Today I am VERY excited as I'm off to Glastonbury tomorrow!! It's my first ever one, so I'm a little nervous, but I'm sooo excited! I'll be sure to bring back plenty of reviews and photos, no doubt about that!
If you're going as well, enjoy it!! And if you're not, I'll try not to bang on too much about it...
Tuesday 21 June 2011
Sunday 19 June 2011
Summer Anthems
We're doing a 'Summer Anthems' feature in the next issue of Spark*, so I thought I'd share mine:
My summer anthem of all time is Oasis- Wonderwall. An obvious crowd favourite, and will always remind of me when I saw them in Summer 2009, with the whole crowd belting this song out. Also, although I wasn't there, Jay-Z nailed it when he sung it at Glastonbury. Tune!
My summer anthem for this year is Foster the People- Pumped up Kicks. Ever since Greg James played it on the Radio 1, I can't stop listening to it. It's got a huge chilled out and summery feel to it, and never fails to put me in a good mood.
My summer anthem of all time is Oasis- Wonderwall. An obvious crowd favourite, and will always remind of me when I saw them in Summer 2009, with the whole crowd belting this song out. Also, although I wasn't there, Jay-Z nailed it when he sung it at Glastonbury. Tune!
My summer anthem for this year is Foster the People- Pumped up Kicks. Ever since Greg James played it on the Radio 1, I can't stop listening to it. It's got a huge chilled out and summery feel to it, and never fails to put me in a good mood.
Patrick Wolf- Lupercalia
I got the opportunity to listen to and review Patrick Wolf's latest album, and it is lovely!
Despite being unfortunately underrated, Patrick Wolf has long been known for his romanticism, use of a variety of instruments and ability to produce a pretty flawless pop song. From the happy-go-lucky The Magic Position to the more experimental Accident and Emergency, Wolf never disappoints, progressing album by album.
Lupercalia opens with the 80s-esque This City. With ever-popular sax in tow, Wolf continues on the romanticism path, promising that he “won’t let this city destroy our love.” Love and sweeping orchestration, be it brass or string, provide the main features of the album, from This City, to “House,” through to the calm The Future echoing Wolf’s positive attitude towards love. Reluctant to be labelled ‘flamboyant,’ perhaps Wolf’s fifth full-length album will change this.
Although Bermondsey Street offers a more chilled-out vibe, his progression is still evident, feeling more atmospheric and grander than previous songs, whilst still maintaining the upbeat feeling that we’ve come to know and love. It’s this optimism that enhances Wolf’s work, aiding listeners through tough times and providing a soundtrack to the good times.
Despite being unfortunately underrated, Patrick Wolf has long been known for his romanticism, use of a variety of instruments and ability to produce a pretty flawless pop song. From the happy-go-lucky The Magic Position to the more experimental Accident and Emergency, Wolf never disappoints, progressing album by album.
Lupercalia opens with the 80s-esque This City. With ever-popular sax in tow, Wolf continues on the romanticism path, promising that he “won’t let this city destroy our love.” Love and sweeping orchestration, be it brass or string, provide the main features of the album, from This City, to “House,” through to the calm The Future echoing Wolf’s positive attitude towards love. Reluctant to be labelled ‘flamboyant,’ perhaps Wolf’s fifth full-length album will change this.
Although Bermondsey Street offers a more chilled-out vibe, his progression is still evident, feeling more atmospheric and grander than previous songs, whilst still maintaining the upbeat feeling that we’ve come to know and love. It’s this optimism that enhances Wolf’s work, aiding listeners through tough times and providing a soundtrack to the good times.
After the interlude of William, a return to the ideas of The Magic Position, which itself was fond off a short-track interlude, the album hits single Time of my Life. Strings abound, it’s an anthem not just for lovers, but for those going through hardship, with a chorus hook of “hold on, won’t be long.” Cementing the idea that Wolf’s work can help those in need of a boost, it’s at this halfway point in the album where things really seem to come together, as you can see that Wolf really has made an album that defines where he is at the moment. Wolf has made a complete piece of work.
On the otherside of the waltzing The Days, the divinely relaxing Slow Motion, a track that you can sink into and listen to for hours, and a second 80s-influenced, ‘dance-y,’ track Together, the album reaches its closer The Falcon. Ending on a high, positively shines through, with lyrics like “things are looking up for you, looking up for me, looking up for us,” perfectly summing up the album that Patrick Wolf has so skilfully created.
On the otherside of the waltzing The Days, the divinely relaxing Slow Motion, a track that you can sink into and listen to for hours, and a second 80s-influenced, ‘dance-y,’ track Together, the album reaches its closer The Falcon. Ending on a high, positively shines through, with lyrics like “things are looking up for you, looking up for me, looking up for us,” perfectly summing up the album that Patrick Wolf has so skilfully created.
Lupercalia is just another success to add to Wolf’s impressive back catalogue. If this doesn’t secure Wolf’s place as a near-perfect writer of pop songs, that I don’t know what will.
4/5
4/5
Wednesday 15 June 2011
Young the Giant- My Body
My latest review for Spark*. Heard of these guys before, so glad I liked the single.
California quintet ‘Young the Giant’ have fast made a name for themselves, gaining favour from Morrissey and playing with the likes of Incubus and The Futureheads. With a bucket-load of DJs continuing their support for the band, the bar is set high for single My Body.
And it doesn’t disappoint. From the galloping beat to the unrelentless chorus hook of “my body tells me no/but I won’t quit ‘cos I want more,” they haven’t missed a trick. It’s this hook that gives the track an anthemic edge, a lyric for fans to grab onto and be connected by. There’s an energy involved that is so infectious, you won’t be able to stop your toes from tapping (at least), and a sense of contentment in the music that you can’t help but feel spreads from contentment within the band.
My Body combines an irresistible melody with relatable lyrics to create a track that is near perfection. Young the Giant’s success is undoubtedly due to grow from strength to strength.
4/5
California quintet ‘Young the Giant’ have fast made a name for themselves, gaining favour from Morrissey and playing with the likes of Incubus and The Futureheads. With a bucket-load of DJs continuing their support for the band, the bar is set high for single My Body.
And it doesn’t disappoint. From the galloping beat to the unrelentless chorus hook of “my body tells me no/but I won’t quit ‘cos I want more,” they haven’t missed a trick. It’s this hook that gives the track an anthemic edge, a lyric for fans to grab onto and be connected by. There’s an energy involved that is so infectious, you won’t be able to stop your toes from tapping (at least), and a sense of contentment in the music that you can’t help but feel spreads from contentment within the band.
My Body combines an irresistible melody with relatable lyrics to create a track that is near perfection. Young the Giant’s success is undoubtedly due to grow from strength to strength.
4/5
Sunday 12 June 2011
Tumblr
Through my complete boredom today, I have decided to start a Tumblr. I'm going to try and use it mainly for photos and audio, to make sure this gets used for mainly writing. There's a link on the right if you scroll down (just above Twitter). Take a gander!
Oh, and I have moved the Blog Archive to the bottom of the page. Felt the right hand side was getting a big clogged!
Oh, and I have moved the Blog Archive to the bottom of the page. Felt the right hand side was getting a big clogged!
Thursday 9 June 2011
Awful Memory
I've been away for a couple of days, hence a lack of updates. Whilst I've been away, I've seen/heard a couple of things that I thought deserved a mention... problem being I can only remember one of them. It's a good one none the less- The Guardian/Observer have made a list of their "Music Power 100." Opinions on the list?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/26/music-power-100-full-list
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/26/music-power-100-full-list
Monday 6 June 2011
Simon Taylor-Davis, Klaxons, 2007
Yesterday, I created the photo montage-y thing that's now at the top of this blog. All the photos are my own, and I had a lot of fun looking at what I've taken over the years. I particularly like this one, so I decided to give it it's own post!
Sunday 5 June 2011
Additions
Just added some links to the side of this blog! There's links to subscribe to feeds from this blog, as well as feeds from other websites that I like reading, and are relevant to this blog. Well worth a read!
Saturday 4 June 2011
Today's Listening
^I first heard this on Radio 1, and I've been obsessed ever since. Good to see him getting loads of well-deserved airtime. His cover of When You Were Young is beautiful too:
And another one of my favourite Patrick Wolf songs:
Friday 3 June 2011
Patrick Wolf- House
I have fallen in love with Patrick Wolf!
Despite his impressive back-catalogue of albums and singles, Patrick Wolf remains a unfairly underrated artist still. With an ability to create feel-good, romantic, content moods with his flawless melodies and lyrics, it’s pretty impossible to listen to his music without a huge smile on your face. Wolf is set to impressive with latest single, House.
“I love this house, I love this house, Gives me the greatest peace I’ve ever known.” Patrick Wolf charms listens from the very first lines of House, with his flawless romantic pop lyrics and a melody to fit. Inspired by “long drives through California,” it instantly takes you away to a different place, a happy place, where everything is pretty perfect. What’s not to like? The tranquil sound of violins beautifully compliment Wolf’s soothing vocals, to give a sound that’s hard to resist. A sure-fire soundtrack to summer, relationships, drives… you get the picture.
House is sure to set Wolf on the path to becoming the name of everyone’s lips. Catch him when you can.
Despite his impressive back-catalogue of albums and singles, Patrick Wolf remains a unfairly underrated artist still. With an ability to create feel-good, romantic, content moods with his flawless melodies and lyrics, it’s pretty impossible to listen to his music without a huge smile on your face. Wolf is set to impressive with latest single, House.
“I love this house, I love this house, Gives me the greatest peace I’ve ever known.” Patrick Wolf charms listens from the very first lines of House, with his flawless romantic pop lyrics and a melody to fit. Inspired by “long drives through California,” it instantly takes you away to a different place, a happy place, where everything is pretty perfect. What’s not to like? The tranquil sound of violins beautifully compliment Wolf’s soothing vocals, to give a sound that’s hard to resist. A sure-fire soundtrack to summer, relationships, drives… you get the picture.
House is sure to set Wolf on the path to becoming the name of everyone’s lips. Catch him when you can.
5/5
UPDATE:
Just found the video on YouTube and I really like it :)
UPDATE:
Just found the video on YouTube and I really like it :)
Songs I'm currently obsessed with
I'm also playing these almost to death:
Temple Cloud- One Big Family
Rihanna- California King Bed
Coldplay- Every Teardrop is a Waterfall
Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs released their new album today, but not in a conventional style. Instead, they are letting the fans choosing 10 tracks from 20 to create the album they want. You can even create the artwork! Although this could result in a loss of money for the band, they should be applauded for branching out and doing something different. This way, the fans can really connect with the music, as they can choose exactly what they want to hear. It's good fun too! Mine is here:
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