Sydney group The Griswolds have been on my radar ever since I saw them support Last Dinosaurs. It’s lucky, because they just released their video for “Heart Of A Lion”, which I’ve been holding my breath for, and it’s really quite good. It’s just under three minutes of bright, fluorescent, tropical pop – in short, it’s a bit of a summer jam. From that description, it could easily be stale and dull, but The Griswolds manage to balance all of those warm influences out, and focus it into something great.
I am actually really impressed with The Falls. In a world where I’ve become increasingly tired of half-inspired, dull, cookie-cutter folk acts, they’ve come right out of the blue to nail this one – and it’ll be a disappointment if it doesn’t explode and get them what they deserve! It’s a wonderful single, with all of the right hooks and harmonies. Their debut EP is going to be something to watch out for!
Be warned though: the video creates a rather unnerving contrast between the sweet melodies and the dark imagery. Listening without the visuals is an entirely different experience.
Bluejuice are renowned for having cool video ideas. Anyone who didn’t find “Act Yr Age” hilarious should probably chill out a bit, and “Vitriol” will forever be a stellar example of doing budget film-clips right.
“On My Own” continues that tradition. It’s a karaoke video that looks like it was ripped from an old VHS, and they really nail the cheesy aesthetic. The song isn’t bad either. Check it out below.
Bluejuice are also hitting the road with The Cairos and Loon Lake (except in Brisbane). Check out the details!
All Tickets On Sale Fri Feb 24th – $25 Pre / $30 Door
THU 12 APR – WAVES, WOLLONGONG
Tickets available from the venue & Moshtix www.moshtix.com.au, 1300 GET TIX & corresponding outlets
FRI 13 APR – THE METRO THEATRE, SYDNEY – ALL AGES
Tickets available from the Metro Theatre Box Office 02 9550 3666 & Ticketek www.ticketek.com.au, 132 849 & corresponding outlets
SAT 14 APR – HI FI, BRISBANE
Tickets available from www.thehifi.com.au, 1300-THEHIFI (8434434), Kill The Music, Butter Beats-CBD & The Valley, Gooble Warming & Atlantis Music-Southport
THU 19 APR – SETTLERS TAVERN, MARGARET RIVER Tickets available from Oztix www.oztix.com.au, 1300 762 545, Moshtix www.moshtix.com.au, 1300 GET TIX, Heatseeker www.heatseeker.com.au 08 6210 2850 & all corresponding outlets
SAT 21 APR – THE GOV, ADELAIDE – ALL AGES
Tickets available from Moshtix www.moshtix.com.au, 1300 GET TIX & corresponding outlets
THU 26 APR – EUREKA HOTEL, GEELONG
Tickets available from Moshtix www.moshtix.com.au, 1300 GET TIX & corresponding outlets
FRI 27 APR – PELLY BAR @ PIER LIVE, FRANKSTON
Tickets available from the venue & Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.com.au & corresponding outlets
SAT 28 APR – HI FI, MELBOURNE – UNDER 18’s ONLY (2pm – 6pm)
Tickets available from www.thehifi.com.au, 1300-THEHIFI (843 443), Polyester Records-CBD & Fitzroy, Sight n Sound – Northcote & Boronia
SAT 28 APR – HI FI, MELBOURNE – (18+ 8pm to late)
Tickets available from www.thehifi.com.au, 1300-THEHIFI (843 443), Polyester Records-CBD & Fitzroy, Sight n Sound – Northcote & Boronia
Disregarding the cringe-worthy spelling of the title, this feels like a great return to form for Arctic Monkeys.
I’ll admit that my interest in them began to wane after Favourite Worst Nightmare – but in all fairness, I never got around to giving subsequent albums a proper listen. I never had a problem with the dirtier, garage-esque sounds of their later output, but there’s something about the hooks and structure of this that almost feel reminiscent of their poppier days. Maybe they’re finally finding more of a balance after such a huge stylistic shift.
The video is really well done, as much as it looks like a DIY job. Check it out below, and you’ll see why.
The Drums just released the video for “Days” – the third single from Portamento, the well-received 2011 follow-up to their debut. The moody black and white aesthetic suits it perfectly. About halfway through it starts to fill out with more layers – building upon that basic foundation The Drums so often lay down – and it’s here that the repetition starts to work.
Vocalist Jonathan Pierce explains the track below:
“The song is about that moment when you realize that you are someone different from what you once were. Different needs, different desires. Different hopes and fears.”
Check out Danish producer Trentemøller’s remix of it below as well! Trentemøller has always seemed like a fairly talented guy in my books, and this remix only supports that view. I’m not even sure which version of the track I like more!
It may not be my favourite track from Hello Sadness, but it’s undeniable that “Songs About Your Girlfriend” was the perfect choice for the next single. It has a brilliant guitar hook, a shout-along chorus, and is the stereotypical 3.5 minute length for a single.
The video is one of their best as well. It does a great job of creating that seedy nightclub atmosphere, and the band look really quite professional in it. Let’s be honest though – Tom’s mask is a piece of art. That creepy smile adds a small dab of humour to make it all work. Kudos to director David Spearing (and the others who worked on it!) for doing such an excellent job.
And of course, the band decided to release it on Valentine’s Day – the cheek! Check it out below.
It’s been a busy few months for Birmingham punx Johnny Foreigner. Between all of the work put into their latest album – Johnny Foreigner Vs Everything – they’ve played launch shows, released singles and an EP, and visited Japan. But that isn’t going to slow them down one bit.
Recently it was announced that their label, Alcopop, will be releasing a double 12″ vinyl of Vs Everything! The album itself will take up 3 sides of it, while the 4th side will bring together all of the b-sides from the singles. Pre-orders will be available from March, and what’s potentially the most exciting thing about all of this is:
“… the first 100 preorders will recieve a totally unique present and an some instructions on what to do with it. This is going to be most grandiose/stupid interactive art thing we’ve ever done, will tell more soon.”
Jump over here to check out the upcoming gigs they’re playing. They’re kind of redoing their launch parties too, and from what I heard, they’d be well worth getting along to.
On top of all of this, they’ve recently thrown a new track up on SoundCloud called “(small fraud)”. It’s from the Vs Everything album sessions, and it’s a spoken-word piece against a busy, whirring, electronic back-drop. Most bands can’t pull this stuff off, but Alexei’s ability to turn a phrase can’t be rivalled by many, and it kind of works for them.
Take a listen below! And if the SoundCloud downloads are all gone, grab it for free here!
It’s been a while coming for Jordan Wilson and Ben Riley – the duo also known as Georgia Fair. Their debut album – All Through Winter – is due for release on the 21st of October, and it’s fair to say there’s been a few people waiting on it. Touring with The Panics, the band have been showing off their new work recently, but how does it sound recorded?
Starting with the slow-burning “Times Fly”, the album kicks off with a strong start. “Blind” brings out intense, rolling drums, and “Where You Been?” is the perfect first single from the release.
Georgia Fair weave these beautiful vocal harmonies into folk music that goes beyond the whole cutesy idea of finger-picking some guitar chords. With lush strings and deep guitar, the songs sound mature and layered. It’s a much fuller sound, and it’s all the more interesting because of it. The best bit: the production is beautiful and sounds just as it should.
What it lacks for the most part, are stand out hooks. All Through Winter is rewarding when it has your attention, but rarely does the album grab it naturally. “Blind” and “Simple Man” both seem to take it up a notch, and so do a couple of others, but nothing really jumps out. Aside from that, too often do Wilson’s vocals feel under-stated. He has an amazing voice, and when really pushed out during some choruses, it explodes, sounding stronger than ever. Unfortunately, too often it feels restrained.
Maybe this album isn’t for me. When cherry-picking tracks for analysis, everything positive I’ve said stands – beautiful folk harmonies alongside a matured sense of song-writing – and it’s consistent in this sense too! But as an album, the release can’t sustain my interest. I feel I’d enjoy it more as an EP. Chances are, that’s more a reflection on my personal tastes.
Whether or not you listen to this as an album or not, if you dig great melodic folk music, you should have a listen. Georgia Fair have made leaps and bounds in many ways, and while I don’t think they’ve found their feet just yet, they’re getting pretty damn close.
Last night for those of us based in Australia, Los Campesinos! released the first track from their anticipated new album Hello Sadness. I was going to write about it then, but I was too busy listening to it on repeat with my jaw open in amazement. Until 2am. I’m sure you understand.
The track sees LC! refine their ever-present pop sensibilities, and still retain and that perpetual layer of unhappiness found beneath most of their tracks. Which is a great thing, as far as I’m concerned. I can see this as the album that propels LC! just that bit further into the international spotlight, and it’ll be about time. The world needs to hear this.
Check out the new video below, and duck over to their blog for a free download and tour dates for you lucky American and European fellows.
It’s a sad day when I have to send you to NME – one of the only modern publications still reporting on everything the Gallagher brother’s say (who, by the way, no one gives a damn about) – but alas, it is they who are premiering the new video from talented English duo Slow Club.
The video isn’t amazing and doesn’t quite have the same charm as “It Doesn’t Have To Be Beautiful“, but the song sees their writing heading in a new, albeit interesting and full direction – they still have those charismatic vocal hooks, but their sound seems less quaint and withdrawn this time (not that it was a bad thing on their debut album though!). It’ll be interesting to see what kind of sound Paradise, their sophomore release, has. It’s out on September the 12th.
On The Tune 