The National Bowl DOTM

Design Of The Month

The design I have chosen is The National Bowl in Milton Keynes. I recently went there to see Pearl Jam perform with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and OFF! as support acts. This was my first visit to the venue and it was a bit of a nightmare getting there with the parking prices being extortionate for a venue of that size that should have at least some on site parking. But once I actually got in to the venue it was a different story. The set up is very much like a main stage at a festival and the crowd was equal in size if not larger. I spent the majority of the show pretty close to the front and the atmosphere was as you can assume, very electric and exciting. Later on in the show I made my way to the outer edge of the field and up onto the sloped verges and I have to say the sound did not lose any quality over the distance. The way the whole place has been designed makes the sound travel so well and still keep its level of quality. The engineers who created this venue really deserves some high praise to make any gig great whether you are in the mosh pit right at the front or enjoying dinner with your children on the outskirts. (Below is a sky view and a couple of snaps of
Pearl Jam) Absolutely amazing!

Birds Eye

Up Close

Afar

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!

 

Southern - Where I Want To Be SCS

SoundCloud Song

This is the latest from artist Southern which is to be released on the 18th of August. This song really carries on with the same style of music that they have produced so far which is no bad thing. I think when the inevitable album gets released, it will sound like a perfect package of blues, acoustic/rootsy slide guitar and boy-girl vocals which this track will fit nicely into. If you a fan of Jake Bugg in terms of lyrics and the story telling aspect of songs this one is definitely worth a listen. Beautiful song!

We Are Scientists - Make It Easy YTV

08/07/14 YouTube Video

This last weekend was Godiva Festival at Coventry Memorial Park. An annual free music festival that spans three nights and this year is the second year I have attended. I only went on the Saturday this year due to funds and Saturday seemed to have the best days line up. My personal highlight of the day was We Are Scientists who held the penultimate days slot. But other acts that were impressive were Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Little Matador and Young Aviators. We Are Scientists played a lot of the well known songs and also the song below which was new to me but I liked it so that is why it is this weeks YouTube video. The video is as random as you can expect from the band, with the same humor/surrealism that their videos normally have. I have also included some photos that I took during the festival. Enjoy!

We Are Scientists

Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip

Little Matador

Chrissie Hynde - Stockholm JA

June Album 
New Feature!!

I have decided that once a month I will post a particular album that I have been listening to and am a big fan of. It will always be out on Thursdays and it will replace one of the DOTF spots reducing that down to once a month opposing this feature. Mainly I just wanted a space to share new/old albums that I want more people to listen to/enjoy and I didn't want to just post designs that were scraping the bottom of the barrel for the sake of it, so I thought this would be a good change.

So this past month I have really been diggin' the Chrissie Hynde début solo album Stockholm. To be honest I wasn't too knowledgeable about her time in The Pretenders and the music they produced but that doesn't matter when listening to this album. It happily stands alone in its own right. As a new listener with fresh ears she clearly has a very distinctive sound to her voice and to the songs as a whole. My favourite tracks from the album are Dark Sunglasses (video below) which was one of the released singles, Sweet Nuthin' which has clever lyrics and a catchy chorus, and the album finale Adding The Blue which is a slower acoustic number that shows Chrissie Hynde in a different but still impressive light. Even though I have picked 3 of my favourites, this album easily has 7-8 tracks that would do well as singles which is no bad thing. 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!

Get Inuit - Cutie Pie, I'm Bloated SCS

SoundCloud Song

I have heard quite a few great tracks from SoundCloud this week. A few from bands like Tangerines, Storms and Beach Day but this track from Get Inuit (Cutie Pie, I'm Bored) sounds the most exciting to me. For a just over 2 minute song I think it has everything I could ask for and gets me pumped up for the sunshine that is hopefully going to hang around.. I like the catchy and relate-able (if slightly repetitive) lyrics but I really enjoy the guitar sound they produce and instruments working as a whole.

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!

Akiha Ward Cultural Center DOTF

Design Of The Fortnight

I have been meaning to talk about this piece of design for a while now, after reading about it in the latest edition of Wired Magazine. It is named Akiha Ward Cultural Center designed by Chiaki Arai in Japan. From my initial impressions I just thought it was a modern, dynamic piece of architecture with interesting shapes and a lot of exposed concrete which makes for a fresh take on a concert hall. But on further reading, the grooves and multifaceted walls direct the acoustic sound waves evenly rather than absorbing it, creating a better sound for the listener. I think it is a very smart piece of design and must be equally cool to be in the audience listening to the performer alongside actually playing the instrument on the stage in this fantastic venue.

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!

SoundCloud Song

J Mascis - Every Morning

This is the first track released from the soon to be J Mascis solo album. I have to say it was less of a heavy sound than what I was expecting, especially after listening to some of the more rockier Dinosaur Jr stuff which I enjoy equally to this track but differently. I love how upbeat and happy the track sounds, helped along by the bouncy acoustic guitar sound. Keep up the good work!

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.

D.O.T.F. Face Paint Album

Natalie Sharp Artist

This news piece may be a bit old now but I am only just getting around to talking about it. I have seen a few pieces from the artist Natalie Sharp and this face painted piece below is one of my favourites. It is the classic Joy Division album artwork expertly painted on a models face. The expressionless eyes being open add to the creepiness of the piece as a whole. Great piece of design and be sure to check out more of her other face painted album covers.

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.

SoundCloud Song

Darlia - Dear Diary

This track is from a fairly new band to me and I am a fan of what they have released so far but this is easily my favourite track of theirs, followed in second place by Candyman. This song has got me really excited to listen to the rest of their début album which hopefully comes out soon. The track has got great lyrics that are sung with just the right amount of passion behind it, really relate-able and right up my street in terms of pumped up rock song. 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!

D.O.T.F. Marshall Major Pitch Black

Design Of The Fortnight

The piece of design I am really into this fortnight is the Marshall Major on-ear headphones. I have been using them now for just under a month and the quality of sound is so much better than the small in ear headphones I used beforehand. When the sound is produced it literally surrounds my ears so that any other sound that is around is totally blocked out. If you are into that kind of sound effect then these are definitely for you. You can really hear the layers of sound that have been created in the song. The price is also really good for what you get compared to the more high end over ear headphones on the market.

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.

SoundCloud Song

Bang Bang Bang - Shake Shake Shimmy

This track sounds like The Pipettes younger sisters have formed a band of their own, with similar vocals and a slightly more modern beat this songs hook will be stuck in your head for a good while. This is yet another track that re-enforces my notion that female vocals go perfectly with the pop/indie/rock genre and hopefully Bang Bang Bang keep up the good tunes. Enjoy.

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.