Cooling Towers Tribute

Well the cooling towers came down yesterday morning to mixed feelings in South Yorkshire yesterday. My Sister and Brother-in-Law really liked the cooling towers whereas I was indifferent to them. I thought they were nothing special yet I doubt anything special is going to replace them. EON say it would have cost to much to maintain them and money speaks. I may now live in Bristol but I was born in Sheffield and was brought up in a small town south of Sheffield so if anyone asks where I'm from I say Sheffield with pride - and I'll continue to do so until I start saying "where's you to?", that's "where are you?" to anyone not from the West Country. Below is my playlist of Sheffield bands as a tribute to the towers.

Babies - Pulp

Pulp, the first super band in Sheffield in my time. My sister was in to them in a big way and we always used to sing this together. I put this in ahead of other songs as it was the first one I was in to and because Jarvis name checks a road in Sheffield - Stanhope Road.

MP3: Babies - Pulp

Fake Tales of San Francisco - Arctic Monkeys

I think this is the first song I heard of Arctic Monkeys. Schonberg sang it lots as it became available. Perhaps because he's not from New York City, he's from Rotherham. He also lived close to Hunters Bar (called this because it used to be an old trading post), Schonberg did you used to be in the Arctic Monkeys? Come to think of it you never see Schonberg and Alex Turner in the same room at the same time...

MP3: Fake Tales of San Francisco - Arctic Monkeys

What Will You Do When The Money Goes? - Milburn

A band that seems to create a lot of debate on the internet. Some say they just copied the Arctic Monkeys style, then others point out that they were around first and that they have a different sound. All I know is I like this song (what else matters?)

MP3: What Will You Do When The Money Goes? - Milburn

What The Milkman Saw - Reverend & The Makers

In this song John McClure writes that "this isn't murder it's just Grenoside" an area of Sheffield in the north of city. I'm told that this lyric isn't very unique as around the time Bowie was singing "This aint rock ’n' roll, this is genocide" someone defaced the Welcome to Grenoside sign to say "This ain't rock 'n' roll, this is Grenoside". Thanks to Jim for that little nugget.

MP3: What The Milkman Saw - Reverend & The Makers

Boy Wonder - Speedy

MP3: Boy Wonder - Speedy

Goodnight - Babybird

Forget You're Gorgeous (although it taught me how to spell) this is Babybird's song and reminds me a little of Pure by The Lightening Seeds.

MP3: Goodnight - Babybird

Shot At Politics - Little Man Tate

From their new album, well worth downloading.

MP3: Shot At Politics - Little Man Tate (Link removed)

Giddy Statospheres - The Long Blondes

A great riff starts this Blondie esq track off.

MP3: Giddy Statospheres - The Long Blondes

Baby You're My Light - Richard Hawley

I've been wanting to shoe horn this song on to my blog for a while now. What a beautiful song, I originally heard it on a compilation tape my mate Jim did me years ago.

MP3: Baby You're My Light - Richard Hawley

Temptation - Heaven 17

Oh you've got blue eyes, of you've green eyes....

MP3: Temptation - Heaven 17

20 to 9 - Tiny Dancers

Hailing from West Yorkshire and based in Sheffield, Tiny Dancers mention "far away away from this town of steel" in their most well known song Wait For Me. I have posted this track instead as I've already posted Wait For Me in the past and I think this shows another side to the band. Terrible name for a band but that never stopped Shed Seven...

MP3: 20 to 9 - Tiny Dancers

Breathe (A Little Deeper) - Blameless

I didn't know until recently this band were from Sheffield, in fact I'd assumed they were from America. I picked up their album when I was living in Reading for a bargain £1 only to find that it didn't have this song on it. I eventually tracked the single down on eBay. I used to listen to this loads when I was at Sheffield Hallam and so it always makes me think of Sheffield even if I didn't know the band were from there.

MP3: Breathe (A Little Deeper) - Blameless (right click)

She Said - Longpigs

A bit cliched to put this song on as it's the most well known but it was the song I would scream away at in The Leadmill with my friends. When I first heard this song I thought they would be a one hit wonder but Q Shoes assured me it was a quality album and he sure was right. I even got chance to see them play at the Octagon, they didn't disappoint. In fact I have only seen Pulp and Longpigs in Sheffield (I have seen a few of the others but sadly not in Sheffield).

MP3: She Said - Longpigs

Daydream In Blue - I Monster

A great summer song from two Sheffield based producers, Dean Honer and Jarrod Gosling. Dean Honer also being involved with The All Seeing I which leads me nicely on to...

MP3: Daydream In Blue - I Monster

Walk Like A Panther - The All Seeing I

With Tony Christie on vocals this song's lyrics were written by Jarvis Cocker.

MP3: Walk Like A Panther - The All Seeing I

Everything is Everything - Paul Heaton

A Sheffield United fan, Paul invited the staff at the club to see the Beautiful South at Sheffield Arena. I got to go as a plus one and it's the only time I've had a back stage pass at a gig probably not the most rock 'n' roll band to have a back stage pass for but I was grateful anyway.

This is from his solo album, not one to play in front of the kids. I guess you get used to swearing like that if you have to watch United week in week out.

MP3: Everything is Everything - Paul Heaton

Waster - Gomez

From the Machismo EP this is a great song. OK so you want to know what they've got to do with Sheffield? Well they met at the University of Sheffield and their manager lives there. Does that count. It was either that or I put a track on from ABC and I didn't fancy that.

MP3: Waster - Gomez

Pure New Pleasure Seeker - Moloko

I'm not really why Wikipedia class this band as from Sheffield. OK they met at a party in Sheffield but is that really enough to calls them from Sheffield. Well as it gives me the excuse to post the extended album version of this song I think it's right good.

MP3: Pure New Pleasure Seeker - Moloko

A good link is Sheffield Blog/ especially for the coverage of the Cooling Towers demolition.

Album Review: Sigur Ros - með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

How do I start with this one? Jo Whiley (Radio 1 DJ) introduced them by saying if you like Radiohead, Elbow and Arcade Fire you may like these. Who are we to argue with the Dave Grohl obsessed blonde? Sigur Ros are a band who shirk the main stream by mainly recording in their native tongue, this wouldn't affect your sales much if you came from New Zealand but when you're from Iceland it's a brave move (the country not the freezer food shop). The result is an atmospheric album where you feel the music rather than understand it.

The album opens with the first single off the album, Gobbledigook, and swiftly followed by the upbeat Inní Mér Syngur Vitleysingur. Two upbeat songs, not dismililar to Arcade Fire's Rebellion (Lies). The tempo then slows and you think you have duped by the singles and it's actually going to be a slow relaxing album and then Festival starts.

3WTMS Exclusive

As Festival starts you can see the similarities to Radiohead that Jo Whiley was pointing to. Four minutes of just the lead singer singing nothing else (remember this is all in Icelandic) and then there's a pause. The guitars and beating drum comes in. Along with the strings the song builds and builds for the next six minutes. Here at What's Wrong With The Mainstream I can exclusively reveal this music will be used for the Olympic montage they do on the Beeb at the end of it all to show our medal heroes and our even more adored losers. When I finished listening to the song in my car I said to myself that's a f***ing good song. It's not very often a swear to myself nevermind talk to myself in the car. However, don't believe the hype, I played this to my other half and she was non too impressed so each to their own I guess.

The album then goes back to the slow paced atmospheric music, which while pleasant and well written it never again reaches the heights of Festival or the opening two songs. Don't let that put you off though, there are some beautiful pieces of music on the album it's just most of the time I like mine to be uplifting and fast tempoed. Overall it's a good addition to my CD collection and those of you who like Hoppipolla (previous successful Sigur Ros song) will find something to like in the songs I've listed above - please don't make me type them out again!

Festival - Sigur Ros

MP3: Festival - Sigur Ros

What's Wrong With The Mainstream July '08

Five Years Time - Noah and the Whale

I've been dying to post this track, in fact I uploaded it and wrote this part of the blog on the 13th! It's a great, fun, summer track and just try to stop yourself whistling after you've listened to this.

MP3: Five Years Time - Noah and the Whale

I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked - Ida Maria

6Music have been playing Ida maria's music for a while but it's taken this great pop tune for her to break through on to big sister station Radio 1. What a great track, you can't help but shout along in your car.

MP3: I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked - Ida Maria

Acid Jazz Singer - The Fratellis

The Fratellis, gents who are never short of confidence but why should they be? We all secretly like a bit of arrogance when it comes to our lead singers and they don't disappoint. The track's nothing new for The Fratellis but enjoyable none the less. Thanks to Q Shoes for this one.

MP3: Acid Jazz Singer - The Fratellis

Cath - Death Cab For Cutie

Now I've known of Death Cab For Cutie for ages but never really listened to their music but Zane Lowe has been caning this song for ages. He has said their album will be in his top five albums of the year and has had this song in his top ten songs podcast for six weeks straight. Now I think it's an alright track but I'm not sure it's worth all that fuss. Let me know if I'm missing something.

MP3: Cath - Death Cab For Cutie

Can't Go Back - Primal Scream

Is it just me or have Primal Scream been messing around for years since Screamadelica and then finally got their act together with their last album. This song caries on the good work and leaves you wanting more. Sorry it's only a radio rip.

MP3: Can't Go Back - Primal Scream

GWB (F*** You Very Much) - Lilly Allen

Good old Lilly Allen, the happy go lucky lass has written another pop gem although I'm not sure how they'll release this without missing out the whole chorus. It's certainly not one for Jamelia's kids, she once asked Lilly Allen if she could have a version of her first album without the swearing on, Lilly told her to f*** off (that last bit might not be word for word what she said). Anyway the songs quite good. OK, actually it's really catchy, best not to listen to it just before you go to work, school, uni, prison...

MP3: Lilly Allen - GWB (F*** You Very Much)

Constructive Summer - The Hold Steady

The Hold Steady have been quite a while and the singer's voice certainly sounds like it, in fact he sounds a bit like Nick Cave. To say they've been around for a while I've never really listened to them but this songs not bad.

MP3: Constructive Summer - The Hold Steady

I Love You - Esser

Esser is from London and that's all I know about him (?). Anyway, it's something new, try it, you might like it.

Mp3: I Love You - Esser

Hideaway - The Ryes

Not usually my kind of song but it kept coming round on my iTunes as I played most recently added and now I quite like it. It's quite summer-y and catchy so why don't you give it a chance too. I think they're a British.

MP3: Hideaway - The Ryes

The Arm - Islands

OK, I've been on holiday and I can't remember what I read about this band before I went away. As always let me know what you think.

MP3: The Arm - Islands

Can't Stop - The Dirty Secrets

Big in Australia, big enough for iTunes to bother selling their music anyway. You can get their latest album now. It's not bad, I've been listening to it regularly, they sound a bit like The Killers but don't expect a Mr Brightside.

MP3: Can't Stop - The Dirty Secrets

Crawl - Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon and Cold War Kids are back, both with free downloads. If you like that genre you must be wetting yourself.

MP3: Crawl - Kings of Leon

Something Is Not Right With Me - Cold War Kids

Not bad, a tad repetitive but overall pretty good. (I'm getting good at this whole blogging thing aren't I?!)

MP3: Something Is Not Right With Me - Cold War Kids

Danny Callahan - Conor Oberst

The man behind Bright Eyes (Conor) goes it alone - I never really knew he had anyone else in the first place. Not as good as some of my Bright Eyes favourites but I'm interested to see where he's going with this project.

MP3: Danny Callahan - Conor Oberst

My Alarm - New Faces

A tip off from my friend Nick SM.

MP3: My Alarm - New Faces

I Wasn't Made For Fighting - Woodhands

Synth powered dance pop, from the eighties or from the future? It's a good disco track, I especially like the added robot voice touch.

MP3: I Wasn't Made For Fighting - Woodhands

Braindead - The Vines

Heavy return on this track but the album appears to be the usual mix of grungy rock and Beatles-esq tracks.

MP3: Braindead - The Vines

Paris - Friendly Fires

As I arrived back to England from Paris I downloaded my usual podcasts and Huw Stephens tells me this is favourite track of last year. Well it's not that good but they have the right idea, one day they will live in Paris. It's reeeyght good. Oh and they have a new track out at the moment.

MP3: Paris - Friendly Fires

Sigur Ros - Inní mér syngur vitleysingur

I'm going to have to buy the Sigur Ros album now as I really like this track and I like the last one. It sounds like Acrade Fire with beating drums and piano. OK so I find the lyrics totally offensive but you lot probably don't understand Icelandic and don't care about games played with kittens and lawn mowers but I do. Let me know if I've somehow translated it incorrectly. Thanks to The World Forgot for this, they've also posted about a band called Flipsyde who you may want to check out if you like OPM (Heaven Is A Half Pipe) and the Iglu and Hartly track I posted last month.

MP3: Sigur Ros - Inní mér syngur vitleysingur

The Way We Were - XX Teens

XX Teens or Xerox Teens as they were called have been around for a while and their lineup has changed a bit since they first burst on to the scenes their sound still stays strong (not bad alliteration). Previous song Darlin' made it in to the NME top 50 in 2007. This is a free download from their debut album.

MP3: The Way We Were - XX Teens

Album Review: Strength In Numbers by Sillsy

Ah, the first guest album review for What's Wrong With The Mainstream. Welcome on board Sillsy, over to you:

Somewhere during their lives, Robert Harvey & co. missed their calling. In fact, this moment could probably be pinpointed to 2002, when the zombie-filled yet human-empty ’28 Days Later’ hit cinema screens across the country. At some point that year, the directors offered John Murphy the chance to produce the soundtrack, and he went on to create one of the most memorable Film scores in modern times.

How does this help me review ‘Strength in Numbers’ the 3rd studio album from the Kippax-born quartet The Music, I hear you cry with impatience? Quite simply, several tracks from this LP could be lifted out and placed in any number of the summer blockbusters, as an audio delight to accompany a thrilling car chase, a race against time, or even Rocky-esqe victory against all odds.

The album opens with the title track, and first released single, which reminds you what The Music are all about. Demonstrating ‘Disco-Indie’ as I call it, the track is fast with heavy air-guitar capability, whilst maintaining a booming percussion beat throughout. Think ‘The Sunshine Underground’, but with two more albums under their skinny-fitting belts.

However, whilst I was preparing to sit back and take in more of the same, it became apparent the choice of this track as No. 1 was simply to ease in the old fans, those eager to hear the familiar sounds of Adam Nutter’s Synths after four years in the musical wilderness. Track 3, ‘Drugs’, demonstrates the group’s softer side, offering a song that you find yourself toe tapping to, at an increasing pace, but without the heart-thumping violence we’re used to. Harvey may be a brilliant lyricist, but as usual we don’t get to find out, with the words morphing into one long cascade of noise, the advantages and disadvantages of which are perfectly encapsulated between this track and the next. Whilst ‘Drugs’ keeps your interest, ‘Idle’ passes you by, with all the presence and spirit of a decent instrumental.

The album seems to really kick in with ‘The Left Side’, possible the most soundtrack-worthy number on the album, but sadly this is a pseudo pregnancy, with the following four songs passing me by, and leaving me in a state of general apathy. These are my thoughts on each:

5 –
6 –
7 –
8 –

See? Apathy incarnate. It may be that these tracks are individually golden; it may be that at the right time, in the right place, they would resonate in my mind; but by being grouped together, the familiar mono-tone voice over a thumping beat loses its charm and effect, and makes you wish the album was 15 minutes shorter.

Luckily, the record (and potentially the band’s career) does not just fade away, as it threatened to do. The final three tracks are a vast improvement, with ‘No Weapon Sharper Than Will’ being markedly different to what had preceded it, combining a catchy tune, strong (and understandable!) lyrics, and a great use of a vast array of instruments to produce one of the highlights. The ’28 Days Later’ worthy ‘Cold Blooded’ follows it, slowing the pace down and showing a more purposeful side to the group, leading into the final track, ‘Inconceivable Odds’. For the first time since ‘What’s It For’, a B-side in 2003, The Music demonstrate the range of compositions that they are capable of, dropping the fast beats and crescendo finishes to provide an absolute contrast to the opening of ‘Strength in Numbers’, with this perfect come down track.

One disappointment is the secret track on the album: not because it isn’t good (it definitely is), but because you have to choose between this, or the ‘Special Edition’, which has two more tracks on it, but not the secret track that is on the normal version. Annoying...
In summary, they don’t have the catchy choruses of the Kaiser Chiefs, they don’t have the recognisable Guitar-Hero riffs of Franz Ferdinand, and they don’t have the powerful lyrical genius of Brandon Flowers and The Killers. But they do have something, and to best demonstrate it, put this on your iPod next time you’re going out running, or cycling, or on the way to a big football match, and I guarantee that by the end of the album, you’ll have started to understand what it is that makes The Music a must-have band in your CD collection...

MP3: Drugs - The Music

MP3: The Left Side - The Music

MP3: No Weapon Sharper Than Will - The Music

Album Review: Black Kids - Partie Traumatic

An album full of songs about Reggie Youngbloods (lead singer) attempts at harassing the opposite sex is how the band describe the album and they're not far off. With a synth sound that Zane Lowe describes as "modern disco" it's certainly got a pop feel to it. However, it's the lyrics that really give it a disco and pop feel with the main theme being chasing girls and dancing. "It's Friday night and I ain't got nobody, so what's the use of pulling a shape?" they sing on the great single Hurricane Jane. The great lines don't stop there with the great line in I've Underestimated My Charm (Again) "Like many a Mael, I get angst in my pants. And goddamn it to hell, it don't help if I dance" I've looked up that spelling of Mael and there was a character in The Vampire Chronicles but I'm not sure they're referring to him.

As an album I don't think I would normally be in to Black Kids but the EP they released before (Wizard of Ahhhs) was packed with all the good songs off the album and they were too good to ignore. The album opener Hit The Heartbrakes will surely be the next single and by then they will be BIG. They are touring like mad and have always said that Britain has jumped on to them before anywhere else, even the states are only just getting on to them (mainstream wise anyway). I don't know how much of that is true and how much is just saying what we want to hear but they are certainly getting a lot of radio play here.

As a live band they are very similar to how they interview, their sense of humour is very dry and sometimes you don't know whether they are being serious or not. Recently when asked why they were called the Black Kids, Reggie replied "my Dad was one of the original Black Panthers and he told us black people invented music". The Black Panther Party were a 60's/70's civil rights party, only half the band are black by the way, Reggie and his sister Ali Youngblood (she seems to smile so much as if she's trying to make up for the rest of the band).

Have a listen to the songs below and see what you think, these songs were originally made available free to download on the Wizard of Ahhs EP on their web site around the time I went to see them so I don't feel bad at all making the singles available...

MP3: Hurricane Jane - Black Kids

MP3: I'm not gonna teach your boyfriend how to dance with you - Black Kids

MP3: Hit The Heartbrakes - Black Kids

Album Openers

Ok, the challenge set by friend of the blog, Schönberg, was to come up with your top five album openers that weren't singles. This was then sent also to two other people (Q Shoes and The Boy Carso) so that between the four of us we had a twenty track playlist. Should there be any clashes the last one back with the list had to resubmit.


Schönberg's Five

Wow, that was a lot harder than I expected. There are, quite literally, hundreds of fantastic first songs on albums in my collection, but it's not until you have to do an exercise like this that you realise that 99% were released as singles. It seems that bands tend to bleed dry their great songs on albums and end up releasing four, sometimes five singles, and inevitably the opener gets the fourth or fifth slot, just when you thought it would be left just for the real fans of the band to keep as their own.

The second problem I had with this list was the fact that some really great starts to albums occur through a short intro track followed by a belter (usually released as a single). I'm thinking Foo Fighters (Doll/Monkey Wrench), Public Enemy (Countdown to Armaggeddon/Don't Believe the Hype), The Alarm (Declaration/Marching On). Anyway, my first track is one that follows this pattern of intro followed by belter.














Senser - State of Mind (from 'Stacked Up')

The song starts quietly with some street noise which then breaks into a bit of hip hop instrumental (lots of peow pow). This goes on for a few minutes until it fades away to an absolutely massive industrial rock guitar riff, it's rock meets rap after that (always a fantastic genre-cross for me).

MP3: Senser - State of Mind













U2 - A Sort of Homecoming (from 'The Unforgettable Fire')

If 'Where The Streets Have No Name' had never been released as a single then it would occupy this spot, however this is a very good alternative, but don't take my word for it, ask Chris Martin... "The first song on The Unforgettable Fire, "A Sort of Homecoming", I know backward and forward -- it's so rousing, brilliant and beautiful. It's one of the first songs I played to my unborn baby."

MP3: A Sort Of Homecoming - U2














Oasis - Rock 'n' Roll Star (from 'Definitely Maybe')

It's 1994. A typical Friday night. 6.30 pm. You've just stepped out of the shower before your night down town and while you're putting on your Lynx deodorant and your best lash you reach across to hit play on the CD player. This is what you hear.

MP3: Rock 'n' Roll Star - Oasis













The Smiths - The Queen is Dead (from 'The Queen is Dead')

Starts with an excerpt from 'The L Shaped Room' where homesick Britons sing "take me back to dear old blighty" before Mike Joyce bangs his drums and The Smith's greatest album (possibly) starts. As always, Morrissey's lyrics are the highlight of this song, with his rhyming of 'spanner' and 'piano' the pinnacle!

MP3: The Queen is Dead - The Smiths














AC/DC - Hells Bells (from 'Back in Black')

This song opens AC/DC's first album after the tragic death of their influential front man Bon Scott, who died in the back of a friend's car in London from acute alcohol poisoning. The album heralded a new start for AC/DC - proclaiming they were 'back in black'. The song starts with the tolling of church bells, Angus Young's slow guitar riff joins in before being joined by the rest of the band, and they're back! This song was covered by The Dandy Warhols on the b-side of Bohemian like You.

MP3: AC/DC - Hells Bells

The Boy Carso's Five

Blimey, I've had some trouble getting this down to 5 from my original list of 21!

Here we go then:

(Number 1 was Oasis - Rock 'n' Roll Star - Jal)














2) Starlings - Elbow (Seldom Seen Kid, 2008). I'm a massive Elbow fan, and seeing this track performed live earlier this year has the album in general in my mind constantly. The horns come as a surprise, but it really is a belting tune.

MP3: Starlings - Elbow













3) Knocked Up - Kings Of Leon (Because Of The Times, 2007). From one of the best albums of 2007, this is 7 minutes and 10 seconds of wallowing genius - a slow start that sets the whole album up perfectly.

MP3: Knocked Up - Kings Of Leon














4) Triumphant - Royksopp (The Understanding, 2005). I didn't realise how much I loved this album until I listened to it again recently; a very apt title for such an upbeat tune.

MP3: Triumphant - Royksopp





















5) The Fear - Pulp (This Is Hardcore, 1998). I remember this album not being very well liked at the time of release (people liked the poppy-world of Different Class, and pop this was not); however, I loved the seedy, dirty undertones of this whole album & no track more so than this opening.

MP3: The Fear - Pulp

Right, number 6 on my list is:
















6) Don't Panic - Coldplay (Parachutes, 2000). The summer of 2000 sticks in my mind as particularly great, and Parachutes reminds me of that. I think you were 'allowed' to like Coldplay back then (I still do!) and this was a great track to start one of my favourite albums.

MP3: Don't Panic - Coldplay



Q Shoes' Five

So are you going to put them on your blog? That could be a problem cos mine aren't exactly what you'd call contemporary, just songs i like. And they're not exactly insightful reviews either. Sorry if I got the wrong end of the stick. Anyway.... here's my first effort.

















Title: One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces
Album: Whatever And Ever Amen
Artiste: Ben Folds Five
Reason: Dwarves are a greatly under-represented minority within popular music culture.

MP3: One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solem Faces - Ben Folds Five
















Title: La Femme D'Argent
Album: Moon Safari
Artiste: Air
Reason: It sets up the album beautifully and lets you know exactly what you're going to get from just 25 seconds in.

MP3: La Femme D'Argent - Air















Title: Once
Album: Ten
Artiste: Pearl Jam
Reason: Guitars, drums, snarling... and that's before the intro's finished.

MP3: Once - Pearl Jam


















Title: Is There A Ghost
Album: Cease To Begin
Artiste: Band Of Horses
Reason: It's lovely.

MP3: Is There A Ghost - Cease To Begin

Title: Back To The World
Album: Back To The World
Artiste: Curtis Mayfield
Reason: If you have to ask, I'm not telling you! It's soulful genius.

MP3: Back To The World - Curtis Mayfield


Jal 's Five

Take A Bow – Muse – Black Holes & Revelations

Album openers not only set the scene for the whole album but often they are like an intro in to the next song. Some bands take to even having an “Intro” song, often only 20-30 seconds long. Muse open Black Holes and Revelations with this epic track, telling us we will “burn in hell for our sins” as they provide us with another apocalyptic musing album. The track is such an epic track that you feel like you should applaud before it kicks in to Starlight.

MP3: Take A Bow - Muse

Start Again – Electric Soft Parade – Holes In The Wall

The first track on an album is so important never more so when it’s the first album you’ve bought from that artist. It doesn’t take our fickle nature to decide whether we will like the song, album and even the band. This is why bands often pack the start of their album with singles, so for a band to put only an album track at the start of their debut album is now seen as brave. Electric Soft Parade did just that and got me hooked straight away.

MP3: Start Again - Electric Soft Parade

In It For The Money – Supergrass – In It For The Money

Supergrass used the title track as the album opener on In It For The Money. It’s a great song that builds up and up until it abruptly stops and Richard III crashes in.

MP3: In It For The Money - Supergrass

The State of Things – Reverend and the Makers – The State of Things

Reverend and the Makers are sometimes compared to the Arctic Monkeys as they are friends with the band (Alex Turner co-wrote and performs on track The Machine and the brother of Jon McClure, c0-writer and lead singer of the band, is the guy on the front cover of the Arctic Monkeys first album. While the music of the two bands is quite different the ability to story tell is there for all to see. In the opener John McClure tells us about the State of Things and proceeds to fill us in for the next eleven tracks.

MP3: The State of Things - Reverend and the Makers

At The Bottom Of Everything - Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

The track starts with Bright Eyes lead man Conor Orberst describing a conversation between two strangers on an aeroplane as there is a mechanical failure. The man then hums this tune to the lady, ending with the great line "I'm happy just because, I found out I am really no one".

MP3: At The Bottom Of Everything - Bright Eyes

What's Wrong With Mainstream - June '08

This is post has been deleted once so I have removed the links.

Well it's been a quiet month for up and coming bands as we've seen some releases from bands that have been round the block a bit (Spiritualized and Coldplay spring to mind) and also releases from bands starting to make it in to the mainstream - how good is it that The Ting Tings got to number one in the singles chart?I may also have taken my eye off the music scene as I've been watching the Euros and growing old. However, there are some good tracks in this month's playlist, some are ripped off the radio so you'll have to forgive me on the quality of a few of them.

Bide Your Time - The Courteeners

Why this song hasn't been released as a single I don't know, all I can think is that it's too mainstream and they didn't want to alienate their following (see Hard-Fi and Living For The Weekend - which I also love). If this doesn't convince you to buy the album nothing will.

MP3: Bide Your Time - The Courteeners

Impatience - We Are Scientists

I must admit to being a bit disappointed by the latest album and yet I really like After Hours and this track Impatience. Why they decided to release Chick Lit ahead of this I don't know.

MP3: Impatience - We Are Scientists

Soul On Fire - Spiritualized

The first single taken off the new album which I reviewed here.

MP3: Soul On Fire - Spiritualized

Letting Go - Team Water Polo

Certainly a contrasting song from the Spiritualized song, an upbeat, happy song, if not a little repetitive. Thanks to Good Weather For Airstrikes for the tip off on these. These guys from Preston are currently playing at Glasto (twice). Like what your hear, then hear more here.

MP3: Letting Go - Team Water Polo

Run The Red Light - British India

I've finally managed to get my hands on the British India album and it's not bad. I've only listened to it a couple of times but here's another track for you to try out. Let me know if you like it and I'll do a review of the album when I've listened to it more.

MP3: Run The Red Light - British India

Hippy's Son - Dirty Pretty Things

I've read mixed reviews about their new material but I've been pleasantly surprised by the single and this free download. I was really disappointed by the first album so maybe the next one will be an improvement.

MP3: Hippy's Son - Dirty Pretty Things

Forget-Me-Nots - Fear Of Flying

Last month I posted the great track Unfinished Business by White Lies. White Lies were born out of the ashes of Fear Of Flying so I thought you might want to hear something by them.

MP3: Forget-Me-Nots - Fear Of Flying

Strength In Numbers - The Music

Try searching for information on The Music using google and you don't tend to get anywhere quickly. What I do know is that their new album was out earlier this month so if anyone fancies doing a review for 3WTM they're more than welcome (Sillsy?).

MP3: Strength In Numbers - The Music

One Day Like This - Elbow (Highly Recommend)

If you've been following Euro 2008 you may have noticed that ITV (the non-Steve McClaren supporting channel) have been using an Elbow track a lot of the time. Well it's this great track taken off the new album (and recent single). I think it's the best track off the album. They also closed their Glastonbury set with it.

MP3: One Day Like This - Elbow

GFC - Albert Hammond Jr.

Having got hold of the track last month from his old album I was keen to hear more, if you were thinking the same try this out from his latest album. It's set for release in the UK on 7th July.

MP3: GFC - Albert Hammond Jr.

Private Affair - The Virgins

Their latest album has finally been released in the US so I've been able to get hold of another song from them. It's a good song but there's still no news of when anything will be released over here.

MP3: Private Affair - The Virgins

White Winter Hymnal - Fleet Foxes

Well the blog world and magazines are going mad for these guys. "The next big American band" use harmonies (five male singers I believe) to create a new sound - Ted from Scrubs would be so proud. I heard they were playing in Bristol at The Louisiana the other day, 50ish people probably enjoyed a great sold out gig that very few other people will ever experience.

MP3: White Winter Hymnal

Revolution In The Heart - Ed Harcourt

I can't believe I've not heard this before, it's a beautiful track and I think this is what bloging is all about, if it hadn't been for Rock Sellout I would never have found this track (it was originally released in 2006). I hope you enjoy it as much as I have been doing.

MP3: Revolution In The Heart - Ed Harcourt

Men - The Dodos

The Dodos have been around on the blogs for a while but they are only just starting to release stuff over here. I'm hoping that The Virgins will follow in the same vein.

MP3: Men - The Dodos

Violent &Young - Iglu & Hartley

Eminem teaming up with Limp Bizkit? Well that's what it sounds like, strangely catchy and again thanks to Good Weather For Airstrikes for this one.

MP3: Violent & Young - Iglu & Hartley

Geraldine (demo) - Glasvegas

As the single version of this is released Alan McGee is proclaiming them as THE most important band to come out of Scotland, since when has he ever been able to spot a great band in the making...

MP3: Geraldine (demo) - Glasvegas

Stay Away - Parka

Staying on the Oasis theme this is Parka's tribute to them with a real throwback to 96/97. This track is like nothing else on the album.

MP3: Stay Away - Parka

Love Is Noise - The Verve

Wow, there are some mixed reviews out there for this return from The Verve, people don't seem to like the fact that they've teamed up with Pingu.

MP3: Love Is Noise - The Verve

Broke Up The Time - Futureheads

Another song from the Futureheads latest release.

MP3: Broke Up The Time - Future Heads

Gobbledigook - Sigur Ros

Sigur Ros are probably most famous in the UK for their song being used throughout the Planet Earth series on BBC 1. I can't say the release of their new album filled me with excitement but I was pleasantly surprised by this offering, see what you think.

Mp3: Gobbledigook - Sigur Ros

White Lies - Dirty Secrets

Dirty Secrets are a band that sound a bit like The Killers and their album came out in March (I have only just discovered) so I'll be getting hold of a copy of that at some point. Not currently available on play.com or in Zavi in Bristol City Centre sadly.

MP3: White Lies - Dirty Secrets

Hearts On Fire - Cut Copy

Straight out of the Eighties and by request from Schönberg.

MP3: Hearts On Fire - Cut Copy

22 songs you say? You lucky, lucky people. All comments / feedback welcome, let me know if any links don't work.

Blog Roll

I've finally managed to add a blog roll so now you know where I get most of my music from. They will all show when they were last updated apart from Good Weather For Airstrikes and Quick Before It Melts who don't seem to have RSS feeds. Although saying that QBIM sound like they're about to change ISP so that might change.

Album Review: Parka - Attack Of The Hundred Yard Hardman

Parka are a band I saw supporting Switches in April '07 and I've followed their progress since then. They are from Glasgow and the first thing that stands out about them is that they've got a guy on a saxaphone. Other than that they are a tough band to pigeon hole and when you look under influences on their MySpace site they don't have any listed. This is probably because there are too many to list and when I tried to decide their main one I kept changing my mind each time I've listened to it. I started by thinking they sound a bit like Primal Scream but I don't think that's anywhere near, maybe a bit of Carter USM but again that doesn't nail it on the head either. I guess the reason I keep changing my mind is that there's such a range on the album and choosing the tracks to represent the album is equally as tough. Just when you think you've decided what they sound like "Stay Away" comes on and it sounds like Oasis from the '96 era. It's a great song but sticks out like an Eminem CD in your Dad's Everly Brothers LP collection. Oh and I think Wake Up Call sounds a bit like Biffy Clyro's Who's Got A Match - I give up!

Generally, I think they sound like they are from the early 90's. Iin fact, in the Chumbawumba sounding track DJ In The Corner they mention the DJ taking them back to 1989 and they've not done a bad job of that themselves. The only problem is at the moment everyone seems to be going back to the 80's with bands like MGMT and even The Futureheads Beginning Of The Twist sounds like an 80's throwback.

The album's a good listen and worth having but it just doesn't have an oustanding track on it. Saying that there are no terrible tracks either. Most of the time it is high tempo and perhaps this supports the lyrics which often talk about going out or dancing. Have a listen and see what you think but I can't promise the whole album will sound like the songs below.

MP3: Mr Optimistic - Parka

MP3: If You Wanna? - Parka

In Dog Years You're Dead

It was my birthday yesterday and yes, in dog years, I'm dead. It was a great excuse to get my friends together and all embarrass ourselves by having a karaoke party. I thought I'd post up a little playlist of some of the songs that were sung. Some were brave refreshing choices, others were obviously the result of cheap bar prices. I've posted a selection of the songs (I'm too hungover to post anymore) but there was certainly nothing wrong with the mainstream...

MP3: (You're The) Devil In Disguise - Elvis

MP3: She Moves In Her Own Way - The Kooks

MP3: Tainted Love - Soft Cell

MP3: Don't Stop Me Now - Queen

MP3: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

MP3: The Tide Is High - Blondie

MP3: Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi

MP3: Fight For The Right - The Beastie Boys

MP3: Night Boat To Cairo - Madness

MP3: The Irish Rover - The Pogues

MP3: I Found Out - The Pigeon Detectives

MP3: My Way - Frank Sinatra