Screaming Females - Wishing Well SCS

SoundCloud Song

Don Giovanni Records latest release is from Screaming Females. An exciting new band that share a recording home with the equally brilliant Waxahachee and Shellshag. The song is a bouncy indie little number that is pleasant but the thing that really makes it special is the vocals from the lead singer, one miss Marissa Paternoster whose vocals are something of a unique and attractive entity. The band have released 5 albums to date, I think and I am currently doing my best to play catch up. Enjoy!

 

Hole - Celebrity Skin YTV

06/01/15 YouTube Video

Another oldie but still a goodie. And yes I am surprised I even said that phrase but it is true, this song is a modern-ish classic featuring the always tame and shy Courtney Love and band. The whole album that shares this tracks name is a great listen, it will take you to places and think things that you would have trouble trying to forget. Enjoy!

The Smashing Pumpkins - Monuments To An Elegy DA

December Album

The festive period is over and I would love to say I have spent the break relaxing and listening to classic 60's albums that I am yet to hear but a lot of time has been spent listening to yuletide tunes (some cheesy, some not so much) which is no bad thing. One of the highlight album releases from this month is The Smashing Pumpkins latest. To be honest there has not been many good albums released this month with the only competitor for the best album being McBusteds debut which was just pipped for the title.

In the past I have not been a big Smashing Pumpkins fan but this album has really changed me and I will be expecting more great work from them in the rumoured 2015 album. Below is the track Being Beige which is probably my favourite track from the album and if you like it be sure to dig in further and listen to more.

The Go-Betweens - Spring Rain YTV

30/12/14 YouTube Video

With 2015 just a couple of days away I thought I would look back to a song that for me was newly discovered.  Just under 30 years ago The Go-Betweens released the single Spring Rain which was part of the bands 4th studio album. This is the album that I have listened to first from the group but am looking forward to listening to their other albums. Even though they are an Australian band I think they have a Kinksy quality and a British vibe that you can definitely hear in the song below. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from myself to all of you wonderful readers. I hope everyone enjoys the content that I have came up with and will continue with me on my life journey through music and blogging. Doing this blog has always been a really enjoyable experience for me and  I am glad I get to share great tracks and other musical things with people no matter how few actually read and listen.

I hope everybody had a great holiday and has an even better 2015!

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!

Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment - Sunday Candy SCS

SoundCloud Song

Chance the Rapper kills it again with this track! Chance and the group DT&TSE with vocals from Jamila Woods make for a sickly catchy song. The combination of boy/girl vocals and instrumental sounds produce quite a gospelly, summery and upbeat song. Chances vocal style are in much of the same style as his previous material but if it aint broke dont fix it. Brilliant track and I look forward to hearing more from these guys.

The Preatures - Ordinary YTV

16/12/14 YouTube Video

This is my second Preatures track this month but I just can't help it, they are just a great band. This song is another release off of the pending album which I hear should be released in the UK early sometime next year. 'Ordinary' has all the things that I loved about their previous single and added a fresh sound and more lyrics that are really strong. All in all just a good time tune. Enjoy!

Case J2 Semi-Hollow Double Cutaway DOTM

Design Of The Month

It is only two weeks till Christmas, can you believe it? This year has gone by really fast and what better gift to celebrate Christmas with than one of these beautiful guitars. The J2 is from Case Guitars with whom the designer/maker (Jon Case) has been making exquisite guitars for many years and he produces handmade in the UK. So thats another reason you should love his work even though the guitars can easily hold up their own. The guitar has a unique style of its own that you don't really see on other Semi-Hollow bodies and he has really fine tuned the subtle details that make it an outstanding guitar. With Maple bookmatched and showing through, both colours look great and I am sure many other colours would look equally good. A classic guitar design aesthetic with a modern take that anybody would be proud to own.

The Killers & Jimmy Kimmel - Joel, The Lump Of Coal YTV

09/12/14 YouTube Video

Christmas time is fast approaching and to get everyone in the mood I thought I would choose the latest from The Killers w/ Jimmy Kimmel. Every year around now since 2006, The Killers have released a Christmassy tune in aid of the (RED) Campaign. This year they have included the help of Jimmy Kimmel in the production and to add a humor element (I presume). The end result is Joel, The Lump Of Coal. It is a slightly downbeat song that slowly bounces along with the energy coming from the singalong chorus. The song may not give you high spirits for the season but the story and the animation may just be enough to put a smile on your face. Enjoy!

Only Real - Yesterdays SCS

SoundCloud Song

Right now is a bit of a crazy time for me, its coming to the end of the term and I have 3 deadlines for university over the next few days and the work has added up to a fair amount of the old pressure. One of the few things that has helped me stay relaxed is the music, especially artists like Only Real. Since his release Pass The Pain I have been a big fan of him and his obvious talent. That is why I have chosen his latest release for my SoundCloud Song. It is a bit more of a chill vibe but still a cracker. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

The Preatures - Better Than It Ever Could Be YTV

02/12/14 YouTube Video

As the year is coming to an end later on this month I thought I would pick a killer track from earlier this year (Feb if I'm not mistaken). It took me a while to find out information about this song, I heard snippets of it here and there on the radio etc and never managed to catch the song title or band name, I just knew the song was brilliant. This was until I heard it on an Intro With La SoundCloud podcast which is a great source for new music btw. Anyway The Preatures are a rock and roll band from Sydney Australia with lead singer Isabella who can produce some fantastic vocals. I have heard that the album is as awesome as this track but I will just have to wait and see. Enjoy!

Purple - (409) NA

November Album

Another great month for music with plenty of albums to choose from. The LP that I have picked is (409) by the band Purple. Other great albums this month come from Superfood, Foo Fighters, Girlpool, Olivia Jean and many more. I was very close to picking the Foo Fighters epic album Sonic Highways but these guys just pipped them to the post. The album has a strong Jack White vibe of guitar playing mixed with elements of Sonic Boom Six style vocals. This sound is most notable on the track below.

This would make a brilliant party album or just an album to mosh out to when you are all alone, either or, whichever you're in the mood for. The shared vocals from male to female also add another dimension to the tracks that I think really benefits their sound. Apart from the single below I like Double Nickels and Beach Buddy as stand out tracks. They have a slightly more Strokes vibe but all as a complete package with the other songs it really really works.

The Coathangers - Drive YTV

25/11/14 YouTube Video

This video is the latest from Atlanta band The Coathangers. The members have a bit of a Ramones thing going on with them being called Minnie, Rusty and Crook Kid Coathanger. Their sound has a strong punk feel which obviously is another thing they have in common with the Ramo boys. What makes them stand out is the modern day humor and almost relaxed vocal sound that not many punk bands nowadays have. Apart from the music, their whole attitude and persona they give off is something I really admire. Enjoy!

Colleen Green - Pay Attention SCS

SoundCloud Song

Fresh out of the gates is Colleen Greens new track from Hardly Art Records. This song is off her as yet unreleased second album for that record company. I dont know about you but I am for sure going to delve into her first release if it sounds anything like this. This track has quite a lo-fi groove to it with hints of alt rock staples like the trashy and snappy drums and the vocals that have that talk/sing style to them. A hard to categorise track but who's trying, just enjoy the music dude geez.

Girlpool - Blah Blah Blah YTV

18/11/14 YouTube Video

The album may have been out for a little while but the video for Blah Blah Blah has just been released this week. It is a nice slice of pop rock pie served with great guitar playing and one hell of a catchy vocal. The length is one of the shorter ones compared to the rest off the album with the longest track coming to 2:49 which is by no means a chore to listen to. The album as a whole flies by with such speed you forget you have listened to 7 killer tracks. Great album and definitely worth checking out if you like this single. Enjoy!

Gretsch G5622T DOTM

Design Of The Month

Ever since I became interest in guitars Gretsch have always stood out to be as one of the best in terms of sound quality and of just looking proper sexy. Recently, a relative very kindly agreed to pay most of the way towards the black guitar below seeing as the price was a little over my personal budget. This equals birthday and Christmas presents for the foreseeable future as I'm sure you figured out. The guitar arrived on Tuesday to high expectations and when I removed it from the packaging I was not disappointed. It is a fine work of art that just screams great craftsmanship. It is a pleasure to play and I am going to treasure it for the rest of my life. If you haven't tried a Gretsch out yet you really should, you will be a fan.

Noel Gallagher Noisey Interview YTV

11/11/14 YouTube Video

Fresh new video from the guys at Noisey. Noel Gallagher has a fun chat about topics covering Russell Brand, nights out with Morrissey and the state of the music industry at the moment. He has a few great points and interesting stories. One particular insight into his crisps of choice tickled me slightly. Im so eager to see Noel perform live, in any capacity and in any venue. Lets hope one day my dream will come true. For now this will have to do. Enjoy!

Bare Knuckle Parade - Iron Lungs SCS

SoundCloud Song

Bath natives Bare Knuckle Parade are my choice for this weeks SoundCloud song. This release is off of their new EP that was released on the 5th of November so if you haven't heard it yet its available on Google Music and I presume Spotify etc. The track below has a folky vibe but at the core it is a great rock tune. It totally could be something that Frank Turner could have sung but I really enjoy these guys singing it. They just do a great job. Enjoy!

Link has been removed for Iron Lungs so enjoy this instead :)

Foo Fighters - Congregation YTV

04/11/14 YouTube Video

I have really been hooked watching the Foo Fighters show on HBO called Sonic Highways. Their latest episode was based on and filmed in Nashville. I have liked the previous two episodes but this one has to be my favourite so far. It discussed the history of the city and how country music has grown with it. The track below is featuring a great country music artist Zac Brown but to me his involvement isn't that strong and the song sounds just like another grand Foo Fighters track. All these episodes are building up to the release of the Foos new album which I am really chomping at the bit for. Other people have said they thought the track sounds countrified but I just think that they have been influenced by the episode. The only thing country that I have picked up on is the story telling nature of the lyrics. All in all, brilliant track. Enjoy!