When I set about writing this blog, I was keen to make most of the posts positive. I’m about to break that unwritten rule. This cover version – which I was able to tolerate only around a minute of – is overblown rubbish. Yes, the voices are in tune, and it’s based on a good [...]
Do great band members make good solo artists? That’s the question I’ve found myself pondering in the last 10 minutes or so, since stumbling on Gomez (or, as it sounds like, just Ben Ottewell) doing their (or his) version of Wichita Lineman. Ben Ottewell released his own solo album – Shapes and Shadows – at [...]
What makes a good cover version? Is it authenticity to the original work, or taking the canvas of the original and painting over it with something entirely different? I think there are good examples of both. Mark Cox, regular commenter on this fine blog, recently introduced me to the mighty fine The Civil Wars. Check [...]
I had an interesting revelation not too long ago. Needing to concentrate at work, I put on my headphones. Deciding I needed something different to listen to from my usual day time fayre - that usually being 6 Music or random tunes on Spotify – I put on a spot of Dvořák. Yes, you read that right. Dvořák. [...]
Tonight, listening to a few songs, I was reminded of the unexpected pleasure that was the Magic Numbers bursting into a glorious cover of Neil Young’s Cowgirl in the Sand when I saw them recently at Tapestry Goes West at Shenley Park. There’s been a few times recently, including this one, where I’ve been impressed [...]
As it’s Pancake Day today, I thought I’d see what pancake-related songs I could find in my collection. (Un)fortunately, I don’t appear to have an songs directly about pancakes, but I do have some that feature pancake-related items in their titles. So, without further ado, here’s a short soundtrack for you while you’re flipping your [...]
This isn’t a blog about any particular song, album or gig. It’s more about the joy of discovering a new song or band for the first time. Let’s face it, there’s too much good stuff out there to be aware of it all, but finding something new you like is always a pleasure. Most recently [...]
I love you through sparks and shining dragons, I do. And now there’s poetry, in an empty Coke can. Those lyrics open up the Guillemots’ Made Up Love Song #43, and is one of the most arresting lyrical introductions to a song I’ve heard. I’m not normally a lyrics man – the music behind a [...]
This is a cracking song. While I was hard at work yesterday, this came blaring out of my iPod. I’d forgotten how good it was and hand to rewind it to listen to again at least twice! It starts with a frantic, extended intro, then breaks into a superb blues-rock number with some cracking guitar [...]
Ah, Deus. Who’s heard of them? Sadly, I don’t think they’re as well known in the UK as they ought to be. I was introduced to them by two good friends. I’m pleased I was. They herald from Belgium, but sing in English. Instant Street is six-minute-plus epic of a song, thanks to the elaborate [...]
Musings on moving moments in music.