Amazing what a major label can do for your video! Hurts is releasing that old chestnut Wonderful Life as the official second single to be taken from Happiness and with it comes a brand-spanking new video to boot. To be honest with you, there is something about the original video that I love. I will admit this new video is beautiful on its own and the picture of the dancer from the original version was a nice touch though. What say you?
It shouldn’t be too much longer now. The 30th of August brings about the release of Man Alive, the debut record from Manchester quartet Everything Everything. I can’t get enough of their everything-but-the-kitchen-sink sound as it’s beyond clever and offers something different than the other flavours of pop currently bandied about on the blogs or heard on the radio. Above is the video for new single My Kz, Ur BF (My Keys, Your Boyfriend, if you hadn’t yet figured it out). I’ve loved this track since I first heard it a few months back and properly introduced to this band’s wacky world. While I do love this video, I prefer the original version to this one. I don’t really see the need to have done a new version when the first was quite visually appealing and did the song justice in its own right. Judge for yourself.
Pretty snazzy sleeve for the record as well, wouldn’t you say?
Bryan Ferry is better than you. He gets more girls. He still looks good for a man well into his golden years. He also roped in some heavyweights for his brand new record Olympia. This is the first single entitled You Can Dance. This, friends, is baby-making music and nothing less should be expected from the man who helped put the “art” in “artifice” with the legendary Roxy Music. The record itself will feature his old Roxy Music cohorts Andy Mackay, Phil Manzanera and…Brian Eno! Throw in Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, Mani from the Stone Roses/Primal Scream/Freebass, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers among others and you’ve got a record that should be musically stunning. The record is out on the 25th of October.
1. “You Can Dance”
2. “Alphaville”
3. “Heartache By Numbers”
4. “Me Oh My”
5. “Shameless”
6. “Song to the Siren”
7. “No Face, No Name, No Number”
8. “BF Bass (Ode to Olympia)”
9. “Reason or Rhyme”
10. “Tender is the Night”
Yes friends. This is actually the artwork for the forthcoming debut record by our favourite boy toys, Hurts. Keeping the simple yet so chic black and white aesthetic the band has come to be known for. Happiness is out on the 6th of September via Major Label/Sony with the next single being…Wonderful Life! A new video is currently being filmed though I have to say it would take a lot to top the original video but I’m sure the new version will be grand in its own right. Come to think of it. Anyone notice a similar vibe being shared being the artwork for Happiness and the one from these boys?
Like a warm summer breeze, Los Angeles’ Kisses are the perfect soundtrack to an afternoon laying around soaking up the rays without a single care in the world. The indie duo’s new single People Can Do The Amazing Things comes off as so effortless a listen that it’s easy to completely miss the subtle hooks that make this track a winner. To my ears, I hear a tinge of the softer moments from The Wake, the criminally underrated Factory band. A definite band on the rise.
It will be difficult to find a better bill than this as the leaves start to fall. The new faces of Australian pop-rock, The Temper Trap and Mancunian dance-pop heroes, Delphic hit the road together in what could very well be the breakout tour for both bands in the States. Both bands are faves of mine and both debut records still get quality mileage in my house. I hope to see my fellow New Yorkers at the Terminal 5 gig. Let’s go!
SEPTEMBER
26 Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero
29 Boston, MA – House of Blues
30 Montclair, NJ – Wellmont Theater
OCTOBER 01 New York, NY – Terminal 5
02 Montreal, QC – Le National
03 Ottawa, ON – Capital Music Hall
05 Toronto, ON – Phoenix Concert Theater
11 Detroit, MI – St Andrews Hall
12 Chicago, IL – Metro
13 Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall
14 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
16 Mexico City – Capital Festival
22 Pomona, CA – The Fox Theater
23 Los Angeles, CA – Club Nokia
Dave Sitek. That name may not roll off the tongue of the average music listener. If you’re not aware of who he is, shame on you. The man has only been a major driving force in the New York sound in the last decade. Beginning with his own band, a little known outfit named TV On The Radio, then take a quick look at the work he’s done in the producer’s chair and you can see the man has done a little bit of work over the last ten years. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs… Liars…Telepathe…Scarlett Johansson (Let’s forgive him for that one. The man has to eat too…)… Celebration… Foals. Helping to save indie music from itself is a tough job but even he needs a break so here comes Sitek going solo under the name Maximum Balloon.
Sitek’s solo debut record is due to arrive on the 24th of August via DGC/Interscope and will feature some noteworthy guest appearances tagging along for the ride. Names such as David Byrne, Karen O, Tunde and Kyp from TV On The Radio can be expected to be heard and enjoyed on this set. First things first, we have the first single called Tiger up at the plate to lead off. This is what you call a banger. This track features Aku from Dragons of Zynth on the mike who sounds an awful lot like Tunde from TVOTR. One can’t help but fall for the rhythmic charm as the bass whip-cracks you out onto the dance floor. Hips start to sway. Sweat explodes from the pores. You simply have no control or any idea of what to do with yourself. That’s what one play of Tiger will do to you so be careful who you play this to or you may be held responsible for whatever may ensue next. On second thought, play it and then play it again.
It’s the video for Crossfire, the debut solo single from Brandon Flowers, the lead single of the Fillers. Sorry. That should be the Killers although based on the band’s musical output, the former is more than apt. The song is decent enough and while it’s pretty much been covered in the past here in this space that I am not a Fillers fan, the only reason worth posting this vid is we get to see one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood doing her best impression of another beautiful Hollywood actress. Charlize Theron… Charlize…Charlize doing her best Angelina Jolie playing Lara Croft impression. I reckon there won’t be another video released this year that will grab my attention quite like this. What’s also pretty hilarious is that throughout this film, Charlize has to rescue Brandon three or four times as he looks helpless, defenseless and pretty sorry each time.
There’s really nothing much to add here except did I mention that Charlize Theron is in this video?
The boys and girl from Performance are definitely doing what they can to make sure they become a household name in 2010. Hot off the presses comes a brand new video for their forthcoming new single entitled Unconsoled. Another anthem for the disaffected fist-pumpers to be found here which makes a great companion piece to the previous single The Living. One thing that must be said and noted about this trio is that they simply know how to write songs. Let’s hope that this band finds the larger exposure they truly deserve.
The next great blue-eyed soul great? If that’s what our fearless hero, Francis Starlite, is aiming to do, it’s safe to say he’s clearing the path for himself quite handily. With his debut album It’ ll Be Better due out on the 20th of July, another song has been unearthed that should offer further evidence that a star is on the rise. As heard previously with the single Darling It’s Alright, Starlite has the total package in spades with bushels of talent left to spare. A voice that exudes tenderness and confidence yet also yearns for something more, something greater. The lyrics of a storyteller that has seen way too much, too soon and is ready for more. Songs that invite you in, make you feel at home, creating memorable snapshots that you want to remember long after the record has finished playing. Check out a new track, the album closer Get In The Car. Close your eyes and take a ride.
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