Recap - February 2009

Feb 09 posts:

20/02/09: Cherry Brakewells
21/02/09: Oren Lavie - Her Morning Elegance
22/02/09: Ray LaMontagne - Winter Birds
22/02/09: Bon Iver - The Wolves (Act I and II)
22/02/09: Tilly & the Wall - Pot Kettle Black
22/02/09: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
23/02/09: The Knack - My Sharona
24/02/09: Bombay Bicycle Club - Always Like This
25/02/09: Kid Confucius
26/02/09: MGMT - Electric Feel
27/02/09: Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere Over the Rainbow
28/02/09: The Shins - Caring Is Creepy

The Shins - Caring Is Creepy

This is a song from the soundtrack of 'Garden State'. Excellent film and I'm tempted to rave about it here - but this post is about:

The Shins - Caring is Creepy

'New Slang' is the better known of the two Shins tracks on the soundtrack, I think because of the scene in the movie it relates to (Natalie Portman passing her headphones over to Zach Braff in a 'you gotta hear this one song, it'll change your life, I swear' moment) but I prefer this one because it's a bit quirky.

Couldn't find a full length of the track and it's not on their MySpace but the preview clip should give you an idea.

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Not exactly new but I wanted to post this because it's my favourite version of a classic song that's been covered by many and mullered by some. :)

I remember this from the closing credits of '50 First Dates' but I hear it's also on the 'Meet Joe Black' soundtrack.

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere Over the Rainbow

MGMT - Electric Feel

'Time to Pretend' just won the award for Best Track at the 2009 Shockwaves NME Awards (full winners list here). Great track- but also check out:

MGMT - Electric Feel

from the same album, 'Oracular Spectacular'. Spaced out and mellow...

Kid Confucius

Their MySpace categorizes them as Hardcore/Screamo/Children (??!) but I'm guessing that would a be a joke?....they've released a new album called 'The Let Go' which I have yet to pick up but I wanted to link to my favourite track on 'Stripes':

Kid Confucius - Moment

I appear to be a top listener of theirs on Last.fm. Hmm....

Bombay Bicycle Club - Always Like This

Just heard this on Xfm - no clip on Last.fm but it's currently on the Bombay Bicycle Club MySpace. I know this band has been around for a while now but oddly, 'Always Like This' is the first track of theirs I've heard that I can recall. To be released 13 April on Island Records.

Loving the nonchalant vibe.

The Knack - My Sharona

An oldie but goodie...remember Winona Ryder, Janeane Garofalo and Steve Zahn dancing in the petrol station while a too-cool-for-school Ethan Hawke looked on with disdain?

The Knack - My Sharona

'Reality Bites' - bursting with fruit flavour.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Screen adaptation of the memoirs of Jean-Dominique Bauby.

http://www.thedivingbellmovie.co.uk/

No words I string together could possibly do it justice so all I'm going to do is put up a link to the official site. Please read the book and see the film - in that order.

Tilly & the Wall - Pot Kettle Black

I shazam'd this from a tv listings advert montage on itv2 and it's fantastic. So retro, so funky. I was looking for them on MySpace a few minutes ago and couldn't believe it when they weren't there.

In fact, they are there - I was just looking for Tilly & the Wail, instead of Tilly & the Wall. Again, no clips on Last.fm, unfortunately, but it's on their MySpace at the moment.

Bon Iver - The Wolves (Act I and II)

A friend of mine recommended this one to me a couple of months ago but I didn't truly appreciate it (I blame the rattling laptop speakers) until I bought the album last week. I have since had it on repeat.

To me, the track feels like an unanswered question....

The last.fm page is here but there are no clips or videos linked to it. You can, however, take a listen on their MySpace page at the moment.

I've tagged this as folk because I can't think of any other genre that fits.

Ray LaMontagne - Winter Birds

I was lucky enough to hear this live at his gig at the Barbican last Sunday. It's my favourite track on 'Gossip in the Grain' - there's something so beautiful about the way he sings the line:

#the days grow short, as the nights grow long....#

Unfortunately wasn't able to find a (legal) full version of the track online, but here's a clip from Last.fm.

Oren Lavie - Her Morning Elegance

I came across this track when I followed a link posted by Thom Lyons (check out his band also if you get a sec) on his facebook status and it's become one of my favourite tracks of recent times.

Oren Lavie - Her Morning Elegance

The video tells a story in an original and quirky way and the keyboard melody in the background reminds me a little of 'Golden Brown' by the Stranglers.

I'm in a music frenzy tonight so a couple more on the way...

Cherry Brakewells

http://www.myspace.com/cherrybrakewells

I can't get over this group - late 60s/early 70s-style guitar rock but in no way dated.

My favourite track on their myspace site is "Hey Fiddely Dee" - could completely see it as the backing track on a Levis or Diesel ad.

Rocking.

Why I'm here

Taking some advice (you know who you are) and embracing the world of blogging. As with many things right now...just taking a punt and hoping it will evolve into something passable.