Friday's Forgotten classic - 20th August 2010

This week's classic is the debut album by Bristol duo Day One.  Phelim Byrne and Matthew Hardwidge got together in the late 90s, releasing 'Ordinary Man' in 2000 to critical acclaim, if not mainstream success.  Their ambient electronic indie trip-hop style is distinctive and refreshing even now.  The laidback storytelling of the  lyrics and in particular the title track provides a fragile, tender melancholy ode to love and longing.

Waiting for my break - Day One
I'm doing fine - Day One
Ordinary Man - Day One

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reading preview - sunday

After saturday, the come down is gonna be big, but as in past years Reading keeps it going all the way til the end. As with many recent years the Sunday turns out to be a dancing day....and this year will be no exception!

What finer way could there be to get the day started than with London ska-punks the King Blues on the main stage.  I've seen these guys so many times, and each and every time they get me moving, even when i thought i wasn't in the mood!  Their infectious zeal and punk spirit make them instant heroes!  not to mention Itch and his ukulele.  These Streets Are OURS!!!  

Moving into my usual sunday afternoon chillout zone, the Radio 1 tent, we have slow-burning North Wales three-piece The Joy Formidable.  When they first appeared on the scene in 2008 with debut single 'Austere', they were hotly tipped and promised much, it didn't really happen.  But now they back with a new single, 'Whirring', and the promise of an album this year.  I have to admit i didn't know a whole lot about them, but what i've now heard is ace!  They are followed by LA indie-folkers Local Natives, who are here off the back of there well received debut album, 'Gorilla Manor'.  Again this will be a voyage of discover for me, but one I'm looking forward to!

Let's hang the landlord - The King Blues
Headbutt - The King Blues
Whirring - The Joy Formidable
Airplanes - Local Natives

Now I'm really excited to see what twee-pop darlings Los Campesinos! have been up to recently.  The last time i saw them live was a couple of years ago at the Camden crawl (when they almost broke the floor/ceiling of the pub!!) and it is definitely something i've been missing!  Their twinkling xylophone and his'n'hers vocal charm make the Welsh eight-piece instantly loveable!!  I loved their first two albums, but have not yet got to grips with their latest offering, 'Romance is Boring', Reading will be a good place to start.

Following the Cardiff lads n lasses on the R1 stage are Mercury-nominated Wild Beasts.  These boys from Kendal crept onto the scene with the release of their debut album 'Limbo, Panto' in 2008, and followed that up with 'Two Dancers' which was released last year and has earned them a nomination for this year's Mercury prize.

Then at last the chance to hear the anthem of the summer, The Drums exploded into our consciousness with the brilliant 'Let's Go Surfing'.  And whilst their debut self-titled album did not quite live up to the first single, these boys from NYC should provide a summery set (hopefully the sort of atmosphere Vampire Weekend normally bring) and I will be really disappointed if there is not a whole load of crowd SURFING!!

My year in lists - Los Campesinos!
All your keyfabe friends - Los Campesinos!
We've still got the tast dancing on our tongues - Wild Beasts
Let's go surfing - The Drums

The evening then begins to gear up and its time to put on the dancing wellies for the arrival of electronic instrumentalists Metronomy.  The group, originally best known as remixers, produce cracking tunes of their own and their set in the dance tent should be a good warm up for the rest of the evening.  Over in the R1 tent, Kele from Bloc Party makes his maiden solo festival performance following the release of the brilliant debut 'The Boxer'.  As i mentioned before his solo style is slightly more beats oriented than BP and the debut single 'Tenderoni' was a stunner!

A slight departure from the electro comes in the shape of Seattle rockers Band of Horses.  Their warm Americana-tinged tunes could be likened to My Morning Jacket, with their indie-country dress sense and beautiful musical panoramas, these guys are almost the american version of Mumford & Sons.  I've been longing to see them since i first discovered their music a couple of years ago and they are one of my must-sees of the weekend!  Plus look at the AWESOME beards.....love it!!

My heart rate rapid - Metronomy
Tenderoni - Kele
The Funeral - Band of Horses
The Great Salt Lake - Band of Horses

Back to the dancing and this time its Oxford five-piece Foals.  These boys sprung to my attention with the addictive jitter-funk classic 'Hummer'.  They followed this up with brilliant debut album 'Antidotes' containing classics like 'Balloons' and 'Cassius'.  Just when we thought it couldn't get any better they turn up early this year with latest album 'Total Life Forever' which has earned them a Mercury nomination (i know it may seem like everyone seems to get nominated, but its just a sign of how awesome the festival is this year!) and with 'Spanish Sahara' and 'This Orient', they certain have raised their game even further!

Balloons - Foals
Spanish Sahara - Foals

The fun times should continue thanks to the electronic wizardry of Dr Daniel Snaith PhD AKA Caribou.  His eclectic sound incorporates electronic psychedelia, breakbeat drums and krautrock rhythms to produce a swirling, lush, musical landscape in which to loose yourself. 

Then we have one of the funnest, most rockinist bands in all of existence, We Are Scientists.  The (now) NYC boys are back again this year with another great album 'Barbara', including the brilliant (nearly) new single 'Nice Guys'.  The trio broke through to the mainstream in 2006 with the release of the classic 'With Love and Squalor'.  Hits like 'Noboby move, nobody get hurt', 'The Great Escape' and 'It's a Hit' cemented them as one of my favourite bands.

Odessa - Caribou
Nobody move, nobody get hurt - We Are Scientists
Nice Guys - We Are Scientists

Then comes the decision of which headliners to watch, and whilst it might be tempting to go see Blink-182 (only kidding!!) on the main stage, the only real choice is between British Sea Power and the Klaxons.  Brighton indie rockers BSP produce distinctive sweeping guitar pop, but personally i just have to see the return of the Klaxons.  I first saw the indie-rave pioneers at Reading in 2006 in the tiny Carling tent, the place was packed with a seething mass of sweat and glow sticks (and this was mid-afternoon).  They followed that up in 2007 with a brilliant R1 headline slot.  This followed the release of seminal album 'Myths of the Near Future', which would win the Mercury Prize that year.  Following a bit of a hiatus which included an album which will probably never see the light of day, the sci-fi punks have returned this year with the a new album, 'Surfing the Void', so I'm looking forward to an explosive, energetic and memorable festival-closing set!!

Waving Flags - British Sea Power
Echoes - The Klaxons
Atlantis to Interzone - The Klaxons

So that'll be it for the music for another year......now let the sunday night madness commence!!!

HURLEY!!!

Just a brief post and i know its a little behind the curve, but its so awesome that i just had to.  Weezer are back with a new album, 'Hurley', and yes it is named after the lovable Lost character of the same name (aka Jorge Garcia).  Dude!  And just take a look at the artwork......AMAZING!! The first single from the new album will be 'Memories'...

Memories - Weezer

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Friday's Forgotten Classic - 13th August 2010

For today's forgotten classics i've plumped for a trio of 00s london punk tunes.  All three failed to get any real exposure at the time, but all of which i love.

First up is a tune released in February 2006.  'To the Ramones' by Dustin's Bar Mitzvah, is a riotous tale of an acrimonious breakup.  The tune rollocks along with an underlying emotion that is hard not too love, the ultimate breakup tune?!?  The band never really made the impact they should have in the UK, although they did get some surprising success in Japan including a sell out tour!  The band split in 2007, playing their final show at the 100 club in London (which i was there to witness).

To the Ramones - Dustin's Bar Mitzvah

This next band Kill City were fronted by Lisa Moorish, most famous for fathering children with both Liam Gallagher and Pete Doherty!  I had never heard of her or her music when i walked into the Joiners in Southampton back in 2002 to see the Libertines (for the first time).  Kill City were the support, and the energy in the room that night had true shades of the punk of the Sex Pistols or the Clash, it was alive with nervous electricity.  'New York in my pocket' (from a 2002 EP) is a great example of this energy.  They returned a few years with a slightly cleaner more indie pop sound, but it was clear she still had an ear for a tune, just listen to perfect pop gem 'Just like Bruce Lee'.

New York in my pocket - Kill City
Just like Bruce Lee - Kill City

The last is arguably the most successful of the three and is more post-punk than anything else.  'London Bridge' by Dogs was released in 2004 as a double A-side with the excellent 'End of an Era', and whilst not tearing up the charts, did get some exposure when it featured on the soundtrack to the FIFA 2006 computer game.  The twinkling, spiralling intro gives way to guitars which romp along making this a classic!

London Bridge - Dogs

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reading preview - saturday

So after the NME/Radio 1 stage dominated friday, the main stage really hits back on saturday....and how!! Saturday has the potential to be an all-time classic.  A whole bunch of my favourite bands including the return of the Libertines, which (if they turn up) will make my year (and not just the festival)!!

First up on the main stage are The Walkmen.  The NY indie rockers burst on the scene in the post-Strokes glow and dazzled with some great tunes like 'Little House of Savages' and 'The Rat'.  They've been away a while (or at least off my radar) but are back with a new album, 'Lisbon', this year so it'll be interesting to see what they have in store. 

Next up on the big one are everyones favourite mackems, The Futureheads.  Their spiky incisive post-punk has made them one of my favourite bands over the last several years.  Their self-titled debut album was a cracker and they followed it up with two more top long-players.  In April they released their fourth album, 'The Chaos'.  My hounds of love are most definitely calling!!

Little House of Savages - The Walkmen
Hounds of love - The Futureheads
Walking Backwards - The Futureheads

It's the job of The Mystery Jets to follow Sunderland's finest, but the quirky Eel Pie Islanders certainly have the charm and the tunes.  Returning with their third album 'Serotonin', the Jets will be hoping the main stage performance can help boost they're loyal following.

Now its the turn of one of my festival must sees, the Gaslight Anthem.  The Springsteen-loving New Jersey boys were my main discovery of Reading last year and since then their 2008 album 'The '59 Sound' has become a personal favourite.  Their new album, 'American Slang', is described as a bit different by frontman Brian Fallon, but from the evidence of the first single its gonna be a winner!

If you fancy a bit of shelter from the sun/rain (delete as appropriate) or you just enjoy a bit of new rave electro-punk (or noise as some of my friends call it) then head into the Radio 1 tent for a some Hadouken!  These kids sprung onto the scene in the wake of bands like the Klaxons and returned around the turn of the year with their second album, 'For the Masses'.

Half in love with Elizabeth - The Mystery Jets
Great Expectations - Gaslight Anthem
American Slang - Gaslight Anthem
Crank it up - Hadouken!

Then comes that bit of the day when a break in the schedule appears and there's a chance to see the new/unheard-of/ignored bands.  Some promising new candidates here are the twee acoustic folk charm of Villagers, nominated for the Mercury Prize for their debut effort 'Becoming a Jackal', I blame Coco, the daughter of Sting, with her reggage-tinged pop or New York indie folk newcomer Darwin Deez.  Alternatively, there are a couple of bands who i've never fully explored, south Londoners The Maccabees and Portland indie rockers Modest Mouse.

Becoming a Jackal - Villagers
Selfmachine - I Blame Coco
Radar Detector - Darwin Deez
Float on - Modest Mouse
About Your Dress - The Maccabees

Next up is my hometown boy, Frank Turner in the R1 tent.  His folk-punk won me over at the festival 2 year back and last years show on the same stage blew me away.  His latest album, 'Poetry of the Deed', was released a week after, and it still sounds just as good one year on!  Can't wait to hear thousands of people singing "We're definitely going to hell, but we'll have all the best stories to tell."

Following Mr Turner on the main stage are indie scene darlings the Cribs.  The Wakefield lads returned this week with a surprise new single, 'Housewife', with a zombietacular video.  Their riotous shows are always a hit with the crowds and with hits like 'Men's Needs' and 'Hey Scenesters' in their locker its easy to see why!  

The Real Damage - Frank Turner
The Road - Frank Turner
Men's Needs - The Cribs
Hey Scenesters - The Cribs

Then we have time for a bit of full-on electro-rave from Crystal Castles.  The Toronto experimentalists returned earlier this year with a second eponymous album and should always be good for a dance.  Then onto festival favourite, East London boy Dizzee Rascal.  The three time Mercury nominee (and one time winner) always brightens up a festival afternoon and he's got the tunes to get the party started.  But after all, he's just a rascal, dizzee rascal!

Air War - Crystal Castles
Jus a Rascal - Dizzee Rascal

.......What can i say?!?  I never thought i would see the day.  The boys in the band have been reunited and will once again grace the main stage.  The Libertines are my all-time favourite band and the passion and electricity they exuded in their live shows was unrivalled and must have been akin to the early days of punk.  The volatile chemistry between Pete and Carl was always on the edge and yet beautiful at the same time.  It has been a long time since i last had the privilege of seeing them live and Saturday 28th August 2010 cannot come too quickly.

What a Waster - The Libertines
Don't Look Back into the Sun - The Libertines
The Delaney - The Libertines

Onto the headliners and although it will be a near impossible act to follow what has gone before, there are two bands who are are in with a real shout.  The main stage will see the return of Arcade Fire to the festival for a third time.  The Montreal indie collective fronted by husband and wife duo, Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, released their third album, 'The Suburbs', last week.  They have a great back catalogue to draw from and should put on a great show.

The alternative (and one i'm leaning towards at the moment) is in the Festival Republic tent where Downpatrick rockers Ash will surely have the place bursting at the seams with their plethora of classic tunes.  They released their last album 'Twilight of the Innocents' back in 2007 and have since been playing the old hits, including much from their classic album 1977.  Ash were one of the first bands i saw live and will always have a place in my heart.  Bring it on, let's get ready to Burn Baby Burn!!

Rebellion (Lies) - Arcade Fire
Angel Interceptor - Ash
Orpheus - Ash

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Friday's Forgotten classic - 6th August 2010

This week i'm going back to 2001 and an album that i still go back to time after time.  In my opinion this was Snow Patrol's best album!  'When it's all over we still have to clear up' is much rawer and more tender than their later albums.  They obviously made a name for themselves with the more recent stuff, but in the same way i always return to 'Parachutes' when i want to hear some Coldplay, i always return to 'When it's all over...'.  This album only reached number 129 in the UK and never really got the recognition it deserved at the time.  'An olive grove facing the sea' is still my favourite SP song, beautiful!!

Making Enemies - Snow Patrol
Black and Blue - Snow Patrol
An Olive Grove Facing the Sea - Snow Patrol

(Just realised that Mr Gary Lightbody has managed to get himself in my last two forgotten classic posts now, cheeky b@%?£*d!!)