Who To Look Out For 08'.

This is in reply to my previous post (Big In 08), these following bands are ones I really am looking forward to seeing what they do during the coming year. None have an album out yet, and I doubt some of them even have one in the pipe line…

Damn Shames – Scottish trio Damn Shames are getting noticed for the right reasons by many music publications at the moment. I am yet to see them live, but read and hear their live shows are usually quite something. To say I’m excited to hear what they have to offer this year is quite an understatement. I discovered them near the end of last year and have been quite obsessed with ‘Fear of Assault’/’Last Things’ single out on Abeano.

Let’s Wrestle - Second trio of this list, this time hailing from London, NME had them in their “Things for 2008” list last week so they are certainly gaining plenty of attention, about right too. Similarly to Damn Shames I came across them at the end of last year and even got a Let’s Wrestle t-shirt for Christmas from my girlfriend which I was pleasantly surprised about. Don’t expect too much seriousness from Let’s Wrestle when listening to them, in fact don’t expect any. ‘I Won’t Lie To You’ is one of my favourite songs from 2007, Let’s Wrestle are fantastic and I look forward to their EP due out in sometime soon!

Elle Milano – I bang on about Elle Milano so much, and I tell people about Elle Milano all the time. I really do adore this band and the sound that they make, and I have done for yonks. I was slightly worried about hearing new material because I thought it would maybe not live up to old stuff, but it certainly did. Then when they become a threesome I was worried it would affect them, but it hasn’t what-so-ever. I am so excited about the album which should be out soon, fingers crossed.

Cut Off Your Hands – Another band I can’t say enough good things about, both live and on record. Terrific live does not really do them any justice; you’d have to go see them to understand how good they are live. The energy that they provide is so exciting to watch and makes you realise how much they love performing. I expect an album out this year and I really do expect good things from the album.

Friendly Fires – ‘Paris’ went down pretty fucking magnificently last year from everywhere and anywhere. They have now become many websites / magazines tip for 2007, although one publication (that will remain nameless, but I bet you can guess which one it was) compared them to Klaxons. Clueless. Friendly Fires are more than a one trick pony though, and I think ‘Paris’ is just a sign of what is to come from these excellent St. Albans boys.

Late of the Pier – There is no way I would’ve been able to miss out Late of the Pier. ‘Bathroom Gurgle’ was my Track of 2007, and if the album is anything like that then it is going to be a killer album and one I can imagine being in Top Lists of 2008. I wait in anticipation, excitement and enthusiasm of how the album will sound.

Video Nasties – I hope there will be an album out this year, currently still unsigned Video Nasties have the songs to put together a fantastic debut album. If Video Nasties can produce anything similar to the Karl Blau E.P then they will unveil a masterpiece upon music fans everywhere.

Johnny Foreigner – After critically acclaimed E.P ‘Arcs Across The City’ Johnny Foreigner have a lot to live up to. They pretty much gained full marks from everyone for the E.P so to follow up with an album as good is some ask for this Birmingham band. If any band can do it though Johnny Foreigner ARE the band to produce the best debut album of 2008. I really hope they will deliver a truly magical album that makes the loudest racket you could ever want to annoy your flatmates with.

Toyko Police Club – I am classing ‘A Lesson In Crime’ as a HUGE E.P therefore they qualify for this list, the album which I think was finished either today or yesterday should be out in the summer (seems ages away). It is a difficult album to release because some fans will want ALL new songs and some fans will want some songs from ‘A Lesson In Crime’ and some new songs. So either way somebody won’t be happy, but Tokyo Police Club are a clever bunch and they will do what they think is right – and until then I wait eagerly to see what the track listing will be.

Black Kids – Finally I end with the most blogged about / hyped band of 2007, which is amazing considering they exploded in about October time across the internet. There WILL be a lot of expectation around an album from Black Kids, and the question is can they cope with the high expectation put on them? Obviously only time will tell, but I personally think they will produce a fantastic album that will live up to the hype given to them. Hopefully they prove me right because I would love to see this band succeed after all the “hype”.

That's it, he says after realising how long this post is. Feel free to agree and disagree with me, opinions are always welcomed and acknowledged by myself.

Two Thousand And Seven [Part Four].

Finally 10 days into the New Year the top 5 tracks from 2007, probably no surprises but certainly some staggering songs from the past 12 months.

5. Los Campesinos – You! Me! Dancing!

Welsh outfit Los Campesinos have created well over 6 minutes of pure pop gold with this song. Hearing the demo version a long time ago got me into Los Campesinos, one of newest hard working bands around I have no qualms what-so-ever in throwing them in the top 5.

4. Video Nasties – Devil

2007 ended impeccably well for Video Nasties with the release of the ‘Karl Blau’ EP which went down extremely well. I was particularly impressed with it and thought it showed good progression from the early demos which seem so long ago now. ‘Devil’ came to me after a crazy night in which I had to hold somebody’s hair whilst they were sick. If you know the lyrics well to this song, you’ll see why there is a correlation to that story and the song. If not, then you should perhaps listen to the song, its ace I’ll have you know.

3. Vampire Weekend – Mansard Roof

Seeing Vampire Weekend at The Social last year was one of my highlights of 2007, they were fantastic and lived up to my high expectations of them. Despite ‘Mansard Roof’ not being my all-time favourite by VW it certainly deserves to be in the top 3 songs of last year. Wait until you hear this song live, it does not disappoint and nor do Vampire Weekend.

2. LCD Soundsystem – All My Friends

This was so close, so, so close to being number one. I wanted to put it there, I really did. I tried! This song was the best live song I heard over the Reading 2007 Festival weekend, it was the live performance from James Murphy and co which really sold me this band. As soon as I got home from Reading I went out and purchased both albums and listened to them repeatedly. This song stands out from both albums as one of the best songs LCD Soundsystem have come up; a totally epic masterpiece.

1. Late of the Pier – Bathroom Gurgle

Who would’ve thought that Late of the Pier would beat LCD Soundsystem in a Top 2007 list, well in my world they did win the battle, JUST. It was so close, but this song was just my anthem for 2007, it pretty much epitomises everything that is good with music. It also makes me extremely nostalgic about drunken times at University last semester, especially the Hoxton Bar & Grill night which did involve puke, Late of the Pier, Erol Alkan and big bouncers – in that very order. 2008 will be the year of Late of the Pier.

Come Back To My House.

VIDEO NASTIES.

Bloody hell, day 6 of this thing already! Christmas certainly is creeping up on us very quickly. This means old St. Nicholas will be dusting down his trusty sleigh and all that jazz – yeah like I believe in him. Anyways this post will revolve around a band I am still yet to see despite my love for them growing stronger and stronger as the year has passed.

Video Nasties are probably the best unsigned band around, (along with The Futureheads – however the circumstances are obviously different). I realised the other day I had them tagged on my itunes as ‘The Video Nasties’ when I think it is in fact just ‘Video Nasties’ as seen on the Karl Blau EP (which by the way you should all buy; because it is sheer brilliance). The new EP is my favourite thing they’ve released thus far, and considering how highly I rated the ‘I Wanna’/‘The 3 New Ideas’ single says a lot!

Demos including Riot Gear, Accessory (my favourite Nasties song), Plus One and The Heartaches show us just how potential these boys have! Supporting Kaiser Chiefs the Tuesday just gone at Birmingham NIA definitely says a lot about the confidence of the band! I expect them to get big (I just hope not as big as that though!)

I can imagine live (especially in London) crowds go wild for them (in a similar way Good Shoes blew up in London more than other city). I didn’t want to mention Good Shoes really, because I have read a lot of people compare Video Nasties to Good Shoes; although I think this is a poor comparison as in my opinion they have different sounds. You can make your own mind up on that however. Talking of live, as mentioned previous I am yet to see them live (grrr) despite trying not once, but twice! The first time I was sick in Tottenham Court Road tube station onto a McDonalds bag (I tried so hard to get it into the bag). Despite this I recovered and made it to Astoria 2 as it is now called – however bouncers prevailed yet again (claiming my girlfriend was on drugs so they wouldn’t let her enter) so we didn’t see them. The second time was no fault of anyone really, I’d planned to see them at the Barfly with Jakobinarina but of course they cancelled that tour (which I was gutted about as it had Johnny Foreigner too).

Once upon a time I didn’t like Video Nasties (my god, what an idiot). I am not sure what I was thinking in that period. However, thankfully I saw the errors of my ways and realised that I loved them, lots. The only thing I regret so far from being in London is not seeing them live, but I expect to see them lots in 2008 – and I expect more people to hear more of them in 2008 too!

Video Nasties – Accessory

Video Nasties - Riot Gear