Arm The Sirens

So High..

So it is that time of year again where business starts to wind on down and the holiday season kicks into fifth gear. Most people (the lucky ones at least..) will be taking a well deserved couple of weeks off to get a grasp of what is refered to in parts as a normal life and escape the daily grind. The not so lucky ones, myself included, can look forward to being holed up in the office or the like while everyone is out enjoying the Summer...Bitter much?

No, I must be honest I don't mind not having the break over the Christmas period, I tend to opt more for a mid year getaway, yeah thats more like it.

AK- In response to your last post, great find in Chester French. With the exception of the song " She Loves Evreybody" They will definitely as you put it, be consuming my iPod well into 2009.

Not so stoked on The Protectors, they get a thumbs down from me bud. They will however come close to topping my "Most Annoying Band" list..

Speaking of lists - I guess it is time to start compiling our top ten albums for 2008?

I have mine pretty much done and sitting high in the pole position would be Seattle's Fleet Foxes (pictured above). This by far is the album that totally blew me away this year - Magnificent song structures and beautiful harmonies ( oh, and don't forget about the beards!!). I am seeing them in January and I am quite excited to say the very least ....

I'm listening to Propagandhi as I type this and just realised that they too will be gracing our shores for the first time in 12 years, they were always "The band that I have to see" of my 98 punk days. 10 years later my wish is granted..Radical.

Remember kids - Meat is still murder and Dairy Is still rape.

Happy weekend.

M

The Weekend

Melbourne. Yes Melbourne trip is coming to see mama K. Fun times await...

You need some new stuff for the weekend. here's my hot tip

These guys will be all over your ipods in 09'

Chesterfrench - You heard it here first. They also feature on the new Common album (Which I think is wayy better than the new Kanye)

And you know what else you heard here first. Razorlight are coming to Australia at the end of January.Yes I know right!! Wow.  Keep your eyes checking these pages, we will be previewing their special guests here on this blog. Stay tuned...

Monteen - What are your thoughts on the new Protectors ??

Well I'm out. I can't wait until I get back to the GOLDIE for the following three reasons (No particular order) -

CHEERS AND CHEESE!!

I'm back too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So yes.... I'm back!! Thanks for the fun times overseas Monteen. And yes, you still snore while you sleep and you complain like a 2 year old baby but I heart you. So let's get to it. I went and saw a young girl called  Washington play last night. WOW!! Fucking WOW!! I've seen so many Australian female singer / songwriters over the past year and she absolutely blew me away. Nothing more to say check it out. She's destined for great things. 

AK

P.S Monteen - Where the fuck is my pack??

Guess Who Is Back??

That's right!!

After a long winded hiatus that included a stint in LA and Mexico with my good friend AK - In which I saw Tom Petty live at The Hollywood Bowl and was sitting two seats from Charlize Theron (Thanks Jai). Best ever....

We are back to fill these pages again with musical goodness for your eyeballs ( and for us to once again vent and praise anything that comes along)

So stay tuned to this space for regular updates etc...

Peas

Monteen Wolf

Control.

So I FINALLY got around to picking up a copy of this film and locked into it last night, and I must start by highly recommending that you check this shit out..

It is a Biopic on the life of Ian Curtis, the enigmatic lead singer of cult band Joy Division. It follows how he battled the rapid rise of his band, while dealing with love, having a family and the tragic disease that is epilepsy, which in the end gets all too much for him and leads to his commiting suicide at the age of 23.

        Sam Riley                   Ian Curtis

Sam Riley does an incredible job of becoming Ian Curtis and was nominated for 10 awards across the film industry, (actually winning 6), for his stellar performance as the troubled singer. It is also the first feature film by director Anton Corbijn, who is famed for his music photography with everyone from U2, Tom Waits, David Bowie and REM just to name the very bare minimum.

Here is some of his photography -

 

And the trailer for the film is also below...It is quite a compelling and at times disturbing masterpeice that is definitely worth checking out, even if you know nothing about Ian Curtis or Joy Division you will enjoy it...It's probably actually better that way.. 

Bye for now

Monteen

Alright....Everything's Gonna Be Alright.

Remember this? I was cleaning out some old shit I had the other day and came across the cassette single  of "Alright" that I once owned, hence the reason for this post..

Isn't it funny what you could get away with in the nineties AND not to mention stay at number one with for 7 weeks. East 17 were the equivalant to a bad ass version of The Backstreet Boys. The film clip is the best, watch it below...best hats, best hair and best display of pulling shapes ever.

Funnily enough they are still kicking around here and there..Original singer and all round Bad Ass, Brian Harvey has managed to keep his "Rockstar" status at an all time high over the years admitting to taking 12 pills in a night and stating that "It's cool to take drugs"..Cool Brian, If you say so dude..The twat also ran himself over in a car that he was actually driving...Best.

Bye For Now.

Monteen

Weezer. Weezer. Weezer....and Corrections

Weezer are back and in super fine form with their new single "Pork and Beans". The song is some what a 'Return to form' to the Weezer we all know and love - Revert back to The Blue Album and Pinkerton.. Just a killer power pop song with big guitars and a super catchy chorus. The clip is ridiculously good and features pretty much every "famous" Youtube celebrity (If thats what you like to call them...) that has been slutted across the world wide web over the last couple of years..very great it is below so check it..

Death Cab Dates - Revised

Well I was close, but as what seems to happen all so often, I just missed out on that darn cigar!

The Death Cab For Cutie Australian tour dates are as follows..

17th August - The Palace, Melbourne

18th August - The Enmore Theatre, Sydney

20th August - Metropolis, Fremantle

22nd August - The Tivoli, Brisbane

Don't forget tickets on sale Friday 30th May..

Thanks for watching. Peas

Monteen

Just Announced.....Not so Splendour

In relation to my last post, Death Cab For Cutie have just announced that they will be heading down to Australia in August. It is only a very short visit as they are only playing 4 shows whilst here taking in all capital cities, except for Adelaide...Sorry guys, sucks to be you huh!!

Official dates are yet to be released but I believe the first show will be in Sydney on the 17th August at the Enmore Theatre (Don't quote me on this date..although my intuition is quite great at times). They are also playing Melbourne, Perth and The Tivoli in Brisbane. Their current album "Narrow Stairs" has debuted in the US charts at number 1 and over here in Australia at Number 6 which is a magnificent achievement. Tickets go on sale this Friday 30th May and will sell out super quick so be ready..I'll update with all the deets as I get them.

ALSO

It seems that there are a few unhappy chaps about since Thursday, and all in good reason too. If you were one of the lucky ones that managed to score Splendour In The Grass tickets, well props to you. Apparently the system this year was ridiculous and everyone that I have spoken to either could not get through or got through and there was some sort of error on the page...STUPID!

I'm sure that they received an abundance of hate mail from all the punters that missed out, but this still doesn't change the fact that they should maybe start thinking of another system to start using as this one was obviously flawed...Still, it sold out in 3 hours so I guess they aren't complaining too much.

Another announcment to the already stellar line up will be announced in the coming weeks..

Lastly - If you have not heard the track "Pink Bullets" by indie supergroup The Shins I suggest you buy/steal/burn or borrow it from someone you know. It is simply a stunning song and so incredibly well written and arranged, James Mercer is the master....Nuff said.

Check out the quirky clip for the song below, cows and kites what more do you need..

Narrow Stairs - Neon Neon - Gusto

Well the day finally came and I headed to the record store to pick up Death Cab For Cutie's brand spanker "Narrow Stairs. Being one of my favourite bands at the moment I was bursting out of my skin with anticipation for my ears to digest what Ben Gibbard and Co had in store for us this time round..

First two listens I was still up in the air on what to think and then as all great albums do, It just hit me and now I actually have a committal crush on it. Super producer and member of the band Chris Walla, (who has also recently produced "Tegan and Sara - The Con" and "The Decemberists - The Crane Wife") really pulled some amazing sounds on this record with my 2 highlight thus far being the tracks - Cath and Grapevine Fires. It is definitely a grower and takes a few listens, but then all of a sudden you will be hooked and have it repeating over and over..Well I do anyways.

 

Neon Neon - I know I am quite late to these guys but I picked up a copy of the debut album "Stainless Style" from this duo the other day and am really digging it. What started off as a side project for Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys and renowned L.A producer Boom Bip, has turned into one of the buzz bands in the electro/pop scene in the last few months. Me being the sceptic of that word "Hype" had heard about these guys about 3 months ago, but decided to let them slip under my radar and opted to continue listening to Fleetwood Mac's back catalogue instead... But as I was perusing through the shelves of my local record store, I stumbled across it and just bought the album on a whim. It really is just a great electro/pop album with great 80's synths and catchy melodies littered throughout the album. Check out the tracks Dream Cars and Belfast HERE!

Its a great day outside, and I just got in from giving my brand new kite its first test run. I named him Gusto, he has psychedelic patterns and he is awesome.

Happy Sunday

Monteen Wolf

Silly Question???

I had what some would call an epiphany yesterday, (Mind you I was slightly "inebriated" whilst said epiphany came to mind, but I am still in strong favour of it...) ANYWAY, I was out in this beautiful valley being at one with nature, yes there were cows and other critters roaming about, I was listening to Fleetwood Mac and then the question suddenly dawned on me - What do I think are the best 3 bands/artists in the history of music...EVER??

Now you may think to yourself "What sort of idiot asks a ludicrous question like that??" Well my friends, that kind of idiot is me. I will (and have) already copped quite a bit o flak for my 3 choices but each to their own, I have my reasons...

Here they are in no particular order.....

FLEETWOOD MAC

Not much needs to be said here, definitely one of my all time favourite bands and have some of the best written songs I have heard. People may say they "SOLD OUT which quite frankly is another debate that I will have to address in another post, because I think that it is a fucked term in itself... "

NIRVANA

In 3 short years these guys revolutionised music to help make what it is today and have influenced thousands along the way. Kurt Cobain was an incredibly smart song writer who used what seem like totally unorthodox chord progressions and melodies but somehow turned them into gems that will never be forgotten...

THE BEATLES

Need I say more....

Agree or disagree this is the conclusion I came to in the end, and yes it is quite a ridiculous question because how can you narrow down such a vast history of music...There is no right or wrong answer it all comes down to personal tastes and opinions..

Yep. Time for bed...

Peas

Monteen Wolf