CD Review - Justin Nozuka - Holly

I like this album, simple acoustic guitar and vocals but good catchy pop tunes.

JUSTIN NOZUKA - HOLLY
(OUTCASTE)
Release: MARCH 26

Renowned Japanese author Haruki Murakami writes in his most famous book about a man trapped at the bottom of a well, his pleas unanswered, left watching the stars and sky. Fellow countryman Justin Nozuka begins his album with a song written from the helpless man at the bottom but soon finds a way out to sunshine and better times. Covering long distance relationships, love and rejection the 18 year old doesn't tread any new ground but his fantastic vocal range and ear for a hit more than makes up for that. Cut from a similar cloth as acoustic pop youngster Paolo Nutini, Nozuka has created a great album of pop gems, pained ballads and soul songs.

Download: After Tonight, Criminal, Mr Therapy Man
For fans of: Paolo Nutini, Bret Dennen
Rating:

Justin Nozuka Myspace

White Stripes tour dates announced

The White Stripes, just after their first single 'Icky Thump' was made available exclusively through iTunes (in the US only) have announced some tour dates. CD and Vinyl versions of the single will be available in the UK on June 11th through Third Man Records/XL Recordings.

06-01 Nuerburgring, Germany - Rock Am Ring Festival
06-02 Nurnberg, Germany - Rock Im Park Festival
06-04 Vienna, Austria - Gasometer
06-06 Rome, Italy - Tenda Strisce
06-07 Milan, Italy - Idroscalo
06-09 Lisbon, Portugal - Alive Festival
06-11 Paris, France - Zenith
06-14 London, England - Hyde Park (O2 Wireless Festival)
06-15 Leeds, England - Harewood House (O2 Wireless Festival)
06-17 Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Festival
06-24 Burnaby, British Columbia - Deer Lake Park
06-25 Whitehorse, Yukon - Yukon Arts Centre
06-26 Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - Shorty Brown Multiplex Arena
06-27 Iqaluit, Nunavut - Arctic Winter Games Arena
06-29 Calgary, Alberta - Pengrowth Saddledome
06-30 Edmonton, Alberta - Shaw Convention Center
07-01 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - TCU Place
07-02 Winnipeg, Manitoba - MTS Centre
07-03 Thunder Bay, Ontario - Community Auditorium
07-05 Toronto, Ontario - Molson Amphitheatre
07-06 Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
07-07 London, Ontario - John Labatt Centre
07-08 Ottawa, Ontario - LeBreton Flats Park (Ottawa Bluesfest)
07-10 Moncton, New Brunswick - Moncton Coliseum Arena
07-11 Charlottetown, Price Edward Island - Charlottetown Civic Centre
07-13 Halifax, Nova Scotia - Cunard Centre
07-14 Glace Bay, Nova Scotia - Savoy Theatre
07-16 St. John's, Newfoundland - Mile One Center
07-22 Portland, ME - Cumberland Civic Center
07-23 Boston, MA - Agganis Arena
07-24 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
07-25 Wallingford, CT - Chevrolet Theater
07-27 Wilmington, DE - Grand Opera House
07-28 Fairfax, VA - Patriot Center
07-29 North Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues
07-30 Birmingham, AL - Sloss Furnaces
07-31 Southaven, MS - Snowden Grove Park Amphitheate

Maria Taylor live dates

The wonderful Maria Taylor is touring the UK in support of her new album. Read my review of 11:11, her debut here. Catch her:
MAY
09th Brighton @ The Hope
10th London @ Metro
12th Manchester @ The Phoenix
13th Glasgow @ Nice n Sleazy
14th Newcastle @ The Cumberland Arms

PRAISE FOR LYNN TEETER FLOWER:

“...it’s songs such as the seductive opener A Good Start that a make Maria Taylor a name you should get to know.” The Sun 4/5

“Lynn Teeter Flower? blooming marvellous” Word

“A winning hybrid of indie neuroses and Brill Building craft, precision and intimacy...” Uncut

The first time Maria Taylor’s graceful voice was heard through our speakers, we knew it was love at first listen. On Azure Ray’s 2001 debut, she sang with a knowledge and a weariness that made us trust and believe her words, fragile tones fragmented through soft acoustic strumming and velvety textures. Skip forward four short years later to when Maria set off on her own for a while, resulting in the stunning solo album called 11:11. A critical smash that wrapped her now-familiar voice in everything from acoustic folk to electronic dream pop, the album established Maria as a master storyteller with a flare for perfect, harmony-soaked melodies.To follow up a stunning debut, Maria has put together another glimmering collection of songs in the shape of her second solo record, Lynn Teeter Flower.

News: arctic monkeys full album stream

The Arctic Monkeys are streaming their full album streaming here for the next couple days: Listen.

CD review: Jana Hunter - There's No Home

I remember persuading my friend Arron to buy "Oh Me Oh My... the Way the Day Goes By the Sun Is Setting Dogs Are Dreaming Lovesongs of the Christmas Spirit" by Devendra Banhart. As he sat in his room listening to the singer whoop and screech and then repeat in his psychotic mumble,

"Yeah you certainly are nice people, nice people
Certainly are nice people

In your white ass suit and lion tattoos
In your white ass suit and lion tattoos"

our friend Rob walked in. Concerned that Arron might be embarking down a road with no return, he asked
'What on earth is this?'
"Oh," replied Arron "it's something Andy recommend to me".
The two exchanged knowing glances about the nonsense I listen to. I was reminded of that moment when I put this record in the CD player.

JANA HUNTER - THERE'S NO HOME
(Gnomansong)

RELEASE: 28 MAY 2007

The second full-length from Jana Hunter is basically Devendra Banhart with a higher voice. In fact the weird-folkster releases this record on his own label and his influence is everywhere. Guitars gently strum, melodies take unexpected turns and there is a lot of unsettling backing vocals. If freeform song structure and freak-folk is your thing, then Christmas has come early. As extrovert as her previous release was introvert, 'There's No Hope' verges on sing-along choruses drums and the odd electric guitar. She shouldn't be written off as a mere Banhart disciple as her quietly radiant voice with its own strange, feverish luster is seductive and addictive after a few listens.

Download: Exact To Me, Lightning
For fans of: CocoRosie, Devandra Banhart, Metallic Falcons
Rating: 3/5

Stream: Jana Hunter: Various Tracks

Buy from Amazon

www.gnomonsong.com
www.myspace.com/janahunter

Joost invites

Want to be part of the next big thing?



They guys that brought us Napster and Skype are back. This time with a revolutionary new idea called Joost (it sounds like juiced). It's internet TV, with knobs on.

Surf through hundreds of channels, pick the show or film you like and watch it. That simple. They have some clever technology that means the streaming is much better than standard internet streaming. Anyway, I'm an official beta tester so I can say with some authority, it works.

If you want to be a part of the revolution before it goes official, I have 3 invites to give away. Just leave a comment at the bottom of this post saying how much you want one and it could be you!

Exclusive! Ryan Adams interview and performance

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals will be performing "What Sin Replaces Love" from their new album Easy Tiger on the Henry Rollins Show.

You can check out www.ifc.com for an extra Web only exclusive Ryan Adams performance of "Good Night Rose" plus an interview with the band where Ryan talks about his musical influences---comparing Black Flag to the Dead and sharing his grandparents roll in introducing him to country music. Ryan appears to be in one of his talkative moods, where he just can't shut up.

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals performing "Goodnight Rose":

Exclusive, Web-only band interview:

The Henry Rollins Show: Fridays at 11pm ET

Borne

Australian indie band suddenly breaks into the rest of the world.

BORNE

You probably won't have heard of them. And that's ok. I hadn't either.

After a low key digital release, the 23rd of Febuary Borne's album, "Loss of Signal" was sitting in the top 20 on the Amercian Billboard Digital charts www.billboard.com as well as being catapulted into the TOP 50 in Japan and New Zealand, the TOP 20 in the UK and Canada, and the TOP 10 in the USA, Australia and France on iTunes.

Now they're shaping up to be hot stuff. Listen to "The Guide":

Real

High

Windows

High

Loss Of Signal

Jellyfish Records

Released worldwide on 2/13/07 via digital download stores

http://www.bornemusic.com/

http://www.myspace.com/borneaustralia

U2 3D

This is what IMAX was made for. The biggest band in the world on the biggest screens in the world, in 3D. U2 say
"The feature length film, shot during U2’s visit to South America on the Vertigo Tour, is directed by Catherine Owens, with additional direction from Mark Pellington. The movie will arrive in specialist 3D cinemas in the autumn and a trailer has just begun airing alongside the only other 3D film to come out this year, Disney’s ‘Meet The Robinsons’.

Owens, longtime collaborator with U2 on live-show visuals, says 'this was the ultimate challenge in presenting U2’. But the results, she predicts, will startle audiences.

'There is no comparison with a traditional concert film seen in 2D... One minute you are on stage with the band and the next you are at the back of the stadium.' 'The best way I can describe it for the viewer,' she adds, 'Is that it's like being on the wings of a bird flying around the concert stadium - it's really something else.'"

Judging from the trailer it will be an experience. One I can't wait for.

ARCTIC MONKEYS

ARCTIC MONKEYS
Favourite Worst Nightmare
Domino Records / Warner
April 24, 2007

catch the video from the new album here:

VIDEO: "Brianstorm"

wmv HIGH

Real [high]

Quicktime [high]

CD Review: Fireworks Night - As Fools We Are

Another little review recently featured in Alternative Ulster.

FIREWORKS NIGHT - AS FOOLS WE ARE

(ORGAN GRINDER RECORDS)

Release: APRIL 30

Fireworks night are an Oxford-educated, alternative/folk/expiremental 9 piece outfit investigating on their second album sounding "the human capacity for love and for violence and how these impulses can co-exist in an individual and in the world as a whole". They do this with a diverse selection of songs ranging from sparse acoustic, 'The Prettier Part', to full-on hyper-infused cabaret, 'What You Don't Know'. While interesting there's nothing new and the lack of melodies will limit appeal.

Download:Her Shiny Teeth, What You Don't Know, The Empty Orchestra
For fans of: Sparklehorse, The Divine Comedy
Rating: 3/5

New Josh Rouse album

Another bit of news, July 16 will see the release of a new Josh Rouse record. ‘Country Mouse, City House’ will be released on Nettwerk records.

New Ryan Adams album delay

Not sure why but just heard from the horse's mouth that Easy Tiger, the new Ryan Adams album, is being put back to June 25 (at least in the UK, not sure about the USA). I guess we'll just have to wait that bit longer.

A funny video

My dad sent me a link to this video and it's pretty good. The Tour de France cycles past a horse which decides to get in on the act and out-runs all the race, causing quite a comotion!

New Cold War Kids video

Cold War Kids playing back stage in Paris.



If anyone wants a CWK lithograph and leaves a comment right away they might just get one.

Impossible Germany

I'm just listening to the new Wilco record, and to the third track, Impossible Germany. It's one of those superb, effortlessly beautiful songs with the incredible guitar work of Nels Cline stamped all over it. This track is perhaps the most similar to A Ghost Is Born, it begins with a simple minor riff, and the verse progresses in a minimalistic style with dashes of lead guitar over the top. After a couple of verses Nels gets free reign to release one of his perfect solos that we heard on the Kicking Television record. Wilco improve so much with him in the band, he's not flash and restrains himself from showing off preferring to play what's necessary for the benefit of the song.

Anyway, it's a great song. The rest of the album's not bad either.