Apologies and Update (sort of!)

Over a month has passed since we last wrote on this blog, time sure does fly. Only excuse I can offer is that me and full time work are not a great combination.

So what has been tickling our ear lobes since July? The latest Rilo Kiley CD 'Under the Blacklight' arrived earlier on this week. I'm still reserving my judgement on that one. Currently on the fourth listen and we're only just starting to like it. Hopefully it won't be another catastrophe of Cassadaga-esque proportions.

Also, having renewed my acquaintance with Fan Forum about a month ago, myself and four others on the Indie Music Discussion thread have been compiling our own CD. Each of us picked 5 songs, everyone else voted for their favourite 3, and these get onto the CD. We're currently arguing over Keane and Idlewild, and whether or not Talking Heads or The Strokes should go first. It's not all my cup of tea (I got outvoted on the damned Arctic Monkeys) but it certainly has introduced me to a couple of good bands which I will no doubt waffle on about in due time. The CD cover is now in production - now all I need is for my CD writer to miraculously fix itself so I can burn the thing.

The Early Learnings Centre

One name getting a lot of mention in recent blogs is that of young Eugene McGuinness. After hearing many good things, I decided it was high time I investigated for myself. I was not disappointed. Although some have grouped the 21 year old singer song-writer with the likes of Jamie T and Jack Penate, I would like to think he is rather, well, better than them. For a start, although born in London, McGuinness was raised in Ireland. So thankfully he doesn't have that terrible 'fake' Cockney thing going on that so irritates poor Stu's ears. And mine. In Bird on a Wire there are hints of Turin Brakes' Gale Paridjanian, Frank Turner (if someone stood on his foot), or even Mr Modest Mouse himself, Isaac Brock. The chorus of A Child Lost in Tesco (we've all been there mate, in my case it was British Home Stores in Bournemouth and I'm sure that, 22 years on, my mother has still not forgiven me) sounds almost Adam & The Ants-esque. And in case you were wondering, yes I do consider that a good thing.

Eugene is playing at this rather lovely looking Drowned In Sound bash. The mini album The Early Learnings of Eugene McGuinness is released in a fortnight (6th August) and you can order the single Monsters Under The Bed here.

Tracklisting:

High Score

Monsters Under The Bed

Vampire Casino

Bold Street

A Child Lost In Tesco ::mp3::

Vela

Madeleine

A Girl Whom My Eyes Shine For But My Shoes Run From

As a little extra incentive here's another MP3:

Bird On A Wire ::mp3::

And also the excellent Jamie and the Magic Torche style video to Monsters Under The Bed:

Playlist # 5 : Mucky Truck Festival

Ho hum when will the summer start? Despite all the excitement leading up to Truck Ten disappointment poured down on us (and all over Steventon) and the festival was postponed. Oh well the show must go on... so we got our wellies and tent out and danced all night to the new Truck Festival playlist.

Danger Of The Water - The Futureheads
Why Does It Always Rain On Me? - Travis
Cloudbusting - Kate Bush
Help! - The Beatles
Wave Upon Wave Upon Wave - Biffy Clyro
Train Under Water - Bright Eyes
Let's Get Out Of This Country - Camera Obscura ::mp3::
Some Loud Thunder - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Dorothy Dreams Of Tornadoes - Cursive
Sit And Listen To The Rain - Ryan Adams
The Storm You Never Knew About Blew Half The Island Into The Sea - Stapleton
And It Rained All Night - Thom Yorke
Let It Rain - Tilly And The Wall
Float On - Modest Mouse
Fix The Sky A Little - 65 Days Of Static
Raindrops Keep Falling On my Head - B.J Thomas
Weather Reports - Bright Eyes ::mp3::
Stress On The Sky - Biffy Clyro
Singin' In The Rain - Gene Kelly
Loud Storms - Dragonflies Draw Flame
Let The River In - Radical Face
This Weather - Patrick Wolf
Under The Weather - Feeder