May 17, 2008 at 8:30 am · Filed under Highlights
This weeks light at the end of the tunnel:
- Kickin’ The Peanuts Posted a brief review of The Submarines pending the release of their forthcoming album “Honeysuckle Weeks” on 13th May. Two tracks were posted to sample. Read the post [here]. They also posted two tracks from the new Weezer album, “Weezer (Red Album)” which is due for release on June 24th. Read the post [here]. And if you want to download and sample the latest Ratatat single, ‘Shiller’, read the post [here]. Coldplay’s new Album “Viva La Vida” gets a quick review and there are 3 tracks to try. Read the post [here]
- a PLAGUE OF ANGELS continued with their review of rock legends, The Who. read part 2 [here] and part 3 [here]. A rather blunt (but honest) post on Jason Mraz whose album (which I already have) called “We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things” was released 13th May. I have to say I agree with the review, but there are still some good songs to sample here. Read the post [here]
- Bag Of Songs put together a nice Mothers Day mix with plenty of downloads. (Mothers Day in UK was back in March btw). Read the post [here]
- Music Is Art posted a nice collection of cover songs which can be downloaded as individual tracks or as a zip file of the full mix. Read the post [here]
- The World Of Wingrove did quick reviews of 12 newly released albums with a sample track to download for most of them. Artists include, Death Cab For Cutie, The Black Angels, Santogold & Martha Wainwright. Read the post [here]
- Who Killed The Mixtape? produced a brilliant collection of tracks all of which feature hand claps of some sort/length. Read the post & download [here]
- If you’re a Jazz fan (and if not, why not???), Glorious Noise had a fantastic post titled “A History of Jazz for Rock Fans”. Nothing to download but a whole wealth of information about jazz music and the Gods artists who perform it. Read the post [here]
- Indie Launchpad Introduced P.Hux (Parthenon Huxley) who offers a rather nice blend of Power Pop with a download of the track ‘Perfect’ from his latest album “Kiss The Monster”. Well worth a listen. Read the post [here]
- Muzzle of Bees posted three Radiohead sample tracks from their VH-1 basement session. Read the post [here]. The new Shearwater album “Rook” was covered and a free legal download of the first single ‘Rooks’ was provided as well as an older track. Read the post [here]
- All Things Go reviewed the new Ratatat single, ‘Shiller’, with a download to sample. Read the post [here]
- Remix lovers will find this post at Pretty Much Amazing! to be useful. Download remixes of Estelle ft. Kanye West, Britney Spears, Radiohead, Usher, N.E.R.D., and Santogold. Read and download [here]
- The Pop Cop discusses the state of playlists on our radio stations and points us in the direction of ASDA FM, the supermarket channel, and posts two The Pigeon Detective tracks for sampling. read the post [here]
- Captain Obvious reviewed the new Death Cab For Cutie album, “Narrow Stairs”, with 2 tracks to try. Read the post [here]
- Lost In Your Inbox had quite a deep and searching post titled Past Imperfect and posted 4 rather poignant tracks, Read the post [here]
May 16, 2008 at 10:35 pm · Filed under Triggers and tagged: Away With The Fairys, Boz Scaggs, Eagles, Faith No More, Franz Ferdinand, Freddie Stevenson, Mika, Starsailor, The Swivel Chairs, Waitress Wanted
Why do we make things so complicated?
It seems to me that we (the human race) get some perverse enjoyment out of making things difficult and complicated when there is usually a much simpler option available to us.
Sure, difficult is more challenging.
But do we always have to be challenged?
Does it make the end goal or reward that much sweeter?
The result is still the same, so why do things the hard way?
This week quite a few events and tasks have prompted me to think that, for once, why can’t it be easy?
I for one would gladly take the easy option over the difficult one when the end result is the same.
So the trigger is…
easy [ee-zee]
-adjective
1. not hard or difficult; requiring no great labour or effort
2. free from pain, discomfort, worry, or care
3. providing or conducive to ease or comfort; comfortable
4. free from formality, constraint, or embarrassment
5. effortlessly clear and fluent
6. readily comprehended or mastered
7. not tight or constricting
8. not forced or hurried
9. not steep; gradual
-noun
10. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter E
-Synonyms
tranquil, untroubled, comfortable, contented, quiet, smooth, unconstrained
Tracks
:o)
May 15, 2008 at 9:00 am · Filed under Triggers and tagged: Adele, Bernard Jackson, Brad Yoder, Dave Koz, Jack Johnson, Phil Collins, Simply Red, Steadman, Sting, The Clientele, UB40, Wilco
32 years ago today, Mrs Baldyman and I (along with a whole lot of family, friends, etc.) visited a little church close to where she lived. We stood at the front of that church and made some vows. (Then we had a party!!! YAY!!!)
32 years later those vows still hold true and we’re still together, with our own family.
There have been good days and bad days. There have been ups and there have been downs.
32 years later I wouldn’t change a single day.
I pray for another 32 years.
So the trigger is….
Anniversary
I won’t define the word like I usually do.
To me, it’s not just about celebrating the one ‘anniversary day’, it’s about the whole commitment.
Instead, as this is a ‘Music’ site, I’ll leave it to the words of one of the songs below to say how I feel about Mrs. Baldyman…
“You are the air I need to breathe
the river of life inside of me
you are the half that made me whole
you are the anchor of my soul
and you are strong when I am weak
you are the words when I can’t speak
you never fail to see me through
that’s the love I found in you
you are my shelter from the storm
you are the road that leads me home
and baby with you here face to face
Oh I know I’ve found my place
and once in every life
you find the one that’s right
and when you say forever it’s true
That’s the love I found in you”
Tracks:
:o)
May 14, 2008 at 9:48 pm · Filed under General and tagged: Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond’s eagerly anticipated new studio album
‘Home Before Dark’ was released on May 12th.
The 12 tracks show that he still has what it takes including that same gravelly voice that I remember so well from the 70’s.
‘Pretty Amazing Grace’ has been getting massive airplay here in the UK and, I have to say, is a pretty amazing song.
This album is a ‘must buy’ in my opinion.
Have a listen:
May 14, 2008 at 9:36 pm · Filed under General and tagged: Flight Of The Conchords
Released yesterday (13th May), this is the new video for ‘Ladies Of The World’ from the Flight Of The Conchords taken from their self-titled album and the HBO series.
The music track kicks in around the 1 minute mark
May 14, 2008 at 9:33 pm · Filed under General and tagged: Ting Tings
May 20th sees the release of the debut album from
The Ting Tings -
“We Started Nothing”.
This duo are set for great heights following the success of their previous tracks and the buzz that there’s been about them on the Internet, as well as thier iPod commercial.
The tracklist for the album is said to be:
- Great DJ
- That’s Not My Name
- Fruit Machine
- Traffic Light
- Shut Up and Let Me Go
- Keep Your Head
- Be The One
- We Walk
- Impacilla Carpisung
- We Started Nothing
A stream of the full album is available [
here], although I have to say the I found it a little hit & miss as to whether it plays or not.
May 14, 2008 at 9:28 pm · Filed under General and tagged: Maroon 5, Rhianna
MartoonThe official video for ‘If I Never See You Again’ by Maroon 5 & Rhianna was released yesterday (13th May).
May 13, 2008 at 10:09 pm · Filed under General and tagged: 3Daddys, Chuck Prophet, dj BC, Koop, Mason Jennings, Seed, Steadman, Sunchasers
With all the glorious weather we’re having at the moment, I thought it was about time to start feeding in those summer sounds that I enjoy on hot, sunny days.
This is Part 1 of Baldyman’s Special Suntan Mix.
8 carefully selected songs to bounce into summer.
And remember….
Stay Safe…
Stay cool…
Stay protected
:o)
May 13, 2008 at 9:00 pm · Filed under General and tagged: Gnarls Barkley
Released on 9th May, this is the new video for
‘Going On’ taken from the
Gnarls Barkley album
“The Odd Couple”
Visit their Website [
here]
Visit their Myspace [
here]
May 11, 2008 at 2:46 pm · Filed under General and tagged: The Fairline Parkway
You may recall that I reviewed a track from
The Fairline Parkway, which I’d been sent by their Record Company. [
see this post]
Well, those very nice people at
The Kora Records sent me the full album to have a listen to and I have to say that
“A Memory Of Open Spaces” has earned itself a place in my Playlist.
It’s not a lively album, quite the opposite. It’s mellow and laid-back. The sort of thing you’d play when you want to relax. The type of music to while away a long, late-night journey. The background music for a quiet night at home with friends.
Don’t get me wrong…you’ll find yourself tapping your foot to most of the tunes…just not leaping around or doing that silly little dance move we all do when we think no body’s watching.
The album title, “A Memory of Open Spaces” is very apt. All the tracks work towards building up that picture of open plains, fields of blowing corn, cool high mountains, bright dewy pastures.
You’re probably guessing by now that this album worked for me!
Tracklist:
- Westward Bound
- Charting Coastlines
- Homesteaders
- Storms and Gales
- A Given Day
- Robbed Blind
- The Great Plain
- Nowhere to Be
- Eaves
- Movie Stars
- Jackson
For me, the best songs are ‘Westward Bound’ with it’s jaunty mood, ‘Hoemsteaders’ which is reasonably upbeat and ‘Robbed Blind’ with a beautiful violin back track.
Oh yeah..and then there’s ‘The Great Plain’ - an instrumental - I defy you listen to this and not conjure up images of cowboys riding gently across the prairie into a brilliant sunset.
How would I tag this album?
- Genre: Alt-Country/Indie-Pop
- Moods: Mellow, Tranquil, Morose, Laid-Back, Bitter-Sweet, Earnest, Wry, Wistful, Warm, Intimate, Reflective, Sentimental
- Occasions: Late Night, Introspection, Rainy Day, Reflection, Sunday Afternoon, The Creative Side, Relaxation, Hanging Out, Reminiscing, Regret, Reflection, Meditation, Autumn, Early Morning, Feeling Blue, In Love, Long Walk, Late Night Journey, Stay in Bed
It’s due for release on 27th May and, all in all, I’d suggest this is an album you need to add to your collection. Money well spent.
Here’s the track I posted previously together with one I particularly like.
Visit their Myspace [
here]
Visit their Record Company [
here]
Order your copy of “Memory Of Open Spaces” [
here]
May 10, 2008 at 9:32 pm · Filed under General and tagged: Coldplay
Not satisfied with a free download of their single [
see this post] and free gig tickets [
see this post], fans of
Coldplay who download one track from the new album will automatically be offered another track free-of-charge.
Lead singer Chris Martin is reported as saying “As I said before nobody buys albums any more, certainly nobody buys full albums and we’ve made an album that you have to have from start to finish.”
‘Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends’ is released on June 12
Visit their Website [here]
May 10, 2008 at 8:48 pm · Filed under General and tagged: The Get Out Clause
The Get Out Clause from Manchester (UK) have found and exploited a legal loophole that has enabled them to make a brilliant video for their single
‘Paper’ for very little cost.
The band set up and performed in a number of places under the watchful eye of Manchester’s city surveillance cameras and then secured the footage under the Freedom of Information Act.
“We wanted to produce something that looked good and that wasn’t too expensive to do,” says guitarist Tony Churnside, 29, who met his fellow band mates at Salford University. “We hit upon the idea of going into Manchester and setting up in front of cameras we knew would be filming and then requesting that footage under the Freedom of Information act.”
The band then wrote to the companies owning the cameras to get their hands on the footage with the results cut into a promo clip showing the band in 20 different locations.
Watch the video for ‘Paper’:
Not only is their idea for the video brilliant, they sound good too and I think that we might just be seeing more of these guys when their single, ‘Paper’ is released at the end of June.
In the meantime, sample this track for a better flavour of the band.
- The Get Out Clause - Boxed Up (album: Cracks & Lines)
Visit their Website [
here]
Visit their Myspace [here]
May 10, 2008 at 8:30 am · Filed under Highlights
This weeks delicate blooms were:
- *Sixeyes Tuesday Mix posted some great tracks including those from Mystery Jets, Death Cab For Cutie and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. In addition, the tracks from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Black Session (May 19th 1998 ) are also available for download. Read the post [here]
- a PLAGUE OF ANGELS posted part 1 of it’s look at The Who. Nice article and fantastic tracks to sample, including ‘My Generation’, ‘Happy Jack’, and ‘Doctor, Doctor’. Read the post [here]. The Best of April 2008 post includes a download mix of the tracks they think were cool/wicked/brilliant last month. Read the post [here]. The Lodger are a UK band I hadn’t heard before but will be looking out for from here on in. Nice Indie Pop. Four sample tracks [here]
- Bag Of Songs reviewed Philadelphia band The Brakes and posted their track ‘Into The Ground’ for sampling. I’ve had this track (from their album “Tale of Two Cities”) for a while now and it’s well worth a listen. Read the post [here]
- BBQCHICKENROBOT posted on Phantom Planet with two tracks to listen to. Read the post [here]
- Ick Music introduced me to a new band, American Babies. Excellent. The track ‘Invite Your Friends’, which is available to download, is now on rotation on my mp3 player…Yet another album I need to buy….thanks Pete!. Read the post [here]
- The usual high-quality stuff over at The Late Greats. Like Blues? Try the post on Laura Gibson [here]. Like Jazz? Try the post on Robin McKelle [here]. Like Covers? Try the 8 from ‘08 post [here]
- The World Of Wingrove posted a summary of some recent releases which include a sample track from each. Read the post [here]
- I Am Fuel, You Are Friends posted the Monday Music Round-up with a nice selection of artists/tracks, including a download from Delta Spirit who are a personal favourite of mine. Read the post [here]
- Lost In Your Inbox did a nice review of The Mates Of State’s pending the release of their new album “Re-arrange Us” on May 20th. Three MOS tracks to sample. read the post [here]. And, whatever you do, don’t miss the “Smattering of New Music for Friday” post. Some really nice new tracks off forthcoming albums to sample. An absolute must review! Read the post [here]
- !tashed posted a quick review of The Presets track ‘This Boys in Love’ with a sample of the track and 4 remix versions. Read the post [here]
May 9, 2008 at 11:05 pm · Filed under General and tagged: Coldplay
After the success of their free single download (2,000,000+ in first week), the band are now taking registrations for tickets to their free concerts in London and New York.
The band will play London’s Brixton Academy on June 16 and New York’s Madison Square Garden on June 23.
Visit their website [
here] to register. All applications will go into a prize draw, the results of which will be announced on June 5th.
Coldplay are giving away one grand prize for the New York show. One winner will receive an all expenses paid trip to the concert from anywhere in the world including tickets, flights and accommodation.
May 9, 2008 at 10:00 pm · Filed under General and tagged: The Script
Judging by the search hits I get on here for
“The Script” I assume that a number of fans check here quite frequently.
So….heads up….the date for the release of the debut album has been announced.
- Release date: 4th August 2008 (CD & Download)
- Album Title: ‘The Script’
It will follow the band’s second single ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’, which will be available from the 25th July on download and 28th July on CD.
May 9, 2008 at 9:28 pm · Filed under Triggers and tagged: Adele, Aerosmith, Catfish Haven, Dean Krippaehne, Fine Young Cannibals, Gnarls Barkley, Groove Armada, Katie Melua, Paul Davis, Rod Stewart, Spooks
Hmmm….It’s been a very odd week.
I found myself becoming more and more frustrated with things as the week went by and I’m not sure why.
In itself that was driving me crazy.
Then this business with my file storage being pulled…..crazy.
Add to that various news stories that broke here, such as the guy who asked the judge to postpone his prison sentence because he had a golfing holiday booked….(and the judge agreed)…..crazy.
And the Government of Burma seizing the first deliveries of aid to arrive, because they don’t like outside interference (when hundreds of thousands are in need of help)….crazy.
And don’t even get me started about the crazy morons who drive vehicles on our roads.
The more the week went on the more that word kept entering into my thought process…CRAZY.
So, guess what the trigger is?…..
cra·zy [krey-zee]
-adjective
1. mentally deranged; demented; insane
2. senseless; impractical; totally unsound
3. intensely enthusiastic; passionately excited
4. very enamored or infatuated (usually fol. by about)
5. intensely anxious or eager; impatient
6. having an unusual, unexpected, or random quality, behavior, result, pattern, etc.
-noun
7. (Slang) an unpredictable, nonconforming person; oddball
-Synonyms
crazed, lunatic, foolish, imprudent, foolhardy, rickety, shaky, tottering.
Tracks
:o)
May 9, 2008 at 9:16 pm · Filed under General
OK, it would seem that someone complained to my file storage host about two files. Why they didn’t just ask me to take them down like other people do, I don’t know. Takes all sorts, I guess.
However, rather than ask me to remove the files from storage, the file host decided to trash everything, close the account and, just out of courtesy, NOT INFORM ME OF THEIR ACTIONS until I emailed them to find out WTF was going on. Cheers, BOX.net.
Nil desperandum….I have managed to get things lodged with a new host (minus the two offending files) and all should be working nicely now.
The new service also incorporates the file player so you can stream the file before downloading if you want.
If there are any tracks that you would like to sample that are no longer linked in an older post, please contact me using the “Contact Me” page (over there, on the far right), and if possible I’ll try and provide you with a link for the file.
May 8, 2008 at 9:39 pm · Filed under General
Having a few problems with my file storage service at the moment….seems they don’t like me and have pulled the service.
I’m working on a new service now but you may find that some of the older posts will not link to files at present.
Please be patient and I’ll get the links updated to the new service ASAP.
Any posts with a date subsequent to this one will link to the new service automatically.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr……..why is nothing in this life simple and straightforward?
May 7, 2008 at 9:44 pm · Filed under General and tagged: Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney’s latest CD
“Memory Almost Full” will be given away free in the UK this coming Sunday with copies of the Mail On Sunday newspaper.
The album which was originally released in June 2007 has sold nearly 100,000 copies via download and through Starbucks Music in the UK and reached #5 in the album charts.
Listen to:
- Paul McCartney - Dance Tonight (removed by request)
May 6, 2008 at 10:11 pm · Filed under General and tagged: Remi Nicole
After the weather we’ve been having recently, today was literally a breath of fresh air.
The sun shone all day - NO RAIN!!!
The temperature soared to around 24C and it felt good.
They forecast that it should hold for a few days.
OK, OK…..so we’ll be moaning in a couple of days that it’s too hot….but we’re Brits, that’s what we do.
For now, just enjoy the weather with me and have a listen to this sunny day song:
May 6, 2008 at 10:01 pm · Filed under General and tagged: SWEET
I read a report today that the Glam-Rock band SWEET were to go on tour again in 2008!!!
The report goes on….”Popular rock band SWEET, led by bassist/vocalist Steve Priest, will begin their Are You Ready Steve? 2008 tour - their first in many years, it was announced today.
The original Sweet was formed by Priest along with vocalist Brian Connolly, drummer Mick Tucker and guitarist Frank Torpey (later replaced by Andy Scott) in the UK and rose to fame with such hits as ‘Ballroom Blitz’, ‘Fox on the Run’, ‘Love is Like Oxygen’, ‘Little Willy’, ‘Hellraiser’, ‘Teenage Rampage’, ‘Blockbuster’, ‘Action’ and many others.
The 2008 Sweet tour will be a tribute to Connolly and Tucker whose tragic deaths were terribly pre-mature. “
Takes me back to my younger days…Sweet, Marc Bolan & T-Rex, Mud, Slade, Bowie, Mott The Hoople….
May 6, 2008 at 9:47 pm · Filed under General and tagged: The Offspring
Do you like The Offspring?
Want a free, legal download direct from the Band?
Then you’re in luck.
Yet another band is giving away a free download from their Website, just by entering your email address for the download link.
Visit the webiste [
here] to download their new single
‘Hammerfall’from their forthcoming album
“Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace” which is due for release on 17th June.
May 5, 2008 at 10:46 pm · Filed under General and tagged: Nine Inch Nails
Remember that I told you [
here] about
Nine Inch Nails giving away a free download of their latest single
‘Discipline’?
You might recall that they previously released their album, ‘Ghost I-IV’ online and allowed with fans to choose how much to pay to download it.
Well now they are giving away their NEW ALBUM “The Slip”, FREE….FOR NOTHING….ZILCH.
On their website, Trent Reznor (frontman of the band) says “Thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years. This one’s on me.”
The download is available from their website [
here] and it even includes a PDF file with all artwork, etc.
Album Tracklist:
- 999,999
- 1,000,000
- Letting you
- Discipline
- Echoplex
- Head Down
- Lights In The Sky
- Corona Radiata
- The Four Of Us Are Dying
- Demon Seed
May 5, 2008 at 9:55 pm · Filed under General and tagged: The Fairline Parkway
I received an email today from The Kora Records asking me to take a listen to a track by one of their recording artists.
The Fairline Parway are from (mainly) Washington DC.
Zachary Okun and Raj Gadhiamet one summer after recognising each other from college lectures and, decided to play together. A fan heard them and was so taken withtheir sound he managed to get them into a studio and their first full length album was born.
That was back in 2002. Since then the guys have travelled for their work. Zach, as a studio engineer and Raj, in and out of bands. Along the way they’ve added Ben Licciardi, Krista & Elmer Sharp to the lineup and after a somewhat impromptu session in 2007, their album “A Memory of Open Spaces” took shape.
They’ve signed with a new record label -
The Kora Records - and the album is due for release on 27th May.
They recently played at the South by South West concert and got excellent reviews.
It’s what I’d call ’soft indie pop’. Very calming, very relaxing, yet enough Pop in there to get the foot tapping. I suppose I’d compare them to Belle & Sebastian or Jeff Tweedy.
Don’t worry if this is not the normal genre you listen to. I’m sure that people of all ages and tastes will like these guys. And, as a test, I just got my 15 (going on 35) year old Son to take a listen and he gave them a big thumbs up.
I’m hoping to be able to give you a better view of the album soon, but meanwhile, take a listen for yourself to a track off the new album:
- The Fairline Parkway - Westward Bound (album: A Memory of Open Spaces)
Visit their Myspace [
here]
Visit The Kora Records [
here]
Order your copy of “A Memory of Open Spaces” [here]
May 4, 2008 at 10:55 pm · Filed under Triggers and tagged: I'm From Barcelona, Miracle Fortress, Taxi Taxi, The Clientele
21 years ago my Wife and I planted a tree in our garden and we’ve watched it grow over the years.
Sadly, during the last twelve months it’s withered and died and today came the time to do something about it.
We’ve just spent the entire day cutting down the tree and disposing of it.
Both of us are scratched and bruised….and exhausted.
Oh yeah….and wet! It rained (again!)
So I thought, what the hell, let’s have a mini-trigger of….
tree
–noun
1. a plant having a permanently woody main stem or trunk, ordinarily growing to a considerable height, and usually developing branches at some distance from the ground.
2. any of various shrubs, bushes, and plants, as the banana, resembling a tree in form and size.
3. something resembling a tree in shape, as a clothes tree or a crosstree.
4. Mathematics, Linguistics. tree diagram.
5. family tree.
Tracks
:o)
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