Clever stop-motion? Check. Vinyl porn? Check. Adrenalin fuelled rock-goodness? Check. Must be the new video from Leeds rockers Hawk Eyes then..
There’s something Reuben-ish about the new single ‘You Deserve A Medal’. It might be the shortness of the track (only 1:56, gosh!), but either way its not a bad thing. Tearing through in the blink of an eye, this is one that you’ll want to put on a repeat a few times to really appreciate. Either way, you’ll be humming this to yourself all day..
The band’s new album ‘Ideas’ is out now. Catch them on a very brief tour of the UK (read: only Birmingham / Sheffield / Leeds) next month.
Just as I was wishing for more sleazy, female fronted rock’n’roll, I came across the awesome Deap Vally.
The duo (Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards) bizarely met at a needlework class in Silver Lake, California and have been making blues-tinged rock ever since. Its hard to write about an all-woman band without crying ‘feminism’, but I don’t think its misplaced with tracks like ‘Make My Own Money’ and cited influences being Thelma and Louise.
Behind the oozing rock’n’roll though, there’s real talent. Listen to songs like ‘I Put a Spell on You’ and you can hear the raw emotion behind the lyrics, combined with some pretty decent guitar playing. Think Jack White with more sex appeal (debatable).
I’ll be honest, this one gets massive props from me just for the vague (and possibly unintentional) Crow film reference. See the flames? Bleed From Within clearly have some good movie collections..
Anyway, this is the title track from the Scottish metallers new album, due out on March 25. Even better news is the fact that you can download the single for free now, from the Century Media website. Oh, and did I mention the band are on tour with Heart of a Coward (groove metal, apparently) this April?
I’ve been a fan of Finnish ‘Love Metallers’ HIM since my early teens. It must’ve been one of my first un-adult accompanied gigs when I went to see them at Portsmouth Guildhall. Thanks to a brief sound problem (causing many over 18s to head straight to the bar) we managed to squeeze our way close to the front. Lead singer Ville Valo prowled the stage, cigarette in hand, rich baritone voice echoing the room like some untouchable rock God.
All the way home they were the only thing we could talk about. Did they wander about Portsmouth before the show? Had they stood where we were standing now? Years later, when I briefly moved to the city, walking past the Guildhall on a night out would still bring back happy memories.
‘Buried Alive By Love’ has to be my favourite song of HIM’s (and one that I used to have playing on repeat on the bus to college). It features the beautiful Juliette Lewis (of Natural Born Killers fame).
What are they up to now?
The band are releasing their eighth album ‘Tears On Tape’ on April 29th. They’re touring pretty constantly from April onwards. More info on their facebook here.
Hey you! Yes you! Like a bit of melodic-hardcore? Then stop what you’re doing and listen to this..
Napoleon are a 4-piece unsigned hardcore rock band from Exeter. Unfortunately, vague youtube comments tell me their singer is leaving, but hopefully that won’t stop them from being awesome tunes like this to the public!
I love hearing that bands I admire are involved in something that I really care about. This is a perfect example: Anti-Flag are the newest bands to team up with Amnesty International for their 50th Anniversary.
The song, ‘Toast To Freedom’ was written by Carl Carlton (Robert Palmer, Eric Burdon, Keb Mo) and Larry Campbell (Levon Helm Band, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello), as well as Jochen Wilms and Art for Amnesty founder Bill Shipsey.
Nearly 50 artists collaborated on the recordings, including Marianne Faithful and Kris Kristofferson. More have joined in later to record their own versions of the track, ranging from students at the Institute for Music of the College at Osnabrueck to Russian rapper Basta.
Proceeds of the song will go to benefit Amnesty International, a charity campaigning against human rights abuses.
This was going to be a usual post with some lovely new music for you guys. Its not though, because there’s something more important to talk about today.
HMV has been the only place I’ve bought CDs from (not including online or gigs) in the last few years, seeing as supermarkets don’t stock the music that I listen to, and indie record stores where I live are few and far between (but I should really make more effort with them).
Its been a place where I’ve re-discovered bands long forgotten, or found new bands on a whim. Its where I’ve wandered about with dates, comparing tastes in music, films, games. It wouldn’t be Christmas without an HMV giftcard, a present from an aunt or uncle, who don’t know me well enough to get something personalised, but know that I love music. It wouldn’t be a shopping trip without a browse round the store, picking up something new to hear on the daily commute. Not to mention the numbers of friends I’ve known who had their first jobs there.
Despite the company’s best efforts (diversifying into merch, lower prices, 2 for £10 deals..), its gone into administration. Its currently unclear if the chain will find a buyer, or what will happen to the 4,123 staff that it employs.
So to make this post a little less depressing, here’s a little blast from the past. The first piece of music I ever bought (though from where, I can’t remember). It may not be rock, but you’ve got to love Bjork..
Lyric videos aren’t the most interesting are they? Typically just a screen of words, maybe the new album artwork. I’ve never paid much attention to them.
That’s why its great to see a band doing it differently. Canadian rockers Three Days Grace have just released a lyric video for their new single ‘The High Road’, but its really artfully done, perfectly complementing the angst ridden track. Bands take notice, this is how to do it.
The band’s new album, ‘Transit of Venus’ is out now.
If you missed the Fearless Vampire Killers documentary, ‘At War With The Thirst’ on tv last night, you can catch it again online at Loaded TV.com at 10pm.
I haven’t checked it out yet either, so definitely looking forward to this one!
Hope you guys are having a great night anyway, whatever you’re up to.
Here’s something that’ll brighten up your Thursday – a free album sampler from club Feliciano, who are branching into record releases this year. With the absolutely kiss-ass Hold Your Horse Is (Reuben influenced Surrey trio) on first and fast-rising post rock quartetOur Lost Infantry later, you know the rest is going to be good.
The Rock Chic 