The Resonars - If He's So Great SCS

SoundCloud Song

Its back to the Swinging Sixties via 1999 with this track from The Resonars. It may be a couple of decades old but it is still a great pop tune and holds up well. I am glad that Burger Records are reposting all of these previously released tracks on their SoundCloud. There are some real gems on their page that I would not have heard about if it wasn't for them. If you don't follow them already go do it now if you like music like this.

This is one band that I am 100% going to go through their back catalogue. Fantastic groovy tunes.

Bad//Dreems - Hiding To Nothing YTV

07/07/15 YouTube Video

This week has a lot of new changes for me with my job transfer and new living quarters up in Manchester so to go alongside this I have chosen the new single from Bad//Dreems. Hiding To Nothing is the latest single from their up coming August album release. They are a band from Adelaide, Australia and so far have just released an EP way back in 2013. They have hints of The Gaslight Anthem if they were to come from down under. They produce straight up honest rock and roll that captures their surroundings and captures the heart of the listener. Enjoy!

Billy Currington - Summer Forever JA

June Album

During this pretty busy part of my life with the ending of University life and my relocating to Manchester in a few days time, Billy Currington has helped keep my spirits up with his latest album Summer Forever. Other albums that I have enjoyed come from Kid Wave, Girlpool, Pins, Wolf Alice and many more.

Summer Forever has a definite chirpy country sound to it and this is a major part of why I like it, but what makes it special to me is that it is not just a standard country album that can be boring with 12 stereotypical songs all the way through. It has some of the tracks where I think he switches it up and has more of a John Mayer Bluesy vibe and others with more of a straight up Americana kind of feel that wouldn't sound out of place on a Springsteen modern album. Below is one of the singles from the album which isn't much of a surprise seeing as it has a good hook but the whole album is this and much more. Enjoy!

Beck - Girl YTV

30/06/15 YouTube Video

This week I wanted to post a bit of a classic song from Beck. Girl is a track from his album Guero which is coming up on its 10 year birthday in a month. I heard this song earlier today on the radio and  it reminded me of when I last heard it all those years ago and I look back with fond memories. I like the catchy elements of the lyrics and the fact that he has brought in Mexican and Country music elements to the song and make it sound fresh even in this day and age. Enjoy!

White Reaper Does It Again SCS

SoundCloud Song

Yet another exciting young band that would be great to listen to in the sunshine at a festival. This time they come from Louisville, USA. The 4 tracks below are a nice little teaser for their upcoming album to be released in a few weeks on the 17th of July. I think they share similar musical qualities with another punky band I love: Fidlar, in terms of the grungy guitar and the sometimes silly lyrics. They also manage to pack more hooks into each tune which makes for a more light hearted listen as a whole. If this is about a quarter of the album, I cant wait to hear the thing as a whole. Super pumped for more of this music.

Strand Of Oaks - NPR YTV

23/06/15 YouTube Video

NPR have pulled another brilliant session out of the bag inviting Strand Of Oaks to play for their Tiny Desk Concert feature. I watch most of the Tiny Desks that they release and there has been good ones fairly regularly but nothing has been as good as this session in a long time.

Through the session he plays 3 tracks: Goshen 97, Plymouth and JM. Starting with Goshen 97, it shows the vocal capabilities of Timothy Showalter and I was pleasantly surprised at the range he could produce. With Plymouth he moved from a Telecaster to play what looks like a Fender Telecoustic (funny little instrument) with a gorgeous effect added through a pedal that I have rarely if never heard before in such a stand alone way and I am so envious his guitar playing. JM is the 7 minute belter that closes the set and it is one of a select few tracks that doesn't have me reaching for my phone by half way through, he just has a way of keeping me captivated throughout. Extremely talented guy. Enjoy!

Wolf Alice - Freazy SCS

SoundCloud Song

To add even more buzz for their début album, Wolf Alice have released Freazy about a day ago. It is less rocky and has more of a pop element compared to the other tracks they have released so it should make for a nice mixed selection of tracks on an expectedly great first album. From their ever growing fan base on both sides of the pond, I think Wolf Alice are going to be a big big act and seeing as it is festival season they are going to rise and rise up that line up bill. Perfect sound for summer time sunshine. Hopefully their album holds up against the hype. Enjoy!

Dead Sara - Mona Lisa YTV

16/06/15 YouTube Video

This track came to me out of the blue when I was listening to KSMT radio this morning, for like 5 random minutes the vocals really caught my attention. Mona Lisa is the Dead Saras latest released single from their third album and it has edges of rockier tones but after listening to some of their previous releases, I was pleased to hear they have heavier tones and even more powerful vocals. I hope you all agree that these guys are an exciting band and I look forward to listening to their albums over and over again. Enjoy!

Montage Of Heck DOTM

Design Of The Month

I finally got around to watching Montage Of Heck yesterday which is a movie that has been on my must watch list for too long now. Alongside telling the story of Kurt Cobains life from start to end, the thing that really made impressed was the use of animation to tell certain parts of the story when video couldn't have been or wasn't used. The animator is Stefan Nadelman, an American Film Director/Animator who has been working in the industry for well over a decade now and you can tell by the quality of his art (pictured below). It had a way of expressing his life in a realistic but emotional way that was breathtaking to me.

Other parts of the movie I enjoyed were the interview clips with Kurts mother, father, step mother and ex-girlfriend. These were all people I have never heard anything from in the past and found the things they talked about really enlightening. Great movie and definitely worthy of your time.

California Wives - The Heart Always Breaks YTV

09/06/15 YouTube Video

California Wives are due to release a new EP at the end of July but they have done a cool thing and pre released all of the tracks on YouTube with the single Heavy coming with an interesting and weird music video. My favourite track of the four is second in the listings because it has more of an upbeat happiness that I think helps and is encouraged by the song being just over 2 minutes long compared to Heavys which is more than twice as long, going over 5 mins and it has more of a grave, slower, groovy kind of sound. Enjoy!

Rat Boy - Left 4 Dead SCS

SoundCloud Song

Another exciting English track from an equally exciting English band Rat Boy. They have some of the lyrical content of Jamie T but mixed up for the younger generation and they have added a punk edge with slightly dark undertones to the music. The thing that I particularly like about this band is that they sing about relatable and cultural things that I can recognise in my world where as other acts are out there sing about fantasy. Nothing wrong with either but being relatable ain't no bad thing. Enjoy!  

   

WillsEasyGuitar Building Guitar History YTV

02/06/15 YouTube Video

This week is a bit of a different kind of video. It is a vlog from WillsEasyGuitar where in part 1 he drives around and starts to talk about how he started as a guitar player and builder. I found this 2 part video really interesting because I learnt how Will mostly single handedly started a successful guitar business (Garvin Guitars) through constant improvement, original ideas and good decisions. Some of his designs aren't up my street in terms of taste and some of his opinions I don't fully agree with but I have respect for the knowledge he has in specific areas and I find most of his guitar related videos a must watch. Enjoy!

The Tallest Man On Earth - Dark Bird Is Home MA

May Album

Notable albums this month come from Best Coast, Du Blonde, Hop Along, Brandon Flowers and more but my favourite is the 4th studio album from The Tallest Man On Earth called Dark Bird Is Home. Through listening to the album, I fall for everything he sings about even if at first I don't fully understand that what he is singing about. After multiple listens I was hooked and in the palm of his hand like warm putty. This is just a testament to him as a lyricist and a musician who has the ability to convey strong messages in the short limited length of a song. I hope you enjoy the whole album in the video below as much as I do.

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!

STORMS - Girl SCS

SoundCloud Song

Bringing back A Day In The Life into the modern era is this (free downloadable) track from London based Storms. The instrumental line has a Beatlesy vibe with the vocals including hints of Peace but they bring something extra special to it and make it sound totally unique and their own. Yet another exciting British band producing killer tracks and I hope to hear more soon from these boys. Enjoy!

The Milk Carton Kids - Poison Tree YTV

19/05/15 YouTube Video

This week has seen an influx of great albums being released like the fourth release from The Milk Carton Kids, Monterey. This track closes the album and does it in a gentle and stylish way. A simple and eloquent song needing not much more than guitars and a voice to produce such a great song. Enjoy!

Duesenberg Caribou DOTM

Design Of The Month

I would like to thank the guys at Andertons for bringing this brand back into my mind. I heard about Duesenberg Guitars firstly when they created a Johnny Depp signature model, but since then they seemed to have slipped out of my brain. Until today with the video from the Andertons YouTube channel reviewing this beautiful Duesenberg Caribou. Below are several variations on the design but my personal favourite is the second one from the top with the 3 pickups (one humbucker and 2 split coils), gold pickguard, brand own tremolo system and that sensational shade of aqua blue. From the whole design I get a real retro, cool feel and obvious well made construction that would make the guitar an absolute dream to play.

Pins - Young Girls YTV

12/05/15 YouTube Video

My final assessment was over as of yesterday afternoon. Now only the degree show to prepare for till uni is officially over. And what better way to get me excited for the summer than this Pins track. The video makes me long for an adventure with good mates and memories of having a good time in the park and barbecues. Who knows where I will end up this summer and what I will be doing but if this is sound tracking it then the times will always be great. Enjoy!

Pinact - Scars SCS

SoundCloud Song

It is the beginning of the end for me. This dreary Thursday morning I handed in my uni presentation in preparation for showing on the following Monday.What better way to round off the week that a quick dose of Scottish loveliness in the form of Pinact. The two piece have produced a catchy and heavy (without being over the top) tune to raise my spirits for the long weekend of rehearsals ahead. The two piece rock band scenario seems to be quite saturated at the moment but these guys are definitely rising to the top in my book. Enjoy!

Blur & Jimmy Fallon - Tender YTV

05/05/15 YouTube Video

It has been a while since I heard this song and upon hearing it today, it rekindled a flame in the back of my memory somewhere. Memories of good times and sing-a-longs with friends. It is nice to hear it done acoustically and I am not sure exactly if Jimmy Fallon adds much apart from the awkward high vocals but he is enough of a legend just getting this video recorded and posting it online for everyone to hear. Coxon soloing on the resonator guitar was my personal highlight. I hope you dig it as much as me. Enjoy!