ONE WORD TRIGGERS
Music with expressionArchive for July, 2008
Naturally 7: Ready II Fly
As you’ve probably guessed from my earlier posts on this band, I’m a fan.So just who are they?
Naturally 7 are seven guys from New York City (although two members Roger and Warren Thomas were born in Manchester, England) who, at first glance, would have you thinking they are a heavy hip-hop outfit. Yet here they are on tour for the second time as special guests to Michael Bublé.
What do they do that makes them stand out?
Despite a repertoire that ranges from their own self-penned, composed and arranged tracks full of Jazz-tinged, gospel, hip-hop, funk and pop to complete surprises like the Phil Collins’ classic ‘Feel It (In the Air Tonight)’, a Simon & Garfunkel medley and Mr. Mister’s ‘Broken Wings’, what is truly stunning about Naturally 7 is that they do what they do with absolutely no instruments.
Say what???
That’s right…no instruments. Dubbed VocalPlay by Naturally 7 themselves, they have created a precise art form of using their vocals as instruments. Their entire sound; the rhythms & beats, the bass, the keyboard and up-beat soul vocals are all produced by nothing more than their very versatile voices. Apparently, their only problem is complaints to turn the stereo down when they have impromptu rehearsals in hotels.
What’s the new album like?
Divine. Simply divine.
There’s something here for everyone. From soft, sensuous tracks like ‘How Can It Be’, to heart-string tuggers like ‘Forever For You’ (a MUST LISTEN track). Then there’s some god old hip-hop like ‘Fly Baby’ and of course their own interpretation of ‘Feel It (In The Air Tonight)’ and ‘What I’m Looking For (Ain’t No Mountain High Enough)’. Mix in some simply beautiful R&B tracks and a touch of Gospel and there you have it…18 tracks of absolutely brilliant listening.
My favourite track?
Hard to say as there is nothing bad about this album. However, one that’s found itself on repeat a lot is a track called ‘Cool’. Hard to classify which genre to put this in. It’s R&B, Hip-Hop, Rap and FUN.
What’s left to say?
If you don’t add this album to your collection….your collection won’t be worth Jack. And with 18 tracks we’re talking value for money here.
Visit their website [here]
Visit their Myspace [here]
Naturally 7: Hitting the big time
At the beginning of July I posted about a great new group called Naturally 7. Read the post [here]
Since then, I have received a copy of their new album “Ready II Fly” for evaluation, and I have to tell you…it’s Fantastic.
To recap, these guys use no instruments, they make make all the music just with their voices…all of it!
I previously posted a link to a YouTube of their version of “Feel It (In The Air Tonight)”, but take a look at this version which shows them performing the song on the Paris Metro, to a car full of French commuters…outstanding!
It seems I’m not the only one to like these guys as Johnnie Walker, the Radio 2DJ also saw this clip and invited them to perform live on the Morning Show on Tuesday this week. Despite being booked on a flight back to the USA on Monday they agreed to stay over an extra day and do the show. In my opinion that shows that these fellas are keen and willing to work at making it.
And it certainly seems to have paid off for them. Not only did they do the radio show, they picked up an extra gig at O2, and…best of all…the producers of the Royal Variety Performance heard the radio interview and caught the show. They are now booked to perform on the Royal Variety Performance on 11th December 2008 at the London Palladium in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.
Nice one guys!
If you want to know more about these chaps and their music, read my next post on their album.
TRIGGER: Weekend
AT LAST!!!
The end of a hot, sunny and sticky week.
I’ve been looking forward to the weekend for days now. Don’t you just hate it when you can’t wait for the weekend to arrive?….it just seems to make the week drag even more slowly!!
Still, 2 days off now to sit and relax and do nothing……I WISH!!!
I have a list of jobs as long as my arm to do around the house and garden. Then there’s my Wife’s Father’s garden to sort out tomorrow morning.
Oh yeah…and a few errands to run to get things ready for our vacation. We’re off next Saturday…..that’s another weekend I can’t wait to get here.
Obviously, the trigger is…
Weekend [wee-kend]
-noun
1. the end of a week, esp. the period of time between Friday evening and Monday morning: We spent the weekend at the beach.
2. this period as extended by one or more holidays, days off, or the like, that immediately precede or follow: We’re getting a three-day weekend at Christmas.
3. any two-day period taken or given regularly as a weekly rest period from one’s work: I have to work at the hospital on Saturdays and Sundays, so I take my weekends on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
-adjective
4. of, for, or on a weekend: a weekend pass; a weekend excursion.
-verb
5. to pass the weekend, as at a place: They weekended at their country place.
TRACKS:
- Michael Gray – The Weekend [2005]
- bFree – Saturdays Whore [2003]
- Lily Allen – Sunday Morning (album: Alright, Still) [2006]
- Simply Red – Lost Weekend (album: Home) [2003]
- Cut Copy – Saturdays (album: Bright Like Neon Love) [2004]
- Maroon 5 – Sunday Morning (album: Songs About Jane) [2002]
- The Divine Comedy – Something For The Weekend [2003]
- Kaiser Chiefs – Saturday Night (album: Employment) [2005]
- The Monkees – Pleasant Valley Sunday
- The Long Blondes – Weekend Without Makeup (album: Someone to Drive You Home) [2006]
- Rachael Cantu – Saturday (album: Run All Night) [2006]
- The Clientele – Tracy Had a Hard Day Sunday [2007]
- Math and Physics Club – Weekends Away (album: Weekends Away) [2005]
- McFly – Saturday Night (album: Room on the 3rd Floor) [2004]
- Eels – Saturday Morning (album: Shootenanny!) [2003]
)
One to watch: The Splendour
Someone suggested I give these guys a listen to….and I like what I hear.The Splendour are a British group from Brighton who have a raunchy Indie Rock feel, yet you can’t help feeling that buried in there is a great deal of tongue-in-cheek humour, very much akin to Madness.
Their debut album, “The Best Way To Make Money” is set for release in August.
Well worth a listen at their Myspace page.
Their second single ‘Money’ is released on 28th July. Watch the video here:
Watch the video for their first single ‘Audio’ here
Visit their Website [here]
Visit their Myspace [here]
TRIGGER: DIY Disaster
I’m a little late posting a Trigger this week, and that’s because I’ve been busy.
I thought I’d have a concerted effort to finish off the decorating in the downstairs loo.
Not a great task I hear you say…after all it’s known as the “smallest room in the house”. Think again…
I’d already done most of it…constructing the vanity unit to house the washbasin, re-laying the wood floor edging, painting the ceiling. My wife had even painted all the woodwork.
All I had to do this weekend was design, construct and install a corner shelving unit, and fit new trimmings such as a new loo roll holder and towel rings.
Enter “Mr. DIY” with trusty electric drill, who measures up the wall, marks out where to drill for the new fitments, and duly proceeds to drill straight through an electric cable buried in the wall.
We now have no power to the Garage. or any outside power point, security lights, etc.
I think the Electrician’s bill to replace the damaged cable (hidden in the wall) is going to be more expensive than getting someone in to do all the work in the first place.
So the trigger is….
DIY Disaster (a.k.a. Electricity / Fused / Sparks)
Definition:
Letting an amateur do a professionals job
Seeing the lighter side (momentarily….while the sparks are brightest)
Getting a new hairstyle called ‘Shock Waves’
Trying to be ‘flash’…and succeeding
or…in truth……plain stupid!
TRACKS:
- The Apparitions -Electricity and Drums (album: As This Is Futuristic) (2006)
- Coldplay - Sparks (album: Parachutes) (2000)
- Delta Goodrem – Electric Storm (album: Mistaken Identity) (2004)
- Eddy Grant- Electric Avenue [Ringbang Remix] (2001)
- Electric Six - Gay Bar (album: Fire) (2003)
- Kanye West – Flashing Lights (album: Graduation) (2007)
- The New Pornographers – Electric Version (album: Electric Version) (2003)
- Pollo del Mar – A Flash of Green (album: Big Waves – Five Decades of Surf Rock) (2007)
- Queen - Flash (album: Queen – The Platinum Collection: Greatest Hits I, II & III) (2002)
- Royksopp- Sparks (album: Live EP-Royksopp’s Night Out) (2006)
- Sparks – Let the Monkey Drive (album: Exotic Creatures of the Deep) (2008)
)
Missing Pictures
It would seem that the picture server which WordPress uses is playing up at the moment which means that some or all of the pictures on this site may not be visible.
Do not despair….the good folks at WordPress assure me they are working on correcting the problem and normal service (which I have to say is usually excellent) will be resumed ASAP
Lily Allen: The one and only…
For those who haven’t picked these up elsewhere, here are two tracks from the lovely & talented Lily Allen.
The first is a track called ‘Guess Who Batman – Fuck You Very Much’ which has been percolating in the blog-a-shere for some while now.
‘Who’d Have Known’ is a track that she released on here Myspace page but will not be included on her impending new album. Apparently she lifted some of the tune from Take That and says that the paperwork to get things sorted out is just too much hassle. (Life’s a bitch, huh?).
Anyway, Take That’s loss is our gain because it’s a brilliant little track.
Oh yeah…..she’s changed hair colour again….she went from blonde to pink and has now moved back to black (no Winehouse pun intended).
- Lily Allen – Guess Who Batman – Fuck You Very Much
- Lily Allen – Who’d Have Known
Natty: July
Hot on the heels of his first release, Natty bounces back with single number 2 called ‘July’
It’s a nice (as the name suggests) summery number and the video is worth a watch:
Alphabeat: Boyfriend
The latest release from Alphabeat off their album “This Is Alphabeat” is a retro-style track called ‘Boyfriend’
The video for the track is below and is well worth a look if Alphabeat are your kinda thing:
TRIGGER: Book
Been having one of those periods we all get when things just seem a bit too much to be bothered with.
Lethargy, apathy, disillusionment, call it whatever you will, but that’s partly the reason for my lack of posts recently.
It will pass, I’m sure.
However, in this ‘altered state’ I’ve also been a little sorry to see so few posts, blogs, articles, etc. on the “inter-web” that have sparked the usual level of interest for me. Hence the lack of the ‘Highlights of the week’ posts on here.
Maybe all the bloggers are feeling a little down? Or maybe it’s just me? Or maybe I just need a holiday?
As I say….It will pass!
In the meanwhile my love of reading has not diminished and I’ve been steadily working my way through more and more books.
That’s one thing I hope will never leave me. My love of the written word. Not only for the information and learning that one can gain….but for pure escapism.
What can be better than to become so immersed in a novel that you can shut off the outside world and become part of what’s going on with the characters in a good book. Just like when you watch a captivating movie or TV show and you become so engrossed that you loose all consciousness of the edge of the screen or the TV casing.
I know….I know….I’m weird. But what the hell….I like me.
Anyhow…the trigger is….
BOOK:
-noun
1. a written or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers.
2. a number of sheets of blank or ruled paper bound together for writing, recording business transactions, etc.
3. a division of a literary work, esp. one of the larger divisions.
4. the Book, the Bible.
5. anything that serves for the recording of facts or events
6. a magazine: used esp. in magazine publishing.
-verb
7. to enter in a book or list; record; register.
8. to register one’s name.
-adjective
9. of or pertaining to a book or books: the book department; a book salesman.
10. derived or learned from or based on books: a book knowledge of sailing.
-idioms
11. by the book, according to the correct or established form; in the usual manner: an unimaginative individual who does everything by the book.
12. like a book, completely; thoroughly: She knew the area like a book.
13. one for the book or books, a noteworthy incident; something extraordinary: The daring rescue was one for the book.
14. write the book, to be the prototype, originator, leader, etc., of: So far as investment banking is concerned, they wrote the book.
-synonyms
Script, Volume, Tome,
TRACKS:
- Camera Obscura – Books Written for Girls (album: Underachievers Please Try Harder) [2004]
- The Clientele – Bookshop Casanova (album: God Save the Clientele) [2007]
- The Real Tuesday Weld – Last Words (album: The London Book of the Dead) [2007]
- The Beautiful South – My Book (album: Carry On Up The Charts: The Best Of The Beautiful South) [1995]
- Cake – Open Book (album: Fashion Nugget) [1996]
- We Are Scientists – Textbook (album: With Love and Squalor) [2006]
- Spoon - The Book I Write (album: Stranger Than Fiction) [2006]
- Sting – The Book Of My Life (album: Sacred Love) [2003]
- Daniel Bedingfield- I Can’t Read You (album: Gotta Get Thru This) [2002]
- Chris De Burgh – Read My Name (album: Road to Freedom) [2004]
- Bread - Diary (album: The Best Of Bread) [1980]
- Maximo Park – Books From Boxes (album: Our Earthly Pleasures) [2007]
)TRIGGER: Storm
It’s been hot and humid here for a few days now.
Cloying….that best describes it.
But I can feel a storm in the air and that should ease things down a little and make it slightly more comfortable.
My dog won’t be pleased though. She hates storms and is guaranteed to be found constantly within 2 inches of me while it lasts. Like wearing a second shadow. Like me she’s getting old and as she does she’s more prone to being scared by storms, loud bangs, etc. Me? I just get grumpier as I get older. 
Personally, I don’t mind storms. I love the feeling of being safe inside whilst I watch the world outside go berserk.
That said, my wife and I experienced one storm we didn’t enjoy and we’ll never forget. We were in the The Netherlands and the biggest storm I’ve ever seen hit and we spent a very uncomfortable time holding onto the metal poles of an awning (trying to stop it blowing away) whilst the Mother of a lightning storm went on around us.
In hindsight we realised how stupid that was…metal poles/lightning + torrential rain and gale force winds = awful risk. Hmmmm….maybe that was the start of the hair loss?????
Anyway….the trigger is…
Storm [stawrm]
-noun
1. a disturbance of the normal condition of the atmosphere, manifesting itself by winds of unusual force or direction, often accompanied by rain, snow, hail, thunder, and lightning, or flying sand or dust.
2. a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail, or a violent outbreak of thunder and lightning, unaccompanied by strong winds.
3. Also called violent storm. Meteorology. a wind of 64–72 mph (29–32 m/sec).
4. a violent military assault on a fortified place, strong position, or the like.
5. a heavy or sudden volley or discharge: a storm of criticism; a storm of bullets.
6. a violent disturbance of affairs, as a civil, political, social, or domestic commotion.
7. a violent outburst or outbreak of expression: a storm of applause.
-verb
8. (of the wind or weather) to blow with unusual force, or to rain, snow, hail, etc., esp. with violence (usually used impersonally with it as subject): It stormed all day.
9. to rage or complain with violence or fury: He stormed angrily at me.
10. to deliver a violent attack or fire, as with artillery: The troops stormed against the garrison.
11. to rush angrily: to storm out of a room.
-Idiom
12. storm in a teacup
-Synonyms
blizzard, gale, hurricane, tempest, tornado, cyclone, squall, wind
TRACKS:
- Delta Goodrem – Electric Storm (album: Mistaken Identity) [2004]
- Doves – The Storm (album: Some Cities) [2005]
- Gnarls Barkley – Storm Coming (album: St. Elsewhere) [2006]
- Jack Johnson – Monsoon (album: Sleep Through The Static) [2008]
- Phil Collins – Thunder And Lightning (album: Face Value) [1981]
- Santana – Stormy (album: Love Songs) [2003]
- Robbie Williams – Monsoon (album: Escapology) [2002]
- Typhoon Jazz – Stormy Weather [2001]
- Surface – Quiet Storm (album: Quiet Storm) [2002]
- Thailand – Strong Like (Summer) Lightning (album: Motorcade) [2006]
- Santana – Lightning in the Sky (album: Marathon) [1979]
- Woody Shaw – Stormy Weather (album: The Ultimate Most Relaxing Jazz Music in the Universe) [2007]
)Naturally 7: Feel It (In The Air Tonight)
I love this.I’d not heard of Naturally 7 before but it seems they’ve been around since 1999 and have had a couple of hits in the past.
Their music is primarily R&B/Hip Hop. And very good at that.
What caught my eye is their latest cover of the Phil Collins track ‘Feel it (In The Air Tonight)’ which you can watch on the video below.
However, the amazing thing about these guys is that they are an Acapella outfit. No instruments. EVERY SOUND made by human mouth…..even the drums!!!
Visit their Myspace [here]
Visit their Website [here]
