NEW TO MY PLAYLIST: Young Man

 English/French Lit Major, Collin Caulfield from Chicago is "Young Man".

His music features spell binding guitar melodies which suit a warm summers day.

Strangers in particular features a somewhat dubious and dream like intro and then ventures into a foot tapping and somewhat charming arrangement of guitar riffs to really capture your imagination.

NEW TO MY PLAYLIST: Oberhofer

Apologies for not posting in such a long time, but I have been a bit tied up with University projects.

As it's now the Easter break I thought I would post about a band that I discovered very recently called Oberhofer. From Brookyln, New York via Tacoma the band describe their genre as coincidence pop!

Fans of Animal Collective will probably like this band.

Check out, I Could Go:-



However, my personal favourite song of theirs so far is Dead Girls Dance:-

NEW RELEASE: Beach House - Myth

YES! Beach House are back with new Single "Myth"



They are announced to be playing at this years End of the Road festival so let's hope thats our chance to hear more and more new songs!

LIVE: Fanfarlo

Monday 27th February - Thekla.

Fanfarlo played a relatively early gig in Thekla on a drizzly Monday night in Bristol treating fans to songs new and old!

having heard a couple new songs already I found myself excited but also a bit uncertain as to what we should expect from the new album. Performing on the same day as the release of the new album the band seemed extra excited to impress and they did just that!

Since the gig I haven't stopped listening to the new album 'Rooms filled with Light' and I'm going to make it my aim to buy the vinyl.

Despite the songs from the first album like 'Walls are coming down' and 'Luna' being highly appreciated one of the big stand outs of the night was "Deconstruction" which reaches epic magnitude like that of Arcade Fire.

NEW TO MY PLAYLIST: The Front Bottoms

With a name that will make most people cringe or smile The Front Bottoms are a two-piece band based out of Bergen County, NJ. Formed in 2006 with three members the bands keyboard player left in 2010 to concentrate on studies - the band now continues with two members.

For fans of Violent Femmes, Bright Eyes and Smashing Pumpkins.

The self titled album is a real treat!

Flashlights



Maps



Swimming Pool



Let's hope they come to England soon.

LIVE: Pulled Apart by Horses

Despite not being a massive screamy, shouty music fan, last Wednesday 22nd February I went to see Pulled Apart by Horses play in Southampton in a jam packed Soul Cellar.

Must admit though, I probably enjoyed The Computers more but not because Pulled Apart by Horses were bad but mostly just because I was completely amazed by their sound - I even bought the vinyl! With a hard to place genre, The Computers mix the best of old rock 'n' roll such as Jerry Lee Lewis with a modern sound like The Hives.



In an already warm packed room Pulled Apart by Horses took to the stage with one aim - to make it hotter. Having seen them a few times before I was expecting a lively show but I think I always forget just how bloody good this band are live. 



 Two fantastic live bands worth checking out.

FESTIVAL: SASQUATCH

There is NO Glastonbury Festival this year..what do I do with that £200+ that I normally splash out to go for probably the best experience of my life? SXSW is too expensive but Sasquatch seems much more affordable and equally as amazing!

Okay, so it's still going to cost around £800+ but thats still considerably cheaper than SXSW. The Sasquatch lineup was announced on Tuesday and I really wish I could afford to go. Once again I find myself envious of people living in the US (although I think last year's lineup will never be beaten)


Here is the lineup:

Jack White, Beck, Bon Iver, Pretty Lights, Tenacious D, The Shins, Beirut, Girl Talk, The Roots, The Head & The Heart, Portlandia, Feist, Silversun Pickups, Metric, Explosions In The Sky, The Joy Formidable, Mogwai, Nero (DJ), M. Ward, John Reilly & Friends, Childish Gambino, St. Vincent, The Civil Wars, Jamey Johnson, Little Dragon, Tune-Yards, Wild Flag, Blind Pilot, Wolfgang Gartner, Beats Antique, Apparat, The Walkmen, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Mark Lanegan Band, Spiritualized, Blitzen Trapper, The Cave Singers, Shabazz Palaces, Fun., Grouplove, Tycho, SBTRKT, STRFKR, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Deer Tick, Imelda May, Alabama Shakes, Dum Dum Girls, The Helio Sequence, Kurt Vile, Cloud Cult, We Are Augustines, Ben Howard, Here We Go Magic, Zola Jesus, The War On Drugs, Shearwater, Cass McCombs, Active Child, Trampled By Turtles, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Araabmuzik, Star Slinger, L.A. Riots, Com Truise, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, I Break Horses, Walk The Moon, Dry The River, Allen Stone, Pickwick, Hey Marseilles, Gary Clark Jr., Purity Ring, Electric Guest, Yellow Ostrich, Nobody Beats The Drum, Coeur De Pirate, Lord Huron, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Beat Connection, The Sheepdogs, Hey Rosetta!, Said The Whale, Howlin Rain, Gardens & Villa, Felix Cartal, Craft Spells, Vintage Trouble, Poor Moon, Black Whales, Gold Leaves, Greylag, Awesome Tapes From Africa
Thee Satisfaction, Dyme Def, Fresh Espresso, The Physics, Sol, Metal Chocolates, Grynch, Spac3man, Don’t Talk To The Cops, Scribes, Fatal Lucciauno, Fly Moon Royalty, Katie Kate, Nick Kroll, Beardyman, Todd Barry.


If you are lucky enough to go this year then congrats!

NEW TO MY PLAYLIST: Wintercoats

After viewing The 405's "Ones to watch list" I discovered an Australian Orchestral loop specialist - James Wallace also known as Wintercoats.

Performing by himself and a wide understanding of loop pedals James produces beautifully music which allows you to drift away.

Working on a Dream, is my pick from his debut EP from 2011 called "Sketches".

FAVOURITE: Modest Mouse

I think most people will know of my love for Modest Mouse but I just wanted to post a little something about my favourite album from this fantastic band.

For me anyway, "This is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About" wins best Modest Mouse album and quite possibly my favourite album of all time.

It's an album full of songs with emotion, songs with meaning and songs with energy.

I fucking love it! Dramamine, Beach Side Property, Novocain Stain, Tundra-Desert all amazing songs from this album but none are better than 'Talkin Shit About a Pretty Sunset' I also really like the video created to go with this video.

NEW TO MY PLAYLIST: Young Buffalo

Recently stumbled across Young Buffalo, a fairly young band from Oxford.

They possess bags of energy. Listen to 'Catapilah'

NEW VIDEO: Death Cab for Cutie - Underneath the Sycamore

Death Cab for Cutie have released a new video for the song 'Underneath the Sycamore' taken from their most recent album "Codes and Keys".

NEW SONG: Fanfarlo - Shiny Things

After a relatively quiet period for a couple years, Fanfarlo are back with new song and video 'Shiny Things'.



Very much looking forward to the new album if this is anything to go by!


The band are on Tour in February in the UK and are then off to America.

RE-DISCOVERED: Cave Singers

Last summer I spent much of my time listening to Cave Singers, I was so obsessed by them I was literally telling everyone I know to listen to them.

Today, I re-discovered that love. I find it amazing how easy it is to forget about something as important and influential as music. Cave Singers are a threesome from Seattle, Washington. Listening to their music has helped me find many other great folk bands.

The band has three albums the newest of which 'The Witch' came out in 2011.

This album is full of a great variety of Folk music, from the energetic foot stompers to the more relaxing and laid back.

NEW TO MY PLAYLIST: Great Lake Swimmers

Having lots of assignments to work through has it's positives.

I have recently discovered a band called 'Great Lake Swimmers' who are a five piece 'indie-folk' band from Ontario, Canda. Taking inspiration from Marilyn Bell who traversed Lake Ontario the bands name was decided.


Featuring instruments ranging from Guitar, Harmonica, Banjo and Violin the music is a perfect backdrop for Tony Dekker's charming voice.

Fans of Iron & Wine and Horse Feathers.

Check out Pulling on a Line.

Wu Lyf Live on David Letterman

America had a big treat yesterday when Wu Lyf performed 'Heavy Pop' live on the David Letterman show.

Ohbijou

I stumbled across this band recently and despite not really being too sure how to pronounce the name I have been listening to them as much as my time has allowed me.

Having been released in September 2011 'Metal Meets' is the bands third album and is described as the most mature and creative album they have produced. The band sing about the city in which they live which is Toronto, Canada.

"Wildfires" is probably my pick from the album, I particularly enjoy the instrumental break down in the middle which draws in a large range of instruments and creates a soothing sound.

 

Dog is Dead - Christmas Wrapping

WOW!



What a great christmas cover this is! Dog is Dead known mostly for their happy and Chirpy have covered The Waitresses in an equally chirpy way!

Love this!

Smith & Burrows for Christmas No.1

It is pretty much a certainty these days for the winner of X-Factor to be christmas number one.


Millions of people watch the show and millions of people by the song the winner releases - generally a cover! I guess in one way it's good for music that people still buy the music.

Anyway, Tom Smith & Andy Burrows were drunkenly discussing the loss of the true christmas songs one night in a pub and decided that it was time to write a festive album. They wanted to recapture the Christmas from when they were kids.

'When the Thames Froze' captures the side of Christmas that lot's of people have come to forget - being with family and friends. This is why I am a big fan of this song as that is probably my favourite thing about christmas.

Theme Park

A band I recently came across are 'Theme Park'. I have done some reading on them and many people have been comparing them to 'Talking Heads' and I can see where they're making the comparison as the music takes on a similar feel.

Obviously we are currently in a period of music where a lot of the "same" sound is being churned out, but 'Theme Park' are fun, happy, dancey and offer a positive look on the world we currently live in and people will love this once it gets out there, certainly in festival season they will be a hit.

Check out -

My first Coldplay experience

I feel I should start this post by saying that I am in no way a Coldplay 'fan' as it were, don't get me wrong I do like some of their music including the newest album 'Mylo Xyloto' but I definitely wouldn't describe myself as a fan.

This gig has probably done enough to realise that despite what many people might say, Coldplay are a great band. If you haven't seen them live then I would suggest doing so, before it's too late.

I have been to my fair share of gigs some big and some small but this one was the biggest and Coldplay didn't disappoint their fans. The media seem to have a frenzy on Chris Martin's unpredictable personality which leaves many people with a bad opinion of him but lets face it, the media are the cause of many controversies these days and will change a story any way they can to make it sell so who can blame for being a bit sceptical of the media (granted most of the time he doesn't help him self).

Not only was this my first time seeing Coldplay but it was also my first trip to the O2 arena which was just insanely big... Furthermore, whilst walking around the arena to get to our seats we noticed a stage for 'December Sessions' - a gig in a gig if you will.

More importantly, back to Coldplay. Upon entering the arena we were given a rather dubious wristband which would soon play a rather amazing role in the night. Coldplay emerged to an expectant crowd and as soon as the music began everyone's wristbands lit up, flashing in time with the music - a truly spectacular sight.

On stage, Coldplay were surprisingly lively and gave it their all in every song in a set which featured mostly classic songs so even the slightly neutrals would be won over. Not only did they perform the songs to perfection, but there was an amazing stage show to support. Giant balloons were release into the crowd and confetti launched into the air during 'In my Place' on more than one occasion.

Adding to the spectacle during 'Clocks' in the encore there was a fairly impressive laser show to keep the audience fixated on the stage.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at the O2 and would like to thank Coldplay for putting on such a fantastic show!