Swear I'm not Paul: 27/07/2008

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Saturday, August 2, 2008

Setlist: Tom Waits, The Ratcellar, Phoenix Park, Dublin, 1 August 2008

Don't know if Johnny Depp was at last night's show, but myself and the other half are going to visit all the Dublin hotels to try and stalk him out!

Lucinda
Raindogs/Russian Dance
Down in the hole
I'll shoot the moon
Other side of the world
Falling Down
Jesus' gonna be here
Tom Traubert's Blues
Heart of Saturday Night
Lost in the Harbor
House Where Nobody Lives
Innocent When you Dream
Hoist That Rag
Cemetery Polka
Green Grass
Long Way Home
Lie to Me
Blue Valentines
Trampled Rose
Eyeball Kid
Going Out West
God's Away on Business
Make it Rain
----
16 Shells from a thirty-ought six
Heigh Ho
Dirt in the Ground
Metropolitan Glide
Lucky Day

Download: Live Counting Crows

Counting Crows have announced the launch of their new download site, LiveCountingCrows.com where you can download every show they play from 28th of July onwards. Unfortunately that's too late for either the Ambassador or Oxegen performances from this year, but when they play the O2 Point in December, it'll be on there.

The downloads cost $9.95 for 128kbps mp3, seriously guys, make it 320kbps or V2 or V0 or something, better quality is needed. But I suppose that's why they want you to spend 3 dollars more to buy the FLAC. You can also get the CD (not sure if Irish shipping is available) for a robbery of $21.

But the reason I'm highlighting this is because the first ten thousand members of the site (that hasn't been reached yet) can download the 28th of July 2008 at the Verizon Amphitheater in Charlotte, NC. Get it soon, because 10,000 isn't all that much for a US-based site.

http://www.livecountingcrows.com/default.aspx

And from me, here's a live recording of 'Rain King' with a 'Thunder Road' interpolation from a few years back:
Counting Crows - Rain King (Live)

Friday, August 1, 2008

This Weekend's Gigs: 1-3 August 2008

Friday, 1 August 2008


Future Kings of Span & More
Andrew's Lane Theatre
20:00€10
Tim Rogers (You Am I)
Whelan's
20:00€15
Tom Waits
Ratcellar, Phoenix Park
20:00Sold Out

Saturday, 2 August 2008


Liz Seaver
The Sugar Club
20:00
€10-€12
Sons of Jacobian
Whelan's
20:00€10
The Things, More Tiny Giants
Whelan's - Upstairs
19:00 €10

Sunday, 3 August 2008

East 17
Dandelion Bar
20:00
€10
Koko Revelation
TriPod 19:00
€39.20
Stereo MCs
CrawDaddy 22:00
Sold Out

Album News: The Vines - Melodia

The Vines
The Vines have announced a release date for their upcoming album, titled 'Melodia'. Nice little title it has. Reminds me of the way my Dad calls an accordian a "melodian". Yeah, I'm strange sometimes.

The album is due for official release October 6th in the UK, and October 3rd over here. American citizens can buy a digital copy of the album from iTunes now, but for now we can listen to it free online.

Stream the album in full on their MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/thevines

Tracklist:
'Get Out'
'Manger'
'A.S III'
'He's A Rocker'
'Orange Amber'
'Jamola'
'True As The Night'
'Braindead'
'Kara Jayne'
'Merrygoround'
'Hey'
'A Girl I Know'
'Scream'
'She Is Gone'

Live: Prom Night at the Roost

While not as big as say, Coldplay at the O2 Point, Prom Night at the Roost is just as important. A local Kildare lady has organised an extravaganza at the Roost DiscoBar in Maynooth, of which the like you've never seen before. Well, you have seen it. On My Super Sweet 16, and back in the days of your own Debs or Grad Ball. Anyhow, Prom Night has been set up to attempt to raise €10,000 for Breast Cancer Research.

The Press Release for the event states:

Sunday 24th August....A night to remember.

Miss your debs?? Get too drunk and barely remember it? Want to relive happy memories??

Prom night needs you!! Girls get your fancy dresses on, boys fancy suits please! Nothing better than a bit of fancy drinking! Slow sets, alcoholic punch (Oh yes) and fun times all around.

Yes it is cheesy, yes it is a little camp but it's all in aid of a good cause.

Tickets on sale!!! €15 each. All for a GOOD CAUSE!! Bebo mail me to reserve!!!!


The DJ for the night will be the excellent Paul White, who has kindly given his services to the event free of charge. A huge heart that man has. Although you can't see it, because it's covered by this tie:
Piano Tie

For more details, and to buy your ticket see:
http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=7535310619

Setlist: The Raconteurs, Oxegen, 13 July 2008

Just a partial setlist here from Rich (again), if anyone has any more setlists or corrections/additions to any of these, please email me at swearimnotpaul@gmail.com

The Raconteurs were second last on the O2 Stage on the final day, Sunday, just before the ever wonderful Chemical Brothers.

Level
Old Enough
Steady As She Goes
Many Shades of Black
Rich Kid's Blues
Distract You

Watch 'Level' on The Main Stage at Oxegen 2008:


Oxegen 2008 Setlist index:
http://swearimnotpaul.blogspot.com/2008/07/setlist-every-oxegen-2008-setlist-so.html1

Setlist: Eddy Grant, Oxegen, 13 July 2008

Another setlist sent in by Rich. You are a legend! Eddy Grant was the first act on the Main Stage on Sunday.

-
Everybody's Got to Move
Do You Feel My Love?
I Don't Wanna Dance
Electric Avenue
Hello Africa
Hope Jo'anna

Setlist: Ben Folds, Oxegen, 11 July 2008

Again, thanks to Rich for this one. He wasn't quite sure of some of the names, so if you have any corrections or additions (cause there were more than 5 songs played), please email swearimnotpaul@gmail.com Thanks!

Ben played the O2 Stage on the opening day of the festival, Friday.

Effington
Tango Waltz
Annie Waits
Rockin' The Suburbs
Underground

Thanks to Allison for pointing out that some of the videos can be watched here:
http://thesuburbs.org.uk/tour/20080711/Dublin

Setlist: The Saw Doctors, Oxegen, 11 July 2008

Much in request this one, so isn't it about time that I put it up? Did you know that the Saw Doctors have an upcoming US Tour, not bad for a bunch of auld fellas!

Here's their set from The Green Room at Oxegen on the Friday.

What a Day
N17
Tommy K
To Win Just Once
Clare Island
Red Cortina
Joyce Country
Why Do I Always?
About You Now
Hay Wrap

Setlist: Black Kids, Oxegen, 12 July 2008

Thanks to Rich in Kildare town for sending me some Oxegen setlists I had been missing. You're a legend!

Black Kids played the 2FM New Bands Stage on the Saturday, sandwiched between Alphabeat and Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong.

Partie Traumatic
Hit the Heartbrakes
I Wanna Be Your Limosine
I've Underestimated My Charm (Again)
Hurricane Jane
Listen to Your Body Tonight
I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend (How to Dance With You)

Oxegen 2008 Setlist index:
http://swearimnotpaul.blogspot.com/2008/07/setlist-every-oxegen-2008-setlist-so.html

Setlist: Tom Waits, Ratcellar, Phoenix Park, Dublin, 31 July 2008

Never mind Shane McGowan at The Ratcellar in the Phoenix Park for Tom Waits on Wednesday night, Thursday night had Edward Scissorhands himself, Johnny Depp. And if any of you got the Metro this morning (i.e. you didn't phone in sick after seeing Tom last night), you may have read that he is rumoured to play The Riddler in the next Batman film. How amazing would that be.

Thursday Set List:
Lucinda
Down in the hole
Come on up the house
The bottom of the world
Jockey full of bourbon
Chocolate Jesus
Misery is the river of the world
Picture in a frame
Tango till they're sore
Invitation to the blues
House where nobody lives
Innocent when you dream
Lie to me
Sixteen shells from a thirty-ought six
9th & Hennepin
Black market baby
Trampled rose
Hoist that rag
All the world is green
Hang down your head
Raindogs/Russian Dance
Make it rain
----
Heart attack and vine
November
Hold on

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Setlist: Tom Waits, The Ratcellar, Phoenix Park, 30 July 2008

Shane McGowan was in attendance for the first night of Tom Wait's trio of performances at The Ratcellar in the Phoenix Park last night. He was looking for a Guinness, but instead found a veteran artist at the top of his game.

Jim Carroll has a great review of last night's show here:
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord/2008/07/31/a-night-out-with-crazy-ol-tom/
He lists ten interesting and funny aspects of the gig. The tenth is excellent:
"(10) The reason why the venue is called The Rat Cellar? The audience looked like drowned rats slinking away afterwards into the Dublin night as the rain came down in buckets"

Setlist:
Lucinda / Ain’t Goin’ Down to the Well
Raindogs
Falling Down
On the Other Side of the World
I’ll Shoot the Moon
Cemetery Polka
Get Behind the Mule
Cold Cold Ground
Singapore
Circus / Tabletop Joe
God’s Away on Business
Tom Traubert’s Blues
On the Nickel
Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minnneapolis
House Where Nobody Lives
Innocent When You Dream
Lie to Me
Hoist that Rag
Bottom of the World
Green Grass
Way Down in the Hole
Metropolitan Glide
Dirt in the Ground
Make it Rain
----
Jesus Gonna Be Here
Eyeball Kid
Time

Live: Oxegen 2009

Oxegen 2009
It hasn't even been a month since Oxegen 2008 ended, but already an announcement has been made for Oxegen 2009. It will take place from the 10th to the 12th of July 2009, with the campsites opening the day before (Thursday the 9th).

As expected, not a single act has been announced, but after the success of this year's festival, many people may want to buy their tickets early. "Early Bird" tickets go on sale tomorrow week (Friday the 8th of August) to registered users of the official oxegen.ie website.

These tickets are limited in availability, and cost the same amount as this year's tickets €224.50 for three-day camping, and €244.50 for four day. However, some of you may want to keep your hands in your pockets, because if next year is anything like this year, you'll be able to buy the tickets for nearly half the price second-hand.

Plus why would you buy tickets for what is currently an empty field with no-one announced to play? It's like buying a goody bag! A very expensive goody bag!

Album News: Glen Campbell - Meet Glen Campbell

Meet Glen Campbell
You probably didn't expect me to be talking about this classic country artist here, now, did you? Well, I love country music. I even think Carrie Underwood is one of the best new talents of the past few years. Country music often gets a bad rap, and in Ireland is associated with Big Tom and Declan Nerney. Legends.

It seems that Glen Campbell is trying to win over new fans, as he announces the release of his upcoming album Meet Glen Campbell. It's out in three weeks' time, and will feature covers of many contemporary artists, including our own U2! The U2 cover he's chosen is 'All I Want Is You', made famous by girl group BelleFire. Well, not quite famous.

I'm most interested in hearing his take on the Foo Fighters. Legendary.

Anyhow, the full tracklist is as follows:
'Sing' (Travis)
'Walls' (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
'Angel Dream' (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
'Times Like These' (Foo Fighters)
'These Days' (Jackson Browne)
'Sadly Beautiful' (The Replacements)
'All I Want Is You' (U2)
'Jesus' (Velvet Underground)
'Good Riddance (Green Day)
'Grow Old With Me' (John Lennon)

Watch 'All I Want is You' acoustic in Hong Kong:

Oh yeah, that's the BelleFire version ;)

Album News: Dear Science, Tracklist announced

TV on the Radio
Didn't I tell you to expect more news soon? You don't remember? I said it here, silly:
http://swearimnotpaul.blogspot.com/2008/07/album-news-tv-on-radio-dear-science.html

Anyhow, TV on the Radio have announced the tracklisting for their upcoming album Dear Science,

It will be released in the US on September 23rd, and on the Irish music world on the 19th. It's great living here sometimes. Apart from the rain. God what awful weather today. Enough of that old-person chatter, more TV on the Radio. Many of you are eagerly anticapting the new album, but what I'm most excited about is the cover art. I can't wait to see it. Hopefully it's just as hairy as Return to Cookie Mountain (yes, I know it's not hair, but it does look a bit hairy, right?)

'Halfway Home'
'Crying'
'Dancing Choose'
'Stork & Owl'
'Golden Age'
'Family Tree'
'Red Dress'
'Love Dog'
'Shout Me Out'
'DLZ'
'Lover's Day'

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Download: The Streets 'The Escapist'

Skinner Ratatouille
I previously announced information on the new Streets album here: http://swearimnotpaul.blogspot.com/2008/07/album-news-streets-everything-is.html

Now you can officially and legally download a free track from this album, just as a taste of what's to come.

'The Escapist' is available for free download here:
http://www.myfreedownload.co.uk/thestreets, and just like those recent Kings of Leon and Bob Dylan downloads, all you need is an email address.

You can also stream three more of the songs from the album on his MySpace, they are 'The Way of the Dodo', 'The Sherry End', and 'On The Flip Of A Coin'. Listen here:
http://www.myspace.com/thestreets

Also, the tracklist for the album is:
1. "Everything Is Borrowed"
2. "Heaven For the Weather"
3. "I Love You More (Than You Like Me)"
4. "Just Thought of Something"
5. "On the Flip of a Coin"
6. "The Sherry End"
7. "Alleged Legends"
8. "What are Chances of That Like?"
9. "When That Day Will Be"
10. "Further Away"
11. "Strongest Person I Know"
12. "The Escapist"

Live: Primal Scream at the Olympia Theatre


According to State magazine, 90s legends Primal Scream will play the Olympia Theatre on Monday 17th November.

This gig will no doubt feature many tracks from their latest release Beautiful Future, and may have a Screamadelica cut in there too. Hopefully. Please.

Tickets cost €33.60 and €39.60, and are also on sale this Friday. My word, Ticketmaster will be busy. Probably even busier than last Thursday when I saw five girls at Stephen's Green queuing for McFly tickets. That's bound to be amazing. McFly, that is.

Album News: Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

No title, no release date, no tracklist, no nothing. Apart from the following post on Muzzle of Bees:

Well, this one comes as a huge surprise. I just opened an e-mail stating that “In anticipation of the tentative fall release of their new album,” Ryan Adams + The Cardinals will play Madison’s Overture Hall on Sunday, October 5th. This show/line up is interestingly being billed as Cardinals (Ryan Adams, Neal Casal, Chris Feinstein, Jon Graboff and Brad Pemberton). We’ll have to wait and see if that’s the direction they decide to go with the new album as well.

Now, the live info and the dates in that post don't have any impact on me, but the news of a "fall release" of the new album excites me greatly. Best news of the year. Woo!

It could well be a Cardinals album, maybe even with some Neal Casal singing (I hope it's all Ryan though), but now that Ryan and Mandy's relationship is over, he has more time to make music (and those weird videos he loves so much):

Live: The Killers at The Academy

I hope you haven't spent 70-something quid on the Killers at Marley Park, but if you have, say "hi" to my girlfriend. She's the sexy one.

Ah no, if you've bought tickets for the Marley park gig, you'll also get to see Bloc Party, who released a splendid album a couple of years ago. And hopefully they'll play a good tune or two from the new record (not that 'Mercury' nonsense).

The night before they play Marley Park, however, the Killers will play a special intimate gig at The Academy - that's August 20th, so pretty damn soon. Tickets are €44.20 and go on sale this Friday, August 1st.

Expect to hear new songs from their as-yet-unnamed upcoming album, of which two 'Spaceman' (not a Babylon Zoo cover) and 'Neon Tiger' made their debuts in Las Vegas last night.

As for now, here's them covering Dire Straits' 'Romeo and Juliet':

Song News: White and Keys to record Quantum of Solace theme

Yay! It's not Amy Winehouse. Or Duffy. Or whoever else was rumoured. God I would've hated if Amy had have gotten to do the theme. I was delighted when I heard her and Mark couldn't get the job done. Don't get me wrong, she's a great singer. It's just everything else about her really grinds my gears. You know what really grinds my gears? When you can't find the droids you're looking for.

Anyhow, Billboard.com has announced that the theme for the upcoming James Bond film Quantum of Solace will be performed by none other than Jack White and Alicia Keys. Whoever came up with this is a genius.

The song is called 'Another Way To Die' (the third Bond theme not to be named after the film itself, if my trivia knowledge serves me right), and should hit the airwaves sometime near the end of September, in anticiaption for the film itself in early November.

For now though, why not enjoy the film's trailer:

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Download: Bob Dylan 'Dreamin' of You'

Bob Dylan Tell Tale Signs
Just like the free Kings of Leon download, Bob Dylan is offering a free download on his website to prepare you for his upcoming album. No, no, it's not an album of new material, it's yet more live stuff as well as some unreleased rarities and studio cuts, but when it's Dylan, you can't go wrong. I remember seeing him play the Point a few years back around Christmas, and 'Maggie's Farm' was so good I sometimes find myself singing it when I wake.

The track 'Dreamin' of You' is taken from his upcoming Bootleg Sessions 8: Tell Tale Signs, which will be released October 7th (or the 3rd in Ireland).

http://bobdylan.com/#/user/register

Album News: David Byrne & Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today


Everyone should own Brian Eno and David Byrne's seminal 1981 album My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. It's older than me, and is probably a damn sight better than me, at probably everything. Probably.

If you don't own that album, then you probably do have a copy of something by Eno or Byrne. The early U2 albums are the work of Eno, and if you're of a certain age, you may well own a Roxy Music record. Many of us have Talking Heads albums, but all of us have probably owned David Byrne's excellent single 'Like Humans Do', which was included with every copy of Windows XP.

Whatever you own, you should get their new album, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, when it's released August 20th. In advance of that, single 'Strange Overtones' will be available on the album's official website from Monday.

For now, you can watch David Byrne talking about the album:

Stream: Tom Waits live in Atlanta


That's Atlanta, Georgia, not Atalanta, Italy. I always got them confused when I was a kid! And that's not even mentioning the lost city of Atlantis. Or the Atlantic Ocean. As you can guess, I was a huge fan of geography. A quiz genius I was. Now people (me included) rely on looking up whatever answers they don't know on their mobiles. Not really fair now is it? Is it, Tecwen Whittock?

Anyhow, to gear you up for Tom Waits' two shows at the Ratcellar in the Phoenix Park (not Phoenix, Arizona. Ah no, I won't do this joke again!) this week, you can stream Tom's show at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, from the 5th of July 2008. This will also satiate the appetites of those people who couldn't get tickets and aren't willing to pay over the top from some backstreet fiddler. And note, the second show is also the final show of his World Tour this year. Bound to be amazing.

The show is available for streaming on NPR's excellent website, here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92916923

with a Setlist of:
"Lucinda / Ain't Going Down to the Well"
"Down in the Hole"
"Falling Down"
"Chocolate Jesus"
"All the World Is Green"
"Cemetery Polka"
"Cause of It All"
"Till the Money Runs Out"
"Such a Scream"
"November"
"Hold On"
"Black Market Baby"
"9th and Hennepin"
"Lie to Me"
"Lucky Day"
"On the Nickel"
"Lost in the Harbor"
"Innocent When You Dream"
"Hoist That Rag"
"Make It Rain"
"Dirt in the Ground"
"Get Behind the Mule"
"Hang Down Your Head"
"Jesus Gonna Be Here"
"Singapore"
----
"Eyeball Kid"
"Anywhere I Lay My Head"

Also, see Mixtape4Melfi for travel arrangements:
http://mixtape4melfi.blogspot.com/2008/07/tom-waits-phoenix-park-weds-thurs.html

Doors/Gates open at half six, with the show starting at eight each night.

Live: Lisa Hannigan at Whelan's

Tickets went on sale today for Lisa Hannigan's (and her band) performance at Whelan's, Upstairs. It takes place August 18th, and a limited number of tickets are still available. Expect them to sell very quickly though. The real talent behind Damien Rice :p

Expect her debut album in September, it should be good.

Thanks to Thrillpier for the info.

Here's a video of Lisa performing 'Teeth' on RTE's Other Voices.

Download: Rachael Yamagata - '2000 Light Years From Home'

Rachael Yamagata
Rachael Yamagata's debut album Happenstance was one of my favourite releases of 2005. It was originally released in 2004, but didn't reach our shores til 2005. So now it's been four years since she has released an album. And those of us who loved the debut are asking: "where the hell is the new one? You're not Damien Rice love!"

Sparse details have emerged about her new album (meant to be released months ago, now possibly October. Possibly), which is called A Record in two Parts ... Elephants and Teeth Sinking Into Heart. At this stage, I'd be happy if she just released one part of it.

So since 2004, all we've gotten from Yamagata are a Live EP, a new three song tease for the new record, Loose Ends (costing 3 dollars from her website), and one song for a film that hasn't even been released. Oh and she also wrote a track for Mandy Moore's Wild Hope album, which I'm not ashamed to admit I like. Why? Because Yamagata is so damn brilliant.

Download her track from Robin Danar's ill-fated Altered States:
Rachael Yamagata - 2000 Light Years From Home

Rachael, if you're reading, just release some new material already!

Watch: Nickel Eye - 'Dying Star'

So, finally we have some actual video material from Strokes' bassist Nikolia Fraiture's new pet project Nickel Eye.

I previously posted a download of 'Brandy of the Damned' here:
http://swearimnotpaul.blogspot.com/2008/07/download-nickel-eye-brandy-of-damned.html

But now you can watch his debut video, for the excellent 'Dying Star' (sounds kind of like a title Audioslave would have used):

Live: Feeder at the Ambassador

Micro Machines Turbo Tournament 96
More accustomed to playing balls-out outdoor summer rock (see Oxegen: every year since it was Witnness), Feeder will be going indoors for their next Irish appearance. They will be warming up the Ambassador Theatre on Thursday November 20th.

Tickets are on sale this Friday (1st of August - Jesus it's August already) from all the usual spots (tickets.ie, ticketmaster and the like), at a cost of €33.60.

While I'm on the subject, I might as well mention their latest album Silent Cry. I think it's their best since Echo Park. Comfort in Sound was not very consistent, and Pushing the Senses totally missed the mark for me. When I was a teen one of my favourite bands was Feeder. I think this occurred after seeing Grant Nicholas on some TV show (maybe early Never Mind the Buzzcocks), and hearing a clip of early singl 'Sweet 16'. Imagine my delight then when the song appeared in the original Gran Turismo on the Playstation. I played that game more than every other racing game, with the exception of Micro Machines 2 /Turbo '96. Remember those?

Anyhow, Feeder can still make good tunes, so their Ambassador gig may well be worth checking out.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Download: Kings of Leon 'Crawl'

For one day only (sorry for being a few hours late on this one guys, I'm moving house - the broadband there better be good!), you can download a new song from the upcoming Kings of Leon album. The song is called 'Crawl', and can be downloaded from NME.com

I previously posted a download of 'Manhattan' live at Glastonbury, but that has been taken down (sorry, I didn't realise I was doing wrong!), but now you can legally download 'Crawl' from new album Only By The Night.

Anyhow, you can get the song here:
http://www.nme.com/news/kings-of-leon/38480
Enjoy!

Also, watch a teaser trailer for the album here:

Album Reviews: 28 July 2008

So here's another weekly (sorry about last week, I was lazy!) round-up of all the albums worth checking out, or not, as the case may be.

New on Metacritic this week


Black Kids - Partie Traumatic
I'm not going to mention the picture of the two dogs, everyone has complained/championed it. But the Black Kids' debut album isn't as bad as 3.3 or whatever. Fair enough, it breaks no new ground, but it is perfect fodder when you're not in the mood for concentrating on lyrics. Perfect on a sunny day like today. Just put it on, and drive.


Nine Inch Nails - The Slip
Nine Inch Nails - The Slip album coverWhy in their right mind would anyone buy this album, when it's still available for download for the super low-low price of FREE? It's still available here: http://theslip.nin.com/, so you really have no excuse for not owning it. Well you do have an excuse: if you don't like NIN. It's not everyone's cup of tea. And if you're like me, and don't drink tea, sometimes you have to turn down the freebies!


Paul Weller - 22 Dreams
Paul Weller - 22 Dreams coverI read in the Metro this morning that he hates ebing called the 'Modfather'. Personally I don't blame him, it's a ridiculous portmanteau. But if you're a fan of Weller at all (be it solo, with The Jam or The Style Coucil, and who isn't?), then you should enjoy this, his best release since Wild Wood. It's very long, but rewards repeated listens.


CSS - Donkey
CSS - DonkeyI must say, I wasn't a huge fan of CSS the first time around. I liked some of their songs, and what Tom Dunne and the like played on radio wasn't too bad at all. But their brand of electro-pop, jesus look at me, don't I play deliriously happy tunes combined with my horrendous dress sense, never really did too much for me. This, their second album, will not gain any new fans. And on top of that, it's so much of a letdown, they might even lose some of their original fans. Sophomore Slump indeed.


Miley Cyrus - Breakout
Miley Cyrus - BreakoutShe's the kid who plays Hannah Montana on the TV, and in films etc. She's also the kid that caused uproar by showing her naked back. Shocker! In addition to that, she's Mister 'Achy Breaky Heart' Billy-Ray Cyrus's daughter. If that doesn't make you want to buy the album, nothing will. And can anyone tell me how Hannah Montana is pronounced? Mon-tah-na or Mon-tan-a? Just so I can lose an argument to my better half.


Dr. Dog - Fate
Dr. Dog - FateThis is the veternarian's fifth album, and shows a band getting better with age. It's another bunch of summery indie-pop tunes, that will make you want to sit out in the grass and maybe if you're so inclined, discuss what shapes the clouds are forming. The band have honed their style here, and it proves to be their best outing so far.


iForward, Russia! - Life Processes
iFoward, Russia! - Life ProcessesAnother band that I never really understood the hype for. And once again I'm proven correct by this, their quite average second album. I suppose the thing about making second albums is that you use all your good material, a lifetime's worth, on your debut, and then have to formulate ten tracks out of nothing in a year. Sometimes being a one-hit-wonder might not be so bad. "And I said what about Breakfast at Tiffany's"!


Other Releases This Week

Primal Scream - Beautiful Future
Primal Scream - Beuatiful FutureA lot of us have Screamadelica in our record collections. And rightly so, it's still a fantastic album. For years now, Bobby Gillespie and co. have been trying to recreate it. While nothing has come close, they can still make decent music. Their new album is no different. It's nothing groundbreaking, and a bit more of the same. That's not necessarily a bad thing, and this is sure to be enjoyed by people who still wished we lived in the 1990s.



Gavin DeGraw - Gavin DeGraw

Gavin DeGrawThere are many people I know who are fans of Gavin DeGraw. And there's nothing at all wrong with that. I must admit I'm partial to his debut album now and then, and 'I Don't Wanna Be' is a damn good theme song, I don't care what anyone says. However, his second record is a bit of a letdown. There is nothing that strikes you as immediately great, and his lyrics are even more half-baked than before. "Tell 'em, "Say no to drugs" / "Substances make you dumb" / Unless you get 'em from / Someone who loves you." Thoroughly awful.

Shameless Promotion #1 : Shauna's blog

I was just thinking, some people's blogs just don't get enough credit. Especially ones I like. So Why not promote some of them now and then. Here's number 1!

Shauna is currently my housemate. Thus I'm incredibly biased. But don't get me wrong, that aside, her blog is damn good, and damn funny.

And by "currently" I mean "until either me or her get voted out". Speaking of Big Brother, my God I can't stand that Stu fella. Make-up and nail varnish? Really!? Yeah, Shauna loves him. He is super cheesy after all. Plus she thinks he's hotttt.

Her stories of random drunkeness and the love of the cheesiest of music are always wonderful. And I'm not going totally off-topic here, because she does talk about music and concerts. She was at Boo-blay himself last night.

"I wanna come hoooooooooome"

Check out her blog here:
http://grandantor.blogspot.com/

And while I'm on the subject, I might as well shamelessly promote a little video I recorded in the wilds of Riga, in the style of a David Attenborough documentary, about an untamed animal called 'RatBoy'. Watch it, it's hilarious!

Download: John Mayer 'Gravity' live in Illinois


As you all may have figured out, I really can't wait for the new Verve album. So, imagine my delight when one of my other favourite artists, John Mayer, teased their classic 'Bittersweet Symphony' during a recent performance at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Tinley Park, Illinois.

I unashamedly love John Mayer, I even had tickets for his cancelled Irish gig five years ago when he broke his arm or was sick, or whatever was the confounded reason for him not appearing. If you think he's just a pop singer or merely Rachel from Friends' fella, then you're severely mistaken. This man is so much more. Live, he is just fantastic, and live with the John Mayer Trio even better. Like a guitar God.

Download the performance of 'Gravity', complete with the 'Bittersweet Symphony' tease gere:
http://www.archive.org/download/jm2008-07-18.mkh8040.flac16/jm2008-07-18.mkh8040.d2t08_64kb.mp3

Download the full show including the now obligatory Tom Petty 'Free Fallin'' and Duffy 'Mercy' covers, here:
http://www.archive.org/details/jm2008-07-18.mkh8040.flac16

Oh, and here is a video of his cover of Van Halen's 'Panama'too:

This Week's Gigs: 28-31 July 2008

Monday, 28 July 2008


Daniel Johnston and Friends
Whelan's20:00Sold Out
k.d. lang
Olympia Theatre
20:00€45-€55

Tuesday, 29 July 2008


Andy Irvine
Whelan's
20:00 €22.50

Wednesday, 30 June 2008


Antics Presents Sickboy
Crawdaddy 23:00 €5
A Sunny Day in Glasgow
Whelan's
20:00 €14.45
Tom Waits
Phoenix Park - Ratcellar
19:30Sold Out

Thursday, 31 July 2008

The Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir CrawDaddy
20:00 €14
Kila The Academy 20:00 €29.50
The Mighty Stef
Whelan's - Upstairs
20:00 €12
Tom Waits
Phoenix Park - Ratcellar
19:30Sold Out

Album News: The Verve - Forth Tracktimes


Not really news as such, but track lengths for the new Verve album. This serves two purposes: one it shows that there are really no out-and-out singles, this is an album as an album is meant to be. And two, you'll know you don't have the right think when you download a leak from a backalley vendor!

Sit and Wonder - 6:52
Love is Noise - 5:29
Rather Be - 5:38
Judas - 6:19
Numbness - 6:35
I See Houses - 5:37
Noise Epic - 8:14
Valium Skies - 4:34
Columbo - 7:30
Appalachian Skies - 7:34

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Watch: The Hold Steady 'Stay Positive' at Pitchfork Festival

Pitchfork.tv has a lot of fine videos of the Pitchfork festival 2008 up, but none finer than the Hold Steady playing the title track from their new album. The quality of these videos is excellent (unlike that recent Black Kids review), and there are many great ones. Have a look at the Fleet Foxes and Dinosaur Jr. ones if you get the chance to.

But, here's the best of the lot: The Hold Steady, 'Stay Positive'

Download: Animal Collective - Melkweg, Amsterdam

Animal Collective live
So, we have sparse detail of the new Animal Collective LP:
http://swearimnotpaul.blogspot.com/2008/07/watch-animal-collective-lion-in-coma.html

But while you wait, why not try out some of their new and live material, live in Amsterdam in October of last year (23 October 2007 to be exact). The quality is so good, it's almost like being there.

Tracklist:
1 Dancer 6:47
2 House 7:35
3 Unsolved Mysteries 4:53
4 Who Could Win a Rabbit 3:38
5 Peacebone 6:21
6 Chores 6:32
7 Bearhug 5:46
8 Fireworks / Essplode 15:39
9 Frightened 8:13
10 Brother Sport 6:46
11 Daily Routine 7:41
12 Leaf House 5:20
13 We Tigers 5:01
14 Grace 8:28
15 Derek 3:46


Download the full show from Melkweg, Amsterdam, The Netherlands here:
Part 1
Part 2

Thanks to my good friend Bill Tuthill for the upload!

Album News: David Gray

So there's a new record due from David Gray in November? We have little or no information, but he has given us this video to tease us:


Life in Slow Motion was a brilliant album, as was A New Day At Midnight, and everyone in the country and their dog own a copy of White Ladder, so this is probably a surefire number 1 album in Ireland later this year. Perfect time for a stocking filler too!