11 posts tagged “bbc”
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Please enjoy this special episode of We Heart Music Radio as Sally & I figure out the best way to handle our ever-busy schedule.
This week, we were sent a 20-minute recording of Sir Paul McCartney as he talked about his post-Wings album, McCartney II (originally called On His Own). Special thanks to Colin Richardson and HOBO - Coventry Music Magazine for putting this together.
Richardson writes:
From the interview, it was quite interesting to hear about McCartney's Japan problem, first with his midly-offensive title, "Frozen Jap" song, and then his apology for the whole country when their tour got canceled (due to his arrest for marijuana in Tokyo circa January 1980).In May 1980, towards the end of my "journalist" days, I got an invite to the EMI press reception for Paul McCartney's solo album, "On his own", at Abbey Road studios. I was one of about 100 scribes from all parts of the globe and the set up was very efficient...15 or so oblong tables, each with 8 chairs and the plan was that Paul would move from table to table, spending exactly 20 minutes at each. I managed to get one of the end chairs, thus ensuring that I would be facing the star when he sat down...yes, I was that pushy! When our turn came, I opened the session with what I hoped was some humorous banter, thus getting Paul's attention for when the real questions started. It seems to have worked, since I managed to ask the majority of them....hey, all's fair in love, war and journalism! Well, take a listen...and please don't judge too harshly! I was just 'doing my job!'
It was revealed later through a BBC article, in McCartney's own words:
McCartney spent ten days in jail, then deported from the country. Of course, these kind of stories doesn't surprise me. I mean, just look at some of the Beatles songs, like "Day Tripper", "Strawberry Fields Forever", and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds".I was out in New York and I had all this really good grass. We were about to fly to Japan and I knew I wouldn't be able to get anything to smoke over there. This stuff was too good to flush down the toilet, so I thought I'd take it with me.
Still, despite the Japanese problems, McCartney II, went straight to #1 in the UK and #3 in the US charts.
10/18/2009 20:18:14 ♥ vu (
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I struggled to actually produce an article for Mercurial Rage's Cascade that came out last week, prior to this Saturday for their release party. Unfortunately, I did not meet the deadline... However, I finally have some quality time to sit down and listen to the album earlier today.
While they are now a full-fledged band, complete with guitarist, bassist, and drummer, they did start off with very minimalistic settings: singer, laptops, and a keyboard. By 2007, they had gained a few extra band members and released their first EP, The Funeral Sessions, which did catch the attention of BBC's The World for their song/single "Devil Girl".
So, my first impression of this band's debut LP Cascade, is that they seem to have a lot of trouble with the opposite sex. I thought most, if not all, of their songs are about girls and girl troubles. From "looking for love in a topless bar" ("Star") to "I got a girl, she's smoking all my weed" ("Gotta Girl") to "Theresa, Theresa" to "I lost my love on a Saturday night" ("Sad"). It is as if the band's looking for love in all the wrong places.
Musically, the band seems really obsessed with 80s Alternative rock, particularly Depeche Mode and New Order, whom they are often compared to in the local weekly papers. Which is not bad, although I will have to also add that they really like the Cure (there's a sly reference to Robert Smith on "Water Under the Bridge").
If you're already a huge fan of 80s Alt Rock, you definitely want to check out Mercurial Rage. Their brand of music, like the naughty girls in their songs, will "keep you up all night".
Cascade is out now on Susstones Records. You can download their "F.F.F." song from the record label. This song's music, along with "Robot Love", are written by Brandon Dalida (they are my two favorite songs on the album).
10/18/2009 16:52:42 ♥ vu () ♥ mercurialrage.com ♥ myspace.com/mercurialrage ♥ twitter.com
Even if you've not heard of N*E*R*D (that's "No one Ever Really Dies"), you'll likely know of founding member R&B producer Pharrell Williams. N*E*R*D are a collaborative effor between Pharell, Chad Hugo, Shay Haley and whoever they manage to drag in to band duties, and are pretty much the only band I've ever known to try and combine R&B style lyrics in to Hip-Hop / Rock tunes whilst trying to pass themselves off as an Indie / Rock band in the likes of metal mag Kerrang!. If it was anyone other than Pharell, I'm sure it'd crash and burn, and they've deffinately got their fair share of critics (especially for the lyrics), but the result is at least one extremely catchy album - Fly or Die - from which I've included the track Breakout but you really should check out the rest if you've not already.
- Chris"f*ck glas"topher
Camping with my parents in bug infested fields as a kid scared me for life, so when festival time comes around I stay stuck firmly to my couch. Lucky for me the BBC are on hand to bring huge coverage of the big ones, and Glastonbury is no exception. Unlike last year though, I'm hoping there's more than just the one decent band that catches my attention (2007's was the Go! Team). Thankfully this year's started well as I'm already moved to tell you all about one act.
Natty is an alt Reggae act from London and his acoustic version of July just played on BBC 2 got me searching round for some more. Check out his MySpace if you wanna know more. Hopefully I'll be back later with some more Glasto picks. Jay Z, anyone? No? Go figure...
- Christopher
Welcome to the first annual W♥M Award for 2007! Here are the nominees as voted by our readers:
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So start voting by marking these songs as a favorite. Winners will be announced in October, and it looks like Stars is destroying the competition :/
If you feel your favorite band is not represented here, please get four of your friends to mark one of our song a favorite and then send me an email, I will definitely reconsider in the next voting reminder in September.
Some honorable mentions (four favorites): Asha Bhosle - Mohabbat Hoon Haqiqat Hoon, The Left Banke - Walk Away Renee, Morrissey - Tomorrow (Single Mix), Metric - Combat Baby, The Here+Now - Xochimilco, Strawberry Fair - Where is Alex Taylor Now?, Freezepop - Here Comes a Special Boy, So Post All 'Em, Charlotte Gainsbourg - Everything I Cannot See, The Marmalade - Twenty Miles, The Farewell Circuit - Oceans Cry, This Is Not The End, The Decemberists - The Soldiering Life, Garbage - 02-I Think I'm Paranoid, Arabesque - Hello Mr. Monkey, Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, Moonbaby - Here We Go, Bangs - Scorpi-oh, Bertrand Betsch - Bang Bang, I Hate Camera, Raymond Wong - Shaolin Soccer Opening Theme, This World Fair - This Morning, UR Hung Up, Chelsea Dagger, The Smiths - I Know It's Over (live), The Smiths - I Know It's Over (live), Young And Dumb, Under the Rotunda, Frodo, Peter Bjorn And John - Teen Love, Midnight Movies - Blue Babies, Gregorian - Losing My Religion, No Pussy Blues, Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - Rent a Wreck, RIAA - It's Whiskey, Sweet Geisha Love, Dirty On Purpose - Mind Blindness, Coco Freeman feat. Franz Ferdinand - The Dark Of The Matinee, Candie Payne - All I Need to Hear, Math and Physics Club - Weekends Away, The Feminine Complex - Are You Lonesome Like Me?, Tiger Trap - Supreme Nothing, Chia Pet - Don't You Want Me Baby, Looper - Impossible Things #2, France Gall - Faut-il que je t'aime, Simon & Garfunkel - Red Rubber Ball, The Lucksmiths - Deep Sea Diving Suit
August 5, 2007 2:08 PM
vu
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vu@weheartmusic.com
www.weheartmusic.com
The album Keep Reaching up by Nicole Willis and The Soul Investigators is the latest to come out of the European Nu Funk movement. Released by Timmion Records of Finland, this particular record is quite funky and reminiscent of 60's
and 70's USA Motown grooves, however with a sleek modernity.
Nicole Willis, soloist and artist, is wife to Jimi Tenor a Finnish jazz electronic musician who also works on the album
On their myspace page, Nicole Willis states "The sound of this group reminds me of dancing to the new James Brown 7" in the record shop on Clarkson Avenue with my sister when we were 6 & 8 years old." Similarly, it reminds me of my parents old records. It conjures up some of those old classic curatorial funk and Motown archetypes, yet its got that lounge feel thats new and sophisticated enough to listen to while drinking a martini.
I like their track Feeling Free, a peppy inspiring track that evokes memories of listening to Komeda out of Sweden. The song is a happy one that might make you want to "boogie" and dance your blues away. This light and catchy tune has two versions. The first above is the Hoop's Juju Gumbo mix from their myspace. The second below is the version from their
Another superb track, their lead single This Ain't Love (Don't Know What Is), nominated on BBC Worldwide's "Track Of The Year"
list, adopts a thoroughly vintage Motown sound. If you have always wished for a continuation of the golden oldie songs of the 60's, this is your ultimate tune. It's quite a sad song about love gone wrong. From Wills' lovely alto
to the ethereal ending of the flute, the song is tightly arranged and has a lovely immediacy for the listener.
Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators together have succeeded in resurrecting that old funk and Motown sound many of us secretly love to groove to, yet despite its exact replications, which are a sign of our times perhaps, they make it totally fresh and very now.
As the trends would have it, a turn back to these old time grooves is what we have been seeing with a lot of the new generation of pop singers, like for instance the UK's Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen. Is it any wonder that Nicole Willis and The Soul Investigators have been enjoying popularity on the UK scene as well? Those who dig the Verve Records remixes of classic jazz songs will also love these new tunes. Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators is not to be missed by anyone who is lovin' this modern take on jazz.
07/12: La Redoute Catalogue Launch, The Royal Academy of Arts, London
07/14: Ffalm Festival, Swansea Bay
07/21: Washtock, The Washington, Sheffield
08/11: Peace in the Park, Sheffield
08/20: Edinburgh Fringe Festival
08/21: Edinburgh Fringe Festival
08/22: Edinburgh Fringe Festival
08/23: Edinburgh Fringe Festival
08/24: Edinburgh Fringe Festival
08/25: Edinburgh Fringe Festival
08/26: Edinburgh Fringe Festival
09/01: Electrik Picnic Festival, Ireland
Fred and Marion are a real couple in their band, The Lovers. They're currently based out of Sheffield and play off French stereotypes, such as they all dress in French maid costumes and love their wine and sex.
All the songs I've heard from them seem to be about sex, actually. For instance, "Christmas Tree" is not about a Christmas tree, or is it?
They seem to be a cross between Stereo Total, Pulp (This is Hardcore era), and Gravy Train!!!!, so if you like either of those bands, you should enjoy the Lovers. I only mention Pulp, because Jarvis Cocker wrote three songs for them.
Their song "La Le", which I'll include their video here, is about masculine vs feminine. He's singing about flowers and she's singing about mushroom as he goes on about beer and she's saying sausages (??). I don't speak French, by the way.
You can get French Kiss (Radio 6 Live Session) off their website. The song is about how Fred likes to French Kiss while Marion likes to do a strip tease. I think the best part of the song is the kazoo-sounding instrument (maybe a melodyhorn?).
PS, by the way, the Lovers icon image that I'm using for W♥M was definitely stolen from the Lovers. I couldn't find the original image off their website anymore, but they've added a lot more photos than the last time I've visited their website.
2006: Keith
2005: The Young Knives
2004: 10,000 Things
Bombay Bicycle Club were all fellow classmates and formed when they were 15 years old, just two years ago. They were named after an Indian restraunt in London, but I am almost sure they kept it because of the initials (BBC).
Their first major break was a rock competition for Road to V. Among the thousands and thousands of bands, they were chosen 2006's Road To V Winners by judges Tim Burgess (The Charlatans), Steve Harris (Virgin Radio DJ), and Mags Ravel (music promoter).
They put out their debut EP called The Boy I Used to Be and went on tour, supporting previous Road to V winners, The Young Knives.
By the way, The Boy I Used to Be is available on CD and the uncommon 10" vinyl (I guess they couldn't fit the four songs on a standard 7").
vu 
www.bombaybicycleclubmusic.com
myspace.com/bombaybicycleclub
Flight of Conchords are a duo from Wellington, New Zealand; Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie. They are, in their own words, "New Zealand's 4th most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo" or in simpler terms, "New Zealand's fourth most popular folk-parody duo". Most of their performances include acoustic guitars and humorous banter. They probably received the most recognition (in the US) from their appearance on HBO's comedy series One Night Stand in which they performed seven songs; the whole show can be viewed on Google Video. When I first saw them, I was wary of the whole comedians-with-musical-instruments routine, but these guys actually mix the instruments with their witty material really well. They recently signed a 12-episode deal with HBO for a self-titled series about them "trying to achieve success in New York City as a band" (Wiki).
They released an album in 2002 of live material called Folk the World Tour featuring 2 studio-recorded tracks, "Something Special for the Ladies" and the Lord of the Rings inspired "Frodo". In 2005, they wrote a six-part, half-hour radio series for BBC Radio 2. "Presented in a 'mockumentary' style the series follows the duo's move to London and all the trials and tribulations they encounter along the way; from being shot by an arrow and dealing with stalker fans to the threat of the band breaking up. Interspersed throughout, are songs which seem to fit each situation" (SmokeCDs). In 2006, it was made available through Audible, Amazon (Canada) (UK), and SmokeCDs.
Aside from Flight of the Conchords, Jemaine and Bret have other side-projects:
Jemaine was part of The Humourbeasts with Taika Cohen (who is also credited as Taika Waititi). I don't know much about the project, but from this thread,
I gather that it was a theatrical sketch-comedy duo. Jemaine is also a
screenwriter/actor who co-wrote and co-starred in a movie called Tongan Ninja
which is an english-dubbed english film done in the style of poorly
dubbed martial arts movies about a ninja trying to save the woman he
loves. Jemaine played the villain, Action Fighter/Marvin. And in 2006,
he appeared in a couple of Outback Steakhouse commercials.
Bret is part of an 8-member band called The Black Seeds with a "reggae, dub, funk and soul" influence (site bio) and also has a solo project called The Video Kid which is more electronic, synth, folk sounding. He was an extra in The Fellowship of the Ring as an elf and nicknamed Figwit by fans which is an acronym for "Frodo is grea...who is THAT?!?" And thanks to some hardcore fans, Peter Jackson gave him a speaking part in The Return of the King. There's a fansite called Figwit Lives! dedicated to the elf and the man who played him.
Jemaine will star in a film called Eagle vs. Shark written and directed by his Humourbeasts pal Taika Cohen (Waititi). It's a "tale of two socially awkward misfits and the strange ways they try to find love; through revenge on high-school bullies, burgers, and video games" (IMDb). The film has received much praise including winning Best Screenplay at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival and being the Official Selection at both the Sundance Film Festival and SXSW Film Festival and is set to be released on June 15. Their HBO series will premiere two days later on June 17, but if that seems a bit too far, the full pilot episode can be viewed here. Much more info about Flight of the Conchords can be obtained from a great fansite called What the Folk!.
Jason :: Official Site | What the Folk! (fansite)
I'm afraid I don't know anything about this all-girls band called Vyvyan. Their fan website (members.fortunecity.com) is completely worthless.
What I do know is that they were 12 years old when they formed their band. They released their first single Teenage Wannabees on Abuse Records in February 1998.
They (Hannah Montaigue, Amanda Faircloth, Holly May, and Ruth Slatter) were 18 years old at the height of their stardom in 2000 (which would make them about 24 now). I'm almost certain they broke up by now, as I haven't heard much from them since 2000.
So far, they've managed to release: Mood Swings, Going Out and Do Me A Favour (all EPs). They've also collected a few singles into another "Teenage Wannabees" 9-track EP (which is sold at most online stores, including Wal-Mart???)
So, the track you're going to hear is "Going Out" from Steve Lamacq at BBC Radio One, who was a big fans of theirs.
vu 
Links: www.musicstack.com | www.philford.org
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