strictly blogging

Hmm, I've spent far too much time on this ting (because I am just that sad and have no life) and – dare I say – so much time that my education has suffered (although, I am grateful because regular blogging has helped develop my writing skills and my own sense of self, both of which you could argue are sort of educational). And, I've got to the point where I see/say/do/hear something and think 'Huh, that's interesting, hmm, y'know what – I'll put it in my blog, CAUSE CLEARLY I HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO'. Which means that my answer to the ultimate philosophical question 'What is the point of my existence?' is now 'So that I can blog about it'. Or, as a website my friend found would say: 'I blog therefore I am.'

Plus, I was reading some old posts, and it's official: I am BORING(-er) now. My old posts were actually vaguely entertaining (Exhibit A – read this from a post written in November: “Ok how many of my recent posts have been about school?! The most frequent post tag is 'school'. Oh I am just so cool. That rhymes. (Haha, that just reminds me - we're currently studying Hamlet in English, and in our lesson yesterday, the teacher asked 'who's in the mood to read Gertrude?' There was a ten-second pause, then I said aloud 'that rhymes'. Oh lord, what's wrong with me?)” lmao, I crack myself up. Or rather, cracked.). Now I just whine and mope about... I don't even know. I don't write like myself anymore. I've lost all traces of flair and am currently the-blogger-who-blogs-in-this-certain-way-because-she's-an-idiot-and-has-failed-to-free-herself-of-the-shackles-of –...never mind. ('society')

Lastly, I'm disliking the way some really bellend, underhand dissing is being thrown around. a) If you wanna diss, do it properly, b) the only reason I took up blogging again was because it was a way for me to let out that inner me that I wanted people to see – it's not a competition and I don't want it to become one either. So all of the above, in five words: blogging is no fun now.

For all these reasons, I am going to go on a blogging hiatus. Sort of.

I've been toying with the idea of hiatus-ing for a while, but I had a few posts I wanted to put out, so I had to delay the moment. Some breathing space will be good for me, for my studies, for my blogging content and tone and all that jazz, and to regain that ability to blog as and for myself. Do not despair, because there’s no way I’m doing zero blogging. I'm gonna do a weekly feature on music. Or maybe fortnightly. Monthly? Hum, maybs I won't bother at all, because I don't wanna be listening to music and only be thinking bout what I could write about it. I shall ruminate that thought inside the lump that sits inside my skull and is scientifically known as some-fancy-nancy-LATIN-name-I-don't-know, but we commoners know it as 'the brain'. And then I'll let ya know. What I do know is that I will have to be quite a lot stricter with myself about it. Well actually I think I'm addicted to the Internet in general so I'm gonna have to work on that.

So there you have it, goodbye (for now) to every-minute blogging... Don't hesitate to holler at me if you've got anything interesting to say here. I might set up an e-mail address via which you guys can send posts onto this blog.. I dunno. Everything's all very uncertain atm. Who knows – I'll probably be back before you know it..except I won't. I'M GONNA DO THIS.

Right, my plan of action: imma go wear all-black and curl up in a ball and put my hi-fi (I am so ancient I have a hi-fi and I admit it) on and play the emo-est music I can find on an audio cassette (that makes me even more ancient) in my humble abode (i.e. my shack) and think 'I. Hate. The. World. This. Pain. Is. Good.' (to any budding emo reading this: I love you really.)

xxxx

p.s. Is it bad that all things mentioned in the last paragraph actually seem quite appealing at this point in time? Except I don't live in a shack.

it's contagious, so catch it

I've clearly busted my 'only one blog post a week' rule I set for myself for the new year. Ahhhh well. What's much worse is the amount of Tweets I've been putting out. If I'm not mistaken, I tweeted twenty times on one day. And this is me, the person who, not so long ago, dubbed Twitter 'boring' because all you talk about on there are the trivialities of your everyday life. Well, on that crazy day when I tweeted twenty times: clearly I did twenty trivial things. Gahhhhhh anyone have good tips for cutting back on tweets?


'Liquid Confidence'

I downloaded and listened to a leak of You Me At Six' new album, 'Hold Me Down', before its release date of 11 Jan (thanks to LH, who sent me the link. Guess where - over Twitter, haha, my life is so going down the drain). Because of exams and the Busted post (see post below), I'm only putting this up now. If you're a YMAS fan and haven't yet listened to it (SHAME ON YOU), I'd advise you to avert your eyes for now, because I've found that my first opinions of a new album are always overshadowed by reviews I have read (then again that could just be my easily influenced self). Come back when you've heard it, anyways.

Despite the hype (built by YMAS themselves) surrounding the release of this album, I didn't find myself excited about it at all, and didn't expect much from it at all. I listened to the sneak preview of the album a few weeks ago and wasn't fussed, though I did like some bits in there. They say that if you have low expectations, you'll never be disappointed. Well then, either YMAS are in a league of 'crap' of their own, or that saying is fundamentally untrue. I am going with the latter.

Although the album retains YMAS 'essence', it does also sound different to 'Take Off Your Colours', their debut. With more instruments, it sounds 'fuller'... or maybe that's what they call 'noise'. And a heavier feel? Yeah, I'm listening to 'The Consequence' and it has some low guitar bits. Gah I'm amazing at describing music aren't I? I just listened to their interview on XFM with Iam Camfield and he described it as 'bigger', which is exactly what I think about it. Like, arena-big. (...I'm so eloquent)

I am tempted to say that most of the songs on the album all sound the same to me. And I would not be wrong. I've found loads of ritornello patterns being repeated across different songs, and by the fourth song I knew I could expect their typical loud-then suddenly quiet-then build up to loud again- sequence. A few of the songs they've put on there are average, like 'Safer to Hate Her' and 'Fireworks'. I wanna clarify that the album is not as appalling as I make it sound, but for me the album isn't one that hangs together tightly and takes me on a journey. In their interview with XFM, they said that when getting songs together, they could put different bits written by different members of the band into one song, because, for example, it would be in the same key. That kind songwriting process seems a bit disjointed to me, because the two components might be carrying very different emotions and so make up a song that is made up of two really good but really mismatching bits.

So what is it that still makes me listen to You Me At Six, you ask, if I find so many things wrong with them? Funnily enough, this album is what's reminded me of all the things I love about the band! You can expect to find heartfelt singing from Josh (the low bits, the quiet bits, and the lungs-y bits). Some great guitar rhythms and melodies scattered across all the songs too. I'd list examples for these, but I'd just give you almost the whole album.

That's it? Nice singing and interesting guitar playing?


'Contagious Chemistry'

Sometimes it doesn't take much for music to touch someone. What You Me At Six have got is energy, some emotional charge, and proof that they know what works well together. These are the things that tell me they're not to be written off any time soon. I have faith in them. They work really hard, appreciate their fans, and isn't just another pop/punk/rock band. They're in their own league, standing apart from anything from the US that comes onto this scene. Bring on 2010 for YMAS; let's hope they experiment some more and come into their own.


'Take Your Breath Away'


'Underdog'


'There's No Such Thing As Accidental Infidelity (featuring Aled Phillips, from KIGH!)'

xxxx

p.s. zomdizzles, I hear this You Me At Six album charted straight away at no.5 in its first week! Massive well done to them, it's quite a feat for a band like them!

p.p.s.: if you're a regular on this blog, you might wanna check back tomorrow for an announcement...

hot tips for oh-ten

Right, so here we are. New Year.. new music. I've always wanted to write do something like this, i.e. pretend I'm where it's at in terms of new music and that I have a megamagicalprophetic predictive mind. Anyways, 2009 was a great year for music (as DJ Earworm showed us with his mash-up. Ok, I'll stop banging about it), but I hope that 2010 is going to better it. With the new penchant for drum&bass and dubstep taking over the music scene, I'm interested to see what direction old bands have taken for their new albums. So here's my hot tips for 2010, as well as the people I'm itching to hear new things from.

HOT IN 2010
Let us start with those I'm not such a big fan of (but they're still good'uns, kind of)...

DELPHIC – 'ACOLYTE'

I liked their song 'Counterpoint' released (I think) last year, but they haven't convinced me yet with their new single, the name of which escapes me.

MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS

Also another one who hasn't convinced me.... 'I'm Not A Robot' was alright, 'Hollywood' I haven't given a fair listen to yet. So I'll keep you posted about how I feel. But yeah, I can tell she's gwan have a good year, and she was one of the names on the BBC Sound of 2010 Longlist.

JUSTIN BIEBER – 'MY WORLD'

Yeah, all the teenage fangirls are already screaming for him (I just accidentally wrote 'her' instead of him, thats how cutesy pie he is) and, I have to say, he deserves (some of) it! He has a great voice and the album 'My World' (hum. I *coughdownloadedcough* it) is quite well produced. Good pop/r'n'b shtuff. (Sounds a bit like Miley Cyrus... I can't wait for his voice to break.)

Justin Bieber – 'One Time'

OWL CITY – 'OCEAN EYES'

This is not how I imagined him to look like...

With 'Fireflies' already sparking love-hate polarisation, and considering the previous album and EP have had some great stuff that new fans may latch onto, I can see OC breaking through in 2010. But I just think the songs are too similar, so I ain't too big on this guy.

Owl City – 'Cave In', probs my fave song on the album

COBRA STARSHIP – 'HOT MESS'

'Hot Mess' is coming out (or has come out? If it hasn't come out, then the version I've got must be a leak..) this year, and they have a headline tour somewhere around the world. 'Good Girls Gone Bad' and Leighton Meester did much to raise this band's profile, so I can only see them getting bigger from here.

Cobra Starship – 'I Kissed A Boy'. From FOB's mixtape 'Welcome to the Administration'


And the following are:

HOT IN 2010 AND/OR I'M EXCITED/HOPING TO HEAR THAT THEY ARE COMING OUT WITH NEW THINGS

VAMPIRE WEEKEND – 'CONTRA'

Released 11/01, it sounds good to me already just on my first listen. They don't lose the sound that defines them (bouncy/cheery African-drum xylophoney feel-good tunes) but this one sounds a bit dreamier and carefree. Dare I say it's even outrageously easier to dance to than is their debut? Good work guys.

Vampire Weekend - 'California English'


Vampire Weekend - 'White Sky' - lovelovelovelovelovelove

THE STROKES – 'JUKEBOX'

I've only liked the Strokes for around two years but that 'like' has been of a very strong nature. And the stuff they've done solo (e.g. Julian C's collaboration with Pharrell Williams and Santogold on 'My Drive Thru', and Albert Hammond Jr.'s 'CfG') tell me that they haven't lost their musical streak. Look forward to it!

KLAXONS – TBC

The Klaxons are amazing. I saw them twice in Year 10 and their album 'Myths of the Near Future' was quite something – sounds that nobody else have successfully reproduced. They've been quiet for three years so this is an album I can't wait to hear.

'Magick' ...Not exactly an unheard of song, but it needs to be heard some more.


ELLIE GOULDING – Album has been rumoured

Her two songs that I've heard – 'Starry Eyed' and 'Under the Sheets' – are great, and she knows quite a thing or two about making music. She's been tipped by the likes of Huw Stephens – well actually she's been tipped by EVERYONE – and has been given advice by Florence Welch... from the songs that I've heard I know that she deserves the hype, and I like the sound that she's been making, so let's hope the album lives up to it all.

'Under the Sheets' – Ellie Goulding

KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES – DIRT

Kids in Glass Houses are a band that I really, really like, because they're kind of emo, but really upbeat, feel-good emo that never fails to make me smile. The music they made was quite flawless and Aled Phillips' voice is phenomenal. DIRT is out in March.

'Hunt The Haunted' – Kids in Glass Houses

BLINK-182 - ?

THEIR SUMMER TOUR. I don't know if they're having a date in the UK, but they've been rumoured to be playing at Reading '10, so I'm banking on that cause I got ticketz to that already. There is a trace of scepticism in me that thinks they may not be able to make it considering the musical directions they've taken in their respective bands (especially Tom Delonge whose Angels&Airwaves aspired to music that would 'make people want to fly'). However, I have total faith in them!

McFLY – TBC

Radio:Active wasn't exactly their best, so please please please bring out something along the lines of 'Wonderland' (though I doubt that'll happen).

THE CRIBS - ?

Freaking flawless post-punk heaven. But wishful thinking on my part, I think.

HOT CHIP – 'ONE LIFE STAND'

FRIENDLY FIRES – TBC

I'm not excited about their new album as I should be, cause I love them really. Hopefully they're gonna come out with a new sound, cause I am a bit sick of that debut atm.

JUSTICE – TBC

A very able (French, might I add!) duo who have been compared to Daft Punk and even rumoured to be the people under the DP helmets. Their work is always musically great.

MYSTERY JETS – TBC

These guys are dickheads (if you've seen their Nokia Green Room with Basshunter, you might have caught the dickhead vibe) but their tunes are great. I hope they've evolved somewhat and have become a lil bit more professional.

OUTKAST – 'TEN THE HARD WAY'

Heyyyyyy YA. Nuff said.

MIDNIGHT BEAST - ?

I know I've banged on about them on Tumblr and Facebook, but I just had to put them here. Stefan Abingdon (lead singer, if you call it singing) was tipped back in... by the BBC as a rising rap star. In 2008, I heard the Clik Clik, which he was in. Then in 2009 I saw this band's parody of Tik Tok, and have since discovered that in between TCC and MB he was in Perfect People. He just doesn't stop does he. Anywho the parodies they've done are hilarious, but I wanna see what they'd make of producing their own original music – though I doubt they're actually gonna come out with any solid record.

(Watch it in HQ otherwise it doesn't work) 'Down (jay Sean Parody)' – Midnight Beast

FOALS – An album has been rumoured

Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease give us an album. 'Antidotes' was musical genius.

And finally,

BUSTED

IT'S TRUE. THEY'RE BACK TOGETHERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

...I wish.

*Sniffles. *

I've said 'hope' a lot in this post, which suggests that music this year can't be all riff-raff. We're expecting bigger better new things from old friends. I've said 'please' a lot as well which means some people have been gone for far too long! Also, when are Justin Timberlake, Late of the Pier, Mark Ronson, The Wombats, hellogoodbye, Gwen Stefani, Does It Offend You, Yeah? all coming back?!

Who are you looking forward to seeing/hearing this year? If you've got any unheard-of underground artists that you LOVE, gimme a shout!

xxxx

let's go back let's rewind to the days that remind of all the good times

OMG. ITS OFFICIAL. THE CATERPILLARS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE WORLD.
Or rather, it's Charlie Simpson's eyebrows. Delightful.

This is my 50th blog post! For this milestone post I was going to put up my review of You Me At Six' new album Hold Me Down but then 14 January came along. Yep, Busted's deathniversary, didn't you know. What reminded me of this special occasion was Scott Mills' tweet about it (you see, Twitter comes in useful sometimes). Also very sad was Matt Willis' tweet about how he had dinner with James and reminisced about the good times. Sob. And Charlie wasn't there, the jerk. Because I wanted this Busted post to be the 50th post, I've had to delay a few other posts I'd had ready, so let's just get this thing rolling.

A friend got me this as a present... But I probs would have got it myself even if they hadn't.

I first discovered Busted in Year 5 or 6. Up to this point I'd been listening to S Club 7, Big Bruvaz, Justin Timberlake (not that that's a bad thing), and.. Girls Aloud? Imagine if I’d never heard Busted. I wouldn’t then have got into Mcfly, nor, then, into The Beatles, or Fall Out Boy, or Panic! at the Disco, or Paramore, or You Me At Six, or any emo shizz, or any of that indie rock shtuff, or my whole iPod library. Or 80% of it (yeah, I have some non-rock in there that’s taking up the other 20%). I’d have liked Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, and… I don’t know any more of those hardcore black dudes. Busted were my first men with guitars (as my friend GEM and I called our first boy bands). So thanks are in order – THANK YOU BUSTED FOR STOPPING ME FROM BECOMING ANUVVA GANGSTA WANNABE FROM DA HOOD INNIIIII.

Course, that’s not the only reason I like Busted. ‘A Present For Everyone’ is the best guitar pop album I know. I still remember the TV advert for it back in Christmas 2003. A woman asked her pre-pubescent daughter what she wanted for Christmas, and her daughter answered ‘A present for everyone’. Freeze screen. Ominous-TV-man-voice says something along the lines of ‘No, she’s not being ultra-generous. She wants the Busted album’.

That TV advert’s quite a clear sign of how big Busted had gotten in the UK mainstream scene. At some point it did annoy me a bit. They even had their own Christmas TV film on BBC or something, which was AWESOME – oh no, inner music snob is telling me to say it was an absolute piece of shit (but it was awesome really). Fame did get to their head a bit. Either they started to lose sight of the music, or their management was really zombie-ing them up into another mainstream robot band. So maybe it was a good thing that they split up when they split up. The only thing I really, really regret, is not having been able to see them live.

Their music is just the right mixture of dickhead, jokes, adolescent (which is basically dickhead), and emotional. I can listen to their tunes and laugh, reminisce, ponder, have a downward smile for a while, but will mostly think ILOVEBUSTEDILOVEBUSTEDILOVEBUSTED. They’re one of the bands whose music makes my brain go into overdrive with love for them. So that fateful 14 January 2005 really was a sad day for me. Or was it? I just remember being in a state of shock while watching them announce it at their press meeting and watching James and Matt all teary-red-eyed and hating Charlie Simpson with all my heart. My broken heart. Sob.


Busted, I'm 'Falling For You' everytime I hear you

Yep, one more thing I loved about Busted was Matt Willis. So fit. Well, he had some not-so-fit times, namely the phases of longer, slimy hair… but otherwise he was yummy. And then he got engaged to that Emma woman, and moved in next to a girl in my form! But anyway with his trousers hanging loosely off his bum, his grimaces in every single photo, and his crazy-coloured hair, this was not a crush my mum approved of, who glanced at my posters saying ‘euch, this is the kind of boy you’re into…’ I bet she had some bad boy crush when she was younger.

Matt Willis is my 'Britney'

Other faves:

When Day Turns Into Night


That Thing You Do


'Everything I Knew'


'Fake'

Calendars..

Half a calendar..

BUSTED 4EVAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

xxxx

p.s. Yes I LOVE BUSTED, if you hadn't already noticed. To each their own: hate me for it as much as you want – I've been mocked so much I couldn't care any less now!