Wednesday 30 December 2009

2009 in Review

Here are some of favourites for the year 2009.

100 Best Songs of 2009
1. "Eid Ma Clack Shaw" - Bill Callahan
2. "The Fixer" - Pearl Jam
3. "Little Lion Man" - Mumford & Sons
4. "A Community Service Announcement" - Jonathon Boulet
5. "Ramona Was a Waitress" - Paul Dempsey
6. "Where Did All the Love Go?" - Kasabian
7. "Running to Stand Still" - Elbow
8. "Down to the Cemetery" - Kid Sam
9. "That Look You Give That Guy" - Eels
10. "Kingdom of Rust" - Doves
11. "Airstream Driver" - Gomez
12. "Cheap and Cheerful" The Kills
13. "Panic Switch" - Silversun Pickups
14. "Silk Suits" - Kram
15. "Blood" - The Middle East
16. "Two Weeks" - Grizzly Bear
17. "Zero" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
18. "Tightrope" - Yeasayer
19. "Lay it Down" - Peter, Bjorn & John
20. "Number With No Name" - Ben Harper & Relentless7
21. "Satellite Skin" - Modest Mouse
22. "Long Way to Go" - Liam Finn & Eliza Jane
23. "Black Wind Blowing" - Mason Jennings
24. "Say Please" - Monsters of Folk
25. "New Fang" - Them Crooked Vultures
26. "The Rakes Song" - The Decemberists
27. "Mexican Mavis" - Boy and Bear
28. "Don't Wait" - The Beautiful Girls
29. "In These Arms" - The Swell Season
30. "I Want Some More" - Dan Auerbach
31. "Bell" - The Mess Hall
32. "White Rose Parade" - Lady of the Sunshine
33. "Just Breathe" - Pearl Jam
34. "You and I" - Wilco (feat Feist)
35. "Percussion Gun" - White Rabbits
36. "I Woke Up Today" - Port O'Brien
37. "Ulysees" - Franz Ferdinand
38. "Thump" - Bertie Blackman
39. "Out the Airlock" - Paul Dempsey
40. "Since We've Been Wrong" - The Mars Volta
41. "No Turning Back" - Sarah Blasko
42. "Pale Horses" - Moby
43. "Crying Lightening" - Arctic Monkeys
44. "Goodtown" - Wagons
45. "Lisztomania" - Phoenix
46. "Set it Right" - Hungry Kids of Hungary
47. "Someone So Much" - Bob Evans
48. "Bloodlines" - Leader Cheetah
49. "Python for a Pillow" - The Fumes
50. "ATX" - Alberta Cross
51. "Fun That We Have" - Julian Plenti
52. "The Price" - Dappled Cities
53. "Foreign Land" - Eskimo Joe
54. "Static Information" - Love of Diagrams
55. "Fugitive" - David Gray
56. "Keep Me in the Dark" - The Fiery Furnaces
57. "I've Got Friends" - Manchester Orchestra"
58. "Lose You" - Peaches
59. "Treat Me Like Your Mother" - The Dead Weather
60. "Convinced Of The Hex" - The Flaming Lips
61. "Chaka Demus" - Jamie T
62. "Sucker" - Jez Mead
63. "One Way Road" - John Butler Trio
64. "For What it's Worth" - Placebo
65. "Sigh No More" - Mumford & Sons
66. "Laughing With" - Regina Spektor
67. "The Uprising" - Muse
68. "Fell Into Me" - Jordie Lane
69. "Brother" - Little Birdy (feat. Paul Kelly)
70. "Get You Back" - Oh Mercy
71. "Dirty Robot" - Lemonheads (feat Kate Moss)
72. "All of the Dreamers" - Powderfinger
73. "While We Wait for the Others" - Grizzly Bear
74. "Keep it Together" - Ben Harper & Relentless7
75. "Sort Of" - Silversun Pickups
76. "Fresh Blood" - Eels
77. "Natural Reaction" - Gomez
78. "Remember Me" - Tame Impala
79. "Compulsion" - Doves
80. "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" - Weezer
81. "My Girls" - Animal Collective
82. "With This Ship" - The Basics
83. "Heart Skipped a Beat" - The xx
84. "Lua" - Conor Oberst and Gillian Welch
85. "Underdog" - Kasabian
86. "Wilco (The Song)" - Wilco
87. "Low Rising" - The Swell Season
88. "Heads Will Roll" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
89. "We're Mostly Made of Water" - Kid Sam
90. "Ain't No Friend of Mine" - Mason Jennings
91. "Fast Friends" - Paul Dempsey
92. "Bracket WI" - Bon Iver
93. "Amongst the Waves" - Pearl Jam
94. "Little Girl" - Sparklehorse (feat Julian Casablancas)
95. "Man Named Truth" - Monsters of Folk
96. "Diamond and a Tether" - Death Cab for Cutie
97. "Lenin" - Arcade Fire
98. "Mountain Song" - Leeroy Lee
99. "No Kind Words" - The Maccabees
100. "Wheels" - Foo Fighters

Favourite Gigs of 2009 (International)
1. Pearl Jam/Ben Harper - Etihad Stadium
2. Gomez - Palais Theatre
3. Neil Young - Big Day Out
4. Elbow - V Festival
5. The Black Keys - Palais Theatre
6. My Morning Jacket - Big Day Out
7. Dr. Dog - Palais Theatre
8. The Kills - V Festival
9. G. Love & Special Sauce - Hi Fi Bar
10. Jack Johnson - Sound Relief
11. TV on the Radio - Big Day Out
12. Gomez (Bring it On 10th Anniversary Show) - The Espy
13. Kaiser Chiefs - V Festival
14. Ben Kweller - Chill City
15. Arctic Monkeys - Big Day Out

Favourite Gigs of 2009 (Australian)
1. Paul Dempsey - Hepburn Springs Palais
2. Midnight Oil - Sound Relief
3. Hunters and Collectors - Sound Relief
4. Paul Kelly - Chill City
5. Mat McHugh - Rubys Lounge
6. John Butler Trio - Chill City
7. The Beautiful Girls - The Espy
8. The Drones - Big Day Out
9. Paul Kelly - Sound Relief
10. Split Enz - Sound Relief

Best Films of 2009
1. Avatar
2. Inglorious Basterds
3. Zombieland!
4. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
5. Watchmen
6. The Hangover
7. Up
8. Star Trek
9. Gran Torino
10. (500) Days of Summer
11. Adventureland
12. District 9
13. The Boat that Rocked
14. Fanboys
15. The Brothers Bloom

Best TV Shows of 2009
1. Dexter
2. Weeds
3. Spicks and Specks
4. Entourage
5. Californication
6. 30 Rock
7. Curb Your Enthusiasm
8. South Park
9. Scrubs
10. The Simpsons
11. Nip/Tuck
12. Bored to Death
13. rage
14. My Name is Earl
15. United States of Tara

Favourite Books Read in 2009
1. A Nest of Occasionals - Tony Martin
2. The Slap - Christos Tsiolkas
3. Firestarter - Stephen King
4. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown
5. High Noon in Nimbin - Robert G. Barrett
6. Christine - Stephen King
7. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
8. The Dead Zone - Stephen King
9. And Then We Came to the End - Joshua Ferris
10. The Shining - Stephen King

Tuesday 29 December 2009

The Best Albums of 2009

Best Albums of 2009
1. Pearl Jam - Backspacer
Key Tracks: "The Fixer", "Just Breathe", "Amongst the Waves", "Gonna See My Friend"

2. Paul Dempsey - Everything is True
Key Tracks: "Out the Airlock", "Ramona Was a Waitress", "Fast Friends", "Bird in a Basement"

3. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
Key Tracks: "Little Lion Man", "Sigh No More", "White Blank Page", "Awake My Soul"

4. Doves - Kingdom of Rust
Key Tracks: "Compulsion", "Kingdom of Rust", "Jetstream", "Winter Hill", "Spellbound".

5. Gomez - A New Tide
Key Tracks: "Airstream Driver", "Natural Reaction", "Little Pieces", "Lost Track", "Other Plans"

6. Eels - Hombre Lobo
Key Tracks: "Fresh Blood", "Tremendous Dynamite", "That Look You Give That Guy", "Prizefighter", "In My Dreams"

7. Kasabian - The West Rider Pauper Lunatic
Key Tracks: "Where Did All the Love Go", "Underdog", "Fast Fuse", "Vlad the Imapler", "Fire"

8. Monsters of Folk - Self Titled
Key Tracks: "Say Please", "Magic Marker", "Man Named Truth", "Goodway".

9. Mason Jennings - Blood of Man
Key Tracks: "Black Wind Blowing", "Ain't No Friend of Mine", "The Tourist", "The Field"

10. Kram - Mixtape
Key Tracks: "Silk Suits", "Ridin' High", "Satellite", "Burnin Sands"

11. Silversun Pickups - Swoon
Key Tracks: "Panic Switch", "There's No Secrets This Year", "Sort Of", "Surrounded"

12. Them Crooked Vultures - Self-Titled
Key Tracks: "New Fang", "Mind Eraser, No Chaser", "Scumbag Blues", "No-one Loves Me & Neither Do I".

13. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
Key Tracks: "The Rake's Song", "The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid", "Annan Water", The Hazards of Love 1"

14. Ben Harper and Relentless7 - White Lies for Dark Times
Key Tracks: "Number With No Name", "Keep it Together", "Boots Like These", "Shimmer and Shine

15. The Swell Season - Strict Joy
Key Tracks: "Low Rising", "In These Arms", "Fantasy Man", "The Rain"

16. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
Key Tracks: "Heads Will Roll", "Shame and Fortune", "Zero", "Soft Shock"

17. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
Key Tracks: "Two Weeks", "Foreground", "While We Wait for the Others", "Southern Point"

18. Sarah Blasko - As Day Follows Night
Key Tracks: "No Turning Back", "We Won't Run", "All I Want", "Bird on a Wire"

19. Wilco - Wilco (the Album)
Key Tracks: "Wilco (The Song)", "One Wing", "You and I (feat Feist)", "I'll Fight"

20. The Mars Volta - Octahedron
Key Tracks: "Cotopaxi", "With Twilight As My Guide", "Teflon", "Halo Of Nembutals"

21. Bob Evans - Goodnight, Bull Creek!
Key Tracks: "Pasha Balker", "Someone So Much", Hand Me Downs", "Brother O Brother"

22. Jamie T - Kings & Queens
Key Tracks: "Chaka Demus", "Sticks N Stones", "Emily's Heart", "Spiders Web"

23. The Middle East - The Recordings of the Middle East
Key Tracks: "Blood", "The Darkest Side", "Lonely", "Fools Gold"

24. David Gray - Draw the Line
Key Tracks: "Fugitive", "Nemesis", "Draw the Line", "Full Steam"

25. Powderfinger - Golden Rule
Key Tracks: "Iberian Dream", "All of the Dreamers", "Burn Your Name", "Jewel"

26. Alberta Cross - Broken Side of Time
Key Tracks: "ATX", "Taking Control", "City Walls", "Song Three Blues"

27. Dan Auerbach - Keep it Hid
Key Tracks: "I Wan't Some More", Street Walkin'", "The Prowl", "Trouble Weighs a Ton

28. Lady of the Sunshine - Smoking Gun
Key Tracks: "White Rose Parade", "The Wolf", "Kings Black Magic", "Smoking Gun"

29. Franz Ferdinand - Tonight:
Key Tracks: "Ulysees", "Turn it On", "No You Girls", "Twilight Owens".

30. Peaches - I Feel Cream
Key Tracks: "Talk To Me", "Trick or Treat", "Serpentine", "I Feel Cream"

Tuesday 24 November 2009

Pearl Jam - Gig Review - Etihad Stadium - Nov 20th 2009

The news that Pearl Jam and Ben Harper would be playing on the same bill was a source of great excitement to me which only grew after hearing Backspacer which is their best album since Vs in my opinion. My friends shared my sentiments and a posse of over 10 people was quickly formed as the countdown to the 20th November begun. After leaving work early at 4pm, we all congregated at a close-by pub to get a few beers into us before Ben Harper started. We timed it perfectly, arriving just as the great man got on stage to play the unreleased track "I Will Not be Broken". By the time we made it down to our spot in the Fixer field (Front GA) we were treated to the first of the nights countless highlights with the suprise inclusion of "Faded" which sounded just as good a did with his original band. "Number With No Name" was next which is one of my faves from the new album. Eddie Vedder was then invited on stage for an awesome duet with Harper on the Queen/Bowie classic "Under Pressure". They sounded great together and even inproved on the original with Harper hitting some awe inspiring notes and Vedder treating the crowd to an early taste of his distinctive vocals. Harper then treated the crowd to another of his classics with "Diamonds on the Inside" much to the delight of the many fans of Harper's earlier tunes, myself included. The band finsihed the set with some tracks from this years White Lies for Dark Times and another new track called "Rock N Roll is Free" which sounded quite good as well. The lineup for drinks was a pisstake and I missed more than I would have liked of the second half of Harper's set but could hear it pretty well.

Pearl Jam wasted no time when it came to playing the songs the crows wanted to hear opening with the laid back "Elderly Woman" from their best album Vs followed by the more energetic "Corduroy" and "Animal". By the time one-two combo of "Even Flow" and "Oceans" was played to an extremely appreciative crowd I was aware that I was witnessing something more than an average touring rock show, well aware that the set so far was quite different to the previous shows at Perth and Adelaide. It is rare for international artists or even locals for that metter to play a different set for each gig and is one of the many reasons that I rate this gig as my favourite of all time. They ticked every box required for the perfect performance as they played plenty of their hits, a few covers, some special guests, a few unexpected rarities and it went for 2 and a half hours. The group of friends I went with all shared the same opinion and the best was yet to come. Other highlights from the main set included "Given to Fly" (dedicated to my favourite footballer Richo), "The Fixer" and "Do the Evolution".

As good as the main set was, the two encores that followed were nothing short of perfect. Eddie Vedder came out by himself to rapturous applause armed only with his acoustic guitar to play a chilling version of Neil Young's "The Needle and the Damage Done" which is one of my favourite songs ever. This was followed by another acoustic track "Just Breathe" from the new album which sounded great. The first very special guest, Ben Harper, was then invited on stage for a couple tracks, first on slide guitar only on "Red Mosquito" and then shared the vocals on the highlight of the night "Indifference". It was the track I was most hoping to hear and was every bit as good as I'd hoped. I would have been quite happy for the gig to end there but there were 10 more classics yet to come. To finish the first encore we were treated to 4 in a row from the classic debut Ten, the highlight being "Jeremy" as the 50,000 strong crowd sang along.

The 2nd encore begun with a rousing version of one of Australia's greatest songs, "Throw Your Arms Around Me" joined by Liam Finn on vocals which envoked another heartfelt sing-along from the crowd. By the time "Black", "Spin the Black Circle" and "Alive" were played I was entirely exhausted and completely blown away by the calvacade of hits I had witnessed and I was not the Lone Ranger. The concert finished with a great version of The Who's classic "Baba O'Reilly" and popular B-side "Yellow Ledbetter" featuring some wicked AC/DC riffage. After 32 tracks and 2 and a half hours of madness I was spent and ready for home.
Best. Gig. Ever.

Set List: Elderly Woman, Corduroy, Animal, Got Some, Brother, Amongst The Waves, Even Flow, Oceans, Lukin, Green Disease, Force of Nature, Present Tense, Gonne See My Friend, Given To Fly, Daughter / Another Brick In The Wall Part 2-(Waters), Glorified G, The Fixer, Do the Evolution,

1st encore: The Needle And The Damage Done-(Young), Just Breathe, Red Mosquito w/ Ben Harper, Indifference w/ Ben Harper, Jeremy, Deep, Why Go, Porch

2nd encore: Throw Your Arms Around Me w/ Liam Finn-(Archer, Falconer, Howard, Miles, Seymour, Smith, Waters), Black, Spin The Black Circle, Alive, Baba O'Riley (Townshend), Yellow Ledbetter / AC/DC Medley-(Scott, Young, Young)

Friday 30 October 2009

Them Crooked Vultures - New Fang

Them Crooked Vultures have finally released the first taste from their upcoming and greatly anticipated debut album and it's a ripper. For those unaware of the supergroup, the band features Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) on guitar and lead vocal, Dave Grohl on drums on backing vocal and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) on bass. It features Homme's signature guitar sound and it's great to hear Grohl back behind the drums.
Australia will be the first country to get the album when it lands on our shores November 13th before the worldwide release on November 17th. Those wanting to see the rock gods in action will get the chance next year when they play 4 date tour around Australia in January. See the dates below.

Tue Jan 19 – Challenge Stadium, Perth
Fri Jan 22 – Festival Hall, Melbourne
Mon Jan 25 – Riverstage, Brisbane
Tue Jan 26 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney



Monday 31 August 2009

Paul Dempsey - Everything is True - Album Review

*****
On his debut solo album, Paul Dempsey has kept everything that is great about Something for Kate and made a fresh and unique sound that I can't get enough of. I've been listening to this album on repeat for over 2 weeks now and have not come close to tiring of it yet. Even the latest single "Romona Was a Waitress" which is getting fairly heavy airplay still sounds fresh. The songwriting on Everything is True is Dempsey's strongest effort since SFK's Elsewhere for 8 Minutes and the simple yet catchy acoustic guitar is the perfect accompaniment to his clever and insightful lyrics. All the instruments on the album are played by Dempsey and he also wrote and co-produced the debut with Wayne Connolly, who has previously worked with The Fauves and Josh Pyke, proving that he is truly one of Australia's most talented artists. It's hard to pick highlights on such a strong album but I am really loving "Fast Friends", "Bird in a Basement" and current single "Romona Was a Waitress". The bonus disc features four covers played acoustically and is a nice addition, if only for the great MGMT cover of "Time to Pretend. You can find his cover version of classic 90's Teenage Fanclub track "Sparky's Dream" on iTunes as well which is probably my favourite of the cover versions. This fantasic debut is the current leader for Album of the Year at this stage and I am looking forward to seeing a full live show at the Palais in Hepburn Springs on the 11th Sept, having seen a sneak preview at RRR's Performance Space in July before hearing the album. I strongly receommend this album, even if for some stupid reason Something for Kate is not your cup of tea. 5 out of 5.

Everything is True
1. Bats
2. Fast Friends
3. Out The Airlock
4. Ramona Was A Waitress
5. Take Us To Your Leader
6. Bird In A Basement
7. Theme From Nice Guy
8. Have You Fallen Out Of Love?
9. The Great Optimist
10. Safety In Numbness
11. Man Of The Moment

Counterfeits and Forgeries
1. Time to Pretend (MGMT)
2. Heaven (Talking Heads)
3. So Like Candy (Elvis Costello)
4. Disappearer (Sonic Youth)
5. Sparky's Dream (Teenage Fanclub) iTunes Bonus Track

Here are the latest tour dates for Paul Dempsey

Thurs 10 September – Ruby’s Lounge
Fri 11 September – The Palais, Hepburn Springs
Sat 12 September – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Wed 16 September – Lizottes, Kincumber
Thurs 17 September – Wollongong University, Wollongong
Fri 18 September – Brewery, Newcastle
Sat 19 September – Manning Bar, Sydney
Fri 25 September – The Sound Lounge, Gold Coast
Sat 26 September – The Zoo, Brisbane
Thurs 1 October – The Gov, Adelaide
Fri 2 October – Rosemount Hotel, Perth
Sat 3 October – Fly By Night Club, Fremantle
Fri 9 October – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
Sat 10 October – Westernport Hotel, San Remo





Thursday 20 August 2009

David Gray - New Single and Album

1. Fugitive
2. Draw The Line
3. Nemesis
4. Jackdaw
5. Kathleen
6. First Chance
7. Harder
8. Transformation
9. Stella The Artist
10. Breathe
11. Full Steam

David Gray has just released an excellent video for "Fugitive" which will be the first single from his forthcoming album Draw the Line due out on September 22. It's another great upbeat piano driven classic from the UK singer who hasn't released an album in 4 years. See below for the latest video for David Gray and a couple of classics.






Thursday 6 August 2009

Falls Festival 09/10 - 1st Lineup Announcement

The 1st announcement for this years Falls Festival has come out a week early due to a leak and it looks to be another solid lineup for 3 day festival. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Future of the Left and Grizzly Bear were long rumoured to be appearing and have now been confirmed in the eclectic lineup that has something to please everyone. This lineup will be shared with the rest of Australia with Brisbane's Sunset Sounds Festival on the 6th and 7th January 2010 as well as Perth on January 8-10, 2010 for the Southbound Festival. The Falls Festival will be held in Lorne, Victoria as per usual and be held over the new year period from the 29th December 09- 1st January 2010. Those wanting a ticket should head to the website www.fallsfestival.com to register as they will be harder to acquire than ever before with this stellar lineup.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs / Moby / Hilltop Hoods / Grizzly Bear / Rodrigo y Gabriela /The Temper Trap / Xavier Rudd / Emiliana Torrini / Little Birdy / Midnight Juggernauts / Andrew Bird / Lyrics Born / Chairlift / King Kahn and The Shrines / Editors / Philadelphia Grand Jury / Kaki King / Sarah Blasko / Art vs Science / DJ Yoda / Liam Finn / Lisa Mitchell / Major Lazer Soundsystem (DJ Set) / Patrick Watson / Seasick Steve / The View / Urthboy / White Rabbits / Future Of The Left / Killaqueenz (Lorne Only) / Yves Klein Blue / The John Steel Singers

Modest Mouse - King Rat - Music Video

Here is the latest video clip fopr "King Rat" from the new Modest Mouse rarities EP, No One's First, and You're Next. It was directed by the late Heath Leadger and is a fantastic animated clip and a great song too. Ledger's first music video attempt was for Ben Harper's "Morning Yearning" which was also an excellent clip. Enjoy.


Wednesday 5 August 2009

Pearl Jam with Ben Harper and Relentless7 & Liam Finn - Aust & NZ Tour

Pearl Jam have just announced that they are returning to Australia to tour their upcoming album Backspacer, due out on September 14th. To make the gig even more enticingthey have brought along Ben Harper and Relentless7 and Liam Finn to support them. All shows will be held at larger stadium venues with only one show for each city. This will be my second time seeing Pearl Jam after catching their epic two and a half hour show at the Myer Music Bowl in 1995. I was one of the few who had actually purchased a ticket after about 10,000 charged into the gig through a knocked down fence. It was one of my first concerts and I managed to get right up the front which was quickly abondoned when Pearl Jam got on stage as I was getting crushed. I managed to crowd surf (my first and only experience) my way further back for a better position and was treated to an excellent set of hits lasting 2 and a half hours including a great cover of "Throw Your Arms Around Me".

Ben Harper is one of my favourite artists and I am looking forward to seeing him for the sixth time, this time with a new backing band and new songs. Unfortunately his excellent back catalogue will most likely be left behind for his new material but I did enjoy the new direction of White Lies for Dark Times. My first time seeing Ben Harper live was at the Offshore Festival at Torquay in 1999 and I became an instant fan when he opened with Pearl Jam's "Indifference". Hopefully Harper will join Pearl Jam on this tour to colloborate on one of my favourite songs on this tour. The version they did together (see below) on Triple J in 2001 is my favourite live performance ever.
Liam Finn will be opening all the shows in Aus and NZ bringing some new tracks from forthcoming EP Champagne in Seashells which includes the catchy new single "Long Way To Go". See below for dates and be sure to get in quick as they will be sure to sell out fast.
Tickets go on Sale Monday 17th August.

Tour Dates:
Friday, 20 November, 2009: Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Ticketmaster - www.ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100
6pm - Liam Finn
7pm - Ben Harper and Relentless7
8.30pm - Pearl Jam

Sunday, 22 November, 2009: Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Ticketek - www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849

Wednesday, 25 November, 2009: QSAC Stadium, Brisbane
Ticketek - www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849

Friday, 27 November, 2009: Mt Smart, Auckland, New Zealand
Ticketek: www.ticketek.co.nz or 0800 842538

Sunday, 29 November, 2009: AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand
Ticketek: www.ticketek.co.nz or 0800 842538

Ticket Prices are about $125 for Gold and $99 for Silver + BF.

Monday 3 August 2009

Gomez - A New Tour 2009 - Australia

October sees Gomez heading to Australia for the umpteenth time and for the second time this year. This time around they've got a fantastic new album, A New Tide, to show off.I have been lucky enough to witness the awesome live show of Gomez five times including their first tour in 2000, an excellent set at Spendour in the Grass in 2002 and their recreation of the album Bring it On at the Espy earlier this year. Gomez have always put on a good show and I'm sure this tour will be no exception. See below for the dates announced so far. Tickets for all shows are about $60 + BF.

Thursday October 22 • METRO THEATRE • SYDNEY
Saturday October 24 • ANU BAR • ANU, CANBERRA
Sunday October 25 • HI FI BAR AND BALLROOM • BRISBANE
Wednesday October 28 • HI FI BAR AND BALLROOM • MELBOURNE
Friday October 30 • THE GOV • ADELAIDE
Saturday October 31 • FLY BY NIGHT • FREMANTLE
Sunday November 1 • FLY BY NIGHT • FREMANTLE

ALL TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY AUGUST 3RD

AVAILABLE from http://shop.lovepolice.com.au/lovepolicetours.products/tickets/gomez2009tour

Thursday 30 July 2009

Mason Jennings - New Album

Mason Jennings has announced that his 8th studio album, Blood of Man, will be released on the 15th September 2009. This is Mason's 2nd release for Jack Johnson's label Brushfire Records and I am looking forward to hearing it more than any other release on this years schedule. The new album was produced by Mason and he has also played all the instruments for the first time.

For my money, Mason Jennings is the greatest songwriter of our time and is very underrated, especially in Australia. For anyone who has not heard Mason Jennings before, do yourself a favour and give him a try. His distinctive voice and ability to write clever, amusing and thoughtful lyrics should make him as popular as his label boss Jack Johnson, but unfortunately mentioning his name usually ellicits blank stares. Hopefully this album will be the one that breaks him as artist and it might entice to make another trip down to Australia. I was lucky enough to see him twice on a weekend back in 2003 when he supported The Beautiful Girls and his version of "Bulls on Parade" on an acoustic guitar is one of the best live covers I have ever seen. Here is a statement from the man himself on the upcoming album:

“I can’t wait to get out on the road and play the new songs from Blood of Man. This batch of songs is so intensely personal, so dark, and so rocking that I am a little afraid of what will happen. That’s why I am bringing out my good friends Brian McLeod on drums and Chris Morrissey on bass. I will be playing a lot of electric guitar and I can honestly say that I have no idea what will be conjured up. I only know that it will be really open, really loud and really real.” -Mason Jennings

Here is a great short film with Mason discussing the new album Blood of Man. I also found a couple of songs played acoustic from the new album and some classic Mason for newcomers.









(Not Official Video)


Thursday 23 July 2009

Homebake 09 - First Announcement

Australia's premier homegrown music festival is back for it's 15th year and features some of the country's best bands and as usual some unexpected acts from yesteryear. The most exciting announcement for me is 90's stoner rock legends Tumbleweed who I have seen play excellent sets at a number of festivals. Hopefully they will some more shows around Australia around the time of Homebake. Powderfinger will likely have a swag of brand new tracks to road test as well as they are currently in the studio recording their 7th studio album.

POWDERFINGER, JET, HILLTOP HOODS, ESKIMO JOE, SIA, DANIEL MERRIWEATHER, MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS, SARAH BLASKO, A special best of performance by TIM FINN, CLOSURE IN MOSCOW, TIKI TAANE (NZ), SHORT STACK, UNDERGROUND LOVERS (original line-up) PHRASE, DECODER RING, BUMBLEBEEZ, TUMBLEWEED (original line-up), EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING, ROWLAND S HOWARD (together with Mick Harvey, JP Shiloh & Lindsay Gravina), THE FUNKOARS, THE MIDDLE EAST, THE ASTON SHUFFLE, SUGAR ARMY, RECORD PRODUCER, SHOCKONE + many more still to be announced
Featuring…FOUR STAGES (Main Stage, The Big Top, The Dome & The Hopetoun Stage) THE HOMEBAKE CINEMA PAVILION (bigger and better than ever), MULTIMEDIA, INTERNATIONAL FOOD FAIR, MARKET STALLS, ROVING PERFORMERS, ARTIST SIGNING TENT (ALL PROCEEDS TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY http://www.habitat.org.au, RIDES, YOUTH & COMMUNITY INFORMATION & AWARENESS STALLS & more!
SATURDAY DECEMBER 5TH, 2009The Domain, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney City, NSW Australia ON SALE MONDAY AUGUST 17TH, 2009 9.00AM - OVER 18’s ONLY
* Moshtix phonecharge: Ph 1300 438 849 or web: http://www.moshtix.com.au








Thursday 9 July 2009

Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time - List

Here is 100-1 of Triple J's Hottest 100 of All Time that has been counting since Tuesday. They whole countdown will be replayed over this weekend but they have been revealing 20 a day and so far it has been an excellent list. Good to see some AC/DC, Johnny Cash, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin as well as some newer stuff like Bon Iver, Modest Mouse, Jeff Buckley and The Shins. I will update the list as the countdown continues. The final 20 of the countdown will not be revealed until Sunday afternoon.
1. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
2. Rage Against the Machine - Killing In The Name
3. Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
4. Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart
5. Radiohead - Paranoid Android
6. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
7. Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye
8. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under The Bridge
9. Foo Fighters - Everlong
10. Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
11. John Lennon - Imagine
12. Oasis - Wonderwall
13. Radiohead - Creep
14. The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony
15. Radiohead - Karma Police
16. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
17. Hilltop Hoods - The Nosebleed Section
18. Muse - Knights Of Cydonia
19. Metallica - One
20. White Stripes - Seven Nation Army
21. Powderfinger - These Days
22. Massive Attack - Teardrop
23. Hunters & Collectors - Throw Your Arms Around Me
24. The Beatles - A Day in the Life
25. Pearl Jam - Alive
26. Michael Jackson - Thriller
27. Powderfinger - My Happiness
28. Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees
29. Pixies - Where Is My Mind?
30. Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower
31. Metallica - Enter Sandman
32. New Order - Blue Monday
33. Silverchair - Tomorrow
34. The Living End - Prisoner Of Society
35. Smashing Pumpkins - 1979
36. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Into My Arms
37. Tool - Stinkfist
38. The Killers - Mr Brightside
39. Pearl Jam - Better Man
40. Nirvana - Come As You Are
41. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
42. Bloc Party - Banquet
43. The Beach Boys - God Only Knows
44. The Beatles - Hey Jude
45. Queens of the Stone Age - No One Knows
46. Faith No More - Epic
47. John Butler Trio - Betterman
48. Beastie Boys - Sabotage
49. Guns 'N Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
50. Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over
51. Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet With Butterfly Wings
52. You Am I - Berlin Chair
53. Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
54. The Cure - Close To Me
55. Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone
56. Jeff Buckley - Lover, You Should Have Come Over
57. Tool - Forty Six & 2
58. Daft Punk - Around The World
59. Augie March - One Crowded Hour
60. Johnny Cash - Hurt
61. Blur - Song 2
62. Nine Inch Nails - Closer
63. AC/DC - Thunderstruck
64. Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun
65. Underworld - Born Slippy
66. Elton John - Tiny Dancer
67. Ben Folds Five - Brick
68. Blink 182 - Dammit
69. Jeff Buckley - Grace
70. The Prodigy - Breathe
71. The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?
72. The Shins - New Slang
73. The Clash - London Calling
74. Nirvana - Lithium
75. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)
76. The Stone Roses - Fools Gold
77. Gotye - Hearts A Mess
78. Smashing Pumpkins - Today
79. David Bowie - Life on Mars
80. The Rolling Stones - Paint It Black
81. Pulp - Common People
82. System Of A Down - Chop Suey!
83. Placebo - Every You Every Me
84. Bob Marley & The Wailers - No Woman, No Cry
85. The Dandy Warhols - Bohemian Like You
86. The Beatles - Come Together
87. Coldplay - Yellow
88. The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
89. Rage Against the Machine - Bulls On Parade
90. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire
91. AC/DC - Back In Black
92. Bon Iver - Skinny Love
93. Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy
94. Modest Mouse - Float On
95. Stevie Wonder - Superstition
96. Daft Punk - One More Time
97. Midnight Oil - Beds Are Burning
98. Led Zeppelin - Kashmir
99. TV on the Radio - Wolf Like Me
100. Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out

Tuesday 7 July 2009

New Beastie Boys Album - (Updated 22.7.09) MCA diagnosed with cancer.

Tracklist
1. Tadlock's Glasses
2. B-Boys In The Cut
3. Make Some Noise
4. Nonstop Disco Powerpack
5. OK
6. Too Many Rappers (featuring NAS)
7. Say It
8. The Bill Harper Collection
9. Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win (featuring Santigold)
10. Long Burn The Fire
11. Bundt Cake
12. Funky Donkey
13. Lee Majors Come Again
14. Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament
15. Pop Your Balloon
16. Crazy Ass Shit
17. Here's A Little Something For Ya

Beastie Boys have released the details of their 8th studio album Hot Sauce Commitee Part 1. This is their first vocal album in 5 years after releasing the funky instrumental album The Mix Up in 2007. It is planned for release on September 15th 2009(Now T.B.A.) with Hot Sauce Commitee Part 2 also on the way according to Mike D:

"Pt. 2 is pretty much done. Basically we were making ...Pt 1, had too many songs, so we recorded some more songs. Which sounds bizarre but it actually worked out, because it made it clear to us which songs were going to be on ...Pt 1. Then we had this whole other album of songs: ...Pt 2. ...Pt 1’s going to be your regular CD in the stores and to download, but ...Pt 2 is going to be released in...we’re still figuring it out, but a different way. More of a 2009 style. You could get in the shower one day and, boom, all of a sudden you’re showered with MP3s. Or we might send people a seven-inch every few weeks, so you have a whole box set".

The first taste of the album "Lee Majors Come Again" is the upcoming first single from the album and is a return to their earlier raw punk sound although it may be just a demo version. You can check out the audio below.

Adam Yauch (MCA) has just announced that he has been diagnosed with cancer and the new album will now be postponed. The good news is that surgery should be able to remove the cancer growth found in his glands without damaging his vocal chords. See the You Tube clip below to hear it from MCA himself.




Thursday 2 July 2009

Tuesday 30 June 2009

Best Albums of 2009 (So Far)

Here's what I've been listening to and liking so this year.

1. Eels - Hombre Lobo
Key Tracks: "Fresh Blood", "Tremendous Dynamite", "That Look You Give That Guy", "Prizefighter", "In My Dreams",

2. Doves - Kingdom of Rust
Key Tracks: "Compulsion", "Kingdom of Rust", "Jetstream", "Winter Hill", "Spellbound".

3. Gomez - A New Tide
Key Tracks: "Airstream Driver", "Natural Reaction", "Little Pieces", "Lost Track", "Other Plans"

4. Kram - Mixtape
Key Tracks: "Silk Suits", "Ridin' High", "Satellite", "Burnin Sands"

5. Kasabian - The West Rider Pauper Lunatic
Key Tracks: "Underdog", "Fast Fuse", "Vlad the Imapler", "Fire"

6. Silversun Pickups - Swoon
Key Tracks: "Panic Switch", "There's No Secrets This Year", "Sort Of", "Surrounded"

7. Ben Harper and Relentless7 - White Lies for Dark Times
Key Tracks: "Number With No Name", "Keep it Together", "Boots Like These", "Shimmer and Shine"

8. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
Key Tracks: "The Rake's Song", "The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid", "Annan Water",

9. The Mars Volta - Octahedron
Key Tracks: "Cotopaxi", "With Twilight As My Guide", "Teflon", "Halo Of Nembutals"

10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Its Blitz!
Key Tracks: "Heads Will Roll", "Shame and Fortune", "Zero", "Soft Shock"

11. Lady of the Sunshine - Smoking Gun
Key Tracks: "White Rose Parade", "The Wolf", "Kings Black Magic", "Smoking Gun"

12. Dan Auerbach - Keep it Hid
Key Tracks: "I Wan't Some More", Street Walkin'", "The Prowl", "Trouble Weighs a Ton

13. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
Key Tracks: "Two Weeks", "Foreground", "Fine for Now", "Southern Point"

14. Bob Evans - Goodnight, Bull Creek!
Key Tracks: "Pasha Balker", "Someone So Much", Hand Me Downs", "Brother O Brother"

15. The Temper Trap - Conditions
Key tracks: "Sweet Disposition", "Science of Fear", "Love Lost", "Fader"

16. Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish I Were an Eagle
Key Tracks: "Eid Ma Clack Shaw", "Faith/Void", "Too Many Birds", "Jim McCain"

17. Franz Ferdinand - Tonight
Key Tracks: "Ulysees", "Turn it On", "No You Girls", "Twilight Owens"

18. Peaches - I Feel Cream
"Talk To Me", "Trick or Treat", "Serpentine", "I Feel Cream"

19. Wilco - Wilco (the Album)
Key Tracks: "Wilco (The Song)", "One Wing", "You and I (feat Feist)", "I'll Fight"

20. Eskimo Joe - Inshalla
"Foreign Land", "Losing Friends Over Love", "Childhood Behaviour", "Inshalla"

21. Placebo - Battle for the Sun
Key Tracks: "For What it's Worth", "Battle for the Sun", "Ashtray Heart"

22. Regina Spektor - Far
Key Tracks: "Laughing With", "Blue Lips", "Machine", "Dance Anthem of the 80's"

23. Daniel Merriweather - Love & War
Key Tracks: "Change", "Chainsaw", "For Your Money", "Giving Everything Away For Free"

24. The Lemonheads - Vashions
Key Tracks: "Dirty Robot (feat Kate Moss)", "Yesterlove", "Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye (feat Liv Tyler)", "Waiting Around to Die"

25. Little Birdy - Confetti
Key Tracks: "Summarize", "Brother (feat Paul Kelly)", "Crazy", "Run Run Run"

Most Played Albums From Past 6 months (Last FM)
1 Gomez – A New Tide - 171
2 Kram – Mix Tape - 130
3 Eels – Hombre Lobo - 130
4 Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid - 129
5 Lady Of The Sunshine – Smoking Gun - 126
6 Gomez – How We Operate - 120
7 Doves – Kingdom of Rust - 118
8 The Black Keys – Attack and Release - 117
9 Mason Jennings – Boneclouds - 113
10 Ben Harper – Fight for Your Mind -106
11 Dan Auerbach – Keep It Hid -105
11 Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It's Blitz! -105
13 You Am I – Hi Fi Way -98
14 Bob Evans – Goodnight, Bull Creek! -97
15 TV on the Radio – Dear Science, -93
16 You Am I – Dilettantes-92
17 Mat McHugh – Seperatista! -92
18 The Arcade Fire – Neon Bible -88
19 Ben Harper and Relentless7 – White Lies For Dark Times -88
20 Dr. Dog – Fate - 87

Most Played Artists From Past 6 months (Last FM)
1 Gomez - 451
2 Elbow - 267
3 You Am I -259
4 Doves -240
5 Eels -237
6 Mason Jennings -227
7 The Black Keys -211
8 Ben Harper -194
9 The Beautiful Girls -140
10 Kram -133
11 Ween -132
11 Arcade Fire -132
13 Yeah Yeah Yeahs -128
14 Lady Of The Sunshine -127
15 TV on the Radio -125
16 The Kills -113
17 Elliott Smith -109
18 Silversun Pickups -107
19 Bob Evans -106
20 Dan Auerbach -105

Most Played Songs From Past 6 months (Last FM)
1 Elbow – Grounds for Divorce - 33
2 The Kills – Cheap and Cheerful - 33
3 Gomez – Airstream Driver - 32
4 Ben Harper and Relentless7 – Number With No Name - 30
5 AC/DC – Ride On - 29
6 Bill Callahan – Eid Ma Clack Shaw - 28
7 Dan Auerbach – I Want Some More - 28
8 Kram – Silk Suits - 27
9 The Black Keys – Strange Times - 27
10 Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero - 26
11 Tame Impala – Half Full Glass Of Wine - 25
12 Elbow – Running To Stand Still (U2) - 24
13 My Morning Jacket – I'm Amazed - 24
14 Lady Of The Sunshine – White Rose Parade - 23
15 Kram – Ridin High - 23
16 Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll - 23
17 Arcade Fire – Lenin - 22
18 Doves – Compulsion - 22
19 Franz Ferdinand – Ulysses - 21
20 Ben Harper – Mamas Trippin (Freedom Mix) - 21
21 Sting – Fields of Gold - 21
22 Elbow – The Bones of You - 21
23 Conor Oberst with Gillian Welch – Lua - 20
24 Cold War Kids – Something Is Not Right With Me - 20
25 Gomez – Machismo - 20
26 Dr. Dog – Army of Ancients - 20
27 TV on the Radio – Golden Age - 20
28 The Beautiful Girls – Periscopes - 20
29 Babybird – Bad Old Man - 20
30 Doves – Kingdom of Rust - 20
31 The Beautiful Girls – I Thought About You - 20
32 Bob Evans – Someone So Much - 20
33 Peter Bjorn and John – Lay It Down - 20
34 Gomez – Notice - 20
35 Gomez – Natural Reaction - 19
36 Regurgitator – Track One - 19
37 Lady Of The Sunshine – The Wolf - 19
38 Yeasayer – Tightrope - 19
39 Lady Of The Sunshine – big jet plane - 19
40 Machine Gun Fellatio – Unsent Letter (acoustic) - 19
41 Beastie Boys – Sabotage - 19
42 Radiohead – Paranoid Android - 19
43 Gomez – If I Ask You Nicely - 18
44 The Do – On my shoulders - 18
45 Mat McHugh – Numb - 18
46 Stone Temple Pilots – Meat Plow - 18
47 M.I.A. – Paper Planes - 18
48 Gomez – Sunset Gates - 18
49 The Smashing Pumpkins – 1979 - 18
50 Sia – Breathe Me 17

Friday 26 June 2009

Blueprint Festival 09 - 3rd round of Artists added


The latest festival to hit Victoria features one of the best all Autralian line-ups ever put together in my opinion. Headlining the new event is Oz rock legends Jebediah who have not played together for a few years and should be reason enough to get yourself a ticket and head down to Ararat. Having seen the Jebs play many a festival set I am greatly anticiapting this reunion to see if Kevin Mitchell can still rock out after unplugging as Bob Evans for the last few years. The Beautiful Girls are also back on the touring circuit after taking most of the last 2 years off and having seen them more than any other band will be looking forward to seeing them again. The huge lineup features some of Australia's finest Roots artists including Ash Grunwald, Old Man River, Blue King Brown, Wagons and up and coming Gold Coast funksters Tijuana Cartel playing their first shows in Victoria. Tim Rogers and Claire Bowditch are also worthy additions to the lineup after being added in the final round of announcements. Transport to the festival from Melbourne by coach has also been organised to make it easier for those without cars.
The festival has gone to great effort to make this festival unique with a beer hall featuring micro brews on tap, a seated restaurant, a massive market and a large garden set up in front of one of the stages.
Tickets are now $120 after the first 2 rounds of tickets selling out. For all the details on how to get there and all other information go to the official website http://www.blueprintfestival.com/website/home.html.

18th-21st September 2009, Ararat, Victoria
Jebediah / The Panics / The Beautiful Girls / Tim Rogers / Ash Grunwald/ Galvatrons/ Blue King Brown / Bertie Blackman / Claire Bowditch / Shane Nicholson / Old Man River / The Basics / Tijuana Cartel /Wagons / Phrase / Drapht / Resin Dogs /The Boat People / Epicure / Hungry Kids Of Hungary / Calling all Cars / Pablo Discobar / The Dirty Secrets / Red Ink / Bonjah / Funkoars / Ryan Meeking and The Few / The Hello Morning / The Frowning Clouds / The Fearless Vampire Killers / Matt Joe Gow and The Dead Leaves / The Vandas / Goodbye Motel / Royal Chant / Winter Street / Shannon Kennedy / The New Black / Matt Katsis / The Nation Blue / The Vandas / Calerway / Labjacd / Sleep Parade / Zoophyte / Matheson / Twelve Foot Ninja / Sierra Fin / ME







Friday 12 June 2009

Faith No More Reunion Tour 2009 - Setlist

Australian Faith No More fans are currently crossing their fingers that they will make our way to our shores sometime this year or perhaps for the Big Day Out or V Festival next year. They have just played their first reunion show at Brixton Academy and the setlist is a great selection of hits, covers and rarities. Tour dates have been booked up until September throughout Europe but none yet announced in America or Australia, although they have not ruled it out. They are about to play their first festival show at the Download Festival which will be streamed live from the website on Friday 12th June from 9pm (Donnington time). http://www.downloadfestival.co.uk/news/article.aspx?AID=ad929032-1aa3-4efb-b418-ea8f8df7e39a

Here is the setlist from the Brixton Academy show.


01. Reunited (PEACHES & HERB cover)
02. The Real Thing
03. From Out Of Nowhere
04. Land Of Sunshine
05. Caffeine
06. Evidence
07. Chinese Arithmetic
08. Surprise! You’re Dead!
09. Easy
10. Last Cup Of Sorrow
11. Midlife Crisis
12. Cockoo For Caca
13. The Gentle Art Of Making Enemies
14. RV
15. King For A Day
16. Malpractice
17. Jizzlobber
18. Be Aggressive
19. Epic
20. Mark Bowen

Encore 1:
21. Chariots Of Fire/Stripsearch
22. Just A Man

Encore 2:
23. I Started A Joke
24. Pristina


Click this link for a full list of their current tour dates.

Monday 8 June 2009

New Music - June 2009

Here are some of the new tracks I've been listening to this month.



















(Audio Only)

Sunday 31 May 2009

Favourite Sophomore Albums [Updated]

After reading a recent list of the Best Debut Albums in Melbourne's Herald-Sun paper, I decided to come up with a list of my favourite follow up albums. These are all albums where the 2nd album was better than the debut, which in some cases was not hard to do. Quite often a band releases an excellent debut and then have nothing left for the 2nd album, The Strokes being a good example of this. I have found that some of my favourite artists though have released their best album on their second release. These are my Favourite Sophomore Albums, most of which are unapologetically chosen from the 90's.

1. Ben Harper - Fight for your Mind

My first choice was not a difficult one as Fight for your Mind is my 2nd favourite album of all time after Blood Sugar Sex Magik. It is a masterpiece in my opinion and the best album Ben Harper has ever made and most likely will ever make. Although the album shifts through many genres including rock, folk, blues, funk and gospel, it flows perfectly and even goes straight from blues rock anthem "Ground on Down" to the beautiful, sad acoustic number "Another Lonely Day" and somehow makes it work. Other highlights include "Gold to Me", "Exuse Me Mr", live favourite "Burn One Down" and the epic gospel song "Power of the Gospel" featuring a string quartet and a beautiful three-minute instrumental opening. Ben Harper's guitar work is at it's best on this album whether its acoustic on "By My Side, "Please Me Like You Want To" and "Another Lonely Day or Weissenborn on "Ground on Down", "Gold to Me" and the funky "Fight For Your Mind". Juan Nelson bass lines also add some depth to the album especially on before mentioned title track, "Burn One Down" and "Exuse Me Mr". What makes this album destined to become a classic for all generations are the amazing lyrics penned by Harper. For those who don't own this album, head straight to your local and get yourself a copy. Now.

2. You Am I - Hi Fi Way

The second album by Australia's best and most underrated band was Hi Fi Way but it was the one I bought first. I saw "Cathy's Clown" on rage and went out and bought the cassette the next day. It's fair to say it didn't leave my walkmen for months and have been a massive You Am I fan ever since. It is my favourite Australian album ever and every song on it is a classic. The quiet moments on the album are as strong as when the band rocks out and there is plenty of both to be found over the fourteen songs. It also managed to top the ARIA charts when it came out in March 1995 and is still a critics favourite in Greatest Australian Album Polls. Tim Rogers as at his songwriting best here, especially on "Purple Sneakers", "Handwasher", "How Much is Enough" and "Jewles and Bullets". Sadly, even after consistently releasing quality albums, You Am I have not achieved the same success as some of the bands they have inspired but they remained a favourite of mine.





3. Stone Temple Pilots - Purple

Even though Core, the debut from Stone Temple Pilots, was an excellent album, it was Purple that made the world take notice of the American four-piece and it still holds up as one of the best albums of the 90's. The album begins with devil salute inspiring riff of "Meatplow", preparing the listener for sonic onslaught that lays ahead. It was word of mouth that led me to buying this album, and I in turn recommended it to anyone who would listen. "Interstate Love Song" is a rock classic with a great riff and a catchy melody and "Big Empty" had a catchy chorus but had a more atmospheric tone. The album tracks "Still Remains","Lounge Fly" and Kitchenware & Candybars" are as strong as the singles and made Purple an album you could listen to from start to finish. The album finishes nicely on the secret track "The Second Album" which sounds like a lounge band fronted by Johnny Mathis who is name checked. The artwork and hand-written lyrics in the booklet are also excellent and albums title only appears as a japanese symbol on the cover and never throughout the booklet. 12 Gracious Melodies.

4. Pearl Jam - Vs.

Pearl Jam's 2nd release is a much more consistent effort than their much hyped debut Ten and has kept it's appeal over 15 years after it's release. Like the previous three choices, this album features great songs on both ends of the volume dial from the louder "Animal", "Rearviewmirror""Go" and "Blood" to the quieter "Indifference", "Daughter" and "Elderly Woman". Producer Brendan O'Brien should probably also take some credit and has produced most of Pearl Jam's albums as well countless other artists over the past twenty years. The artwork and booklet features some great photos and hand drawn art included within the lyrics, with "Elderly Woman" including the guitar chords to strum along to. The albums title, like Purple, does not feature anywhere on the original artwork, disc or booklet.


5. Radiohead - The Bends

What makes this album so great, apart from flawless tracklist, is the change in quality from first album Pablo Honey to second album The Bends. "My Irong Lung" was released first as a 5 track EP and prepared the world for Radiohead's new sound featuring some beautiful vocals and loud distorted feedback driven guitar. Thom Yorke's beautiful vocals also sound great with gently strummed acoustic guitar on "Fake Plastic Trees" and"High and Dry" with closing track "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" played over perfectly finger-picked chords. Radiohead get the balance perfect on the albums fourth single "Just" with a great intro and catchy chorus accompanied by a baffling film clip. Johnny Greenwood's guitar sound was vastly improved on this album, especially on the acoustic songs. A flawless album and just ahead of Ok Computer in my opinion.

6. Tool - Ænima
This album was so good that people who don't even like heavy music couldn't help but  it. I recall a friend of mine who's CD collection consisted entirely of ganster rap and Ænima. I was a relative latecomer to this album but was hooked after one listen and have never tired of it. Opening with the anthem "Stinkfist", perhaps one of the best opening tracks of all time, starts the album at full throttle before settling down for a few slow burning epics in "Eulogy" and "H". No band builds a song better than Tool and they are at their best on this album. Excellent stop motion claymation film clips for "Stinkfist" and "Ænima" were created by guitarist Adam Jones as well as some great album artwork. The other highlights of the album are on "Forty Six & 2", "Hooker With a Penis", "Pushit" and "Jimmy" and there are some great interludes to link the songs. Another masterpiece sophomore album from the 90's.


file:///Users/Yonsy/Pictures/Photos%20Library.photoslibrary/Thumbnails/2015/08/08/20150808-151801/p87frqbjRMuNdmAlv9A2ZQ/thumb_ea8438930eabe68e06d17eace60313a2ae85ffde_1024.jpg  7. Queens of the Stone Age - Rated R
"Feel Good Hit of the Summer" is the perfect song to kick off this powerhouse of an album. It was also my first taste of one of my favourite bands. It took me a while to give this album it's proper attention but once it got me, it never let go. "Better Living Through Chemistry" is the epic masterpiece album track that elevates this album to classic status. Like Tool, QOTSA's ability to build momentum in a song is amazing and this track is the perfect example with the quiet bongo intro that leads into the funky guitar riff. Josh Homme's vocal delivery and lyrics are also impeccable. The other two singles released from this album "Monsters in the Parasol" and modern rock classic "The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret" still sound as good as they did when released. "In the Fade" is another high quality album track. This album was my favourite until their latest effort "...Like Clockwork" came out, hard to beat that one!

10. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
This album is one of the best of this decade and still gets plenty of listens by me. It took a while for me to get this album as well but after hearing "Intervention" I was convinced to get the album and was addicted to it for months. The opening organ of "Intervention" always gives me chills and after witnessing the band at 2008's Big Day Out has become one of my favourite songs. "Keep the Car Running" channels early Springsteen for another one of the albums many highlights and "No Cars Go" features a great drum beat. "Windowsill" features some great lyrics and a builds to an epic finale "I don't wanna see it at my Windowsill" is repeated over and over. The dual vocals work best on "The Well and the Lighthouse" and "No Cars Go" and a list of over 30 contributors are featured to great effect on the album. Lets hope they can continue to produce this kind of gold for their 3rd album which they are currently working on.

Wednesday 27 May 2009

Triple J Hottest 100 of all Time

Triple J have once again decided to poll their listeners on their favourite songs of all time and have decided to have it over a whole weekend over July 11th and 12th instead of the annual Australia Day event. It's not what I'd call a great idea as it makes it hard to plan a bbq around but I am still looking forward to the event and curious as to what will take out the top spot. The safe guess would be "Smells Like Teen Spirit" as it was the winner of the previous countdown in 1998 and still one of the most popular songs ever among Triple J listeners. The playlist at Triple J has changed a lot though in the last 10 years and it is easier than ever to vote so it will likely receive entries from a lot people who don't necessarily listen to the station. I grew up listening to Triple J and still consider it Australia's best radio station, even though I don't listen to it as much as I used to. It is the only radio station that plays most of my favourite artists and their excellent live music recordings have kept me listening in recent years.

The big question is then, Will the countdown refect the music Triple J has played over it's illustrious history or will new music be featured heavily in it's place? After all 100 songs isn't a lot and there will be some great songs that miss out. I am finding it to be an impossible task to pick my Favourite 10 songs out of over 15,000 that are currently in my music library. Whatever the result, I am sure we will be treated to some great music over the weekend and we'll have an indication of what songs from the past 20 years or beyond are still relevant to the majority of listeners. I have picked 10 from my favourites shortlist to vote for in a poll on my blogs main page so cast your vote. Click this link to vote in Triple J's Hottest 100 of All Time and to see previous years countdown's. http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100_alltime/voting/.

Here are some of the great live videos that I have been watching from the fantastic Triple J website.











Monday 11 May 2009

AC/DC to Tour Australia and NZ (New Dates Added)

AC/DC have finally announced dates for Australia and New Zealand on their Black Ice World Tour. All dates announced so far have been about a week apart allowing for extra shows in each city which will no doubt sell out quickly. The last time AC/DC toured Australia was in 2001 on their Stiff Upper Lip Tour which I witnessed in Melbourne and was blown away by the energetic performance from these rock legends.

Tickets go on sale Monday 25th May 9am from Ticketmaster. Prices have been kept fairly reasonable compared to other touring legends ranging from $99 to $150. Supporting AC/DC for the whole tour of Australia will be Wolfmother. The setlists for their current European tour have been the same for each show which is the way AC/DC usually tour so it is expected that the same setlist will be bought to Australia. It includes 4 from the latest album Black Ice and a selection of their classics. (see below).

Dates so far are:
January 30, 2010 - Wellington, venue to be confirmed
February 6, 2010 - Auckland, venue to be confirmed
February 11, 13 + 15, 2010 - Melbourne, Etihad Stadium
February 18, 20 + 22, 2010 - Sydney, ANZ Stadium
February 25 + 27, 2010 - Brisbane, Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre
March 2, 2010 - Adelaide, Adelaide Oval
March 6 + 8, 2010 - Perth, Subiaco

Setlist
Rock n Roll Train (from Black Ice, 2008)
Hell Ain't a Bad Place To Be (from Let There Be Rock, 1977)
Back In Black (from Back In Back, 1980)
Big Jack (from Black Ice, 2008)
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (from Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, 1976)
Shot Down in Flames (from Highway To Hell, 1979)
Thunderstruck (from The Razors Edge, 1990)
Black Ice (from Black Ice, 2008)
The Jack (from TNT, 1975)
Hells Bells (from Back In Back, 1980)
Shoot to Thrill (from Back In Back, 1980)
War Machine (from Black Ice, 2008)
Anything Goes (from Black Ice, 2008)
You Shook Me All Night Long (from Back In Back, 1980)
TNT (from TNT, 1975)
Whole Lotta Rosie (from Let There Be Rock, 1977)
Let There Be Rock (from Let There Be Rock, 1977)

Encore:
Highway To Hell (from Highway To Hell, 1979)
For Those About To Rock (from For Those About To Rock, 1981)

Here are some live AC/DC clips.