Delicious Indeed

Following in the long line of great bands from Birmingham, England, such as Duran Duran, The Beat, Ocean Colour Scene and Editors come a new quartet simply called Peace.  My first thought upon hearing 'Bloodshake', from their recently released (in the UK) four song EP Delicious, was that it was a decent song that showed promise, but a bit too Two Door Cinema Club for my liking (although it has grown on me with repeated listens).

Then, 'California Daze' shows up to knock me square on my ass and leave me constantly hitting the repeat button.  Starting off subdued and gradually building to include Beach Boys-esque oooh and ahhh harmonies and a ripping solo, this is the perfect lazy summer day anthem that just happens to arrive as the days get shorter.  Brilliant stuff!



Before signing with Columbia Records, Peace released a very limited (only 500 copies) 7" single entitled 'Follow Baby' which I also like quite a lot.



Good things are coming.  Thanks for reading!

One For Every Year

As another birthday has come and gone, I had the crazy, ridiculous idea to try to pick one of my favourite songs from each year of my life.  Yup, one for every year (what? it's just a number).  Keep in mind, this is one of my favourite songs that was released in that particular calendar year, and is in no way a reflection of what I was actually listening to.  I mean, I have no recollection what I was listening to as a toddler (knowing my mom though, it was probably Supertramp's Breakfast In America, but I digress).  Here goes...

1977 - Fleetwood Mac / 'Go Your Own Way'
1978 - The Police / 'Can't Stand Losing You'
1979 - The Clash / 'Rudie Can't Fail'
1980 - The Cure / 'A Forest' (eerily, this song came on on my iTunes shuffle as I was pondering this particular year, so it gets the nod)
1981 - The Specials / 'Ghost Town'
1982 - Tears For Fears / 'Mad World'
1983 - David Bowie / 'Let's Dance'
1984 - Echo & The Bunnymen - 'The Killing Moon'
1985 - Simple Minds / 'Don't You (Forget About Me)'
1986 - Pet Shop Boys / 'West End Girls'
1987 - The Smiths / 'Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before'
1988 - INXS / 'Devil Inside'
1989 - The Stone Roses / 'She Bangs The Drums'
1990 - Depeche Mode / 'Enjoy The Silence'
1991 - U2 / 'The Fly'
1992 - Nirvana / 'Sliver' (the re-release obviously)
1993 - Suede / 'Animal Nitrate'
1994 - Blur / 'Tracy Jacks'
1995 - Pulp / 'Sorted For E's And Whizz'
1996 - The Chemical Brothers / 'Setting Sun'
1997 - Foo Fighters / 'Everlong'
1998 - Massive Attack / 'Protection'
1999 - Stereophonics / 'Pick A Part That's New'
2000 - Oasis / 'Go Let It Out'
2001 - Travis / 'Side'
2002 - Doves / 'Caught By The River'
2003 - Muse / 'Hysteria'
2004 - The Killers / 'Somebody Told Me'
2005 - Bloc Party / 'Banquet'
2006 - Kasabian / 'Me Plus One'
2007 - Arctic Monkeys - 'Fluorescent Adolescent'
2008 - The Verve / 'Love Is Noise'
2009 - Lily Allen / 'The Fear'
2010 - Gorillaz / 'White Flag'
2011 - The Joy Formidable / 'The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade'

Wow, that was harder than I expected, mainly because, it's hard to narrow it down to one song.  In the end I, more often than not, went with the first one that came to mind.

Thanks for reading!

Be There Then

Today is my birthday.  Fifteen years ago on this very day, while most of the western world was glued to their television sets in disbelief at the untimely death of Princess Diana, I was locked away in my room celebrating the arrival of my twenties (or perhaps I was mourning the end of my teens) and blaring the hotly anticipated third album from Oasis, Be Here Now, which I had received as a birthday gift.

It's predecessor, 1995's (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, is arguably a classic record (it definitely is for me).  Be Here Now is a bloated mammoth (see 'Magic Pie') that has not aged as well, or well at all, but it does contain some of my favourite "loud" Oasis songs, which isn't a stretch as it is, by far, the loudest album in the Oasis catalogue (even the ballads have a ridiculous amount of guitar tracks on them).  So I present to you, my favourites from an album that holds a very sentimental place in my being.

'D'You Know What I Mean?'



'My Big Mouth'



'Be Here Now'



'Stand By Me'



It's going to be a loud birthday.  Thanks for reading!

Play Time!

TOY are preparing to release their eponymous debut LP on September 10th via Heavenly Recordings and things are starting to heat up in the TOY camp.  Just yesterday, the video for the albums third proper single 'Lose My Way' was released.  It's a sparse one camera shot with the band's silhouettes back lit by flashbulbs, fireworks and other psychedelic visuals.  The single sees a UK release on September 3rd and features fan favourite 'Bright White Shimmering Sun' (I still can't believe this song isn't on the album) as the b-side.  While 'Lose My Way' is not as strong as previous singles 'Left Myself Behind' and 'Motoring', it is still a worthy candidate.





In other TOY news, the band recently released a limited edition 12" vinyl of album track 'Dead & Gone' which features an Andrew Weatherall remix on the b-side.  Surprisingly, it is still available for purchase here.  Sure, the track could've been edited down from its colossal 8 minute running time, but that's not how TOY operate.  Plus, where's the fun in that?



Here's the track list for TOY's debut LP which was recorded during the spring of 2012 with Dan Carey at his South London studio.

1. Colour’s Running Out
2. The Reasons Why
3. Dead & Gone
4. Lose My Way
5. Drifting Deeper
6. Motoring
7. My Heart Skips A Beat
8. Strange
9. Make It Mine
10. Walk Up To Me
11. Kopter

Thanks for reading!

Hungry Like The Wolf

Welsh trio, The Joy Formidable, who released one of my favourite albums of 2011, The Big Roar, are back with a new single.  Or is it just a sample of what's to come from their eagerly awaited follow up?

In any event, the song is entitled 'Wolf's Law' and is a piano driven track soaked in melancholia.  While the song lacks The Big Roars wall of effects-laden guitars, it still builds to a triumphant apex.  If this is the direction TJF are moving towards for album number two, I'm more than willing to tag along for the ride.  The forthcoming album is scheduled for release in January 2013.  Check out the video for the song below which was directed by Cat Botibol.  



Thanks for reading!

Album Review: SWEETHEART - XOXOX

Released: August 7, 2012         
Label: Porterhouse Records

Known for their frenetic live shows, where it's not uncommon for a large majority of the audience to be up partying with the band onstage, Vancouver's Sweetheart has brought the energy of their gigs into the studio and bottled it for mass consumption.  Their new XOXOX EP is, in a word, a barnburner.

It's been five years since they released their debut full-length Map Of The Human Heart.  A gap of that description is a long time for an independent band and can be disastrous.  Not for Sweetheart.  They reintroduce themselves with the gut punch that is 'Perfect'.  If you were to look up the definition of power-pop in the dictionary, it would should be this song.  It rocks your face off and doesn't overstay it's welcome (not even close).

With the Thin White Duke celebrating his 65th birthday earlier this year, it's fitting that the next track is called 'David Bowie Is Dead'.  Of course he's not, he's only semi-retired.  Despite its cryptic title, the song is a near perfect party anthem.  CanRock heroes Treble Charger would be proud.

The songs continue in a high octane vein but seem to employ more of the sad lyrics/happy music dichotomy made famous by Morrissey and The Smiths.  The chorus of 'London Girl' might be the only exception to this rule.  "We're gonna dance all day, 'til you feel alright" isn't exactly downtrodden.  Album closer 'Less Conversation' finds vocalist Marty Zylstra spitting venom over raucous power chords and synths.

Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable listen (and a great gym soundtrack).  The songs are expertly crafted and the production and recording is top notch (I wouldn't expect anything less when Stuart McKillop is involved).  Here's hoping for a more prolific future.

Who The F#@k Is: Eugene McGuinness

Eugene McGuinness may not be a household name on these shores, but that doesn't mean he's not making some of the coolest music and videos around.


Originally, he was contemplating a fine arts career before he decided to relocate to Liverpool from London to become a musician instead.  His first release, an EP entitled The Early Learnings of Eugene McGuinness, came in 2007 with an eponymous debut full length arriving the following year.  In 2009, he formed Eugene + The Lizards with his brother.  So far they have released one album, Glue.
McGuinness' highly anticipated second record The Invitation To The Voyage was recorded in between  playing live and recording with Miles Kane.  The NME recently gave the record an 8 out of 10 and stated "if he carries on like this, he'll be MASSIVE".

The Invitation To The Voyage was released on August 6th on Domino Records in the UK.  As of this writing, there is no North American release date set.







Thanks for reading!