YouTube Video O.T.W. 29/04/14

Wonder Villains - TV

This track is really indie-pop at it's sweetest. I heard about Wonder Villains through the Intro w/ LA SoundCloud pod-cast. They play a lot of great tracks that are new and upcoming and is worth checking out. This track has a very mid 00's feel with big drums and loud coloured clothing a la the nu-wave resurgence of the era.  It also reminds me of a few one hitters and the early tracks of Hot Chip. Anyways take a listen and see what you think. If you like it or think it is absolutely terrible let me know in the comment section below.

D.O.T.F. Gretsch Guitars

Design Of The Fortnight Gretsch Custom Shop

I have chosen not just one design this fortnight but the whole collection that the Gretsch Custom Shop have produced in the 10 years it has been around. I have always been a big fan of the Gretsch guitar design and this video below really gives an incite into what it takes to produce musical instruments of such great quality, and each with a uniqueness all of its own.

I am currently in the process of learning about the making of guitars myself so this really is learning from the masters. If the guitars that I produce are half as close to this level of quality and finesse then I will be extremely happy.

Take a look and tell me what you think.

YouTube Video O.T.W. 22/04/14

White Denim on KEXP

The main reason I have chosen this video is because I am going to see White Denim live in Birmingham pretty soon and this has really got me pumped up for their show. In this video they perform about 4 tracks for the Seattle radio station KEXP and they have a little chat with the host, and this is one of the least awkward conversations that I have heard on these live videos they release. Some of the other hosts are slightly out there with the topics to talk about. Anyway, back to the music. The guitar playing I found very impressive, the guitarist was pulling off some very nice riffs which showed real skill. The front man's singing is very recognisable and his sound is really pleasant to listen to. As a whole I think they are a great band both live and on record so if you have time you should check them out.

If you like this video or not, let me know in the comment section below. Thanks.

SoundCloud Song

Jukebox The Ghost - Great Unknown

This is this weeks SoundCloud Song. Jukebox the Ghost are a band from the US who have been around for about 8 years and have released roughly 3 albums of their own work. This is the first track I have heard of them, with the Yep Roc Music Group reposting a couple of their unmastered tracks on their SoundCloud page. This track in particular is very much in the pop genre of things and it sounds like it could very easily slot in to the BBC Radio 2 playlist. Its got a catchy chorus and it is easily sing along-able. It sort of has a feeling of recent Killers tracks in terms of big pop anthems that just happen to include guitars.

I like it and am now going to check out more of their stuff on Spotify. If you like it or don't, let me know in the comment section below. I would be interested in what you think. Thanks.

YouTube Video O.T.W. 15/04/14

Brody Dalle - Blood In Gutters

I have chosen this track from artist Brody Dalle for this weeks video because I have been waiting to catch this Brody Dalle bug that a lot of her fans have and this is the first track of hers that I have been into in a positive way. I first heard about her through articles in magazines and the connection with Josh Homme. I have listened to some of her past music, solo work and The Distillers etc but I was not really keen on any of those tracks. When this song popped up I was not expecting very much but I was pleasantly surprised to find a track I really like. A nice relaxed rock tune with some beautiful vocals. Hopefully the rest of her new album will have some more great tracks. Definitely a great rock sock to chill to.

If you like this track or not, let me know below. I would be interested to know what you think.

D.O.T.F. Album Covers

Design of the Fortnight

This came up on my Facebook feed and looked pretty cool so I checked it out. Basically, a guy who goes by Harvezt on Flickr has posted a load of different album covers with an image of what he imagines the back side of these covers would look like. One of my personal favourites is the Bruce Springsteen cover which I think has been cleverly done. There is also some cool Beatles and Strokes versions on his website, link is below.

Which one/ones are your favourites? Let me know below.

                        https://www.flickr.com/photos/93699963@N04/sets/72157632894352624/

YouTube Video O.T.W. 8/04/14

A bit of a different one this week. It is an interview with the band Soundgarden at the Guitar Center. The Guitar Center occasionally host a guest spot by artists who play some guitars and have a chat. It was really interesting watching this video, learning more about Soundgarden and how the band members got into music/playing musical instruments. It also really is a joy to see all of those beautiful guitars in the background. It really is a guitarists dream. If you have a spare 11 mins check it out.

SoundCloud Songs

This week is another double hitter. I have found it hard to limit my SoundCloud feature to just one song every two weeks, there are just too many good songs out there. So I'm considering making it a more frequent feature but for now here is two tracks for you to enjoy.

If you like them or don't, leave a comment below to let me know what you think.

First up is the track Molly-O! by artist Simone Felice. I found out about this artist through the latest Q magazine and after listening to this album I am glad I took their review further. This song has tinges of country pop, and his voice has a slight young Bruce Springsteen element to it which is no bad thing. I love the sing along chorus, the clever lyrics and his unique style. This track along with the album is pretty great.



Next up is Coves with the track Beatings. This duo are from Leamington Spa which (if you didn't know) is where I am from. There is something to be said for repping your home town and associated acts that come out of it, which I do, but this group really don't need it. The quality tunes off their debut album easily do it alone. This track is a bit of a dreamy number with electronic vibes throughout but my main loves are the strumming guitars and the cheeky harmonica that comes out of nowhere. Beaut

YouTube Video O.T.W. 01/04/14

This weeks video is the music video for Born Ruffians - Ocean's Deep.

I have been a fan of Born Ruffians for a while now and I knew from the first listen that this track was a banger. It reminds me of  mid era The Strokes in terms of the guitar riff and the simple driving drum beat. It has a very pop/indie vibe which I particularly like.

The visual content is slightly odd with weird neon bugs and fish flying around in a party like scenario but I presume they were going for the 'random bit of fun, don't take it to serious' line which I'm all behind as it's all about the killer track. Enjoy!

 I would like to know what you feel about this track if you want to leave a comment below, that would be cool.

D.O.T.F. Pono Player

My design choice for this post is the Pono Player. I know it has done the rounds on the news etc and I'm aware that the majority of music lovers would have heard at least a whisper about it by now but I just wanted to show my adoration for this product. 

My feelings for this design are less about the physical shape of the product (yes it is a triangular prism and not everything that shape reminds me of Toblerone :)) and more about what the claims are in terms of software and more specifically the quality of the sound files that it will be able to play and store etc. After a bit of research and watching a few vids featuring a wide range of great musicians endorsing this I learnt that the quality will be much greater than that of CDs and MP3s and out of good quality speakers you can hear so much more of the sound, alike what they want you to here when they are in the studios producing the records which is really exciting.

I have totally fallen for this device and have donated to the Kickstarter campaign which has so so so easily overtaken it's target it is ridiculous. So hopefully with this great injection of cash they can retail the device slightly cheaper so a wider audience can enjoy it.

If you have any opinions on this product, I would be interested to hear them if you want to leave a comment below.

YouTube Video O.T.W. 25/03/14

Calico the Band - Fools Gold

Straight off of the bat I really want to announce how beautiful Gretsch guitars sound and look. They truly are pieces of art in guitar form with a sense of style that can be copied but could never stand up to the quality that is Gretsch. Yea I know I am totally fan-boying but I don't care, it is what it is and I love Gretsch. Anyway on to the track, and these girls do no disservice to the beautiful instruments they are playing. Incredibly gentle vocals that work well with each other and harmonise, and they can pack a punch when the song calls for it. Definitely has got a country vibe that really hooks me in alike other tracks in this same vein.

Gretsch has done a few of these sessions that I have seen, and this is for sure this is in the top 3 if not number 1 session easily.

SoundCloud Song

I'm coming in with a heavy hitting pop genre post this week, and a double hitter of tracks. Yea that's right two tracks one post. You get more for your money here.

First pick is the latest single from LP, fresh off of the press as of today I believe. If you have liked her previous tracks like In To The Wild etc. it definitely has the same flavour of those tracks in terms of cheery/hooky summer time beats and she knows how to work in a whistle/hum solo into the song for even more sugary sweetness that gets embedded into your head. She is not breaking boundaries with this track but she doesn't have to in my opinion, a good track is a good track regardless.


My next choice is way more of a cheesy pop/rappish track. They have sampled Jackie Wilson's Higher and Higher which is the main reason I like this track. I have been hoping for someone to bring this track to a new audience that has possibly not heard it yet and if this is the way they hear it then so be it. Maybe they will explore further. In terms of the verse vocals I feel it has a slight Chiddy Bang style to it and B.O.B. doesn't do anything too crazy in his part but he never blows me out of the water in terms of skill. On the other hand he knows how to make a good pop single so I can see why they brought him on the track.

If you like either of these tracks or hate them, I would like to know your opinion if you want to leave a comment below that would be cool. :)

YouTube Video Of The Week! 18/03/14

This choice was slightly out of the blue. I was going through my YouTube playlist as I do daily as you know and my ears perked up a bit when this video started playing. KEXP post a load of great sounding artists live performances on their channel which I generally watch but this one sounded a little bit more to my liking than the average vid. They are a band called Tangerine who I was totally new to but they have a sweet like drifty beach pop rock sound which by the end of their few song set I was totally on-board. Check it out!!!

D.O.T.F.

The pick this time is a car that I heard about when I went to the Great British Guitar Show a weekend or two ago.

The car in question is from a partnering of Fender and Volkswagen, the design rendering is below. The outside of the car has the pretty much standard look of a Beetle except from the Fender logo underneath the VW badge. On the inside is where you can really tell they have taken inspiration. The classic sunburst dashboard, swish and stylish little details and decals dotted all around and not forgetting the premium audio sound system that is installed. Just imagine driving down Sunset Strip (or in my case the ring road of Coventry) with the windows down and some great tunes filling the air.

Another dream car to add to my ever increasing list of wants.

YouTube Video Of The Week! 11/03/14

This track has got a nice summer feel to it with perfect timing with the slightest bit of good weather we have been having in jolly old England. If the weather where you live has been miserable, this track will make you want for those long summer afternoons that are soon to come.
I hear a little bit of a Kelis vibe with the vocals and the production, which I think that is mainly down to the simple happy beat and sing/rap vocals.
Anyways, I hope you like it.

)

SoundCloud Song

This is a really fresh sounding, up to date country style track. In my opinion they have taken the best part of country music guitar and paired it with a modern beat and hooky vocals. If you are not converted into this genre even a little bit after this track, then there is no hope for mankind whatsoever haha.

Temples & Childhood Live

Last night I went to a Temples gig at my favourite venue (The Library at The Institute just in case you didn't know). It was a great gig and I got there at just the right time to get a great spot on the balcony, beautiful job. The guitar playing from the lead singer in Temples was amazing and the guitars he played were some of the most stylish designs that I have seen and I loved them. I was also pleased to see Childhood supporting them who I haven't seen since Reading festival, and they were brilliant. Also supporting was Dark Bells, who were an unknown to me but I am now a bit of a fan. The gig as a whole was one of the best ones I have been to recently. Brilliant line up and brilliant sound, enough said.

YouTube Video Of The Week! 04/03/14

This is a video I have been waiting for for a while now. It is from the well hyped band Circa Waves with their latest release Stuck in My Teeth. As a video concept it is kept pretty simple, nothing too crazy. The camera is on constant rotation showing the members of the band singing the song whilst time passes in various contexts. A slightly amusing bit is watching their shadows mimicking their movements...as best they can haha. I am looking forward to hearing and seeing more from these boys. Great track.

D.O.T.F.

The design I like this time is a bit of a graphicy one, and a fairly American themed one.

This first map graphic shows the individual states most popular artists that aren't popular anywhere else. I think it is pretty cool to see the patterns in terms of style of music and location, and also the amount of older acts compared to the newer acts.

And now this is an updated graphic that was produced and it shows the most popular artist by state and there is a bit of a land slide on the East coast by Jay-Z easily being the most popular, Drake taking the south and a few Macklemore and Daft Punks dotted around. Also funnily noted is the little fan base Alt J have in the North East, every little bit counts, keep up the great tunes.

YouTube Video Of The Week! 25/02/14

Yes you guessed it, this week is a double hitter.

This first track is by an artist that I previously haven't heard from but after a quick Google search found out he is the lead singer of The Walkmen. As for the track in hand, it is a bouncy little number that would get you dancing if your feeling the slightest bit cheery or at the very least get you singing along by the end of the song. Its just a nice piece of folk/poppy music that will make you smile, nothing too crazy and boy does he say Alexandra a lot.

 

My next track is from Catfish and the Bottlemen. I love this track as much as I have their past releases but I like this one also because of the plain randomness of the video. It is just a seemingly thrown together mash up of clips of Ewan McGregor from movies and TV appearances. I particularly like the bit when he is wildly dancing with Craig Ferguson. Check it out!!