Wednesday, June 13, 2007

The Musicians of The British Empire


I recently had the pleasure to witness Billy Chilish's new band, the Musicians of The British Empire. If you like the sound of the review, I'd recommend checking out the album: Punk Rock at the British Legion Hall.

Flights of dark fancy


A gypsy-fairy magical world, embalmed and preserved - if that's your thing.

Bloggy Loggy

For the past seven months I've been plucking the odd string here and there for Nottingham-based The Henry Road. For ten years The Henry Road have been producing wagon pop. An album is due very shortly but in the meantime, you can download all recorded songs for free. 'no way!' I hear you shout. It's real. Go on, delve into the wagon.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Mike's Top 58

Never one to shy away from a challenge (unless it looks quite a hard and then you have to question if the challenge is really a good idea), I too have produced a lovely list of musical joy. My list is a little different to Chris’ as other than the Blues Brothers and Shawshank I can’t think of any other films I would include in a list.. So here I give to you my top 58 albums (I stopped at 5 Beatles albums as I could of happily included them all)..

Beastie Boys - Check Your Head (1992) + Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (1989) + Beatles - Abbey Road (1969) + Beatles - Let it Be...Naked (2003) + Beatles - Revolver (1966) + Beatles - Rubber Soul (1965) + Beatles - White Album (1968) + Beck - Mellow Gold (1994) + Belle & Sebastian - If You Are Feeling Sinister (1996) + Ben Folds Five - Ben Folds Five (1995) + Black Crowes - The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion (1992) + Black Crowes - Amorica (1994) + Bob Dylan - Blonde On Blonde (1966) + Bob Dylan - Bringing It All Back Home (1965) + Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited (1965) + Charlatans - Tellin' Stories (1997) + De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising (1989) + Edan - Beauty And The Beat (2005) + Finley Quaye - Maverick A Strike (1997) + Gomez - Bring It On (1998) + Guns & Roses - Appetite For Destruction (1987) + Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden (1980) + Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II (1969) + Lee Dorsey - Wheelin' and Dealin': The Definitive Collection (1999) + Love - Forever Changes (1967) + Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (1971) + Metallica - Master of Puppets (1986) + Moby Grape - Moby Grape (1967) + Nirvana - Nevermind (1991) + Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power (1992) + Paul Mccartney - Ram (1971) + Pearl Jam - Vs. (1993) + Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (1973) + Primal Scream - Screamadelica (1991) + Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988) + Queen - A Day at the Races (1976) + Queen - A Night at the Opera (1975) + Queen - Sheer Heart Attack (1974) + Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine (1992) + Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet (1968) + Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street (1972) + Sam & Dave - The Very Best of Sam & Dave (1999) + Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) + Sly & The Family Stone - Stand (1969) + Soul Coughing - Ruby Vroom (1994) + Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (1989) + Streets - Original Pirate Material (2002) + Ty - Upwards (2003) + U2 - Rattle and Hum (1988) + Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

EDIT (I missed these)..
Cream - Disraeli Gears (1967)
+ Television - Marquee Moon (1977) + David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust (1972) + The End - Introspection (1969) + The Jam - Setting Sons (1979) + The Who - Tommy (1969) + Howlin' Wolf - His Best, Chess 50th Anniversary Collection (1997) + Jimi Hendrix - The Ultimate Experience (1993)


Monday, June 11, 2007

FAVOURITES

Strangely, ladies are obsessed with lists when organizing stuff, but won't entertain the idea when it comes to important things like favourite albums or films - that's left up to the blokes. So I've decided to put my list here in the hope that others will do the same. So, in no particular order (other than alphabetical):

Albums:
Abbey Road - The Beatles
Led Zepplin II
Midnite Vultures - Beck
Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys
Rejuvenation - The Meters
Strip to the Bone - Howie B feat. Sly and Robbie
Thrust - Herbie Hancock
Young, Gifted and Black - Aretha Franklin

Films:
Easy Rider
Fargo
Jaws
Mulholland Dr.
Oldboy
Seven Samuri
The Shawshank Redemption
This is Spinal Tap

There - I've installed a window directly to my psyche. Give it a go - you may as well, as "YA BUY ONE, YA GET ONE FREE, I SAY YA BUY ONE, YA GET ONE FREE"

ALBUM OF THE WEEK


It's 1975 and Mr Bowie seems to have bought a first-class single ticket on the soul train straight to Philly. Some call it "plastic","synthetic" or "blue-eyed" soul, so don't expect the Temptations or James Brown, but there are some absolute gems on here. It also helps if you try to forget the frizzy haircut on the cover.
You'll recognise "Fame" - it's that ultra-hip funk track that says the word "Fame" a lot in it (co-written with John Lennon)
The song "Young Americans" is a masterful piece of pop-soul-gospel that will have you singing the chorus for hours afterwards.
I reckon that Beck's "Midnite Vultures" record owes bit to this album (and a LOT to Prince) - i.e. taking a sharp turn down funky avenue. Also, take a listen to "Win" - remind you of anything?
It's a short album and is over before you know it. It's got pop, cheese, soul and funk and fun.
"Blacks got respect, and whites got his soul train" - decidedly so, David.