One For The Road (The Kinks) – Album Review

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“One For The Road” Was Released In 1980. It Showcased The Kinks As True Stadio Warriors.

“One For The Road” Was Released In 1980. It Depicted The Kinks As True Stadium Warriors.

To many, this live album is the one that incarnates The Kinks’ glory days during the late ‘70s/early ‘80s. It acted as a sort of story book in which the band – a true pioneer of “loud” genres such as punk and (up to a point) metal showed how they had helped define those genres, and how it was capable of blending in with current movements without really losing its touch, and without Ray Davies’ legendary eye becoming blurred at all. Thus, we have a version of “You Really Got Me” that is done in the vein of Van Halen, and a rendering of “Lola” that has a disco-inflected ending.

The contemporary album “Low Budget” is the one better-represented here. Many songs are extended both instrumentally and lyrically (the title track is one of the clearest examples, and “Wish I Could Fly Like Superman” is done as a straight up rock song – it loses the disco edge). “Pressure” is the one exception, with the song being abridged (and it was a short song to begin with). Just when you are becoming drawn to it, it finishes – but rather explosively, I must say. And “National Health” was one of the most played songs from the album here in Uruguay and in Argentina.

I don’t have to tell you that the remaining of the disc is made up of a smattering of old tunes. Hey, we are talking about Ray Davies here. He takes his nostalgia seriously. The band performs “Stop Your Sobbing”, “Where Have The Good Times Gone”, the ultra-popular “All Day And All Of The Night” and even “Till The End Of The Day”. That particular song receives a bizarre reggae treatment that is as disconcerting on subsequent listens as the first time around. And they also do “Victoria”, but the CD version is (sorrowfully) abridged.

The same happens with “Celluloid Heroes” and “Misfits”, but speaking of the latter I prefer this version to its studio counterpart – even if it misses a key section, the sound is less furnished on the whole and it truly reflects the sincerity that lies at the nucleus of the song.

I must tell you that the CD edition of the concert originally omitted one of the best tracks found on the two-LP album, “20th Century Man”. That was thankfully set to right in the Konk/Velvel reissue. Continue reading →

SeeJoeRock – A Social Networking Site For Indie Musicians

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SeeJoeRock
Name: SeeJoeRock
URL: http://www.seejoerock.com

Forget about “America’s Got Talent”, the Internet is where the chances of being discovered lie for any young performer (Greyson Chance) or for those who did never get the exposure in their day (Steve Moore). There is something incredibly idyllic about it all- it is the knowledge that if you are good, you are making it. The Internet obliterates the loathsome meet-and-greet tradition that places all the emphasis on who you know, and not on what you can do. And new performers know it by now.

I think that is the reason why there are lots of social sites for indie musicians available. Well, this is a new one – and it is quite comprehensive if you ask me. Bands can create their own profile pages, upload their songs, stream their videos and create a calendar that highlights upcoming gigs. They interact both with fellow musicians and with members of the public while doing it all. And they also do get a chance to interact with industry professionals. That is a possibility that is not offered in that many networks for indie musicians as far as I can tell. Continue reading →

Caroline Bottomley (Radar Music Videos) – Interview (Part 2)

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This is the final part of the interview I conducted with Caroline Bottomley from Radar Music Videos. The first one is right here – give it a good look if you haven’t already done so.

PART II

MUSIC & YOU

When did you become interested in music? What was the first album or single you ever purchased?

I think I was about 14. I started reading NME, then I started memorizing it. I think Tubular Bells was my first album, or How Dare You by 10CC.

Are you in a band yourself, or have you been in a band in the past? Is there a clip on YouTube or elsewhere we could watch?

Wish I had been in a band, I didn’t play an instrument and for some reason thought I couldn’t learn. I should have been a manager obviously but I wasn’t. And sadly no, no old clips of me with my proper Mohican pvc trousers and Chelsea boots with chains on them. Hey ho.

Musical likes and dislikes? Favorite artists?

Oh dear. I like so many different things. I’m enjoying a bit of 70s folk and rock type stuff at the moment, Brinsley Schwarz, Colin Blunstone. Continue reading →

Caroline Bottomley (Radar Music Videos) – Interview (Part 1)

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Caroline Bottomley from Radar Music Videos (a startup I reviewed recently) was kind enough to answer my questions about her company, the Internet and also about her favorite music. You can find the first part of the interview below. The second (and final) part is here.

http://www.radarmusicvideos.com

http://www.radarmusicvideos.com

Full Name: Caroline Bottomley
Startup: RadarMusicVideos

PART I

THE STARTUP

Tell us a little about your startup. How was it conceived? What are its most distinctive features in your opinion?

I had been thinking about setting up a business nearly all my life. I had been thinking about doing something around short film and the internet but a lot of people seemed to be in that space already (2006). I’ve always loved music videos but had never worked in music video. I wanted to get back into working with music, plus I got that great inside buzz feeling about setting it up, so that’s what happened. It’s most distinctive features are it opens doors for directors.

What was the original launch date?

The first public launch of Radar was January 07, when it launched as a music video festival at the Apple Store in London. It’s changed a lot since then.

What has been the response so far? In which countries has it been more successful?

Nearly all the response I hear is positive – directors think it’s great and commissioners who use it also think it’s great. It’s been most successful in the UK, with some success already in the US.

What features can we expect to see implemented in future revisions?

For the moment development is mainly about making the site do what it does better – easier/faster/more intuitively etc. There are some plans for innovation, but we’ve innovated a lot recently and we need to tidy up what we’ve got already. Continue reading →

A Secret History – The Best Of The Divine Comedy

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The One And Only Divine Comedy Compilation Released So Far Has Been "A Secret History" (1999).

The One And Only Divine Comedy Compilation Released So Far Has Been "A Secret History" (1999).

This compilation was released in 1999, at a time in which the band led by Neil Hannon was as much in the public eye as it had ever been in the critics’. The last two albums (“Casanova” and “Fin De Siecle”, issued in 1996 and 1998 respectively) had been a breakthrough in terms of overcoming the commercial apathy that had always surrounded this exuberant chamber pop outfit. It was the right moment to show those who began listening then just what had been the genesis of that sound – something that (for the most part) was nothing but a well-kept secret.

As a result, this 17-track compilation brought together all the recent hits and quasi-hits along with fan favorites and some new songs, remixes and rerecordings.

The major successes the band had (in terms of sales, at least) were featured in their original versions. Those included “Something For The Weekend”, “The Frog Princess”, “Becoming More Like Alfie” and “National Express”. Of those, the best-known cut must be “Something For The Weekend” (it hit number 13 upon its release). I personally did never like the song that much, as I find it too facile – it has a lot of charm but not a lot of depth. It represents the one facet of the band that the general public could like more easily – but it does so at the expense of the other.

Songs like “Everybody Knows (Except You)” combined intellectuality and sass far better, whereas “The Summerhouse” and “Tonight We Fly” (from the conceptual album “Promenade”, a record that told the story of two lovers spending a day by the sea) showcased Hannon at his most yearning and approachable.

For it part, “Songs Of Love” will always remain one of the most authentic examples of baroque pop in existence, with its mellifluous harpsichord and ornate lyrics where the link between the pursuit of artistic beauty and carnal satisfaction is wryly analyzed. Continue reading →

The Divine Comedy – General Introduction

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Neil Hannon Has Always Been The Heart & Soul Of The Divine Comedy

Neil Hannon Has Always Been The Heart & Soul Of The Divine Comedy

The Divine Comedy has the unfortunate distinction of being discussed as a band whose musical greatness is only matched by how abysmally it has been marketed from the very beginning. Listening to their albums is as enthralling as it is frustrating – the mere thought of music so articulate and witty being confined to a selected public is unfulfilling, in the same way that it gives you the aggrandizing feeling that comes from having discovered something that is clearly a cut above the rest, and that hasn’t been vitiated by being exposed to the most ordinate cognition.

Speaking with property, when we talk about The Divine Comedy we are talking about a single man that has been accompanied by a revolving set of musicians. This man is Neil Hannon, an Irish-born performer that possesses a phenomenal bag of pipes and a stage presence that equals the elegance and verve of his compositions. I personally find him the closest to a modern-day Oscar Wilde in his dandyism and mercurial wit.

The Divine Comedy has released 11 albums during its career. Although the band did never have a bonafide hit, there was some serious chart activity at the time they released their fourth album. “Casanova” (1996). They were able to piggyback on the furor caused by British bands like Oasis and Blur and land a Top 20 single in the shape of “Something For The Weekend”. And the song “Becoming More Like Alfie” (culled from the same disc) did also hit the Top 30. Continue reading →

Meet Steve Moore, The Mad Drummer (Video)

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A video that is going viral any minute now, this chap plays the drums as if there were no tomorrow. And he doesn’t miss a single beat. Amazing.

This chap goes by the name of Steve Moore, and he has already been dubbed “The Mad Drummer” for reasons that are obvious once you have seen him in action.

I bet this is his final gig with these yellow-jacketed fellows. And I am also sure we are going to see a lot more of him in the future.

Enjoy the video. The song is ZZ Top’s classic “Sharp Dressed Man”, by the way.

The Official “Quit Facebook Day” Gave Birth To A Music Parody By Rapper SeanieMic

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Facebook privacy this, Facebook privacy that… it looks like the whole world can’t find anything else to talk about. And while the topic at hand is a legit cause of concern, it seems not enough people are worried enough to change their ways and turn their backs on the site that experts claim will revolutionize the Internet like Google did in the ‘90s when it introduced AdSense.

Well, that is the impression I am left with after seeing the results of the official “Quit Facebook Day” that took just place on the 31st of May. Can you guess how many people quitted Facebook from the 400,000,000 users that the network has? A staggering 20,000. Hey, no, wait, that’s not it – 20,000 folks pledged to quit. The actual number of people who jumped ship must have been much lower. The word “flop” doesn’t get much more suitable than this.

So, did something good come out of the official “Quit Facebook Day”? Well, this music video is the closest thing I managed to find. It is a parody rap anthem by SeanieMic, and it is named… “I’m Quitting You Facebook”.

Pretty cool. If you liked it, give this previous post a try – it includes a metal hair anthem by Back Of The Class called “My Mom’s On Facebook”. Lots of fun too.

Majid ALSarra (Lyreach) – Interview (Part 2)

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This is the final part of my interview with Majid from Lyreach.
Read the first part of this interview (“The Startup”) right here.

PART II

MUSIC & YOU

When did you become interested in music? What was the first album or single you ever purchased?

At a very young age, when watching cartoons  🙂 .. then I started listening to pop music, the first album I ever purchased was “Bat Out of Hell” by “Meat Loaf” when I was 14, and I still love it!

Are you in a band yourself, or have you been in a band in the past? Is there a clip on YouTube or elsewhere we could watch?

Nope!

Musical likes and dislikes? Favorite artists?

I don’t focus on one artist or genre, I like Madonna, Linkin Park , Leona Lewis, Beyonce, The Saturdays…and a lot more. Quite some time ago I was crazy about Enya, Enigma, and New Age in general, now they’re the bands I listen to the least.

If you had to name the song that moves you the most, what would it be? Can you pinpoint the reason why?

Definitely “I Believe In You” by IL Divo and Celine Dion, it’s the most encouraging song I ever heard, its lyrics are brimming with the deepest, noblest emotions. Continue reading →

Majid ALSarra (Lyreach) – Interview (Part 1)

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I had a chat with Majid ALSarra from Lyreach (the innovative search engine for lyrics that I featured last month on MusicKO) where he revealed the inspiration behind the project and his plans for the future. You can find it below. And don’t forget to check out Part 2 (“Music & You”).

Majid ALSarra

Majid ALSarra

Full Name: Majid ALSarra
Age: 29
Startup: Lyreach
Position: Founder

PART I

THE STARTUP


Tell us a little about your startup. How was it conceived?

Everything started two years ago, I used to be a software developer my whole life and I really loved it, but in mid-2008 I decided to be a boring man ,working in a boring field called business continuity in a startup bank started by the government.

I tried stupidly to live with such a situation, to have what I thought was a stable life, then I exploded.

I began programming everything like crazy; I was searching for a killer idea, I had been searching for such a thing even before the bank job. I have always been enthusiastic about the Web, but when I was in the bank I was too depressed to find a good idea.

And because I didn’t know “anything” about business continuity, I was searching in Google, and translating some stuff in a dictionary – in both cases using auto-completed sentences. “Google suggest” gave me some nice (but limited) recommendations. A lot of sentences that looked like what I had typed were featured, but I thought “why they’re not here in the suggestions?. Even when I click the “Search” button, it gives results that have the words of the input sentence separated randomly in a lot of results, even when I put the double quotation marks, I can see the sentence alone in the results, but I have to open the link and search for the sentence to find its context…” Then the idea popped out!

It kept brewing it in my mind for a while, and I began programming some code and testing it on some Wikipedia pages, I had more complicated (and also more useful) ideas than this one, but I didn’t have the time to implement them, so I decided to go ahead with this one.

Searching the whole Web was too huge for my tiny budget, that was why I thought about Wikipedia, but then I realized it would take ages to crawl their 6000,000 articles (English only!). So, I kept living as usual with these search ideas in my head, until I noticed how unpleasant it was when I heard a part of a song and could not find it by searching using only that specific part. It all clicked then, and the idea was finally conceived 🙂

What was the original launch date?

No exact date, it was there on the web for a long time while I was debugging it, then I told some friends to test it, and then I finally put the ads on Facebook & Google sometime in mid-May.

What has been the response so far?

It’s been good, a lot of sites & blogs talk about it all over the world, especially in Italy! Continue reading →