Hope you're enjoying the music...it's great hearing from people telling us that they're listening to what we're recommending.
Monday, 25 October 2010
Vulgar Picture grows...
Keep reading our articles and posting your comments. If you want to be a guest writer then get in touch...comment on our blogs.
Hope you're enjoying the music...it's great hearing from people telling us that they're listening to what we're recommending.
Hope you're enjoying the music...it's great hearing from people telling us that they're listening to what we're recommending.
currently listening to...Belle & Sebastian
Been making my way through all 8 of their studio albums to date over the past few days.
Why? I felt it was time to listen to them seriously. They've often been compared to so many bands that I like so much (including The Smiths, Nick Drake and Dylan)...
Each album is a great listen with the odd fantastic song thrown in. I'm very much enjoying myself thank you.
Why? I felt it was time to listen to them seriously. They've often been compared to so many bands that I like so much (including The Smiths, Nick Drake and Dylan)...
Each album is a great listen with the odd fantastic song thrown in. I'm very much enjoying myself thank you.
Sunday, 24 October 2010
Kid A vs Mark Beaumont?
Casually reading some articles online and strolled upon this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/oct/11/radiohead-kid-a-10-years
Mark Beaumont, who I've never been much of a fan of (although respect him telling it how he thinks it is, even if it isn't!), re-reviews Kid A...and decides that he was right and it was shit.
I can understand why people may not like Kid A. It took me a fair few listens to realise that it was one of the best albums ever recorded. To say that 'How To Disappear Completely' 'mumbles and drags too drearily' is pathetic....it's most definitely one of my favourite songs of all time.
For the Radiohead fan or not.... it's always fun to read everyone going nuts in the comment section when something like Kid A is being discussed.
For those interested, here is the link to his review back in 2000:
http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=2000&cutting=85
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/oct/11/radiohead-kid-a-10-years
Mark Beaumont, who I've never been much of a fan of (although respect him telling it how he thinks it is, even if it isn't!), re-reviews Kid A...and decides that he was right and it was shit.I can understand why people may not like Kid A. It took me a fair few listens to realise that it was one of the best albums ever recorded. To say that 'How To Disappear Completely' 'mumbles and drags too drearily' is pathetic....it's most definitely one of my favourite songs of all time.
For the Radiohead fan or not.... it's always fun to read everyone going nuts in the comment section when something like Kid A is being discussed.
For those interested, here is the link to his review back in 2000:
http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=2000&cutting=85
Saturday, 23 October 2010
currently listening to...Carl Barât
Carl Barât-Carl Barât
The debut solo album from the Libertine. Wasn't a fan of the single but decided it was time to give the album a go.
To listen before you BUY check here:
http://www.glasswerk.co.uk/news/national/10586/Carl+Barat+Album+Stream
The debut solo album from the Libertine. Wasn't a fan of the single but decided it was time to give the album a go.
To listen before you BUY check here:
http://www.glasswerk.co.uk/news/national/10586/Carl+Barat+Album+Stream
Oh dear Kings Of Leon...
http://www.music-news.com/shownews.asp?H=Kings-Of-Leon-slag-off-Arcade-Fire&nItemID=37188
How wrong has he got it...both here and on his last two albums. Arcade Fire must be laughing from the leagues and leagues above KOL that they sit in.
How wrong has he got it...both here and on his last two albums. Arcade Fire must be laughing from the leagues and leagues above KOL that they sit in.
Weezer fans offering money for the band to stop!!
Pretty amusing little article about a bunch of unhappy fans:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/oct/07/weezer-offered-10m-split-up
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/oct/07/weezer-offered-10m-split-up
currently listening to...The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground-The Velvet Underground & Nico
If you haven't heard it...hear it.
Without a doubt one of my favourite albums ever and one I keep coming back to.
If you haven't heard it...hear it.
Without a doubt one of my favourite albums ever and one I keep coming back to.
Radiohead fan and looking for new music?
Always a good way to find out about some interesting bands and DJs.
Thom often puts up what he's listening to at the moment and there's always the chance of discovering a gem or two:
http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/
Thom often puts up what he's listening to at the moment and there's always the chance of discovering a gem or two:
http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/
Warpaint...influence
Check this brief article where Warpaint's Emily Kokal talks about one of her main influences:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/oct/22/ari-up-emily-kokal-warpaint
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/oct/22/ari-up-emily-kokal-warpaint
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Warpaint's debut album...listen here now!
A band I've been talking about for a while (Warpaint) are set to release their debut album later this month. You can listen to it in full right here before you BUY it!
http://hypem.com/search/warpaint
http://hypem.com/search/warpaint
Sunday, 17 October 2010
New Music #13 Neil Young
Neil Young-Le Noise
On first listen of this record I was pretty disappointed. Neil's one of those artists that I often hail as untouchable, but he's put out so many records over the years that they're not all going to be immaculate (in my eyes).
At times, this album threatens to take off...you hear Neil's raw guitar sound and you're ready to head into a messy, rock-fuelled classic. More often than not however, each track is slightly held back, and its urgency is lost. The first real highlight comes midway in the form of the acoustic 'Love And War'. This was the only track that impressed on my first listen and definitely stands alone.
The other acousic track on the record-'Peaceful Valley Boulevard' is probably the other strong point. I'm normally such a fan of Neil's electric sound that it was a surprise to me that my favourites were his softer songs. I think the rockier, electric tracks are missing the 'edge' that he is known for. They seem half-hearted a times. Perhaps it was a conscious decision not to recreate his classic sound...going for something different; but it just didn't work for me.
Listen out for a hint of 'In Those Jeans-Ginuwine' at the beginning of 'Peaceful Valley Boulevard'!!! Must be one of Neil's influences!!
On first listen of this record I was pretty disappointed. Neil's one of those artists that I often hail as untouchable, but he's put out so many records over the years that they're not all going to be immaculate (in my eyes).
At times, this album threatens to take off...you hear Neil's raw guitar sound and you're ready to head into a messy, rock-fuelled classic. More often than not however, each track is slightly held back, and its urgency is lost. The first real highlight comes midway in the form of the acoustic 'Love And War'. This was the only track that impressed on my first listen and definitely stands alone.
The other acousic track on the record-'Peaceful Valley Boulevard' is probably the other strong point. I'm normally such a fan of Neil's electric sound that it was a surprise to me that my favourites were his softer songs. I think the rockier, electric tracks are missing the 'edge' that he is known for. They seem half-hearted a times. Perhaps it was a conscious decision not to recreate his classic sound...going for something different; but it just didn't work for me.
Listen out for a hint of 'In Those Jeans-Ginuwine' at the beginning of 'Peaceful Valley Boulevard'!!! Must be one of Neil's influences!!
Saturday, 16 October 2010
currently listening to...Anthony and the Johnsons
Anthony and the Johnsons-Swanlights
The new album from Anthony Hegarty and co was released last week. It sees a collaboration with Bjork on 'Fletta' and comes with a 144 page book filled with a variety of Anthony's paintings, photography and writings.
An artist that creeps into my range, (at times just about), and one whose artistic integrity can never be questioned. Powerful, emotional and often extremely melancholic...as with every Anthony record this is filled with feeling. 'Ghosts', 'Fletta' and lead single 'Thank You For Your Love' stand out.
The new album from Anthony Hegarty and co was released last week. It sees a collaboration with Bjork on 'Fletta' and comes with a 144 page book filled with a variety of Anthony's paintings, photography and writings.
An artist that creeps into my range, (at times just about), and one whose artistic integrity can never be questioned. Powerful, emotional and often extremely melancholic...as with every Anthony record this is filled with feeling. 'Ghosts', 'Fletta' and lead single 'Thank You For Your Love' stand out.
Kings Of Leon-Come Around Sundown...thoughts
Kings Of Leon-Come Around Sundown
I told a friend I was going to give this a listen whilst making a journey up the M1 late at night. His response: 'good luck'. Why? He hadn't heard it.
I would probably have said the same to him if it had been the other way round. Why? I didn't know what it would be like.
I'll tell you the answer and save you reading the pointless and endless debates posted on guardian music et al about this band. Yes it's true their first couple of albums were great, their third OK and their fourth very uninspiring and not to my liking.....but they don't do themselves any favours. They recently slated both the songs that made them HUGE and their fans for no longer being cool. Fair enough...maybe they wrote an album and didn't like the way it sounded (don't release it you're saying). They weren't a fan of their new founded commercialism and success. Maybe they didn't like the fact that they were being played in very uncool nightclubs and in the rooms of 12 year old girls....(this didn't stop them from playing arenas and generally showing themselves as mainstream boy band pricks).....but all of this made their next album CRUCIAL.
When I was thinking of a way of summing up the record to my friend all I could think of was that they have pretty much dropped their commercial sing-along stadium fillers, but forgotten to replace it with anything....and that is exactly what I stick by. 'Come Around Sundown', as clear from both title and artwork and more importantly the music-is a nothing album. It certainly doesn't put KOL back on the map as a gritty, raw rock band like 'Youth And Young Manhood' did. It also isn't another 'Only By The Night'...although they'll get a similar fanbase from it I'd imagine.
When I heard the lead single 'Radioactive' I was certain they'd carry on the same route as OBTN, but the majority of this album tries to be more laid back and less stag night sing-along. I guess it does....but it does so extremely unconvincingly. I read somewhere that it sounds like an album that the band aren't confident about and I'd completely agree with that. It's the sound of a band struggling and not knowing where they belong or who they want to buy their records.
I can't see this record taking off like OBTN did, but I guess it was never going to. All it will do is struggle to keep those 'uncool' fans they didn't want, whilst struggle to regain the fans they lost 1-2 albums ago.
I don't hate this band, I just think that they've shot themselves in the foot so many times and this album is another prime example. They needed to do something big-and this album is anything but that.
I told a friend I was going to give this a listen whilst making a journey up the M1 late at night. His response: 'good luck'. Why? He hadn't heard it.
I would probably have said the same to him if it had been the other way round. Why? I didn't know what it would be like.
I'll tell you the answer and save you reading the pointless and endless debates posted on guardian music et al about this band. Yes it's true their first couple of albums were great, their third OK and their fourth very uninspiring and not to my liking.....but they don't do themselves any favours. They recently slated both the songs that made them HUGE and their fans for no longer being cool. Fair enough...maybe they wrote an album and didn't like the way it sounded (don't release it you're saying). They weren't a fan of their new founded commercialism and success. Maybe they didn't like the fact that they were being played in very uncool nightclubs and in the rooms of 12 year old girls....(this didn't stop them from playing arenas and generally showing themselves as mainstream boy band pricks).....but all of this made their next album CRUCIAL.
When I was thinking of a way of summing up the record to my friend all I could think of was that they have pretty much dropped their commercial sing-along stadium fillers, but forgotten to replace it with anything....and that is exactly what I stick by. 'Come Around Sundown', as clear from both title and artwork and more importantly the music-is a nothing album. It certainly doesn't put KOL back on the map as a gritty, raw rock band like 'Youth And Young Manhood' did. It also isn't another 'Only By The Night'...although they'll get a similar fanbase from it I'd imagine.
When I heard the lead single 'Radioactive' I was certain they'd carry on the same route as OBTN, but the majority of this album tries to be more laid back and less stag night sing-along. I guess it does....but it does so extremely unconvincingly. I read somewhere that it sounds like an album that the band aren't confident about and I'd completely agree with that. It's the sound of a band struggling and not knowing where they belong or who they want to buy their records.
I can't see this record taking off like OBTN did, but I guess it was never going to. All it will do is struggle to keep those 'uncool' fans they didn't want, whilst struggle to regain the fans they lost 1-2 albums ago.
I don't hate this band, I just think that they've shot themselves in the foot so many times and this album is another prime example. They needed to do something big-and this album is anything but that.
request blogs....
Recently had a couple of requests for blogs on certain bands/albums.
Tell Vulgar Picture what you're listening to and we'll probably listen to it too and write our thoughts!
Comment on any blog with comments and recommendations!!!
Tell Vulgar Picture what you're listening to and we'll probably listen to it too and write our thoughts!
Comment on any blog with comments and recommendations!!!
Friday, 15 October 2010
currently listening to...Two Door Cinema Club
A kind of guilty pleasure I guess. With a name like Two Door Cinema Club they should be a band that I can't stand. Their album was played endlessly to me over the past few months and gradually I came to be quite a fan of 'Undercover Martyn', 'What You Know' and perhaps a couple others. Yes it's indie-pop, but once in a while it can't hurt.
Monday, 4 October 2010
currently litening to...Beck
Beck-Modern Guilt
The 11th album from the American multi-instrumentalist. After being nominated for a Grammy, it lost out to Radiohead's In Rainbows....can't really complain about that one!
The 11th album from the American multi-instrumentalist. After being nominated for a Grammy, it lost out to Radiohead's In Rainbows....can't really complain about that one!
Saturday, 2 October 2010
Friday, 1 October 2010
currently listening to...The Beatles
The Beatles-Revolver
Often cited as their best record, and I don't think I can disagree. 'I'm Only Sleeping', 'And You Bird Can Sing', 'Love You To', 'Doctor Robert', 'Tomorrow Never Knows', 'She Said She Said'...the whole album is amazing. Mad to think that this was 1966...so ahead of its time.
Often cited as their best record, and I don't think I can disagree. 'I'm Only Sleeping', 'And You Bird Can Sing', 'Love You To', 'Doctor Robert', 'Tomorrow Never Knows', 'She Said She Said'...the whole album is amazing. Mad to think that this was 1966...so ahead of its time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)