Commercialisation. The death of rock n roll

A raw hard hitting band or solo artist emerges from hear say, illegal downloads and local gigs. “Their amazing”, “the next Roses I’m telling you” These are the noises you hear on their arrival. A debut, a fucking lovely debut and their name spreads further but then something halts a clog in full motion.

Radio One, BBC, some media big wig wants a piece of the pie. “Change that”. “Shine that up and we’ll have you on this channel young man”.

The façade gets scrubbed. The music get’s winded. The dream the fans were promised dies.

How often this tale is told.

You could argue the point with the Arctic Monkeys. What a fucking noise they produced on arrival. ‘What ever people say I am, that’s what I’m not’ is one of the albums of the last decade in my humble opinion. But what of them now?

 

 

Declining tunes yet a bigger profile.

Market the little bastards they ordered and now they reside as a household name with most mums and dads.

The Gaslight Anthem and their latest release ‘Handwritten’ is scarcely bordering this commercialisation threat too.

Rock n roll from the US perhaps wanting a wider audience worldwide? Maybe I’m just a pessimist worrying about nothing. What I am sure of though is that this particular album is by far the worst collection they’ve batched to us.

So many good artists emerge, especially here in Britain, and I hope as so many others that their raw ability is allowed to carry their careers.

One such star is Jake Bugg. A superb artist who’s getting a real name for himself through some massive media coverage.

For fuck’s sake Jake don’t end up collaborating with Ed Sheeran now will you!

 

 

Until next time, just like Mr Bugg, keep it real.

Sly Digs – Never To Be Tamed – THE REVIEW

Well I’ve banged on about them enough, so it’s only fair to review the debut album of Warrington rockers Sly Digs.

I’ve not looked forward to an album release this much for a while. Was I expecting too much of a debut album? I feared it might be the case. Was it? Fuck no. It’s an unbelievably good debut, it really is.

 

 

So many new bands get lost in a generic big hair and small jeans box. The Digs aren’t interested in that, it’s all about the music for them.

They have their comparisons, don’t everyone though? You can sometimes distinctively tell where their influences lay, such as in track 4, The Love That Keeps On Giving. You’d be forgiven for thinking your IPod had shuffled onto a Charlatans track.

How on earth could that be negative anyway!?

Overall though on this album, the Digs have a very bluesy sound to them yet their rock n roll shines through in every track.

They sound like Alabama Shakes would after 8 double Brandy’s and half an E.

It’s soulful yet hard. A sound that certainly isn’t generic.

Everyone will have their favourites on this album and there isn’t a bad one among it, honest.

It starts with a beautifully catchy number, Worth Your Weight In Gold, which sets a perfect pace for what’s to follow.

Bang Bang And My Bullet Was Gone will have people jumping and singing with each other come gig time and then there are tracks that get imprinted on your brain.

She’s My Rattlesnake is beautiful and if you’re still not satisfied by then, every Dig’s fans favourite Electric Love isn’t too far away.

Buy it. That’s all I can say. Bands like this don’t come around too often and this one needs supporting to the bigger things they deserve.

 

 

Never To Be Tamed is one of the most complete debut albums you would have heard in a long time.

8/10 – rock on lads.

 

SLYDIGS (pictured) are:
Dean Fairhurst: Vocals and rhythm guitar
Louis Menguy: Lead guitar
Ben Breslin: Bass
Peter Fleming: Drums

The Evening Chill Out Session

How these dance CD’s that sound like a geezer smashing 10 bells of shite out of his new culinary equipment can be released as a ‘chill out session’ is beyond me.

If I’m listening to a set of songs to chill out with, have a sup of ale with, you can bet your boots none of these ‘chill out’ CD’s will be anywhere near my sound system.

So I got to thinking, what would I pick as my chill out tunes? Well, here they are. Agree or not I’m sure you’d love to chill out with them deciding!

So top ten, leading to our victor looks like this……….

Number 10 – Kate Bush.- Running up that hill.

Ouch, this song is sharp. Beautiful fucking song, one most definitely to chill out with.

Number 9 – Alabama Shakes – You Ain’t Alone

Sleepy time. Giddy gum drops this one is a dream.

Number 8 – Stone Roses – Adored

It’s a tune. A massive fucking tune. It’s also calm in its way too. Love it.

Number 7 – The Smiths – I Know It’s Over.

A depressing number for the chill out zone? Fuck off this is Morrissey. He’s magic and this tune is deep, slow and massively listenable. (Is that even a word?)

Number 6 – Beady Eye – The Roller

I want these in the selection list because I think Liam and co have done a marvellous job here. Massive band in my eyes and this is a subtle one to make the list. There are others on the album but this is just huge right?

Number 5 – Oasis – Let There Be Love

Touching hey. It’s fabulous and it’s by Oasis. Enough said.

Number 4 – Arctic Monkeys – Mardy Bum

Can these little rockers really make a chill out session? Cause they fucking can. Have you heard this one? It’s a sing-a-long hit, it’s still relaxing and it’s a jib at everyone’s mrs. Love it.

Number 3 – Stone Roses – Mersey Paradise

They make it a second entry. They are that good and this is one of their greatest hits. Why a b-side I’ll never know. Enjoy it as it takes you into our top 2.

Number 2 – The Verve – The Drugs Don’t Work

It’s a fabulous, fabulous song. The magic on The Verve is driven at you by the majestic tone of Ashcroft’s voice. This is a must for the chill out zone.

….and number 1? Them again?

Number 1 – The Verve – Lucky Man

Our number one is from my number one. Richard Ashcroft has a voice made for chill out sessions and Lucky Man is arguably The Verve’s greatest work. I love it, you should too.

The Book Club – Book Mark Them

Fans of the Arctic Monkeys would have no doubt stumbled across Sheffield counterparts Milburn in recent years, (Milburn covered in an earlier blog). Well since the demise of the latter, what has become of their sound?

Joe Carnall, the lead singer of Milburn, took his melodies to a new band, grabbing former Arctic Monkeys bassist Andy Nicholson In the process and developing his modestly named four piece ‘Joe Carnall and The Book Club’. That Sheffield steel Milburn and the Arctic’s ooze(d) was back. Carnall eventually dropped his name from the band title and POW The Book Club voyage begins.

If you haven’t downloaded some of the sounds this band produce then do so. ‘What Was Said On The Landing’ to ‘Cautious Cavalier’ all melt into the beautiful tone of Carnall’s voice. The Book Club’s sound produce plenty of power to back it up too.

Fans will relate to the sound of this band, jump with them, surf with them and sweat fucking bucket loads with them. Their modern, stylish and beaty demeanour is one that could propel them to heights Milburn didn’t believe they could reach.

The feedback coming from recent gigs are all positive too and there’s a real buzz around these boys and the future many see them embarking on.

No need for silence, The Book Club are coming.

Burning Condors - Unique Personified

Burning Condors. A flaming hot vulture? An ignited plane? What ever the name sake these lads are bloody hot and they’re bang in your face too. You simply can’t ignore their sound.

I’ve enjoyed listening to snippets of their work, in particular ‘Love On The Rocks’ which gets firmly imprinted on your brain for the next day or two.

The Burning Condors are London boys and are anything but the stereotypical band. They’re edgy, unique in their ways. There’s no attempt to copy bands up T’North and there are certainly no apples and pears getting climbed.

The indie trend is such an easy one to fall into for up and coming bands looking to make their name heard. Condors say no to that. They say it fucking loudly too.

The boys already have part of America on side with Producer Mark Robertson inviting them to his Nashville studio to work on their debut album ‘Round Our Way’. I find it all a little fitting considering their sound was compared to what Blur would have sounded like if they grew up listening to Nashville Tennessee’s own Carl Perkins.

The American influences are pretty clear to hear in the Condors sound but Marcus, Rory, Matthew and Chris are blighty boys and their sound will be leaking from the capital for more to hear.

Those who aren’t familiar with these lads need to be and the ones that are will know just why.

Their credibility is outlined by being chosen to support renowned US rock act The Legendary Shack Shakers at their 2010 London show. They’ll be more of these chapters to write in time too, you mark my words.

They are a band to look out for and one you should certainly listen to if you’re looking for something to break the mould. So many bands can get lost in the generic façade of ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ but the Burning Condors go as far to almost define it.

Alabama Shakes - Boys and Girls - THE REVIEW

Alabama Shakes debut with Boys and Girls and gosh. This album is beautiful and one I highly recommend.

Rock n rollers no, beautiful musicians, gosh yes. Two gosh’s? Must be good.

If you’re after some beat, track 9 Be Mine will accommodate you. If you’re after quality, well the album oozes it.

Hold On sets the tone. Britney Howard screams her talent right down your earhole. Listen to me you son of a bitch. Listen to me good.

If you don’t fall in love with her tone throughout Hold On then track 5 You Ain’t Alone will do it.

This was the first Shakes song I heard. I watched them live at T in the Park in Edinburgh and Howard stood motionless, effortless at the mic for You Ain’t Alone. When she sung it, well it was like she grabbed my heart, squeezed it and vacated my chest to continue.

Beautiful doesn’t do her tone justice.

This album is a chilling one but its beauty rocks you. It’s so fucking cool I’ve ran out of superlatives.

Buy it, live it and most of all, enjoy it.

The Smiths – Timeless

It’s 25 years since The Smiths split. 25 fucking years? That’s a quarter of a Century.

Yet the look of Morrissey, Marr, Joyce and Rourke is still very much relevant and their sound, well, will it ever tire?

At a time when alternative music, and an alternative look, was frowned upon by the mass market, The Smiths stuck two fingers up at it. They embraced the variation and made it cool.

25 years on their look is the look. 25 years on their sound is still the sound.

Visit this site, watch them in their hay-day. Embrace it and continue to live it.

For there are brighter sides to life 
and I should know, because I've seen them but not very often.


http://www.last.fm/music/The+Smiths

Mutineers – Friends, Lovers, Rivals – THE REVIEW

After numerous Tweets about these guys I thought it about time I plugged the I-Pod into I-Tunes and buy Mutineers album, Friends, Lovers, Rivals. 



Please note I promote legal music downloads and at £5.99, I mean come on, that barely gets you a Budvar these days.

As a whole this album, especially for a debut album, is a very good listen. It's nice, easy on the ear and will reach out to a wide audience. Their Twitter interaction with the many thousand who follow them reiterates this nice aura I foresee of them.

I think this nice and genuine stance I get from these guys reflects in their sound as musicians. They want to reach out to people, bring them in on a Mutineer's floating cloud of sound, sending their shadow kisses around the world to enjoy. Fuck that was bad ey?



The album then. It's good, relaxing and very enjoyable. I tried comparing them. The Courteeners came to mind, even hints of REM and dare I say it, Morrissey at times.



That's bollocks though, came my technical conclusion. 



These are Mutineers, the nice guys of rock and roll with very nice tunes. Forget your skinny jeans and big hair, these lads are unique.

The subtle range this album consists of ensures you don't skip any. From the cool Landlords Daughter to the beautiful Shadow Kisses, Friends, Lovers, Rivals has a fresh sound, one that caters for everyone.

Their sound isn't generic, their attitude isn't too. Listen out for them, their coming.

Milburn, Ahhh The Potential

Dubbed the next Arctic Monkeys, Milburn, a four piece from the Steel City wowed us with their debut album ‘Well, Well, Well’.

I remember seeing a gig of theirs, Joe Carnall fronting them in an intimate setting with a massive curly mop. He had the swagger, he had the backing and boy did they have the music.

Lipstick Lickin’ drummed around the venue. Crowd surfing emerged, beer thrown around. Milburn where here and we were watching a band that were going to be big, really fucking big, maybe as big as Carnall’s hair.

So where did it all go wrong? Why did the Burn, well burn? They seemed on the cusp of greatness, a second album release and a growing fan base.

That superb debut album aside, when you browse their collection and listen to tracks not released, such as Rudiments, their talent is relentless, sorry was.

With no bust up, no differences the boys decided to call it a day. To discover new musical horizons they told us, leaving us bewildered and gutted.

I still play ‘Well, Well, Well’ loudly and proudly wondering what might have been. For now though I’ll get listening to Joe Carnall’s new band The Book Club, who are making headways, supporting Reverend and the Makers.

Maybe, just maybe these will eclipse his previous stooges?

For you Milburn fans check their site (link below) and listen to the tracks that took them to the edge of greatness.

http://www.milburn-music.com/

Weekend Music Playlist – Sly Digs Tip It

Well I’ve been Tweeting a lot, I hope you’ve noticed and followed me because at the minute, I’ll be honest, I’m struggling. 19 and counting for @powerismusic

The weekend is almost over and I’ve spent it chilling mostly and playing some sounds. I’m going to have to start reviewing some albums soon but for now I’ll waffle and mention a few names I’ve stumbled across.

Friday night was spent listening to some classics. The Smiths, The Verve, Oasis, Stone Roses, even a bit of The Killers. I love a sing song to ‘All These Things That I have Done’ I mean who doesn’t right?

Saturday and Sunday I’ve been fishing around and listening to various things. I played some Burning Condors earlier, four London lads with some massive melodies. This is a band I’ll be listening to a lot more and will have to review in more depth.

I also played a bit of Mutineers and their album Friends, Lovers, Rivals will most definitely be up for review soon. Fabulous sound them lads, fabulous.

My most pleasant surprise of the weekend though came from the Manchester band Sly Digs. A bit of rock n roll is what I love but it was the guys acoustic sessions I heard in Liverpool that grabbed me. Cracking talent and with them recently signed up to Flickniife Records, one that will be in smack bang in the public eye soon.

I’ll leave you with one of the acoustic set’s I speak of. Beautiful.

Liam Gallagher Joins Team GB For The Olympic's

News of Liam Gallagher and the rest of Beady Eye performing a rendition of Wonderwall at the closing ceremony for the Olympic games has me excited.

With rumours of the gig initially being offered to Liam’s brother Noel and his high flying birds circulating, it does make me think who I’d rather see up there (obviously not including an Oasis performance in that statement).

Noel’s genius v Liam’s swagger will always be the debate whilst Oasis seizes to exist, but on this occasion, for the Olympics, I think the swagger edges it.

London needs to put on a show and whilst I’m not denying Noel could do just that, Liam and the showmanship that he so easily oozes wins hands down.

For me now this performance is just sitting below that of watching Usain Bolt in the 100 metre final.

Do us proud and shiiiiiiine for us Liam.

I'm on Twitter!!

Joined the Twitter revolution to share my music news and reviews with the World.

Come follow me, I was as inventive as I could be and kept in mind the legend that is Richard Ashcroft in my naming convention:

@powerismusic

It's the wrong way around and everything for creativity.

See you there.

Lend me your ear

I fancy blogging reviews on new music I hear, so tunethat.blogspot.co.uk is born!

Just going to set up a Twitter page now. Eyes peeled, ears pinned and the music will come.

Until next time.