W♥M (Archive)

The Lovers - French Kiss

Tour 2007

07/12: Fete du Vin, Fitou Mont-Tauch, France
07/12: La Redoute Catalogue Launch, The Royal Academy of Arts, London
07/14: Ffalm Festival, Swansea Bay
07/21: Washtock, The Washington, Sheffield
08/11: Peace in the Park, Sheffield
08/20: Edinburgh Fringe Festival
08/21: Edinburgh Fringe Festival
08/22: Edinburgh Fringe Festival
08/23: Edinburgh Fringe Festival
08/24: Edinburgh Fringe Festival
08/25: Edinburgh Fringe Festival
08/26: Edinburgh Fringe Festival
09/01: Electrik Picnic Festival, Ireland

 

 

The Lovers - French Kiss (Live on BBC 6)

Fred and Marion are a real couple in their band, The Lovers. They're currently based out of Sheffield and play off French stereotypes, such as they all dress in French maid costumes and love their wine and sex.

All the songs I've heard from them seem to be about sex, actually. For instance, "Christmas Tree" is not about a Christmas tree, or is it?

They seem to be a cross between Stereo Total, Pulp (This is Hardcore era), and Gravy Train!!!!, so if you like either of those bands, you should enjoy the Lovers. I only mention Pulp, because Jarvis Cocker wrote three songs for them.

The Lovers - La Le (Candid Camera)

 

Their song "La Le", which I'll include their video here, is about masculine vs feminine. He's singing about flowers and she's singing about mushroom as he goes on about beer and she's saying sausages (??). I don't speak French, by the way.

You can get French Kiss (Radio 6 Live Session) off their website. The song is about how Fred likes to French Kiss while Marion likes to do a strip tease. I think the best part of the song is the kazoo-sounding instrument (maybe a melodyhorn?).

 

PS, by the way, the Lovers icon image that I'm using for W♥M was definitely stolen from the Lovers. I couldn't find the original image off their website anymore, but they've added a lot more photos than the last time I've visited their website.

vu www.voilathelovers.com

Birthday Beefcake

Party Hunk

Lodi's very own horror-movie-loving, skull-collecting, fan-pummeling, Jerry-Only-hating, muscle-bound poet turned 52 yesterday.

I wanted to post half a dozen pictures of a shirtless Danzig pretending not to flex, pointing, or just looking mean, but then I'd have to pass out the smelling salts, wouldn't I? So, all you get is a bunch of covers and live performances.

 

 

 

 

 

Hatebreeders

 

The Nutley Brass, who've also covered the Ramones, perform cheerful, lounge versions of 11 Misfits classics. "Die, Die My Darling", "Last Caress", and "Angelfuck" are standouts, though the entire cd is pretty good. "Hatebreeders" is the only song with (oohing) vocals and the least recognizable.

 

 

 

Last Carcass

Portland's The Misfats keep the tunes and amusingly mangle the lyrics into the Anti-Danzig: Reveling in all things Fat. Some of their parodies include "Mommy, Can I Go Out and Grill Tonight?", "Hungry Moments", and "Butter". You get it.

Even though I can't make out at least a third of the lyrics, there's enough there to make me giggle. (Glenn Hamzinger declaring "You Don't Go in the Bathroom.. After Me" in "Private Bidness" almost made me choke on my allergy snot.)

If you'd like to hear more, there's a download link on their MySpace blog. I'm not too sure if it still works, though. I do know of another source. Just mail me.

 

Last Caress

 

Aerial M is David Pajo of Pajo, Zwan, Tortoise, etc. From the little that I've heard, his own music is not too different from his accoustic version of "Last Caress", which is almost soothing and pretty -- if you ignore the lyrics.

I kind of laughed at the violent bits. Oh man.

 

 

 

Mother

 

Sleater-Kinney and three fifths of Pearl Jam performed "Mother" live in 2005. Googling will easily lead to the mp3.

 

 

 

 

The Misfits and Henry Rollins - Bullet

 

The Misfits and Henry Rollins at The Whiskey in 1982. Rollins tries to keep up with Danzig, but just ends up screaming a lot.

 

 

 

 

 

Tip: Don't rent a movie solely based on what was screamed in a Misfits song. This guy's the Roger Corman of music.

 

Snottily, Cristina

From the trenches of my artificial Glastonbury: Day Two

 

Love Is A Losing Game

I was sitting back watching more coverage of Glastonbury when it suddenly occurred to me that I actually have a mental image of the whole layout of Glastonbury superimposed in my mind. I could literally walk you from stage to stage...

I won't...

Day two of the biggest music festival in the UK has seen some of awesome bands on all of the main stages but I'll start by talking about Amy Winehouse (Website, Myspace) who featured on the Jazzworld stage.

Winehouse has been over described by most of the music magazines to the extent that a rather simple down-to-earth pint drinking gal appears to be almost schizophrenic on their pages. She is one of the leading lights of British soul music and has more balls than most of girl power groups. Her set went down a treat with the viewing audience and rightly so!

 

Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above

My favourite moment of the day (I am still pretending I am there) was the sex god of the mods, Paul Weller (Website). His time on stage was made all the better by the presence of Ocean Colour Scene's Damon Minchella (Fired from the group in 2003) and Steve Cradock, two mighty fine guitarists. A Town Called Malice has never sounded sweeter.

The award for best attempt at crowd surfing goes to Lovefoxxx from CSS (Website, Myspace), who successful managed to lose her head band in the process. Like everybody who performs at Glastonbury, the Brazilian group played in awe of the festival itself.

With tickets for Glastonbury costing £145 these days, I almost feel sorry for the hippies who attend for the spiritual side of the festival. But one glance at the faces in the crowd and all criticisms of the growing commercialisation of the festival are thrown to one side. Glastonbury makes people happier. Drunk, drugged up and happier.
 

 

Books From Boxes

Last time I was at Glastonbury, I was approached by a young lady offering to share some of her LSD with me in the toilets. Memories. I said "no" because drugs are bad and my mind at the point could barely handle reality.

 

Maximo Park (Website, Myspace) impressed me on the Pyramid Stage with a confident performance. Impressed and surprised me. However even more spectacular was the sight of a sea of people singing along to the instrumental stylings of Rodrigo y Gabriela (Website, Myspace).

Bat  for Lashes were awesome on the John Peel stage and I am really looking forward to seeing them live now. If you don't own their album, I highly recommend you pop it on your wishlist if nothing else.

 

Jackie Big Tits

All in all, rock was pretty well represented in the lineup this year. One of the advantages of watching from home is the late night special performances in the BBC tent. It was with some delight I witnessed Calvin Harris sing along to an acoustic version of his track, The Girls. Another treat was hearing the Canadian poet and hip hopster K'Naan (Website, Myspace) for the first time. He has secured a place on my wish list.

Back to the big bands, the Kooks (Website, Myspace) were the penultimate act on the Pyramid stage. I've never been caught up in the fuss surrounding the Kooks. In my opinion, there are pretty average but you have to appreciate Jackie's Big Tits. The Killers (Website, Myspace) finished off the night. They were, well, The Killers. You either love them, hate them or stalk them. Interestingly, David Keuning claimed that when recording a song, the band ponders how the track will sound at Glastonbury.

Either Way

The Twang

There is no better way to finish my drunken early morning rambling than with the music of the Brummie band, The Twang (Website, Myspace). This group has been nominated by NME as "the Group of 2007". Putting that cursed title to one side, The Twang are pretty damn good. They have an additive from the gutter sound. The Streets gone rock. Poetic and working class. Definitely my one of the highlights of my festival experience. - Ryan.

Amy Winehouse - itunes, Amazon UK, Amazon USA.
CSS - itunes, Amazon UK, Amazon USA.
Maximo Park - itunes, Amazon UK, Amazon USA.
The Kooks - itunes, Amazon UK, Amazon USA.
The Twang - itunes, Amazon UK, Amazon USA.

 

The Appleseed Cast - "Hello Dearest Love"

The Appleseed Cast

The Appleseed Cast
mySpace // website
written for weheartmusic by gus

When I first heard The End of the Ring Wars some two years ago, I was completely floored by the ingenious sound I heard -- here was a band, locked in the seemingly eternal debate over what defined emo and what defined indie rock, and winning on both counts.  Make sense?  No, I didn't think so.  But what Lawrence, Kansas natives The Appleseed Cast do is phenomenal.

Since Rites of Spring first started tearing up Washington, D.C. venues once upon a time, to the recent stadium-packing saccharine mope-mongers of today, emo has been a volatile, oft hated genre of music.  Critics slam it as being a cess pool of talentless, greasy-headed punk wannabes in girl jeans, and slam the music as whiney, melodramatic, and forced.  While this is becoming more and more so true, it's hard to remember a time where emo and indie rock pranced almost hand in hand.

The Appleseed Cast is a quartet that has succeeded in making some of the most instrumentally stellar tracks in recent history; they've been slapped with that seemingly ubiquitous "emo" label, which is quite unfortunate.  It's ended up turning a lot of people off to some great music.  What you won't find here is a bunch of emotionally depraved mope-mongers beating away on hand-me-down instruments, singing about that one time that Jane Doe so-and-so left them after a magic night at make out point.

What you will find, however, are some emotionally charged lyrics accompanied by some masterful musicianship -- every arrangement is carefully layered and played, resulting in some great rock tunes full of atmosphere and depth.  Soaring guitar pieces thunder over the hum of organs, while crisp bass-lines walk up and down all over the place.  Then comes that surge of sound, the guitars mesh with the drums, and lead singer Christopher Crisci's voice locks it all into piece; everything coalesces, and you're carried out of the song on a long procession of ethereal notes so painstakingly and delicately perceived, it's crazy.

And why not?  They've been at it for years, with each consecutive album building upon the last.  What started as full out 90's emo on The End of the Ring Wars has built up into a powerful indie rock group that's managed to carry the jangly guitars out of Emo-Land and into a medium more accessible (only because it doesn't have that pesky "emo" tag to go along with it) to the average listener.  Sure, it retains a lot of that voodoo emo sound, but give it a listen, and I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Hello Dearest Love

The Appleseed Cast

This is the opening track for Two Conversations, and does a great job of summing up The Appleseed Cast's sound.  If this is the kind of thing that floats your boat, check out the band's website.  Other Appleseed Cast albums are available for download to eMusic members here. 

Bad Religion - Heroes & Martyrs

Warp Tour 2007

06/29: Pomona, CA @ Pomona Fairgrounds
06/30: Ventura, CA @ Seaside Park
07/01: Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline
07/03: Vancouver, BC @ Thunderbird Stadium at UBC
07/05: Calgary, AB @ Race City Motorsport Park
07/06: Salt Lake City, UT @ Utah State Fairgrounds
07/11: Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Pavilion
07/12: Las Cruces, NM @ NMSU Practice Field
07/13: San Antonio, TX @ Verizon Wireless
07/15: Houston, TX @ Reliant Center
07/18: Atlanta, GA @ HiFi Buys Amphitheater
07/19: Jacksonville, FL @ Equestrian Center
07/20: St. Petersburg, FL @ Vinoy Park
07/21: Miami, FL @ Bayfront Park
07/22: Orlando, FL @ Tinker Field
07/23: Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless
07/24: Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless
07/25: Washington, DC @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
07/26: Scranton, PA @ Montage Mountain
07/27: Detroit, MI @ Comerica Park & Street
07/28: Chicago, IL @ First Midwest Bank
07/29: Minneapolis, MN @ Metrodome
07/31: Milwaukee, WI @ Marcus Amphitheater
08/01: Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
08/02: Cleveland, OH @ Tower City Amphitheater
08/03: Philadelphia, PA @ Tweeter Center
08/04: New York, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
08/05: Englishtown, NJ @ Raceway Park
08/07: Indianapolis, IN @ Verizon Wireless
08/08: Pittsburgh, PA @ Post Gazette Pavillion
08/09: Boston, MA @ Tweeter Center
08/10: Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lakes Fields
08/12: Montreal, QC @ Pac Jean-Drapeau
08/14: St. Louis, MO @ UMB Bank Pavilion
08/15: Kansas City, KS @ Verizon Wireless
08/17: Boise, ID @ Idaho Center
08/18: Seattle, WA @ The Gorge
08/19: Portland, OR @ Columbia Meadows
08/22: Fresno, CA @ Selland Arena
08/23: Sacramento, CA @ Sleep Train
08/24: San Diego, CA @ Coors

Bad Religion - Heroes & Martyrs

I was kind of surprise to find out that Bad Religion's 14th studio album, New Maps of Hell, is being released in a few weeks (July 10th), and crazy, they are on the Warped Tour.

Bad Religion came from Woodland Hills, California, and started in 1980 in high school. They were already well established in the punk community when I first heard of them in seventh grade. I had a skater friend (I think his name was Chris), who knew I was just starting to get into "alternative" music, so he gave me Generator (1992).

So I went home and put this in my CD player and this was probably the best thing I've ever heard! I thought Greg Graffin, with his mouthful of politcal lyrics, was a genius! So, I came back to school the next day, and I eagerly told Chris how much I loved it. This was his response:

Yeah, they totally sold out. I don't like them anymore, you can have the rest of my Bad Religion tapes.

And that's how I became a Bad Religion fan.

I have never thought they sold out, even after they left Epitaph Records for a major record label, Atlanta. As long as the band remain true to their fans (like not trying to sue them, cough, Metallica, cough), their music, and lifestyle, then how can they possibly "sell out"? Undeniably, Bad Religion, at that time, was the biggest punk band in the universe.

Anyroad, by the time the band released their second Atlanta album, Stranger Than Fiction (1994), Brett "Mr Brett" Gurewitz had left the band. I don't know if there was some sort of disagreement, but I can probably think of one reason: Epitaph had a huge mega hit with the Offspring. Their song "Come Out to Play" still plays in dance clubs to this day! I know because I just heard it a few weeks ago (not that I go to dance clubs!)

Bad Religion - Atomic Garden

Somehow Gurewitz and Graffin kissed and made up with their reunion album The Process Of Belief (2002) (released by Epitaph).

"Heroes & Martyrs", the lead single off New Maps of Hell is a very, very short song, true to the two-minute punk songs! There's something comforting in knowing that their sound have not changed in the past 27 years. I love it.

Bonus: You can download Heroes & Martyrs on Epitaph's website as well as watch a high-quality (640x480) DIVX video of Atomic Garden (video from Generator).

RELEASES Bad Religion EP (1981) How Could Hell Be Any Worse? (1982) Into the Unknown (1983) Back To The Known EP (1981) Suffer (1988) No Control (1989) Against the Grain (1990) Generator (1992) Recipe for Hate (1993) Stranger Than Fiction (1994) The Gray Race (1996) No Substance (1998) The New America (2000) The Process of Belief (2002) The Empire Strikes First (2004) New Maps of Hell (2007) COMPILATIONS/VIDEOS 80-85 (1994) All Ages (1995) Tested (1997) Punk Rock Songs (2002) The Riot (VHS) (1996) Along The Way (DVD) (1995) Punk Rock Songs (DVD) (2002) Live At The Palladium (DVD) (2006) If you're looking for Singles, Promos, and Bootlegs, go www.thebrpage.net

Related Entry: Bandit - Generator

vu www.badreligion.com www.epitaph.com/artists/artist/5

Adjágas: Welcome to Glastonbury 2007!

Suvvi Ljat

Adjágas

That's right! My tent is setup, I am wearing wellington boots and a rain mac and I am covered in mud.

Unfortunately, I couldn't afford tickets to this year's Glastonbury festival. So I have recreated the experience in my very own bedroom and I write this review while watching the BBC 2 coverage of the festival.

Aside from mud rash, one of the disadvantages of this approach is I don't get to choose the bands I listen too. If I did, this Friday morning I would have been standing at the front of the Pyramid Stage at 10:40am to enjoy the music of Adjágas.

What musically delights would I have heard? Yoiking! According to their myspace, "A yoiker is a singer or a chanter with a Saami origin".

Keeping up the traditional Norwegian feel, the group take their name from a Sámi word used to described the moment between sleep and awaking up.

There is a very naturalistic feel to their music and I know it won't be everybody's cup of tea. As soon as I heard them, mental imagery of forests, mountains and campfires sprung into mind. I can think of no better way to open Glastonbury festival. In fact, I was due to see this group open Glastonbury in 2005, however the rain was so heavy that it caused an electrical fault and I missed my Adjágas moment.

Do not fear! They are touring the UK this summer and I will be catching them at the Bestival later in the year so I hope they still have some yoiking in them - Ryan

Their album is available on itunes, emusic and at Amazon UK.

PS. I didn't realise it in 2005 but John Peel is sorely missed from the Glastonbury coverage.

PPS. Anybody attending a festival in the UK this summer may want to check out the handy kit put together by the Homelessness Charity, Shelter.

Salif Keita - Madan

Random Trivia

Madan is just one of the name for the god Kama (कामदेव), the god of Love, in Hindu mythology.

 

 

Salif Keita - Madan

Salif Keita

Did you know that Salif Keita was born albino and is a direct descendant of the founder of Sundiata Keita, who founded the Mali Empire? Despite his social standing, Kaita was unwealthy and an outcast (for his albinism) in his hometown, until he moved to France in 1984.

By 2002, he had left Paris, to go back to his home country. His first album from Mali is called Moffou and contain this brilliant track "Madan" (check out that koras plucking!) The critics all hailed that this was his best album in many years.

I don't want to compare Keita to Tinariwen, but I think if you listen to both tracks, it has a very similar feel to it. Both tracks contain a uniquely-sounding African rhythmic beat and the women backup singers are just wonderful to listen to.

Although French is the official language of Mali, this song is definitely not French. Can anyone translate what the song is saying ? I'd love to get an understanding of the lyrics.

vu salifkeita.artistes.universalmusic.fr

Select Magazine (April 1993)

This is the second part of my magazine profiles! See Part 1: Vox Magazine (March 1994)

What's in this issue:

• "Yanks Go Home!" (12 pages)
• 6 Massive Fly Posters
• Interview with Smiths: Rourke & Joyce
• Don Raja: Superstar of Ragga
• Pop Will Eat Itself
• Wendy James article
• CD Reviews

 

Select Magazine (April 1993)

Believe me, this is not some sorry excuse to talk about Brett Anderson and Suede. You have to remember just how popular Suede, Blur, and Oasis were back then! Back in '92, Melody Maker named Suede "Best New Artist" (even BEFORE they had a record out!), so Suede was already well-established as the voice of British Pop!

 

 

 

Suede - Metal Mickey

Suede

This was one of the first Select Magazine that I bought. I believe this is probably their most famous issue, because when this hit the street in Feb-March 1993 (I know the cover says April, but usually magazine always publish their dates ahead), it was the first of its kind to call an end to all-things American!

Flipping through the issue, I remember how much the English really hated American culture seeping into their lives, either through fast-food chains or music. You must remember that back in '91, Nirvana happened. The Grunge movement exploded and brought Alice in Chains, Mudhoney, Pearl Jam, Screaming Trees, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilot, Babes in Toyland, Hole, L7, etc., over to the UK.

From the main article, "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE KIDDING, MR COBAIN?", written by Stuart Maconie:

Enough is enough! Yanks go home! And take your miserable grungewear and your self-obsessed slacker bands with you. You're already twice as cheesy as baggyism, and at least baggy was British.

We don't want plaid. We want crimplene, glamour, wit, and irony. We want people who never say 'dude' or 'sidewalk' or 'Can I get a beer?' If 1992 was the American year (overweight, overrated and over here) then it's time to bring on the Home Guard. These, Kurt, are the boys who will stop your little game: Suede, Saint Etienne, Pulp, Denim and the Auteurs. Bands with pride!

vu wikipedia.org/wiki/Select_(magazine)

Bat For Lashes

Bat For Lashes - Whats a Girl To Do

A friend of mine asked me to check out this errie music video for "What's a Girl To Do" by Bat for Lashes.  My first thought was of how remiscent it is of the film Donnie Darko (especially with the fellow in the bunny mask).  Although I wasn't very impressed with this video, I did enjoy many of her other songs from her debut album Fur and Gold (2006).  Whereas the music video for "What's a Girl To Do" presents a nightmarish landscape, most of the group's other songs offer dreamy fairytales weaved together with tropical lyrics.

 

Prescilla

The girl behind the band is Natasha Khan, a British singer/songwriter who spent the majority of her youth in Pakistan.  She is joined by Gabi Lee, Abi Fry, Lizzy Carey and a plethora of instruments.  One such instrument is what she refers to as a shaman's sceptre that is played by banging it against the floor to make a loud thunderclap.  In an interview with musicOMH.com, Natasha also explained that the band dresses up for shows to add to the themes of the songs and the overall experience for the audience. 

She also loves to sing the song "I'm on Fire" by Bruce Springsteen at her lives shows.  I must say, I do like her version better.

 

 

The Wizard (live)

Bat for Lashes

If you want to catch them in the flesh, check 'em out at:

June 23rd: Glastonbury Festival 6pm, John Peel Stage
July 12th: Manchester International Festival, Academy 3.
July 14th: Latititude Festival, 4:30pm
July 23rd: Maxwell's - Hoboken NJ Buy Tickets
July 25th: Knitting Factory - New York NY Buy Tickets
July 27th: Schuba's - Chicago IL Buy Tickets
July 28th: 7th St Entry - Minneapolis MN Buy Tickets
July 30th: Cafe Du Nord, San Francisco CA Buy Tickets
July 31st: Spaceland - Los Angeles CA Buy Tickets
August 11th: Field Day 2007, Victoria Park London Buy Tickets
August 26th: Rock en Seine, Paris
September 1st: Connect Festival, Inveraray
September 2nd: Electric Picnic, Stradbally
September 9th: Bestival, Isle of Wight 2:30pm

 

- The Valley Girl

Blitzen Trapper - "The Green King Sings"

The Green King Sings

Blitzen Trapper

BLITZEN TRAPPER // Wild Mountain Nation
By Gus

Greetings, music lovers -- Gus again, back and ready to rumble after a brief stint at the local bar scene.

Here's a band that I know absolutely nothing about (as is usually the case).  I can tell you this: they're not Swedish, and they kick a lot of ass.

They hail from Portland, Oregon and they've been garnering a weird collection of Beck and Pavement comparisons for some time.  On their recent foray, Wild Mountain Nation, they do a great job of blending down-and-dirty country hooks with 90's indie rock a la Pavement.

Tough pill to swallow, or at least wrap your head around, but on tracks like the eponymous "Wild Mountain Nation" and "Futures & Folly," you can't deny there's a certain Western flair boppin' along beneath the surface of some really great rock music.  You gotta hand it to these guys, they don't stick to one genre for too long.  Just when you think you've figured out their flagrant do-as-I-please indie pathos, they whip it around and sneak one past you with spacey, experimental noise-rock from Mars.  Doesn't look good on paper?  Do your earholes a favor and tune in, because this is one of the most enjoyably strange indie recordings in recent memory.

Admittedly, this was a sort of a spur-of-the-moment download from eMusic (the album art was pretty. Sue me).  But I don't regret it one bit, and have been stealing listens to it between cleaning and laziness.  Days off sure can take a toll on you, believe you me.

For more information on this band, and to purchase their albums, I implore you to check out their officious website and/or Myspace.  Either will do a body good.  Wild Mountain Nation is self released by the band on Lidkercow Ltd recordings.