Live: Paramore & YouMeAtSix

Paramore

Well, I have to begin by saying this : Hayley, why were you blonde? A friend summed it up when she said, "Whats the point of her if her hair isnt orange?" Lets face it, shes set up a whole new look for female scene and emo teens across the globe, on the back that she can rock out with what seems to be a head thats on fire. The men in the crowd wanted her, the girls wanted to be her, simple as that. I couldnt get over the passion from a lot of the crowd, it was like this Christian band were their Messiah! The twilight film, to be fair, has given these a lot of publicity and built a fan base on the back of the song "Decode" from their most modern album, "Brand New Eyes". It wasn't long ago that these young Pop-Rockers were going absolutely nuts inside the Barfly, in Cardiff. Goes to show what a little film can do for you. I was probably the only one in the room who hadnt seen Twilight of course.

Back to the most important issue for me, the hair. Was this a statement that she is growing up, that she doesnt need to stand out so much now that she has millions of screaming fans wait for her wherever she travels? I think so. She wasnt saying, "look at me, look at me, I AM Paramore," instead saying, im part of something big that wouldnt have happened if it wasnt for my band. The band, shadowed by her cult following were amazing live. The guitarists backflipping over each other, the drummer throwning sticks everywhere, incredible, such a clean sound too even on the heavily distorted songs.

Paramores set was as expected set around the new album, but not so much that you'd get sick of not knowing the words. The mainly took tracks off their biggest album amongst old fans, "RIOT!" The well balenced set gave us all the classics, performed precisly and energetically and the slow songs that made the couples in the room hold each other.

Live Rating: 7.5/10

                        

YouMeAtSix

They were never going to steal the show, nearly everyone was there to see Paramore. So I was expecting... open with a hit, jam pack with new album material, close with a hit, go home. Wrong, sir, very wrong. They played 2 songs only from their new album, only one of those were unreleased. The rest of the set was chocked full of hits. You can tell that the abdn enjoys performing because of the sheer sweaty effort that each individual puts in. In my opinion, I thought they were just as good as Paramore. In the last song "Always Attract", Hayley Williams, singer of paramore came on stage to a reception of shouting and screaming that couldve only been match for sound by an aeroplane taking off or sat in a car when the immobiliser album goes off! She made the song special and was probably the pick of the performance. I would love to see these again on their own as i think the atmosphere would be tight with excited rage and furore

Heres a clip of the opening song, "Kiss & Tell". Enjoy

Live Rating: 7.5/10

Sound of 2010

The Naughties are almost over, caput, dead! Bring on the Teenies? Lets face it, the Naughties have brought disappointment, a bit like the 90's. The 20's and 30's had Jazz, a radical explosion of unstructured beats that were "so unsofisticated, Darling". The 40's and 50's gave us Rock&Roll, dancefloor filling basslines that influenced nearly every modern artist from then on. The 60's, we all know about the psychedelic hippy movements that inspired nearly every social movement in the western world. How about the 70's and 80's an emporium of tragic dress sense, "I don't care ideology" and more experimental alternative music, including the birth of indie. The 90's, Oasis, The Stone Roses and Coldplay were the biggest things to come out of Britain, that says it all. Pop music passed off as rock. So boring and uncreative. This decade has been a replica excpet that the bands have all gone down the revival route, influenced by Post-Punk and Electronic music.
3rd decade lucky, maybe? Here are a few things to look forward to.

Old Favourites

• Vampire Weekend have a new highly anticipated album "Contra".
•  The Foals are planning on taking the UK by storm again with their next installment, which is yet to be named but has been self-described as "an eagle soaring".
•  MGMT's new album "Celebration" is sure to be a big seller.
•  The Klaxons were meant to release a new album in 2009 but the label rejected it as being "too experimental"! How dare they, this is music, it couldve been what music needed? But The Klaxons are planning on releasing a more mainstream version later in 2010.

Newbies

• Ellie Goulding, an Indie-Cindy princess who sings merry songs that are perfect for most radio stations but its nothing new. Im sure it will be her looks and style that turn her into a sensation shes being bigged up to be. Dont believe the hype, its not all great, buts she is definatly worth a listen to.
• Everything Everything are a melodramatic, new age band. Again, there is nothing really are them that challenges the sound of the last 20 years.

• As recently reviewed, The Drums are an excitng new act of 2010 that are following the best parts of the Naughties and are sure to be a hit in many music festivals across the UK. Good luck to them. [See Recent Review]
•  Two Door Cinema Club are really exciting to hear, the pristine guitar chimes and Pheonix style pitch variation on the vocals give them a unique sound and yet are mainstream enough to actually make an impact in the alternative music world.

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool produce floor filling fantasms. Pop ridden and heavily synthesised music that featured for several weeks on NME TV's "Top 10 Tracks You Have To Listen To" make these lads one of the hottest acts to look forward to in the next few months.

I know, there are ridiculous amounts of artists I've missed out. Thats because speculation causes hype and hype ruins bands or creates unwarrented success. Lets not speculate anymore. Instead lets just pick up an instument and make some music that will move people like it has done in the 20th Century. Good luck Britain.

Artist: The Big Pink

The Big Pink are an Electro-Rock duo from London. Comprised of talented musician and composers Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell. The double-act won the NME Radar Award for best new act in 2009 and are going to play on the 2010 NME Awards Tour (with the drums as featured earlier in the blog).

Popular with adverts is their big single "Dominos", released late 2009. A powerful, chorus heavy and repeatative single that caught the ear of people who have never heard of The Big Pink before. However, it doesnt sound like anything  on their album "A Brief History Of Love" an emotive and layered gathering of muffled lyrics and dirty guitar sounds. The drums are played on an electric kit so often it can dominate the sound, but it doesnt over-power it by any means. The way the music has been produced could make anyone believe it was record from a live performance. The guitar is overdriven in the chorus' of every song, along with the muffled vocals of the lead singer, that gives the songs a powerful and exciting tone.

The stand out songs are "Velvet" and  "A Brief History Of Love". "Velvet" is a love song that the so called "Noise Rock" of The Big Pink comes to life. The Stunning lyrics tell a story of attachment, passion and trust, giving the album something different thats hard to put a finger on. The album song "A Brief History Of Love" introduces of the soft female vocals of Jo Apps, a duet which is a lethal combination with the racy, devillish guitar feedback.

The band have already made a name for themselves live, the duo seem motionless on the stage, but surrounded by an aura of confidence they fire out their music with pride.

But, this is the sort of band that could lose favour with you. Sometimes seeming repetative it is the constant whirring of the heavy effects on the guitar that will give you a headache after a while (which is the only Big Stink, for The Big Pink). Nevertheless, a consistant and progressive sound on their album has surely made them stand out from the crowd with something a bit unique, unlike a lot of new bands, who seem to copy old sounds and pass it off as thier own.

http://www.musicfromthebigpink.com/

Artist Rating: 7/10

Listen To: Dominos, Velvet, A Breif History Of Love

Sounds Like: Placebo vs. Longpigs vs. Glasvegas

Song: Vampire Weekend - Cousins

New York City's Vampire Weekend mixes preppy, well-read Indie Rock with joyful, Afro-Pop-inspired melodies and rhythms. The quick snare drum of "Cousins" and they dual set plucking of guitar strings followed by a merry tremelo tune and a singal of their intent to sound like "A-Punk"; Vampire Weekends most sucessful song to date. "Cousins" sees the return of the youngsters and a highly anticipated second album. A comercial strong point is the use of bells towards to end, perfect considering christmas is aroudn the corner and everyone is feeling festive.

Its hard to understand what Vampire Weekend mean in their lyrics to songs, they appear to be inside jokes of a elitist, private education. Within "cousins" the middle class elements seem to have influenced the the lyrics. I would say this song is about someone who has been catapulted into high society and are ashamed of themselves for forgetting thier working class routes.

"In a house on a street they wouldn't park on the night"...

"Dad was a risk taker.

His was a shoe maker."...

"If your art life is gritty you'll be toasting my health,
If an interest in culture should be lining the walls,
When your birth right is interest you could just accrue it all"...



I think it is pretty safe to say that this song will be chanted and bounced to at festivals for years to come. An excentric song that brings a warm feeling inside, similar to that of a shot of whiskey on a snow fallen day. I cant wait to hear the album in 2010.
 

 
Song: 7.5/10

By David Wells

Remixes: Alternative Remix Anthems

Remixes usually put a Dance slant to good songs. A lot of the time, they are awful. Adding uneeded "donks" (heavy synthesised bass), turning up the snare and bass drum that sting your ears. The result is heard up and down high streets across Britain; vibrating Vauxhall Novas filled with cap wearing idiots. In the world of Alternative music, every song that is released as a single seems to have several remixes made by up and coming bands. Most of these are ignored, unless you are obsessed with a certain song, so is there any point? Yes, there is. The remix is a powerful thing that can change a mediocre or poor song into a fast paced thriller or bring out the lyrics that seem lost in a narritive of noise.
Here are some of the best alternative remixes done in modern times:

3OH!3 - Still Around (Remix)
This band are renouned for really being a feminists worst nightmare. Disrespectful and abrasive, they produce a Rap inspired, Emo records that have a "Parental Guidance" sticker on. However, this remix brings out a softer sound, you can hear his regret and disappointment in his voice that in the original you couldnt hear.


Bloc Party Vs Hadouken! - The Prayer (Remix)
A very fun and well worked song. Sampling the bridge of Banquet and adding their own lyrics, Hadouken! talk about ironic aspects of living in modern society as a teenager whilst having a laugh. Its a short song, unlike a lot of remixes but truly one of the best ever.


Editors Vs Tiesto - Papillon (Remix)
Tiesto are a big name, so you expect big things. Its sucessful in creating a more dancefloor friendly version of Papillon whilst making the synth loop of the editors sound like that of Kraftwerk or other original electronica bands from the late 70's and early 80's.


Franz Ferdinand - No You Girls (Vince Clarke Remix)
A real foot-tapper than has made Alex, the singer sound a bit like a pre-pubescent boy. Good use of dance music.


Ian Brown - Just Like You (Prodigy Remix)
The ex Stone Roses must have been chuffed to bits when he heard a massive worldwide name wanted to remix his work. The result speak for itself, bass heavy but brilliant.


Interpol - Heinrich Maneuver (Phones Remix)
Starts off slow like a 90's Moby track. However, it morphs into a Daft-Punk style dance anthem. Half way Paul Banks lends his barotone vocals over a break down, in a way that really works well. It is mainly dominated by the dance music though, so it may fall out of favour with Interpol fans.


Kids In Glass Houses - Fisticuffs (Sam Wire Remix)
Incredible! Probably the most energetic remixes of a rock band I've heard. Simple and effective.


Pheonix - Fences (Friendly Fires Remix)
Friendly Fires dont do much in the way of changing this into a dance song like most of these; just make it easier on the ear. I advice you listen to this through good quality headphones.


White Lies - Death (Chase & Status Remix)
A euphoric masterclass from Chase & Status doning well to keep the magic of the song alive too.


By David Wells

Alternative Albums Of 2009 - The Good, The Bad And The Ugly.

Its been a pretty average year. Bad weather, the countries down the toilet and their has been some disappointing music about. However, ther has been some tremendous albums.

Arctic Monekys - Humbug

Arctic Monkeys have always delivered quality but overhyped music. Alex Turners great lyrics and catchy chord sequences have helped these young men get top status in the music industry. This is the 3rd proper album they have released and it has been a disappointment. Yes, it sold well, but the lyrical masterpeices that seem to make up this album are lacking musically. There is not even one killer song. All Filler. The slide guitar introduced in this album is interesting but slowed it down significantly, thats not the Monkeys way. Lets hope that the next album is upbeat.

5.5/10

Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions

Who would've thought these Glaswegians could give world of rock such a shake up? The collossol songs that fill this album are married to melodic love songs that could bring tears to the eyes of the hardest man. Probably the best use of Orchestral music on a rock album since Metallica released their "S&M" album.  Its shame it isnt mainstream enough to play a lot of these songs on main radio.

7.5/10




Enter Shikari - Common Dreads

Probably causing one of the best sites at the Reading festival 2009, Enter Shakari caused a tidal wave of fans to crowd surf into the hands of over worked security personel. They were playing their first single of this album "Jugganaughts" when that happened. The album houses a more mainstream and pop based selection of mature songs that sum up our feelings of "Broken Britain". Yet, these Emo-Electronic warriors have stayed edgy enough to keep old fans and make a lot of new ones. Mysterious and Agressive, its truly one of the best albums of the year.

7.5/10


Green day - 21st century breakdown

After singer Billy Joes battle with cancer, we expected a certain level of inspiration in this album. It didnt really happen. The first taste of "21st Century Breakdown" was the Pop powered single "Know Your Enemy", a repetative tune that would happily fit into boring 90's Pop-Rock. The next single "21 Guns" was a slight improvement on their previous attempt, but still lacked that Punk edge of American Idiot. However, the album does have some redeaming features. The title song "21st Century Breakdown" and "East Jesus Nowhere" show what this band can do using basic power chords and a bit of vibrato on the microphone.

6/10

Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

Massive publicity gained for this band came the numerous adverts with these songs as their soundtrack. They toured with Oasis before they released this record, ironic really, the band they were carrying turned up, out played Oasis and have now probably taken their space in the market. The anthems that fly out of this album is incredible. Yes, fair play, they arent THAT gifted in the musical department nor the lyrics but what they do is make songs that can be shouted out at football matches or down the phone at girlfriends of drunken nights. West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylun has delivered supurb catchy songs that was will still be played on the radio for years to come. One of the albums of the year.

8.5/10
Manic Street Preachers - Journal For Plagued Lovers

After many fans slagged off their last album "Send Away The Tigers" for ripping off their own songs, their was mixed feelings when this came out. However, they delivered something the Manics are renouned for. Change. Their albums have slowly gone more mainstream until this one, it is a jewel that glitters all the dirty and real issues that effect the working class. The songs are much heavier which is the reason why it hasnt had much air play, unfortunately. The album art is reflection of the band going back to the days of "Holy Bible", using the same artist and sums up the feeling of this masterpiece. Using the "lost" lyrics of dead band mate Richie there is a feeling of depressed brilliance that you cannot escape.

7.5/10                                              

Maximo Park - Quicken the heart

What can i say? I wish I had singer Paul Smith's abilty to write love songs. Mind blowing masterpieces of lyrical genius. Each song captures a moment, a feeling and emotion that i have yet to find in any other artist. This album takes a few listens to get into, but when you realise what this album is about you're hooked for life. It doesn't matter that it isnt as dynamic as the previous albums because what the songs lack in speed they make up for in substance. Each minute of this collection tells a story of love and heartbreak that should be kept close to anyone. Basically, "Quicken The Heart" does exactly what it says on the...uhhh...cover.

7.5/10

MUSE - The Resistance

When original MUSE fans who worshiped albums like "Absolution" and "Origin of Symmetry" found out, in the 5th real album, ended up a 3 part orchestral symphony. The reaction was mixed. How dare they totally change their music? "Undisclosed Desires" is almost R'n'B! How dare they? Well that reaction was fair enough i suppose. Look past this change in ideas and what you find is an 11 part mad house of perfection. There isn't a boring song on the whole album. "MK Ultra" is something that music hasnt really heard before, it is synthesised, yet definately rock, yet definately not. Its so hard to get your head around. This libary of magnificance is an equal to the Big Bang theory. If you believe in it then it is life affirming.

8.5/10                                          

Paramore - Brand New Eyes

Dramatic songs balence out the emotional fillers on the Christian Emo's
lastest platform. Lacking in real substance it doesnt really get you to listen to it over and over. However, the "Twighlight Saga" has meant that the confused love song "Decode" has reached people who dont like this music usually, and thus the albums sales have shown their audience has grown and shows no sign of stopping. A few cracking songs on a pretty average album.

6.5/10



The Cribs - Ignore The Ignorant

The Cribs recruited "The Smiths" guitarist Johnny Marr for "Ignore The Ignorant" and it has payed off. He has given "The Cribs" a music more structured format and a 'radio friendly' sound. However, it sounds like "The Smiths" and not the exciting 21st Century Indie that was so sucessful in "Mens Needs, Womens Needs, Whatever". Songs like "Cheat On Me" are something different, its a change but not for the best unfortunatly. Disappointing but still worth a listen.

6/10

By Dai Wells

Artist : The Drums

Following a stream of interesting Post-Punk Indie coming from Brooklyn, New York, The Drums are a band that on first glance seem to be jumping on the bandwagon of Vampire Weekend. They came to the attention of hardcore Indie fans on the back of "Kitsune-Maison"s compilation CD for 2009. The single that their label seems to be pushing is "Lets Go Surfing", an arfobeat, math rock influenced record that is bound to getting you smiling. Although the lyrics seem slightly basic, "O woman, I wanna go surfing", the music offers promise that the EP "Summertime", will be one of those indulgent than will take you through the week with a smile on your face.

As you Progress through the album, elements of brilliance can be found. The dual vocals and light drums are given a dynamic in the form of a synthesised riff throughout that has seems akin to MGMT. Constant stop start bombardment of single guitar notes as opposed to chords shows the maturity of this band and how it has taken the best of the British new wave of Post-Punk Indie with the original Cure-Esq approach of their melodies. This can be seen in "Make You Mine" and "By the Water".

The band are due to feature on the NME awards tour 2010. This will be, in my opinion, the making or breaking of the band. Last years NME awards tour spelt disaster for the headliners Glasvegas whom were walked out on in many venues. However, the platform of this tour could set this band for success as seen by last years tourists, White Lies and Florence and The Machine.

This band deserves a listen to, as they have managed to create a sound that may not be new in any respect but resonates an air of magic that can lift the audiences of festival tents on rainy days.


http://www.myspace.com/thedrumsforever

Artist Score  6.5/10
Sounds Like : Vampire Weekend, The Cure.
Listen to: Lets Go Surfing, Saddest Summer, Make You Mine.

By Dai Wells

Video: Hadouken! - MAD / Turn The Lights Out

It's weird. I'm not sure how Hadouken! plan to release singles off their new album. They have been silent for about year then all of a sudden thrown a heap of material at us. James, the singer and songwriter invited me to watch a live "twitvid" stream of him making B-sides from their Japanese EP's, because "it helps in the sales". I don't blame him. It was very intriguing, how a midi keyboard and a music programme, can make a simple song very quickly. Anyway, I unofficially helped to write part of the song by suggesting some riff variations. Which I find amazing.

Anyway, the videos. They have released 3 videos! 2 viral videos for MAD (which they offered as a free download on tier website), one being a video of youtubes greatest hits, and another which is a bit....mad.
It's a mouse, who is basically a chav, dry humping girls, kicking sticks away from Grannies, getting boozed up on pikey cider than having his face kicked in! I think it'll be one of those videos that isn't shown Until after 8PM.

Still good effort though. Ironic, disturbing, yet to a degree true. Here is the 2nd video:


The next video is Turn the lights out... Now, im not so excited about this. Its a poor song and a boring video really. I think they have taken a lot of influence off The Prodigy and the lyrics are a bit suspect in both songs. However, im still excited for the new album. Which you can pre-order from Hadouken!'s website for £6 Only and it will be signed by the band! Get on it!

Live: Attack!Attack!

Before their small venue tour with fellow Welsh pop/punk princes Kids In Glass Houses, they won the ultimate publicity prize, a spot on the new world famous Guitar Hero game. Their song "You and Me" will be heard by button bashers and wannabe rock stars from Newcastle to New Zealand! So I wondered, what the fuss is all about? In the minute venue of Blackwood Miners Institute, on November 5th 2009, Attack!Attack! roared onto the stage all guns blazing. The opening song "Home Again", off Their self-titled album, was fitting with the light hearted opening and an invite to the crowd to start taking notice, with the lyrics "Lets get this whole thing started". The upbeat set hosted some amazing songs that managed to transform the floor into a frenzy. Obviously, Their action packed album openers were always going to make the crowd jump about, but nobody expected the guitar and bass drum heavy chorus of "Say it to me" to create such a stir. If you didn't want to be in the moshpit then you better run to the edges of the music arena because the hysterical circle pits spread like a virus covering the majority of the dance floor! The sweat-ridden crowd begged and pleaded for more but they were only a support act for Kids In Glass Houses, whom i thought were found wanting in getting the audience going. Then it clicked. It isn't that KIGH aren't good at this, i mean everyone was singing along and jumping around, its that Attack!Attack! made a connection with the audience that can make a performance not just good but excellent! I could see in the eyes of the other band members that had


come to support their local lads. Sean Smith of the Blackout was leaning casually against the sound desk at the back of the room, trying so hard that nobody noticed him, that it was impossible to ignore him. When Attack!Attack! came on i saw twitches of the foot and caveman like look of aggression in his eyes that faded after the performance ended.



A band that you may want to listen to on Myspace or Spotify before going to see, its not everyone's cup of tea and as they are a small band at the moment, its nice to get to know a few songs you can sing along to. However if you do find yourself tapping your foot along to the songs. Go and have look at them, before they make it big. I recommend to drink plenty of water before you go to one of their gigs because you will be dehydrated from all the moshing. And you WILL be forced to mosh. If you enjoy an action packed, hard rocking set and fall out boy style songs then you will be addicted to this band very quickly!



Live rating : 7/10



By Dai Wells

Radio : Nation Radio

XFM Tried to capitalise on the increasing young and old audiences of South Wales. It worked. The result was the fastest growing demographic of listeners in Wales. Later, broadcasting rights were sold to a lesser known brand Nation Radio. Uproar. How dare they take the rights of a successful format and use it to create a station than at first glance seemed more mainstream! How dare they get rid of Stuart Cable, Rhys and Eggsy and assign Dai Walsh to a few slots on the weekend! A travesty said some. But then something happened....


Who is this angelic voice coming through my low quality car speakers? Polly James. Suddenly, ears pricked up and anger turned to love. The blonde, self confessed "Indie Cindy", purred over the music that had originally been rejected by a lot of XFM listeners. In one of her first shows where she was interviewing a local band "Tiger Please", the texts she asked to be sent in, to question the band from a fans perspective, were not about the music, but about her. Sending "Tiger Please" into hysterics. They too had confessed that they were thinking about switching to another alternative music station until they heard her voice. She won the hearts of South Wales' men with her diction. Proving that not only is love blind, but it can save radio stations.
Give it a listen, the music isn't too bad either, can be a bit repetitive sometimes though.

http://www.nationwales.com/

By Dai Wells

This Is The Dawning, Of A New Era

A new Blog, for an old passion. Music.
This Blog will try to show you my thoughts on various happenings in the Alternative music scene of Britain.
Ill be reviewing Albums, Singles, Artists, Live Performances, Radio and Other Music related projects.

Because we are all fed of X-factor Music on the radio all the time.