Do You Remember: Says She's Ms Blat?

That was the question Lottie from the band asked me and the answer was "of course". It may have been back in 2010 that I wrote about them but who can forget those slurred New York tones? What I didn't know was that Lottie is a classically trained pianist (or I might have known and forgotten). You can listen to their second album in full and download it, naming your price, at their bandcamp site. If you're too lazy to move web sites then check out their video below.

2012 - Did You Survive

So as we inevitably head towards the end of year list it is probably a good time for me to squeeze in this reference to Muse's Olympic track Survival. It's been one of the few stand out tracks for me this year and yet I didn't get in to it until after the Olympics and even more disappointingly until after I'd finished my half marathon and all the training that goes with it.  This is just the perfect running track and I really could have done with it around mile 10/11 when I hit the wall. Maybe my time would have been better if I had? Check it out if you haven't already. The album's not bad either although the rest of the tracks are more Queen esq...

New Eels Track Gets A Good Response

As I've mentioned Eels a few times on here before I thought I'd mentioned he's got a new track out and a new album to follow. Sadly I haven't got a track I can post for streaming but it is being streamed here http://soundcloud.com/vagrantrecords/eels-peach-blossom and you can pre-order the new album here http://eelstheband.com/stores.php. Don't get too carried away though it's not out until 15th February.

Album of the Year? Call The Doctor - Hands Will Shake

We've featured Call The Doctor a fair few times on this blog in the past and now they've put down on vinyl (or download depending on your age) their work over the years. As their record sleeve says "Hands Will Shake is the product of 4 recording sessions with 5 producers over 2 years...". It really is an album that shows their range and how they've matured as a band. The album nods to the past with live favourites such as For Your Leisure which has a real home recording feel to it and progresses to what I feel is the clear stand out track in Stood Beside Her. This track surely shows that a lot has happened since the band formed with a real emotional element to the track.

I strongly recommend you buy the album, in fact I implore you to buy the album. Back the little guys that are out there making awesome music. Schonberg rated this as his favourite album of the year so far not so long ago - and he's met Steve Lamacq don't you know!

Buy download, buy hard copy.

The Courteeners New Album

If you've read this blog over the past few years you will know I'm a big fan of The Courteeners. So it was great news to hear they have recorded their new album and it will be out in February. All they are allowing us to hear at this point is a snippet of the first single off the album. I'm reserving judgement until I hear more of their new material. The single Lose Control will be out 28th January with the Album 'Anna' out 4th February.

The 1975

This band's photos made me laugh. You can just hear the photographer saying, "right to look cool, two of you stand straight up and two of you look away from the camera". It must be hard taking photos of a band and make them look different than the million that have gone before. At least the photographer shaking his head and adding dandruff to the shot brought something else to the piece.

Anyway the music is what we're all about and this was Zane Lowe's hottest thing since the last thing or something like that. Check it out it's pretty catchy.




UPDATE: Last minute arrival in my inbox today (9th Nov) is this remix which you can download...

Whatever happened to Pushboxer?

OK, so if you're wondering who Pushboxer are then you're probably not wondering what happened to them but they were featured on this blog back in 2009. A lifetime ago in music and so they've done well to be still around in some form or other. They are now called Flutes and despite the name there's no flute I can hear on the track. They still have the same dark broodyness of Pushboxer but I'm guessing it's mainly a personnel change. Check out their track below.