January 2012
3 posts
2 tags
The Twilight Sad - No One Can Ever Know
Scottish band The Twilight Sad’s third album No One Can Ever Know has been rather a long time coming – their last record, Forget the Night Ahead was released back in 2009. Following the departure of founding bass player Craig Orzel, the band have said their new record would head in a different direction, with guitarist Andy Macfarlane describing their new songs as “sparser […] with a colder,...
1 tag
New Music: Lana Del Rey
To say there’s been a bit of hype about Lana Del Rey is an understatement. The homemade promo for her song Video Games went viral in August last year, her unique sound has caught the attention of plenty of critics, and she also won Q’s Next Big Thing Award in October. She sold out her UK tour back in November, and her debut album, due for release at the end of January is eagerly awaited by ...
2011 Highlights
Trying to sum up my musical highlights of 2011 is proving a little difficult, as it was such a good year, musically! If I had to pick my absolute favourite album of the year though, I think it would have to be Adele’s 21. Yes, it really is that good. When I heard first single Rolling in the Deep this time last year I was blown away and couldn’t wait to hear the rest of the record. Needless to...
November 2011
1 post
2 tags
Kate Havnevik - You
Most people already acquainted with Norwegian singer-songwriter Kate Havnevik’s music will probably know about her due to the show Grey’s Anatomy. Well, that’s how I first heard her songs, anyway – several of them have featured in episodes, and most notably her beautiful song Grace, composed especially for the show (included on You as a bonus track) was featured in one of the series finales,...
October 2011
1 post
2 tags
Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know
It’s hard to believe that Laura Marling is so young. At just 21, she has released three albums, growing in depth and maturity with each one, her voice becoming even better as time goes by. Both her last records were nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, and she won the Best Female Solo Artist award at this years Brits; that’s a damn fine achievement for one so young.
Her music has always been...
September 2011
1 post
2 tags
Tori Amos - Night of Hunters
Even as a huge Tori Amos fan, I’ll admit I haven’t been the biggest admirer of her most recent output – even though her newer albums have some great songs on them, they haven’t compared to her earlier records at all for me. One of the biggest problems with them is that they have been overly long – it felt a bit like she hadn’t edited them enough, and without some of the tracks they would have...
July 2011
1 post
2 tags
Rufus Wainwright - House of Rufus
Rufus Wainwright’s latest release isn’t a new record, but a 13 CD, 6 DVD box set including all of his studio albums, plus two live ones (Milwaukee at Last!!! and Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall, which captures his series of shows performing Judy Garland songs). The collection includes many rarities, such as a CD entitled Family and Friends (consisting of collaborations with family members...
May 2011
3 posts
4 tags
4 tags
16/05/2011 | Anna Calvi – O2 Academy, Oxford
There’s a bit of a buzz about Anna Calvi. It’s the NME Radar Tour tonight, which showcases promising new acts, and she’s the headliner. Having also been included in the BBC’s Sound of 2011 poll and having her self-titled debut album praised heavily by critics means there’s a sense of anticipation in the air.
Walking onto stage in her trademark red and black outfit, everything about Anna Calvi...
1 tag
Tori Amos
If I had to pick my one favourite musical artist ever, if would be very difficult, but in the end, I think it might have to be Tori Amos. It’s very hard to sum up in just a few hundred words why I adore her so much, but I’m going to give it a try…
One of the reasons I love Tori is her drive, and the fact she always does what she wants to do. The daughter of a pastor, Tori (real name Myra...
March 2011
2 posts
2 tags
Noah and the Whale - Last Night On Earth
Noah and the Whale started off their career making chirpy, sunny indie-pop, meaning that they were pigeonholed in that genre for a little while. But with their second album, The First Days of Spring, they surprised critics by choosing to go in a completely different direction. The heartbreaking LP documenting the demise of a relationship, that was difficult to listen to at times, was an...
2 tags
Esben and the Witch - Violet Cries
Having lived in Brighton up until last June, I’d heard quite a bit about seaside trio Esben and the Witch, but unfortunately had never managed to catch them live. I’d listened to a couple of their songs, however, and very much liked what I heard, so I was excited to see what their debut album was like, especially given the recent buzz that has been around them – they were nominated for a Q...
February 2011
1 post
1 tag
Lady Gaga
I remember very vividly when I first came into contact with Lady Gaga’s music. I saw her video for Just Dance in December 2008 – just before she made it big and became a household name – and my immediate reaction was: “Who is this? What the hell of a kind of name is ‘Lady Gaga’? Why is she dancing around in a mirrorball bra?” Needless to say, I wasn’t too impressed. Just Dance, however, against...
January 2011
1 post
2 tags
Joan As Police Woman - The Deep Field
Being the partner of the late Jeff Buckley and having worked with artists such as Antony and the Johnsons, Rufus Wainwright, Lou Reed and Sparklehorse means that expectations are high for Joan Wasser. Her first two solo albums, Real Life and To Survive certainly didn’t disappoint, but with her new album, The Deep Field, she seems to have hit her peak.
A lot more immediate than her previous two...
February 2010
1 post
“Mistakes are the portals of discovery.”
– James Joyce
May 2009
2 posts
“Once discovered, all thinkers and artists whose wisdom really burns through the...”
– Frank O’Malley