Little Comets - Language Is Over

I always think of Little Comets when the clocks go back (One Night In October) so I was pleased to hear they're still around and making music. In fact I've got a video of their single to share with you and a free acoustic download.

White Light Parade - New Album

I was really excited to hear the other day that White Light Parade have a new album out soon. The main reason I was excited was that I didn't know they'd had a debut album out already! I quickly ordered the last album and have now got myself clued up on their progress since I saw them live years ago. At the time I saw them live I bought a four track EP and I really enjoyed 'Wait For The Weekend' which I have since learnt later became a single. They also had their 'Riot In The City' track feature on Grand Theft Auto IV. To give you a guide to their sound, I guess they most closely resemble Hard-Fi but at times can sound a bit heavier, especially on the 'Riot In The City' track.

Below is a remix of their new single which you can download now.

Free Download From Reverend and the Makers

I'm pleased to hear that Reverend and the Makers are back and they're even giving away a track as a freebie. The album proper is out on the 18th June and the lead single from the album Wrestler was out yesterday (11th) although I was struggling to find it on iTunes. I've ordered the deluxe album from our favourite tax dodgers at Amazon.

On a separate note it was good to catch up with my old friend Matt at the weekend who said he's read the blog for years. So even if you don't comment, hello to you dear reader.

Cosmo Jarvis New Single and Album

It doesn't seem five minutes since I bought Cosmo's last album "Is The World Strange or Am I Strange?" and now I receive the news that not only does he have a new single out in July but the album is going to follow it days later.

Single 'Love This' (above) is out on the 2nd of July and album 'Think Bigger' is out on July 9th. It seems that Cosmo has listened to my review as the new album is less of a mashup of styles and is more down the "singer songwriter template tinged with alt-country". I'm not sure I wanted him to head down the alt-country route more but let's see what he's got.

Now for something completely different - Thrash Metal!

This isn't something I'd normally post on this blog and it's certainly not something I'd normally listen to if I'm honest but through somebody I know I have come to know thrash death metallers Flayed Disciple. Known for their 'interest' in serial killers and admiration of Metallica's early music they take their music very seriously. Like a tradesman learning everything about his tools, Flayed Disciple work tirelessly to produce a sound that breathes new life in to classic style death metal.

The video above was shot by upcoming video production company Dead Parrot Productions using pig hearts, guts and lungs. Nice. I wouldn't watch it if you've got a weak complexion.

What Makes An Excellent Mix Tape?

What makes an excellent mix tape? Well awesome tunes obviously but let's take that as a given and while we're at it let's also knock some other factors on the head. A compilation of your favourite current tunes doesn't count. OK 90% of the playlists on my iPod were created this way and some of them I would class among by best 'mix tapes' but there's nothing that special to creating them, do I like that song? Yes. Where should it go on the playlist (up-tempo/favourites at the start and slower/fillers later on) and then they're ready to listen to.

Now let's look at true, creative mix tapes. What are the rules? Surely good music shouldn't have rules? Well actually the rules are what make a good mix tape and you make them up yourself as you go along. First you choose a theme. This could be a mix tape with all summer songs, chilling out songs, songs with ages in the lyrics, songs with years in lyrics, songs from a certain era (eg. Britpop), I even had a mix tape in my teenage years called "Making The Bed", man I must have been some hell raiser in my teens.

Where am I heading with all this? Well last week I had a package pop through the post with a German post mark and all it had inside was a CDR with FAQ written on it. "Perfect" I thought, something to listen to on my way to work and even better I didn't know what was on there (sometimes the best/worst thing about a playlist is knowing what song is coming next).

So I popped in the CD and the first track was "Whatever happened to Corey Haim?". "Ah easy" I thought, FAQ, frequently asked questions, "they're all questions". They came on Deacon Blue and I couldn't quite remember the title of the track but I couldn't work out the question. Then came on "What's the frequency Keneth?" followed by Grandaddy. I knew the title of the Grandaddy track but again it wasn't a question so what's the theme? Was I missing a lyric? Maybe the next track would give it away? "Hey you what's that sound?" by Les Rythmes Digitales and then next one - YES I finally got it. "Whoop whoop it's the sound of the police". They weren't all questions. They were questions and answers.

Soon I found myself listening to the question song and trying to guess the answer. I was devastated to hear the Magic Numbers tell me my jumper was Forever Lost, I laughed out loud (sorry LOL'd to you kids) as Pulp asked "Do You Remember The First Time" and Pet Shop Boys told me their memory was that "Love Comes Quickly".

What a great idea for a playlist and one that on the surface seems so easy to do, but can you make it difficult to guess at the start and then entertain later? I was so sure that Nirvana's question of "Where did you sleep last night?" would be followed by "Hotel Yorba" only to find she was "Somewhere Else", thanks for nothing Razorlight.

So all in all it was an excellent mix tape, it puzzled me, it entertained me and best of all I didn't skip a single track (despite my keenness to find out the answer). So I guess my challenge now is to send one back and anyone reading this, yes you, you should put together a mix tape and pop it in the post. They're great to put together and a good one is even better to receive...

Here's the full track listing. Anyone got any they'd like to add?

Oh and who was the playlist from? Schonberg of course.

Whatever Happened To Corey Haim? - The Thrills
Real Gone Kid - Deacon Blue

What's The Frequency Kenneth? - R.E.M.
AM 180 - Grandaddy

(Hey You) What's That Sound? - Les Ryhmes Digitales
Sound of da Police - KRS-One

Where Did You Sleep Last Night? - Nirvana
Somewhere Else - Razorlight

How Was It For You? - James
In Too Deep - Sum41 (You wish Schonberg)

What You Waiting For - Gwen Stefani
Last Train To London - ELO (I had to Shazam that one, I admit it).

Where's Me Jumper? - Sultans of Ping
Forever Lost - Magic Numbers

Where Have You Been Tonight? - Shed Seven
Drinking In LA - Bran Van 3000  (Could have been Gay Bar, Shorley's Wall or Dog Shit Street?)

Do You Remember The First Time? - Pulp
Love Comes Quickly - Pet Shop Boys

Best of Bootie

While Schonberg takes a holiday, I thought I'd (belatedly) give you my yearly nod towards Bootie the self proclaimed "Biggest Bootleg Mashup Party In The World". Each year they compile their 'Best of' mixtape covering the best mashups from the previous year. Now anyone who has come across mashups in the past knows there's an element of cheese to them, they don't take themselves seriously and, while there is an element of art and skill to them, they don't provide ground breaking music. However, they can be immense fun and breathe new life in to an old song or make an new hit more likeable.

The two I have picked out from this year's compilation do exactly that, mix new with old and produce something new, and that's the way to approach them. They become new tracks that you learn from new despite their familiarity. The titles tell you all you need to know. Try them and I hope you like them. Check out the rest of the year's goodies here.

MP3: John Marr - Hello Black or White (Michael Jackson v Martin Solveig)

MP3: DJ ShyBoy - Feel Good Feelings (James Brown v Flo Rida v Black Eyed Peas)

Hey Jane - Spiritualized are back!

An eight minute epic called Hey Jane with a na na nar ending. Haven't I heard that something like that before. The answer is yes and no. You certainly haven't heard it coming from The Beatles. Despite the title and track length it doesn't appear to be a cheap counterfeit of Hey Jude. However it is nice and upbeat, certainly for Spiritualized and certainly compared to A&E, their last album 4 years ago.

If you haven't come across Spiritualized before I suggest you purchase Ladies and 'Gentleman We Are Floating In Space' and 'Let It Come Down'. The reason I guide you is that their albums seem to be hit and miss, those two are certainly hits and up there in my favourite albums from the years they were released.

As you will probably appreciate from Hey Jane they're not a singles band and all you can take from one track is a guide to what is to come and I'm excited. The picture above is the artwork believe it or not and the album and single will be out on April 16th.

Grouplove / Two Wounded Birds - Sheffield Leadmill, 18 February 2012

photo copyright Jamie Boynton (from counterfeitmag.co.uk)

It's three years since the last time Jal and Schönberg managed to get to the same gig, but this is what happened last Saturday when Mrs Schönberg was laid up with the dreaded lurgi. The lure of Grouplove and their own brand of indie pop was too much for Jal and as the gig was sold out the offer of a ticket was most welcome.

First up was Two Wounded Birds, hailing from Margate and sounding like a mash-up between the Vaccines and Dick Dale and the Del-Tones. The band seemed to be undecided as to what they want to be; a sub-three minute power chord number would be followed by surfer rock 'n' roll reminiscent of the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. It must be said, however, that both genres sounded good.

The headline act hit the stage with tremendous gusto and never looked back. Their debut album (and a few other songs) were delivered professionally and with great energy - I think even if you didn't like what Grouplove had to offer then you would still enjoy and be entertained by their live performance. I certainly enjoyed every minute, well, except for having to listen to Jal shout out the chorus to 'Tongue-tied' and the like! I think Jal also enjoyed himself, he even set himself the task of meeting the band afterwards to let them know how much he's enjoyed it (see picture below).

 

So, if you get chance to catch Grouplove during their current tour then take it, you won't be disappointed.

Stream: All we wanna do by Two Wounded Birds
All We Wanna Do by Two Wounded Birds

Stream: Colours by Grouplove
Grouplove - Colours by Atlantic Records UK

exlovers - Starlight, Starlight

I've just discovered exlovers and the first single 'Starlight, Starlight' from their forthcoming debut album, after listening to the band do a rather nice cover of Chris Issak's 'Wicked Game'. The single is available as a free download on the band's website, or you can stream it here on Soundcloud. The Wicked Game cover is provided below (offered for free download by the band).