Morrissey

Generally, I am someone who insists on reading a book from cover to cover before even contemplating the idea of starting another, but when S presented me with Morrissey's Autobiography as an early Christmas present (most likely to keep me quiet on our long train journey home), I couldn't resist starting it straight away.  I will not attempt to review it here, except to say that it is bitter, hilarious, vitriolic and self aware in equal parts, and an essential read for any Morrissey or Smiths fan.  What I will say is that it has re-awakened my fascination with this famously reclusive man, and whilst trawling the internet for interview footage (of which there is little), I stumbled upon the documentary below which seeks to answer the question, why is Morrissey so fascinating?!  It's longer than the average video posted on here (I'm still getting through it myself), but an interesting insight into the mind of the Morrissey fan... 

Soundtrack

Source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Or ... "wherever I leave my hat shiny music storing device, that's my home office"

So, many of you will have figured out that my office is not of fixed locale. One day it might be the desk in my humble abode, on a train as I make my way to campus and/ or the waiting room in between, sometimes it might actually be the office. Although my desk (and its size, motion or shape) might change - one thing I can't do without - is a good soundtrack to the working day. So as it is Monday after all, I bring you a roundup of my favourite artists to work to. Which makes me wonder ... what do like in your ears to accompany the daily grind?  Do you like some ambient noise (like I do) or do you favour NOISE, as it were? I'm open to requests. 

1 // Daughter

2 // Chelsea Wolfe 

3 // Braids 

4 // Grimes

5 // Adam Green & Binki Shapiro

6 // Zola Jesus 

7 // King Creosote & Jon Hopkins 

8 // The Flaming Lips

9 // Polica

(for those wondering, my chosen artists in no particular order - sorry to disappoint statistical peeps)

Top of the Pops - 2013

Every year I spend the majority of October, November and December listening back to all of the records I've bought from that year in an attempt to rate them all and eventual concoct a "Top Albums of the Year" list.  I have no idea why I insist on doing this every year, these days it is more out of habit than enjoyment.  But...I've gone and done it again.  So below are my Top 20 Albums of 2013 in reverse order.  There have been some excellent releases this year, but for me, it was a debut album which stole my heart...

20. Poliça - Shulamith
19. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City
18. Money - Shadow of Heaven
17. Sigur Rós - Kveikur
16. Savages - Silence Yourself
15. Jagwar Ma - Howlin'
14. James Blake - Overgrown
13. Low - The Invisible Way
12. Young Fathers - Tape Two
11. Veronica Falls - Waiting For Something To Happen
10. Superchunk - I Hate Music
9. The Men - New Moon
8. CHVRCHES - The Bones of What You Believe
7. Parquet Courts - Light Up Gold
6. John Grant - Pale Green Ghosts
5. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - II
4. Local Natives - Hummingbird
3. Waxahatchee - Cerulean Salt
2. Frightened Rabbit - Pedestrian Verse
1. Daughter - If You Leave

Croissant

WARNING: Due to the nature of this post, I am obliged to inform you that there is some very bad language towards the end.  You have been warned!

For the vast majority of my life, I was completely adverse to the concept of a comedy album.  Music was serious, crafted expertly by anguished young men and women who poured their heart into every note.  Now I am approaching 30, I’m actually partial to certain comedy acts, most notably the fantastically funny Flight of the Conchords.  They manage to craft frighteningly accurate pastiches of classic songs, as well as being talented tunesmiths in their own right.  I would definitely rate their eponymous debut album as the greatest comedy album of all time.  That was until I heard the new king of comedy, Yeezus himself.

Brighton's Great Escape

This is a somewhat belated post, but this time two weeks ago I was preparing to embark on Brighton's Great Escape Festival.  It is often touted as Britain's answer to the South by South West Festival, where hundreds of up-and-coming bands from all over the globe come to try and impress industry types and get signed.  Needless to say I could barely contain my excitement at the chance to see stacks of great bands up close and personal before they become the next big thing.

I could go into detail recounting the many festival stories I came away with, the bands I drunkenly gushed to, the unusual venues, getting on first name terms with the local off licence staff, but instead I thought I'd showcase my personal picks from the festival.  If my muso-sense is still working, these bands will be big this time next year.

1. Night Engine: Talking Heads/XTC influenced 80s stomp, with all the live bravado of a band who have been doing this in stadiums for most of their adult life.

2. Young Rival: Toe-tapping Australian pop rock who sound like Weezer when Weezer were still listenable.
3. Say Yes Dog: They remind me of Hot Chip a lot, and also have the tallest front man I've ever seen.

4. Young Fathers: Very intense Scottish rap trio who sound like TV On The Radio in their more melodic moments, and your worst nightmare for the rest of the time.

Soundtrack to Geekery

So, somehow, despite each year proclaiming 'this is the last exam I'll ever sit' then, promptly toasting with fellow studente's to the end of our education ... I continue. For all those elongating time spent in academia and currently holed away revising for yet another round of exams, here is the soundtrack I find best suits the osmosis of information from screen to brain matter.

Bella Union

I recently picked a rather excellent Bella Union compilation, and in all my years of searching for new music, I had never really considered the idea of finding new bands based on their record label.  Foolish, I know, but I have now changed my ways.  So, in what will hopefully become a monthly fixture, we are this month showcasing some of the excellent bands on the Bella Union label.  Only once I began to delve deeper did I realise that a large proportion of my favourite bands from the last few years call this label their home, so here is a taster of a few of the great artists on offer:

There is a lot more to explore, but I'll leave that up to you...

Jason Molina

I only found out yesterday that Jason Molina, singer and songwriter for, amongst other bands, Songs: Ohia, was found dead on Saturday March 16th aged only 39.

This news shocked me.  Although largely unknown to many, Molina's songs have been some of my favourites since discovering them around 5 years ago via the excellent Magnolia Electric Co. release.  Historically I have found myself getting into an artist after their death (e.g. Elliott Smith, Nick Drake), so for an artist whom I expected to one day see in a live environment to pass at such an untimely age really affected me.  I guess as I grow older this will happen more and more, but I just wanted to share some of his work with you as a brief tribute in case you'd never heard any of his music before.  There is a really heartfelt epitaph left by his record company Secretly Canadian here, and below are a few of my favourite Molina songs.

RIP Jason Molina.

Church

There seems to be an increasing trend amongst modern bands to play concerts in "God's House".  I say an increasing trend, I'm aware of two artists who have done it, but last year I was only aware of one, so that is technically an increasing number.

Anyway, on Thursday we went along to see I Am Kloot perform at St. Bartholomew's Church in Brighton.  The last gig we'd seen in a church was King Creosote at St. George's Church (also in Brighton), which was an intimate, cosy affair, and so we were expecting a similar deal for this performance.  Not so.  The church was enormous, and I don't use that word lightly.  It felt as if we were at an open air event, with thunderous applause being lost into the roof and returning to our ears as merely a ripple.  Thankfully the same could not be said about the music, and I Am Kloot's own particular brand of stripped down, anthemic indie rock translated perfectly in such a venue (that description really doesn't do them justice).  If I'm honest, I am really only familiar with their debut album, but if you've never heard them, take a listen to the live video below.

I loved the venue (not enough to return weekly on a Sunday...) and the atmosphere it created for such a fantastic gig.  It was only briefly tarnished by the couple in front of us who, if they hadn't left to get a drink would certainly have eaten each others' digestive tracts by the end of the performance, and by the lads behind, whose snide comments about the support act lead to us loudly complaining about them, and to them promptly moving elsewhere.  I think middle age is beckoning...