Generationally's blog

The Maccabees - First Love

The Maccabees

The Maccabees - First Love

The Maccabees

The Maccabees are based in Brighton and have just released their debut album Colour Me In as a digital download. The CD release is to follow in May.

The Maccabees - First Love (acoustic)

I have been hearing good things about the band but it has taken me quite some time to really get into them. Mainly because of the rather peculiar vibrato voice of the singer.

But the album is actually very good - like most great records it grows after repeated listenings.

The First Love single released last year is also found on the album.

Also check out the rather introverted acoustic version lifted from UK TV.

Little Man Tate - Man, I Hate Your Band

Little Man Tate - Man, I Hate You Band

Little Man Tate

Now, that Arctic Monkeys has made it big, the media (read: the NME music tabloid) is trying to convince everyone that there is a Sheffield scene.

Little Man Tate is one of those Sheffield bands belonging to the supposedly scene. Other bands among others being Milburn, Reverend And The Makers, Harrisons and of course Arctic Monkeys.

Little Man Tate

I'm still undecided about this lot. But at least the lyrics of the single Man I Hate Your Band is very tongue in cheek and is a fitting commentary on the 'thriving' Sheffield scene.

This song can also be found on their debut album About What You Know released earlier this year.

Nico - These Days

Nico - These Days

Nico

Nico's debut album Chelsea Girl from 1967 is one of those little gems that everyone should have the opportunity of hearing at least once in their lifetime.

Not that it is a groundbreaking record but it has this unrivaled intimate atmosphere that makes it nice to listen to when you're sad. Not because it cheers you up, but because it is relieving to every now and then embrace and indulge in sadness.

These Days

I've been out walking
I don't do too much talking
These days, these days.
These days I seem to think a lot
About the things that I forgot to do
And all the times I had the chance to.

I've stopped my rambling,
I don't do too much gambling
These days, these days.
These days I seem to think about
How all the changes came about my ways
And I wonder if I'll see another highway.

I had a lover,
I don't think I'll risk another
These days, these days.
And if I seem to be afraid
To live the life that I have made in song
It's just that I've been losing so long.
La la la la la, la la.

I've stopped my dreaming,
I won't do too much scheming
These days, these days.
These days I sit on corner stones
And count the time in quarter tones to ten.
Please don't confront me with my failures,
I had not forgotten them.

Keep an eye on: The Dirge

The Dirge - Cold Pie

Keep an eye on: The Dirge - Cold Pie

I accidentally heard these on a podcast while looking for music by Talk Taxis.

The Dirge

They are an unsigned London band who released their self-titled debut album DIY-style in December 2006. So the only way to get your hands on the album is to email the band in order to sort out the payment/shipping details - a reasonable £5 + p&p is all they ask.

I'm hoping that they will release the album as a digital download also as this is how I buy music these days - hence the 'keep an eye on' tag.

I particularly like the rawness of their songs and how the production captures/maintains that rawness very well. The (funny) video here is for their debut single Cold Pie which I believe is also included on the album. Check out the cool badges somewhere in the middle of the video!

The Victorian English Gentlemens Club - The Tales Of Hermit Mark

The Victorian English Gentlemens Club - The Tales Of Hermit Mark

The Victorian English Gentlemens Club

Now, here's a funny lot.

The Victorian English Gentlemens Club

They are The Victorian English Gentlemens Club and hail from Wales. This is the opening track, The Tales Of Hermit Mark, from their self-titled debut album released last year.

They are two girls and one guy. That is all I know...

15/04/07 - /+2.0/

/+2.0/

15/04/07 - /+2.0/

Vox Hunt: Makes Me Cry (Happy Tears)

Show us photos that make you cry happy tears. 
Submitted by thedharmablues. 

not photos. but a video.

not happy tears. but sad tears.

why? i don't know.

Kashmir - Rocket Brothers

Keep an eye on: Talk Taxis

Liverless (Demo)

Talk Taxis

On my never-ending search for new bands, it is more of a rule than an exception that bands haven't released any records yet (I should probably say music as records are so yesterday). So in order not to forget the bands, I thought I would create 'reminder posts' tagged with 'keep an eye on'. It is then easy to revisit the bands every now and then to see if they have finally released something.

So here is the first one...

Keep an eye on: Talk Taxis - Liverless (Demo)

After hearing a selection of their demos and reading their myspace page, I realised that they are actually trying to sound like Interpol or Joy Division. Luckily they fail and are way more cheerful and modern sounding. This is really a great tune  - and the singer has a nice raspy voice. Impressed...

Talk Taxis

From their myspace blog:

Ahoy, we are putting out our first single "Liverless" on June 18th! It'll be available on limited edition 7 inch record with a B Side - "Two hands on the clock", and can also be downloaded with an extra rare track in the download bundle. The record is being put out on Eat With Your Eyes records, and produced by Statik. Now go forth and buy it. much love, tt

11/04/07 - /four/

/four/

11/04/07 - /four/

Random song of the day #7 (last one!): The Coral - Come Home

The Coral - Come Home

The Coral

7 random songs from my digital music archive will be chosen automatically by iT*nes. So songs from my 1500+ vinyl records are unjustly disqualified to be part of this limited edition series of songs...

Randomness #7 (last one!!): The Coral - Come Home

The Coral

The first two albums, The Coral and Magic And Medicine, from Liverpool band The Coral are fantastic.

For some reason they then went on to make a terrible mini-album, Nightfreak And The Sons Of Becker, which is to be avoided.  I think they wanted to get rid of some leftover songs - also the album wasn't promoted at all.

This track is from their proper third album from 2005 called The Invisible Invasion and is a return to form by the band even if it doesn't quite match the two first albums.

The Coral are currently working on their fourth album but no release date has been set yet.