You coming?

it's dead in here... if I were you I'd head over to

Nonsense, this is far superior to meths... for some action... see you there...

hey you guys...

The Fratellis. A band named after the villains in The Goonies. You don't need any more than that, do you?
You do? Okay then. If you insist.

If you like your Scottish indie-rock with more than a pinch of 70's glam rock then you've come to the right place. Welcome. Grab yourself a drink. Tennants Super Strength? Are you sure? If you insist. Yeah, the dancefloor is a bit crowded. That's because they're playing "Henrietta" and it sounds like a pub singalong has just crashed into a 70's cartoon theme tune. Oh, and it's fucking great. Don't worry though, they'll play "Whistle For The Choir" and it'll give you a moment of quiet reflection before "Got Ma Nuts From A Hippy" blows your head off again.

If you're looking for the answers to life as we know it then put that can down, step outside and ask the taxi driver to take you to where there are only "Five Leaves Left". However, if you want to hear dirty rock songs that sound like they came from Bugsy Malone, if Bugsy Malone was drunk and high singing about "Vince The Loveable Stoner" then get another round in and enjoy the rest of your night.

Henrietta

first impressions of albert hammond jr

Whatever happened to The Strokes? Are they dead yet? Well if history is to be believed then maybe so.
Albert Hammond Jr. has just released his solo album "Yours To Keep" and maybe this is his way of hammering a soft and melodic nail into the coffin of said band.
Admittedly I was as skeptical as a very skeptical person upon receiving this record and feared that it would be self-indulgent nonsense (yes, I own "First Impressions of Earth"). However, to say that I was as pleasantly surprised as a person who had just been surprised in a pleasant fashion would be an understatement.
Yes, it is lo-fi (do solo album making guitarists make anything other than lo-fi? I'm looking at you Mr. Coxon) and as a result it is warm, fuzzy, gentle and brimming with sincerity. Even the slightly Strokes-esque tracks have a friendlier personality than if they'd been recorded by a rich and hungover hipster through a muffler, in cupboard, on the corner of 42nd and 9th in Manhattan. Maybe it's because you can hear the words?
Hammond's lightness of touch comes as a surprise after his bands last few records. Although it is no secret that he made this after his songs were rejected by Casablancas and co. it is easy to see how these folk-infused numbers don't fit into that image.
Of course he is not reinventing the wheel on this record but songs such as "Back To The 101" and "Call An Ambulance" are just great to put on first thing in the morning when you've got time to ease yourself into the day. We all need albums like that and this is currently my first stop on a cold autumn morning. I recommend you stop there too.

Blue Skies

the difference between me and you is that i'm not on fire...

Things are gonna be a little different.

Instead of giving you little snapshots of why you should be listening to the music from each post I will try and give you a little more to go on than "it's good" etc. It means that there may be a little more reading involved but it should give a better overall picture.

Things should also get a little more varied.

he's... alive...

"Clear... guh-guh... clear... guh-guh... clear... guh-guh..."
"There's something there... he's alive!"

"Thanks doc, I feel much better now. I think I'll have a cup of tea (today) and then go and post some music and stuff (tomorrow)!"

goodbye marwood and i...

I have returned! Or have I? I am currently debating whether to continue this blogging thing. Do I have the time anymore? More importantly, do I have the inclination to preach to the few? Can I be bothered? The answer to all three questions is "probably not". So there we have it. Rather than go out with a bang it'll probably be a whisper. Sort of like the opposite of Cobain and his Neil Young quoting sentiments.

Whilst I decide how to officially but a bullet in this here blog, I have something very special indeed.

For any Nick Drake freaks out there then you'll have heard that Warlock Music produced some sessions with other artists to highlight Drake's songwriting talent. One of these artists was Elton John (or Reg Dwight as he was then). I have 3 of the 4 tracks (I am missing Saturday Sun)... whatever you think and say about the strangeangrydiva that is the modern day Elton... "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" is a fantastic album and these versions, whilst not touching Drake's, are an interesting listen...

Day Is Done

Time Has Told Me

Way To Blue

marwood will be out of the office until october 1

This may be my last post for a few days (make that weeks!) as I prepare to go to South Africa (hopefully!). Although if anything catches my eye, and I get enough time, then I'll post before I leave.

Rest assured that I will be back and stronger than ever and maybe even with a "guest blogger" by the 2nd week of October... stay tuned... and in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger...

"I'm just going out for a pack of cigarettes"

the doctor prescribes (iLiKETRAiNS vs. sure juror)

Obsessed doesn't even come close... I love iLiKETRAiNS... so by request here is there mini-album "Progress, Reform", single "Before The Curtains Close" and 2004 demo song, and current favourite, "Oh, The Humanity". How's that for an action-packed post?

Oh, I know you've got this stuff for free, but please go and buy their releases... otherwise this kind of quality will dry up and you'll be left with other blog starlets like Sure Juror (thank you brooklynvegan, you ain't no picasso etc. thanks alot... by the way... brooklynvegan [which I like sometimes] gets a fucking radio show and this is what they promote... come on... there is no competition... you should listen to it, though, just to decide for yourself)...

Progress, Reform

Terra Nova

No Military Parade

A Rook House For Bobby

Citizen

The Accident

Stainless Steel

The Beeching Report

Before The Curtains Close

Before The Curtains Close (part I)

Before The Curtains Close (part II)

2004 Demo

Oh, The Humanity

People that know me know that I'm nothing if not incredibly idle. So the fact that I've uploaded all of this means that I believe (and if I had any real way of forcing you then I would) that you should be listening to this right now... if you're still reading this you're wasting too much time... you should be on rapidshare downloading it and feeling dizzy at the thought of this much quality music entering your life all at once (or is that just me?)... trust me, I'm a doctor...