New: The Vines – ‘Gimme Love’

Aussie rockers The Vines were once heralded as saviors of rock ‘n roll before being unfairly derided, in my opinion, by the very same media.

The Vines were never going to the musical trailblazers, hopping genres and defying the odds but they always had a knack for short, snappy, fast paced guitar driven music.

Anyway, they have returned with this signature sound in the shape of ‘Gimme Love’. It’s taken from their forthcoming album, Future Primitive, out in April.

The Vines – Gimme Love via Lanuevaescuela

Rewind: Weezer – Pinkerton

For the most part Weezer‘s career has been a sporadic mix of brilliance and mediocrity, one record stands head and shoulders above all else, Pinkerton.

The recent acquisition of the ‘deluxe edition’ of the album has seen my fondness for this record rekindled. The story behind this one is pretty well-known at this stage, best to keep it short.

In 1996 the release of Pinkerton seen a move away from the band’s original power pop sound which made their name, toward a darker and more abrasive sound.

Initially critics especially didn’t get it, branding it “seething and self-indulgent”, “juvenile” and it “clearly shows Weezer is headed to the graveyard of forgettable bands”. How wrong they were, such harsh criticism put off the punters ultimately rendering it a commercial failure.

Despite the rough start it rose in stature in the intervening years slowing winning over legions of fans. Soon cult status ensued and coming full circle it soon began securing posthumous like acclaim.

It may be clichéd to say but I don’t really care, this is by far Weezer’s best work and remains one of my favorite records of all time . If you don’t have it already make sure and get your hands on a copy, you’re missing out!

You forgot a username for the YouTube shortcode

Weezer – The Good Life via Jhowlett

New: Bright Eyes – Shell Games

Following escapades with Mystic Valley Band and Monsters of Folk, Connor Oberst returns to the Bright Eyes moniker with a new album The People’s Key.

It’s been suggested the new record will slightly more “rocking” than more recent outings. All we have to go on as yet is ‘Shell Games’ and whatever his intentions the well renowned angst and deeply personal lyrical style remains intact, thankfully.

It’s still a mystery how this managed to remain elusive up till this week – The People’s Key is due out in February.

Bright Eyes – Shell Games via Pretty Much Amazing

The Lucky Dip Escapade – ‘Learning to Count’ EP

The Lucky Dip Escapade is the moniker of UK ex-pat Oliver Smith who now resides in Sweden where along with his trusty acoustic guitar, makes heart warming and touching folk/rock.

Proclaimed as writing “the best Billy Bragg song that Billy didn’t write”’. The Bragg comparisons are probably inevitable due to the commonality with his work and more recent contemporaries such as Frank Turner. It’s not bad company to be in really.

Few musicians possess the talent to flip between sincere political subject matter and personal, heartwarming love songs. This is executed elegantly throughout Learning to Count. ‘Camp Fire Song’, an eloquent inditement of modern life and mis-rule sits comfortably alongside the touching ‘Tired Eyes’ or ‘Life Boat’ effortlessly.

It’s refreshing to hear folk music which is unashamed to say something deeply personal, political or otherwise. Folk music is about stories and telling them, like his aforementioned contemporaries he has this ability in abundance.

The Lucky Dip Escapade – Campfire Song

The Lucky Dip Escapade – Rabbit Holes

FacebookBandcamp ]

Video: Ivan Ink ‘N’ Isa – ‘Standing on a Hill’

You forgot a username for the YouTube shortcode

Ivan Ink ‘N’ Isa, not a name easily said after a few jars, is a collaboration between Oliver Briggs and Isabella Summers, the ‘Machine’ part of Florence + The Machine.

Here we have ‘Standing on a Hill’, lead track from their forthcoming EP due out February 7th on Brink Records. Both video and song are rather hypnotic and haunting, especially Briggs’ usual tender vocals.

The EP could be a cracker. What do you think?

 Ivan Ink ‘N’ Isa – ‘Standing on a Hill’ via BangMM

Introducing: Bossasaurus

Bossasaurus are US duo Egon Brainparts and Negatron Johnson.

The duo’s genre-defying mixture of slamming electronic and glitchy hip-hop beats with a dash of funk/jazz and old schools sampling borders on the edge of experimental. This style is exemplified on the recently released debut album Lacerta which sounds a lot like the soundtrack to futuristic journey through space with excursions into electro, hip-hop and funk.

This is definitely one for fans of gallic electro, Flying Lotus and instrumental beats in general.

Their debut album Lacerta is available for a “name your price” fee via bandcamp – what you pay is up to you and your conscience.

Bossasaurus – Light Pollution via hypetrak

Bossasaurus – R U Ready Now?

TwitterFacebookBandcamp ]

‘Death From Above 1979’ Reform For Coachella Festival

Great news today, Death From Above 1979 will be reforming for this year’s Coachella festival on the 17th April 2011 in California.

Canadian dance punk duo of Sebastien Grainger and Jesse F. Keeler (later of MSTRKRFT fame) split in 2006 over yes, ‘creative differences’. The time apart doing their own thing would appear to have eased those tensions.

No word of any other dates as yet but fingers crossed they find their way over to Ireland – One of the bands of the last decade I regretfully failed to see, the chance to put that right may be on the horizon.

Anyway, they used to go a little something like this………………

You forgot a username for the YouTube shortcode

Death From Above 1979 – You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine

Death From Above 1979 – Romantic Rights (EP Version) via DGsongoftheday

Siriusmo – Feromonikon/Signal

Siriusmo‘s eagerly awaited debut album Mosaik is already being touted by many as one of the dance album of the year – hype can be deceiving but this was always one to keep an eye on.

He’s released Feromonikon/Signal, an insight into what’s coming and it looks tasty. The first, ‘Feromonikon’ is an uncompromising dancefloor destroyer while the former, ‘Signal’ is a much more subtle, playful piece of electronica. Two quality tracks, no doubt.

Mosaik is released February 25th on Monkey Town Records.

Siriusmo – Feromonikon via thesubs-blog

Siriusmo – Signal via Mr. TMS

Video: Holy Fuck – ‘Red Lights’ (A Place To Bury Strangers Remix)

You forgot a username for the Vimeo shortcode

Back in December A Place To Bury Strangers dropped a remix of Holy Fuck‘s ‘Red Lights’.

Now a brand new video from director Thomas Smith has emerged to accompany it. Out is the cute kitty aesthetic of the original video and in is loud noises and ‘darkness’.

 Holy Fuck – Red Lights (A Place To Bury Strangers Remix)

Watch: Mount Kimbie at The Great Escape Festival

You forgot a username for the Vimeo shortcode

Mount Kimbie‘s stock has risen rapidly over the past 12 months, tailoring a pretty resounding reputation especially for their live shows.

I haven’t witnessed it the flesh but this 30 minute Beatcast recording of their set at The Great Escape festival, Brighton last May captures it pretty well.

Enjoy!