It's 27 years of Sin

My Record Collector calendar (which came free with the Jan edition before you accuse me of being old and stuck in the past etc. -I prefer to phrase it as hipster chic), reveals that today (4th July) in 1987 the Pet Shop Boys hit number 1 with "It's a Sin". Ok, so the 27th anniversary isn't really that significant, but y'know ...

It is one of my favourite tracks. Perfect. And definitely on the playlist should I ever die :) Which raised the valid question of which 12" version (thanks Neil), and so has prompted the following Collection of Sin. A far more fun version of the Axis of Evil.

There's an Ian Levine mix released on 12" single which I haven't been able to track down, or rather I cna't find it on YouTube - pretty sure it's sitting at home. And Neil, can't find any record of the Shep Pettibone mix...

The Official Video

The Disco Mix

The Phil Harding PWL Miami Mix

But like all great tracks, there are covers. And that's really the point of this post.

First up, GammaRay, a German power metal band who Neil (yes, he does appear to be featuring far too much in this post) thought I'd like. In a gorgonzola way. He's right. But while googling, I found out they did a cover of It's a Sin, and it's genius. Starts of pretty much like the original, just more guitar, and then dissolves into power metal. Brilliant.

What's that? Bit safe? Why yes, I'd have to agree with you. Don't worry, those wacky Italian black metal kiddiwinks, Graveworm, have a real treat for you:

Like those two, but need some middle ground? By god sonny jim, you're in luck - more Italian metal, this time from the delightfully named Lord Vampyr. Useful Wiki fact, Lord Vampyr graduated with a degree in Psychology. His band, and album, names are good enough I sense myself spinning some shortly (I've got some theatres des vampires somewhere, no, I don't know why either). 

That's the metal kids happy then, what about the emo's? Always remember, emo's have feelings too. Why just yesterday I was listening to MCR, and it never occurred to me that a MCR or GreenDay type band covering It's a Sin could be brilliant.

Thankfully the Finnish band The Jade, have a full video for you. All floppy hair, disaffected glances, peeling wallpaper, and black jackets with fabulously shiny buttons.

I did scan through the rest of the covers, and decided to not inflict anything that started with 'My interpretation...', although I will note that anyone who decides they have to describe themselves as a transgender musician, rather than a musician, probably isn't good enough to be called a musician. It's not like I describe myself as a cynical-fuck-blogger is it?

There are a worrying number of hard rock covers of It's a Sin. None add anything more than those above. And so, to end this momentous day with something more civilised, the LSO version.

Happy Sin Day !!! 

abba. and yngwie.

yngwie malmsteen, does abba.

Contender for worst [music] video, ever

Yes I know it's a big call, especially with the dross I've inflicted over the years. But this is completely, utterly, brilliantly OTT and so Bad it's Good. See what I did there eh?

Metal

Just a couple of videos today, but quite brilliant ones.

First up, Amon Amarth. Yes, named after a Lord of the Rings location. I think AA have popped up before, but this video from 2013 makes everything else they've done seem a little small minded. Let's see, we have a 4 minute song, what could possibly make it better? How about a full backstory which takes longer than the song itself? Yeah, that could work. Anything we base this on? Well y'know, there's that LotR thing, that George RR Martin malarky, and well pretty much all other fantasy stuff. Hey, yeah, that'll do us. I present to you, Father of the Wolf.



Next up, the new single from Polish metal lads, Behemoth. Safe to say, NSFW, it's also brutal but rifftastic and suspect it may not find a lot of love from my usual readers.
But hey, I like them, and the new album is a lot of win.

BEHEMOTH "Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel" Official Video Uncensored from Behemoth Official on Vimeo.

me

Charlemagne

Just because.

Life@45rpm

Periodically Thurs Night Music Night gets a thematic makeover, last week I decided to go with everything had to be at 45rpm, hence Life@45rpm.

Out of a sense of wanting to share the excitement with everyone, here's the list of what was played, along with some videos where (in)appropriate.

This worked so well, and I've still a large number of 45's which weren't played, that there could be another night or two in the future. Sadly for listeners, not much more cheese of the Alf/The Firm/Europe/Spitting Image level, so some cheap second hand purchases may have to be made.

Rush - Time Stand Still 12"
Fish - Suits (ok, so it's an album, but the vinyl was pressed for 45rpm)
Freddie Mercury - The Great Pretender 12"
Queen - I'm going slightly mad 12" [with the brilliant Lost Opportunity]

Marillion - Lavender 12"
Talk Talk - Living in another world 12" (orig)
Alf - Stuck on Earth 12" [best 25c 12" I've bought]

Dire Straits - Twisting by the pool 12"
Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls 12"
Pineapple Thief - Sherbert Gods 7"  [I can see what he was trying to achieve, but it's also pretty clear why he disowns this!]
Admiral Fallow - Beetle in the box 7"

Trembling Bells - New Year's Eve's the loneliest night of the year 7"

Europe - The Final Countdown 12"

The Firm - Star Trekkin' 12"
Spitting Image - Santa Claus is on the dole 12"


Queen - Breakthru 12"
Marillion - Sympathy 12"


Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome to the pleasure dome (12xztas7)
FGTH - Power of Love (12ztas5)


Love, B

Syd

I've just listened to this.

Interesting documentary about Syd Barrett and his degeneration during the early Floyd years. Including excerpts from one of the last interviews with Rick Wright. The 30 minute documentation looks at how Barrett, the inspiration behind Floyd, broke down due to drugs, fame, and pressure.
Truely one of the greatest lyricists and artists to come out of the early English whimsical psychedelia, and one of the greatest victims of LSD. Sad story by Nick and Dave about how Syd turned up during recording of Shine On You Crazy Diamond, and no-one recognised him.

So a couple of videos, firstly from a solo album:


and now, the superb See Emily Play.


This has reminded me that I don't actually have any solo Barrett any more...must rectify that.

B

Gigs - Mumford and Sons

Paul and I rocked along to Mumford and Sons the other week, mainly as they were playing in Nottingham and we could drink beer.
The two support bands were good. First up were Matthew and the Atlas (apparently). Kinda hippie, kinda alt rock. Recommended, or at least keep an eye on them.


They didn't have any EPs available, but I might track one down later.

Next up were Johnny Flynn, who I thoroughly enjoyed. I dunno alt-pop? I picked up the new album and have to admit, it's pretty damn good. Being the sucked I am, I did get the 2CD version, but it's thoroughly enjoyable and on the album, the band aren't as frenetic as they were on stage. That was more the result of having a short time on stage, I guess.


Mumford and Sons were disappointing. The couple of tracks I'd heard previously were encouraging, but really they don't do anything new. Even less than recent Keane or Snow Patrol, with whom I guess they'd share a significant audience. There isn't any variation between tracks, and even the new stuff which they were premiering, wasn't any different. We lasted an hour, then wandered off.
Here's the debut single (doubling as the album, if I were cynical).


B

Also sprach Zarathustra

Listening to some funk tonight, the Blaxploitation Vol 1 album in fact. Just love this track, so here's the video. All 9 glorious minutes of it.

Biking to Leicester

I woke up full of enthusiasm to do something this morning. Since it was overcast and looking like rain, I decided to bike to Leicester, just to find out how long it took.
Yesterday was a gorgeous day,which explains why I went for a bike ride today. Idiot. Anyway, it takes an hour from my house to the centre of Leicester. Co-incidentally the same amount of time as the bus from my place to Leicester. Yes go figure that one. The route is pretty similar, the bus takes a couple of detours to other small villages, but largely it's the same - and they run along the A6 for a bit.
It's not a very picturesque ride, the two highlights being Quorn and Montsorrel, both quite pretty villages. Quorn in particular - and it's got some nice pubs/restaurants. I like Quorn, we stayed there when I first came over, it did set the bar high which everywhere else around here has failed to live up to. Wankers.

I was quite organised this time too, even had a jacket with me. Which came in useful on the ride back when it started raining, and with a headwind that popped out of no-where. Damn you Aeolus. Temperature was chilly, and my tootsies were frozen by the time I got to Leicester (no matter how bad Phoenix is, it's still better than Leicester...). Poor tootsies.
Around Montsorrel on the way home, my knee decided to suffer some form of blowout. This made peddling a little tricky. But I made it back, and am now consoling myself with cake (see yesterdays recipe), coffee (Havana - thanks Adders), Ella Fitzgerald singing Cole Porter, and copious amounts of deep heat. But not on a broomhandle.

Couldn't find a video for the ones I wanted, or rather couldn't find a video that wasn't totally naff, so have this one instead.

Random giggage

My upcoming gig, Justin Townes Earle, has been cancelled. Justin is son of Steve Earle, and like a chip off the old block has some addiction issues to deal with. He was a little drunk the other week at a gig in Indianapolis, and has cancelled the rest of his tour (including theUK dates) to head to rehab. Always good for the artist CV. 

It's a shame as his most recent album is a bit good, and I was looking forward to dragging S up to see him.

I guess when the gig refund comes through, I can buy the vinyl instead. Mmmm vinyl.

Speaking of which, I am liking the resurgence of vinyl, Grinderman, The Weakerthans, Pineapple Thief, Porcupine Tree, Oceansize - all new releases on vinyl. But what is really good, is inclusion of:

- download code for a high quality mp3s (Pineapple Thief)

or

- inclusion of a CD version with the vinyl (Oceansize, Grinderman)

or

- DVD of the vinyl live gig, and mp3 download (The Weakerthans)

Smashing.

Half the A-team and I wandered to Dimmu Borgir on Tuesday night. Support was by Sahg, a Norwegian metal group - nothing stunning, with the singer sounding like Ozzy (when Ozzy could sing). We caught half their set, and that was enough.

Enslaved were the main support, another Norwegian black/extreme/progressive metal band, making this a Norwegian metal triptych. I like them, but have only heard Vertebrae, with their breakout 'single' Clouds on it. They played a good selection of their albums, and it was good. I can see myself buying more. Sound was good, nicely balanced, although I think we both would have preferred more of the clean vocals. The cookie monster stuff did detract a little from some, frankly, superb musicianship.

I've mentioned Dimmu Borgir before, many times. I like my metal, and I really like symphonic black metal. It is one of the only genres where truly progressive music can be heard. Some metalheads don't like it, finding it too slow. Which is kind of the point. And DB are the top of the genre, which showed during the gig. Superb musicianship, brutal, atmospheric, great stage presence.  Sound was excellent, not too loud, brilliantly balanced, no distortion, so no loud ringing noises the next day. Crowd was totally up for it, and something about metal crowds, no-one is there to be seen. It's all about the music - a bit rare for London audiences. Their keyboardist needs special mention, he's a monster and there was some stunning stuff coming from him - a newbie as the band replaced two members last year. There's a strong element of pisstaking by the band, stage design and song delivery is very over the top, operatic even. And the band appear to playing to that. 

Definitely recommend catching them live if you like metal. It was an excellent gig.

Currently spinning Bob Dylan, heh variety eh.

B

Stuff of the moment

Is this the best music interview of the year? Nick Cave is usually good for a quote, but this one is better than most. "There was a miscommunication with the costume department," nods Cave, a little ruefully. "And we ended up looking like gay Roman footsoldiers." He brightens a bit. "Still, we've got the legs for it."
Here's the video they were talking about. I really like it, refreshingly different, good combo of pretty much every major religion and their partypieces, old religions (river Styx), b-grade movies (anyone else feel it's a cool rip of Jason and the Argonauts?) - wonderful stuff. I just keep watching it, it's so good.

Grinderman 'Heathen Child' from Trim Editing on Vimeo.


More on the music front. Radiohead were so impressed with a fan made video (50 camera shoot) of their Prague concert, they gave them the audio masters. The fans have turned it into a variety of formats, AVI, MKV, DVD even blu-ray coming soon. Go forth and download, legally! I can't comment on it as I'm still downloading, but eh, it's Radiohead, that's enough for me.

Here's the trailer:


Oh hell, I'm on a music roll, why stop. I was pissing around online the other day and came across the new Brian Wilson, doing versions of Gershwin. In theory, good plan. Let's face it, the catchiness of the Beach Boys output owes a lot to Broadway. Personally, I'll take the BB over Broadway, but the influence is still there. I'd argue the BB took the campness out, leaving a purer melody,which possibly explains why their music is more recognisable than a lot of Broadway classics. So yes, you'd imagine this could work if Wilson was tidying things up. In no way does this work. I'd rather listen to elevator music, although I can see this album turning up in elevators, at which point I'd be keying my own wrists.

I don't want to inflict the video for you, but there's one soulless dead track here. I see yesterdays music review said much the same, "But, goodness, what a horrible album this is."

It was so horrible I went and overdosed on some Immortal to get rid of the ick. Here's some Blizzard Beasts for you.


Might meander off for a haircut. See, radicalism is alive and well in Shepshed.

B

The week that was

It has been an interesting week, and by interesting I mean eventful. I'm in two minds over blogging details about specifics, so will leave that for a day or two.
But some things did go well, S now has a visa, thanks to the useless cocks at the border agency. Ok, in this case, they've done nothing wrong. But all in all, their main purpose seems to be to extort money. Nothing more, the concept of service with that?, yeah lets not go there.  This is likely to get worse judging by recent statements by the Cam-egg government. Even more annoyingly I've even had their staff say it's largely a money making exercise. Fuckers.
But come mid October, I can forget about them for another two years, and distract myself with a more coupley version of married life, as opposed to the current situation of married yet single.

In the mood for escapism, I wandered to an art gallery in Leicester. Nothing stunning, few interesting early expressionist pieces, reasonable collection of Durer prints. There was supposed to be a Lowry floating around, but I never found it. Damnit. But the highlight, oddly, was an exhibition they had on science fiction in popular culture. Oh go on, pretend to be surprised. Please? Lots of cool toys, games and posters. The highlights being a full length poster of Fritz Lang's Girl in the Moon, and a 1981 games console I remember playing with, extensively. Astro Wars!!!!
It seemed a reasonable thing to wander around while it was pissing down. Ahhh yes, English summer. I'm beginning to see why prog became popular, one track filled in time between showers.
Few things I could do today, but not in the mood at the moment, so may potter around and read my book for awhile.

Here's an article warning about the dangers of raw peas.

And in a reasonably relaxed chilled day, my ipod ended up playing this as the last track before I got home. Go the poddikins.

Guy Garvey

Really is the bomb. His Sunday night 6Music show should be required listening. For example this Sunday just past included a long admission of love for Mark Hollis (including playing The Watershed) and The National (The Geese of Beverly Road).
Both of which are so good, you need to listen to them. Again.





There, two music (ish) blogs in one day.

More metal for the masses

And the big news is that Dimmu Borgir have announced release dates for the new album (end of Sept). Regular readers of the metal section will know how much I like my symphonic black metal. Woohoo.

First up, some German metal- in German too (I think).


And for fans of Jakob or ISIS here's another instrumental band - this is a fan vid, but quitecool


I do like me some Cult of Luna, although for some reason I have none in the collection. Must fix that one day...


Don't shoot me, but I appear to have a soft spot for folkmetal. This one is a bit more hardcore than most, but it ticks the folk box. Oh and the video is quite nicely done, although they don't vary it at all.



And no apologies, this one is heavier than normal. Much heavier, but I like it.


You want some Dimmu Borgir? Well ok, if you insist, from the last album, In Sorte Diaboli, which I loved.


\m/

A bit of metal for the masses

Catching up on my metal watching, and here's a couple of NZ vids. TBH I don't like the NZ scene much, it's pretty mindless thrash in general, but these stand out - especially the CIA vid.



8 Foot Sativa are, I reckon, pretty underrated internationally. Theirs is a style I don't like much, but I it's done very well here.

8 Foot Sativa - Sleepwalkers (Uncensored)

8 Foot Sativa is on hiatus.. | MySpace Music Videos

In more metal news, ISIS have split- well they did in May. Which is a crying shame, for they were an excellent band.
To ISIS


Given I don't really like chick fronted metal, this is rather good.


This song is good, very sisters ofmercy/emo-ish, but the video gets in as it has a keyboard, and the chick is very hot and has a push-up bra. And no-one of should be surprised at my shallowness. She's got curves, she's brunette, I'm sure she's got a PhD too...I seem to remember putting it up before, oh well.


That should do. Sure there'll be more...

me

New arrivals in the house

My bike turned up! Woohoo. The UK has an excellent government scheme called something like bike-to-work, where the cost of the bike is pulled out of the pre-tax salary over a number of months. Works for me.
I picked it up on Tuesday and am absolutely loving suicidally throwing it around, certainly cuts the travel time to work (15-20mins cf 60min walk). Just went for a nice long ride around the countryside on an absolutely glorious summers day. Down small lanes, including the delightfully named Pudding Bag Lane where I found yet another small cricket pitch. It was a bit exciting at times when tarmac roads turned into very loose gravel while heading downhill, but no harm done. Yet. Found a bike only track heading down to Belton area, watched some cricket and read the paper. Then came back, so a nice 90min ride, 30 min break, and then a very much required shower.
I really had forgotten how much I missed the freedom. The speed, the wind, the sweat (!) - awesome.

I've finally sorted out my network problem, and am redoing my iTunes library this weekend. That's about 24hours of importing. I've done A-M, and am halfway through N-Z. Got some writing to do this afternoon,  but currently I'm considering some lunch and reading the paper.

So here's a picture of it, and some bike themed music.

Love,B

Metal roundup

Another in the irregular metal update of stuff I like, or don't or something. I'm in a pissy mood, and I'm drinking, so that tends to make things heavier (I've just been spinning Bloodbath and Borknager). In a change from my usual wandering around YouTube, I've decided to scrobble to Last.Fm using Spotify so you can see what I've sat through.

I'm not usually a fan of thrash, but this, by Kreator, is an interesting mix of melodic metal and thrash.


I've killed my tonic supplies, so no more V n T for me. The beer I don't like has been drunk (that's how desperate things were), and I'm now enjoying a merlot with my (superb) laksa and metal. It's an odd mix, but I like it.
And now a video from a band I've been lucky enough to see live. I do like metal gigs, there's an odd sense of camaraderie. Particularly in Wellington where there were so few grind/black metal gigs.



A quick dalliance with Ex Deo 'Romulus' which I've mentioned before, some Dimmu Borgir (which I've mentioned many times). Now some Behemoth, a band I'm currently getting into. I've got their most recent album, which I like, without being grabbed by it. But it's got that certain something suggesting it's a grower, so I'm sticking with it. Check out Ov Fire and the Void from the new album. Here's an earlier song of theirs:



I'm not sure what look the next band were going for, emo, goth, punk, nu-metal, glam - anyway I quite like the song and video:


Some Iced Earth followed (how does he get his voice that high, freeky), and now Satyricon. I have a soft spot for this vid, it's not very heavy, but it rocks along quite nicely.



And nothing else really took my interest. Mmm feeling much better now after an intensive dose of metal therapy.

Love, me

Keytars and general scariness

A hugely popular song during my younger years was Funkytown, with its classic keytar usage.

Sadly for those of us who wanted to be lead singers and keyboard players, the keytar has disappeared from pop music.
But it appears to have had a comeback in folk-metal. Yup that genre I've scared myself with before, here's some more.
Firstly keytar mayhem by the Alewives and 'Keelhauled'.


And so, why stop there. Here's someVikings getting hammered...there's some Steve Harris (Maiden) style riffs in there, or rather Maiden-esque guitar breaks. Good stuff.



Now a band endorsed by none other than Mr Salmond. In the spirit of Nintendo, 'battle'.


Sleep well and dream of viking metal.

Metal \m/

Deathstars, think Marilyn Manson/Depeche Mode/Sisters of Mercy/Paradise Lost, and you're most of the way there. So yeah, derivative, but fun.  I've just watched three vids of theirs and liked them, although I do have a soft spot for emo :) Not sure I'll buy an album, but good none-the-less.

I appear to be on an emo metal roll, watched Dead Girls Are Easy (The 69 Eyes), then this, which seems a cut above the usual emo. The singer sounds like he could have some talent live.

It appears Paradise Lost have gotten heavy again - this is for Billy. I do rather like One Second, and I might keep an eye out for the new (2009) album on the strength of this video.

Then kept it real with some Opeth (early stuff, then Porcelain Heart), and Meshuggah. Now there's a band who have improved immensely over the years. Firmly believe the most recent album, ObZen, is by far their best (although Shed and its album comes close). Oh hell, have Bleed....

me.