Life Update incorporating more Videos & Gilmore Girls

So, had a cool but busy week. Spent last weekend (not the last couple of days) in beautiful Tuscany where it pissed it down with rain almost constantly. The rain receded a little bit on the last day so we could take part in some Olive picking - which was the excuse for our visit

Otherwise, been a good-ish week. Got some work done, had a few nights in, and then did some more recording with The ABC Club over the weekend.

On Friday I found time to watch the Gilmore Girls again, I made time especially as I knew which specific episode it was and it didn't disapoint. Cue appearances from, amongst others; Sparks, Yo La Tengo and Thurston Moore & Kim Gordon. Absolutely brilliant

And while I can't find any YouTube clips of that , here are 2 more that I should put up after last week. First off is one that did the blogs not long ago, of Norweigan duo FIRST AID KIT performing a cover version of Fleet Foxes' Tiger Mountain Peasant Song armed with just their guitars and the open air:

Second is another Take Away Show video, that I didn't put up last week because it felt a bit 'obvious' - but really it's a great, and a tribute to those guys in Bloc Party:

Finally, updates from the world of WATCHMEN. There's an even better new trailer that was released with the US release of Quantum Of Solace. Download it via this link

WATCHMEN TRAILERS

Soundtrack to this post: Radio 5 606

The Take Away Show

LA BLOGOTHEQUE is one of the most awesome websites on the net, I wish more of it was in English, though I also like the fact that it's so French. La Blogotheque is a French Drowned In Sound / Pitchfork, but less magazine based I guess, and closer to a... blog. Which means it has cool features on cool bands, with less concern over how topical it is

The really amazing thing about La Blogotheque is THE TAKE AWAY SHOWs. These are films of bands kind of busking, but really well thought out. The really special ones are often directed by Vincent Moon, who recently did short films to accompany the National and Mogwai albums. These can turn out really special, here are some of my favourites:

Here they take Fleet Foxes to a disused University in the Grand Palais, for maximum echo effect on the acoustic stylyings. Below is The National, and then Bon Iver

Soundtrack to this post: Stars

Damien Jurado

DAMIEN JURADO has been on my 'radar' for a few months, since he came over in August. He's a Seattle singer-songwriter on Secretly Canadian, which should tell you a lot about him really! His new album is called 'Caught In The Trees' and I can thoroughly recommend it, it's got good tunes and very relaxed. If you need more encouragement 2 of the best sites for free MP3's have, free MP3's from the album:

Damien Jurado - Go Home @ RCRDLBL.com

MP3----> Damien Jurado - Gillian Was A War Horse

Secretly Canadian is of course a stamp of quality. And on from that, me & the good Nath have just arranged for their (Jagjaguwar's really) new signings WOMEN, to come and play Brudenell on 15th February. Should be much fun!

MP3----> Women - Black Rice

MP3----> Women - Group Transport Hall

Soundtrack to this post: Stars, Three Trapped Tigers

Giimore Girls

Yesterday lunch time, I applauded the TV, and I'm not ashamed

It was as a band on hot US program Gilmore Girls, disintegrated on screen in a mass brawl, as Joel from Brian Jonestown Massacre (recently having joined said band) danced around the stage avoiding punches.

This program is brilliant. The episode was called "He's Slippin' 'Em Bread... Dig?" - get it? Awesome. Apparently this seasons finale features The Shins, Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore and Yo La Tengo. Oh, and Sebastian Bach is a regular character as the guitarist in the above band. Brilliant

Soundtrack to this post: Radio 5 Live

The Week That Was

Man, what a week (yep, not about the Field Music spinoff). Full on busy, but I've done a lot of fun stuff

Thursday night, Mi Mye played the Buen Chico album launch at the Brudenell Social Club, and fun was had - it's the first time I've played with Mi Mye for a while and the gig was good. It's good times in Mi Mye, as we've got a single and video done and are hoping to release it in February

Friday night, me and Nathan from the Brudenell put on a gig in aid of Children In Need. The catalyst of the gig was getting ace American band OH NO!! OH MY!! to come and play. We were also blessed with ace bands Dinosaur Pile-Up and Just Handshakes (We're British). Everyone got into the spirit, and we had lots of fun with a great bake sale, raffle and a highly amusing game of Musical Chairs

Saturday & Sunday I had my fledging attempt at the other side of the mixing desk, producing some songs for The ABC Club. I tell people I kind of manage the ABC Club and I don't know why, because I DO manage them, but I can't help feel a tit talking of bands in those terms. Anyway, said recording went really well, and it's a work in progress for the minute.

Finally, my blowout at the end of the week was an awesome gig at, surprisingly, the Brudenell Social Club. These Arms Are Snakes / Russian Circles (pictured above) double bill, and it was better than I hoped it would be. As much of a fan I am of both bands, I thought I might loose interest (a me thing), they were both awesome. 

The gig had added significance as I hung out with a few of the Snakes in Seattle last year, and Russian Circles made their album directly after Forward Russia's Life Processes with Matt Bayles (who also runs Red Room Studios with Chris of TAAS). So had a funny chat with Chris and an even funnier chat with Mike Circles about the nuances of recording with Matt. Good times

FOOTBALL UPDATE - Lokomotiv lost 2-1 last night, following a very dissapointing game. We went 1-0 up, then conceded 2 scrappy goals in a game we again dominated. Me & Fogal had the cream of the chances and we were all annoyed to loose. We've got a depleted squad for the next month now as iLiKETRAiNS swan around Europe but I'm hoping we can call on a few other talented individuals

So, I've tried something new here - I don't know how informative this post is, it's more of a dear diary post. But it's been a busy week...

Finally a tip for a 2 similar bands I got introduced to earlier this year, who are starting to pick up a bit of hype and I want to stamp my mark:

THREE TRAPPED TIGERS - MYSPACE

FRIENDSHIP - MYSPACE

Soundtrack to this post: t'radio

Football - Week 2

Wow, looking at the recent posts, it appears I have to be careful to make sure this whole blog doesn't turn to purely following the adventures of Lokomotiv. But I think it's good to do a recap, it's one of general well being as well I think

So this week we lost 2-3 against "Inter Sofia" - who'd won there first game 4-0. They were lucky, we were lucky, they were insanely lucky as they barely had the ball for the last 20 minutes. Some how they got a quick 3 goals, but then it was all us. 2 storming goals from the TRAiNS contingent got us back, but we couldn't bag the final goal to bring us equal. There's always next time

I'm just making shepherds pie and trying to upload a gazillion bytes of video on the the t'interweb. Hmm....

Soundtrack to this post: Ladyhawk (no 'e' this time)

God is real, and he's American

I can't wait for this film. If you don't know about it, buy the book as it's one of the best works of fiction I've ever read. The title of this blog was supposed to be the tagline, but they thought it would've been un-PC. Would've been funny though.

They've just released a new trailer on the back of Quantum Of Solace. Watch it here

Oct 08 Watchmen Trailer

Soundtrack to this post: PNAU feat. Ladyhawke

The NME

Here's a pretty incredible feature on the NME with interviews of with key staff, giving a rare insight into how misguided their editorial policy. The piece is generally positive, so I can't decide if comments are misguided or if the writer is trying to make them look foolish

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/09/nme-wiseman-conor-mcnicholas-musical-express

Soundtrack to this post: The Rain Parade

Football

So, our new football team kicked off it's competitive existence on Monday night with a hard earned win against a challenging "Jonah's Jiggamen' side. 

FC Lokomotiv iLT is the combination of myself, the iLiKETRAiN boys and numerous other friends around the Leeds Music Scene. The above picture was taken at Big Scary Monster Summer 5-a-side Competition where we made the semi's but were knocked out by a cheating, moaning team from Punktastic (yep, I'm still bitter)

So, we started out 6-a-side league on Monday, and despite conceding very early on, kept our cool to battle back with 2 goals from our creative tsunami of Joel Ashton and Simon Fogal.

Follow our progress here and here

Soundtrack to this post: Commodores 

Mr November

Obama wins and the whole world breaths a sigh of relief.

Dizzee Rascal says the result was down to hip hop, but not lets forget a certain brand of indie

The National - Mr November 

Dizzee Rascal on Newsnight

Soundtrack to this post: Gilmore Girls

On The Radio

On Sunday night I did an hour broadcast for East Leeds FM which was loads of fun being indulgent talking about myself and my favourite records. Here's some tunes I picked:

Thin Lizzy - Vagabond Of The Western World

Get Well Soon - Prelude

The National - Mr November

Jonquil - Lions

International Trust - Let's Have A Dance

Mi Mye - The Last

Oh No! Oh My! - Wham Bam Thank You Spaceman

Gemma Hayes (feat. Kevin Shields) - Out Of Our Hands

First Aid Kit - Tiger Mountain Peasant Song

Lift To Experience - Waiting To Hit

NERD (feat. Julian Casablancas & Santogold) - My Drive Thru

Neutral Milk Hotel - Holland 1945

Wilco - Ashes Of An American Flag

Soundtrack to this post: Gregor Samsa / Final Fantasy

Port O'Brien

I went to see PORT O'BRIEN  on Friday night at the Brudenell Social Club. It's not that they were bad or anything, it was just very average and un-extraordinary I think. Still, I Woke Up Today is a tune

Port O'Brien - I Woke Up Today @ RCRDLBL.com

Soundtrack to this post: The Rain Parade

Nyevsky Prospect

Hey,

I want to start making this a bit more of a news column for me and what I'm up to at the minute, as well as a commentary as it has been. That's not that easy cos I'm being ridiculously coy about what I'm up to whenever I meet people about "what's new" and "what's next" - weird I guess.

But a couple of people have also asked me what is NYEVSKY PROSPECT. 

What it actually is is a street in St Petersburg, the main street in fact, think Oxford Street, or maybe Pall Mall. I don't know exactly, I've never been there. The reason I like it is, because supposedly in the 1920's, when the city was renamed Petrograd, and then Leningrad, it is supposed to have been one of the most culturally enriched places on Earth, with a liberal  freedom of a newly freed people and the forthinking of great artistic minds - specifically the 'Big 5' Russian composers of the time. Only for the Russian authorities to come down hard later in the decade, and severe oppression to take over

That's what I got taught anyway!! And it's an image that always struck me. 

It's a name that I've liked for 7/8 years, and I've always used as the name for anything I've done solely by myself, and I kind of like that. So now it is the name of this blog. And also now the name I've dubbed my fledgling management company. That's something else I'm being coy about. Something I've fallen into a little bit, that is now taking a bit more structure out of necessity and for improvement....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevsky_Prospekt

http://www.nyevskyprospect.net

Soundtrack to this post: Stateless - Stateless

Shields

So I've been rubbish at this again. To be fair, I'm undertaken a lot of new stuff meself in the last month or so. Reckon I'm gonna change the tack on this blog to be about some of the stuff I'm involved one. Like a Mi Mye single out in February next year and so on.

But, I was talking to a friend yesterday about how much I love the involvement of the 2 artists on this song. So I thought that was a nice 'excuse' to post it here:

Gemma Hayes feat. Kevin Sheilds - Out Of Our Hands at RCRDLBL.com

Soundtrack to this post: Vessels

Hold On Magnolia

This Seems Like A Good Way To Release A Record

As previously mentioned way back when, there's a very good band called PORTUGAL THE MAN who are releasing a new album later this year. I think they've had a few record company issues I believe and have put a lot of their own work, maybe money into getting this album going

I think they're putting it out themselves, offering numerous packages for pre-order to suit whoever who wants to buy the album - and everyone who pre-orders the album can download from the 1st September

I like these ideas. Check out the whole scheme at the website, and listen at the Myspace:

http://portugaltheman.net/

http://www.myspace.com/portugaltheman

I don't know where Batcat went, I'm sorry...

Soundtrack to this post: Portgual The Man!

Batcat

Soundtrack to this post: Jeniferever

Sweden's Panda Magazine

There is a magazine in Sweden called Panda Magazine. I don't really know much about it, their website is all in Swedish

But they have a free MP3 section and quite often giveaway / tip some ace bands.

Check it out:

http://www.pandamagazine.se/?cat=42

Soundtrack to this post: Russian Circles - Station

American Lyrical Prowess

Let us not forget America's number one for the last 6 weeks has been the exemplary, thought provoking - 'I Kissed A Girl' 

I will personally take Dizzee Rascal

Soundtrack to this post: PNAU feat. Ladyhawke

Highbrow Lo-Fi

Having a lazy Sunday, and picked up The Observer. In the review section there's an article on American bands intelligent lyrics and music, and berating the lack of English 'representatives' in this field of clever music

Sorry, that's not a great description, I am not great with words, and articles like this make me very angry. You can find the article online here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/aug/03/popandrock

 It's articles like this, that over hype, good but not amazing bands, and totally fail to acknowledge the existance of many a fine band. The bands mentioned are all pretty good, and some of them do write pretty fine lyrics. But they're not the greatest, please mention Will Oldham, Nina Nastasia, Jason Molina... absolutely no need to bring up Vampire Weekend. Infact all the article does is pander to a trend of in vogue American bands - see my point below about how US bands are making the Mercury trendy albums of the moment

The fact is, America's 'music industry' is big enough to support a relatively self sustaining alternative to the mainstream. The UK isn't, and with Myspace diluting the pond of 'diehard' fans over a million decent bands, it's even harder. But that's fine to a certain degree, it actually means there are probably even more great bands from the UK, though relatively undiscovered. What completely stunts the growth of these bands is the media's insistence that bands only exist over a certain level and in a certain framework

Soundtrack to this post: The Good Life, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Mercury's Recap

I'm actually really shocked the Portishead & Foals album didn't get nominated, I thought the Portishead was a classic 'Mercury' album. I'm also surprised Duffy didn't get in on the pop tip, and I think it's a real shame the Mystery Jets album isn't getting the recognition.

Thinking about it, I am disappointed the Burial album was entered as it doesn't seem to to fit the way he operates, but I suppose if you were going to do anything, this is probably it. Depending on whether the bookies have twigged how fashionable it is, it could well be worth a flutter!! (edit: I've since checked and he's favourite!)

I actually think it's a decent list with the mass of British albums over the last year, and I think Neon, BSP, Laura Marling and even Elbow aren't the fashionable choicea. The nods to Jazz / Folk are a little trite with the Plant inclusion, but I guess Seb Rochefort didn't make an album this year

Soundtrack to this post: The Boss

Mercury Music Prize

I'm a bit annoyed I forgot when the Mercury Music Nominations were announced, as I'm still away and I quite fancied a flutter on Portishead as early as possible.

Instead here's a desperate prediction I posted on another forum, just to get my oar in before the announcement... again, tidy up when I get home.

Certaintie

Duffy
Adele
Kate Nash
Mystery jets
Portishead
Foals
Radiohead
Last Shadow Puppets
Ting Tings


Potential curve balls:

Burial
Jamie Lidell
Neon Neon (probably not critically acclaimed enough)
Robert Wyatt


Others with potential:
Hot Chip
Guillemots
MIA
Coldplay
Elbow


I reckon Portishead to win, if not Radiohead. I think the extraneous circumstances around those two records will pip the post

There's a lot of talk about them, but I kind of hope Burial hasn't entered, I think it'd be kind of dissapointed if he had as I think it'll throw up a few awkward questions he obviously doesn't want to deal with

It's a funny one, with it being all about UK artists, it kind of makes you realise how much 'ahead' the US is in commercial interesting music. You'd have to think Fleet Foxes, MGMT, Vampire Weekend and Hercules & Love Affair would've been good for the money if the shoe was on the other foot

Anyway, back to the Sun...

Soundtrack to this post: Stars

English People Abroad...

...destroying my faith in humanity... one by one

Posting from Summercase Festival, Barcelona with the best and the worst. Will clean up and recap upon returning home!

Soundtrack to this post: The Fucking Kooks and drunk Cockneys on poppers

Pennines

I'm a liar, a thief and a blagard obviously.

I think (well I know I kind of DO) beat myself about posting on here if there's something more important I should be doing. Which there always is one way or another

Anyway, mincing around with my Shuffle on, I keep getting blasted by a band called PENNINES who I must declare as pretty brilliant. 

They've really got that old school Kinsella style emo down to a delicate tee. If you ask me. I've missed them twice in Leeds through no fault of my own, which is a real shame.

They have two tracks for download which you can get from MySpace or Last.FM - I urge you to do so:

Pennines Myspace

Pennines Last.FM

I think they're releasing a single on the fanstastic Big Scary Monsters label in the autumn. Said label have a very entertaining blog here. Lokomotiv TRAiNS are appearing in their football competition soon!

Soundtrack to this post: Pennines (doi)

I Predict A Riot

I'm being absolutely appaling at keeping this up to date, but here's a jovial post to kick off June

I got my Dad to burn me a kind of Best Of of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band the other day, and it's been great to listen. Unexpectedly best off all is their cover of I Predict A Riot, which is bleedin' marvelous

Download below:

https://download.yousendit.com/CA5DE7636C515A63

And I've got a text from my friends Tom & Edith have given birth to a new baby boy (I believe Edith did all the hard work) s0 congratulations to them!!

More soon... honest!!

Soundtrack to this post: Jason Molina Demos

Atlas Sound + The Wrens

My two favourite albums at the moment are:

ATLAS SOUND- Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel

THE WRENS - The Meadowlands

Links and why being professional chefs and musicians are similar in the relationship with their amateur counterpart... when I have more time

Soundtrack to this post: Santogold + Why?

I've said for a while (to myself, and the odd person who listens) that I think the future of an album promotion is with free giveaway downloads, and not the traditional single). In layman's terms, giving away an albums lead single as a free download

It already happens in the alternative scene in the US - SubPop I think giveaway free downloads of their singles. But basically it seems what Coldplay have just done is the perfect way to play people a new direction or similar

The problem in the UK is that the public perception is completely dominated by the Singles Chart. Now if that weren't the case.... everything would be a little more interesting. Coldplay don't have to worry about scoring a number 1 single if they have a number 1 album (or when they can prove 600000 people downloaded one track in 24 hours), but at the minute, pretty everyone else has to worry about chart placings, and porring money down a blackhole of production and marketing

For a discerning artist of today, the hear and now, singles to promote albums is pretty much a fruitless cause. We're moving towards a US model where 'lead' tracks are serviced to press/radio/TV. But that's in the US and that's in the alternative 'scene', and the Pop markets still go full on for Billboard placings

The problem in this country is that the industry isn't big enough to support a self-sustaining alternative side to the industry. It's an interesting quandry, that hopefully gets resolved in the positive. It may create a glass ceiling of achievement away from the pop/entertainment side of the industry, which I think is a good thing. Anyway, maybe the complete devalueing of individual tracks will dramatically improve the value of the album 'package'

Soundtrack to this post: Sky Sports News

Nina Nastasia + Jim White + Boom Bip

I just got round to buying the Nina Nastasisa & Jim White album - You Follow Me. Wonderously haunting I think. 

But I was really suprised on track 5 to find 'Our Discussion' - a track I already knew well as the album closer on Boom Bip's Blue Eyed In The Red Room.

Unfortunately I'm stuck in a Travelodge with terrible internet, otherwise I'd upload both songs, to hear a great song done 2 different ways, but for now, I'll just link to the Last.FM pages:

Boom Bip - The Matter Of Our Discussion (Feat. Nina Nastasia)

Nina Nastasia & Jim White - Our Discussion

Oh, and look who's a similar artist for Jim & Nina, Songs: Ohia. Might have some fun news about him soon

Soundtrack to this post: The Slits, Scott Walker

Daphne & Tings

  

I just heard a Ting Tings song and thought it was Daphne & Celeste. Says something

Soundtrack to this post: Songs Ohia

The Decemberists + Me

I got back from Luxembourg this weekend to find my dad had burnt me copies of the new Colin Meloy Sings Live! album and the first two Decemberists albums - Castaways & Cutouts and Her Majesty. Which was a nice surprise, and was just what I wanted

Everyone around me became a fan of The Crane Wife on it's release last year, but I only thought it was 'alright.' My Dad quickly became a big fan of all things Meloy and it wasn't long before I heard Picaresque ( their last independent album) and I too got pretty obsessed. We were out the other day and talking about the new Meloy live album, which prompted the lend.

There was also a great article with Meloy in The Guardian, describing the process he goes through to write songs, check that out HERE

So I'm on tour with Forward, Russia now, so that's why there's even less posts. Will try and be back soon though

Soundtrack to this post: The National - Alligator

Bjork, Everybody Remixing, DJing

Aww, I need to thank Mr Keep Hope Inside for commenting on my last post, about El Guincho on the new Bjork covers album. I like Keep Hope Inside, it's a blog here

Anyway, Stereogum, great webzine with lots of free tracks, have put together a tribute album of Post by Bjork (having previously done Automatic For The People and Ok Computer to mixed results). You can get all the tracks and info here, I urge you to do so!

Everyone's getting remixes done at the minute. The world seems to be swamped with Foals - Electric Bloom and Radiohead's Nude, after iTunes and Last.Fm are running competitions. I've just finished a remix of This Et Al's Figure Eight and am pretty happy. Think I'm gonna have a crack at the Foals one too. Radiohead aren't having any of my money, thieving bastards (you have to pay for their parts, which cunningly will help them in the pop charts

Finally, I'm DJing tomorrow night, at Art Is Hard in Leeds. I'm currently listening to lots of hot remixes, many nicked off this ace blog. I won't get to play any of them of course, unless I get really pissed

Soundtrack to this post: LCD / Justice etcetera

Bacardi Records

My friend and Dance To The Radio co-founder "Danny Rogers" just emailed this news story to me, which is pretty interesting:

Groove Armada "sign" to Bacardi

This follows a pretty interesting chat with a friend in London about the only money in music now was sponsership, the idea of getting Red Bull to sponser your tour van or Coca Cola to give away your music. Find an idea and then sell it to someone. 

The tour van idea I've actually seen happen. Maximo Park's tour bus in the US had a big ad for Microsoft's equivalent of an iPod. Not really a problem, I guess, and they got free games and free meals. Is this a problem? I haven't thought about this a lot. As long as corporations are enabling original musicians, can you complain too much? Although the destiny where they control the creative output is not too appealing

Anyway, just found this blog, full of El Guincho tracks, so please enjoy:

3 EL GUICHO TRACKS COURTESY OF 'OFF THE RECORD'

Oh, and be prepared for me to moan about Forward Russia reviews like an ungrateful spoilt brat in the next couple of weeks

Soundtrack to this post: El Guincho

London Shuffle

I've been in london again, to see some friends, with some forward russia stuff tagged on the end. But anyway, my friends work in showbiz, and the talk inevitably turns to what's hot in Leeds, and it's been pretty to say

Walking around London with my iPod shuffle opened my eyes (or my ears?) to I guess, how much Leeds music I listen to.I got these 5 in a row at one point, and it made pretty good listening

GRAMMATICS - Myspace / Last.FM

RECORD DEPARTMENT - Myspace / Last.FM

I CONCUR - Myspace / Last.FM

DINOSAUR PILE UP - Myspace / Last.FM

THIS ET AL - Myspace / Last.FM

Soundtrack to this post: this and that

Slow Week

It's wierd when you end up being so busy you can't explain what you've actually achieved? Aimless attempts of doing something worthwhile. 

I've some idea this week actually. A chunk of this week I've been on tour with DUELS, who have proved themselves and their new album to be just about the greatest band / album in recent times. Honestly. Good news is a few people might be picking up on that. 

So, rocked up to Newcastle and York with them, so the great and the good of those cities, Alan ex-Kubichek! and so on. 

On Wednesday I spent the day in Wakefield with my friend Jamie recording tracks for MI MYE, his band / project with all his friends. It sounds great and we're hoping to go out and play a few more gigs live

Skip to Friday and it was the Dance To The Radio alldayer, which was definately good, but definately had it's odd moments. Ida Maria, fuck me. Appaling

Oh and I passed my driving theory test on Tuesday, and I'm booked in my proper test in May. Sodding tour got in the way a bit there though

Music-wise? I dunno, I'm still rocking to Songs:Ohia. Last week I played bass for my friends band International Trust so my scrobbler chart got taken over by that

Read--->Pitchfork Neutral Milk Hotel Interview

Soundtrack to this post: The Shins