Marshall Mathers

Enimem- Marshall Mathers LP (2001)




Got lots to say about this one, sorry. Hip-hop music is often easy to generalise and slim has become generic, but this album was really special. If this was a hyped blog and I was a well known critic people might think putting this album was attention seeking but i genuinely fucking love this album. I first heard it when I was 14 and into a lot of mainstream rap. It is pretty much the only one I've been able to persistantly love and appreciate no matter how much my taste in music has changed and broadened.

It's sometimes hard to “get” Eminem’s lyrics, hard to tell sincerity from satire and vice versa but I guess there's truth in the joke, joke in the truth.
Those who saw the funny side of The Slim Shady LP found it insincere and seemingly attention seeking in vulgarity, not “real enough”. Those who didn’t see the funny side branded him Satan’s voice in music, but off the back of that Slim takes what’s relevant in his life, his demonization in the media, the responsibility of being a reluctant role model, being the “white face” of rap and turns it into a witty yet dark lyrical mess:

“blurring the distinction between reality and fiction, humor and horror, satire and documentary”,

It wasn’t the album people expected. It wasn’t a stereotypical mainstream rap album glamorising “gangsters”, he raps about what’s real for him, what he finds funny and relevant as his alter ego "slim" but there’s passion and anger in his lyrics as an undertone. The music on this album is pretty typical of a record produced by Dre, but a lot darker that most of his normal East Coast affairs. The beats and bass are slow and droning, the piano melodies simple yet fitting to each song. This album is what good hip hop is all about, passionate lyrics, breaking tradition and making his contemparies look like immature stereotypes.

The sad thing this is that 8 years later, he became everything he hated, forced to chose between losing his fame and falling into obscurity (at times with his "quitting" the industry it seemed like that's what he wanted)and selling out he fell into the same crowd as snoop, his name's bigger than his music now and he produces hits with no integrity.

On the down side it has dido and a fucking shit cover. Click the name to listen

Wonderful Rainbow

It's the end of a decade and I am a definate youth of the "naughties".
NME were the first of the big music mags to bring out their list. It's full of cliches and an attempt at being alternative by picking mainstream artists rather than what people expect. Kind of sad they didnt think about what albums they really loved but what would be the reception to their list first and foremost.

But I've never really been into Albums that much. At the moment I'm really digging punk and mathrock, bands with very raw sounds who have to comprimise that to make a "headphone" album.

I guess that's why bands I really love have albums I feel two ways about. I'd rather listen to Foals grainy gang vocals and sloppy guitars on the 2006 demo than the over produced spacy couterparts on Antidotes most days.

Instead of choosing my favourite albums or the best albums, i just picked some fucking amazing ones that happened to come out in the last decade that you really should hear. When I sit down with the sole purpose of listening to music I like to put these on and just let them run. they aren't really exciting buzzbands but they're fucking interesting.

Anyway first album is

Lightning Bolt- Wonderful Rainbow (2003)


After saying all that I picked an album that's actually uncompromisingly raw, yet refined at the same time. This is probably the least accessible thing I'll post. If you haven't heard of LB before this is a damn good place to start.They have a fitting name because they kind of sound thunder, if thunder had an awesome prog rock and metal cd collection.

This is their second lp, and in my opinion their best. It's less jagged that their first attempt but still has so much energy, it's like being hit round the head with a pneumatic drill (in a really fucking good way).

At times they play noodly bits of guitar, spastic melodies jangling all over the place, then frenetically breaking out into all out noise assaults, all accompanied by the buzz of feedback and static. On Fire is one of the most mind blowing songs I've ever heard and 30,000 monkeys is similarly crazily brilliant. Like a super-band with Hella and Health covering Hendrix (accept if that were true they'd probably call themselves Triple H).

Click on the album name to listen

I don't really feel I can use this as an outlet, or facebook or twitter without getting ripped on atm so this'll be the last update I do, I ll probably just use this for music and start a new invite only for this shit. I feel like maybe some people read this just for new material to laugh at me behind my back.

basically I'm up at half 5 again, and I can't turn off, I worked something out too. She was sad all september, she was so sad. I assumed it was because I was leaving and she couldn't cope. Turns out she was cheating on me with her new guy (and she admitted to having cheated on him already too, funny how the world works). I guess I have reason to break his legs now, and it is kind of my business about him now too. I don't really feel hurt by this, it makes it obvious how she was "over" me so quickly, she had been even before I left.

I think about our last days together. She just cried and I held her and told her it was going to be ok. I was so sad, and excited at the same time, but I felt like at least she cared I was leaving, at least I would have someone back home who still cares for me. But she wasn't crying over me, she was crying for herself because she felt bad for cheating. Even now she doesnt have the decency to tell me, I'm the one having to confront her.

Years together, so many good times, so many bad and that's the note she wanted to go out on, and do you know what I'd still do anything for her. I must be so pathetic

If you managed to endure that shit there is now no reward because google waves a piece of shit

nooduls?

i havent eaten in 3 days now and im REALLY craving some noodle

hmmmmmm

FUCK YEAH WHATEVER!

come to this
looks totally bodacious.

Party

we went to a party,

we got very drunk first

we had lots of Nos... it was funny

10 minutes to get down stairs... not so funny

we smoked some weed, it was good

almost lost my keys in this mass, not good

NED (never forget... wire)

Roly Hoar Xmas Tape III

A side is all covers from the likes of Throats, Run Walk!, Maths, Betty Pariso and Guilty Parents.
B side includes crocus, youves, le easy swing hips (le swing and easy hips...), A boat to row and Dreamboats

looks pretty ace. SEE HERE FOR YOURSELF

Switzerland

Switzerland are a cool band from derbyshire, but i ll look past that as they're fucking ace. 4 piece indiemo who come in at an average age of 17 (awwww). They rip off cap n' jazz a treat but put some weird uk indie twist on it with the vocals (however can be weak at times). It sounds really raw and slapped together like good early emo, maybe not as complex as their midwestern peers though. The guys are a bit unsociable though (probably cos they're from derby).



Here's some of their music to DOWNLOAD

THESE WAVES

Continuing with some more local bands in the coming posts (but seriously all of them are really good) These Waves are a derby 5 piece (actually 4, currently lacking a drummer)

They make really REALLY good post hardcore, mathrocky stuff with piercing shouty vocals and intricate walls of sound making for "banging tunes". Disjointed and edgy they sound like bands before them but with new vigour. They've really impressed me with real stage presence and an obvious fun attitude before now. Similaritys can be drawn with bands like Secondsmile and Meet Me In St. Louis



You can download their ep "Painting by Units" HEEEEEERE

DEAD SPEX

Dead Spex are a pretty cool band from Nottingham, UK. They started doing stuff in like june of this year. For only three members, bass, guitar and drums they sure have a lot of noise, and even more attitude.

They're the chameleons' (my favourite venues) "house band" and play what they call SPAZZ POP; 2 and a half minute sprints of tuneful bass driven punk with lots of frenetic riffs and gang vocals (mostly shouting)and visceral screaming while jumping about like At the Drive In. I guess it could be seen as punk-pop at its best with heavy 80s hardcore influence and some 90s emo elements too. Blakfish and Meet Me in St Louis and some other bands I can't quite think of right now.

Live they come into their element, really intense and raw, going pretty mental, breaking their teeth on their instruments (no really...) its mental in the best way possible. Delightful chaps aswell. rock and/or roll! Download their ep "Rats Together" HERRRRRRE

my favourite films

DEADLY TARGER

MAD MAX 2: ROAD WARRIOR

CLASS OF 1984

BRONSON

In Lieu

Martin Ruffin is a singer/songwriter going by the name In Lieu making some really beautiful acoustic emo/folk with delicate vocals, complex acoustics with almost dark melodies and deep lyrics in the vein of owen.

BRAINWASH saturday 31st October 2009 (halloween)

Shoeface


Very new band (apparently this was their second gig) doing interesting instrumental noise stuff, kind of like health but without the well structured melodic parts and vox. They played on the floor, in the middle of the brudenell, taking up a lot of room thanks to the 3 drummers (drums were pretty ace though). Not many people came to see them too. Guitars had lots of reverb, feedback and effects, noticeably very loud.
They played a relentless wall of noise for 15 minutes straight... got a bit boring though. They were a bit loose (seriously sometimes it looked like the guitarist didnt have a clue what he was doing and just tried out new stuff) Interesting to watch though.

6/10

Talons


Was pretty early in the day and the brudenell was still pretty empty as talons started, so we sat at the back with pints to soak them in while relaxed.
Pretty stupid becuase it packed out REAL FAST and i wanted to be bobbing my head at the front. As you can see they were spookily dressed as MUMMIFIED ANIMALS. Really amazing atmosphere as always (heres my previous post for what they sound like) and the new single "Bethlehem" (out soon on a split with And So I Watch You From Afar) is so immense it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Less overwhelming than seeing them previous times: shame it wasnt a smaller/ darker space /later in the day (suits them better). They were incredibly tight though and I'm sure impressed everyone watching.



Bought a pretty cool t shirt with bears on that Ollie from the band designed. Forgot to ask them who the fuck "buff orpington" is though.

8.5/10

Wonderswan
Ok strangely ended up seeing this band twice yesterday (i will explain later). Having just released their single this band have a lot to prove. To be honest I think they let themselves down at brainwash, with a serious lack of energy and stage presence they just seemed a bit dull. And when the band seems dull the songs seem dull too. They do have good sludgy pop sound, similar to peers dinosaur pile-up, playing kind grime-y indie. Its like copy haho doing pavement covers. The vocals are a bit distant and less audible than in most bands and a bit lack luster (I think perhaps too detached from the instrumental mix). They have written some good catchy songs but its all a bit repetative and got a bit boring towards the end. The bassist played in the crowd (out of sight from me) which if I could have seen might have made it more interesting. Wish i new more songs, seem like that kind of band.


5/10 (*8/10 at subculture though)

The Old Romantic Killer Band
"Folk, blues and punk" in one band. Odd mix, and yeah maybe its not my thing but i caught the last few songs. Really entertaining live spectacle. They played their hardest and were pretty mental. Last song was really good and much more on the punk end of the spectrum (which they deliver bloody well). Highlight was the "changing rooms" stunt where the lead singer swaps with the audience so they are all on stage then rushes them off to the back wall. Crowd didnt seem too enthusiastic but was still fun and a damn good attempt.


im all cross armed in this picture, but i was enjoying it, promise.
7/10


The guy showing his goats is actually a twat, thanks for runing ttng for me scrote and co.

Tubelord
Since when did tubelord get big? The venue was pretty packed again for them. Starting off with a new song with a more "serious" tone to it than previous songs, with less vocals and of a "pop" feel. However they soon got back to playing hits off the album. Set was good if a little short and could have done with more "old" stuff, I think a lot of the album doesn't sound as fresh as the real early stuff. A static crowd didn't really help things either, a few guys seemed to know the words and shouted along and jumped up and down, they seemed like annoying idiots. In fact it feels like they're fast becoming another "indie pop" band which all the kids jump up and down and scream for. Last but not least the new bassist (however silly his hair might be) can't replace Sean. A lot of these faults were probably because the new member wasn't as tight and didn't know all the songs. Still pretty fun to watch (I think they set the bar too high at previous gigs though).


8/10

This Town Needs Guns
They started their set with a few songs off the album like chinchilla and baboon which are nice songs, not very exciting stuff though. Fast songs with pretty maths guitar lines and soft oxford vocals. About halfway through the set they played a new song, was bit more "dancy" than the album or even previous works, with more repetative vocals and a stick in your head melody (can't help thinking they're losing the overwhelming beauty their songs had and becoming another "foals-esque" band).
I hate to sound pretentious and elitist but since when did all the kids hear the old songs and decide to be annoying idiots jumping up and down to "if i sit here...". They then promised "belle and sebastian" (brilliant old song) but ditched it discovering they only had time for one more and played (the fan hit) 26 is dancier than 4 (more jumping up and down from annoying tweens and dicks).

Could do with being a bit more subdued live, i like the more "beautifully delicate" side to their songs, whereas some people seem to treat them like pigeon detectives. Sucks they got big and are now a mainstream "indie" band with annoying fans to boot.

7/10

Bougth a pulled apart t shirt. its rad.


Overall - suffered from static po faced crowds for some bands and over enthusiastic 16 year old boys excited to be out of the house for others. Wish we had stayed longer (we missed blakfish and PABH) but it was my friends' birthday and he'd come from york to see us so i thought I'd do what he wanted.
Idioteque was a real let down apart from seeing wonderswan again (by accident) who were ace second time round, they played way better, sub culture suited them better, the sound was better ect.ect.