and a hometown show at the Met Lounge on Feb 21st.<br />
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You can check out the video for yourselves below, and be sure to keep up to date with the band on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wcagf" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. For All the Non Believers is available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and many other online digital retailers.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JnhQC2KwfXk" width="560"></iframe><br />Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-61178975120074162892014-01-18T12:29:00.001+00:002014-01-18T12:29:18.464+00:00Jake Meeking ft. The Cat in the Hat - Walking On My Own LIVE Check out this great video for Jake Meeking's Walking On My Own live as part of the Lost and Found sessions recorded at the Nest in Bath, UK. The video takes a slightly different route to the original with a dab of piano added for good measure and sounds great.<br />
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If you haven't seen it all ready, check out the excellent official video for Walking On My Own too:<br />
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You can keep up to date with Jake Meeking on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JakeMeekingMusic?fref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. Enjoy :)Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-63084463177999968382014-01-18T12:19:00.000+00:002014-01-18T12:19:04.150+00:00New Artist Alert: Bad Wolf - Stay With Me <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-66-OX5ZRO4o/Utpwkux6ANI/AAAAAAAAAis/sZQxkBijIWo/s1600/badwolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-66-OX5ZRO4o/Utpwkux6ANI/AAAAAAAAAis/sZQxkBijIWo/s1600/badwolf.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i> Photo by Raiya Corsiglia</i></span></div>
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Happy New Year! I'm opening my account this year with some female-fronted rock in the form of Bad Wolf, an LA-based quartet who are making serious inroads in the music industry and taking advantage of YouTube with a video that's had over 11,000 views and counting since it was published just days ago.<br />
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The band bring "sci-fi, fantasy and steampunk to life within the backdrop of rock music" and their fairytale-inspired video for Stay With Me is certainly no exception to this rule. Of the video, the band say it "pays homage to several different fairytales" which certainly take on a sinister edge with their 'backdrop' of rock music; think the aesthetics and storyline of a Rammstein video meets the looks and sound of an Evanescence song.<br />
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Musically, it's a steady rock track which will sit well on the Scuzz music-video playlist whilst visually it features both beautiful people and beautiful wolves; what's not to love?! There's a big feel behind the scenes to the music, a wall of noise that is quite the constant but broken, in contrast, by the haunting lead-female vocals. It's nice the band features of a good mix vocally, and the harmonies especially work well in supporting the lead vocals though, and this is purely a post-production point rather than a song-writing one, the male vocals stand out a little too sharply for my liking. The bridge section really lifts the song and makes all the difference in taking it too the next level; a really strong touch.<br />
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The band look great, they sound great, and Bad Wolf will be sure to fit in comfortably with the rest of the pack.<br />
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You can watch the video for Stay With Me for yourself below, and be sure to check out the band on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BadWolfOfficial" target="_blank">Facebook</a> to keep up to date. Enjoy :)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JL9dBrKkSC8" width="560"></iframe><br />Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-19341738062804483252013-11-08T18:48:00.000+00:002013-11-08T18:48:09.578+00:00Guest Post - Jim Mackney: The Marshall Mathers LP<span style="color: white;">They tried to make him a social pariah, they tried to banish him from
the airwaves but every missile lobbed at him he caught, rewired it and
threw it back so hard it decimated every argument. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">It
was the year 2000 and Eminem had just released <i>The Marshall Mathers LP</i>. A
scathing, brutal, brilliant rap album that became the fastest-selling
solo album in US history. It contained some of the greatest hip-hop
songs ever seen on record and Eminem, at this point, was untouchable and
his critics hated him for it. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">It is thirteen years later
and Eminem is in somewhat of a rut. He is no longer the social
barometer for offensive lyrics, his raps have been said to be lacking and
he has released three underwhelming albums in a row. ‘Encore’ was
patchy to say the least, ‘Relapse’ was a tired attempt to reconnect to
his alter-ego Slim Shady and ‘Recovery’ which despite showing a much
more consistent flow was shallow lyrically. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">The album
opens with ‘Bad Guy’, a seven minute follow-up to ‘Stan’ and it is
easily the most astonishing song has released in over a decade. Eminem
introduces Matthew (<i>“that’s my little brother man, he’s only six years
old"</i>) and chronicles Matthew’s long awaited revenge. The song is,
weirdly, a way for Eminem to take a shot at himself, as Matthew mimics
(<i>“I’m the bad guy who makes fun of people that die/And hey, here’s a
sequel to my Mathers LP just to try and get people to buy”</i>) - mimicking
and attacking his critics in the opening two verses. A classic Eminem
quick punch to the jugular. The song contains deeper self analysis, and
knowingly references the double standards he has of being a horrible
misogynist in his lyrics and then in the same breath defends his
daughters. He understands his own hypocrisies and it makes for wonderful
listening. </span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: white;">The Marshall Mathers LP2 is Eminem’s best
album in over a decade. Its links to MMLP1 are explicit, with its
rock-rap production and furiously fast flow. Many lines on the album are
carefully chosen echoes of the past that both subvert his old lyrics
and delightfully play with our expectations. On ‘Asshole’, it’s the
altered line <i>“Soul’s escaping through this asshole that is gaping"</i>,
whilst ‘So Far’ has him again <i>“spittin’ on your onion rings” </i>and the
‘Rap God’s dizzying flow hides references to ‘Kill You’ and ‘My Dad’s
Gone Crazy’. </span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: white;">But the greatest example of messing with our
expectations is on Bad Guy where Eminem raps (<i>“It’s just you and the
music now, Slim, I hope you hear it; we’re in the car right now – wait,
hear comes my favourite lyric!”</i>). Eminem knows exactly what he is doing
when he busts out this reference, he is manipulating words he knows are
chiseled into the brains of millions of listeners around the world and
the effect is as jaw dropping as it is great. </span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: white;">Apart from
the occasional freestyle in the last few years listening to Eminem has
felt like chore. Bogged down in average beats, underwhelming lyrics and
no genuine surprises. MMLP2 takes this and throws it out the window. He
is genuinely funny (‘So Far…’ in particular) and throws everything into
making this album a success, even including an unexpected apology to his
most hated sparring partner, his mother, on ‘Headlights’, (<i>“I love you
Debbie Mathers, oh what a tangled web we have”</i>). Elsewhere ‘Stronger
Than I Was’, a five minute ballad that is the first moment on the album
where you question Eminem’s judgment. This quickly passes however as he
settles into the song and you realise it is an inspired move and those
initial reservations are forgotten. The Beastie Boys-inspired ‘Berzerk’
is a particular highlight and the huge Rihanna chorus of ‘The Monster’
proves once again that fusing rap and pop is something Eminem can do
better than any other rapper in the game</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">MMLP2 contains so many raps that another rapper could probably fill three albums. His
machine gun-like delivery is exemplary throughout, consistently making
the listener wonder where he will take them next and only at one point,
during Survival, did I question his judgment. It is not that Survival is
a bad song it is just obviously the weakest, feeling like an unused
Recovery track. The only guest spot Eminem offers up on the album is to
Kendrick Lamar. After hearing Kendrick’s verse on ‘Control’ it would be
interesting to see who comes out on top but MMLP2 itself proves this
irrelevant. Kendrick has a long way to go to touch Eminem. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">When
I first heard Eminem thirteen years ago, it felt like a whole new world
had opened up to me. This world was scary but words themselves had a
new meaning and my perception of what you could do with them had
changed. Eminem was the biggest rapper in the world at that point and he
cemented his success with the brilliant ‘The Eminem Show’ two years
later. It may have taken him just over a decade to scale those heights
again but with MMLP2 Eminem has once again proved himself as a
brilliant, demented genius. MMLP2 is one of the most impressive,
enjoyable, and addictive hip-hop albums of the year. </span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: white;">9/10. </span>Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-61404890724123548292013-10-17T20:15:00.000+01:002013-10-17T20:15:42.206+01:00New Artist Alert: Oliver DaldryIt's really refreshing when an artist comes along with a real passion for not just music, but songwriting; not making music for music's sake, but as an outlet for themselves and to inspire others. When Oliver Daldry's email landed in my inbox, he painted the picture of a very humble indie artist, yet a few clicks later his personal website paints a very different picture of professionalism and somebody geared up for the long haul in this industry.<br />
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Daldry is a 19 year old singer/songwriter from East Anglia, UK and his debut album, The Boy Who Fell, has just been released on iTunes. Already picking up connotations of 'the new Paul Simon' and with references to Ed Sheeran, Daldry is a skilled classical guitar player who has honed his craft in his tender years and plays wherever and whenever he can. The package is almost complete, save for the music itself...<br />
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The Boy Who Fell, the title track from the album is, according to Daldry, about a close friend who saw life deal them an unfortunate set of circumstances as it often does and tells the tale of somebody unfortunately in this instance not able to face their demons. The upbeat, picky folk-style guitar intro leads us quickly to a fantastic lead vocal; immediately it's current yet similarly could have been plucked from a familiar television advert. Daldry's gentle, breathy tones, with a hint of reverb to add a little more colour, compliment the underlying arpeggio before opening up as the track builds, revealing a great vocal range that glides effortlessly into its falsetto. Production-wise it's spot-on, as it takes a left turn both feel and tempo-wise, pulsating with a little more passion atop choral backing vocals; it sounds like two separate songs but they fit perfectly together as we return at the end to the feel and fragility of the opening section. This is a really strong folk-pop song that is sure to fill back-rooms in pubs as easily as it could arenas.<br />
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Faded tells a sad tale of dementia as strings pick out the mood of the piece, sliding through the chord progression as the classic-Daldry sound of picky acoustic guitar and minimalistic rhythms compliment the simple yet effective vocal melody. Concrete throws the spotlight on Daldry's talent for guitar playing which amalgamates a Newton Faulkner style with a Paulo Nutini-sounding feel to the vocals as distant hints of slide guitar support this upbeat-feeling track, of which the arrangement is excellent.<br />
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I get the feeling that Daldry is on the cusp of something quite exciting and, if he plays his cards right, could see himself in a very different place in a very short time. A real talent combined with passion and humble roots will go a long way and I hope to be able to say I heard him when...<br />
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'The Boy Who Fell' is available for download from <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-boy-who-fell/id712372473" target="_blank">iTunes</a> now for a mere £3.99 whilst you can keep up to date with Oliver Daldry on his <a href="http://www.oliverdaldry.com/" target="_blank">website</a>. Check out the album-taster video below, and be sure to grab yourself a copy. Enjoy :)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/3pp1sWaZH-U" width="420"></iframe><br />Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-88284974633616728052013-10-16T20:48:00.001+01:002013-10-16T20:48:32.370+01:00XSARA - Are There Dragons in Your Heart?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9iCgRgseY_U/Ul7s5dj3LpI/AAAAAAAAAh8/9oqTBohEpX0/s1600/dragons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9iCgRgseY_U/Ul7s5dj3LpI/AAAAAAAAAh8/9oqTBohEpX0/s320/dragons.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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You may remember way back in February of <a href="http://backwhenwewerebeautiful.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/new-artist-alert-xsara.html" target="_blank">XSARA's debut feature</a> on the blog sharing her EP and news of her album on the way... well, said album Are There Dragons in Your Heart? is available now and I've been invited to take a listen...<br />
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In typical XSARA style, it's rich in sultry tones and jazz-influenced feels which suit her mature voice perfectly. Kicking off with She's a Monster, a rocking, upbeat circus-sideshow of a track that is sure to sound even better live, the album takes a step back on Moving On, a heartfelt piano-ballad. It runs around a simple chord progression and is led by the lead vocals, providing a real showcase early on in the album. Strange Love hints at the first full-band jazz feel with smokey, stabby piano chords and a classic ride line, the vocals with a real Paloma Faith-esque tone whilst Sticks and Stones once again dips down slightly with another, slower, piano-led track which soon picks up with a real Nina Simone backdrop to the music.<br />
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Sitting pretty in the middle is Business of Bodies, a pick-me-up if ever there was one with great live-sounding drums and sax, vocals and the lower register of the piano picking up the ostinato at the start of each bar. The vocals remain as interesting, with a nod to Anthony Keidis' spoken-word/singing style at times, before It's Not Me drops, dimming the lights on its way past. It's another piano-ballad but there's a certain fragility that isn't present in its predecessors, a certain vulnerability that really sparkles. I'm Your Animal has a nice feel and pace whilst maintaining the classic XSARA sound.<br />
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Leading us into the final stages is the frantic One Eyed Man that would be at home on one of the smaller Glastonbury Festival stages in the obscure outer fields in the small hours of Saturday morning, whilst the great-sounding drums pick up where they started, leading the charge in the final track You Got a Problem? It's the perfect summary of the album with breezy sax, sexy vocals and lazy jazz bass.<br />
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Are There Dragons in Your Heart is XSARA at her best and is, I'm sure, exactly what her fan base are both hoping for and expect. If you're intrigued, you can preview and purchase a copy for yourself from her <a href="http://xsara.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp page</a>, and be sure to keep up to date with XSARA on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/xsaramusic" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. Enjoy :)Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-77424960292058989722013-10-06T16:48:00.001+01:002013-10-06T16:48:16.804+01:00New Artist Alert: Los Waves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2O4Mp1snleQ/UlGCOG4BCII/AAAAAAAAAhw/2D354NWXEUU/s1600/breakaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2O4Mp1snleQ/UlGCOG4BCII/AAAAAAAAAhw/2D354NWXEUU/s320/breakaway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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When We Were Beautiful is proud to announce the feature of London-based psychedelic pop duo Los Waves whose debut single, Got A Feeling, was recently released last month. The band describe their music as an 'intricate and harmonious meltdown of their [the members'] experiences from months living in tents on deserted beaches in South America'. It's certainly a colourful background and one that is sure to influence the musical output of any artist, and Los Waves seem to be no exception. <br />
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Got A Feeling has been released under indie label Summer Filth Records and features 'sunshine fuzzy guitars' of which I'm very excited to hear. I've had a listen to the single, for which the video is available to watch below.<br />
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Kicking off with a hazy fuzz of electric guitars and lo-fi sounding drums, a glockenspiel picks up a simple melody on top of the mix throughout the intro before the main guitar riff continues into the first verse. The drums remain lively throughout as a synth takes over the spotlight in a brief interlude between the first two verses in what seems to be a radio-friendly pop track with a life of its own. The glockenspiel returns with a little momentary restbite as the video remains as psychedelic as the music; both vocally and musically the track is rather repetetive though this is complimented by the eclectic mix of sounds and instruments. It could be just at home on a TV advert as on the radio as on stage and promises a lot of potential from the London-based duo.<br />
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You can keep up to date with Los Waves on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/loswavesmusic" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and also purchase your own copy of the single via <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/album/got-a-feeling-single/id685390369?l=en" target="_blank">iTunes</a>. Enjoy :)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/vUFTHof1GZ0" width="420"></iframe><br />Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-23046272190368523152013-10-06T16:28:00.003+01:002013-10-06T16:31:26.691+01:00Afterlife Parade - Breakaway<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2O4Mp1snleQ/UlGCOG4BCII/AAAAAAAAAhs/4IUeAx-NxWI/s1600/breakaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2O4Mp1snleQ/UlGCOG4BCII/AAAAAAAAAhs/4IUeAx-NxWI/s320/breakaway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I can't believe it's been over two years since Afterlife Parade were <a href="http://backwhenwewerebeautiful.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/afterlife-parade-reborn-and-revisited.html" target="_blank">featured on the blog</a> but it's been a busy time for Nashville's Quinn Erwin who has since been named a local lightening artist by Lightening 100, his local independent radio station. The break has also seen the recent release of latest single 'Breakaway' last month which I've had a chance to listen to myself.<br />
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Of the track, Erwin says: <span style="color: white;"><i>“We hope this song lays the ground work for what we’re planning for
the future. We have a bigger vision than just the music
that we’re starting to communicate about although the music is the
integral part of what we do...we’re looking forward to sharing that with
our fans and further cultivating community with them.” </i></span><br />
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The track eases gently into life before quickly establishing an upbeat feel and showcasing the reverb-laden lead vocals. A nice feature is made of harmonising Erwin's vocals before the chorus stirs into life briefly, and then the track takes a slight left-turn as it dips into the second verse, the texture ever-thickening. Both the message and arrangement are simple yet effective with the key spotlight shining on Erwin's vocals throughout. There's a tense bridge section which pulsates below the surface, again building as it heads for the final chorus. An effective electro-pop track which fans of Afterlife Parade are sure to enjoy. <br />
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With a plan to tour in support of the track focussed on smaller intimate settings, you might be hard-pushed to see Afterlife Parade live however be sure to keep up to date with the band on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Afterlifeparade" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. You can both listen to, and purchase your own copy of, the Breakaway EP from the Afterlife Parade <a href="http://afterlifeparade.bandcamp.com/album/break-away-ep" target="_blank">Bandcamp page</a> which also features an instrumental version of the track and a live offering.Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-44398131678240942852013-09-22T15:39:00.000+01:002013-09-22T15:39:35.205+01:00A. Jude - 'Plush' soundtrackIt's been a long time since Julian Shah Taylor has featured on the blog but, under his new alias A. Jude, Tayler has written and recorded three tracks, which are soon to feature in the sets of his live band The Singularity, for a the hit-motion picture Plush which stars Emily Browning (Suckerpunch) and Xavier Samuel (Twilight). The erotic thriller is set for release this month, and A. Jude had a hand in the initial recording phase for the soundtrack to the film.<br />
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Jude is no stranger to working with big names, having collaborated in the past with Joaquin Phoenix and Courtney Love and is excited to add Browning and Samuel to this list. Speaking of the project, Jude tapped into the unique side of his writing and recording techqniues that features the electronic/rock 'hybridisation' of bands such as Nine Inch Nails and Depeche Mode, flavours of which are both evident in the new tracks.<br />
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This is an excellent opportunity added to the repertoire of a very talented artist who gives a lot back. Tayler is also directing the LA-based charity 'Art Angeles' that provides musical intsruments and education for inner-city children which sounds like a wonderful initiative. Somehow he also manages to find time to place his music in up-coming Australian film 'The Messenger' and is the musical director and composer for web series 'The Mysfits' for which he has written the theme.<br />
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You can listen to samples of the new album from The Singularity<a href="http://thesingularitymusic.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank"> here</a>, and watch the official trailer for Plush below. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/pHm1RkLhjvE" width="420"></iframe><br />Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-69225508817059364442013-09-22T14:25:00.001+01:002013-09-22T14:25:38.965+01:00New Artist Alert: Bobaflex - Bad MenIt's been a while! Apologies to readers who may expect posts on a more regular basis, but I've just started my first teaching job which is exceptionally full-on at the moment (and doesn't show much sign of slowing either!). Considering this, all I can promise is that I'll post when I can. And, as with waiting for a bus, a quiet inbox has recently been inundated with requests for features, so I'll get through things as quickly as I can.<br />
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Starting things off is Bobaflex, veteran American rockers who are currently promoting the release of their sixth studio album Charlatan's Web, the follow-up to 2011's Hell in my Heart. There's a lot of history to the band, and the angsty, feudal past still spills into the feel of the music, as lead-single Bad Man, for which you can see the official video for below, stands testament to. <br />
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The intro is fairly tame; a quick progression that wastes no time in kicking off whilst foot-tapping metal lead by a strong lead-guitar riff takes us quickly through the verse. The vocals hit a low-fi feel for the succinct pre-chorus before the main-event, a driving melodic chorus that fills my ears. It's written and performed confidently and, with a huge open sound and some great melodies tracking the lead vocals, is just as short as its predecessing sections; a real tease of what's to come. The band opens things up further with an extended musical section, intended as either a post-chorus or pre-verse helping, and it's here you realise we're only a minute in and have been already been treated to so much. Countless bands will while-away with unnecessary intros and extensions of sections, but Bobaflex mean business and they want you to know about it. The video is fairly simple yet effective with a great lighting rig and pyro set-up; the band look as if they've been around a while but know how to perform - the production and performance is awesome. The track lasts just over 3 minutes but after the second chorus there's still time for a guitar solo before we go around a slick final chorus and outro. This track is a real rocker and, if it's anything to go by, the whole album is sure to be a pleasure to listen to.<br />
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Bad Man is currently doing the rounds on American radio and the album is available from the merch section of the band's official website <a href="http://bobaflex.ras.bustores.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. Be sure to keep up to date with the guys on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Bobaflex" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and you can catch the official video for Bad Man below.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gq7JRUVwA7w" width="560"></iframe><br />Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-55782083137904154902013-09-06T17:13:00.001+01:002013-11-12T17:10:34.174+00:00Great Sound for Musicians <br />
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For me, choosing the right pair of <a href="http://www.sony.co.uk/hub/headphones" onclick=javascript:_gaq.push(['trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'www.sony.co.uk']);" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">headphones</a> is really important. For me as a musician, it's crucial I can rely on headphones that work for me in ensuring I'm hearing exactly what I need to and, just as importantly, exactly what I don't. For me as a commuter, wherever I might be going, if I choose to listen to music on the move I've made that decision knowing that that's all I want to hear, without any frustrating background noise accompanying the tracks in my ears.<br />
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Sony's latest range of headphones ensure that I can make the right choice depending on my lifestyle. So much effort goes into music production yet this is wasted on so many who play music directly from their mobile phone, laptop, or through low-quality <a href="http://www.sony.co.uk/hub/headphones" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'www.sony.co.uk']);" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">headphones</a>. The Prestige headphones from Sony's latest range are perfect for someone like me who doesn't want to have to sacrifice sound-quality but wants to remain subtle with comfortable in-ear headphones. For the commuters on the Underground, in noisier environments, or just for those who like to show the world they love their music, I love the simple design of Sony's 'Travel' headphones which boast a 99% noise-cancelling feature - perfect for blocking out the world around you and enjoying music for its sole purpose, and the reason it was created in the first place.<br />
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As a musician, working in either the studio or when playing at home, the quality of sound should not be lost due to a poor pair of cans. That's where the Prestige Headband model comes in. As a top-end market contender without the painful price tag to go with it, no quality is spared in these musician-suited headphones; I was particularly impressed that they had been developed in a unique partnership with music engineers, which offers the piece of mind that people from my industry have put their stamp on something that's so important when I'm working.<br />
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It's so easy to settle for a cheap pair of headphones, but where Sony is so appealing in price really doesn't affect the quality of the product, and there's such huge variety in their range to suit not just every pocket but every requirement. I think that's what's so impressive; Sony understand the many different expectations consumers have when they listen to music these days, and the different environments this may be in. If you're in the market for a pair, why not see what Sony's latest range has to offer.<br />
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<i>What's important to you when you go about buying a pair of headphones? Have you recently bought a pair of Sony <a href="http://www.sony.co.uk/hub/headphones" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'www.sony.co.uk']);" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">headphones</a>? What did you think? If you still need some convincing, check out the video below!</i><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7GRpC0WyZnw?list=PLSmy3iOp_G_mk16DRaFWQwvAzzCeH4dsp" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<i>Sponsored Post</i><br />
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Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-20652459368375779552013-09-03T18:57:00.001+01:002013-09-03T18:58:45.055+01:00Maycomb Release 'Dynamiter' Music Video<i>This just in!</i> I Am Mighty Records are pleased to announce the release of Maycomb's music video for Dynamiter, which you can view below. You may remember the <a href="http://backwhenwewerebeautiful.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/new-artist-alert-maycomb.html" target="_blank">band's last post</a> back in December last year in my New Artist Alert feature and they have since been busy touring and promoting the same album which features Dynamiter; the album is available for purchase from <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/i-opened-my-heart-to-caustic/id583173299" target="_blank">iTunes</a>.<br />
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The band had the following to say about the video: <br />
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<span style="color: white;">“<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Loosely
based on “The Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand, ‘Dynamiter’ is about keeping
your integrity and staying true to yourself, especially when presented
with the option of taking the easy way out and caving in to other
people’s expectations. The video is a continuation of these themes,
along with the idea of destroying something fundamentally flawed in
order to start anew; the books that are discovered and eventually burned
representing miss-steps, failures, and the naivety of past decisions”</span></span></i></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span></i>The video has barely been up a week and has already amassed over 1,500 views! Enjoy :) </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kOXa5YVIhqY" width="560"></iframe> </div>
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Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-74799420350336329542013-08-15T15:33:00.000+01:002013-08-15T15:33:05.637+01:00New Artist Alert: Harmful if Swallowed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AwKY2wW_YcQ/Ugzmiy0C8tI/AAAAAAAAAhc/YAR0LuLiMHw/s1600/HIS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AwKY2wW_YcQ/Ugzmiy0C8tI/AAAAAAAAAhc/YAR0LuLiMHw/s320/HIS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hailing from the heart of Los Angeles, Harmful if Swallowed are a hard-hitting punk outfit who have shared the stage with the likes of Green Day and Weezer and will, later this month, be opening up for Unwritten Law. The power-pop quartet formed in 2006, and since then have been featured in numerous MTV shows and their latest offering, a 6-track EP titled 'Allergy', was produced by Grammy award winner Matt Hyde (No Doubt, Slayer).<br />
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The band claim to be taking on the music industry with all guns blazing, and the EP's title track certainly holds them to this. Allergy kicks off with a major-sounding, feel-good chugging electric guitar and lead vocals as the track builds steadily before kicking into the verse surrounded by the full-band. Still building with the hi-hats opening up slightly, the chorus settles nicely with a prescribed American rock/punk feel and a little more depth courtesy of the backing vocals. As a prelude to what I think is to be the second verse, we're treated to a short solo section from the lead guitar before building all over again and heading instead for a double chorus; the track feels short but coming in at just over three minutes it's a great length for radio and would certainly hold its own on the airwaves.<br />
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You can catch the video for Sabrina (Little Angel) below which packs a little more passion and grit than its predecessor with a feel in the vocal melodies and harmonies akin to Hinder and of course has the added visual element to support it.<br />
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Allergy is available for sale on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/artist/harmful-if-swallowed/id268651889" target="_blank">iTunes</a> alongside the band's back catalogue, and be sure to keep up with the guys on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HarmfulIfSwallowed" target="_blank">Facebook</a> for up to the minute news.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/sm5-fdAw8iY" width="560"></iframe><br />Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-16872372838120367682013-08-13T17:20:00.001+01:002013-08-13T17:20:43.308+01:00An Insight into the Workings of a Record Label - Coffee Jingle Records<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fuWXRUFX_nQ/UgpclwbSNaI/AAAAAAAAAhM/DPy_7pUPK10/s1600/cjr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fuWXRUFX_nQ/UgpclwbSNaI/AAAAAAAAAhM/DPy_7pUPK10/s320/cjr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Coffee Jingle Records have provided me with a few artists to share with you over the past year or so, but I thought it would be nice to bring you something a little different. For many bands, approaching a record label is difficult ground to cross, and very few achieve the often-considered 'making it' platform of getting signed. If you're after some advice about what labels love (and hate) or you're interested in how the day-to-day running of a record label pans out, I caught with Martin of Coffee Jingle Records.<br />
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<i><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">How did you come about owning a record label?</span></b></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">It was an idea I
had when I was at Highbury College in Portsmouth where I studied Music
Production, before going onto Southampton Solent University, where I finalised
the idea to start a record label. And with the support of the University I
researched as much as I could for about 18 months before finally going ahead
with the record label.</span>
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<i><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">Talk us through an average day at the office for you.</span></b></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">I usually check
my emails 4 or 5 times a day, I also network and promote about 3 or 4 hours a
day and I also record and mix/master as much as I can. It’s basically a full
time job at the moment however the team is growing for next year, so I will
have more manpower (or people power I should say).</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"></span>
</div>
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<i><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">Do you scout potential artists or wait for them to
come to you?</span></b></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">At the moment
our roster is full, but I still scout for potential future projects I could be
a part of, but all emails from bands get read and responded to ASAP. I do
rather prefer to scout out artists as seeing them live and reading up about
them does give me a head start as how to work with that particular artist.</span>
</div>
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<i><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">What are the best and worst things bands can do to
get your attention with an interest of being signed by you?</span></b></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">Best thing -
Have good songs, as the strongest requirement a band can have is a catalogue of
good songs.</span>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">Worst thing -
Show unprofessionalism in any way</span>
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<i><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">What's your favorite thing about your job?</span></b></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">Being a part of
bands and artists developing and progressing throughout their careers and
contributing with them to get their songs as they want them to sound.
Also doing what I have dreamed about doing for a long time is very rewarding,
it’s very hard work, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.</span>
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<i><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">What's your least favorite thing about your job?</span></b></i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">The time it
takes to get releases done, however I hate rushing projects as there is nothing
worse then looking back at a completed project and thinking 'if only I had
spent more time on it I could have made it sound like this or this'.</span>
</div>
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<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<i><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">How do you feel about the music industry in
general at the moment? Are you excited or anxious for its current state and
future?</span></b></i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">A bit of both
really, there’s no denying the industry is changing as rapid as technology is
changing, and keeping up with it all is a daily challenge, which I am trying to
keep up with at the moment. And for people like me who grew up listening to
music in the late 80’s – early 90’s it does seem all a bit alien at times, but
I have to change with the times which is both worrying and exciting. As for the
state of the industry, it’s clear that the big money is in live events and touring,
as CD sales are not what they once were, and regarding the future of music, it does
seem to depend on what the next big technology breakout event is going to be. </span>
</div>
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<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<i><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">What's new for the label at the moment, and what does
the future hold?</span></b></i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">Right now I am
concentrating on getting more releases out there ASAP from the bands on the
label, and hopefully in the future we will be working with an A and R company
(who I am contacting this week) and getting our own studio equipment by the end
of the year.</span>
</div>
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<i>
</i><div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<i><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">Finally, can you tell us a secret?</span></b></i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">Don’t get
carried away with spending thousands of pounds, make sure you have good, solid
songs. Raw Power by The Stooges cost pennies and sounds like it was recorded in
a sewer. Chinese Democracy costs over $12 million and is as polished as can be,
and which album has gone down a classic? Songs make classic albums, not
spending thousands on trying to polish them.</span></div>
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So there you have it, some sound advice from Martin at Coffee Jingle Records and a great insight into his label which is working hard and progressing well. Be sure to pay a visit to the <a href="http://www.coffeejinglerecords.com/" target="_blank">label's website</a> to check out all the artists on their roster and any upcoming events that might be happening near you.<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-86641604090289982132013-08-11T10:37:00.000+01:002013-08-11T10:37:24.162+01:00Playing the Numbers GameI couldn't believe it when I had a look back over my posts recently and discovered that I've been running this blog for four years now! My blog started life with a rather conspicuous nod to my favourite band Bon Jovi, including reviews of releases and live shows. I opened my umbrella up further to include reviews of other established bands but sought reward in more regular posts of reviews of local and/or up and comping artists in dire need of all the free publicity they could get.<br />
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It was interesting, though I suppose not so surprising, when looking at the stats for individual posts to see that when the content was based around Bon Jovi or other established bands, the view count was off the scale as compared to reviews of indie artists, and even peaked at an unheard of 7000+ for a review of a John Mayer/Ellie Goulding concert! Other spikes tend to be focussed around guest posts which I welcome, so if you've something in mind and would like to contribute, please do get in touch!<br />
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As a blog that associates itself with Bon Jovi, I have refrained from passing comment on the recent dramas and happenings among the band, whilst supporting both Richie and his solo endeavours and the band in theirs (it's sad to refer to both as separate entities). I have my own opinions, but have decided to focus my blog content on exposure and free publicity for indie artists; providing this is more important to me, as a musician myself brimming with empathy, than higher numbers of visitors - I don't make any money through advertising on the site, it's more a labour of love. I'm sure this isn't an admission of exclusivity but it's important to provide a service to those who need it most, and I enjoy offering critique and opinion on those who might actually listen and heed my advice or celebrate my comments most of all.<br />
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Thanks for your support over the past four years; life has evolved as it has a habit of doing and with that has come more and less activity over the years but I'll always try to find time to post and can only hope people continue to seek new music in this way.<br />
<br />
Glenn<br />
When We Were BeautifulSamborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-12359333917651710662013-08-05T12:24:00.000+01:002013-08-05T12:24:13.807+01:00New Artist Alert: Jake Meeking - Walking on my Own<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwHZL_NQ0iU/Uf-LU4UAeUI/AAAAAAAAAg8/BiZsUH82--U/s1600/meeking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwHZL_NQ0iU/Uf-LU4UAeUI/AAAAAAAAAg8/BiZsUH82--U/s320/meeking.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fresh out of the Bath music scene is Jake Meeking and his debut EP Walking on my Own. Heavily influenced with jazz and blues undertones, you'll find all manner of artists influentially nestled among this wonderfully produced 4-track offering, which Meeking is pushing heavily around the Somerset area following performances at Moles Club in Bath, The Godney Gathering in Glastonbury and some radio airtime on Glastonbury FM.<br />
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The EP begins confidently with its title track, a mid-tempo jazz-inspired song in 6/8 featuring delicate lead vocals and a lazy lead-guitar line which has a great feel as it pushes against the straighter, more minimal drum track. The chorus appears unannounced, making a strong feature of the lead vocals as it forces the listener to really pick out the well-considered lyrics. Verse two features a slight embellishment, cautiously adding to the thin texture with sultry-sounding chords on the piano at the start of every bar before the intensity builds, but only slightly, before relaxing into the second chorus. It feels like a backwards way of structuring a song but it's soon clear as the chorus itself steadily progresses, with the whole track behind it, always building towards the rather short instrumental section. On my first listen, I'm willing it to go on and on, the texture thickening as the guitar steps into the spotlight showcasing a wailing solo but in its simplicity is where its effectiveness lies; the solo does come but is based around just two notes and a whole lot of sustain. Musos and fair-weather listeners alike will surely have their appetites whetted as Meeking cleverly leaves us wanting more but without compromising the genre nor laying out all his cards on the table in the very first track. As the music fades away, it's clear we're experiencing something quite fresh and exciting.<br />
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Keep My Eyes Open begins minimally with just vocals and guitar, leaving the listener guessing as to the feel and time-signature of the song which is quickly established with the introduction of the rhythm section, authentically featuring an upright bass. The track has a more popular-blues feel to it, as the chorus opens up slightly on the ride cymbal and with a little more intensity in the vocals and a new arpeggiated guitar part lying a little deeper in the mix. The second verse enters without introduction, maintaining the feel and up-tempo nature of the song, before getting quickly to a double helping of the chorus. There's a momentary lapse as the listener isn't allowed to get too comfortable; the bare bones of the track feature in this middle-8 section whilst it builds, showcasing a little embellishment on both the bass and electric guitar as they stray away from their home chords in search of a little more flamboyancy. The climax is lead by the drums quite suddenly, as the intensity is revamped for an extended musical section, but only for four bars, before the vocals take the reigns atop the much thicker chorus section. As we go around the chorus for a final time, some dual-layered harmonies in the vocals feature somewhere in the back of the mix, showcasing Meeking's top register for the first time and really displaying what he can do. As the track fades away, the backing vocals remain a strong and constant force, standing their ground against each dying ounce of the track and bullishly making their way to the centre of the mix as the music finally leaves the listener with a rather unnerving finale.<br />
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Breaking Out picks up where Keep My Eyes Open left off before settling into a 6/8 groove with a real Jeff Buckley-feel to the music. Picky acoustic guitar surrounds the delicate lead vocals, before the drums bring the song in and out with a mixture of the conventional and slightly less-so, playing on the rims of the drums at times. The chorus feels like the darkest on the EP, driving forcefully but lazily, and there's a lot going on behind the scenes if you really listen out for it. Things settle for the second verse as we return to the picky guitar and then the second chorus in time and it's here that I think the production of the EP is to be truly appreciated. It's clear a lot of time and consideration has gone into the post-production of the CD which really pays off for the listener. Meeking dips into his top register again, calling an end to the extended second chorus, as the track finishes going around the chorus progression but with a rhythmic twist at the end.<br />
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Closing the EP is At Its Best, the real gem in the crown for me, and a masterpiece deservedly left running around the listeners' minds long after the CD has finished spinning. It begins simply with a picky acoustic guitar part and vocals, relying on this simplicity as the song's foundation to carry it through the track. It changes gear without notice, a subtle chord change to mark a new section, and that's all it needs. Verse two differs only in the addition of the single chords on the downbeat of each bar, and it's here the listener first gets the feel the track is effectively a gradual crescendo to its destination, progressively building since the first note was struck and heading towards the end. More guitar tracks appear as the vocals ease off in the latter half of the song, allowing the music to do the talking; just as the music needs somewhere to go, it does, and ends. The track, and indeed the EP, has been building up to this pinnacle finale, this climatic ending, and it was there under our noses all along. I could wax lyrical about the piece but feel it speaks for itself and
truly needs to be heard, or experienced, to be appreciated. A real defining moment, and highlight, of the EP.<br />
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Walking On My Own is available to stream, and purchase, from Jake Meeking's <a href="http://jakemeeking.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a> page and is also available for sale on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/at-its-best/id652175222?i=652175766" target="_blank">iTunes</a>. Be sure to catch up with him on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JakeMeekingMusic?fref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook</a> where you can get the latest on where Jake is performing next. Help support our independent artists and get yourself a copy today, you won't regret it.<br />
<br />Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-59657956588042725832013-07-08T13:05:00.000+01:002013-07-08T13:05:13.962+01:00New Artist Alert: Lewis Mckale - The Bigger Picture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bLjVOCTVyGE/UdqqdO9yk3I/AAAAAAAAAgs/b32xbCWRGXQ/s1600/mckale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bLjVOCTVyGE/UdqqdO9yk3I/AAAAAAAAAgs/b32xbCWRGXQ/s320/mckale.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
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Introducing Lewis Mckale, an acoustic singer-songwriter from Brighton UK who fell into music as a 'second hobby' behind his first love, acting. Spurred on by a little personal advice from Frank Turner, Mckale's second EP, The Bigger Picture, has recently been released and I've had the chance to take a listen.<br />
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The title track of the EP kicks things off, setting the scene with easy-listening acoustic guitar and a Bowie-esque quality to Mckale's vocal. The arrangement is simple but effective; as with the strength of the vocals it's not ground-breaking but it doesn't need to be with this genre. Pleasant and plausible is perfectly acceptable, as Mckale adds a little rhythmic flair before the second chorus to maintain the listener's interest leading into the second half of the track whilst the instrumental section indulges in a little chordal-work on the xylophone/vibraphone-sounding instrument atop the interesting chord progression before introducing a high ostinato on the piano over the final section.<br />
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Next up is Those Were The Days which adds a lot more flair and intensity, crucial to holding interest on such an EP, with its 6/8 time signature and the welcome addition of a harmonica. The verses are held down simply with vocals and acoustic guitar whilst we're drip-fed just enough of the harmonica throughout, adding a nice texture to the piece. Track three, Prove You Wrong, picks up the pace a little further whilst returning to the tried-and-tested simplicity of vocals and acoustic guitar. The vocals sound a little strained at times with a few slight-tuning issues but nothing a little auto-tune can't fix (everybody's doing it) and it all adds to the human element of the EP.<br />
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Closing the show is (Don't) Forget Who You Are which adds a little more texture with the introduction of a cajon and a some more backing from the piano. The track has a nice driving feel to it, though I do feel Mckale could perhaps try running through a couple of the tracks trying out a capo on a few different frets to find a key he is completely comfortable singing in. There's no doubt the song-writing ability is there, and I feel that with a little tweaking these tracks are going to sound great live.<br />
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The Bigger Picture is available now for a free download from Mckale's <a href="http://www.lewismckale.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp page</a>, and you can keep up to date with him via his own <a href="http://www.lewismckale.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">blog page</a>. Enjoy :)Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-86450064037892453672013-07-01T17:59:00.000+01:002013-07-01T17:59:05.114+01:00Alexander Video Release - Say Hello<a href="http://backwhenwewerebeautiful.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/alexander-album-release-say-hello.html" target="_blank">Back in April</a>, I was excited to bring you news of Alexander's new album release 'Say Hello'. Well now I'm even more excited to bring you the official video for the album's title track, which you can view below. The track is a real anthemic rocker, whilst the video seems quite simple on the surface but is really effective and looks great.<br />
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Of the video, the band have this to say:<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"The
song is about getting away from something that is really dragging you
down, finding something fresh and just feeling great, even if it's just
for a week. The video is about being open and just smiling at people
saying hello, it's a message for people to just let everything go and be
happy and open. The star signs which are featured on the bottom of each
sign are a symbol of who we are and it's metaphor to show we are
opening up to people" </span></span></i> <br />
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So there you have it; smile. It's infectious :) <br />
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The single is available via <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/say-hello-single/id666564984" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, along with a B-side available. Be sure to keep up to date with the guys on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/followalexander" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.<br />
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In other I Am Mighty records news, Lower Lands have released their new EP 'Canvas' which is available as a free download from the I Am Mighty Records website, whilst Maycomb are set to film their debut music video in the upcoming weeks - I anticipate there'll be more on that soon.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yNXWcL96BcE" width="560"></iframe><br />Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-448756413094430952013-06-22T15:15:00.000+01:002013-06-22T15:15:10.186+01:00New Artist Alert: Fenrir - Live Like Royalty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XFVoC_kB_iA/UcWw4HGYcnI/AAAAAAAAAgc/NzqGCGtbL1c/s1600/fenrir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XFVoC_kB_iA/UcWw4HGYcnI/AAAAAAAAAgc/NzqGCGtbL1c/s320/fenrir.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hailing from Suffolk, UK, Fenrir are a five-piece alternative rock outfit who have recently released their debut 6-track EP 'Live Like Royalty'. Produced by Oliver Craggs (Feed the Rhino) at Hidden Tracks Studios, the quintet are bringing a "punchy and impressive sound" to the UK music scene in 2013. The band will be touring over the summer in support of the new record, having recently finished a co-headline tour around the UK with Searching Alaska.<br />
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I'm eased into the EP with opener Victory Rose as bluesy lead guitar tones with a gentle delay guide the listener in. A slight rhythm is established as the track builds, with choral backing vocals marking the progression before an explosive introduction opens up with that promised 'punch'. As instrumental openers go, it's a great start to the EP and really sets the band's stall out, whilst the segue into 'Haven't You Heard' is flawless. With aggressive guitars and crystal-clear production on the drums, this is a really polished effort. The vocals take an octave leap into the chorus as the track builds in intensity, dipping again slightly for a return to the verse. The chorus is so full of guitar tracks and harmonsied vocals but it doesn't feel overly-crowded, it's a great piece of song-writing.<br />
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'The Puppeteer' opens as aggressively as its predecessors before changing tact and switching to a major-sounding picky guitar part; the rhythm section maintain solidity throughout as the guitars and vocals again open up for the chorus to really pack a musical punch.<br />
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Closing the EP is 'Confessions', maintaining the progressive energy displayed throughout the record. The track leads from an extended vocal and electric guitar intro before everything kicks in around the one minute mark. It's a strong finisher, following the tried-and-tested formula that has seen the band through so effectively on the EP; it's a fantastic debut offering and a very exciting prospect for the UK music scene as pop-punk is starting to fade away into the background making space for it's bigger, more brutal, brother and this brother pulls no punches.<br />
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The EP is available to stream on <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/4DOzBZU0dH8uW7KpossBYy" target="_blank">Spotify</a> and <a href="http://fenriruk.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a> where you can purchase a copy of it. 'Live Like Royalty' is also available for sale on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/live-like-royalty-ep/id658239005" target="_blank">iTunes</a>; be sure to keep up to date with the band for info on their summer tour. You can check out the video for 'Confessions' below. Enjoy :)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7BRgDCQNoJQ" width="560"></iframe><br />Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314006447154104495.post-21633566967676287722013-06-10T20:24:00.001+01:002013-06-10T20:24:28.221+01:00New Artist Alert: Doug Panton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today marks the release date for Doug Panton's self-titled debut EP, available across most digital platforms worldwide. 19 year old Panton, an Essex-based singer-songwriter, has spent the best part of a year creating and producing his debut offering and is excited for his first release to finally be available, after a DIY background of accumulating fans from YouTube and at his live shows - a highlight of which includes performing for 15,000 people at the International Jamboree 2012. Panton has already been rubbing shoulders with some of the industry bigwigs including Mark Topham (Westlife, Il Divo) and Dave Scott (Oasis) having had the EP produced by the latter alongside Atomic Kitten engineers at Brook Lodge Studio. With some national radio airplay in his back pocket also, Panton is hoping his self-titled record is going to continue turning heads and attract some critical acclaim, and it seems to me as if he's well on the way to achieving just that.<br />
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It's all pretty impressive on paper, but what about where it really matters? Thankfully, Panton delivers musically as much as he does elsewhere; the EP kicks off with Young, introduced by some frantic finger-picking on an acoustic guitar and some Bastille-esque choral backing vocals. Panton's vocal is perfectly suited to today's pop market and sits confidently on top of the mix, leading the charge in a particularly pleasant opening track; it often reminds me of Ed Sheeran when melodically trailing off of the end of some of the notes and sets the scene for the EP effectively.<br />
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All or Nothing is sitting pretty halfway through, the trademark ballad-feel and tribal percussion making themselves known whilst the chorus is as strong as its predecessors in consideration of the genre; there definitely feels as if there's a film soundtrack in here somewhere. The piano drives this track, with some sparse lead-guitar work dropping in every so often to add another melodic layer as I'm again reminded of an Ed Sheeran b-side - surely not a bad comparison by any means.<br />
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Closing the show is Agree to Disagree; notably more major-feeling than minor, this feel-good finale relies on the vocals to carry the melody which they do well atop a simple chord progression. I feel the production is key on this track; although the chorus is packed a little fuller than the verses, it still maintains the light, floating feel to the track and is revisited often. It's just what is needed and rounds off the EP nicely whilst holding on to that sing-along, radio-friendly feel that has been established since track one.<br />
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The EP is available online now, and be sure to keep up to date with Doug via his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DougPantonMusic" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>. In the meantime, enjoy this short teaser video to sample the EP for yourself, a try before you buy if you like. Enjoy.<br />
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<br />Samborakidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720481046428760262noreply@blogger.com0