DATE ARCHIVES : November 2010

Trophy Wife – ‘Microlite’

Oxford trio Trophy Wife have been making waves this past month landing a support slot with Foals on their UK Tour and unequivocal praise from musical pundits the world over.

As is often the case it’s taken me more time than most to appreciate their debut offering but I gotta say I’m quite taken by it. This is simply wonderful & fresh indie pop here, like a whispering breathe of fresh air.

‘Microlite’ has announced their arrival with a lingering feeling of great promise of what may be on the horizon. Check it out/grab the acoustic version below.

Trophy Wife – Microlite via chickendonut

Trophy Wife – Microlite (Acoustic) via fadedglamour

El Ten Eleven: Video and Album Stream

LA-based instrumental indie rock duo, El Ten Eleven have just released a video for their latest single which is taken from their new album It’s Still Like A Secret, out now.

There is more than meets the eye to duo Kristian Dunn and Tim Fogarty. This isn’t simply indie-rock without the vocals, they create pounding soundscapes of almost Holy Fuck! proportions using a plethora of instruments, looping devices, effects pedals and drums. I knew nothing of these till last week yet this is album #4, it could be worthwhile trawling through their back catalogue.

You can watch the video and stream the album below.

You forgot a username for the YouTube shortcode

.

Video: The Vagabonds – John Mellor

You forgot a username for the YouTube shortcode

I have been away for the past 5 days or so and I can’t think of a better way to begin sifting through everything I’ve missed than with the new video from Dublin based punk-rockers The Vagabonds. Clocking in at 1.54 ‘John Mellor’ is as close to punk-rock perfection as you’re likely to hear this year.

It’s the first taken from their debut EP Another Victory for Hysteria which is out this week and to celebrate they play Sweeney’s, Dame Street, Dublin this Saturday December 4th. (Doors @ 9/€5).


The Coral – ‘Butterfly House’ – Acoustic

It’s been an excellent year by all accounts for The Coral who have been rejuvenated by the release earlier in the year of Butterfly House, arguably their best, most complete album yet.

Following an amazing reaction to the band’s acoustic shows they have decided to produce an acoustic version of the album. It was recorded in one day and according to frontman James Skelly “Everyone liked the acoustic gigs so much they asked us to record the tracks acoustically. We record and mixed the album in one day. Everything is live. The songs stand up really well and the album shows them in their raw form”. No complaints here.

To demonstrate their acoustic prowess, here’s a cover version of The Byrds classic ‘I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better’ which only this week was announced as a b-side to ‘Walking In The Winter’.

The album will be released on December 6th, a nice year-end finale.

You forgot a username for the YouTube shortcode

Mp3: The Coral – Coney Island via The New Montreal

British Sea Power – ‘Living Is So Easy’

British Sea Power already gave us the new EP Zues not too long ago, but it seems that was just a warm up. We’ve got a full length album coming our way soon, Valhalla Dancehall is due out in January. ‘Living Is So Easy’ will be the first single to be released from it at the end of November.

It’s early days but it’s quite relaxed and mellow by their standards, take a listen below and see what you think. If you like it those generous guys from BSP have decided to give it away for free (in exchange for an email) from their website. Get on it.

British Sea Power – Living Is So Easy via wilcow

Continue reading →

Videos: LCD Soundsystem :: Tripod :: Sunday Nov 21

LCD Soundsystem were billeted in Dublin’s over the weekend as they closed their European Tour with three nights in Tripod. I’m sure there will be plenty written elsewhere so I’ll keep it short.

Sunday’s show was absolutely amazing as they did their best to lift the roof off the old Harcourt Street Station with a career spanning, essentially ‘greatest hits’ set. The show seemed to have an added edge due no doubt to it being the last show of their European Tour. It wasn’t until the encore that the enormity of situation struck me, this could be in fact my last chance to catch them live. I hope this isn’t the end.

So many highlights, ‘Losing My Edge’ & ‘Drunk Girls’ in particular but I promised to keep it short but it’s not often you shell out close to €50 and don’t feel aggrieved, this was a masterclass!

You forgot a username for the YouTube shortcode You forgot a username for the YouTube shortcode

Thanks again to Stevie Moon for the help with the camera work.

Video: Arcade Fire – ‘The Suburbs’

You forgot a username for the YouTube shortcode

New video for Arcade Fire’s ‘The Suburbs’ directed by Spike Jonze depicting a snap shot of Texan suburban life apparently. It’s taken from the album of the same name which received mixed reviews earlier in the year but it’s really grown on me these past few months.

The band plays Dublin’s O2 on December 5th.

Videos: FMC Tour ‘Kill’

On Friday night the FMC Tour w/ Fionn Regan, And I Watch You From Afar and Jape was in town, by town I mean The Late Lounge in Kill. As it’s a little closer to my home turf than Limerick it would be frightfully rude not to attend, so for the second time in 6 days I was treated to three Irish acts of the highest caliber.

In short all three were excellent, a beautifully intricate masterclass of an acoustic show from Fionn Regan followed by an electrifying Jape set including some new tunes (see below) and an absolute aural assault as expected from ASIWYFA. Hopefully we can look forward to something similar next year.

There’s some videos including two new Jape tracks after the jump. Kudos to Stevie Moon for the camera assistance once again, enjoy.

Continue reading →