Sometimes I Am Too Shy To Talk To You

STRICKEN CITY.

Well, my first ever night shift has resulted in my hands being ripped to absolute shreds. Who would’ve thought that lifting cans of beans and jars of curry would cause so much pain? Never did I imagine how much they would make me suffer for 10 hours, but my god they did make me suffer! Oh well, only two more to go then finally a night off!

I found Stricken City the other day somehow, not sure how – I think I noticed them on the Mystery Jets poster for their London gig with Friendly Fires and Holy Hail. I then decided to listen to them – thank God (thank you) that I did listen because I certainly don’t regret listening to them one single bit. I know I also say “my favourite this” and “my favourite that” but Stricken City ARE my favourite band with a lady as a lead singer at the moment (how can I say this? Blood Red Shoes?)

Stricken City came to me as a nice surprise; I have to admit when I was typing them into Google I wasn’t expecting much (because I didn’t really like the name). Thankfully they made me forget my disliking of the name, I mean who cares about a name of a band eh? As long as the music is brilliant then who cares? And well, Stricken City certainly do make pretty fucking spectacular pop music if I say so myself. Fronted by the irresistible Rebekah Raa (what a cool name) along with Ian (guitar), Espen (bass) and Kit (drums) Stricken City could well be your new favourite band of 2008 (they might not be – obviously).

Stricken City are about beautiful melodies and simple bass lines that make you tap your toes and they make me feel nice and warm inside (which helps this time of year doesn’t it?) Song ‘Better As A Girl’ got voted in the top 10 of songs by Loud and Quiet magazine of 2007; not sure I really agree with this (so many amazing songs in 2007 plus ‘Five Metres Apart’ is better). With many people taking notice of Stricken City I expect them to come of age in 2008 (not literally, in music terms of course).

I Drink Till I'm Sick

THE ANSWERING MACHINE.

I am now back home in my lovely house with my family (which is brilliant, so far) unfortunately being home means that I have to go back to work. I am doing Thursday, Friday, Saturday night shifts (10pm till 8am – OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!) I won’t be able to upload any songs from now on as I have to use the home computer which has none of my songs on it and we don’t have wireless at home (something I am working on).

The Answering Machine are my favourite band from Manchester at the moment, I remember the first time I heard them about this time last year I immediately thought of The Strokes. However, since then I have changed my opinion of that comparison and now don’t think The Strokes comparison is quite justified when listening to them. I hate answering machines, they are a pain in the arse – our answer phone at home is so annoying, we always have stupid messages on it from banks and it is usually a computer leaving a really long message and pronouncing our names wrong.

Anyway The Answering Machine are a four-piece from Manchester, they are Martin on vocals and guitar, Patrick who plays guitar, Gemma on bass and finally Ben who thumps the drums. Newest single ‘Silent Hotels’ is a dead ringer to the Los Campesinos song ‘You! Me! Dancing!’ well the intro of ‘Silent Hotels’ and about one minute thirty seconds into ‘You! Me! Dancing!’. Despite this huge likeness it is a brilliant pop song which does borrow from Los Campesinos but ultimately is different due to the contrasting vocals of the two bands.

‘Oklahoma’ was the very first song I heard oh so long ago, and it was the song which made me want to listen more to The Answering Machine. ‘Your Home Address’ is yet another song which made me feel rather passionate about this band, I can imagine many people have heard The Answering Machine I just hope they get some success in 2008; because they really do deserve it!

Am I Good, Am I Bad, Am I Beautiful?

FLASHGUNS.

I am now officially done with University work; I finished my last assessment today at 12.30pm after doing an exam on Early Cinema and Soviet Cinema. Of course I was the first to leave the exam, I’d quite frankly written as much as I wanted to say about the topic (how much can you say about Early Cinema for fuck sake?) So, anyway I am going home in about 5 hours, which I really can’t wait for, although I start back at good old Sainsbury’s again tomorrow (ohh the memories, ohh the fun, ohh the laughter).

Anyways, I discovered Flashguns through a combination of them adding me to MySpace and reading Jamila’s wonderful blog (FUCKING DANCE). They are a quartet from London (via Brighton) and they consist of Sam, Giles, Olly and Ollie. Obvious influences include The Maccabees, The Smiths and Interpol, and when listening to Flashguns these influences are definitely apparent in their music. ‘Locarno’ is quite wonderfully poppy and it is a song which you just can’t get out of your head after a few listens.

My favourite song is ‘Good Witch/Bad Witch’ which resembles a Bombay Bicycle Club sound, although with a different twist (a twist a very much like and prefer to BBC – although BBC are excellent too). Flashguns write chaotic dark songs, and despite still being at boarding school they sound as tight as The Horror’s jeans.

Flashguns could well have a very good year in 2008, they may not but I am pretty sure at some point in the future this band will emerge and you will love them.

Flashguns – Locarno

Flashguns – Good Witch/Bad Witch

Keepsakes.

SKY LARKIN.

Really I should be revising for my Film Studies exam on Wednesday; however I am rubbish at revising and find revising at the last minute (aka 20 minutes before my exam) is always best. I don’t actually think that, it’s just what usually happens from my past experiences of exams (and I’ve done a fucking lot of them unfortunately). Anyway back to the blog and day 10 is a band who are really, really good (honest, I love them).

Sky Larkin consist of lead singer Katie who also plays guitars and keyboard, Nestor who thumps the drums and last but not least Douglas who pounds notes from the bass. They are currently un-signed (not for long I don’t think) and they are from Leeds (via Glasgow and London). They make delightful pop music which you can dance your little socks off too.

Think Long Blondes, minus two members (preferably the two girls who appear not to do much in the band) and then you ALMOST have Sky Larkin. I say almost because to me Sky Larkin are slightly different and from what I’ve heard/seen so far slightly better too, certainly live. Obviously there is a slightly difference in sound too because of the lovely keyboard noises Sky Larkin make but also the difference in accents from Katie Larkin and Kate Long Blonde, I’m more of a fan of the first Kat(i)e.

Anyways, they are one of my favourite bands from 2007 and want them to succeed in 2008! I think they will, they have the songs to do so along with really good live shows in their locker. I’d recommend listening to ‘1 of 2’, ‘Somersault’ and previous single ‘Molten’ if you’ve never listened to Sky Larkin but other tracks such as ‘Young Lungs’, ‘Keepsakes’ and ‘Delivery’ are equally as good if not better! Backing up my previous statement about them having the songs, they have great songs in abundance.

Sky Larkin – Delivery

Sky Larkin - Somersault

Let's Kiss Like We Use To

WHITE LIES.

Unfortunately, this blog is only going to be a short one. This is due to my pounding headache, hung over feeling and also because I am going to Transparent in a few hours.

White Lies are a five-piece from London who are yet to make their live debut, however you might recognise the voice from somewhere if you listen to their myspace. I’m guessing that you’ve realised it is the lead singer from Fear of Flying, if not then I have just informed you. I always thought on record Fear of Flying were really good and the two singles ‘Routemaster’ and ‘Three’s A Crowd’ were strong releases.

However, when I saw them live supporting The Maccabees and also when supporting Jamie T there was something missing from their live shows. They didn’t really cut the mustard live as the saying goes. I am more excited about White Lies, just from their one song and I expect a lot more better things to come from them.

‘Unfinished Business’ at times throughout the song reminds me of Interpol, but not as sinister or dark as Interpol. The song is packed with quivering guitars, sharp lyrics and the organ opening is something quite spectacular.

Hopefully we will get a lot more from White Lies in the New Year, fingers crossed!

White Lies - Unfinished Business

Planets Over Planets, Slowly Dancing With The Sun

EMMY THE GREAT.

A cold, cold horrible rainy Saturday afternoon would usual equate to a gloomy and depressed feeling inside. However, I feel quite happy this I think this is due to the ridiculous amounts of The Shins I have been listening to this morning. Now, Emmy the Great has perked me up quite a great deal, so much so I decided to do my next blog on her.

Emmy the Great (full name Emma-Lee Moss) is a singer-songwriter from London via Hong-Kong. She writes beautiful folk-pop songs with clever lyrics and is probably my favourite female solo artist of the year. This year has seen the emergence of Kate Nash as the biggest British solo female artist (thanks to that fucking mind numbing song, you know the one). I was never a fan of Kate Nash (admittedly I liked Caroline’s a Victim) and didn’t think much of her album, I just don’t get her and her voice. However Emmy the Great is well… great. Completely opposite to the style and sound of Kate Nash (and in my opinion twice the singer-songwriter Kate Nash will ever be).

2008 looks like it could be another year of emerging female artists from these shores (Laura Marling and Adele come to mind). I just hope that Emmy the Great gets the recognition she rightfully deserves, however I think she will be over shadowed by the two previous female artists. However, hopefully Emmy the Great will prevail and get the fame she definitely deserves.

As previous mentioned her songs are simply perfectly beautiful, ‘Atoms’, ‘Paper Trails’ and ‘Secret Circus’ are just several examples. Although, my favourite song is ‘Canopies and Grapes’ which does seem to be everybody else’s too. Emmy the Great is exactly what the name suggests, and I’m expecting more from her in 2008.

Emmy the Great – Atoms

Emmy the Great – Canopies and Grapes

I Won't Lie To You, I Can't See If Things Are Getting Any Better

LET’S WRESTLE!

LET’S FUCKING WRESTLE!

Day mother-fucking-seven! Oh yes, a whole week so far and I think I’m doing pretty well (considering I never thought I’d post every day with my lazy work ethic at University). I actually have done all my University work a week before the deadlines (wow, oh my god, unbelievable etc). So now I look forward to a weekend which starts tomorrow night with Black Kids at Push and ends with Black Kids (and more importantly Roast Dinner) at Transparent.

The seventh blog is about Let’s Wrestle who I discovered a few backs, downloaded a few demos (like you do) but actually did not get round to listening to them (shame on me). However, the last few days they’ve been doing the rounds on my itunes so decided they deserved a place on my blog type advent calendar type thingy.

Let’s Wrestle are a three-piece, and they are WPG (wtf?) on lead vocals and guitar accompanied by Mike on bass and finally Louis banging the drums and they are from London. They don’t appear to take them selves too seriously; however they’ve managed to make pretty good songs even if about some of the strangest subjects (i.e. ‘I Wish I Was In Husker Du’ and ‘Song For Abba Tribute Record’). “This is the death of an indie-pop; I wish I was in Husker Du” a line which stands out in ‘I Wish I Was In Husker Du’.

However, the new single ‘I Won’t Lie To You’ is a great love song and a song which really reminds me of The Cribs (especially the vocals). However my favourite song has to be ‘Lets Wrestle’ which is obviously about Wrestling (ohh the memories), though a piss take on Wrestling; I am not ashamed to admit I loved it at one point in my life, then I realised how immature and homosexual (I am not homophobic) it actually was.

At times they sometimes remind me of Art Brut (particularly with the tone of the songs). So think of a mix of The Cribs and Art Brut and you have yourself Let’s Wrestle.

Let’s Wrestle – ‘I Won’t Lie To You’

Let’s Wrestle – ‘Lets Wrestle’