ONE WORD TRIGGERS
Music with expressionArchive for June, 2008
Highlights of the week
This weeks driving lights were:
- a PLAGUE OF ANGELS reviewed Peter Gabriel over a two-post spread. Read the posts [here] and [here]. They also introduced The Nice Device, a female-fronted indie-rock outfit from Detroit. Read [here]
- Kickin’ The Peanuts posted a week (or two) in review with tracks from Lily Allen, CSS, Girl Talk and more. Read [here]
- I Am Fuel, You Are Friends had some great posts this week. First there was The Monday Music Roundup with tracks from Broken West, Hawksley Workman, Spoon, The Modifiers, and Girl Talk. Then, they reviewed “Marigolds”, the latest album from Ryan Auffenberg with a sample track. Neil Halstead’s new album, “Oh,Mighty Engine” got closer look-at and the track ‘Paint A Face’ was made available for download. Read all the posts [here]
TRIGGER: Pretty
Can’t you tell it’s Summer time?
We’ve had some really good days lately with sunshine and fair weather.
As I spend the best part of my days outside with my work it’s always nice to have sun up in the sky making everything look clean and clear and just….well….pretty!
The countryside is looking so green this year after all the Spring rain we had, and I for one am taking great pleasure in looking at the pretty scenes as I travel mile after mile through “England’s green and pleasant land”.
If nothing else it helps take my mind off the pretty sorry state that the economy is in, the escalating price of petrol & diesel, the soaring cost of foodstuffs and the pretty awful prospects our youth find themselves facing.
Then I see a pretty yellow field of corn and hear the birds singing and and I realise just how lucky I really am.
so the trigger is….
Pretty [prit-ee]
-adjective
1. pleasing or attractive to the eye, as by delicacy or gracefulness
2. (of things, places, etc.) pleasing to the eye, esp. without grandeur.
3. pleasing to the ear
4. pleasing to the mind or aesthetic taste
5. (often used ironically) fine; grand
-noun
6. Usually, pretties. pretty ornaments, clothes, etc.
7. a pretty person: Sit down, my pretty.
-adverb
8. fairly or moderately: Her work was pretty good.
9. quite; very: The wind blew pretty hard.
-verb
10. to make pretty; improve the appearance of
-Idiom
11. sitting pretty
-Synonyms
attractive, beautiful, pleasant
TRACKS:
- The Beautiful South – Prettiest Eyes (album: Carry On Up The Charts – The Best Of The Beautiful South)
- Norah Jones – Prettiest Thing (album: Feels Like Home/Come Away With Me)
- Dear Eskiimo – Pretty
- Field Music – You’re So Pretty (album: Field Music)
- Spoon – All The Pretty Girls Go To The City (album: Kill the Moonlight)
- Ultrabeat – Pretty Green
- Paloma – Pretty Little Girl (album: Paloma)
- Cake – Pretty Pink Ribbon (album: Comfort Eagle)
- Eagles – Pretty Maids All In A Row (album: Hotel California)
- Nelly – Pretty Toes (album: Suit)
- The Killers – All The Pretty Faces (Bonus Track) (album: Sam’s Town)
- Roy Orbison – Pretty Woman (album: Best Movie Hits)
- Laura Gibson – All The Pretty Horses (album: Six White Horses)
- Neil Diamond – Pretty Amazing Grace (album: Home Before Dark)
- People in Planes – Pretty Buildings (album: Beyond the Horizon)
)The Script: The Man That Can’t Be Moved
The latest single by Irish pop trio The Script will be available for download from 25th July.‘The Man That Can’t Be Moved’is set to be another hit for the band, having been picked up by Radio 1’s Jo Whiley and has been record of the week across the whole of Radio 2.
Just released today is the official video for the track….
The Great Northwest
From Portland, Oregon come The Great Northwest whose debut album “The Widespread Reign of The Great Northwest” is released on July 29 by The Kora Records.Below is the lead single ‘Chief John’ which is a chilled, laid-back blend of sounds where the words are almost totally obscured. Ideal relaxation music.
Officially classified as Down-tempo/Psychedelic/Ambient music this may not be to everyone’s taste, but keep an open mind and give it a shot and see what you think.
- The Great Northwest – Chief John
Visit their Myspace [here]
Visit The Kora Records [here]
Highlights of the week
This weeks bright diamonds were:
- a PLAGUE OF ANGELS reviewed Phil Collins and Genesis. Read the posts [here] and [here]. Alanis Morrisette also came under their microscope and six tracks were posted spanning four albums including her 2008 release “Flavors Of Entanglement”. Read [here]
- Kikin’ The Peanuts posted two tracks from the new CSS album “Donkey” which is released on July 21st. Read the post [here]
- Pretty Much Amazing posted a collection of remixes for their “Houseparty vol.2″ [here]
- Bag Of Songs celebrated their 500th post and published tracks from Philadelphia bands. Read the post [here]
- Captain Obvious produced another excellent mixtape, this one entitled “Wolf”. Read & try [here]
TRIGGER: Dance
Tonight my Son is off to the School Prom with his girlfriend.
Looking very smart…Bow tie & winged collar shirt.
Shoes. Yep, that’s right – Shoes, not trainers!!!
Don’t they just grow up so fast…
So the trigger is….
DANCE
-verb
1. to move one’s feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps, esp. to the accompaniment of music.
2. to leap, skip, etc., as from excitement or emotion; move nimbly or quickly
3. to bob up and down
4. to perform or take part in (a dance)
-noun
5. a successive group of rhythmical steps or bodily motions, or both, usually executed to music.
6. a social gathering or party for dancing; ball
7. a piece of music suited in rhythm or style to a particular form of dancing
-Synonyms
cavort, caper, frolic, gambol, jig, prance
TRACKS:
- The Freaks – The Creeps (Get On The Dancefloor)
- Paul McCartney – Dance Tonight (album: Memory Almost Full) [Web] [Myspace]
- Gina G – OOH AAH…Just a little bit (EP:Ooh Aah Just a Little Bit) [Web] [Myspace]
- Old 97s – Dance With Me (album: Blame It On Gravity) [Web] [Myspace]
- Chris Rea – Let’s Dance (album: Heartbeats: Greatest Hits) [Web] [Myspace]
- S Club 7 – Dance Dance Dance (album: Sunshine)
- Eels – Jelly Dancers (album: Dimension Mix) [Web] [Myspace]
- DJ Doo – What A Dance(album: 2001 – housemix) [Myspace]
- Gnarles Barkley vs Prince – Crazy Times(team9 mix) [Web] [Myspace]
- Groove Armada ft. Gram’ma Funk -I See You Baby (Fatboy Slim Radio Edit)
Bonus Track:
- DJ.Otzi – Burger Dance (album: Hits For Kids) [Web] [Myspace]
:o)
My, My, That sounds familiar…
You’ve probaly already picked up on the story that Coldplay’s track ‘Viva La Vida’ is allegedly based on the tune from a track by NYC band Creaky Boards.
Now then…let me make it clear that I am not casting aspersions in any direction (looks a Lawyer)…and how would I know which came first anyway???
However, pop over to the Creaky Boards Myspace [here] and have a listen to the track ‘The Songs I Didn’t Write’ then you can form your own opinion.
For a little more background info and a look at Creaky Boards’ video of the track, click [here] for The Sun newspaper’s article.
The Ting Tings: New Video
With the release of ‘Shut Up And Let Me Go’ (21st July) as the third single from The Ting Tings, they’ve released a new video to accompany the track.Unfortunately, Youtube won’t allow embedding of the video so you can’t play a mini version here, but the links below will open a new window and take you to the relevant site to watch.
Youtube:[Watch here]
Vimeo: [Watch here]
Suntan Mix: Part 2
Time has come to splash on some more of that old protective balm….
and apply Part 2 of Baldyman’s Special Suntan Mix.
8 carefully selected songs to groove into summer.
- Chris Rea – Looking For The Summer [Web] [Myspace]
- ELO – One Summer Dream [Web] [Myspace]
- Ben Kweller – Sundress [Web] [Myspace]
- Josh Rouse – Summertime [Web] [Myspace]
- Pheonix - Summer Days [Web] [Myspace]
- Katrina & The Waves – Walking On Sunshine [Web] [Myspace]
- Chris Rea – All Summer Long [Web] [Myspace]
- The Style Council – Long Hot Summer [Web] [Myspace]
UPDATE!!!
Suntan Mix Part 1 has had the music links updated so if you missed it previously, give it a spin now [here].
And remember….
)
Stay Safe…
Stay cool…
Stay protected
)Jack McManus: You Think I Don’t Care
Jack McManus is set to release his second single ‘You Think I Don’t Care’ which will be available as a digital download on 14th July.
He’s recently finished shooting the track’s video which sees Jack trying to win back the heart of an unimpressed girlfriend, whilst moonlighting as a removal man and a tennis player. (Keep your eyes peeled for a cameo appearance by the guitar hero!)
Watch the video: ‘You Think I Don’t Care’
Highlights of the week
This weeks little pearls were:
- The Pelican’s Perch produced Perch Mix #42 which is well worth a listen. Read/download [here]. I happen to know that he’s going to clear a lot of old mp3’s from his site pretty soon, so whilst you’re there it’s well worth a rummage in the archives for older posts/mixes to find some brilliant little nuggets.
- a PLAGUE OF ANGELS reviewed The Fratellis and posted two tracks from their new album “Here We Stand” and two from “Costello Music”. Read [here]
- Kickin’ The Peanuts posted on the USA release of Adele’s album “19″ and posted some very nice acoustic versions of three tracks on the album. Read the post [here]. They also gave a very candid review of Coldplay’s album “Viva La Vida” with the track ‘Strawberry Swing’ to sample. Read/download [here]
- Pretty Much Amazing posted on Coldplay’s release of the album “Viva La Vida” and provided two remix tracks for you to try. The also introduced Styrofoam, an Electronic Indie Pop outfit who are touring with Death Cab For Cutie on their European tour. A sample track is provided. Also introduced are Little Boots, another Elctronica outfit and the track ‘Stuck On Repeat’ is provided for your pleasure. Read the post [here]. For the remix fans out there, they also have a nice collection of party remixes [here]
- Muzzle Of Bees posted it’s continuing list of free and legal mp3 downloads, so head on over there and browse. Go [here]
- Out The Other put together a nice little Friday Morning Mini-Mix, [here]
- Pasta Primavera had some remixes worth looking at [here] and the Friday Run-Down has nine tracks to tempt you [here]
- Some Velvet Blog’s Weekend Mixtape is, as ever, very well put together and warrants your attention [here]
- Welikeitindie introduced Elana Stone from Australia who has a refreshingly clean sound and it’s well worth sampling the track provided [here]
- Wongie’s Music World posted a nice track & video from The Brunettes [here]. There’s also a track & video of Bryn Christopher’s first single ‘The Quest’ [here]
TRIGGER:Beautiful #3
To conclude the Beautiful theme, here is the third, and final part of the Beautiful trilogy.
And here are some of ‘the beautiful people’ as kids. Can you guess who they are? (answers at the bottom of this post)
B 
C
D
E
F
So….for the last time, the trigger is…
Beautiful
TRACKS:
- R.E.M. – At My Most Beautiful (album: In Time)
- Robbie Williams – Something Beautiful (Album: Escapology)
- Simply Red – So Beautiful (album: Life)
- Radiocraft – Beautiful Ones
- Eels – Goddam Right It’s A Beautiful Day
- Dr. Hook – If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body
- Lash – Beauty Queen (album: Beautiful & the Damned)
- Andrew W.K. – She Is Beautiful (album: Freaky Friday)
- Emma Bunton – Something So Beautiful (album: Free Me)
- John Lennon – Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) (album: Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon)
Answers:A-Eminem B-Mariah Carey C-Paul McCartney D-Madonna E-Freddie Mercury F-Jennifer Lopez )
The Ting Tings: Remixxxxxxed
There seems to be an inordinate number of remixes of popular bands/tracks on the blogs at the moment, and The Ting Tings tracks are not left out.This remix of ‘Shut Up And Let Me Go’ by Christian Vorbau from King Kong Club in Germany is one such version which seems to work quite well.
Enjoy!
The Ting Tings – Shut Up And Let Me Go (Christian Vorbau Remix) Link removed by request
Newton Faulkner: Gone In The Morning
Newton Faulknerreleases his next single on July 7th.
‘Gone In The Morning’looks set to be a Summer success for the 23 year old singer who is the UK’s most successful new singer/songwriter.
This is the fith and last single to be taken from his Platinum selling debut album, “Hand Built By Robots”, which has so far sold 700,000 copies in the UK alone.
Unfortunately, I’m not allowed to include the actual video for the track here, but you can click [here] to got to Youtube and watch it.
Alternatively, you can watch the animated cartoon video for ‘Gone In The Morning’
Visit his Myspace [here]
RedBoxBlue: First ever live gig on Facebook
A young band from Britain – RedBoxBlue- have scooped a world first by performing the first ever live gig on Facebook.
RedBoxBlue are an unsigned band from south west London who claim influences from Oasis, Kings Of Leon and Led Zeppelin.
For the Facebook gig, they played live sessions from a London studio and streamed it on Facebook. They performed for a total of five consecutive nights, with a total of 10,000 people logging on to watch the action over the period.
Standby for a rash of these type of gigs on the Music networking sites, Facebook, Myspace, etc.
As for the band’s music…I have to say I like what I’ve heard so far.
They have just released a single ‘I Try’ on 8th June. Watch the video:
Visit their Myspace [here]
Visit their Facebook [here]
Coldplay: Full Album Stream
Coldplay have decided to allow fans to stream the full “Viva La Vida”album at their Myspace – a full week before the official album release.If you visit their Myspace you will need to add them as a friend and click on the banner link at the top of the page. You will then be able to stream the full album.
There is, unfortunately, a draw-back for anyone who is in Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and USA…the stream will not be available to you in those countries. If that gives you a problem, you might want to read [here]
Visit their Myspace [here]
Highlights of the week
‘Flat Battery’ syndrome seems to be with us still, but this weeks rays of hope were:
- Captain Obvious wrote a lovely post on Okay, whose hauntingly beautiful songs can be sampled [here]
- Mainstream Isn’t So Bad….Is It? posted on the new Barenaked Ladies album “Snack Time” and made two tracks available for download. Read the post [here]
- Kickin’ the Peanuts did a very full review of the new Alphabeat album “This Is Alphabeat”, and provided two tracks for you to sample. Read the post [here]
- Some Velvet Blog introduced Ed Harcourt and his album “The Beautiful Lie” [here], with a sample track for you to try.
- I Am Fuel You Are friends has a brilliant article about previously undiscovered sound tapes of a performance by Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane. If you like Jazz, this is a must-read [here]
- Lost In Your Inbox posted a very nice mix tape for an ‘imaginary friend’. Great selection and mix of music. 10 tracks to sample [here]
- The Pop Cop introduced We Were Promised Jetpacks, a Scottish Indie band, and posted two tracks for you to try [here]
- The World Of Wingrove reviewed newly released albums and posted a sample track for each. Artists were Ladytron, Get Well Soon, Errors, The Zutons, Johnny Foreigner, The Notwist, Keyboard Choir, Shearwater, Look See Proof, Ravens & Chimes, Paul Weller, and Alphabeat. Read, enjoy and sample [here]
- a PLAGUE OF ANGELS took a look at The Zutons with the release of their new album “You Can Do Anything” and posted six tracks from three different albums for you to try. Read the post [here]
The Script: Second Single
Following the success of their debut single ‘We Cry’, The Script are to release ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’ as their second single.
The tracks will be available digitally on the 25th July and the CD will be in retail stores on 28th July.
You can sample it for yourself on their Myspace page.
The album, which is due for release on 11th August will include both of the above tracks.
Visit their Website [here]
Visit their Myspace [here]
TRIGGER: Beautiful #2
I thought I’d continue with the theme of ‘Beautiful’ this week, so let’s start out with a few quotations:
- ”The world is beautiful, but has a disease called man” – Friedrich Nietzsche
- “You don’t love a woman because she is beautiful, but she is beautiful because you love her” – Anon
- “The only beautiful things are the things that do not concern us.” – Oscar Wilde
- “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.” – Albert Einstein
So once again, the trigger is…
Beautiful
Tracks:
- Sting – Like A Beautiful Smile (album: Sacred Love) [Web] [Myspace]
- Take That – Beautiful World (album: Beautiful World) [Web] [Myspace]
- Travis - The Beautiful Occupation (album: Singles) [Web] [Myspace]
- The Real Tuesday Weld – The Ugly and the Beautiful (album: I, Lucifer) [Web] [Myspace]
- Flight of the Conchords – Beautiful Girl (Live) (album: The Distant Future) [Web] [Myspace]
- Plajja – Beautiful Explosion
- Club des Belugas – It’s A Beautiful Day(album: SWOP) [Myspace]
- Chris Mills – Such A Beautiful Thing (album: Living in the Aftermath) [Web] [Myspace]
- Jason Mraz – Beautiful Mess (album: We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things) [Web] [Myspace]
- Mates of State – Beautiful Dreamer (album: Bring It Back) [Web] [Myspace]
)
Coldplay – Viva La Vida released
With the release of the new Coldplay album “Viva La Vida“, there have been a number of posts on the blogs with tracks to sample.
Anyone interested in hearing the album might want to try The Mix Tape Podcast which appears to have the entire album posted.
Visit the site [here]
One to watch: Boyce Avenue
I stumbled over these guys quite by chance, and what a pleasant surprise it was.Boyce Avenue (from Florida, USA) have been together since 2000 when the founding members were 16 and 14 years old.
Since then, they have gained a reputation for performing covers. And they’re pretty damned good at that.
Here’s a video of them performing an acoustic version of Coldplay’s Viva La Vida
Their first album “All You’re Meant To Be” was released last March and is available via iTunes.
If the promo video and the tracks on their Myspace are anything to go by, it seems well worth the investment.
Four tracks from the album are on their Myspace.
To see more videos of the band, visit their Youtube Channel [here]
Visit their Myspace [here]
Visit their Website [here]
The Ting Tings: Remixed
I’m sure you’ll have already picked up on these, but in case you missed them, here are two re-mixes of The Ting Tings track ‘That’s Not My Name’
- The Ting Tings – That’s Not My Name (Doctor Werewolf Bmore Mix)
- The Ting Tings – That’s Not My Name (Tom Neville Mix)
Action Figures – Slow Motion Punches
I saw a link to this on another blog so I thought I’d look it up on Youtube and share it with you.
Whether this is true slow motion or whether it’s been jigged with I’m not certain, but it’s different, to say the least.
The backing track is, I believe Muscles – Sweaty (Shazam Remix)
Britain’s Got Talent
Signature, an absolutely brilliant dance duo, were beaten into second place in the Final of Britain’s Got Talent yesterday.
In my opinion…they were robbed.
The uniqueness of their act, their originality, their humour should have seen them winners.
However the great British public, in their usual sucker-for-a-cute-story style, chose a 14 year old dancer as winner. Don’t get me wrong….he was good. But I think hearts ruled over heads, because Signature were bloody brilliant.
Ah well…that’s life.
Take a look at the video of their audition performance
One to watch: Samuel
I came across this artist quite by chance and whilst I can see that he’s appeared on a few blogs I can’t understand why he hasn’t been plastered all over them.
Samuel is a singer/songwriter from New York. Born Samuel Hindes in Manhattan, he is signed with Heavy Roc Music and his track, ‘Say Goodbye’, was picked up by Mark Ronson’s show on East Village Radio in New York and given some invaluable airplay.
His style is very like James Morrison with catchy hooks and well worked lyrics that keep you listening for the storyline as well as bouncing along with the music.
His Myspace page has four other tracks which are all equally as good as ‘Say Goodbye’which, incidentally, has received some serious downloads on zShare.net.
This guy deserves to go far and I hope we’ll be seeing and hearing a lot more from him.
- Samuel – Say Goodbye
Visit his Myspace [here]
Visit HeavyRocMusic [here]
