Music! Music! Music!

The Ting Tings, The Sonixx, Sportsday Megaphone

2008-05-24T22:47:54+02:00

Hey all! It happened again, I left it ages!!

I went to Brighton last weekend for the Great Escape festival and it was immense. I had so much fun! This was my first Great Escape and I went down there very little idea of what to expect - and no planning, woops! I saw some amazing bands including the Dykeenies, One Night Only, Alphabeat, Sam Sparro (gorgeous AND put on a fantastic show!) and and the Ting Tings (possibly the best busy set of the weekend). My personal highlights were David E Sugar and Canterbury - the two sets I had gone down desperately wanting to see. They both lived up to expectations and I even managed to badger Canterbury into a photo. Anyway, there will be a full report of all my shenanigans soon, but I'm still trying to sort out photos, videos and all that jazz - I'll even tell you how I made an absolute eejit out of myself in front of George Craig (One Night Only vocalist)!!

Had my first listen to the Ting Tings album yesterday and I love it! I never expected That's Not My Name to get to number 1 though. Don't get me wrong I think it's a fantastic song - possibly one of my favourites this year - but to think they became so popular so quickly with a song that isn't typically mainstream is unbelievable. The entire album is filled with quirky pop tracks, guaranteed to stick in your head whether you like it or not. Aside from the amazing That's Not My Name, favourites include Great DJ and Shut Up And Let Me Go (yes the one off the new ipod/itunes advert). Great DJ is one of those songs, like the theme from The Great Escape (and I mean the film now kids), or "If I knew you were coming I'd've baked a cake, baked a cake, baked a cake" - you only need to hear the tune once and you'll be humming it for the next 3 days. So you if you have actually been living in a cave for the last few weeks you can check out the Ting Tings here or at their official website here.

Also, while you're at it, I recommend you all listen to The Sonixx who can be found here. There are some brilliant tracks up at the moment, though my favourite has to be LoveHate. It's a little bit Calvin Harris, a little bit Daft Punk and it's all melded together perfectly. When you listen to I Got 5 On It please be sure to ignore the vocals, which mainly consist of "I got 5 on it" because they're vaguely reminiscent of a fairground. Were there no vocals on this track it would be a quality electro track, but for now we'll have to settle for 'yeah it's alright'. But come on now, you know I wouldn't recommend you rubbish!! Both tracks are available for free download from The Sonixx myspace page

Finally, someone I first stumbled across properly in Brighton is Sportsday Megaphone who you can find at his myspace page. He completely blew me away when I saw him live - firstly to have the guts to get up on stage on his own and secondly with the quality of his music. My favourite track, L.A. is a sexy, stoned Hadouken! and once you're hooked on that you can move onto the other tracks like it was a gateway drug.

Anyway you lot, thats all I have for now I'm afraid. I'll be posting my top ten tracks to listen to within the next 24 hours on my myspace page. You should all add me, send me messages and make me feel loved and warm and fuzzy inside

Love
xxx

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Leeann Akers, Lyrical, and more

2008-03-24T00:59:23+01:00

Sorry it's been sooooo long! I promise it won't happen again

Firstly I'm going to introduce you to Leeann Akers. I just can't get enough of her songs, and her voice. Having grown up listening to Dolly Parton and Alison Krauss, she has a real obvious country-influenced sound, but brought right up to date. She's reminiscent of LeAnn Rimes, but with a better voice and style.

There isn't a song on her myspace page I don't like to be honest, but if you only have five minutes make sure you listen to Follow Me and It's Crying Time Again. Follow Me is a feel-good, up beat song with the catchiest of catchy hooks. Her sickly sweet (in a good way I promise), smooth voice is perfectly suited to this kind of song, and she reminds us that love is meant to be fun and free and safe. On the other hand, It's Crying Time Again shows a different side to Leeann Akers. This is a song which focuses on the end of the relationship, but it neither winges or moans. Another catchy chorus, this time infused with jazz, will never leave your brain! Her voice sounds older somehow, perhaps it's the more overall staccato tone of the song and it all just comes together perfectly. Still with all this, Leann Akers never loses her country twang - something I hope she never parts with as it sets her apart from any other new artist I have heard in a while.

She has an album coming out in the near future and I suggest you keep an eye out for a specific date (depending on where you live as ever). Visit Leeanns Myspace page here.

London rapper/producer Lyrical is heading back into the studio over the next few weeks to record some new tracks which you'll find on his Myspace page when they're done (I'll let you know when don't worry). Check out some of his tracks especially No One Like You and Dance With Me and I challenge you not to find your foot tapping or your head nodding!!

Two albums out tomorrow (24th March) which I am very excited about! The first of these is the Mystery Jets new album 'Twenty One', the second is The Foals latest offering Antidotes. I expect both will be worth a listen (in fact I'll tell you now the Mystery Jets album is amazing!). Get a feel for the foals here and you might still be able to hear tracks off the Mystery Jets album on their MySpace page if you're quick.. Go on, give it a go!

As well as this you can hear the first radio play of The Pigeon Detectives new single 'This Is An Emergency' tomorrow morning (24th March) between 7.30-9 a.m. when Zane Lowe stands in for Chris Moyles. If you miss it you can hear it again at www.bbc.co.uk/chrismoyles.

Finally, Cajun Dance Party have launched their new website. They'll be putting news up on this website now, so keep an eye on it and sign up to the mailing list to stay in the loop - www.cajundanceparty.com.

Finally FINALLY I've started doing a 'top ten songs you must listen to this week' on my Myspace page in my blog (which you should subscribe to... along with this one!!). I say every week, this means it will be at least every week. It could be twice a week if there is lots of good music about. As always send me recommendations, anything you want spread about and all the rest of it.

Speak to you soon
Love
xxx

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2008-02-18T03:36:51+01:00

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Todays recommendation: The Broadcast

2008-02-11T02:10:33+01:00

Hey everyone! Did you all listen to Abraxus? I hope so...

Today for your audio delights I give you The Broadcast. Plucked nicely from my hometown of Hitchin (and surrounding area), this 4-piece has unbelievably not even been together a year yet! They have already played over 70 shows, supporting for acts such as Look See Proof, My Passion, Saving Aimee... the list goes on. They're no stranger to the media either - appearing in local newspapers and on local and national radio. Now having knocked the local music scene on its backside, they're spreading their wings and are set to take over the UK.
Recording on their album starts today, and it will be out March 8th. Mark that date in your calendars because you would be silly to miss out on this. You can get the album via itunes, or on CD for just £7.
Check out their myspace page here and have a listen to the tracks they've got up. I recommend starting with The Once Over - it's like the love child of Sum41 and Enter Shikari, and oh what sweet love it must have been! The upbeat pop punk/electro sound has so much energy it's impossible to listen to it without some part of you having it's own little dance.
So go forth and give them some love, and give them some well deserved votes for the Indy Music Awards here as well.

www.myspace.com/thebroadcast5
www.myspace.com/lookseeproof
www.myspace.com/savingaimee

Get yourselves down to My Passions myspace page to get hold of some free tunes. My Passion will be a featured band at some point in the near future so get ahead of the game kids, check them out, download some tracks. You won't be disappointed.

If you want to see You Me At Six in Wolverhampton or Bristol the HURRY UP because the shows are almost sold out!! Go to their myspace page for more details here.

Finally, for something a bit different have a look at Examples myspace page here. Start off with You Can't Rap and download his podcasts.

Have a good one!
xxx

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Todays Recommendation: Abraxus

2008-02-10T04:49:12+01:00

Hey everyone! Hope you're all well

Today I'm recommending you all go out of your way to listen to Abraxus. This London based four-piece have recently supported the Futureheads and Templeton Pek (worthwhile bands for a quick perusal I promise!), and will be supporting Miss Conduct at the Underworld in Camden on March 7th (get yourselves there!). All very exciting stuff, but nothing compared to their music...
I highly recommend you all have a ganders at their myspace page (see below) and check out the tracks they have on there. Each one is an absolute belter, but my personal favourite has to be Grenado - the chorus is a little reminiscent of a female fronted Papa Roach circa 'She Loves Me Not' (but better - a massive compliment by my standards), and the verses are sweetly melodic thanks to Keri's vocals. Abraxus have struck the perfect balance of melody and attitude, while still being believable and credible.
Following the success of the release of their E.P. in (what was) Virgin Megastore in Bromley on September 17th, there has also been a boom in sales via their myspace page and at gigs. They also expect to release a mini album in April comprising 7-9 tracks including, to my delight, Grenado. The band commented:
"The mini album and new singles are coming along fantastically, the new material which we are playing live is enthusiastic, boasting energy and is a unique original crazy experience!"
Good enough for me!
www.myspace.com/abraxus1
www.abraxusrock.com
www.myspace.com/templetonpek
www.myspace.com/thefutureheads

For those of you in Stoke, get yourselves to Fat Cats on Monday 11th February (yes thats tomorrow - all the exciting news is urgent!) to see London producer/rapper Lyrical. The show kicks off at 8p.m. I'll have some more details for you later today (i.e. at a less ungodly hour), but until then you can check out his myspace page and have a listen to him here. This is not a show to be missed!!

For fans of The Blackout you'll be pleased to know that depsite the fire in Camden today the band, as far as they are aware, are still going ahead with their planned show tonight at The Electric Ballroom. This is definitely a band which will feature as one of my recommendations in the near future, as they're amazing. You can have a listen for yourselves here or have a look at the official band website

Finally, If you were at the ShitDisco's Toilet Factory party on Wednesday they've asked via their myspace page for you all to email your pictures and videos to them at: email@shitdisco.co.uk.
www.myspace.com/shitdisco

Cheers you lot!
Love
xxx

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Hello for the first time!!

2008-02-08T04:30:56+01:00

Hey everyone! Glad you could drop by

Bit of background - I am a first year Music Journalism and Broadcasting student at Staffs Uni (Stoke-on-Trent campus). I'm originally from a little town called Hitchin which, for those of you who don't know, is on the border of Hertfordshire right next to Luton. I was also at uni last year, doing Forensic Science and Criminology but I gave it all up and took the risk of trying something new for my love of music. It's paying off and I'm loving writing about something I enjoy and spreading the word.

This is to become a page for all the latest news, gigs, reviews and recommendations as well as a featured band everyday. If you're a band/artist/performer get in touch with me any way you know how - tell me when your gigs are, when your stuff is coming out, ANYTHING YOU WANT and I'll try my hardest to give it a mention. And as for everyone else, any recommendations or contributions of your own? Need to know about stuff thats happening in your area? Fancy giving me some feedback? Do the same! I'm going to be updating this at least once a day and I'm up at all hours (its currently half 3 in the morning )

Feel free to leave me a message on here, or email me - gemma.kilby@hotmail.co.uk.

Love
Gem
x

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