Tricky - Council Estate

Great video - Brings back memories of certain areas of Manchester growing up. Love the blurry head thing. (Watch it!) Check out the website for a higher definition version of the video.

This is the first single from Tricky's forthcoming alum "Knowle West Boy" due July 7th UK and Sept. 9th US. I liked "Blowback" with the exception of one track.

I do not see much on the tour front except for a couple of festival dates in Spain and France July/August but I would suspect there will be more soon - Check Pollstar

"Council Estate is just me... that song is the upbringing me and friends had. It's the first single I've ever done with just me on vocals. I couldn't whisper that song. I had to come out of myself and do a loud, screaming vocal. I wanted to be a proper frontman on that one." --Tricky on Council Estate.

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/trickola
Website: http://www.knowlewestboy.com/

 

Black Kids - Hurricane Jane

Okay, it's been a while since my last post but I blame the long weekend, plus we're trying to get the house in shape for my birthday party and more importantly to sell it (Not sure if these two things go together)

This is the new video from Black Kids and the single is out June 23rd in the UK - Summer songs are very important in the UK and this fits that need. A nice video, song has a little bit of Black Grape and ABC to it (If you're old enough to figure those references, if not ask a teacher... an old teacher.)

They are out of Jacksonville Florida, but seem to have been adopted by the UK. They are touring (Some dates sold out) in the UK and the odd piece of Europe. They are then on the festival circuit including Lollapalooza in Chicago (Looks like the only US date for a while)

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/blackkidsrock
Website: http://blackkidsmusic.com/

 

April 2008

Episode 4 - "A new hope" The collected videos from April 2008.

The Long Blondes - Guilt, Guillemots - Falling Out Of Reach, Forward Russia - "Breaking, Standing", Captain - Keep An Open Mind, Sons And Daughters - This Gift, Eight Legs - Freaking out the Neighbours, The Metros - Last of the Lookers, Mystery Jets - Two Doors Down, Twisted Wheel - She's A Weapon, The Envy Corps - Story Problem, Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart, Louis XIV - Air Traffic Control, The Black Ghosts - I Want Nothing, These New Puritans - Swords of Truth, Elbow - One Day Like This, The Gutter Twins - All Misery/Flowers, Red Light Company - With Lights Out, Gliss - Gimme The Hit, The Draytones - Turn It Down, B-52s - Funplex, The Black Keys - Strange Times

 

Tapes 'n Tapes - Hang Them All

This video is more a war "of" capitalism than a war "on" capitalism, but amusing enough. This is not technically a brand new video, but Beggars have refreshed it on their list. It is taken from the album "Walk it Off"

The band hail from Minnesota and if you listen to "Conquest" on their MySpace page you can detect a bit of an "Echo and the Bunnymen" influence.

They are touring in Europe but do have one date in August in Brooklyn NY with the Black Keys

Click to buy the MP3 from Amazon

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/tapesntapes
Website: WEBSITEURL

 

White Williams - Violator

Taken from the album "Smoke", this has a nice sound and a cool video. They sound like.... (It will come to me)

Starts with a little New Order sound to the guitar but progresses into something a lot more melodic.

They have a Boston and NY date left before touring the UK and Ireland for the firsy few ewwks of June.

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/whitewilliams
Website: http://www.dominorecordco.com/smoke/smoke.html

 

Portishead - The Rip

Almost the antithesis of Machine Gun, this is the 2nd track taken from 2008's album "3rd". Starts off very mellow, but does build although not to the aggressive levels of machine gun.

Video is an animation, with not so unhappy skulls and a crazy hang glider.

Click to buy the MP3 from Amazon

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/PORTISHEADALBUM3
Website: http://www.portishead.co.uk/

 

The Courteeners - No You Didnt No You Dont

The new single from hotly tipped "The Courteeners". For those that remember the "Top of the Pops" TV chart show from the UK you will recognize this video as a pastiche of that. The single is due out on June 23rd (UK)

Oh, and of course, they are from Manchester which is why you get a little Smithsy sound out of them. They have a couple of gigs in Japan and then back to the British Isles for a string of shows and festival dates.

This post was brought to you by Blogger's new scheduled posting as I am up in Tahoe for the weekend.

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thecourteeners
Website: http://www.thecourteeners.com/

 

The Fratellis - Mistress Mabel

This is the first single to be taken from the forthcoming album "Here we Stand". The album is due June 9th (UK) and the single May 26th(UK)

This is a much anticipated follow up to the fantastic "Costello Music" that I can highly recommend as an in car sing-a-long album.

The video at least has a fox in it - Cool!

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/littlebabyfratelli
Website: http://www.thefratellis.com/

 

Bryn Christopher - The Quest

This is the debut single from Bryn Christopher from the Midlands (Translation=Near Birmingham) in the UK. This is a bit more poppy than my normal posts, just think of it as a moment of weakness late in the week.

Anyway, the single is due out on June 9th (UK) taken from the album "My World" out in August. He's on tour in the UK currently with a few festival appearances. There is a story in BandWeblogs that he was signed by one of the biggest live agents in the US - William Morris

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/brynchristopher

 

The Pigeon Detectives - This Is An Emergency

This is more like it. I heard a lot about these guys a couple of years ago. This is taken from the album "Emergency" due out May 26th (UK)

They are currently touring the UK and Europe including Glastonbury although there were some postponements due to a knee injury. There is a lone Canadian date in September listed on pollstar so I'd expect a US tour then.

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thepigeondetectives
Website: http://www.thepigeondetectives.com/

 

The Kills - Last Day of Magic

Taken from, "Midnight Boom", one of my favorite albums this year, and I am gutted that I cannot make the show at Slims on Saturday. Another great, video who d'you think would win that fight?

See other The Kills videos here

Click to buy the MP3 from Amazon

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thekills

 

Haunts - Underground

Something to dance to - This is a relatively fast paced track designed to be jumped up and down to. This is out on 7 inch and download

They are a 4 piece out of London and should be putting the finishing touches on their debut album.

They have some dates in the UK including in June Club NME @ Koko and the Download Festival.

This is a bit heavier than I'd normally push, but I have been a bit remiss on looking at new videos. I was at Elbow on Friday, and it was fantastic! They are really enjoying themselves these days. For next week I'd recommend The Kills on Saturday at Slims.

Click to buy the MP3 from 7 Digital

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/haunts
Website: http://www.hauntslondon.com/

 

The Music - Strength In Numbers

Well, finishing the week on a high - The Music have surprised me with a single I actually like! The video has a lot going on, more tanks than The Last Shadow Puppets, more night vision than The Black Keys plus helicopters and short hair to boot.

This is the title track from their 3rd album due on June 9th UK. I think it's about 4 years since the last one?

They are currently on tour in the UK.

PS - It's Mothers Day on Sunday (US)

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/themusic
Website: http://www.themusic.co.uk/

 

Fear of Music - First To Go (Plus Free MP3s)

These guys are out of Manchester and so get an extra shout from me just for locale. This video shows what happens if you take guitars into a 50s jazz club.

This single is due out June 2nd (UK) and taken from the debut album "Actor/Actress" August 11th (UK).

Thanks go out again here to Alex at ScruffyBird for the following free MP3 downloads.

Stream here



Download the MP3s below
A Blueprint
Ropes Out of Sheets

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/fearofmusic
Website: http://www.fearofmusic.com/

 

Long Blondes - Century

This is following very quickly on the heels of Guilt, but this has a pretty cool video - Danger! Windmills!

Taken from the album "Couples" released in the US yesterday.

The US tour kicks off in a couple of weeks hitting San Francisco on June 2nd at The Great American Music Hall and tickets are available here

Click to buy the MP3 from Amazon

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thelongblondes
Website: http://www.thelongblondes.co.uk/

 

Cut Copy - Lights & Music

Pure pop, but good for a Tuesday - This is quite a popular track and I normally try and stay away from the really popular stuff, but there's a new video shortage out there at the moment. This track is taken fro their second album "In Ghist Colors".

Check out "Feel the Love" on their MySpace page.

They are currently on tour in the US, then return to their native Australia (They're from Melbourne) before hitting some of the summer festivals including Glastonbury

Click to buy the MP3 from Amazon

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/cutcopy
Website: http://www.cutcopy.net/

 

Film School - Compare

This is a black and white performance video, but nice guitars lead us through it. This is taken from their 3rd album "Hideout"

Currently on tour in the US, appearing at the Fillmore on May 29th with Swervedriver tickets on sale here.

On a separate note, I was at the Great American Music Hall to see Sons and Daughters and they put on an absolutely fantastic show - Go and see them if yu get a chance and buy "This Gift" it's one of my favorite albums so far this year. Next event for me is Elbow

Click to buy the MP3 from Amazon

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/filmschool
Website: http://www.filmschoolmusic.com/

 

Constantines - Hard Feelings

The black and white axe wielding video for "Hard Feelings" from Canada's Constantines.

This is taken from the album "Kensington Heights" that was released this week (US).

They are on tour in the US and Canada and in San Francisco at Slims on July 2nd, 2008. and tickets are available here.

Click to buy the MP3 from Amazon

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/constantines
Website: http://www.constantines.ca/

 

Hot Chip - One Pure Thought

This track is crying out to be re-mixed to the max. Following on from "Ready for the floor", this is taken from the album "Made in the Dark".

They are currently on tour in the UK and have more European and UK dates throughout the year - Including a few festival dates.

I previously covered "Ready for the Floor" here.

Click to buy the MP3 (Radio Edit) from Amazon

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/hotchip
Website: http://www.hotchip.co.uk/