Heres a midweek portion of comedy with extra sauce courtesy of some of the best comedy artists around. Ive got Flight Of The Conchords, Bill Bailey and Weird Al Yankovic avaliable to download and a video of Bill Bailey at his best with the BBC News Rave and the ultimate ballad.

Cockney Medley - Bill Bailey

Sugar Lumps - Flight of the Conchords

I Got Hurt Feelings - Flight of the Conchords

Business Time - Flight of the Conchords

Robots - Flight of the Conchords

E-Bay - Weird Al Yankovic (I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys)

Jerry Springer - Weird Al Yankovic (One Week - Barenaked Ladies)


BBC News Rave/Ballad - Bill Bailey

Kings and Queens - 30 Seconds To Mars

The first time i saw the video for 'Beautiful Lie' by 30 Seconds to Mars i found their whole image and sound pretty humorous, however over the last couple of years my opinion of the band has changed. Maybe not my opinion of their image (which is still pretty bad lets face it). Their second album grew on me and eventually i gave into their 'emo' preachings. This new song however seems to indicate a slightly new direction for the band in black. The lyrics are screamed rather than screeched (which for these guys I'm sure is a big leap) and the guitar isn't so bullish or dominant as in the last two albums. This in my opinion is a step forward for the band, and if this track is anything to go by their new album provocatively titled 'This Is War' will ironically be more harmonious. Listen to 'Kings and Queens' below.

Kings and Queens - 30 Seconds To Mars

Serving Suggestion: with guyliner and manscara

Through The Trees - Low Shoulder

I'm not one for posting tracks by fictional bands but this track is to good to ignore. Taken from the soundtrack to the new Megan Fox movie "Jennifer's Body" the song was written by the real band 'No Country' however is performed by the fictional band 'Low Shoulder' in the movie fronted by Adam Brody's character Nikolai. The bands inability to break into the indie music scene leads them to turn to evil (how Megan fox becomes a flesh eating zombie-esque creature). This song is so good it makes me wish they were a real band, but alas i will have to settle for this one track. The rest of the soundtrack is very impressive too, with tracks such as 'Death' by White Lies and 'Little Lovers So Polite' by Silversun Pickups. Listen to 'Through The Trees' below.

Through The Trees - Low shoulder

Serving Suggestion: with the movie

Live: Live Like Lions & The Beautiful Machine

Live Like Lions and The Beautiful Machine live at 'The End' bar in Newcastle was a gig no-one should have missed but despite that the crowd was relatively small, this however did not detract from an awesome evening of electro-indie. The Beautiful Machine were first on and did their best to get the small crowd going with some excellent tracks such as "Loneliness of the Long Distance Commuter" which reminds me of early Yeah Yeah Yeah's and Shiny Toy Guns. Live Like Lions were next on. I had already listened to quite a few of their tracks before i saw them and their live performance lived up to the energetic promise shown in the recorded tracks. The first track they played was "Cecile" and straight away they sounded like a band that could become one of the best new bands within the electro-indie genre. Their whole set was energetic and eventually they even got the small crowd up for it with the single "Tiger Eyes" which is my favourite song they played. Live Like Lions easily have the quality and live performance to emulate bands such as Friendly Fires or Klaxons who have become synonymous with this genre of music. Links to their Myspace pages are Below.

Live Like Lions Myspace

The Beautiful Machine Myspace

Starring - Freelance Whales

This band are one of the most promising bands i have heard in a long time. They combine so many aspects of some of my favourite bands, for example the drum scores remind me a lot of Postal Service and Death Cab For cutie and the use of a banjo in any band seems to be the way forward with bands such as Mumford and Sons on the rise. Hopefully Freelance whales will soon see the commercial success they deserve from the impressive debut album "Weathervanes". My personal favourite from the album has to be "Starring" but "Generator ^ First Floor" and "Generator ^ Second Floor" are also excellent. Listen to "Starring" below.

Starring - Freelance Whales


Serving Suggestion: With the rest of the album of course

Tiger Eyes - Live Like Lions

If you are a mad friendly fires fan and cant wait for new material or any general fan of electrosynthindiepercussion (believe me its a well known genre) then this band is for you. Live Like Lions are from London and have a rapidly growing fan base in the capital, this week however they have decided to venture up north to Newcastle for a couple of gigs, one of which i am lucky enough to be going to tonight. This song is the only one i have been able to get my hands on but it is an absolute corker.

Tiger Eyes - Live Like Lions

Serving Suggestion: In "The End" bar tonight!

Three Track Wonder: Modest Cab For Jaxx?

I have decided to start a new feature.. "three track wonder", it makes sense at the moment as i have so many good new songs but not enough time to post them individually. This way i can give you lot plenty of musical bounty with less effort. So for this three track wonder you have a collaboration excellance from Basement Jaxx and Lightspeed Champion, a movie soundtrack from Death Cab For Cutie which puts its movie to shame, and a "Whale Song" from the new Modest Mouse Album. Enjoy, as if you couldn't.

The Whale Song - Modest Mouse

Serving Suggestion: Serve loudly with a side of anger.

My Turn - Basement Jaxx

Serving Suggestion: Serve with synthesizer and ukulele.

Meet Me On The Equinox - Death Cab For Cutie

Serving Suggestion: Without the movie.

Horchata - Vampire weekend

If the prospect of a new vampire weekend album wasn't getting you all excited don't fear i have worked out how to cure that....Listen to "Horchata". This song is such a big leap from their first albums infectious tickley guitar and drums, in fact if their first album was tickling you with indie goodness this song is more like having one big feel good indie percussion hug. The only thing about this post which may make you feel sad inside would be the fact that you have to wait until January 11th to hear the rest of the album, at least that leaves plenty of time to repeatedly listen to "horchata". enjoy.

Horchata - Vampire Weekend

Think I Need It Too - Echo & The Bunnymen

One of the greatest indie bands of all time kick off this week with "Think I Need It Too". The song off their new album is very different from the 80's indie guitar twangs which made them so likeable however it is still bunnymen worthy. It makes me think they wrote this with an arena tour in mind because it is definitely U2-esque, lets hope Ian McCulloch doesn't start wearing some stupid sunglasses all the time .

Think I Need It Too - Echo & The Bunnymen

Long Time No See........Fresher's '09 Playlist

It has been to long...hasn't it? TMB is back to its small blog best with a highly relevant playlist. The highlight of the week has to be the acoustic Maximo Park gig which i arrived at, 4 hours before they came on just to get on the barrier. Their support acts Viva City and Bombay Bicycle Club helped to pass the four hours in a more than capable way, anyway less chat more music. enjoy.

Have You Ever Felt So Messed Up - Viva City

Apply Some Pressure - Maximo Park

Evening/Morning - Bombay Bicycle Club
Kick The Covers - Tommy Reilly

Questing, Not Coasting - Maximo Park


Hero - Regina Spektor


By The Monument - Maximo Park

Apply Some Pressure - Maximo Park

Crooked Teeth - Death Cab For Cutie