It's been a couple of years since I last went to Hard Rock Calling, and there's been a few changes since. The biggest change, a switch on venue. Whereas before it was hosted in Hyde Park, it has been moved to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London. Might have had something to do with the Bruce Springsteen fiasco after he was cut off last year, but personally I think that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The Olympic Park is a fantastic venue for a festival; you cannot fault it. Because it was built purposely for the Olympics, its geared up for big numbers of people. Add to that the character and the atmosphere the place holds it really is a special place. Think having the Olympic Stadium and other venues such as the Velodrome as a background help with that. And the artificial grass which eradicates the problem of mud. As is the way with festivals there's always people about providing a source of entertainment. This event was no different, including an old guy in fake tan and nothing but gold Y-fronts and a guy in drag with huge fake boobs and blonde wig.
Main Stage
Anyway enough of the venue and people I saw, it was the music I was there to see. Luckily I managd to cram in quite a few artists, old and new, and each one of them provided really good entertainment ending with a great headline set by Kasabian. Before them though were a good number of bands who are well worth checking out if you haven't heard of them before.
The Weeks
Dark Horses
The Weeks kicked things off on the Main Stage about half one in the afternoon, and considering they are relatively unknown here in the UK (they are touring with Kings of Leon currently), it didn't take long for them to win the crowd over. I was already aware of them, albeit only a couple of songs, but they impressed me. They're a tight band with a good sound and very impressive performers live. They got a very positive reception from the crowd gathered at the front of the stage and were clearly enjoying themselves. Highlight for me was them playing 'Brother in the Night' which is a song I absolutely love. They finished their set with an impressive
improvisation after their last song which really got the crowd going. All in all a fantastic way to start the day.
Lower Than Atlantis were next on the Main Stage, but I only stuck around for a couple of songs because my need for a burger outweighed staying. The songs I stayed for were good but nothing special in my opinion. Fans of the band would have enjoyed it, but I could take it or leave it. So I left. Decided to see what was going on in the other tents and wondered into the Pepsi Max Stage halfway through Dark Horses' set. Considering I had no idea who they were, I really liked what I heard. I only caught about 3 or 4 songs but they had a really good energy and good sound. Definitely a band that I will check out further.
Jack Savoretti
One of the highlights of the weekend for me was seeing a guy called Jack Savoretti on the Hard Rock Rising Stage. He played a mixture of acoustic folk/country pop style music, if you can describe it like that. Kind of like Frank Turner. Whatever it you call it I couldn't stand still. I had a feeling he was going to be good as soon as one of his band mates brought a double bass out on stage with him. I wasn't disappointed. It may only have been a short set but he did enough to win me over and definitely has another fan. Got a soft spot for that style of music so not surprising really.
Twin Forks
When he was finished I went back into the Pepsi Max tent and caught the end of Twin Forks' set. Was only about 3 songs but again I was won over. Their song 'Scraping Up the Pieces' really impressed me, but then I do like that folky style music. Another band that gained another fan. I then made my way back towards the Main Stage where I caught the second half of Kodaline's set. They were just finishing 'High Hopes' when I arrived and played a few more songs before finishing with 'All I Want'. They were pretty good, even if they weren't the most exciting band I saw all weekend. Still, I enjoyed 'All I Want', think that's a brilliant song and the band comes alive when they perform it live.
Kodaline
I then made my way back towards the other stages where I was tempted into the Hard Rock Rising tent after hearing 'The Riverdance Song' by Steve Craddock. Not surprising considering he was the guitarist in Ocean Colour Scene, but it was a good surprise and nice hear it live. After that I made my way into the Pepsi Max tent and caught the end of The Twang's set. Didn't know all too much about them but they were really good. The tent was packed and they had whipped the crowd up into a frenzy before I got there. They were very energentic and a very good live act. Only downside, got covered in beer but you're bound to get hit at least once.
The Twang
I stayed in the tent for next act who was one I was looking forward to seeing. Me and quite a few other people considering it was packed out again. The View were up next and they were pretty good. Didn't know too many of the songs, but they were all big sing along songs for those who knew the words. The song we were all there to hear, 'Same Jeans' was brilliantly recieved and was sung loud and proud by everyone in the tent. It did seem to go a little flat after that, but picked up during the last couple of songs. Glad I got round to seeing them.
Miles Kane
After that it was time to make my way back to the Main Stage for a singer who has been on my 'To See' list for while. Miles Kane was next and he didn't disappoint. He was loving it. He was fantastic and he was relishing in the crowd's reaction. He even managed to find time to dedicate a song to England footballer Peter Crouch who he spotted up the VIP section. He is a great showman and knows exactly what the crowd wants. Playing stuff from both his first and second albums, he had the crowd going from the start before finishing with the brilliant 'Come Closer'. This naturally included mass audience participation with people still singing along long after he had departed the stage. He is touring the UK later in the year, and I wasn't sure whether to get tickets. Definitely made my mind up after that.
Paul Weller
The Modfather, Paul Weller was next to grace the stage and showed what a great performer he is. Playing material from his solo career as well as delving into Style Council and The Jam's back catalogues he had something for everyone. I'm not a huge Paul Weller fan myself but I was really impressed with just how good he is live. Finishing his set with 'That's Entertainment', 'The Changing Man' and 'Town Called Malice' it was the perfect way to set the crowd up for the headline act.
Kasabian
So then it was time for the headline act and the band we were all there to see, Kasabian finally arrived on stage to the tune of the old BBC sports show 'Grandstand'. They then flew into a set that included hits from all their albums. They are a band that have grown on me a lot recently. Having not realised how many of their songs I liked and with a reputation of being excellent live, I thought I'd better see them. That turned out to be a great decision. They are one of the best bands I've ever seen live. The energy and intensity they play with is unreal and they know exactly how to work the crowd. The crowd were loving it, as were Serge and Tom as they both said they were 'buzzing' and that the crowd was 'amazing'.
Flare in the crowd
There was a huge amount of crowd participation with flags and flares from the get go and people singing along with 'Days Are Forgotten' and 'Shoot the Runner' through 'Where Did All the Love Go?' to 'L.S.F.' at the end of their set. After coming back on for an encore, they finished with their epic song 'Fire' with everyone in sight bouncing up and down. The band were milking it but it was a great spectacle and a fantastic way to end the night. They walked off stage with Tom singing a snippet of The Beatles' song 'She Loves You' a capella. With that he walked off stage and that was the end of the night. Even though I was a fair way back they totally owned the stage and had the typical rock star swagger. The Rolling Stones may have been headling Glastonbury the same night, but I'm glad I got round to seeing one of the best British bands of the last decade.
Kasabian
It was a fantastic day and I cannot praise the organisers and artists I saw enough. Getting in and out the venue was easy and well managed, and in the end seamless. The weather was brilliant as well, which helped and all in all helped cap a great day of music. Just a shame I couldn't afford tickets to see The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, headline the next day. Oh well, will just have to come back next year :)
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What a night. This was the third time I’ve seen The
Killers and they didn’t disappoint. They have a reputation for being brilliant
live and this was no exception. They are a band that was born to play stadiums,
and in the biggest stand-alone concert of their career so far, they took to it
like a duck to water. Now I may be a bit biased because they’re my favourite
band, but what can’t be denied is that the sell-out crowd was treated to a really
special evening.
Even the support acts were fantastic. First up were
Manchester veterans James. Having seen them once before, when they supported
The Killers previously actually, I had a pretty good idea what to expect. With
over 20 years’ experience they know how to put on a good show.Even though they only had time for 7 songs
(would have been 8, but they overran), they certainly made a good impression on
the crowd. With Tim Booth’s famous dancing, the band has a real energy and
stage presence that comes from a career that has spanned over two decades.
Finishing their set with fan favourites ‘Sit Down’ and ‘Laid’ they really got
the crowd going for the rest of the night.
Next up were New Jersey rockers Gaslight Anthem. They played
a mixed, ten song set that consisted mostly of tracks from their latest album.
Personally I would have preferred a few more well-known older tracks instead,
but you can’t have everything. Either way they were still a very good live act
and they seemed to enjoy their slot at Wembley. Even though they appeared to
have a few sound issues, they still put on a good show. One thing I did notice
is they probably weren’t as appreciated as much as a support act compared to
their own headline shows. I know there were quite a few Gaslight fans in the
crowd, but I can only talk about the people that were around me. Still, by the
time they finished their set with ‘The Backseat’, they had won the crowd over
and were ready to hand over to them over to the headline act.
The Killers arrived on stage just before 9pm and proceeded
to treat the crowd to a brilliant two hour set. They kicked things off with
Brandon Flowers playing ‘Enterlude’ solo on the piano, accompanied by a
sell-out crowd (although there were gaps in the unreserved seating) before
exploding into ‘When You Were Young’ and ‘Spaceman’. This got everyone jumping
and singing along and pretty much set the standard for the rest of the night. ‘The
Way It Was’ and ‘Smile Like You Mean It’ were followed by a nice surprise with
the inclusion of ‘This River Is Wild’, one of my personal favourites off the
Sam’s Town album.
A pyrotechnic accompanied version of ‘Miss Atomic Bomb’ preceded
fan favourite ‘Human’ which got the crowd bouncing and dancing along once more,
as did the Hot Fuss classic ‘Somebody Told Me’. One of the real surprises of the
evening was a cover of ‘I Think we’re Alone Now’, the track made famous by 80s
one hit wonder Tiffany. It was a good cover, although people seemed to only
really know the chorus.
The phones were then out for ‘Here with Me’, before a great
rendition of ‘For Reasons Unknown’. Flowers then asked the crowd if they had
their dancing shoes on, before asking each of his band mates individually the
same. Dave Keuning answered with a nice little guitar solo, before Ronnie
Vannucci outdid him with an impressive crunching drum solo that lasted for a
good two minutes or so. “I think his answer is hell yes,” commented Flowers. Vannucci
is an absolute beat behind the drum kit and, in my opinion, is a much
underrated drummer. This led into the track ‘From Here On Out’ from the album
Battle Born. However, even though it’s one of my personal favourites from the
album, the reception wasn’t as strong as it perhaps could have been. Maybe it
could do with being released as a single to raise its profile as it’s a cracking
song.
A Dustland Fairytale’, one of the best songs off Day and
Age, always goes down well, before a new song written especially for the show
was premiered. Named ‘Wembley Song’ it was one of the highlights of the night. Before
they started though, Flowers commented on his hometown’s motto “What happens in
Vegas, stays in Vegas.” “That’s a crock of shit,” he said, “Cos The Killers are
here at Wembley tonight!” The first half of the song paid homage to previous
artists who have played Wembley Stadium accompanied by pictures on the big
screens (including the line “George Michael stay away from cars”, with a
picture of a crashed car on the big screen).
The second half of the song charted their journey from
humble beginnings to Wembley hosts since their first UK gig ten years ago.
Considering it was a brand new song, it was an instant crowd favourite.
Mentions of the England football team, the 1966 World Cup success and humour
meant the Wembley crowd fell in love with song written for them. There was
plenty of chances for the crowd to get involved as well; “…and I can still hear
Freddie sing “Day Oh!!”” sang Flowers, before having it repeated back to him.
If anything it showcased the band’s talents as songwriters.
‘Read My Mind’, arguably their best song’ followed which had
the whole stadium clapping and singing along before they kicked into a rocking
version of ‘Runaways’. They finished their set with another favourite ‘All
These Things That I’ve Done’ which included the usual ‘I got soul, but I’m not
a soldier’ crowd solo and confetti shower, before leaving the stage.
They returned for an encore playing Battle Born opener ‘Flesh
and Bone’ before playing Hot Fuss
classic ‘Jenny Was a Friend of Mine’, another song that got people dancing even
harder than they were before. They then threatened to close their set with the
title track of the ‘Battle Born’ album. It’s an underrated epic and, in my opinion, is
the best song off their last album. The studio version sounds huge, but live it
is a different animal completely. They strung it out a bit so Flowers could
introduce each member of the band before jumping down into the crowd. Coupled
with impressive pyrotechnics and fireworks it would have been a fantastic end
to the night. The band still had one song left however, and finished with a
frankly fantastic rendition of their 2004 classic ‘Mr Brightside’. Of the three
Killers gigs I’ve been to, this was the best version of the song I’ve heard. It
was amazing and a perfect end to a truly brilliant evening. There were always
going to be a few songs that didn’t make the setlist, but I would have liked to
have seen ‘Bones’ and ‘This Is Your Life’ make the cut. Maybe next time….
Physically shattered and with a ruined voice, it certainly
won’t be a concert I’m going to forget in a hurry. The crowd were loving it, as
were the band, and they were clearly enjoying themselves. There was a great
energy from both the crowd and band and this helped to create a brilliant
atmosphere. If you’ve seen The Killers before, you know what you’re going to
get and they didn’t disappoint. They can only get better from here and I get
the feeling this won’t be their only
stadium show for long.
Someone very kindly uploaded a recording of 'Wembley Song'. Enjoy :)
This is a great time of year. It’s starting to warm up
nicely, the longest day is getting closer and summer holidays have been
planned. So as the sun has finally come
out, I thought I’d throw together a mini summer playlist to help enjoy the
summery weather (although as I write this, the sun has gone away and the usual
British summer weather of grey cloud and drizzle has taken over). They are all
songs that you can enjoy with a cold beverage in hand with a nice BBQ on the go
or equally just chilling down the beach.
It’s not a world cup year so Vindaloo and 3 Lions (98) have
to be shelved for now until next year. Even K’Naan’s ‘Waving Flags’ will have
to wait, even though it’s a great summer song. You may have your own idea of great
summer music; be it Ibiza Club classics, big, sing along festival tunes or just a singer songwriter with an acoustic guitar.
Either way, below you will find a list of songs that will not fail to get you in the mood
for summer. Enjoy J
Arrow- Hot Hot Hot: Yes it is the song you think it is. Not a
summer holiday went by when this song didn’t appear on kids TV when I was
younger. It pretty much defined the summer holiday season. Not a bad thing
because it isn’t a bad little song. It may have only reached a measly #59 in
the UK charts upon its release in 1984, but you can’t deny it’s a catchy number
that really gets you in the mood to enjoy the summer months. A 1994 remix fared
better than the original and hit #34 in the UK charts, while another version of
the song appears in the movie ‘Bend It Like Beckham’.
Dodgy- Staying Out For The Summer: A song you may not recognise the name of, but there’s a good
chance when you hear it you will, “Oh yeah, I know this.” Dodgy’s 1994 hit may
not have been a huge chart success, but it provided the soundtrack for many a
school holiday in the 90s. A band I saw live for the first time last year, they well worth seeing if they play anywhere local to oyou.
Don Omar- Danza Kuduro: I’m not a fan of dance music, I usually
give it a wide berth, but I love this song. It helps that it appeared in the
film ‘Fast and Furious 5’ and it’s those Latin vibes that are really catchy and
hook you in. It’s a perfect song for the summer and one that would go down well
at a summer house party.
ELO- Mr Blue Sky: How can you not enjoy this song in the middle of
summer? With the opening lines “Sun is shining in the sky/There ain’t a cloud
in the sky” you can’t help but sit back and go “You’re right, I’m just going to
sit here and enjoy it for 5 minutes.” Or maybe that’s just me. Either way this
is just an old classic that gets the feel good summer vibes going.
Leddra Chapman- Summer Song: She may not be a household name, but
Leddra Chapman is a name you will do well to familiarise yourself with. Her
2010 single epitomises the feeling you get in the summer. The catchy, feel-good
tune and her light hearted, bouncy vocals really does paint a blue sky and
green meadows image in your head.
Katrina and the Waves - Walking On Sunshine: Come on, everyone
knows this song right? And it’s one that won’t fail to put you in the mood for
the summer. Even though it never hit the top of the charts, it helped launch
the band’s career with their debut album of the same name. It was in fact their
highest chart success, until their 1997 Eurovision winning song bettered it. ‘Walking
on Sunshine’ has made a huge amount of TV and film appearances, so the chances
of you not having heard it are slim.
Kid Rock- All Summer Long: Released in summer 2008, this is one of
Kid Rock’s biggest hits, reaching number one in 8 countries, including the UK.It
features samples of two songs, Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London” and the
more recognisable “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I’m not usually a big
fan of sampling, but it works extremely well in this instant. I’ve always
thought “Sweet Home Alabama” is a brilliant ‘summer song’ in its own right, but
decided to use this instead on this list. It’s the kind of song you can imagine
singing along to, driving down a country lane or to the beach with the roof
down.
Simple Plan feat Sean Paul- Summer Paradise: This is exactly what
you want from a song about the summer. Nice upbeat tune, catchy lyrics and a
hook that ensures that it sticks in your mind. Much like the song above, it’s a
real feel good song that makes you want to party the night away down the beach.
Terrorvision- Tequila: Summer song? Party song? What’s the difference?
Who cares when you come up with a 90s classic like this. As soon as the song
kicks in you find yourself shaking imaginary maracas and dancing along to the
music. It’s an involuntary reaction, you just can’t help it. Or maybe that’s
just me. Either way this is the perfect song for a beach party.
Weezer- Island in the Sun: There appears to be a common theme
running through this list, that being the feel-good factor of the music. That’s
what the music is about, and this song is no different. In fairness I could
have chosen any number of Weezer songs to put in here, but ‘Island in the Sun’
is the most apt. The alternative rockers only do feel good songs that you can
sing along to. The fact that they have a tour on their own cruise ship from
Florida to the Bahamas should be enough proof they enjoy the sun.
Well that’s it. Sorry it’s a bit shorter than usual, but
there will be reviews of The Killers live at Wembley and Kasabian and guests at
Hard Rock Calling coming in the next couple of weeks to make up for it.
Please feel free to follow and share and I’m always happy to
receive comments.
Everybody has an artist they listen to that they feel not
enough other people know about. It gives you a great deal of satisfaction that
you’re listening to this great music that no one else you know is. With so many
artists vying for attention, it’s quite easy for a band to slip by unnoticed or
not get the recognition that they deserve. That’s what this particular blog is
concentrating on; those artists who, in my opinion, people tend to overlook.
A couple of obvious ones sprang to mind when I started it;
both of them are two of my favourite artists. Given that I wrote about Amy
MacDonald and Gaslight Anthem in my gig reviews, didn’t think it was necessary
to talk about them all over again. They are both criminally underrated though. There was also a song that I wanted to include, but since it
is the only song by the artist I know, thought it should just get a mention
briefly here. The song in question is College & Electric Youth- A Real
Hero, an 80s infused song used in the film ‘Drive’. It’s a great song and is a
throwback to the old synth-y 80s sound.
Anyway... below then you’ll find 10 artists whom I feel are seriously
underrated. Enjoy :)
British Sea Power: Considering that Indie music had somewhat of a
revival in the 00s, there were plenty of radio friendly guitar bands to choose
from and listen to. Given the likes of the Artic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand and
Kaiser Chiefs were around and becoming big stars, it was inevitable that some
bands were going to slip through the net and remain just below the radar of the
mainstream. So is the case of Brighton based band British Sea Power. With six
albums and number of EPs to their name, they have been around for the best part
of decade, but are not yet a household name. That’s not to say they haven’t had
success. Their albums ‘Open Season’ and ‘Do You Like Rock Music?’ charted at
numbers 13 and 10 in the UK charts respectively (the latter even hit number 5
in the US) and they are very popular on the festival circuit. Even so, the name
is still not as recognisable as say, Razorlight, which is a shame because
British Sea Power have made some really good music. I am a big fan of the two
albums mentioned above and there are some top quality songs on them such as ‘It
Ended On An Oily Stage’, ‘Waving Flags’ and ‘Lights Out For Darker Skies’. They
have a big, ambitious sound which offset by calming and melancholy sounding
vocals. It’s a distinctive sound, and once you click with it, you can’t help
but love it.
Clare Maguire: Singer songwriter Clare Maguire I don’t think gets
the recognition she deserves. She may have only released the one album so far,
‘Light After Dark’ in 2011, but it didn’t quite have massive impact it warranted.
Comparisons to Annie Lennox are justified; she has a fantastic, powerful voice
that really does grab your attention. There are no gimmicks, no elaborate
costumes in the videos, just a pure, raw voice. In 2010, Maguire was placed at
number 5 on BBC’s Sound of 2011 and won the ‘Next Big Thing’ award at the Q
Awards. Even so, she still hasn’t received the same recognition as artists such
as Emeli Sande, Florence and the Machine or Adele. It’s a shame, because her
material is just as strong as songs from their back catalogues. Songs such as
‘The Last Dance’ and ‘Bullet’ are modern, but have a nostalgic, almost retro
feel to them. They are catchy but at the same time quite mature and of high
quality. That aside, her voice really is
brilliant and for that reason, I think she deserves so much more recognition. I
am very much looking forward to future material, with a demo released on
SoundCloud and new EP on the way.
Flogging Molly: I’m going to
let you into a little secret. One of my guilty musical pleasures is
Irish/Celtic folk music. What Flogging Molly provide is something called ‘Celtic
Punk’; an infusion of Irish folk and traditional punk. The Pogues were the
original ‘Celtic Punks’ with Dropkick Murphys the closest modern equivalent.
Personally though, I prefer LA band Flogging Molly. I saw them live when I was
university and they were absolutely fantastic. They are one of the best live
acts I’ve seen. It is impossible to stand still; you can’t help but jump, clap
or just dance about. It was one of those gigs where you come out afterwards on
a high with a huge smile on your face. They have been around a fair few years
now, but because their genre of music is never “in fashion” as it were, they
stay under the radar of the mainsteam. That’s the case in the UK anyway. What they
do have however is a very strong and loyal fan base. With songs such as ‘What’s
Left of the Flag’, ‘If I Ever Leave This World Alive’ and ‘Rebel of the Sacred
Heart’ as well the title track from their 2002 album ‘Drunken Lullabies’ you
get a perfect introduction as to what Flogging Molly are all about. It’s just real
feel good, Irish drinking music. It may not be everyone’s taste, but should not
detract from the fact that it is top quality music that you don’t hear enough
of.
Kassidy: Kassidy are an alternative folk rock band from Glasgow,
Scotland. Comparisons could be made with Mumford and Sons, but this would be
unfair as they have a different sound and different harmony. Their sound really
is one that deserves to be wider known, they seem to have flown under the radar
with their debut album. Their songs have a fun and bouncy mix of catchy
choruses and folky guitar overtones. They are songs perfect to be sung along
with on a bright, sunny day at a festival. They are that sort of band that just
plays feel good music. You can’t help but feel better for listening to it. They
have the same catchy, upbeat sound as Noah and the Whale, but they have a
stronger harmony that gives them an added dimension.
Nerina Pallot: Singer/Songwriter Nerina Pallot has been around for
a few years now, and with four albums to her name it is a real surprise that
she hasn’t had more commercial success. There is no reason why any of her
singles haven’t been big radio successes. Listening through her albums, she is
obviously very talented and has a fantastic voice, but she somehow manages to
stay just out of the mainstream media spotlight. It’s a shame because people
are missing out on some brilliant music. From reading and watching various
interviews with her, she seems quite quirky and comes across in her music.
There’s a real personality and identity in her songs that give them character.
There’s also a versatility to her music that I really like. From big Alanis
Morisette-esque anthems such as ‘Learning to Breathe’ and ‘Everybody’s Going To
War’ to beautiful ballads like ‘Dear Frustrated Superstar’, to straight
forward, light hearted pop songs such as ‘Real Late Starter’. She has a real
talent for penning a catchy song, and with her wonderful, distinctive voice she
has a sound that is both modern and classy. There are a lot of singer
songwriters around at the moment, but Nerina Pallot is still one of my
favourites. Give her a listen and she’ll be yours too.
One Night Only: One Night Only are a funny band. They were quite
well known for a few years around the time of their albums releases. They even
had Harry Potter star Emma Watson appear in one of their videos. Since then
however, they seem to have fallen off the radar, surfacing again last year when
I saw them live. Maybe they just got
lost amongst all the other indie bands at the time. It’s surprising because both
their albums are very good. The singles
in particular are catchy and fun to listen to. ‘Just for Tonight’ and ‘You and
Me’ are both brilliant little songs, with the former reaching number 9 in the
UK charts. With their next, self-titled album they were more ambitious, with a
bigger sound with a clearer 80s influence. This is clearly evident on their
huge indie anthem ‘Say You Don’t Want It’. The band are obviously much more
confident in their music and becoming more ambitious with their sound. However,
even with Hermione Granger in the video, it only reached 23 in the UK charts. They’re
not one of those bands that seem not to stick in people’s consciousness. It’s a
shame because they’re a quality band. There was/is a lot of indie music about,
but they are up with any of their contemporaries.
Stereoside: Stereoside may not be a household name, but they have
written one of the best songs of the last decade, hence why they are on this
list. Their song ‘On Our Way’ is, in my opinion, one of the finest songs ever
written, and should be a modern rock classic. They have a few other good modern
rocks songs, including ‘So Long’ and ‘Trailer Park Scum’, but it is the ‘On Our
Way’ that is my favourite. The fact that is it so unknown, when it is such as
good song is why it is going to get most of the attention here. It pays homage
to the good old days of rock, “Where the jams were tight/the kids could play/
the music didn’t suck/ and the bands weren’t gay.” The song is structured
perfectly.Even the ice cubes in the
glass and the pouring of a drink at the beginning works. It sounds like someone
is sitting you down and getting ready to tell you a story about how good the
old days were. If you like rock music, you will love it.
Switches: For all the big indie bands around in the 00s, and all the
classic indie albums, there was one album that trumps all of them. It is one of
my favourite all time albums, and by a band that not many will remember. ‘Heart
Turned to D.E.A.D’ by Switches is an absolute gem. It’s a shame they broke up
after the album because there is not a single bad song on it. Not one song you
could consider a ‘filler’ track. Very few albums have so many hooks and catchy
songs to draw you in. Funnily enough, the album opens with the one song that
you may have heard of. ‘Drama Queen’ was played quite a bit around the time of
the album’s release, and also appeared on Fifa 2008. It’s a huge indie anthem
with a big sing along chorus. It sets the album perfectly and prepares the
listener for what is to come. Alongside the punchy guitars, there are examples
of great harmony and more big, sing along choruses. ‘Lay Down the Law’ has an
insanely catchy riff, beat and chorus. ‘Coming Down’ has an 80s influenced
intro to die for. ‘Give Up the Ghost’ in a Queen influenced anthem with another
big chorus that can’t help but sing along to. ‘The Need to be Needed’ is an
epic that you can’t help but fall in love with. The lyrical narrative at the
beginning and end of the song will stay and buzz round your head, until you
listen to the song again. ‘Every Second Counts’ also has that hook that ensures
that you keep returning to it. ‘Step Kids In Love’ has more than a little hint
of Scissors Sisters about it, but is catchy none the less.‘Killer Karma’, my personal favourite off the
album, is the penultimate track and is an absolute cracker. The chorus is so
simple and easy to sing along to you can’t help turning it up and joining in.
You may have grasped I am a big fan of this album. Having listened to it for
the first time ages for this blog, it still sounds as good as when I first
heard it. It is an album full of songs that will brighten your day.
*Can't link them all on here, but you can find them easily enough on YouTube... It's worth it
The Dandy Warhols: Having been around for about 20 years or so, had
eight albums, including one of my favourite albums ever, plus a ‘Best Of’ you would
have thought The Dandy Warhols would have been headlining festivals right round
the globe. Sadly this is not quite the case. Now they might not be everybody’s
cup of tea, but if you ‘get’ them as it were, then you’ll seriously like their
brand of alternative rock. Don’t really think I’ve listened to another band
like them. If you are new to the band, a best starting point is their ‘The
Capitol Years 1995-2007’ album, which is essentially a chronological look
through their greatest hits. It’s a great introduction, but serve it up
alongside their 2000 album ‘Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia’ and if you like
it you will be a fan forever. Personally I think the ’13 Tales…’ is one of the
best albums of all time, it’s perfect from start to finish (as explained in a
previous blog). It was the album that launched the band into the mainstream,
and even though they stayed there for the next album, they appear to receded
back into the underground a bit in more recent times. Because of this, I don’t
think they get enough credit. Everyone knows ‘Bohemian Like You’, but songs
like ‘We Used To Be Friends’ and ‘Get Off’ and ‘Not If You Were The Last Junkie
On Earth’ show a talented band just doing what they want to do. They might not
be “cool” but they write some quality songs, and that’s what matters.
ADDITIONAL:
I discovered these guys just the other and want to share
their immense talent with you.They are
a duo called 2Cellos and consist of Luca Sulic and Stjepan Hauser from Croatia.
What they do is, take a well-known song and play it on the Cello. Might not
sound much when put like that, but how they do it and what it sounds like is
phenomenal. My favourites are U2’s ‘With or Without You’ and AC/DC’S ‘Highway
To Hell’. However there also more AC/DC covers as well as Red Hot Chili Peppers,
Coldplay, Muse and Guns n Roses covers amongst others. I’ll just a small number
of videos up below but honestly check them out, and explore further on YouTube.
So there you have it, just a handful of artists who some of the most underrated around at the moment.
Hope you enjoyed it.
Thanks for reading and feel free to comment and share.
