After seeing Glen Campbell on Later with Jools Holland last night, I was reminded of how much I love this song, possibly the first existential country song – and truly a classic:
I am a lineman for the county.
And I drive the main road.
Lookin’ in the sun for another overload.
I hear you singing in the wire.
I can hear you thru the whine.
And the Wichita Lineman, is still on the line.
I know I need a small vacation.
But it don’t look like rain.
And if it snows that stretch down south, won’t ever stand the strain.
And I need you more than want you.
And I want you for all time.
And the Wichita Lineman, is still on the line.
Glen Campbell – Wichita Lineman (1968)
I’ve had a whole week enjoying the new Kings of Leon album – and it is an absolute corker.
By the time I post this – I fully expect them to be number one (yep – they are) with ‘Sex on Fire’ and so this album will be eagerly awaited.
This is a monster of an album – a spaced out desert sound – loads of reverb and squealing guitars. Super vocals from Caleb Followill, and ample backing from the rest of the brothers.
In a nutshell – buy this album, you won’t be disappointed – I’d love your opinion if you’ve heard this – I’m new to the Kings of Leon in detail, so what should I listen to next?
For a track by track, click more
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My mum just IM’ed me here in the US, to tell me that Elbow have won the Mercury Music Prize for their album ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’
I wasn’t convinced that it was a winner – and I know that Burial had some big bets on it, but I’m really happy – it has been my album of the year so far – and now it’ll pick up some more sales and good reviews.
I even had a cheeky tenner on it when it was announced – so I’m richer as well as happier today!
I fear I maybe a bit late to the party on this one (the album was released in July), but I just got hold of Brett Anderson’s recent album – Wilderness – and am at the end of my third listen.
It is a lovely album – short and plaintive – mainly piano, cello and his distinctive voice, I noticed it got an absolute panning in one of the papers last week, but I think it deserves a listen. As Simon Price in the Independent says, “If the French had a singer like this, they would erect statues”.
Stand out track is Back to You, recorded with French vocalist Emmanuelle Seigner, which is a beautiful track, stripped back to the barest essentials.
Lovely album – check it out.
By: mattr
Category: music
Many will know that I’m a massive fan of Elbow – having seen them a couple of times in recent years I can attest to how good they are live. The amazing FabChannel has an awesome gig available for streaming through their website.
The show was from 25th June at the Paradiso Main Room in Amsterdam and is truly wonderful from Guy Garvey’s superb voice, through the whole band and the string section.
The direct link to the show is here – it is absolutely marvelous.
Update – just found out, by signing up to the site, I can embed the gig here in my site, so…
I used to make and listen to a lot of DJ mixes, but since I hung up my traveling headphones and retired to the obscurity of mixing at home, I also stopped listening to many other DJ’s work. I still keep my eye out for anything that looks interesting and have heard some great stuff this year from Burial, Tom Neville and a few others.
Today sees the release of the latest installment in the FabricLive series – mixed by the UK’s very own Simian Mobile Disco – and a handsome set it is too, full of top class glitchy and edgy dance music.
Unlike a lot of mix CD’s around, it isn’t crammed full of the latest radio friendly ‘choons’, but SMD have managed to dig through the crates and pull out some awesome electronic classics – Paul Woolfords – Erotic Discourse and the massive Flash by Green Velvet are in the mix, along with some odd-ball early 80’s pop from The Walker Brothers (Night Flights).
There are some great new cuts in the mix as well – the Serge Santiago remix of Blind by Hercules Love Affair and the fantastic Deadmau5 vs Jelo track ‘The Reward is Cheese’ which arrives at the end of the mid section of the CD, which is just a stupendous passage of the mix.
The whole things hangs together really well – either as a mix to settle down and listen to or something to be pumped up louder in the car or on the MP3 player – I’m loving it more every time I listen, and its inspiring me to get my headphones back off the shelf and put together a new mix, expect that this week.
By: mattr
Category: music
It maybe a shaky phonecam video – but it is unmistakably awesome – Gnarls Barkley covering The Reckoner live:
The nomination list is out for the Mercury Music Prize…
- Adele – 19
- British Sea Power – Do You Like Rock Music?
- Burial – Untrue
- Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid
- Estelle – Shine
- Laura Marling – Alas I Cannot Swim
- Neon Neon – Stainless Style
- Portico Quartet – Knee-Deep In The North Sea
- Rachel Unthank & The Winterset – The Bairns
- Radiohead – In Rainbows
- Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raising Sand
- The Last Shadow Puppets – The Age Of The Understatement
The three in italics are the ones I don’t have (or haven’t heard) – so I’ll reserve my judgement until I’ve done that – but I there are some great albums in here. Elbow is my favourite, but I’m not sure it’s a Mercury winner.
It is going to be very hard to choose.
By: mattr
Category: music
The first trailer is on the air – House Season 5 is back in September! (thats House – Series 5 for us Englishers)
I’ll be in the US in September – maybe I’ll catch the premier!
The song on the trailer is called – Love me Dead by Ludo btw (that’ll catch a few searches for sure!) – let me know if you like the tune, or know where to get a download. (here is a link to the Youtube)
Lyrics after the jump…
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I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
At 73 – many men would be settling down to a life of repose, but Leonard Cohen has been on a comeback tour – taking in festivals and arenas all over the shop. Last night he took to the stage in sharp suit and hat and delivered an amazing set ‘just the other side of intimacy’ at the O2.
So I couldn’t resist my first trip to the O2, to see Leonard Cohen playing a sold out arena for his only solo date in London on this tour. Some new tour dates have been announced – tickets on sale tomorrow.
The band were truly sublime, mixing gentle jazzy sounds, with precision arrangements and delivery. The backing vocalists – Sharon Robinson and the Webb Sisters were fantastic. There was a selection of songs from right across the catalogue, Bird on a Wire, Suzanne – through to Democracy and In my Secret Life.
Leonard Cohen was wonderful – humble, but with a just a touch of stage aristocracy. The voice rumbled around the huge auditorium, roaring at the right moments – soft and gentle in between songs when he recited a few lines or made some funny comments.
Highlights for me were a spoken word version of ‘A thousand kisses deep’, ‘Everybody Knows’ and the most amazing version of Hallelujah – which totally reclaims the song from every piss-poor cover version of recent years.
It was a truly sublime concert – and ticks one of the boxes of live music that I need to see before I die (Scott Walker is the other if you’re interested – and that box may remain empty for some time).
The O2 is a little bit sterile for this sort of gig (great venue in terms of sound and size – travel from the west of London is a bit of mission) – I suppose it will suit the Coldplay/Elton John gigs down to the ground, but you can’t blame them for picking a venue with great sound (if a little quiet) and loads of seats.
Tracklist after the jump – although my memory is a bit shaky.
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