Simply Devine, Dahling.

THE VINES


So the Vines are back with their 3rd album Vision Valley, which is great. It's not exactly a major departure from their other albums and sounds closer to Winning Days than Highly Evolved (both of which are loved by me) but it's well worth a good few listens to.

Clocking in at slightly over 30 minutes, they keep things short but sweet. This album easily betters the most recent efforts of their 2002 garage rock revival contemporaries The Strokes and the White Stripes, even if it is an entirely low-key affair. (I didn't realise it was out so soon until I saw it on the bottom shelf in HMV today.)

Gross Out
Yells and melodies!

Gross Out Video
A simple video, but we weren't expecting an epic from a 90-second long tune.

Don't Listen To The Radio
Joining the radio-hating ranks of The Smiths and The Revs with a short but delightful grunge burst of handclaps and riffs, they hark back to their early days in style. The album title is partially derived from the technological hub of Silicon Valley, which couldn't be further away from Craig's world, as we hear in this song.

The Guardian Article
Get yourself up to date with the Vines if you haven't already read their story a thousand times. Closes with a promising comment regarding them never touring ever again (ie: they probably will!). I saw them in 2003 and I couldn't fault them, but I later read a bandmember calling it their "worst show ever".

You're....FANATICAL!

FLAMING LIPS - AT WAR WITH THE MYSTICS


If you hadn't already guessed, album of the week has to go to the Flaming Lips' new offering. Wayne Coyne is the oldest musician I know of who has never gotten stale or hitten a bum note. Every album is distinct and of an awe-inspiring high standard. They've been the biggest band in the world (well, I think Bono and Chris Martin could take a few lessons) for their past two albums now, so there's a certain amount of pressure on them for this one.

But they definitely don't fail to impress. Opening with the helium-infected lunacy of the Yeah Yeah Yeah Song, the choruses continuously stomp back and forth across your speakers. Who are the mystics? They seem to be the unlikely (and largely unmystical) figures of Gwen Stefani, Donald Trump, George Bush and all the world leaders who use their influence for the bad.

Throughout, we can train our ears to try to hear what Coyne's been listening to during the making of the album. There are a few (quite obvious) strains of the incredible acid-folk-prog-rock of Dungen, but there's also evidence of Prince, Polyphonic Spree, OOIOO and even Stravinsky!

There's no doubting that this is the Flaming Lips at the top of their game - perhaps their best - and is a classic for everybody's shelf.

Yeah Yeah Yeah Song
The lead single from the album. For some reason, this song hits me like a condensed radio pop version of their Zaireeka album. Excellent lyrics questioning the power of influence.

Yeah Yeah Yeah Song Video

The W.A.N.D.
A bass-heavy handclapping stormer. Apparantly inspired in equal parts by their covers of Black Sabbath's War Pigs and White Stripes' Seven Nation Army.

Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung
Dungen covering The Lion Sleeps Tonight. A Lips' career highlight.

Not Quite A Limp Bizkit.

HENRY ROLLINS LIVE IN VICAR STREET - 28.03.06


I first heard Henry Rollins doing a segment on a Chunklet Podcast. It consisted of a 5 minute long anti-Bono rant, recorded live in Dublin. It was, to me, exactly what Bill Hicks would think of Bono (an explosive, educated attack on his music and persona) and I decided that anybody who carried the Hicksian torch, without actually stealing the torch (Denis Leary) was fine by me. Little did I know that comedy was by no means his priority industry and that he's also one of America's biggest alternative/punk icons. So when I heard that he was to perform a "spoken word" show in Dublin (I think "spoken word" is a humble back-up in case somebody was to think that "comedy" is a bit of an arrogant tag), I was bought. I knew he'd make a refreshing change from the Irish (and surrogate Irish) "comedians" doing the rounds these days, who spend sell-out 20 night runs ridiculing the audience's hometowns.

During his 2.5 hour trek through the most topical current affairs and the most ridiculous tour stories, the crowd is rarely stuck for a laugh. Often, Rollins does actually become a spoken word performer but he is always enthralling as a storyteller. Highly educated and extremely literate and witty, he guides us through the state of America today as well as around the world with him as our guide. One story of interest is the tale of his jaunt down-under to perform at the Big Day Out festival, where his in-flight reading resulted the man sitting next to him reporting him to the government as a suspected terrorist.

His more graphically obscene side comes out during his description of a week he decided to spend on the Trans-Siberian Express out of boredom. The below-zero weather conditions results in the freezing of the patrons' waste ("Satan's popsicle") and he must look on as the horribly rude lady member of staff cleans the toilets with an icepick. Later, the "fish" dinner forced into him by said member of staff is disposed of orally. His reasoning behind his fascination with the resulting mess is that "we only ever see the A and the Z of digestion...never the LMNO". To the crowd's glee, he then tells us that he ate a carrot which was an ingredient of this mess. He informs us that, to a cheapskate like him, eating this regurgitation twice is a massive victory.

The rest of his set is littered with pop culture references. He talks about Iggy Pop, the White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys ("every interview I do ends with 'So what do you think of Arctic Monkeys?'") and the recent overreaction with regard to Oprah Winfrey's book club scandal.

Very well read and thoroughly educated, Rollins is a joy to witness. With almost a dozen spoken word albums to his name, he really has an opinion on anything and everything and should be listened to with eager ears.

21.3.61
His official website/publishing company.

Wikiquote
A few Rollins' quotes.

Dispatches
His online journal.

Popmatters Interview
Good article from December 2005.

These Rumours Are True.

THE IMMEDIATE - MAKE OUR DEVILS FLOW EP


Today is my lucky day for new releases. Album of the day is the aforementioned Secret Machines' album, DVD of the day is the excellent Thumbsucker (scored by Tim Delaughter and with the soundtrack performed by the Polyphonic Spree) and single of the day (perhaps the year) is the Immediate's Make Our Devils FLOW EP.

The beautiful production is a marvel as Chris Shaw manages to make their painfully sharp edges as smooth as a plum.

Laziness gets the better of me, so I'll take the unbiased opinion of the Irish Times to try to persuade you to make a purchase of this:

Four excellent tunes from a singular Dublin four-piece who blend post-punk, blues, ska and psychedelia into an original sound. Wow, the words "Dublin" and "original" just appeared in the same sentence - incredible.

So if you're in Dublin tomorrow, come along to Tower Records on Wexford Street at 3pm to buy one of these, get it signed and see a free show:


Other Voices Video
A RealMedia file of them performing live on RTÉ TV. The marvellous acoustic rendition of Aspects is the highlight, but for the newcomers, the 2 live songs exist as a perfect example of the Immediate's punky live show.

A Ghost In This House
The highlight of the EP. Moogs bouncing off basslines and a melody that sends shivers down your spine. "Maybe tomorrow" could become the chant of the year.

Aspects [Demo]
Their theme tune. Expect a new, trimmer version of this song on their debut album In Towers and Clouds.

Be friends with them. They're lonely. Locked up.

Keep It Like A Secret.

SECRET MACHINES


I've got a few close contenders in the stakes for my favourite band ever. Unfortunately, Secret Machines aren't actually in the top 10 (they aren't far away though). But an amazing Dallas band from the 1990's - who went by the name of Tripping Daisy - definitely are. When these wonders came to the end of the road near the strike of the millenium, some (read: most) of the band became the Polyphonic Spree but the rest (read: one, the incredible drummer) of them formed the Secret Machines.

Their new album Ten Silver Drops hits the shelves today (that's March 24th) and it's a real event. Despite always sounding like the psychedelic musical version of a Greek tragedy, this new disc takes the epicness to a whole new level. There's no real reason why SM shouldn't demand global domination (after all, every ingredient is in place) but if they don't, it's fine by me. I can't wait to hear a stadium band in club venue.

Any Irish readers should take note that they've decided to swerve right around us on their album tour, to my utter dismay. Perhaps an Oxegen or Electric Picnic slot awaits them. I'd hope for absolutely anything.. my first time was ruined by the Point's awful sound - especially for support bands - coupled with horrible people who couldn't give a support band a second of their time.

Alone, Jealous And Stoned
The first glimpse they allowed us of Ten Silver Drops, this is an 80's power ballad had the power ballads that existed in the 80's actually been in any way good. A slow-burning beauty where every chord change feels special.

Nowhere Again
The highlight of their debut (ignoring the fantastic September 000 mini-album), this summed up the entire album into a snappy pop song. The drums are huge, the guitar is great and the chorus is a stadium-filler.

Lightning Blue Eyes Video
The latest vid-joe.

I was going to link you to their myspace, but then I realised it's one of those major label marketing devices with absolutely no real ties to the band. Such horrible works will not being getting linkage from me, oh noes!

Their official site is pretty nice though.

Oh! etc.

DIRTY PRETTY THINGS
(again)

Dirty Pretty Things have made available 3 songs from their forthcoming album Waterloo To Anywhere. It's definitely one to look forward to if you cared for The Libertines' Up The Bracket. To me, it looks like it's gonna be a sparklier/glossier version (although it couldn't be as good as it, could it?) filled with 3 minute punk gems.

You Fucking Love It
Oh, how rude! But true. Knees up, guitars up! Didz gets to sing. Brings to mind the rowdier Libertines tunes like Skag and Bone Man and Mayday.

Wondering
The treble guitar opposing the chordage sounds so good to my humble ears, as always.

The Gentry Cove
Every band needs a catchy sea shanty. It's actually in the rule book.

The Fiery Furnace.

JEREMY WARMSLEY


Tell us what Jeremy Warmseley's selling point is, I hear you yell. Well, he's half French which gives him a nice layer of mystery and romanticism that certainly comes across very well in his music.

I first encountered him supporting Regina Spektor. He arrived on stage in an Arcade Fire 'Us Kids Know' t-shirt and I was bought-over immediately. He played his set all alone, on a raw, unprocessed electric guitar plugged into his amp, with a couple of songs played carefully on a piano. He was intriguing (his voice in particular) and when I got home, the first thing I did was check out his myspace because I knew that the studio versions of his tunes would be nothing short of amazing. Et voila...they are! Blending the experimental subtlety of Animal Collective with the songwriting of Patrick Wolf, he's moulded some incredible floating melodies in his 2 EPs so far. And he's a lovely fellow; a regular on his forum and a distributor of free CDs at his shows.

If you're converted, pick up a copy of his limited edition (500 only) Other People's Secrets EP, which is out on April 10th. That's sure to be one for the collectables' vault.

5 Verses
The vocal melody in this tune is incredible. Lyrically poetic and and musically sublime.

If I Had Only

After The Fact

I Keep The City Burning

Dirty Blue Jeans Video
His amazing latest video..one of the most innovative promos I've ever viewed. Directed by Londoner Ben Rollason. You should try requesting it on MTV 2 or something.

5 Verses Video

Official website

Peter, Paul and Mary.

SUBURBAN KIDS WITH BIBLICAL NAMES



SKWBN are a quirky band who sing upbeat melodies about really nice things. Think The Boy Least Likely To, except a lot more brilliant. Their album - #3 (called so because their first 2 EPs were #1 and #2) - is an extremely addictive listen with not one bad track. The Swedish duo (and they don't sound either!) will soundtrack thousands of summers this year and I urgently await my chance to see them live.

Rent A Wreck
Ah, nice tunes make me smile!

Noodles
An indie Cotton Eye Joe.

Love Will

Trumpets And Violins

Their blog

Their myspace, with 4 downloadable songs.

What is all?

LOVE IS ALL


Oh wow. Hey people! You're gonna fucking LOVE LOVE LOVE IS ALL.

Katch these kids in two thousand and siks. I've been listening to their album Nine Times That Same Song over and over and Dover... they're too good.

Make Out Fall Out Make Up
Download this song if it's the last thing you do. Even if that means you don't get to hear it, at least someone might if they're rooting through your computer. Just in case this is actually the last thing you do, you should remove your password protection.

Felt Tip Hip Kids

Used Goods

Their myspace

Your car is bitchin.

GOOD SHOES
I meant to write this sooner, but I just been busy. You said your girlfriend's pregnant now...

Are you thinking "wait a sec...you've featured Good Shoes before"? Well, naw-aw, that was GoodBooks. With these 2 (great) bands on the border of some kind of bigness, you won't be the first to be confused by them in the coming months.

If you like that whole angular rock thing, you'll love these, because they're probably the best of the lot I've heard.

We Are Not The Same
Video of the latest single.

Never Meant To Hurt You
Lyric of the month goes to: "Met a girl on the plane to Canada, drinking wine, watching Maid In Manhattan"

Small Town Girl

In The City

Official site

Their myspace

The Fresh Peaches.

JEFFREY LEWIS LIVE IN CRAWDADDY - 28.02.06


Upon entering the old Harcourt Street train station on a frozen Tuesday night, the first thing we are greeted by is a vastly-stocked merchandise stall manned by Jeffrey himself. So we've seen him! Any mystery surrounding the New York anti-folk hero is removed when we see that he's just a shy guy behind a desk reading a paperback.

Ham Sandwich are on stage. A female-fronted garage rock band in the vein of Yeah Yeah Yeahs or a poppier, girlier Pixies, the standout track is their recent single St. Christopher, a bass-heavy singalong melody.

The DIY ethics of the Jeffrey Lewis band (which consists of Jeff, his brother Jack and their drummer David) then come to the fore. That's them setting up their instruments, their laptop and their projector and that's Jack hanging a white sheet over the venue's Budweiser backdrop. Because they really are the indie hardcore - they travel alone, hitching lifts and crashing on couches and musically, they are a shambles and Jeff can't really sing. But that's all part of the charm. Jeff's songs are innocent rambling philosophies, spoken/sung, usually over a picked guitar (he's actually an impressive master of the electroacoustic guitar). He's also an accomplished comic book artist (and we get the impression that this is where his heart really lies) and three compositions tonight are accompanied by sweet projected cartoon sketches. Hippie is the story of him observing a hippie girl in New York and remembering that he used to dress in a similar fashion but soon outgrew it ("It's gotten to the point where I no longer even identify with most Phish fans anymore"). He remarks that we'll always look back on the present as us having being naive, and like during most of his set, the audience is constantly chuckling in admiration.

The second animation of the night accompanies a condensed history of the Soviet Union, Jeff's "lecture" of the night. Educational and hilarious (the next installment is to be the history of Communist China), the crowd is won over and the next gap in-between songs consists of a plea for accomodation, and transport for a 300 kilometre round-trip the following night.

Visiting the merch booth post-gig, the brothers are inundated with offers and are almost sold out of memorabilia, such is the love for these two unique creatures. Picking up two of his comics (a brilliant mixture of travel diary and insane fiction) and a bargain copy of one of Jack's albums, I get some signatures and leave with a slightly expanded mind.

The Complete History of the Development of Punk on New York's Lower East Side from 1950-1975

New Old Friends
Live video from Ground Zero, Paris. This song features on his new album City And Eastern Songs.

Anxiety Attack
A video of another song from the new album.

The Man With The Golden Arm
A video of a Jack Lewis composition.

Monkeys And Babies Are Scary

Official site

Their myspace

Ham Sandwich Official
Ham Sandwich's myspace



Jeff finished the show with East River, which features these lovely lyrics:

Cross the FDR to the east river
Throw myself in

Until the scum in the east river would drown me
The phlegm and rotten rats would surround me
The shattered cars at the bottom all around me
Until I was just another scum in the east river

And when I become the scum it's my job to drown
The pathetic hopes and failures of the next unloved clown
Though maybe it would be a girl and we could become scum together
Decompose as the river flows
Become one scum together
Become one forever
One bloated rotten putrid scum forever.