Who's Idea Was This, Again?

I thought finding female drummers was hard enough! But lead guitarists?

Punk Rock. Not Riot-Grrrl. I've posted enough of that. Anyway, enough with the pigeon-holing. Angelica, Why Did You Let My Kitten Die

More rock! Autoclave, Go Far

Spot-hitting Emotional Hardcore. Fire Party, Cake

Mollx

She Bangs The Drums (Not)

(bit early, ain't it?)

I could write for weeks about sexism in music.

But that would bore us all.

So I won't.

The one position in a band that women are most often associated with, apart from of course lead vocal, is bass. And with that, I give you a post full to the brim with female bass players.

I have some tracks of theirs. Why I ignored them I don't know, 'coz I like this, surprise surprise. The Thermals, Now We Can See

This I like too. Although I hadn't heard of them before. (You there, NME? Guitar music = not dead.) The Indelicates, America.

Bit of a one-hit-wonder in the eyes of the general public but that's putting them down a bit. Nice and floaty and a bit sinister. The Dandy Warhols, Whipping Tree.

Mollx

Label Day: Burnt Toast Vinyl

I'm in a very obscure mood. Maybe it's because I just finished that Peel Sessions book I was telling you about. Anyway, I've only heard of two of the artists on the roster and they aren't even on it any more. (Efterklang and Sufjan Stevens)

Track One: This is nice. A bit soppy but then you need that every now and again. Denison Whitmer, You and Me

Track Two: Listen to this. This is absolute heaven. 25 views only (26 now!). The Trouble With Sweeney, Flying On The Ground

Track Three: Good fun, this song. The Huntingtons, I Wanna Be A Ramone

Mollx

Music Monday: The YouTube Trail

We've all done it. Start off on one video and go from there, on and on and on. Sometimes you find an indie gem, sometimes something you WISH YOU'D NEVER HEARD. So despite the multitude of dangers I am embarking on such a trail myself, and live-blogging the results.

Starting off on one of my "Recommended Videos" on YT, Saturday Looks Good To Me, with Car Crash.

Hmm. It's a bit slow but it's got a hint of Bright Eyes and thus I like it.  

*click*

Thursday, Understanding In A Car Crash.

This is annoying me. It's emo-pop-punk and as rule I'm not much of a fan. Mind you, it has bits of early-Goo Goo Dolls in it and it references Neil Young, so they must listen to good music. But it's not bad. No, not bad, just unremarkable.

*click*

Florence + the Machine, Kiss With A Fist

I like her. She's pretty quirky. Nice song, too. You can tell why everybody's got so hyped up over her.

*click*

Cary Brothers, Ghost Town

Again, I'm not sure. It's a good song. It'd fit well on Grey's Anatomy, if they haven't already played it. But the thing is, IT'S TOO POLISHED! Give it some grit, please! 

*click*

Oh Land, Sun Of A Gun

Stop the presses! Decent dance pop! Yes, I know that's an oxymoron, but I actually like this! 

Rating 3.75/5. Half a point for Ghost Town, quarter of a point for that Thursday song, a full point for all the others.

Well, must say I rather enjoyed that!

Mollx

The Peel Sessions, H-N

It's back! The long awaited second instalment of 'The Peel Sessions' is here!

Unheard of punk band alert! Turn it up! Loud!!!!!! Jacob's Mouse, Good

Even fewer views! Another unheard of punk band...Lupine Howl, The Jam That Ate Itself

Something a bit softer now. How come Better The Ezra get a decent audience, where this band (although probably the most well-known of the bands on this list) is consigned to the back shelves of record shops? Madder Rose, Car Song

This is different. I like it. Meanwhile, Back In Communist Russia, Blindspot/Invisible Bend

Mollx

Song Of The Week

My recommendations this week!

A twinkly-yet-grubby-and-absolutely-bloody-gorgeous song. Crystal Castles ft. Robert Smith (him of the bush hairstyle), Not In Love

AOTS: Well, technically, I'm listening to my iPod right now. But, a vague selection:

The Best Of The Smiths.
Chutes Too Narrow, The Shins
Diary, Sunny Day Real Estate
Expo 86, Wolf Parade

Mollx

Girls, Girls, Girls.

Well, today we have girls behind the kit! And just to make it extra hard, no riot grrrl, no Meg White and no Karen Carpenter.

*scream of frustration*

I want this band's album. Stella Mozgawa on drums, by the way. Warpaint, Billie Holiday

Ok, this is getting RIDIKEROUS now!

Ah! Found one! Dum Dum Girls, There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

Oh, come on! Let me have this one! Yes yes yes I KNOW they founded riot grrl but they sound more art rock to  me! Please? Pretty please? No? Oh, you meanies.

Fine, if I can't have that, I'll have this. Avi Buffalo, What's In It For. He can't half play guitar though, that Avi boy. He's barely older than me!

Mollx

You'd Better Hope They Get Along (Family Bands, That Is.)

That post title has some right nice rhythm to it. I may use it as a lyric.

Well, theirs was a stable relationship. Jesus & Mary Chain, Just Like Honey. (Awesome bass line. Awesome)

You know, for a while I didn't quite get that there were other members of the band. Another pairing of super-polite bros, yes? Sorry to be so bloody obvious but I love this song. Oasis, Lyla 

A double whammy for yuz here - the Dessner twins and the Devendorfs. And Bryan Devendorf is only the best drummer EVER. (Matt Berninger, the singer, his brother Tom has done some video shooting-type-stuff for them n'all) The National, Pay For Me

Mollx

P.S. I will now be listening to that 'National song for at least another ten minutes. Then I will go on to Karen. Then Mistaken For Strangers. Then Guest Room. Then Murder Me Rachel.....

Well, tomorrow won't be pretty if I'm spending all tonight on the computer, will it? 

Well Whaddya Know, It's WEDNESDAY!

I have often talked of nostalgia. You are probably sick of it. However, I don't have many musically aware years to my name (read: I knew zilch about music until three years ago.) Hence anything I knew before 2008/9 makes me smile and feel like an undercooked pancake. In a good way, of course.

So, today's spotlight is on something called Music That Got Me Into Music. Or rather, Folk. No, stay where you are. Please? Oh come on! Have I ever recommended bad music? (Don't answer that.)

Back in the day I was into rather traditional folk. The whole beards, banjo, pedal steel, acoustic guitar based shabang. If it's from the Midwest it's called Americana. If it's from the Midlands it's folk. Anyhow, I'll go easy on you - this is Karine Polwart, Daisy. Not that she had a beard the last time I checked.

One of the guys from this gang was in the rock band Idlewild. There's something you don't often see. Drever McCusker and Woomble, Silver And Gold

Fiddle-player (a damn fine one), singer and mainstream folkie, IT'S SETH LAKEMAN! One of my favourite songs from ages ago. Seth Lakeman, Crimson Dawn.

I hope you enjoyed that. I did.

Mollx

Label Day: Team Love

Okayyyyyyyyy. Well folks, down to it.

1) The name of this label is Team Love.
2) Based in NYC; founded seven years ago.
3) Co-founded by this guy.
4) Has a helluva lotta free stuff.

I like this band muchly. It just so happens that you can currently get the whole Brought To You By Nebraskafish album for free from the TL Library. Capgun Coup (what a name!), When I'm Gone

I think (I may possibly be wrong) that this is sung by some kind of elfin creature. Joker's Daughter, Worm's Head

Wow. WHY HAVE I NOT HEARD THIS BEFORE? WHYYYYY?  Popup, Love Triangle

Mollx

I Don't Like Mondays...No, Don't Tell Me Why.

Actually, Monday isn't that bad - it's Wednesday that gets me.

I can't say I'm a New Order fan - Bernard Sumner is no Ian Curtis. Objectively however, this is a very good "Monday" song; it's better than The Boomtown Rats, any road up.  New Order, Blue Monday

Written, or so I heard, whilst trying to write Accidentally In Love. Very sad song, although probably one of the best since the Recovering the Satellites album. Counting Crows, On A Tuesday In Amsterdam Long Ago

Geek glasses alert! I think this falls into post-punk...but what does it matter? Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Wednesday Week

A break from the general mood right now. A little respite, if you will. Les Savy Fav, Blackouts on Thursday

I goddamn LOVE this song! *sings along manically after eating too much rocky road* It's Friday, I'm in love! Also, I WANT this t-shirt. Friday I'm In Love, The Cure

This is awesome. In fact it's more than that. She's uncertain if she likes him, but she knows she really loves him...David Bowie, Drive-In Saturday

Again, awesome. Morrisey rules. Morrisey, Everyday Is Like Sunday

Moll

Song Of The Week

Hello! Once again, a trip to Llandudno has delayed my blogging schedule. Anyway, to business.

SOTW - The Velvets, All Tomorrow's Parties.

And the AOTS - Seether, Disclaimer II. An awesome post-grunge/alt-metal album.

Mollx

Somewhat Like The Title Of This Post, The Titles Of These Songs Are Scarily Long

I think that covered it, don't you?

Kirsty MacColl, There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis

The Hives, Some People Know All Too Well How Bad Liquorice, Or Any Candy For That Matter, Can Taste When Having Laid Out In The Sun Too Long - And I Think I Just Ate Too Much

Next to this, the titles of both of the previous songs seem overly minimalistic - it's apparently the 13th longest title ever. I have included it for 2 reasons: a) it's a nice change from the usual stuff I suggest - it's not often I listen to metalcore. b) the title is fantastic. The Chariot, Someday, in the Event That Mankind Actually Figures out What It Is That This World Revolves Around, Thousands of People Are Going to Be Shocked and Perplexed to Find Out That It Was Not Them. Sometimes This Includes Me

Mollx

In Mourning...

...for another blog. The HILARIOUS (and brilliantly illustrated) Blogging Twilight comes to an end today - and so, some vampiric / lycanthropic songs.

A classic werewolf song - brilliant and pretty damn funny. Warren Zevon, Werewolves Of London

Oh, I like this too! Can't help but smile. Voltaire, The Vampire Club

Another classic song - not specifically about werewolves but apparently it's used in a lot of werewolf films (and I can't resist singing along. Everyone has to, it's de law) Credence Clearwater Revival, Bad Moon Rising

Cool. Good song. Concrete Blonde, Bloodletting

Mollx

Quality, Not Commercialness.

Very much a cult band and extremely influential: Big Star. I love how Alex Chilton sounds younger in this band than he did in the Box Tops. Thirteen, September Gurls, In The Street

They only made one album; they split soon after. They reformed; made another. Let's see how long they last this time. The Vaselines, Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam , Son Of A Gun, Molly's Lips (about Molly Weir, I believe)

The other two, I knew reasonably well afore researching this post. Nick Drake, on the other hand, I only knew of. Nick Drake, Pink Moon, Day Is Done, and another which I have heard MANY versions of (Jackson C Frank did the original): Blues Run The Game

Mollx

Label Day: Fortuna Pop!

The exclamation mark is theirs, by the way.

Oh, how I love having to spend ten minutes tracking down a band...not. No, I don't mind really. It makes it feel like I'm finding something really special. They've got that "We're not all that big and we're happy with that" vibe. Butterflies Of Love, A Blizzard In A Lighthouse

Aw, cute! Slightly twee, but then all pop should take the mick out of itself a little. Bearsuit, More Soul Than Wigan Casino

Charming British indie pop. Sounds like a early autumn day when it's been raining but the sun's just come out. Absolutely beautiful. Get lost in it -it deserves it. Comet Gain, You Can Hide Your Love Forever

Mollxx

In Honour Of The Great Tradition Of Brownie-Baking...

While I wait for the chocolate to cool, I have found some food songs for yuz...

Yet another nostalgia trip (I however used caster) - Brown Sugar, The Rolling Stones

AH! Drawling? Distortion? Yes please. Smashing Pumpkins, Mayonaise

Oh, I like this! They also did the Big Bang Theory theme. Enjoy! Barenaked Ladies, McDonald's Girl

Mollx

Bit 'O' This, Bit 'O' That.

An area of music usually dominated by hip-hop and other such genres - songs, WITH SAMPLES!

Love this song. M. Ward? Jim James? Mike Mogis? Conor Oberst? Alternative supergroup heaven. Samples Is There Any Love by Trevor Dandy. Monsters Of Folk, Dear God

Again something rather spacey, sampling Blood And Fire by Niney The Observer. PJ Harvey, Written On The Forehead

Something slightly different now - more of a remix, this, but hey. I love the song it remixes. Always have (although, I may like it now because I used to like it and I feel nostalgic again). Audio Bullys, Shot You Down

Mollx

The Peel Sessions, A-G (Friday's Belated Post)

Sir Peel is the god of all music journalism (for the sake of argument I am putting myself under that particular umbrella). Having rented "The Peel Sessions" from my local library, I have decided to do another dinky mini-series.

I like this. New-wave, watery sounding (in a good way), goth rock. And Also The Trees, Midnight Garden

Oh, now, not only is this obscure, it SOUNDS obscure. Good stuff! The Battered Ornaments, Sunshades

Looking the sessionography I have in front of me here, (on paper. Not a wikipedia one) I see they did four sessions from 93-97. This, I am surprised at. From the intro you expect a mid '30s blues song. God Is My Co-Pilot, Zonnebloem

Mollx

Song Of The Week

SOTW this week: Grounds For Divorce, Wolf Parade

AOTS right now: Sordid Humor, Light Music For Dying People. Great album - one of my most listened to. If you like alt rock (or, if you are a bass player) you NEED this album. See here

Mollxx

THE LIST, Part The Second.

My grunge phase has reasserted itself. No Nirvana this time though, no Bikini Kill, no Shonen Knife (sadly)

Instead, we have TAD, ex-tour mates/label mates of Nirvana. Rather an obscure grunge band (as opposed to Pearl Jam or Sonic Youth) but very good. Pure grunge, thank you very much. TAD, Plague Years

A band now who are more of a hardcore/alternative rock band, but then the line between that and grunge is a blurry one. Husker Du, Don't Wanna Know If You Are Lonely

More hardcore! (cue School of Rock quote. Oh, I am so not predictable) Black Flag, My War. Epic guitar line, is it not?

JESUS! Punk covers of soul songs are the absolute awesomest! The Slits, Heard It Through The Grapevine. Sadly Ari Up died last year.

Mollx

Six Degrees of Separation - Producers Edition

Well, six degrees for you today - all linked by the guy behind the desk.

Scott Litt worked on REM's New Adventures In Hi-Fi (ie. only my favourite REM album!!!) Go here, here, and here to see why. He also worked on this album - again one of my desert island disks...

T-Bone Burnett produced the previous album, as well as this. She can't half sing...

Joe Boyd produced an album by 10,000 Maniacs (that being Natalie Merchant's old band) and also this...

John Porter produced Talking With The Taxman About Poetry by Billy Bragg, and Love Is Hell Pts 1&2 by Ryan Adams. See Here. That song reminds me of Beetlejuice...and apparently he once dated Winona Ryder...

Ethan Johns produced Ryan Adams' Gold, and this. Why did they EVER decide to go arena rock?

Jacquire King produced Aha Shake Heartbreak, and this. Nice song.

Mollx

Label Day: Sire

Currently a /{insert name of major label here}, but never mind. It counts as indie in my book.

First we have this slightly menacing DIY punk song. Apparently this band still do their own T-Shirts and drive their own tourbus. Aw, poor things. Poster Children, 6x6

With a name like that, who can help but look them up? Think Sunny Day Real Estate with a tiny little bit of Fountains of Wayne at the beginning. Tripmaster Monkey, Albert's Twisted Memory Bank

I had to post this. I love this song - for some reason it makes me think of the mid-2000's and then I go all nostalgic. Total epicsauce. The Cult, She Sells Sanctuary

I like this. Part of the Elephant 6 Collective, The Apples In Stereo - Energy. Directed by Frodo Baggins, AKA Elijah Wood.

Mollx

Music (Video) Monday

You always know a video is memorable when nobody can remember the song, but EVERYONE knows what piece of exercise equipment is in the video. OK Go, Here It Goes Again (aka The Treadmill Video)

I like this song. It makes me smile. And yes, Rivers is his real name. His brother is called Leaves. Look it up if you don't believe me. Weezer, Buddy Holly

There's only one thing I can think to say after watching this, and I can't say it on (hopefully) a 12A blog for fear of being sued by people's parents. Johnny Cash, Hurt. Sorry for damping the mood.

Moll

Before They Were Famous (Or After, As The Case May Be)

You watch your mouth, Davey. You might have just been awarded Godlike Genius by NME, but that's no excuse. Featuring Dave Grohl afore Nirvana. (and I officially prefer this to FF, even if it does make me think of Collective Soul) Scream, God Look Down

Very Clashish, not that that's surprising. The 101'ers, Silent Telephone

I wanted to do a Before/After, but there were no videos of songs by The Rain :( So, Oasis without moody boy Noel, but with moody boy Liam (am I the only person who can never remember which is which?). Beady Eye, The Roller.

Mollx

Song Of The Week

Today's selection will surprise NOBODY!

Song of the Week this merry Saturday is Handsome Furs, Dead + Rural. (the album Plague Park came on Tuesday! Yay!)

Album of the Second is Wolf Parade, Apologies To The Queen Mary (came this morning!)

If you like one you should like the other - Dan Boeckner is vocalist/guitarist with both (although he shares vocal duty with Spencer Krug in WP)

Mollx

In The Spotlight

I'll come right out and admit it. There are gaps in my knowledge.

For a self-professed music geek, this is rather an embarrassing circumstance, so I am hereby setting up a mini-series in which I will attempt to extend my knowledge in a somewhat vague way, one genre at a time. Instead of starting with the obvious, (hip-hop, doom-jazz metal) I have decided to start with a genre that is more of a sub-culture within a sub-culture: Steampunk.

I don't know if I like this. It reminds me of that Old Time Relijun song I posted, only sparse and strange. I think I like it. I'm not sure. Thomas Truax, Prove It To My Daughter

This sounds like a movie soundtrack. I like it more than the last track, a lot more. I think I might actually grow to love this.Vernian Process, Behold The Machine

Different yet again. More like word music than anything. World music with a dance-y drum beat and bleeps. Strangely good. Abney Park, Sleep Isabella

For those of you who like Warren Zevon only grubbier and with top hats. The Unextraordinary Gentleman, Mr Soot's Little Black Book

Arrgh! Hold up WHAT THE HELL? STEAMPUNK RAP?? Oh good heavens. Saying that, this is probably the most entertaining rap song I've heard. Doctor Steel, Back and Forth

Mollx

I Guess It's In The Blood

This song features Albert Hammond Jr, son of (you guessed it!) Albert Hammond, that guy who wrote The Free Electric Band and It Never Rains In Southern California, among others. The Strokes, Last Nite.

I make no secret of the fact that I'm not a fan of Sting. His music is ok, I just don't like him. His daughter seems alright though. For an chart-y electropop song, this is actually pretty good. I Blame Coco, Selfmachine

OH this is a hell of a lot better than I thought it would be! Indie rock with a Beatles-y influence. Fitting really. thenewno2, Choose What You're Watching (with Dhani Harrison on vocals and guitar)

Mollx

You did what? With WHO?!

Ah, some people have odd ideas. Who would have thought the following actually worked?

This isn't the kind of thing I usually listen to but I know a good song when I hear it. Nick Cave/ Kylie Minogue, Where the Wild Roses Grow

Now THIS is more like it, but I wouldn't know Lou Reed if I tripped over him. And I love how they all hug at the end. Metallica/Lou Reed, Sweet Jane

Oh Jeeeeeeeeeeeeez creepy piano! Creepy vocal! Not helped by creepy photos! Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse/David Lynch, Dark Night Of The Soul

Mollx