The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

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?

Oh Manchester…so much to answer for. So many great bands creating such gorgeous and infinitely vital music that birthed a generation of dancing misfits, navel-gazing misanthropes and 24 hour party people. While the new breed of bands like Delphic, Everything Everything, Hurts, The Courteeners stake their own claim, it’s always nice to hear something new from the old guard. In this case, we have the return of the Charlatans. It’s hard to believe that it’s been twenty years since their debut record, 1990’s Some Friendly, came out. Who knew that as time passed and the dust settled this quintet would still be here releasing quality records and inspiring new bands to continue what they’ve started. The band’s forthcoming new record entitled Who We Touch drops on the 14th of September and will be preceded by a single called Love Is Ending. Let me tell you that it is an absolute must that you go out and see the band live as they truly are one of the finer bands you will see. They’ll be hitting the States in September so heed my advice and go!

Atlanta, GA The Loft (September 7)
Chapel Hill, NC Cat’s Cradle (8)
Washington, DC Black Cat (9)
Boston, MA Royale (10)
Hoboken, NJ Maxwell’s (11)
New York, NY Bowery Ballroom (13)
Brooklyn, NY Music Hall Of Williamsburg (14)
Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s (15)
Montreal, QC Cabaret (16)
Toronto, ON Lee’s Palace (17)
Chicago, IL Double Door (18)
San Francisco, CA Bimbo’s (20)
Costa Mesa, CA Detroit Bar (21)
Los Angeles, CA El Rey (22)

The Charlatans on MySpace
The Charlatans on Facebook
The Charlatans on Twitter

“How High” by The Charlatans, taken from the Beggars Banquet/Atlantic release, “Tellin’ Stories”

Thus far2010 has been a very exciting year in music. There have been some great new artists bursting from the woodwork and exposing themselves to the world. It’s hard for me to come up with another new band that brings a smile to my face quite like Everything Everything. Rarely does it occur where a band comes at you from so many angles vocally, melodically and musically but yet the end result still sounds so fresh, inventive and simply right on point.

The band’s profile has seen quite a healthy growth over the last few months due to their recent appearances on the NME Radar tour with Hurts and Darwin Deez as well as their recently completed dates with Delphic. The debut record is due out in the summer and the official debut single to be lifted from the record Schoolin’ is out in June. What does the track sound like? A bit like the Futureheads only with a groove. Level 42 on speed. Either way it’s all good. See for yourself.

“Schoolin’” by Everything Everything

“Another second in the sunshine,
A decade in the dark taking part in a dream.
Have you forgotten what she looks like?
Or do you only see what you want to believe?”

Here it is, Suede-heads. The first official serve from our new heroes of dramatic electronic pop, Hurts, is here.  Better Than Love has arrived! The duo has begun their first tour in earnest taking part in the NME Radar Tour along with Everything Everything and Darwin Deez and now the video is available for our viewing pleasure.  Filmed in Bucharest, this film is visually stunning which should come as no surprise by now to those of who’ve been following these boys since Wonderful Life.

Who’s getting more and more excited for the album’s imminent release? I know I am!

“Better Than Love” by Hurts

“i fly through the walls
all pieces colliding and i
see raymond apart
he’s a frowning now, wagging a
finger at me
“boy!” his knees bend the other way and
“boy! boy!” are you guys together honey?
“b..b..boy!” oh but now i can’t find his torso, mmhmmhmm i
guess you’re seperated ooh,
Monica i just wanna know…ooh”

I think I’m really near the point where I am simply going to have to have a special weekly feature on Manchester bands. I don’t know what it is but it’s plain to see that Manchester is back in a big way. The amount of quality new bands coming out of that town is reminiscent of the late 70s – early 80s where it seemed every group of kids within a ten mile radius were picking up guitars and drums and forming bands to avoid having to actually find work.

I’d hazard a guess that by this point, you know the names I’ve been giddy over in the last year and change so there’s no need in my repeating them here. Allow me to throw another band into the mix. Here comes Everything Everything! Their debut record is due for release on the 14th of June via Geffen and it’s definitely a must-have in my book thanks to fantastic songs like My Keys, Your Boyfriend featured above. While tracks like Suffragette Suffragette or Photoshop Handsome remind me a bit of The Futureheads, this song here is much more polished and to me represents the band’s calling card and heralds their true potential. I’ve a feeling that we will continue to hear more from these guys as the year soldiers on.

Everything Everything on MySpace
Everything Everything on Facebook
Everything Everything on Twitter

“My Keys, Your Boyfriend” by Everything Everything