Scott & Charlene's Wedding - Don't Bother Me YTV

Off of Scott & Charlene's third album is this great track Don't Bother Me. Sing along grooves that seem to define slacker garage rock. The track seems to stay just under the energised level, despite the vocals ending up getting more and more frantic as the song goes on. One of my best bits from the video is the straight up Slash moment on top of a truck from the killer guitarist Jill Tucker. Also their album which was released last Friday ain't half bad either, be sure to check it out. 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!

Bourbon Makers: Gildas DasViken YTV

26/05/15 YouTube Video

This weeks video is about a really interesting luthier from Nantes, France. He shows off some of the breath taking guitars that he has made and restored (more can be viewed on his site here: www.dasviken.com ). What really excites me about the guy is that he doesn't just use wood and other materials that normal luthiers would use when making a guitar but he uses wood that has a story or an interesting history about it and would not conventionally be used for a guitar. He also offers more than just custom guitar design, from looking at his website he can do a whole range of small custom changes and modifications, more than you could want and dream for for your guitar. Really cool guy and totally inspiring to me. Enjoy!

JAWS - Be Slowly YTV

23/12/14 YouTube Video

Last Saturday I went to a gig in Birmingham with The Enemy and The Twang co headlining. It was a brilliant show despite the fact that one prize fool let off smoke bombs and caused the show to stop temporarily.  The Enemy killed their performance as they did last time I saw them in Coventry and they included a couple of great covers from The Verve and James. The Twang were equally brilliant and even though I didn't know much of their material I still had a good time. Anyway, JAWS were support for these bands and after listening to their latest album I was a fan so I was even more elated that they didn't disappoint live. They had that same great vocal sound and really worked well all together, no one instrument was overpowering and they all complimented each other nicely. This track below is off their latest album. Enjoy!

Double Hitter YTV

28/10/14 YouTube Video

A brilliant Aussie band with a brilliant lead singer. Her voice really is a piece of magic especially when it is coupled with something so natural like two strumming acoustic guitar. The raspy tone has elements of country singer Gretchen Wilson and probably numerous other artists and it is just something that has a special place in my heart. Enjoy this tune!

This week was just going to be one video but after seeing this epic performance by OkGo I just had to include these guys. They are known for being really creative and innovative in their music videos as I first learnt in their Here It Goes Again video. The amount of timing and precision that has gone in to making this is truly incredible. As for the music, it is nothing too crazy. It has a vibe of a Jackson 5 tune that has been remixed in the late 90's but it probably is a good tune if you like to have a bit of a dance. Enjoy!

Kid Wave - Gloom YTV

21/10/14 YouTube Video

Kid Waves latest video Gloom is my favourite choice for this week. The whole video has such an English vibe which I adore. Not many hip young guitar bands like to promote their Englishness which isn't anything to be ashamed of. The video story line is kept fairly simple with a girl looking after and raising a cloud which is as random as it sounds. As for the music, the guitar sound is quite nice, gentle and doesn't really show off but the thing I like the most is the vocals from the leading lady. She has quite a unique accent and it works quite well with the sound of the whole song. Enjoy!

Garfunkel and Oates - Fade Away YTV

16/09/14 YouTube Video

This week is a bit of a different flavour. I caught these guys on Conan O'Brien's talk show. At first I was intrigued by the name seeing as they are two people from massively influential duos brought together. I also recognised  Kate Micucci from the TV show Raising Hope. Both Kate and her partner Riki Lindhome are a comedy folk duo that have been releasing music pretty solidly since 2009. This track is a previously unreleased song and presumably from an upcoming album. Its full of funny one liners and the chorus is super catchy. I also find the combination of ukelele and guitar alongside their voices works really well. Enjoy!  

Kasabian Sesame Street/Good Vibrations YTV

19/08/14 YouTube Video

Such a fun video this one, with Kasabian covering the great childhood tv theme of Sesame Street. And even though the main reason Good Vibrations was included was to elongate the track, the two songs work really well together as do the dual vocals of Tom and Serge. The real highlight I have picked up from this video is the sense of humour that Kasabian have shown that previously I have not picked up on. I appreciate the fact that they can have a laugh and not always take things super seriously. It is a light hearted song and the total opposite end of the spectrum from headlining Glasto and still a great little medley guys. Enjoy!

Jamie T - Zombie YTV

12/08/14 YouTube Video

This new track is AWESOME!!! As much a I liked the previously released track from his new album, this one has more of the sound that I have got used to from Jamie T. The video has a fun sense of humour (which I really appreciate) as through out the song, the band members slowly turn into zombies in-front of a completely uninterested standard daytime pub crowd with a bit of slap stick thrown in for good measure. The sound of the lyrics is also reminiscent of previous albums with clever hooky chorus and his talking/singing vocal style. Overall a pretty damn great song. Enjoy!

Hot Soles - Ready To Burn YTV

29/07/14 YouTube Video

I have just returned from Tramlines festival yesterday and am leaving for Camp Bestival tomorrow so I am currently in the middle of great times. I have chosen this track this week because whilst at Tramlines Hot Soles live show really stood out to me and was a band that I previously have never heard of before. Other stand out performances from the festival were Shy Nature, The Bromheads, Neon Waltz and PINS who were were part of a great build up to the Sat headliners Deap Vally. I'm looking forward to more brilliant live music this weekend down at Lulworth Castle. Enjoy!

Devin Davis - Giant Spiders YTV

22/07/14 YouTube Video

I have been meaning to talk about and share this song for some time now. I found out about it by chance whilst randomly trawling through the internet music sites and I was immediately hooked. This track is off of an almost decade old album from Devin Davis. After looking in to him a bit further I still don't know a great deal apart from this album being the only one he has released so far, a couple of dated interviews and from his website there is positive warnings that there is new material on the way (but who knows how long that post has been up for). This track is one of a bunch of brilliant tracks that you can listen to on YouTube. Straight off the bat it has clear influences of that 60's sound. I thought particularly a Beach Boys, Monkees-esque vibe with a hint of The Who but that seems almost too boxed in of a category for this song. I like how the drum beat has a rolling effect that gives the track a slight surfer vibe and the vocals are the right mix of hooky chorus line and great meaningful lyrics. Incredible stuff, enjoy!

 

Holly Williams NPR Tiny Desk Concert YTV

15/07/14 YouTube Video

It has been a while since I have seen a NPR Tiny Desk that I have enjoyed watching as much as this one which is why it is my choice this week. The lady herself is Holly Williams and her set includes 3 tracks: Drinkin', Railroads and Waiting On June. Before watching this video I only heard Drinkin' but I was really amazed by the new songs that I heard. Her voice is really strong and holds a lot of emotion and passion, especially with tracks like Waiting On June which is about her personal life with her family (as mentioned) like I am sure the other tracks she sings are personal to her also which helps give the songs heart and not be bland standard tracks. She is obviously well known in the Country music genre but more than that, she should be well known for just being a great musician, songwriter and overall performer. Enjoy!

 

Kodaline - All I Want (Glasto 2014) YTV

01/07/14 YouTube Video

Seeing as it was Glastonbury festival this weekend just gone and I was not able to get a ticket, I have been watching live tv coverage literally non stop trying to catch up on all the footage. There were many great performances that stood out to me such as Jack White (who did a nice mixture of old and new songs), Kaiser Chiefs, Haim, Dolly Parton, (slightly surprisingly) Kasabian, The Black Keys and of course Kodaline who kept the crowd singing along despite the bad weather. The video below is one of Kodalines stand out tracks from their set and it took me back to when I saw them at Reading festival and how much of a good live band they are. Enjoy!

Len - Steal My Sunshine YTV

24/06/14 YouTube Video

'90s throwback tune, Len - Steal My Sunshine really reminds me of the summer time growing up as a little boy playing in the park (most likely climbing trees or the like). It has hints of Smash Mouth, Uncle Kracker and other bubblegum pop-rock artists. The video for this track is heavily laden with cheese, with the group riding around on mopeds on the coast, wearing tank tops and sports shades but that all adds to that late 90's feel which is all part of my love for this track. Enjoy!

Black Mower - Shitty Parade YTV

17/06/14 YouTube Video

Don Giovanni Records have pulled out a cracker with this one. Keeping it simple with a straight up scuzzy, modern rock track that shows that you don't need to spend a crazy amount of money on a video for it to be great. This vid really shows the band as fun loving dudes who aren't into creating a heightened persona but just making home grown good honest tunes. Enjoy!

YouTube Video O.T.W. 10/06/14

Peace - Money

This is the latest single released from Peace. It has a different style and sound than their first album and to me it sounds like it is in the same sort of vein as Hard-Fi in that they are talking about current issues and from a slightly working class angle, also the guitar sound to me is not too dissimilar. I also chose this track because I went to see them live at The Assembly in Leamington last night and they put on a really great show. Along with the other new tracks they played that night off of their next album (hopefully out soon), it sounds like it is going to be a great listen.

YouTube Video O.T.W. 03/06/14

Jurassic 5 - The Way We Do It

This weeks post comes from Cornwall seeing as I am currently enjoying the great English sunshine on holiday. The track I have chosen for the track of the week has sampled a great song by The White Stripes (Doorbell) and the group that have rapped over it all have their own distinctive vocal styles and sounds to their voices which makes for a killer track. The lyrics and the sample really work great together. Enjoy.

YouTube Video O.T.W. 27/05/14

DeathCrush - Fun

This weeks track really reminds me of good punk tracks from before I was alive that I have had the privilege to appreciate, but coming out in this present age and time make this song a pretty cool thing, as is the band themselves. DeathCrush who hail from Norway and are currently supporting White Denim on their UK tour who coincidently I have just seen live on Monday at The Glee Club in Birmingham. As you can see I got a great position right at the front and it was brilliant to see these amazing guitarists rip it up honestly better than most musicians I have seen before. Enjoy the track!

YouTube Video O.T.W. 20/0514

Super Furry Animals - Something 4 The Weekend

Thanks to NMEs recent article of artists recommending albums that were influential to them. Without that I would have never heard of this track off of the Super Furry Animals 1996 album Fuzzy Logic. The verses of this song are total classic rock from that 90's era but the choruses totally remind me of mid era Beatles which is the major hook that got this track in to my head. This will easily get you through the mid week blues, ready for the weekend.

YouTube Video O.T.W. 13/05/14

Ash - Shining Light

This is a bit of a look back to the past with this turn of the millennium track. I was only a little kid when it was released but going back and revisiting the work that Ash has produced has been a delight. Free All Angels, (the album this track is from) has more great tracks on if you are a fan of this one. A great straight up rock song with a great musical sound.

If you heard this track and like it or not, let me know in the comment section below.