Western Plaza - Tornado Dream YTV

29/12/15 YouTube Video

It is currently the awkward week between Christmas and New Year that normally passes by in a bit of a blur but so far this year has been ever so slightly dragging. Well what better way to keep things moving along nicely than this presumable re-release from Burger Records by Western Plaza. Initially released in 2014, it seemed the guys at Burger wanted more people to hear about it so reposted it on their SoundCloud amongst other places. I'm glad they did or I wouldn't have heard Tornado Dream, a jangly, upbeat song that reminds me of 60's USA beach music and has definite Beach Boys roots. I also find it refreshing when a band aren't afraid to call their music pop. There is nothing wrong with good pop music. Enjoy!

Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town YTV

22/12/18 YouTube Video

One last slice of Christmas cheer before the big event and you cant get much greater than Bruce Springsteen singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town with Paul McCartney on back up vocals. This performance closed possibly one of my all time favourite episodes of SNL with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosting. Two very funny people with such a legend that is Springsteen makes for a absolute smasher of a show and gets me excited for the future performances SNL are going to produce. Enjoy!

Nexus 6P DOTM

Design Of The Month

It may not seem initially music related but stay with me. My piece of design that I love this month is the recently released Nexus 6P from the guys at Google who have partnered with Huawei for their sleek, stylish latest phone. I am a big fan of the Nexus range as I own the Nexus 5 phone and their 7 inch tablet and am big fans of both. What I like specifically about the 6P above the other phones that they have released including the 5X is the introduction of the finger print scanner in a location which seems more comfortable to the user, larger and better quality screen, better processor and two of the best improvements being the battery life and the storage space of the phone. I know I have talked about the Marshall phone and how great it is, but with this release from Google it has really swayed me into purchasing the 6P as my next smart phone early next year. Plus for new customers who purchase it, the phone comes with 90 days free Google Play Music which is the best streaming service imo. Enjoy!

Sam Amidon - Blue Mountains YTV

15/12/15 YouTube Video

To come as something of a break from all the Christmas music that is being played is this delicate song by Sam Amidon. Taken from the Lily-O album that was released in 2014, it is not his latest work by any means (in fact Home Inside My Head was released earlier this year) but on multiple listens it does a great job making me feel the lyrics and relate to story he sings that it brings out layers of emotion in me that not all music does. This kind of music is one that is perfect to listen to with big headphones on, in a comfy chair and just do nothing but relax and listen. It is tracks like these that have made me go back and listen to the other brilliant albums Sam has produced. Enjoy!

Phoenix - Alone on Christmas Day SCS

SoundCloud Song

To keep the Christmas feeling going is this cheery number from Phoenix. As part of the guest heavy Netflix special A Very Murray Christmas with Bill Murray, Phoenix performed Alone on Christmas Day with Murray throwing in a bit of backing singing and Jason Schwartzman on the drums for extra goodness. The great thing about this track is how they spin an ultimately sad story about being alone into a happy and positive. It is a song that I would happily have as part of the Christmas playlist in the backgroung when I am tucking into my turkey and stuffing. Enjoy!

Loose Tapestries - Can't Wait For Christmas YTV

08/12/15 YouTube Video

Christmas time and lets get festive with this lovably catchy and creative number from the Loose Tapestries boys. Serge and Noel coming together to produce music is a truly great thing, I found out that they worked together on the music for Noels comedy show Luxury Comedy and they really honed their skill in order to produce this Christmas slice of joy. The lyrics that Noel provides are reminiscent of the style I fell head over heels for on The Mighty Boosh when I was but a teenage boy and Serge brings the melodic elements that knits the song together and it properly flows along nicely. My favourite line is "My wife is a walnut, she is a Christmas walnut" soooo good. Enjoy!

Jeff Crosby - Waking Days NA

November Album

November is over and it has left me surprised at the slow down of album releases. It seems the record companies like to have a break and hold off till another month. Of the small selection that has been released I have enjoyed releases from Bill Ryder-Jones, Library Voices, Ty Segall and more but my favourite is Jeff Crosbys second solo release titled Waking Days. 10 tracks of beauty, strong song-writing and emotion has made me fall in love with each song individually as well as a whole story. He sort of reminds me of early John Mayer but with an added country tang that gives him an interesting edge. I dig it. Enjoy!

Action Bronson feat. Chance The Rapper - Baby Blue YTV

01/12/15 YouTube Video

It is that time of year when you start to see the standard 'Best 50 Songs Of The Year' lists etc. and on such a list (website forgotten) is where I found this little gem from Action Bronson with Chance The Rapper. I don't know how it managed to slip me by because I am a big fan of Chances and try to listen to everything he releases.  I haven't heard much of Bronson but on this track, his verses are really strong and smart and when coupled with the sweet soulful chorus makes for a beautiful cake of a track with the cherry on top being Chances hilarious lines with great visuals to go with them. Enjoy!

The Aquadolls - Girl Riot SCS

SoundCloud Song

This new track from The Aqua Dolls sounds so much like a lost punk rock track from an early 80's Blackhearts album it is really surprising that it was released just slightly earlier this month. With clear links to earlier genre defining sounds, it is great that The Aquadolls are bringing the sound back around for the latest generation to fall in love with all over again. I love this track because the use of catchy, short verses and repetitive without being tiresome guitar lines which makes for a song that hasn't left my head for a long time and I wouldn't want it to for the foreseeable. Plus promoting rebellion is always fun (for the right cause) Enjoy!

The Wild Reeds - NPR Tiny Desk Concert YTV

24/11/15 YouTube Video

What better way to bring Autumnal cheer than this three song concert from The Wild Reeds. They visited the NPR space and performed a great acoustic set featuring a track from their début album and a couple of new ones which equally kill it. The thing that I loved the most about this video is that it is rare to see bands with multiple lead singers that have such a high standard of vocals that they could easily front the band by themselves. I think The Staves are similar but The Wild Reeds just have an edge over them with their multi instrumental-ism. It is also nice to hear the harmonica being used not just by a grizzled old man sitting on a wooden crate. Enjoy!

Aftershokz Bluez 2S Headphones DOTM

Design Of The Month

I always have an ear out for interesting audio technology and recently I heard about this new headphone product from my girlfriend. The Aftershokz Bluez is an open ear wireless headphone system that uses bone conduction technology to deliver sound through the users cheekbones to the ear drum. This may seem to some people that they are changing headphones for no real benefit but as a cyclist who likes to listen to music when riding, these headphones allow me to hear oncoming cars and other possible surrounding dangers whilst listening to music without the two interfering with each other. It is also a great all round sports headphone product or just for lounging around the house in your pyjamas. Really smart idea!

Phoenix - Lisztomania YTV

17/11/15 YouTube Video

Well it was my graduation yesterday and it was a long time coming but I am glad I ended up going to the ceremony. It was good to celebrate the 3 years of working hard and even better to see my class mates. And in the spirit of graduation, I wanted to share the song that soundtracked my first year and holds many great memories. Lisztomania by Phoenix was used as the backing track to a presentation about design created by other members of my class whilst advertising their brand. It fit the emotion that they were trying to achieve of being a fun and upbeat company and much like the track, hasn't seemed to age to this day. Enjoy!

Green Buzzard - Hollywood SCS

SoundCloud Song

Boom! Yea this is the second post in one day, ain't no big deal. Great musical releases don't sleep so why should I. Today has been a day of blitzing my SoundCloud feed and there have been loads of great releases including this Tobias Jesso Jr cover from the Green Buzzard boys. The thing that I like the most about this version is how they up the pace of the song, making it slightly more frenzied track (compared to the slow ballad style of the original) whilst keeping the sound as a whole, lo-fi and mellow. I also think the addition of guitars really adds to the overall piece, making it more hooky. Enjoy!

Laura Stevenson - Jellyfish YTV

11/11/15 YouTube Video

I am ever so behind with my posts but here I am, making up for it. This is a perfect slice of indie pop from Laura Stevenson. I recently went and listened to her entire back catalogue, well all that I could get off of Google Music, and I find her progression in her sound a truly great thing. Her earlier stuff has a lot more of a straight up pop vibe reminding me of artists ala Paloma Faith etc. And in her later stuff she is embracing the guitar as more of a rock n roll instrument as shown in the video below. Just scuzzy enough to be exciting whilst keeping the beautiful vocals that she has always had. Enjoy!

Swim Deep - Mothers OA

October Album

October has been a long month, with plenty of good music coming from Wavves, Born Ruffians, The Enemy, Cheatahs and more. But my favourite has to be the latest from Swim Deep called Mothers. A bit of a change up from their previous album which I can do nothing but praise. Nothing against their debut, I mean I love it but some bands stay too comfortable releasing the same kind of music. The thing that puts Mothers above the rest is how the band have used synths and electronic sounds to create songs that have clear retro influences but still sound impressive against anything else released currently. Below is the single Namaste with one of the best videos I have seen in a long while featuring Paul Daniels. Enjoy!

Car Seat Headrest - Something Soon YTV

03/11/15 YouTube Video

Car Seat Headrest have a crackin' new album Teens Of Style and this video below is one of the singles off of it. What I like most about the track is how the vocals are sung in such an intense manner but because they are coupled with a poppier sounding instrumentation it lifts the mood to a light-hearted level and gives the song a fresh almost sing-along sound. Enjoy!

Drake White - I Need Real YTV

29/10/15 YouTube Video

This month seems to be never ending, with the final October album release day being tomorrow I am going to wait till next week Thurs to do my favourite release of the month. To keep everyone going I wanted to double up on YouTube videos. And what better choice than this belter by Drake White. An acoustic session of I Need Real in the middle of a field (no better location needed) He has that emotion that I have heard with other artists such as The Tallest Man On Earth. A grit in his vocals that when mixed with heartfelt lyrics, really makes something beautiful. Enjoy!

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Downtown YTV

27/10/15 YouTube Video

Not exactly a underground track is the latest track from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. With currently over 47 million views on YouTube alone, it is now basically a worldwide banger. I am not an avid follower of hip-hop music in general but I do have a few artists that have always appealed to me, The Cool Kids, Chance The Rapper and amongst others Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. They seem to play the line between humour and credibility beautifully. Downtown being a great example. Enjoy!

Animal House - English Girls SCS

SoundCloud Song

I'm really excited to hear new music from Animal House. It has been 6 months since their last SoundCloud release and a year since the classic song Sour, so English Girls has been a new pleasant injection of goodness. The track reminds me of the great 00's rock and roll/indie tracks by artists such as The Cribs, Strokes et al, so they have clearly great influences. If their début album ends up being more of the same style, I will be one happy guy. Enjoy!

Pretenders - Brass In Pocket YTV

20/10/15 YouTube Video

Excellent track this week from the Pretenders. I recently purchased the Chrissie Hynde book and as soon as it came through the door I couldn't put it down (without lack of trying). It documents her life, well the earlier years and I was interested to find out that she spent so much of her life outside of the U.S., travelling to the U.K. and France for substantial periods of her life. I don't know why I presumed she still lived in America but I just thought the bands sound had elements of that New York punk era. After completing the book, I have been listening to the first two Pretenders albums, the first one being where the track below (Brass In Pocket) is taken. A classic track that is still a hit to this day Enjoy!

Flux Guitars - Double Neck DOTM

Design Of The Month

This is the kind of design that I love, creative, attractive and fully functional. Flux Guitars have recently started an IngieGoGo campaign to fund their uber smart Magnetic Double Neck Guitar  (http://igg.me/at/fluxguitars/x) The magnetic locking system they use for connecting the two guitars makes interchanging and playing the guitars for different modes really easy and simple to do. If the main guitar is connected to the amp, no additional connections need to be made to the secondary guitar for amplification as long as the magnetic connection is there.

Another special thing I really appreciate from the designer is that he is offering the option of buying the larger or smaller guitar as a stand alone instrument and also if you want to switch the 12 string to the smaller guitar and make the larger one a 6 six string, all options seem to be open. If that isn't giving the customer what they want, I don't know what is. Enjoy!

Dilly Dally - Purple Rage YTV

13/10/15 YouTube Video

This week I have picked probably my favourite track from Dilly Dallys début album Sore. The video for Purple Rage is equal parts 50's horror movie, and Mighty Boosh character. I think the emotional power of the lyrics fit perfectly with the storyline, especially when the purple creature ends up ending its live due to loneliness and no acceptance in the foreign world. Maybe this video has strong messages, but maybe I am taking it too seriously. End of the day it is a cracking video and track. Enjoy!

Estrons - Make A Man SCS

SoundCloud Song

I have totally fallen for this track Make A Man by Estrons. It is the bands first single released from the soon to drop EP (Whoever she was) which should be available on December the 11th. What I love about this track aside from it having all of the standard great rock'n'roll hooks and pounding guitar/drums is the vocals from lead singer Taliesyn Kallstrom. I am not certain of how old she is but she has a way of singing the lyrics that makes her seem older than her years. Like she has lived a past life and is back to recapture the best bits for us to hear. Really powerful singer. Enjoy!  

The Crookes ft. Misty Miller - Ex-Lovers YTV

06/10/15 YouTube Video

Isn't it beautiful when a couple of great artists come together and make something beautiful. This has been proven with The Crookes and Misty Miller collaborating on Ex-Lovers. It is a bit of an acoustic number with just two voices and a guitar. The Crookes' George Waite and Millers boy/girl vocals seem slightly played down for the first half of the track but they really build up to something really powerful and emotional in the final verses. I truly feel that they are mourning their split. Enjoy!

Stereophonics - Keep The Village Alive SA

September Album

Another month, another great time for music. I have been loving the new releases from FIDLAR, Widowspeak, Motion City Soundtrack, Little Simz and Chvrches to name but a few. But my big hitter this time is the new Stereophonics release Keep The Village Alive. This may be their 9th LP but the Welsh group are as strong with this as anything that they have released before. My favourite parts of the album are the epic ballads such as I Want To Get Lost With You which really shows off Kellys voice and seems to push him to his limits without sounding strained and painful to listen to. Below is the fast paced C'est La Vie, the first single off of the album. Catchy as all hell and the obvious choice to get people to fall in love with the album. Enjoy!

DMA's - Delete YTV

29/09/15 YouTube Video

Big thanks to KEXP for showing me the way with this band. From DMA's live recording in their in-house studios, I went back and listened to the bands self titled EP which was released over a year ago now. Delete is one of my favourite tracks, it has a strong anthemic British sound, and I was pleasantly surprised to hear they are guys from down under. They seem to combine two streams of influence from opposite ends of the earth and create a sound that is as fresh as anything that is in the rock charts at the moment. Enjoy!

MAINLAND - Not As Cool As Me SCS

SoundCloud Song

My pick this time is the latest from NYC boys Mainland. Not As Cool As Me is a beautiful blend of guitar, drums, vocal and little flickers of what I guess to be some kind of electro keyboard thing. It gives me a scuzzy feel that I want out of all of my young rock bands whilst keeping a classic catchy sing along chorus that wont be leaving your head any time soon. Enjoy!

Lil' Debbie - Break It Down YTV

22/09/15 YouTube Video

Not my usual bag, but I love it. Latest from Lil' Debbie, Break It Down screams similarities of Iggy but for me, of a much higher quality. Lil' Debbie, real name Jordan Capozzi packs a lot of emotion and powerful feeling into her lyrics even though the content may not be ground-breaking. Singing about the hip hop power trinity of money, sex and weed, I feel this is just a step in the right direction to more great things. She has the potential to be massive. Enjoy!

St. Vincent Signature Guitar DOTM

Design Of The Month

I have been waiting for this day to roll around to talk about this beautiful guitar from St. Vincent/Ernie Ball. From the first glance it almost has a Gibson Explorer feel to it with the overall bow-tie shape. But on closer inspection, the two back panels are angled softly to give it a more modern feel and the triple pick-ups gives plenty of variation in playing style. I really dig the detailing on the fretboard as-well. The overlapping circles (which I am presuming are Mother Of Pearl) are incredibly intricate and smooth. All together it makes for a really sleek and cool guitar and I think it sums up St. Vincent perfectly.

Mac McCaughan - Box Batteries YTV

15/09/15 YouTube Video

This week I am loving the video for Box Batteries by Mac McCaughan. Taken off of the album Non-Believers which was released earlier this year, Box Batteries has the kind of rock and roll sound that would be enhanced so much hearing it at a concert live. I can also picture this being played by a bar band in 50's/60's America, kind of like a grungier, more grown up Weezer - Buddy Holly. The video is also a funny watch with the woman seeming to pull every facial expression under the sun. Enjoy!

The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Review

For a bit of fun and to practice my writing, I have done a bit of a review of a classic:

Straight away the first track of The Beatles: Sgt. Peppers reminds me of a classic 90's sitcom intro titles, the attention grabbing guitar sounds and lyrics that recap the previous episode and introduce the cast alongside the staple, canned laughter, applause and comedic trumpets. It is followed by With A Little Help From My Friends which is like hearing an old friend, familiar sounds and lyrics that everybody seems to know.

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds is one of the album's best tracks in my personal opinion and very popular with many of the fans. It is famously a drug referencing song but that seems trivial when it has so much more to offer. Managing to have a lot of references to being high without sounding dirty or sordid, sounding almost like a babies nursery rhyme (I would definitely prefer this to Humpty Dumpty) Getting Better brings a motivational message that may have got lost on me during the previous song, improving my spirit, and regenerating the whole album. She's Leaving Home starts with a beautifully plucked harp that gives me a romantic warm feeling reminiscent of watching a classic French black and white movie. By the end of the song I realise that the lyrics may not be as sweet as I would have hoped and more downbeat and sad.

Indian instruments really surprised me when I heard them pop up on Within You Without You, I suspect that George Harrison picked up his influences for this song whilst on his travels. I can imagine how radical this would have sounded in the summer of 1967, any other album that was released around this time by a British band would have stood out like a sore thumb, but with the Beatles magic, they seem to pull it off in their stride.

When I'm 64 brings is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. Classically English lyrics about odd jobs and leisure activities remind me what I have to look forward to in the future. Despite the inclusion of technology, I think The Beatles may have got the future predicted quite right for the majority of the British public.

Lovely Rita hits me like a retro Oasis track. It is clear where the brothers got some (or a lot) of their influences from. Big catchy sounds and easy to sing along with, it is a crowd pleaser for sure.

After a whirlwind of tracks of all different styles and sounds, the final A Day In The Life is a bit of an epic Beatles ballad. With a track length of over five and a half minutes, it is easily over double the length of the majority of the other tracks and boy does it pack a punch. The song seems to be split into sections; it starts off mellow with Bowie-esque vocals, it almost has the right ingredients to be one of the classic Bond themes; then the speed picks up and it's like listening to a totally different song with the single familiar sound being the calming trumpet swirling in the background.

Overall, this album is considered The Beatles best album by a lot of people and I think it is clear to see why. If you haven't heard it already you are only 48 years behind.

Seth Pettersen - Me N My Cutaway SCS

SoundCloud Song

The song that is killin' it this week is Me N My Cutaway off of the 2015 album (Sweet Reaper) by Seth Pettersen. It is one of the more fast paced and scuzzy tracks from the album which is one of the reasons it is one of my favourites. When I listen to it I am reminded of my teenage years skating through the town centre with my group of mates and being generally unruly little boys. I think I get this from the song having a cutting punk rock kinda sound with the high screeching of the guitars the style of vocal that the song is sung in.  Also the fact that it seems to fly by just leaves me wanting more. Enjoy!

Green Buzzard - Slow It Down YTV

08/09/15 YouTube Video

This week I want to share this great track from Sydney native 5 piece Green Buzzard. Even though it is released in 2015, the video and track are like they are straight out of the 90's in all the good ways. Big chorus sung with attitude, catchy guitar riffing without sounding so fancy it's boring, black & white filmed with attitude video  and the kind of cool swagger that makes wearing sunglasses indoors an acceptable thing to do, almost. It may be a bit of a throwback in terms of influences but I think it fits in perfectly with the modern age. Enjoy!

All Dogs - Kicking Every Day AA

August Album

Another month, another set of crackin' new album releases. Other must listens have came from Never Shout Never, Palehound, Radkey and Hooton Tennis Club to name but a few.

My favourite by far has to be the début by All Dogs titled Kicking Every Day. It may start off like what you would expect from a young US pop/grunge/punk/whatever band BUT just like the days of the week, when Sunday Morning comes in, it is like a totally fresh hit of music, a surprise light sound that pops up like a gem and leads the way perfectly for the rest of the album. What I admire most about the bands' songs is that no matter whether the track genre is rock, pop, punk or whatever it really doesn't matter, they make it work with killer lyrics that have a great way of cutting through the sound and hitting me personally, so much so that I find my self listening to them through my headphones/speakers feeling like a close friend telling me a secret story. Plus the music compliments them almost without without trying. It just seems to come so gracefully for them. Great album, great band! Enjoy the live video below!   

Trampolene - It's Not Rock & Roll YTV

01/09/15 YouTube Video

Well it is the first of September, pinch, punch and all that but how about we start this month off with some good ol' rock music from 3 Welsh lads that go by Trampolene. I found out about this song (below) from a tweet by the great music journalist  Eve Barlow (follow her for more great stuff https://twitter.com/Eve_Barlow). On first impressions I thought they were like a slightly more balternative Catfish & The Bottlemen, but I soon realised that even though they are flying that classic dirty rock flag, they have much more of a scuzzy, in your face sound with added electronic vocal effects which gives me the impression that they would much prefer playing a small sticky floored club than something expansive and slightly atmosphere lacking a'la Wembley Stadium. Great band, great sound. Enjoy!

Fruit Bats Taster SCS

SoundCloud Songs

This week I wanted to shout about the 4 track little sampler playlist that has been posted on the Easy Sound Recording Co. SoundCloud page. The first 2 tracks are taken from the bands 2011 album Tripper and the last 2 from the 2009 LP titled The Ruminant Band. This selection is a great stepping stone into listening to both of the albums in their entirety and if you like what you hear, going back even further and listening to The Fruit Bats first 3 albums. Yes they have been around for well over a decade. I have been wondering where I have been, not to hear of them before this but I love the classic, raw and clean Americana sound that sounds in no way contrived and taken straight from the soul. Enjoy!  

Lilly Hiatt - Get This Right

25/08/15 YouTube Video

Big thanks to Kids Interview Bands for their interview with Lilly Hiatt. If I didn't watch it I wouldn't have heard the talented Lilly Hiatt or anything including her Dropped Ponies. Get This Right is one of the singles from her 2015 album Royal Blue. After listening to it a couple of times, I really enjoy the mixture of styles she includes from country tinged tracks to more straight up alternative sounding songs. It is definitely one of my favourite albums of its style this year so far. If you get the chance, give the whole LP a listen. Enjoy!

Marshall London Phone DOTM

Design Of The Month

For as long as I can remember I have been a big fan of Marshall. Not just their amps but I have used their headphones for quite a long time now and the quality (both sound and manufacturing) is superb. When the new Marshall phone came up on my news feed I was more than intrigued. Marshall are branching into mobiles now? How much? What does it look like? Is it better than my Nexus? It turns out it is a stunning phone with obviously great sound quality including a unique dual headphone socket jack for listening to music with a friend. I'm not sure how much the new feature will be used apart from two teenage school kids on a coach en route to a class trip want to sing along to the latest Top 40 compilation. When my current contract ends, I'm going to be hunting this phone down and hopefully the price which currently stands at £399 outright will be lower by then.