Bonus

New York, 1997

The entire city is a walled maximum security prison

The bridges are mined, the rivers are patrolled

And the United States police force has everything under control…

They Think!

Escape From New York is so bad ass! It’s awesome soundtrack was composed by the films writer and director John Carpenter. 80’s synth with funk, disco and cop drama

The greatest escape of them all… is about to blow the future apart

Brilliant!

Song: Snake Shake - End Credits

Composer: John Carpenter

Soundtrack: Escape From New York (1981)

Song: Nobody Gets Me But You

Artist: Spoon

Album: Transference (2010)

Transference: The shift of emotions from one person or object to another.

What did Brit Daniel experience to have written a record so clearly showing that the feelings he felt for one person and believed to be real, turned out to be so hated and doubtful.

I’ve listened to Daniel’s story’s before on Spoon’s previous master works namely “Kill The Moonlight” (2002) and “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” (2007). I was really looking forward to this release and from the point where I found out about it and having it in my hands was an easy 2 weeks. The packet itself folds out to show the whole Transference story typed out over three frames.

At the beginning of the record he clearly is not happy. He feels himself growing older and wiser about the facts of life. What he though was is not. After questions of what was actually expected from life and love, it builds up to a mid point of anger and frustration blaming someone for the destruction of everything that means something to him.

From this point though there is hope. “I Saw The Light” starts again from it’s middle to get up and start over. Daniel letting his guitar do all the talking/shouting here as he pulls himself together.

The following burst shows a clearly happier yet cynical man. Someone’s making him happy again but he doesn’t expect anything from it.

A beautiful comforting lullaby shows his warmth towards this new person, and by the end Daniel’s seems ready to let himself dive into the deep end once again. The most positive lyrics come form “Got Nuffin” yet its sound is still darker and sinister.

Daniel’s and fellow band member Jim Eno produced this amazing album without any outside help. They strive to make their instruments do things they were not designed to do. Their scape of sounds and noises are played under and on top of sturdy drum beats and melodic bass, along with awkward piano to mix together and create something original and very cool.

For myself the final track “Nobody Gets Me But You” always gets me with its groove bass led part and slow inclusion of everything else with great beat changes to give you something to dance to. A simple beat to a simple statement.

4.5/5

Song: Is Love Forever

Artist: Spoon

Album: Transference (2010)

“BUYING RECORDS IN RECORD STORES IS COOL”

There is a lot of interesting stuff going on over at the Gorillaz camp. Recently released is the first single from the new “Gorillaz” album. The track is “Stylo” and the album is “Plastic Beach”.

A reminder of what the Gorillaz are: 4 drawn characters making up the band with plenty of cameos on each of their 2 previous releases. Who’s behind it? Blur’s front man Damon Albarn and Tank Girl artist Jamie Hewlett.

A while ago Albarn stated that the pairs next project (after that of the stage show titled “Monkey” which was not Gorillaz related) was going to be something other then the 4 imaginary yet well spoken creations. At first it was going to be called something else, then it was going to keep the name but not the characters, but now it seems the characters are back from the looks of a new 9 page spread in the latest Q magazine and single cover art.

Stylo does not sound like something that would find a place in either of the 2 previous album. Without the expected punchy hook and heavy dance feel, it grooves along steady for it’s not quite 4 minutes in length with guest vocals from Bobby Womack who’s career dates back to the early 60’s as a singer/songwriter and Mos Def in what feel a little like an 80’s throw back.

Gorillaz run so far has been pretty much perfect with their innovative music and amazing memorable film clips, so it doesn’t seem likely for this forthcoming package to be any different. I don’t think it will matter whether or not the keep or bin any existing images or styles, it will be worth looking forward to.

Song: Stylo

Artist: Gorillaz

Album: Plastic Beach (2010)

Continuing with there static pop melodies and austro travel inducing sound scapes are the one and only No Age. The LA twosome recently put out a great little 4 track EP which includes the 4 points of the No Age song square.

First off the drum focus with guitar distortion in background, followed by the drumless guitar strumming slow sad corner. Next the electronic jumble with guitar noise instrumental, rounding it off at the end with the loud all in drum/guitar/vocal brawl.

Today, you get the sad one… HOO RAY!

Song: Genie

Artist: No Age

EP: Losing Feeling (2009)

Here you go…

New Vampire Weekend album just came out and it’s pretty ace.

Where as the first album was pretty consistent throughout with style, “Contra” shakes it up a little yet but keeps that VW flavor that make them so good in the first place. (Also choosing to keep album artwork border frame and font.)

Some tracks are a bit more exciting then others. “Holiday” with it’s great slight guitar distortion, “California English” using auto tune to echo out the vocals and “Cousins” jumpy beat before the album closes out fairly soft and quiet.

I’m pretty into it so you might like it too.

Song: Giving Up The Gun

Artist: Vampire Weekend

Album: Contra (2010)

I don’t listen to enough music. Nor do I listen to great new music as many times as I’d like to. Who knows how many times I’ve let a great last track on a record go without any recognition just because I haven’t made the time to sit down and put the headphones on.

Now that I think about it, that is something I really miss. Sitting down with a new album, reading every liner note there is and paying full attention to it. Now it’s seems to be more about creating the digital copy and either sitting in front of the computer doing other things while you listen to it or being on the move with somewhere to get to.

It’s just the way it is now I suppose, but I digress…

I have installed a set of speakers at work which clearly plays my music to me at whatever volume I wish. My long lived idea has finally become a reality and it is so much better then I originally thought. Casually cueing up album after album and getting through them completely make everything seem smoother to me.

I put on “Neon Bible” just because I’ve been meaning to give it another listen for a while. It’s such a great album. I wish I had a little story to go with it about why I like it or what it means to me. Unfortunately though, all I can say is that it use to make my walks to work so much nicer. God I’m pathetic. I never said I was deep.

I’m going to play Beatles Rockband

Song: (Antichrist Television Blues)

Artist: The Arcade Fire

Album: Neon Bible (2007)

BONUS: Wanna play a clicking game

Before they were The Soft Pack they were The Muslims and they released a really good self-titled EP.

Song: Extinction

Artist: The Muslims

Album: The Muslims EP (2009)

(via yimmyayo)

The Rolling Stones

1st track from the 1st album

Song: Route 66

Artist: The Rolling Stones

Album: The Rolling Stones (1964)

Too much good new music has recently come my way. One of the better surprises was this cover of the previously posted track Fences originally by Phoenix.

It is perform by band The Soft Pack originally from San Diego, and I’ve got no idea who they are apart from this.

It’s a great track that came with a remix disc packaged with Phoenix’s album which was recently rereleased. Usually I have no interest in remixes but this remix CD I would put in the same quality category of that of Bloc Party’s “Silent Alarm Remixed” and Death From Above’s “Romance Bloody Romance”.

Free bonus stuff is good… always.

Song: Fences

Artist: The Soft Pack

Album: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix [2 Disc Edition] (2009)