BRAND NEW: Yr Friends and Johnny Foreigner

As if it wasn’t enough to have their anticipated third album slated for a November release (right near the new Los Campesinos! album as well!), Johnny Foreigner’s vocalist and guitarist Alexei Berrow has just released some new material that he played at a solo show. He performed under the moniker of Yr Friends, and right now there are four tracks for you to listen to or buy right over here (I might even review it soon). They’re fairly stripped back, acoustic numbers. Nothing too loud or fast – especially in comparison to a lot of JoFo’s existing work.

“But Jeremy!” I hear you say. “This post title is misleading. It implies there is new material from our favourite Birmingham band: JoFo. Not solo material from Alexei!”

Well fret not readers. Even though Yr Friends is ace, there is a new song from JoFo! If you pop on over to Sounds of the Camper Van you can hear a new song of theirs done acoustically. In the back of a van. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like the song title is given, but even though the van is less than ideal for recording a song in, it still sounds pretty neat. I’m getting very excited for this new album. Very excited indeed.

“I swear I’ve never been so far from home.”

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BRAND NEW: Thom Yorke/Radiohead songs!

This weekend just gets better and better!

Thom played these live at a solo gig last night (depending where you are). I think it’s fairly safe to assume they’re stripped down new Radiohead songs, considering they’ve been working on a new LP recently.

“The Daily Mail”

A stripped down piano rendition. You know, even though people always make jokes about Coldplay and Muse copying Radiohead (or some other variation of the joke), I’ve never seem the strong similarities there apparently are. Maybe the vocal styles of Matt Bellamy and Yorke are slightly similar. But I digress. If anything, these songs will probably be done up for the album and sound completely different recorded. But as a live rendition on the piano, I can see where a Coldplay comparison might originate from. Though I think this sounds better than a lot of Coldplay’s stuff.

“Give Up The Ghost”

Looped backing vocals bring out a delicate sounding track. Sounds like top-quality material.

“Mouse Dog Bird”

Great song dominated by acoustic guitar.

I’m sure these songs are going to sound infinitely better once they’re recorded with the full-band and put on an LP, but for now, these solo stripped-back versions are going to have to tide us fans over. And even at this level, they sound very good.

NEWS: Thom Yorke forms live group for solo material.

Haven’t blogged in a while, sorry. Only got our internet back a couple of days ago. Though thanks go out to Telstra for actually being very prompt with checking the line and fixing it.
Anyway.

It was very recently announced that Thom Yorke has formed a band to help him play his solo stuff from The Eraser and his other releases live.
The band consists of himself, Flea (of Red Hot Chili Peppers), Nigel Godrich (long-time producer of Radiohead albums), Joey Waronker and Mauro Refosco. I haven’t heard of the latter 2 before, but these shows sound like they could be something quite special.

Should be interesting anyway. Especially with Flea. Unfortunately YouTube will have to be my platform for viewing this, unless they decide to pop over to Australia. Here’s hoping.