Florence and The Machine.......thoughts
This is a very short blog to say how much I love Florence and The Machine. I know that she's been around for a while now and we had all heard most of the album before it was released but I still, almost a year later, find her music really refreshing.
This lyrics are poetic, romantic and beautiful without being a sobby mess like you'd expect.
I just wanted to share with everyone how much i'm enjoying the new age Kate Bush, hippy(ish), jangly, Florence and The Machine.
P.S....These really are the best words to describe it.
It's all about the new bands..
...or is it?
These days it seems that everyone is so hyped about new bands and new sounds but what was ever wrong with established bands and sounds? They were just as good.
Everyone champions a band and their debut album but then when they come back with that 'difficult' second album everyone can jump around to be the first to slate them. Granted, there are some bands who do fall at the second hurdle - like the Kaiser Chiefs and Razorlight - but what about the bands that have amazing second albums...why are they pushed aside for the new bands?
Take The Futureheads. Their second album...OK. It wasn't great, though - there were a couple of good singles but that was it. Eeveryone was willing to forget them and then they came back with a really good third album! I think if critics weren't so quick to disregard these bands, and record labels gave them more time to put together a good album we'd have a lot more bands about, producing some really exciting contemporary music.
It's not just the new bands who can produce the new sounds.
Festivals: Home vs Away
We all have our favourite festivals that we want to go to every year. Mine's always been Reading - I just love the atmosphere, and there's always such a big group of us going; it's hard not to have an amazing time.
But...the last couple of years I've gone to festivals both at home and away, and I hate to say it but the away festivals kinda win.
The last couple of years I've travelled to Lowlands festival in Holland and I love it. The line-up is always amazing, tickets are always cheaper than any UK festival, the people are so much friendlier. And to top it off there's a theme park just around the corner! It's A-MA-ZING!
I will always love Reading and will always go, but I think that festivals abroad are catching up - and in some cases winning the best festival battles.
Musical Musings for 2009
Oh how exciting...I love the whole idea of everything being new at the beginning of a new year. However, after 10 minutes I realise most of the hype is rubbish and remember not to believe star signs. This year I will not be getting married or moving country, I'm pretty sure of that.
One thing that is exciting is the new music that is certain to surface this year. I have a feeling there are a couple of bands and people that will be huge this year.
The first, my favourite: Florence and the Machine. She's already had a good 2008 but with her album due out and being on the NME tour she's gonna be big. So go listen all.
I fist heard of VV Brown when she was on Jools Holland's BBC 2 show late last year. She was filling in for someone that dropped out. Her music was so catchy and upbeat it's been in my head ever since. And if she's not big this year I'll be in shock.
Lady Gaga. Part of me hates her. But the other part loves her. Her catchy upbeat, dance, pop mix is annoyingly catchy but I think if she does get very big, which she could, she'll become tiresome very quickly.
And lastly...Mumford and Sons. I've had the joy of seeing them quite a few times, and every time I become slightly more impressed by what I hear. They remind me of how I first felt when I first heard the Maccabees. I kinda fell in love with them a little bit. I'm not saying that they sound like the Maccabees but I think they will reach a small audience quite quickly who will stay with them.
xx
2008
Okay, so it's the end of the year and such a cliché...but it's time to share my favourite musical treats with you of 2008!
Kings of Leon - Only by the night
Such a brilliant album, there isn't a bad song on it. Anyone who's heard it will tell you that. I've always been a big KOL fan and I know this year has been the year everyone became a fan. I think their turning point was last summer - when they de-haired!! As soon as they got less hairy they became big. So what have we learnt here? Beards are not good.
Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires
Again, amazing!!! This just reminds me of every Saturday night. We put this on, have a couple of drinks and go out. I think that's what this is. It just puts you in a good mood. It's that simple. Many people will say they're trying to be the Klaxons, but that's rubbish. They're in a league of their own.
Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim
How did Laura Marling not win the Mercury Music Prize? This album is sooo beautiful. She deserves much more success. She has written some AMAZING songs that the likes of Duffy could only dream of. Her tone and sincerity is beyond her years and I'm so jealous of her talent.
Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell
This is probably not an obvious choice, or an album anyone has actually heard. But I love it! I first saw TPC last summer at Reading and I was blown away - they had so much energy and somehow they've managed to replicate that in their album.
Thomas Tantrum - Thomas Tantrum
I went to uni in Southampton and saw Thomas Tantrum so many times, and each time is better than the last. They have that quirky pop edge to them and their lyrics and dynamic is a thousand times better that this year's successful Ting Tings. Anyone that hasn't heard them should do so NOW!
I didn't want to make this into a masssssive list of things so here are a couple more things I loved in 2008:
The Inbetweeners
High School Musical 3
Reggae Reggae Sauce
Gordan Ramsay
Danny Wallace
Gavin and Stacey
Justin Lee Collins
Heath Ledger
Barack Obama
Girls Aloud
The X Factor
Santogold
Florence and the Machine
Ladyhawke
Vampire Weekend
Batman
Cardigans
That's about it!
xxx