The Hobo Playlist

Soon as not many people read my blog i can get away with bizare title names such as the above. This one is dedicated to tyreman who inspired the playlist name. It kind of came from the fact that i am soon off to uni and am gradually living more and more like a hobo. so this playlist is slightly hobo inspired (its mainly country music).

Ten Million Slaves - Otis Taylor


American Woman - The Guess Who


Hurt - Johnny Cash


The Cave (Radio 1 Sessions) - Mumford & Sons


All Is Love - Karen O. and the Kids


Bad Things - Jace Everett

Album: PAWS. - Pull Tiger Tail

I have been waiting for this album for two years and it is finally here! Ever since PTT released 'Lets Lightning' and 'Hurricanes' they have gained thousands of fans and appeared in NME's new music tour in 2007 however due to a dispute with their record label they have been unable to release their album for two whole years!!!! (maybe the reason for all the scrabble playing). Finally it has been released to the delight of all Pull Tiger Tail fans like myself. Every song on the album is worth posting but i feel my blog may become rather one dimensional, so i have not let my heart rule my head and managed to select two tracks to give you a flavour of the album.
I have chosen their best single 'Lets Lightning' and the last track on the album 'It's About Destruction'. If you like these tracks there are nine more where they came from.

Lets Lightning - Pull Tiger Tail


Its About Destruction - Pull Tiger Tail

Jackets - Tommy Reilly

Tommy Reilly was never going to lose the Orange unsigned act competition against such woeful opposition he stood out like a talented person in the pussycat dolls, and ever since he did win i have been looking forward to his album and now as it is only a week away a preview is required. Reilly has released to songs from his album so far my favourite is 'Gimme a Call' but as his most recent one is 'Jackets' that took the post title. Both are seriously good tracks and if they are anything to judge the album by it should be set for high critical acclaim. 'Jackets' is much more poppy than 'Gimme a Call' but for that reason i like it less, however it is understandable in the current music climate. 'Gimme a Call' is such a good example of how an acoustic track should be like. It uses simple rhythms and intricate guitar which made Jose Gonzalez so successful to create a track which you want to hear again and again. You can listen to both tracks below and buy his album on the 21st of September.

Jackets - Tommy Reilly



Gimme a Call - Tommy Reilly

Very good new band: Twin Atlantic, Album Preview

This band is good full stop. Their album is quality all the way through and they have mastered the alternative rock genre that only American garage bands have dominated for so long. The band benefit greatly from the impressively powerful and unique voice of the lead singer Sam Mctrusty (brilliant name, sounds like a detective in a cop buddy movie). The band also succeeds in resisting the temptation to scream which so many promising bands give into and let their music shine through instead. The album is well structured but a bit short in my opinion at only 8 tracks its more of a long EP despite this all 8 tracks are single worthy. The album called 'Vivarium' is out in the UK on the 21st of September and is definitely worth a listen. Here is a track called 'What Is Light? Where Is Laughter?' to whet your appetite

What Is Light? Where Is Laughter? - Twin Atlantic

Blackie's Dead - Pete Yorn, Scarlett Johansson

Solo artist says to glamorous film star 'I'm writing an album, fancy appearing on it' film star says 'sure why not'. I imagine the conversation was a little more in depth but my point is that i am thankful they had that conversation. Their album shows the music business that a solo artist collaboration doesn't necessarily mean tinchy stryder and whatever talentless pop artist is this weeks must have backing singer. Listen to the song below, i have also included a Scarlett Johansson cover of the classic Cure song 'Boys Don't Cry'. Some times i spoil you lot.
Blackie's Dead - Pete Yorn, Scarlett Johansson


Boys Don't Cry - Scarlett Johansson

Musings

The UK supergroup are back with their album 'The Resistance' which is released on the 14th of September, so i thought what better time than to give you some musings on muse. After listening to the new album i have picked out a couple of tracks which are truly museworthy. The second track on the album 'Resistance' is fast paced Muse at their best, with an epic opening that sets the heart racing more than the casualty opening credits and the belting chorus of Matt screaming out 'Love is our resistance' in a slight cliched but entirely heartfelt manner, this is definitely one of the better tracks on the album. Perhaps the most bizarre track has to be 'United States of Eurasia (+ Collateral Damage)' which starts off with a piano rendition similar to Muse's 'Butterflies and Hurricanes' the drums quickly kick in and suddenly Freddie Mercury and co. seemed to have creeped into the recording studio however this doesn't last long it now moves into an epic middle eastern sounding string, drum and piano score. After the craze of the first 2 minutes classic Muse is back with the song building up to a somewhat over the top chant of 'EURASIA'. This bizarrely beautiful song doesn't finish there though there is still time for Chopin's Nocturne In E-Flat Major, Op.9 No.2 to complete the outro which i am guessing counts as the (+Collateral Damage) part of the track. So far muse haven't produced a bad album and this is no exception, its no classic but it is very epic...scratch that extremely epic and could easily be a fan favourite, it will keep classic muse fans satisfied with guitar solos aplenty on tracks such as 'MK Ultra' and 'Unnatural Selection' but will also keep muse newbies enthralled. Listen to my two track selection below.

Resistance - Muse


United States of Eurasia (+ Collateral Damage) - Muse


for the classical lover
Nocturne In E-Flat Major, Op.9 No.2 - Fryderyk Chopin

Velvet - The Big Pink

The hype about this band has been growing and growing since the start of the year, and after getting hold of the album i can see why. I think this has single-handedly restored my faith in indie electronica music after La Roux gave it a serious battering i didn't think i could listen to another synth track again. Its refreshing to know that the future of electo-indie doesn't lie in the hands of an out of tune girl with a bad hair cut (although 'The Big Pink's haircuts do leave something to be desired). Anyway enough La Roux dissing. This track is my favourite off the album, it has such a strong atmosphere about it and achieves an 'Animal Collective'-esque calm before a storm feel about it. Be warned though it was so good i think i hurt my ears by turning it up so loud. Listen to the track below and if you like it throw out that La Roux and replace it with some real bad hair cut electro-indie.

Velvet - The Big Pink

Taxidermy - White Lies

Mmmmmm new White Lies music. Their new release 'Taxidermy' was originally a B side on the 'To Lose My Life' 7" but after becoming a regular on their live sets and adoring fans pleas, they have finally released it. And what a release it is. The familiar pounding drum beat and well crafted lyrics found throughout their album 'To Lose My Life' make this an immediate favourite for all White Lies fans or noobie 'Death' lovers alike. Have a listen to 'Taxidermy' below.

Taxidermy - White lies

We Have Band, They have good music

We Have Band are a great new band, that have really come from nowhere after winning the Glastonbury emerging talent contest and playing a number of sets at the festival (one of which i was lucky enough to see). The band in my opinion are made by the talent of the drummer Darren Bancroft who was astonishingly good live at one point was simultaneously playing about four instruments. Have a listen below and download the remixed 'Oh!' and the brilliant demo 'You've Had Band' after the beep

We Have Band - Oh! (Andrew Friendly Remix)



We Have Band - You've Had Band

Obsessions - Marina and the Diamonds

Awesome new band, in my opinion they are a bit like Florence and the machine except good. The bands website is well worth a look, especially the satirical discussion of shakira's new video for comeback single 'She Wolf', which is after the beep.

Obsessions - Marina and the Diamonds


She Wolf Post - Marina and the Diamonds

Speech Debelle Wins Mercury Prize

Speech Debelle was awarded the mercury music prize for her album 'Speech Therapy' tonight. Speech Debelle has been credited with bringing jazz back into Rap and was an unsurprising choice for the award. In my opinion there were more deserved winners such as friendly fires whose album is my favourite album from the past couple of years, or the veterans of the award Bat for Lashes who were nominated for last years award. Ironically Speech Debelles speech became pretty cliche after she thanked her mum and grandma. Have a listen to Speech's track 'Searching' below and if you like it download after the beep.

Searching - Speech Debelle

Empire State Of Mind (Feat. Alicia Keys) - Jay-Z

Always been a fan of Jay-Z and this song off his new album is probably one of his best collabarations (of which he is famous for) off a quality packed album. If you like Jay-Z, Alicia Keys or IKEA (no relevance btw) this ones for you. Ive also posted a rather comical ending to the album with the producer royale 'Mr Hudson' taking lead vocals on a dolled (and rapped) up version of alphaville's 80's...Classic, (is that the word?) 'Forever Young'.

Empire State Of Mind (Feat. Alicia Keys) - Jay-Z


Young Forever (Feat. Mr. Hudson) - Jay-Z


p.s a better version

Forever Young - Youth Group

Love Lost - The Temper Trap

One of my favourite tracks at the moment is The Temper Traps - Love Lost, their latest single 'Sweet Disposition' apeared on an advert for V Festival highlights and since then the band is getting increasing publicity and rightly so as their albums is seriously epic. If you do not have this record you are either stuck in a well like on that jaffa cake advert or mad
Have a listen below....

Love Lost - The Temper Trap

Greatest five albums of all time, Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism

1- Transatlanticism - Death Cab For Cutie

Rather predictably if you read my blog title Death Cab For Cutie's 4th album is my #1 album and in my opinion is when Death Cab hit their peek. The album kicks off with the crashing guitar riffs of 'The New Year' (Their first single off the album), then moves into the slumbering 'Lightness' in which Ben Gibbards Voice and lyrics take centre stage with just the singular guitar and piano notes to back him. Track 3 'Title and Registration' was Death Cabs 3rd single has the strong drum rhythm and lyrics that are synonymous with the band and shown again on 'Death of an Interior Decorator'. 'Expo 86' shows another aspect of the band with the progressive aggression of the track shown both in the lyrics, the guitar and drums. One of the more 'poppy' records on the album 'The sound Of Settling' is great for that reason, it is a well crafted pop song with a upbeat chorus which slots nicely into a more abstract album. 'Tiny Vessels' and 'Transatlanticism' both have romantic lyrics but not in the cheesy love song form perfected by so many boy bands over the years, they are less glorified and exaggerated and give a realistic outlet to the classic love song. the final 3 tracks show the extent of Death Cabs song diversity. First the slow piano in 'Passenger seat' creates a drifting end to the album which is counteracted by the heavy guitar and angry lyrics of 'We Looked Like Giants' until the album finishes with the brilliant but very depressing 'Lack of color' with lyrics that are so painfully personal they underline the genius of Gibbards songwriting skills.

Greatest five albums of all time, The Killers - Hot Fuss

2- Hot Fuss - The Killers

Probably the most commercially recognized album in my top 5 and another debut album, The killers Hot Fuss contains so many well known songs such as ' Mr Brightside', All These Things That Ive done' and 'Somebody Told Me' and it would probably get to #2 on their merit alone. But the reason this album is so great is the hidden gems throughout the album. My favourite of these is 'On Top', it has the classic killers build up to an epic ending it also blends electronica and rock seamlessly into one track, a genre which wasn't really incorporated into 'Sams Town'. Another hidden gem is 'Everything Will Be Alright' which is one of the killers more downbeat songs which give the album a more balanced feel. Despite it being predictable one of my favourite songs has to be 'Mr Brightside', the guitar riff intro couldn't get any better really and has the ability to make just about anyone say 'Oh my god i love this song!'

Greatest five albums of all time, Joy Division - Unkown Pleasures

3- Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division

Joy Divisions masterpiece in my opinion contains some of the best and most emotional tracks ever written. Although the album lacks my favourite Joy Division song ('Love Will Tear Us Apart') the presence of songs such as 'Disorder' and 'She's Lost Control' more than make up for it. The strongest thing about Joy Division is Ian Curtis's voice and the way it delivers the haunting lyrics such as 'And she screamed out kicking on her side and said, I've lost control again. And seized up on the floor, I thought she'd die. She said I've lost control.' He was in my opinion the greatest songwriter of his time, and this is showcased best on 'Unknown Pleasures'

Greatest five albums of all time, Bloc Party - Slient Alarm

4- Silent Alarm - Bloc Party

Ever since i bought this album and proceeded to play 'Banquet' about 50 times in a row, i knew it would be one of my favourite albums. Trying to pick out tracks from this album is almost impossible as it is one of the most well rounded albums i have heard and to do that with your debut album is seriously impressive. It is also worth mentioning that Bloc Party are one of the best live bands i have heard, there is nothing quite like the opening riff of 'Helicopter' to get a crowd going. In fact at leeds fest 07 bloc party acheived the unimaginable..... a circle pit at an indie gig. There are so many brilliant tracks on this album, 'positive tension' where Kele shouts the eternal lines 'why do you have to get so histerical, why do have get...so fuckin useless' another crowd pleaser in the bloc party repertoire. This album set bloc party up as the best new band in britain, a reputation they solidified with follow ups 'A Weekend In The City' and 'Intimacy'

First post so lets make it a good'un : Greatest five albums of all time, Patti Smith - Horses

As these are my first few posts i thought i would outline my music tastes with my 5 best albums of all time (not including greatest hits because we all know that is cheating)

5- Horses - Patti Smith



This album is pure punk genius. One of the reasons i like the album so much is its decent into musical chaos on nearly every track. For example 'Gloria' starts off with a mellow piano tune and ends up with Patti Smith passionately punching out G.L.O.R.I.A to a fast paced guitar riff which is enough to send shivers down any music fans spine. The 9 minuite epic of 'Land: Horses, land of a thousand dances, la mer (de)' (as if the title wasnt good enough) and the energetic would be an understatement cover of 'my generation' are just two more examples of why this album is a more than worthy #5 in my list.