As much fun as Guitar Hero and Rockband are. There’s nothing quite like the real thing.

This is the whole song played with a minimal backing track.

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Mazin’.

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Terrific cover of the Jackson 5. A guitar, a tambourine and a sampling peddle make for a great interpretation.

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This has been out for yonks. Simply a placemarker to remind me of it.

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Shamelessly stolen from a Boing Boing post.

A couch, a uke, a great smile and a heaping serve of talent.

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A new Crowded House album in something over ten years. What can I say? There were rumours and rumblings over the last few months. I’ve been dancing on clouds for the last couple of months listening to it.

I have my favourite band back. After an amazing farewell. Despite the devastating loss of Paul Hester.

Following Neil’s solo career and colloborations with Tim. The old favourites were never far away at a concert.

Having accept the losses. They’ve reformed with a new drummer Matt Sherrod and delivered an amazingly strong album. Distinctive melodies and harmonies tinged heavily with saddness and melancholy.

A solid colloboration with a mix of new and old sounds. The same distinctive guitars layering melodies and hooks. Synths and piano colouring the mood. Underpinned with solid rhythms from bass and drums.

Stand out tracks are Don’t Stop Now, She Called Up, Silent House and English Trees. Transit Lounge manages to skirt the familiar topic of being in transit in a good way. All too often I think of Tenacious D’s “The Road”.

Its good to be home. Even if its changed some.

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Best song on a strong album.

In a long tradition of New Zealand artists claimed by Australia.

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Two amazingly great music videos for Charlotte Hatherley. Shiny Brit guitar pop.

All done in photo comic style.

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Having enjoyed the Yeah Yeah Yeahs sophomore effort so much. I dropped into the local BigMart to pick up their first CD.

I’d read alot of press and reviews. Expecting the first album to be raw and punk. In actuality it plays very much as the predecessor to Show Your Bones.

It is alot rawer with Karen O’s vocals way out front. The mix is quite murky but the solid sounds of Nick Zinner’s guitar and Brian Chase’s drums are there. The chief difference in Fever To Tell is most likely the effort and care that went into the mix of the second album.

The two best songs Maps and Y Control are clear indicators of what was to come three years down the track.

Overall its an enjoyable album but its not as strong as Show Your Bones.

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The Grates – Gravity Won’t Get You High.

This three piece from Brisbane are amazing. A solid debut album showcasing great versality and depth. Especially as they consist of just Patience Hodgson on vocals, Alana Skyring on drums and John Patterson on guitar.

Catchy indy Oz pop at its best. Their songs have been ruling the radio waves of most stations. This CD features older work such as murky Sukkafish with new work like 19 20 20 and Science is Golden. Each song is unique with distinctive drumming and guitar work that does down a treat. I’ve only found one song on the album that doesn’t really catch me.

Add to this the unique vocals of Patience for that extra uumph. Initially she sounds quite loose. But having caught some of their live work on youtube I understand why this is the way it is. Patience’s enthusiasm has her jumping around like a crazed meerkat.

Five stars on a scale of one to four. I’ve worn a groove into the iPod with the constant playing of this CD.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Show Your Bones

Just picked this up on Saturday. Having heard a few songs on Triple J. I was drawn to the textured indie sound with Karen O’s cooler than thou drawl.

This album leaps straight out of the case. Oozing a unique New York guitar pop style. Virtually every song is a pearl. Terrific mixes of acoustic and electric sounds. Each song carries the general mood of dark introspection.

Stand outs are Way Out, Cheated Hearts and Turn Into. However the album is consistently excellent all the way through.

Another five star effort.

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Yeek. The Psychedelic Furs are playing the Enmore on Saturday June 24.

The topper is that Ratcat are supporting them !

So we get to hear not just “Heartbreak Beat”, “Love My Way” and “Pretty in Pink” again. But we get to hear “Go Go”, “Baby Baby” and “Don’t Go Now” all over again.

Now all we need is a 80s / 90s fuzz & synth pop revival tour with Jesus and the Mary Chain, Wonderstuff, OMD, Echo & the Bunnymen, the Hoodoo Gurus and the Church.

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The Flaming Lips – Yeah Yeah Yeah. A funky quirky little tune.

The Grates – 19 20 20. The opening guitar riff is an enticing grungy entree to the rest of the song. Streaming over on MySpace if you dare visit.

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I don’t much like this years Hottest 100. It seems like every second year is the one I don’t like.

I loved last years selection so this year is the off year. Don’t know why it happens that way. Although its usually that the whole years stuff just doesn’t appeal.

Last year had a huge amount of music I liked. It just didn’t get voted into the upper reaches.

When did the Triple J audience decide that Bernard Fanning’s “Wish you well” was good enough to be number one ? I like it. But its not that great. I don’t recall it getting that much airplay.

Its certainly nowhere near “Love will tear us apart”. I’m old enough to remember when Joy Division would top the annual all time favourites list on Double J every year.

I’m totally over Wolfmother. Their good but they sound too derivative to me.

At least the Gorillaz got two songs into the top 10. The White Stripes only got one in the top 10 despite a strong album.

Alot of covers late in the year as well. Sarah Blasko’s cover of Flame Trees is excellent. As is Missy Higgins version of Stuff and Nonsense. Can’t quite say the same of the HERD’s Only 19. Something about that song makes me cringe. Pity cause I like the HERD.

Guess I won’t be buying this years Hottest 100 cd.

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Apparently Kanye West is supporting U2 on their Australian Vertigo tour. Nice little bonus for the lucky few who managed to get tickets.

I’d have thought Kanye would be big enough to headline his own tour. Perhaps its a warmup for him.

I’m just too old and tired to even contemplate going. All the standing I did at U2′s last Sydney concert did me in. Don’t enjoy the stadium experience.

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I’m not one for award shows but I happen to like the current crop of music. Had it on as background whilst doing a few things.

Great that Eskimo Joe got best group. Their current album, A Song is a City, is terrific.

The best part was the Paul Hester tribute. Neil Finn came out and played “Better Be Home Soon”. A simple acoustic piece that had the entire audience singing along.

The irritating part was the constant promo for particular performers and groups. Even in the Paul Hester highlights, they had to start it as a review of the year. They trot the same performers achievements out. Reaches March to do the tribute then stops. So where did the rest of the year go ? Perhaps the piece was done back then and there wasn’t time to insert newer stuff ?

Such is the corporate part of music.

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Song for the day – Sly by the Cat Empire.

Funky bass and drum track. Terrrif horn / brass riff. Overall ska groove and vocal. All recorded live in Cuba.

Shake that money maker.

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Paul Hester has left us. No one quite knows why. It was a surprise to everyone it seems.

He was an ace drummer and all round fantastic entertainer. If I should live my life a portion of how well he lived his. I’d be happy. He was the heart of Crowded House. The wild and crazy guy. Genuine life of the party at any of the concerts.

I heard the news this morning. Had to sit down. Took the wind out of my sails.

All I can think is why ? You’ll be sorely missed mate. Wherever you are.

My best goes out to his partner and two daughters.

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Give me more Black Keys it says. Need more grungy blues guitar and southern delta vocals. This album goes off in a big way.

Similar in instrumentation (guitar and drums) but different to the White Stripes. Both Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney wear their influences on their sleeves and play hard throughout. Whereas Meg White seems content to provide the rhythm to Jack White’s explosive guitar.

This is a solid album. Its raw but the songs are polished. Unlike the White Stripes last album which was a little ragged around the edges and a little too cute at times. These guys are the business.

Standouts for me are 10am Automatic, Just Couldn’t Tie Me Down and Til I Get My Way. There is a bit of mixing to lift the tracks. Chiefly dropping in chunky lead guitar over the already brilliant blues rhythm.

They also venture into quieter stuff, The Lengths and Act Nice and Gentle, to pace things and add some variety.

Their first two albums, Thickfreakness and Big Come Up, are on their way to my Ipod.

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Wow a new U2 album out today.

Hard to believe that these guys have been around for over 20 years. Quite a thing for a band. Especially with the original line up. Mega success helps I’d imagine.

I was a teenager when they first came on the scene. Music videos were a new phenomena. The video I most remember from then had the boys riding horses around in the snow. The Edge hanging on for dear life with a guitar bouncing around on his back. Of course my brain cells from then have long since died off. So I may be talking out my backside.

It wasn’t until their live set on Under a Blood Red Sky that I really got into their music. There is a real urgency and drive during that concert. The Edge’s guitar pushing through a wall of rhythm from Larry and Adam.

However the Zooropa tour burned me out on big live concerts. Several hours of standing in queues for tickets. Queuing hours to get into the venue. Then standing all through the show just to get a peek at them. Yep. I’m getting old.

So I settle for the next best thing. Concerts on DVD. Much easier in the comfort of the lounge. Plus I can bounce around like a madman and not embarrass myself.

Its good to have someone from my youth still pumping out tunes.

I tend to like every second or third album. This usually coincides with them dialing back on the artiness and bombast. I forgave a particular scene in Rattle and Hum where a white conductor was ordering around and madly gesticulating at an African American choir. It seemed too much like the concept got out of hand.

Zooropa was dodgey enough that I didn’t buy Pop. I loved All That You Can Leave Behind. So the prognosis for the new album isn’t good.

Time to head down to the record store. Dads’ got some spare pocket money.

And yes, I am old enough to remember a group called Musical Youth.

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