| Humbug- Arctic Monkeys |
[Sep. 2nd, 2009|05:21 pm] |
This is a band I lost interest in quite some time ago. Well, not lost interest per se, I did keep up with whatever they were getting up to, although unfortunately it never involved their music, it was mostly on their personal lives. What can I say? I'm a voyeur aka I'm only human.
So having NEVER listened to their 2nd album, I decided to get back in touch with their music via Humbug, their latest album. Let's just say I don't regret that decision.
One gripe I have with the monkeys (the monkeys? haha what) is that sometimes I find it hard to relate to their songs cos they're just so...English. Even their songs, especially on the first album, are Sheffield related. For example, "When the Sun Goes Down" is about prostitution in some district in Sheffield. Well, you can argue that we have prostitutes in Geylang but the language they use in their songs is hard to understand, unless I look it up. I prefer bands with a more "universal" theme when it comes to lyrics but you know how they say if the music is good, nothing else really matters.
Another thing which bothers me about this band is their so called meteoric rise. Every single media outlet was going on and on about them, heaping praise upon praise (whether it's deserved or not is objectionable), and frankly, I got sick of them for a while. Kings of Leon, you're next. They were EVERYWHERE. That is why Humbug is a nice little surprise; it's pretty mellow and the songs do not sound so... I don't know...rushed (?) like the others I'm familliar with. They apparently listened to Jimi Hendrix and Cream while writing the new album, and you can pretty much understand why. Add Josh Homme to the mix and they're almost bidding au revoir to their British-ness. Hope they don't lose all of it though.
Favourite Track: Dance Little Liar
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| Musicians and their Sticks |
[Aug. 26th, 2009|12:28 am] |
I know it's silly to ask this question because it's not exactly a new "phenomenon" but what's with musicians and models? For once I'd like to see these rock stars dating "regular" people with regular, boring jobs like an accountant or a financial analyst. Yeah yeah, there's the whole "they don't run in the same circles" bullshizz. Said circle being a drug fuelled orgy, of course. Although I'm pretty sure there are a lot of accountants who are into coke and erm...sex. I'm fully aware I'm utilising the age old stereotype of "sex, drugs and rock n roll" but when someone like Kate Moss finds Pete Doherty irresistible (not anymore, thank god...but she's with Jamie Hince now. He's basically the same person, minus the drugs), there is no other way around it. or i may just be bitter about the fact that i will never land myself anyone as vaguely interesting as a rock star and oh yeah, i'm pretty fucking short.
Top (from L to R): Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger, Lily Aldridge and Caleb Followill, Alexa Chung and Alex Turner (almost matching names? puke)
Bottom: Jamie Hince and Kate Moss
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| Le Resistance |
[Aug. 7th, 2009|11:56 pm] |
Yay, more conspiracies to ponder over. Artwork is so Muse. Listen to and download their new songs here. I hear Middle Eastern sounds, I hear Queen and even Blondie. Weirdly amazing.
Check out Broken Social Scene's cover of "Love Will Tear Us Apart". Listening to it on it's own may not sound very pleasant, but maybe it'll work more in the context of the movie (Time Traveler's Wife). And come on, anything is better than Fall Out Boy's attempt at covering the same song.
Also, Singapore...stop trying to make Electrico happen. Thanks
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 6th, 2009|11:34 pm] |
I believe in spreading happiness. In this case, it comes in the form of a ridiculously silly but hilarious video. This is why, ladies and gentlemen, Franz Ferdinand is the shit. Enjoy!
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| White Lies |
[Mar. 27th, 2009|12:30 am] |
Risking a bitchslap from Kanye West, I'm going to have to say I prefer this over the original. Can't believe they're only 20. Now, I'm nowhere near old, but goddammit, I WANT MY YOUTH BACK!
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| I want to move to Rockferry too |
[Feb. 20th, 2009|11:34 am] |
I love Aimee Duffy, grating, warbly voice and all. I don't know, I think it's refreshing to see someone who isn't wasting away her talent and who seems to be genuinely grateful for all the success she's achieved. Speaking of success, I'm glad she won big at the recent Brits. I've been enjoying her album ever since I bought it last year; "Dreamer" is a song I...uh..daydream to. So seeing as how it's "cool" to hate Duffy and to incessantly make fun of her beautiful weird unique voice now, I say "stop your whining and learn to recognise talent when you see one"
And oh, being a huge Coke fan, I love her even more for this Diet Coke ad. I have no idea what Diet Coke tastes like, I'm big on Coke Light though; but this commercial is so cute and in my opinion, a spot-on ode to Duffy's personality and style. If people were to randomly break into song or ride their bicycles through supermarkets more often, this world would be so much more interesting.
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| In the Mood for Love |
[Jan. 21st, 2009|11:55 pm] |
Maybe it's the night air, maybe it's because I'm watching Marat Safin parade his sexy self in Melbourne on TV, it could also be due to the small hint of lemon in the tea which I'm drinking as a desperate measure to keep these eyes of mine open. But mostly, the fear for my own health and well-being prompted me to suck it up and write these words; screw the cheesines I say! Let's just say looking through a whole album of decomposed human body parts (CSI style) all day for a week is bound to take its toll. What better way is there to counter the blues than to listen to some good ol' love songs?
Closer- Kings of Leon
Summer Romance- Incubus
Lovesong- The Cure
Thinking About You- Radiohead
Runaway Song- White Shoes & The Couples Company
Forever for Her (Is Over for Me)- White Stripes
Everybody Here Wants You- Jeff Buckley
Eleanor Put Your Boots on- Franz Ferdinand
So please, give romance a try. Maybe I'll catch The Notebook soon to see what the big deal is. I heard that it's incredibly romantic, so I guess I can include it in my current prescription.
And for my own sick agenda:
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| Tonight, Tonight |
[Jan. 4th, 2009|11:23 pm] |
Been too long, boys. I don't remember buying any music in 2008 which was actually released in the same year. Or maybe I was just being frugal. Fuck you, economy. Anyway, if the release of this record early this year (end of this month actually) is an indication of things to come, 2009 is going to be awesome. Yee-har. |
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| When Jack Met Miss Keys |
[Oct. 10th, 2008|10:58 am] |
I finally got round to listening to the Alicia Keys & Jack White duet for the new Bond film Quantum of Solace. Can I get a woot woot (who in the world created this phrase anyway)?! It's called "Another Way to Die"...not wholly original, considering the Madonna one was called "Die Another Day" but whatever. The fact that they got both these original artistes whom I absolutely love to collaborate overwhelms me with such glee.
Many netizens (another word which I'm not very fond of) have been saying this song is not very Bond. The less articulate and obviously angry ones give comments such as "this suxx" and my personal favourite, "Alicia is a fat bitch". Right. That one clearly has self-esteem issues and takes it out on things which is not at all relevant to the song debate.
I have never been interested in any of the Bond films. I found it highly amusing when people were going apeshit after finding out Daniel Craig was going to be the next 007. But I really liked some of the theme songs, especially Tina Turner's "Goldeneye" and Garbage's "The World is Not Enough". Those songs were just so god darn sexy, and not in a "Careless Whisper" kind of way (although I have to admit that the saxophone does get to me sometimes..damn it), but rather in a classy, sound of champagne glasses clinking kind of way. ANYWAY, "Another Way to Die" is quite obviously a departure from the previous Bond tunes, but I think it kicks as much ass as abovementioned songs. It's modern, just like the current Bond flicks, while still retaining a bit of that classic Bond sound. If people are gonna complain about the song not being Bond enough, what about Chris Cornell's "You Know My Name"? Sure, it's a great rock song but I don't really get the Bond/spy vibe from it.
And those who complain about the unusuality of this duet should go back to the '50s. Just because each makes music which is different from the other, it means they are forbidden to ever collaborate? I guess someone should have told Run-D.M.C. to stop hanging out with Aerosmith.
I think the song is eclectic, surprising, innovative, and although it could do without the slightly messy bridge I predict it's gonna be one of the more memorable Bond theme songs. Enjoy!!
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| White Shoes and the Couples Company |
[Jun. 23rd, 2008|03:03 pm] |
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Since my current job requires me to stuff my brain with limitless information on the most populous Muslim nation in the world, I managed to come across a few gems worth mentioning. The land of sinetrons (some ridiculously stupid and some addictive *cough* Cinta Fitri *cough*), volcanoes, and my personal favourite, dangdut (ok not really) is home to a few brilliant indie bands. One whom a lot of people are raving about is White Shoes and the Couples Company.
About that name...erm why?! Doesn't matter though..music's good enough. First heard of them while watching Channel V. I also heard their song while watching the very funny movie, Janji Joni. Retro is not exactly my cup of tea, but any Asian band who manages to get the attention of a nation whose fifth of its population can't locate their own country on the world map deserves a shout out. I guess the influx of good bands from Indonesia comes hand in hand with the people not being as "privileged" as perhaps, Singaporeans, in terms of being exposed to and given access to a lot of music from the West. They start their own bands because there is nothing else to listen to, so to speak. Not a vey bad situation to be in, I must say. It gives the people many more choices when it comes to music. I'm sure Singapore has a lot of good bands but too bad we'll never get a chance to hear them (err..Electrico doesn't count) because we are supposedly lucky enough to get our hands on international artistes and their records.
official website- www.whiteshoesandthecouplescompany.org
the band's myspace
the outfits are soooo not telling of the kind of music they produce
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