OUT WITH THE INTRO IN WITH THE OUTRO.

Well during last nights boozy affair something of substance did present itself........ In an excursion with two other super cool bloggers I heard some pretty crisp tunes from a band called Expatriate. What got my attention you say? Well besides the boppy 80's baselines, the haunting vocal distortions and synthesizer riffs that make you wanna dance, stamp your feet, throw you head around, whatever, we three found a band that has killer outros. Just when you think the song is done and faded the guitar slowly elevates and brings in the synth. Slowly growing with anticipation you start to move and as it all builds the drummer drops a breaking beat....you look to whomever you are seeing them with and mouth "fark this is good" in a silent display of appreciation. It was at this point in time we all agreed how much we love a good outro.

The reason for such praise is seen in their uncanny ability to combine something Interpolish/Bravery-ish/The Cure-ish without sounding like anyone else I have seen. There is obvious appeal with a variable whos who of the music scene too with Expatriate
being handpicked by Decoder Ring, The Presets, The Red Riders to warm up the audience at their national tours. The members of the band include Ben King on vocals/guitar, Damian Press on keyboard/guitar/backing vocals/engineer, Chris Kollias on drums and the recently joined bassist Dave Mullins.

By now you should be curious to hear these guys if not get out there and see them so here is a couple of tracks from their
Lovers Le Strange EP (buy it!).

The Spaces Between
Killer Kat

Have a listen and dance. Feel free to move in an idiotic 80's fashion. Yeah!

Labels: Decoder Ring, Expatriate, Red Riders, The Presets

This is a bit strange...
I had this dream last night (I don't normally remember anything about my dreams) and I was speaking with someone who was telling me that The Sleepy Jackson were about to release a new album. For some reason I was thinking about that on the way to work listening to their one and only release with a feeling of dismay... The Sleepy Jackson broke up long ago. One of those great Australian bands slowly burying itself under the sands of time. So today I decided to write a blog about them - a tribute perhaps (I want all you international bloggers to hear a bit of aussie greatness.).
So back to the strange bit. I looked up the band over google and found to my surprise that the band is still going (missing three members from the original however) and THEY ARE about to release a new album on July 1st called Personality. What the fuck? Dreams do come true people. No bullshit too - I did dream it. I think I have a connection with them (does that make me part of the band?). Ok so now I can be lazy and say I'm not going to do a tribute (because they haven't broken up) but I am going to post a couple of my faves from their debut, Lovers.
Now it's time to be crude and I really want to get this off my chest. Two of the former band members, Justin Burford and Rodney Aravena, started this group called End of Fashion. I went to see these guys about a year ago and although admittedly at the time I did kind of like them I don't now - they do not compare to anything like The Sleepy Jackson and now they just piss me off. What was good at the gig however was the opening band, Faker who were just about to release their debut album Addicted Romantic. Now there is a good band and they easily stole the show (which they also did when they opened for Bravery at the Metro). Now they are reaping the rewards on the national scene and will soon make it overseas. Check out their website for music and vids.

The Sleepy Jackson - Good Dancers

Labels: End Of Fashion, The Sleepy Jackson

After an evening of sudoku, tea and silliness I returned to my computer lastnight/this morning and started browsing the web to try and keep up with the flood of new music that duds was speaking of in a blog about the ye olde fave Spoon. Lately I have found the time when I feel the most creative and able to absorb new things is a night. During my delirium ("the new drunk"; cited duds) induced search I opened a link in a new tab called The Hypertonics

Fumbling over the links I found a page with all their mp3s

Listening to pretty much all their tracks I had a fave: "moments we dont allow"

Their music was a cool discovery as their site has pretty much everything that their tunes involve ie: guitar tabs, lyrics, pics, vids, tons of stimulus. They make comments on their native country, The States, life, love all the standard stuff, but I found that they put it togther without coming across as cliche or sounding like a majority of bands within the same genre. Now I come to the point where I put these guys into a genre:.......in reading a few of their comments on the site I realised that classification is not something that they are looking for. Just appreciation of the music:

"You don't "target certain age groups". (If somebody was targeting me, I would feel the need to defend myself. I wouldn't buy their product, I'd shoot them in self-defense.)"

"So this site is a vehicle for breaking that antagonism up. The artist and the listener aren't on opposite sides of the baricade. They aren't opponents or enemies. The battle between "Getting As Much Money For A CD" and "Paying As Little As Possible" is bad for art, and it's nonsense created so some third party can make money. How's about the artists and the listeners collude and collaborate and shove off the middlemen all together?"

Pretty cool I think. Enjoy

Driving home at 2am last night, window down, 10 degrees outside, light rain blowing in, life was good. Then this song came on the radio. I motioned to change stations, but some greater force held back my hand. Someone was looking over me. WANDERING EYE by NZ band FAT FREDDYS DROP. Found on the dance/dub shelf at the store, and described as 'jamming hi-tek soul', it is not characteristic of my usual taste in music, hence my earlier scruple. But as the song progressed, I found my posture straightening and my smile stretching, picturing myself striding down a busy street on a Sunday morning. If anyone decides to compile a "walking songs" playlist, then include this one! Hutcho, I bet my precious pink ski suit that you'll be walking to work with this one all winter. My only grievance... that the outro isn't longer!!

Fat Freddys Drop - Wandering Eye

Here's the music video!

more about the band

Labels: Fat Freddy's Drop, NZ, Tom

A recent drive home from Brisbane provided an opportunity to revisit some of those former favourite albums of mine which I had neglected for too long. Amidst the flood of new music we all seem to be trying too hard to keep our head above the interesting and exciting air waves rolling in. Sometimes we forget those albums and artists of old that we love so much. They may be old and wrinkled, but so is my grandma, and my monthly visits still offer so much, after so long. It's only been 4 years, but with so many new bands & new tunes in between, it feels like a lifetime ago that SPOON released KILL THE MOONLIGHT. This will ALWAYS be one of my favourite albums, and I strongly recommend you too make a regular Sunday visit.

also, initial lineup for Splendour is out! (tickets on sale May 15)

From Kill The Moonlight (purchase here)

Spoon - The Way We Get By

Spoon - Something To Look Forward To

Labels: Spoon, Tom

just a quickie...
Some of you may have noticed the sudden explosion of live music around sydney, especially in clubs which hosted the 'fast-becoming-passe' dance scene.
Foremost among these is Home, who are hosting The Liars and Shout Out Louds 6th May. Even more interesting is their choice for Thursday 17 May. CODY FUCKIN CHESNUTT is playing!!!!!
Now, I wouldnt miss it for a date with Tom Cruise. Or a lamb roast.
I caught Cody 2 years ago at the Metro, and still stands out as perhaps the greatest live music experience i have ever had. The man has SOUL!
Anyway, its 50 bucks. I'll see ya there. Info here

Ok I have this thing for moscow schoolboys. I like the way they play with each other; some playing with their sticks and others strutting here and there. I also like the sounds they make; no innocence there, Moscow Schoolboy is down right dirty. This band from Melbourne (what? you thought I meant... oh how embarrassing) have a great unique sound - a tribrid (look I invented a new word!) of electronica, garage and pop. This band screams sex; a raunchy and slutty female voice churning out lyrics like "Hey what's your name? I want to sleep with you" and "I'm going to use you for my own devices and I don't care what the consequences are". Makes me ponder why the world isn't full of individuals as enlightened as these guys are.
Moscow Schoolboys have two Sydney gigs coming up - one tomorrow night at The Filth, Ladylux in Kings Cross and a gig of epic proportions at the Manning Bar at Sydney Uni playing alongside Expatriate and Faker on Thursday night (I will post details up tomorrow). Check out their MySpace site for tunes... Unfortunately they have no links for freebies but their EP will be released sometime this month so I'll keep you posted.

On the international scene Eagles of Death Metal have just released their sophomore album Death By Sexy. It's well, sexy? Maybe if you have a thing for midgets in leather. Here are a couple of my favourites from the album which you can purchase here. And if you don't purchase this album then the Angel of Darkness himself, Josh Homme, will come in your sleep, rip your head off and eat it sparing only your eyeballs because let's face it, no one likes eyeballs unless it's in a hot dog. Mmmmm...

Eagles of Death Metal - Cherry Cola

Eagles of Death Metal - I Gotta Feeling (Just Nineteen)

Labels: Melbourne, Moscow Schoolboy

No witty intro:

I was having a chat with a pretty cool cat whilst at work last weekend and was talking about the problem we both had with clubs and bands etc...

Enter The Exploders

This person who shall remain nameless, proceeded to tell me about their drunken night-O-fun at Purple Sneakers. Now as soon as the name of the band was mentioned, a bell rang in my noggin. I remembered (with haze) seeing these dudes at the last Falls Festival with truckloads of gusto and with a general sense of PAAARTY about them. Knowing that Pete Murray was on next and that I was in no danger of wasting any energy on that guy, I proceeded to go into a flurry of jerky dance moves that seemed to me to be in time with the tunes. At that time I realised that everyone else including the lead singer TJ Allender was doing the same thing. "Woooohoo!" I remembered shouting.

Following this discussion with the cool cat I went home that arvo and attempted to find these guys on the net to try and relive the party. I stumbled across:
their website
their myspace
their video

Listening to all the tracks I could find, the statement "sounds like The Who/Monkees/Black Keys/Beatles/Kings of Leon" came outta my mouth and I proceeded to rock out some more. In saying that they do have their own flavour and are definately capable of getting you in the mood to break out into a goofy jam when they play live. Join me I say.
These guys are "Steppin Out"

Come see them play:



See you there.

Labels: The Exploders

Instant gratification? Damn straight... As a cynical member of the fast-food generation, I often baulk at people who consider their indulgences a matter of urgency. However, sometimes I am also either too tired, drunk, or lazy to go though the motions of dissecting artistic crap that I pretend to like. And in those dire times of need, I give you The Kooks.

The Kooks are some dudes from Pommy-land who play good old fashioned gyrating pop-rock. It the kind of music only the Brits can do, cause (as the beatles proved) no-one else can say “do do do do, yeah yeah” and make it sound so profound… And they do it good. They got a debut album out now called “Inside In The Inside Out” which you can buy here: http://www.thekooks.co.uk/

So if you’re feeling a bit shonky come Monday, I have a cure. Wash down a few ‘No-Doze’ with a red bull, put on The Kooks and in ten minutes you’ll practising kung-fu in front of the bathroom mirror in your underwear… Seriously, these guys fart sunshine.

Now when you put this album on, I know what you’ll think. You’ll probably start out loving it (very few weak tracks on this puppy). This will be followed weeks later by a period of indifference where you’ve kinda over done them (as always happens with really poppy accessible music). The final stage of this evolution will occur when you turn on the radio and they come pumping out of every station, and will sound something like: “Wow, these dudes are GHEY!”. However, it is important to remember, there is a clause in this argument that allows you to follow it up with “They used to be cool though… you know, before everyone else got into them”. Then you can sit there with a smug smile on your face and sip your double-soy-skim-wanker-cino (with extra froth) in peace.

Now where are my pants!?

The Kooks - Ooh La La

The Kooks - See The World

The Kooks - Sofa Song

The Kooks - Eddies Gun

Yes I've been slack... no, we've all been slack. We all went on holidays over the long weekend and although I've been back over the last few days I've struggled to get out of holiday mode - maybe I'm out of it now. So during these periods of slackness I also fail to scour this universe for any new music I might like. Instead I go back to some of my older stuff which I think I need to do every now and then. How many worthy records do I have just sitting there gathering dust just waiting for their chance again? Probably too many. Actually none. I don't own records - this is the digital age my friends and I'm not one of those people who wallow in the past claiming records are better than CDs which are better than mp3's (crazy hippy folk). So on my drive up the coast over the weekend I searched through my iPod trying to find one of these greats and came across the Okkervil River EP, The Black Sheep Boy Appendix. Released last December??? I'm not sure, but the record certainly copped a beating over January and then suddenly disappeared from memory. I really like an album that you have to listen from start to finish to really appreciate its greatness - this is certainly one of them. A bit country/folky, this EP flows through emotions from pure joy portrayed by the song No Key, No plan to the sad Black Sheep Boy #4 and then a song of pure love (probably my favourite) in Another Radio Song. I must also note that the songs on the EP were actually left overs from Okkervil River's LP Black Sheep Boy - I like the EP better but the LP is damn good too.
Here are two tracks from the EP which you can purchase here.

Labels: Howling Bells

Labels: The Presets, Van She

Ahh welcome Mr Tom... we have been waiting in anticipation for your arrival. Here is your Howling Bells track....

Howling Bells - The Bell Hit

New music from me? Yes! I took the day off work today because I rocked a little too hard with Keith and Mick last night (I never knew that I could rock it out to guys older than my father). The Stones were very cool last night though... Anyway, I spent the day in front of the old laptop browsing through new Aussie music. Found some cool stuff which I will now share with you all (I am such a kind person). Enjoy and happy easter - and if you see any cute bunny rabbits, shoot them... they're pests in Australia and it's your god damn given right! yeehaa

I rather like this track. From a Sydney electronic group. You can hear more stuff here. Expecting big things...

Junk Circuit - Life On My Own

Fun, jumpy track here from The Tenants. These guys have just released a new album called Everything You Know Is Wrong available from here.

The Tenants - Disco Ace

What do you get when you mix one of Australia's hottest indie groups with one of Australia's hottest electronic acts? This....

The Valentinos with Van She - CCTV (Gang Bang vs Van She remix)

And out of respect for The Rolling Stones and Keith Richards here is a track about Keith from The Winters... so is Keith still on drugs?

The Winters - Keef

Labels: Howling Bells, Junk Circuit, The Tenants, The Valentinos, The Winters, Van She

Apologies for my absence child.
My dear sandwich club.
And my dear Marcy, when you say goodbye, I say hello. Thanks for the memories.

So in a recent interview, juanita stein, singer/songwriter for London-based Sydney-siders, Howling Bells, said the infamous UK critics are being nice to them because they are not dragging up old sounds from the 60's & 70's. They're doing something unique. This music is like a potion that goes in the ear and permeates through the whole body (kinda like the opening credits for Goldeneye 007, with its unlikely combination of hammers, sickles, and half-naked women). While I personally wouldn't describe them as classically 'original', these songs certainly do evoke a unique pattern of emotions, and juanita herself inspires a feeling somewhere between love and devastation. See this band live and life will confuse you once again.

Im anticipating their debut* album to be a humble highlight for 2006! Available May/June.
Preview at myspace, and Von Hutch has kindly posted 'The Bell Hit' in the entry above. If you're like me and can't get enough of juanita, check out:
Waikiki
The Givegoods
(when I work out how to upload mp3's, my word I will... because love conquers all).

*the band has previously released an album under the moniker 'Waikiki'. But I once knew a guy called Simon who officially added an extra 'i' into his name, because he felt like a whole new man. So I suppose it's still a debut of sorts.

Labels: Howling Bells, Sydney, Tom, Waikiki

Just lately I've found myself listening to a lot of music with both female and male lead singers. I'm not sure why that is... maybe it's my subconcious telling me to give up the single life. Maybe.
I stopped listening to my subconscious sometime ago though. I don't trust it. Last time I listened to it I got arrested - apparently running around naked in the park howling like a beast of the night is illegal. We are only animals you know.. it felt natural.

Wow I just read what I wrote... I've gone completely off track. This always seems to happen late on a Monday night. I get so tired as a result of the weekend (aren't we supposed to rest on weekends?). Anyway I have to 'bring it back' to this band called Mates of State who I've been meaning to blog for sometime. So Bring It Back is their new album (I'm on fire tonight). I'm really into it and am willing to predict that it will make my top 5 albums of 2006. Mates of State are a husband and wife duo from San Francisco. The fact that they're husband and wife seems to work really well for them - these two just seem so happy together. When I listen to their music I feel like frolicking through the meadows, picking sunflowers while little butterflies flutter around the place. Look I know that sounds a bit cheesy but I know you'd like to be there too - admit it.

Here are some of my favourite tracks from their new album which you can purchase by clicking on the link on the sidebar.

Mates of State - Think Long
Mates of State - Fraud In The 80's

Also here are some other male/female leads to have a listen to... All songs (and albums) are available on iTunes.

The Rosebuds - Shake Our Tree
Aberfeldy - A Friend Like You
Silversun Pickups - Kissing Families
The New Pornographers - Use It

This strapping lad in the middle of this photo is Marc (yes that is a lighter). I regret to inform you all that Marc will be on leave from the SClub for a couple of weeks - he is off to Cancun to learn the mysterious art of the pinata. He will continue his trip overseas but he assures me he will have internet access after Mexico (apparently Mexicans are too poor to have the internet).

Nevertheless I am still in shock and am finding this very hard to deal with. I haven't left my room for 3 days. The stain on the wall is my only friend and just lately he's been giving me menacing looks - I think he's planning do to terrible things to me.

Fittingly, I have found some songs about goodbyes. I hope you all take this better than me.

Labels: The Camels

Friday again! What’s on this weekend I hear you ask? Well, apart from the obligatory headaches and late night salmonella roll, there’s MUSIC! yeah!

Children Collide have shipped up from Melbourne for the weekend. And they is damn good. They are: Johnny singing and on lead, Heath on bass, and the vivacious Steffo on drums. I would describe this as a bleeding, meaty bastard of a sandwich. If this sandwich could talk, it would say “MOOOOOO”. Then it would kick you in the balls and steal your wallet. Its dark and brooding, with guitars that rip, and vocals that scratch their way into your head. They have a killer EP out at the mo, ‘We Three, Brave and True’, which S-Club-6 have been bashing the last few months, and we collectively dig it! (personal faves are ‘Frozen Armies’ and ‘Amphibious’)

Last time I caught them at Candy’s Apartment I was a bit sozzled, but I do remember a very tidy set all round. I also remember seeing a very tidy set on a girl in a green dress.

I can think of no more fitting opportunity to see these guys than tomorrow night at Starfuckers. Every Saturday night the nice people down at Club 77 on William Street, turf the vampires that live there during the week, pack up all the coffins, and open the doors to a kick arse Aussie lineup. The setting is one that will undoubtedly enhance the murky sound this group have. A word of warning though. Last time I was there, I may have contracted epilepsy from the strobe light in the bathroom. Thankfully, I was so preoccupied with trying not to piss on my shoes that I didn’t end up the convulsing heap I could have.

You can check out Children Collide’s myspace here:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=26513987

And nab their EP here:

http://shopping.ninemsn.com.au/Prices/shp/?itemId=933883

ps – Steff. Come stay in my garage in Glebe. Breakfast is at 9.

Labels: Children Collide

Electronics 101: Eddy Currents
An eddy current is a phenomenon caused by a moving magnetic field intersecting a conductor or vice-versa. The relative motion causes a circulating flow of electrons, or current, within the conductor. These circulating eddies of current create electromagnets with magnetic fields that oppose the change in the external magnetic field.
By now you're probably wondering why I made you read that. Well I heard this song on the radio today by The Eddy Current Suppression Ring. Somewhere deep in the recesses of my brain a neuron that had been lying dormant for years fired - eddy currents? Can't really remember but it has something to do with electricity right? After a quick search (actually it wasted 20mins of my life) I found that yes it does indeed (I felt pretty chuffed after that).

Anyway this band has nothing to do with Eddy Currents. In fact to my surprise, Eddy Current is a person and he's the guitarist in this band. Either that was a strange coincidence or his parents are sad geeks like me. Nevertheless I felt like a bit of an idiot. Not to be the only fool here I made you all read that. So there.

If you like retro punk bands such as The Ramones or The Buzzcocks then the Eddy Current Suppression Ring (try saying that a few times - I did and salivated all over my keyboard) is for you. Their song, Precious Rose, is one of the coolest songs I've heard in some time. A very catchy riff with a lead singer waltzing through the song in a style that lies somewhere in between singing and just talking - I'd call it sin-king but our forefathers of our language already took that word. The other song I've posted is Get Up Morning. This song is much more that retro/punk sound I was talking about and it's no cheap imitation my friends - these guys play it very very well. Makes me want to pick up a safety pin and jab it through my eyebrow or one of my other body parts you probably don't want to know about... or do you?

Labels: The Eddy Current Supression Ring

This is not the normal SClub type post but I really like this song. It's by a Melbourne group called Winter Park and it's ambient in style. I could just sit here listening to this music watching the world go by - for hours, or days, or months, or years. It's just so peaceful I feel like I've reached nirvana.

Labels: Winter Park

I think I've been in la la land the last couple of weeks because I seem to have been oblivious to the fact that The Flaming Lips have just released a new album. Actually it's not a bad thing being in la la land - The Flaming Lips have been in la la land all their lives. La la la land. I seem to be stuttering this morning. Uh huh...
Well I heard their first single on the radio this morning and it got me very excited. It's called the The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (see I'm not the only one stuttering - I WAS going somewhere with that lame ass joke). The new album is titled At War With The Mystics which is now their 11th album... you'd think they'd have run out of ideas. Probably not though. Their last album, Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, is one of my favourites and going by the song I heard today, this is also going to be very good. Listen for yourself.

TAKING BACK MY FAVOURITE DAY OF THE WEEK!




Like my fellow bloggers, Marc and Hutch, I frequent many a gig. When I heard Hutch talking about the Drones and how active the lead vocalist, Gareth Liddiard was, Taking Back Sunday instantly came to mind. Adam Lazzara has to be one of the best showmen i have seen from any band (hefty call I know). As soon as the guitar from Fred Mascherino exploded on their recent gig at the Roundhouse UNSW, Lazzara was dancing (the robot-one to note), mic twirling (avante guarde-ly) and adding his own flavour to what everyone thinks what a good (correction GREAT) frontman should have. For any of you who arent into the 'emo' scene these guys will be your chance to broaden your tastes.

Their new album Louder Now is out at the end of April and I for one am all over it. I have had a listen to all the tracks (thanks to Mike from Atticus and Macbeth) and it is certainly an evolved beast from their previous album Where You Want To Be. From the high-octane drumming and blazing syncopated riffs that rain down on Whats It Feel Like to Be a Ghost, the opening track on Louder Now its clear that the albums title couldnt be more fitting. Faster, darker and harder than its 2004 predecessor, the best-selling Where You Want To Be, which launched the New York-based quintet into the hearts and minds of indie rock fans everywhere, Louder Now is the album that bottles the lightning that this powerful, melodic hardcore band generate whenever they hit the stage.

Taking Back Sunday are:

Adam Lazzara vocals
Fred Mascherino guitar, vocals
Eddie Reyes guitar
Mark OConnell drum
Matt Rubano bass

Below is an interview that I nabbed from their website. Av a read and enjoy something new:

{We love our first two albums [Where You Want To Be and the 2002 debut on Victory Records Tell All Your Friends], but we were always told that our live show had more energy than the records, says guitarist-vocalist Fred Mascherino. Our intention with this one was to capture that energy. Keeping that in mind the whole time we made our record, we got some really intense results.

Louder Nows intensity was propelled by producer Eric Valentine (Queens of the Stone Age, Third Eye Blind) pushing Taking Back Sunday to be better at every turn. Eric brings to the table the rare ability to take a band thats been playing for years to an entirely higher level, says Mascherino. He calls you out if your song isnt hitting where its supposed to. He thinks about every element. We learned a ton from working with him.

The band members knew they wanted to go beyond their formula of pop-tinged hardcore anthems. It was important to us when recording Louder Now that we give fans a full listening experience. Mascherino says. One of the ways we tried to accomplish that was to experiment with new and different sounds for songs. One example is the rollicking Miami. The drum kit was set up in the smallest room in the studio, giving Mark OConnells drumming a tight 80s sound, complementing Matt Rubanos basslines and further topped with Cure-like guitar tones, and a scorching guitar solo. The end result is unlike anything Taking Back Sunday have recorded to date.

The albums first single MakeDamnSure relies on classic Taking Back Sunday influence, with singer Adam Lazzaras yowling vocals mixed with Eddie Reyes and Mascherinos slashing guitars. The twin guitar assault and emotional point/counterpoint lyrics are still the lynchpin of their sound.

After releasing Where You Want To Be, the band played around a bazillion shows, by Mascherinos reckoning (You seriously forget your address and home phone number), including the 2004 Warped Tour, British rock festivals Reading and Leeds, and a sold-out headlining tour. Things did not let up in 2005 when they did a co-headlining arena tour of North America with Jimmy Eat World and performed two sold-out shows in June at Britains Milton Keynes National Bowl with Green Day, each band playing to the biggest audiences of their careers.

Continuously inspired during life on the road, Taking Back Sunday wrote and recorded pieces of songs with gear stored on the bus. It can be damaging to live like this being away from home, Mascherino admits. The space and distance affects us so much it even seeps into the music. I feel like Louder Now is a much darker record than Where You Want to Be, especially on tracks like Liar (It Takes One to Know One). The overall tone, mood, and lyrics give you a deeper feeling.

Relentless touring paid off with sold-out arena tours and delirious fan support. Combined, Tell All Your Friends and Where You Want to Be have scanned more than 1.4 million copies and the latter debuted at Number Three on the Billboard Top 200, selling more than 163,000 copies its first week of release in July 2004. It has sold nearly 700,000 copies to date. Effusive praise in Rolling Stone, Spin, and Entertainment Weekly soon followed and Taking Back Sunday appeared on the cover of Alternative Press for the third time and the band remained a staple on both MTV and Fuse. In 2005, the band was tapped to record a track for the hit movie Fantastic Four. Error Operator appears on the films soundtrack and on Louder Now.

Determined to get their new album right "we set out to create something that we considered timeless", says Mascherino. We didnt want something that people would listen to in 10 years and say, Thats from 2006 when all the records sounded like that. We wanted people to listen to it in 10 years and say, Hell, yeah, turn that up!}

Now that you have had a read, have a listen and a look:

Listen to their latest single being played on Triple j at the moment Make Damn Sure:
www.myspace.com/takingbacksunday

Download their vids to get an idea of how these guys behave on stage:
www.takingbacksunday.com/newalbumsite/index.php?area=audiovideo

Cheers, Stuey

I don't know why Marc's complaining that it's the end of Summer... It's not; at least not for him. He's going to Cancun next week... CANCUN! Yes Spring break. What an asshole.
Thought I'd get that out of my system. I'm the jealous type you see.

Now two Sydney bands to talk about; both playing this Friday night at Candy's Apartment. One is Modern Life. I've heard a bit about this band on the grapevine, I think mainly because they feature a few members from Skunkhour. Yes, Skunkhour, that great Aussie funk/soul band of the 90's. Being a fan of Skunkhour this was definitely a band I had down on my list of 'bands to see' but unfortunately never got around to it. Anyway this Friday night I will. I don't have any music to post here which is a bit of a shame, but you can buy their music off iTunes which I'm going to do as soon as I have some money in my bank account (I have 22 cents). Also check out some of their songs on MySpace - there is the best cover of 'Love Is The Drug'. Unfortunately they don't have that one on iTunes. I will endeavour to get it and see if I can post it here. I did say two bands didn't I? Well this other band is called The Light Brigade and they're supporting Modern Life at Candy's. To be honest I don't know much about these guys but I am intrigued. They have two songs posted up on MySpace and alas! not downloadable and their EP is not out yet! Anyway the song Drinkin' In The Day is fantastic. Sufjan Stevens kind of song with the lead singer sounding like the singer from The Wrens - such a good song people, I really like it. The other song, Ghost In The Machine, is a bit darker with heavier guitars but also a top song. Very catchy the both of them. I'm really looking forward to seeing this gig on Friday.

Modern Life and The Light Brigade are playing at Candy's apartment this Friday night. Check out info here.

Modern Life MySpace site
The Light Brigade MySpace site

Labels: Modern Life, The Light Brigade

It's hard work being a blogilist (blogilist does blogilism just as a journalist does journalism - your new word of the day). This was just supposed to be something to do to pass the time between dinner and bed, like masturbation. But it's turning into something much bigger and I think I'm addicted. It's not a bad thing of course (at least not yet). It certainly exposed me to a tonne of Aussie acts that I never knew existed (2 weeks ago I thought I knew the scene reasonably well - not the case at all, in fact not even the biggest 'scenesters' would). There is just so much stuff out there. Which brings me to Dardanelles from Melbourne. That great pop/indie sound worthy of a dance or two. These guys really have it all - talent from all corners. Everyone can play and they mix well together - just as cheese, pepperoni, tomato paste and bread work (alright I got nothing today!! Geez I'll cringe at that comment when I see this tomorrow). Have a listen to these tracks...

Dardanelles - Origami Tree (My favourite)
Dardanelles - Instinct
Dardanelles - Georgi Zhukov
Dardanelles - We Are The Night

Check out their MySpace site here.

Now off to The Drones... yeeooou

Labels: Dardanelles