Thursday's an untimely day to be blogging about new releases but I'm procrastinating and I'm not the NME (which is probably a lot more reliable than a blog with a pun for a title).
Anyway, it's coming to the end of cold and rainy January and here's what's been keeping me sane in terms of the shining and spanking new. I'll keep it very short.
Warpaint - Warpaint
Warpaint's Theresa Wayman told the Guardian recently: "We leant towards things we thought were sexier," and that's definitely the feeling of this album. Warpaint: still keeping things etherREAL.
James Vincent McMorrow - Post Tropical
JVM's voice manages to blow me away. It's so... slight, and "ever so". I don't know how to explain it. Post Tropical is slightly more soul than the folky vibe of Early in the Morning, reminiscent of the Bon Iver S/T in some parts. I was gutted to find that his gig in Bristol this weekend is sold out otherwise I'd be straight on a train.
Against Me! - Transgender Dysphoria Blues
Only before Christmas did I actually start listening to Against Me!. Regrettably, I was late to the punk partayyy. Terrifically late. I however might have arrived just in time for the birthday cake. Here's an album speaking out about gender dysphoria, following the coming out of Laura Jane Grace. Actual songs about actual issues concerning those actually singing about it, those dealing with these/similar issues, and for everyone else to take note. "Unconditional Love" is a fave.
You Blew It! - Keep Doing What You're Doing
I thought they might have blew it too, with a band name like that. Bad band names put me off listening straight away, but I gave Keep Doing What You're Doing a go. They are on Topshelf, anyway; and I'll lap up anything Topshelf Recs release like a kitten sipping milk. I'm very very pleasantly surprised with this album and You Blew It! should indeed, keep doing what they're doing (I won't pun anymore).
Other stuff what I listened to this week but it was well old:
Caspian (EVERYTHING BY CASPIAN)
Run, Forever - Settling (A few crap songs but a few bangers)
Lady Gaga - ARTPOP (for Fashion, Do What U Want and Venus. I love her)
Give Up The Ghost - Background Music (Thank you to a fellow blogowner)
The Place Beyond the Pines OST (Score by Mike Patton)
Wild Nothing (basically everything by Wild Nothing)
Stuff to be anticipated - New releases from:
Bombay Bicycle Club
Mogwai
Caspian (MORE CASPIAN)
St Vincent
Diamond Youth
...and a load more, I'm sure. Have a fun weekend.
Please forgive me for I have sinned in neglecting the blog for a bit. Please forgive me for I shall sin again in trying to review a "hardcore" show (that's if I'm allowed to call it "hardcore"). I'm sure I'll only get better.
Last night I took a little trip to The Fleece in Bristol (heavy with a burrito in my belly) to see Defeater, supported by Goodtime Boys, More Than Life and Caspian. For me, seeing Defeater had been a long time coming and so the other bands didn't really matter. Goodness knew what MTL were playing as they last released a record about four years ago and yet their merch is still eBay gold. The only thing I'd heard about Goodtime Boys is that one of the members was an ex-screamer from The Automatic (remember them?). I gave that a miss.
I wasn't sure what to expect from More Than Life but The Fleece seemed RAMMED to me. And yet, all I can say, is "meh". That's unfortunately, the very little I can say about them and their performance, apart from the fact that they sound a bit samey and one particular "breakdown" (beginning with an infamous HxC "OHHH!") made me cringe. They're laughing though cause they're making a shit ton off Gildan softstyles every night at £10 a piece.
People seemed to wander outside for the Caspian performance, and this made me apprehensive. In all honesty, I'd never listened to them before and all I'd heard was that they're an instrumental band - how's that gonna go down live? I'm incredibly sorry for doubting what I'd heard. Caspian are astounding and I wish I'd have discovered them sooner. If you're a fan of say... Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky and maybe Happy Body Slow Brain (for their more downtempo stuff) I'd totally recommend. Highly emotional and yet wonderfully ambient. All I've done today is listen to them and now I wish I'd have bought a vinyl or something. My shitty tinny laptop speakers do last night's raw sound no justice - it's definitely something you have to experience live. There were a few little electronic bits which weren't really my cup of tea but that's a very small qualm. I like and am already waiting anxiously for the next full length.
It seemed there weren't as many people back inside for Defeater (had some people really just come for More Than Life?) but that's okay. One could breathe. Frontman Derek, recovering from a hip injury graced the stage simply by saying hello, thanking the other bands and then asking people not to touch him (slightly blunt if you don't know why). For some reason I half expected a less ballsy set given the injury but Defeater provided enough guts and enough gall for me to be satisfied, by kicking off with "Bastards" and pulling out big gun after big gun until an acoustic break for "I Don't Mind", "But Breathing" and (apparently - I had no idea) a Jawbreaker cover. I felt this break was drawn out and unnecessary - if I'd have wanted to see Derek on an acoustic guitar in excess of like fifteen minutes I'd have gone to see Alcoa the week before. I've got to admit, "But Breathing" had been vamped up rockabilly style which was quite nice. Thankfully the drones of "I Don't Mind" from the blokes in their late twenties behind me faded a bit when the full band reconvened for "The Red, White and Blues" and a few tracks from Letters Home, including my favourite "No Savior". This song clearly hits a nerve with the band; Derek's hand held firmly to his chest and Jay's fingers and eyes darting towards the ceiling. It hit a nerve with me too. Mind you, I'm a mess at any show I attend - just you wait for the City and Colour review at the end of this month. Sadly, as Defeater's set started at TWENTY PAST TEN (on a Sunday, man!!) and with a (subsequently forty minutes late) Megabus to catch, I missed what might have been an awesome encore as I was yet to hear neither "Cemetery Walls" nor "Cowardice". Bastards. Also bastards are the Megabus people who have indirectly given me pneumonia waiting outside Colston Hall 'till half twelve as I meanwhile could have been pointing my fingers angrily shouting "WHAT'S LEFT FOR ME?!". Bristol rarely disappoints though; I had a fun time.
Anyway - have a wonderful week. I'm back to the grind wishing I could have this week off just once more.
