This guy is a reject.
But not just a reject. A reject with Bi-Polar and huge problems with depression. On stage he shakes uncontrollably which makes for an emotional and intense performance. I should know because I see him. But this is the reason why I love him so much, and really, it's all part of the Daniel Johnston charm. And is really what makes him so great.
Firstly the main thing you should know about Mr. Johnston is that his recordings can be very harsh. By very harsh I mean, not suitable at all for the mainstream listener. I'm sorry if that sounds pompous, I hate people that are all "Oh my god that is soooooo mainstream!". I was one of those people once upon a time. But there is no other way to discribe his music. Generally if any person or radio DJ was introduced by Johnston at a first glass they would probably think something along the lines of "WTF is this, he can't sing! And the music sounds terrible! Like it was recorded on a $50.00 machine! (which it was)" But that is the whole beauty of it though. It is something so raw and powerfull that even the hardest of music lover would cry at his heartfelt melodies.
His lyrics are so achingly heartfelt that you can't help but shed a tear on songs like "Speeding Motorcycle" and "Mind Contorted". I can tell you the Johnston Live experience is exactly the same. It's brilliantly weird. And what made it even more brilliant is that all the Arty Farty brighton students were looking at each other as if to say "Oh my goodness Carrie, what on earth is the terrible sound, this man can't even hit a pitch". I know that this is a terrible generalisation but to be honest with you it really annoyed me that most of the people were there for Laura Marling. The support band said "I hope you enjoy tonight, Daniel Johnston is playing" and someone in the crowd said "And Laura Marling!!". I wanted to punch the woman that said it in the face. Go to a Laura Marling gig if you like Laura Marling.
Anyway, He was absolutely brilliant live, and I even shed a tear at one of his songs. It was a great experience and I really reccomend you go and see him.
Anyway, This is that part of the blog where I post you an album of his on Spotify, Enjoy this, It's his most accessable album in my eyes:
http://open.spotify.com/album/1LTB8S4XXajOZLw4g6Wox8
Friday, 12 February 2010
Saturday, 6 February 2010
A quick review of Fyfe Dangerfeilds new album "Fly Yellow Moon"
Hey Guys,
I'm busy preparing my house for a party tonight so this is only going to be short but I havn'g updated this blog in weeks so I feel that I should.
Anyway, Fyfe's new album is absolutely brilliant and I really reccomend you go and get it. It's like the album the Guillemots should have released as a second album after that debacle a.k.a Red which didn't sound very Guillemotty at all (is that even a word?). But anyway it's great, the first track sounds like a lost E.P from the Guillemots, which I really should stop referencing. It's a great track and it's really optimitic aswell. All in all the whole album is a stunning epic that doesn't have the "Writers block" feel that the second Guillemots album did. But I understand that. It's really hard releasing a second album, you put your everything into the first but then run out of ideas on the second. You really should go and get this album. It's wonderfull and really shows Fyfe Dangerfeilds skills as a singer/songwriter.
Also a couple of weeks ago I saw him live which was great also. Even though for the first four songs he kept on messing up, as the guy behind me said, "He's dying on his feet". Which it seemed like he was. But it all turned out good in the end. We were treated to a Ukelele version of Made up lovesong #42 and a brillinant cover of a Girls Aloud song (I can't believe I just said that!). It was a great night.
I'm busy preparing my house for a party tonight so this is only going to be short but I havn'g updated this blog in weeks so I feel that I should.
Anyway, Fyfe's new album is absolutely brilliant and I really reccomend you go and get it. It's like the album the Guillemots should have released as a second album after that debacle a.k.a Red which didn't sound very Guillemotty at all (is that even a word?). But anyway it's great, the first track sounds like a lost E.P from the Guillemots, which I really should stop referencing. It's a great track and it's really optimitic aswell. All in all the whole album is a stunning epic that doesn't have the "Writers block" feel that the second Guillemots album did. But I understand that. It's really hard releasing a second album, you put your everything into the first but then run out of ideas on the second. You really should go and get this album. It's wonderfull and really shows Fyfe Dangerfeilds skills as a singer/songwriter.
Also a couple of weeks ago I saw him live which was great also. Even though for the first four songs he kept on messing up, as the guy behind me said, "He's dying on his feet". Which it seemed like he was. But it all turned out good in the end. We were treated to a Ukelele version of Made up lovesong #42 and a brillinant cover of a Girls Aloud song (I can't believe I just said that!). It was a great night.
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Good Afternoon.
Do you like Talking Heads?
I do. I think they are an absolutely fantastic band. Genius infact. David Byrnes eccentricity is one of absolute legend. David Byrne is a legend. I love the way their music is just so interesting- every time you listen to them you hear a new unique sound. It's great. I love the fact that in their records they've got so much going on, buzzes, alarms, crazy guitar work. It's all good. And they are extremely tight live. I was watching their gig in Rome on youtube the other day and it looked crazy, like some sort of party that everyone was invited to. There were like 12 people on the stage but each of them had their own presence. And the crowd were wild. I suggest you go on youtube, and watch that video.
The reason why I bring up Talking Heads is because today I would like to talk about art punk. You know, not like, Post-Punk, or what I would call "Angry" Punk. Art Punk. Surprisingly art punk isn't usually made by a bunch of middle class morons who study philosophy at Oxford Uni. Art Punk is made by people with intelligence but also with edge. And today, I would like to talk about a certain band called "Pere Ubu"
Now even though the guy is a complete and utter loon, David Thomas seems to be in the same league of genius as Syd Barrat from Pink Floyd. Exept for the fact that he doesn't take copius amounts of drugs, he's just crazy. His vocals are extrmely weird and his lyrics even more so, it's like Black Francis on speed and it's utterly surreal. This is usually backed by some surf guitar or very textured guitar playing and a weird, scuzzy sound going on in the back ground. It's not really Grunge though, it's kind of in it's own genre.
So, Without further ado, here is a Pere Ubu live album: http://open.spotify.com/album/6qOieEZND46naDK5yfMFYE
And, as I said before, the guy is completely nuts.
I do. I think they are an absolutely fantastic band. Genius infact. David Byrnes eccentricity is one of absolute legend. David Byrne is a legend. I love the way their music is just so interesting- every time you listen to them you hear a new unique sound. It's great. I love the fact that in their records they've got so much going on, buzzes, alarms, crazy guitar work. It's all good. And they are extremely tight live. I was watching their gig in Rome on youtube the other day and it looked crazy, like some sort of party that everyone was invited to. There were like 12 people on the stage but each of them had their own presence. And the crowd were wild. I suggest you go on youtube, and watch that video.
The reason why I bring up Talking Heads is because today I would like to talk about art punk. You know, not like, Post-Punk, or what I would call "Angry" Punk. Art Punk. Surprisingly art punk isn't usually made by a bunch of middle class morons who study philosophy at Oxford Uni. Art Punk is made by people with intelligence but also with edge. And today, I would like to talk about a certain band called "Pere Ubu"
Now even though the guy is a complete and utter loon, David Thomas seems to be in the same league of genius as Syd Barrat from Pink Floyd. Exept for the fact that he doesn't take copius amounts of drugs, he's just crazy. His vocals are extrmely weird and his lyrics even more so, it's like Black Francis on speed and it's utterly surreal. This is usually backed by some surf guitar or very textured guitar playing and a weird, scuzzy sound going on in the back ground. It's not really Grunge though, it's kind of in it's own genre.
So, Without further ado, here is a Pere Ubu live album: http://open.spotify.com/album/6qOieEZND46naDK5yfMFYE
And, as I said before, the guy is completely nuts.
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Let's start off
Welcome to Bellend and Sebastian.
Firstly I would like to state that, even though I may not be the best musical jeornalist in the world, I am going to make it my mission in this blog to bring you the best of the best bands that I discover and find, maybe some live gig reviews and maybe review some albums while I'm at it, maybe tell you about the albums I have brought currently, and maybe even post you youtube and spotify links if your lucky.
So basically I would like to start by talking to you about an amazing singer/songwriter called Lou Rhodes. Now, usually, cutesy acoustic songwriters are not my bag. Infact, they physically repulse me. Not very nice I know. But, I really hate the way that they all prance around like "Oh look at me I am so different and original". No your not, your completely fake and have a predictable, bland personality.
Anyway before I get side tracked. Lou Rhodes' voice is absolutely phenominal. She is the singer off of the electronic outfit Lamb. Who write the most breathtaking and origional electronic music you will ever hear, now she releases albums as like some kind of side project, but it sounds nothing like the beautifully sampled violin sounds and jerky drum beats that you would find on most Lamb albums, instead your treated to an awesomely soulfull acoustic guitar sound as well an elegant violin in the background (on most tracks). It sounds very minimalist and stripped down, but it's all in good measure, it doesn't sound too "produced" and has a very raw feeling to it. She has a real talent.
Check out the album "Beloved One" on Spotify, right now:
http://open.spotify.com/album/7bDzTfy4wx4vdAxhYeKwDC
If you enjoyed that, then I would also suggest you to check out a relitavely unknown band called Phantom Limb, a four peice outfit from Bristol. They create the most wonderfull soul/country crossover music and they seem to have a real knack of creating origional melodies and the vocalist sounds gorgeous. I saw them live (stumbled upon them by mistake) when I first went to Glastonbury in 2008 and they were very good. They also do live shows for less then a tenner around Brighton and Bristol if you want to see them for yourself.
You should also check out their self titled debut on Spotify, right now:
http://open.spotify.com/album/3x25xXNRSGo2V1eABHsVwh
Firstly I would like to state that, even though I may not be the best musical jeornalist in the world, I am going to make it my mission in this blog to bring you the best of the best bands that I discover and find, maybe some live gig reviews and maybe review some albums while I'm at it, maybe tell you about the albums I have brought currently, and maybe even post you youtube and spotify links if your lucky.
So basically I would like to start by talking to you about an amazing singer/songwriter called Lou Rhodes. Now, usually, cutesy acoustic songwriters are not my bag. Infact, they physically repulse me. Not very nice I know. But, I really hate the way that they all prance around like "Oh look at me I am so different and original". No your not, your completely fake and have a predictable, bland personality.
Anyway before I get side tracked. Lou Rhodes' voice is absolutely phenominal. She is the singer off of the electronic outfit Lamb. Who write the most breathtaking and origional electronic music you will ever hear, now she releases albums as like some kind of side project, but it sounds nothing like the beautifully sampled violin sounds and jerky drum beats that you would find on most Lamb albums, instead your treated to an awesomely soulfull acoustic guitar sound as well an elegant violin in the background (on most tracks). It sounds very minimalist and stripped down, but it's all in good measure, it doesn't sound too "produced" and has a very raw feeling to it. She has a real talent.
Check out the album "Beloved One" on Spotify, right now:
http://open.spotify.com/album/7bDzTfy4wx4vdAxhYeKwDC
If you enjoyed that, then I would also suggest you to check out a relitavely unknown band called Phantom Limb, a four peice outfit from Bristol. They create the most wonderfull soul/country crossover music and they seem to have a real knack of creating origional melodies and the vocalist sounds gorgeous. I saw them live (stumbled upon them by mistake) when I first went to Glastonbury in 2008 and they were very good. They also do live shows for less then a tenner around Brighton and Bristol if you want to see them for yourself.
You should also check out their self titled debut on Spotify, right now:
http://open.spotify.com/album/3x25xXNRSGo2V1eABHsVwh
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