SIT WOLF: Top 30 Albums of 2010

The best albums of 2010, much the same as 2009, were ridiculously hard to narrow down into a final 30. But after much of the obligatory mulling over nominees and usual bits of chopping and changing positions i’ve finally got a Top 30 Countdown. It was a pretty spectacular twelve months in terms of music. Full of all sorts of aural delights.

As customary the countdown is from Numero 30 to Numero 1 and with a short little description of each album. I’ve tried to keep it to short as i’m pushed for time and it is a school night afterall so it’s early to bed tonight for me.

30. !!! – STRANGE WEATHER ISN’T IT?

A colourful return to form from the dance punk Cali-NY group.

29. GIL SCOTT HERON – I’M NEW HERE

There’s still life in the old dog yet. Putting most of todays young guns to shame with this “post-modernised” blues album.

28. FUTURE ISLANDS – IN EVENING AIR

Fresh and backed with the unique voice of Samuel T Herring this album provided Future Islands with a huge step towards global recognition.

27. NEDRY – CONDOR

Glitch laden, echo filled debut from this seemingly ever evolving trio.

26. BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD – SUMMER HEART

Released on Christmas Day, this was the perfect stocking filler from Blackbird Blackbird. A collection of dream pop classics.

25. HOLY FUCK – LATIN

Holy Fuck? Holy Funk more like. Instrumental lords at their best but with added funkability.

24. MEURSAULT – ALL CREATURES WILL MAKE MERRY

Epic, sombre, intriguing album from the Scottish lo-fi folk experimentalists.

23. BATHS – CERULEAN

A wonderfully textured body of work forms the debut of Will Wiesenfeld aka Baths.

22. WARPAINT – THE FOOL

The all girl four piece dropped one of the most anticipated albums of 2010 and didn’t disappoint with “The Fool”.

21. THE NATIONAL – HIGH VIOLET

It had been a while, so to say, since the indie kids favourite miserablists had released a full length effort and this summer release was a blinding reminder of what they’re capable of.

20. MOUNT KIMBIE – CROOKS AND LOVERS

Blending every type of music there is into just under 40 minutes may seem impossible to most. Not to these guys though.

19. THESE NEW PURITANS – HIDDEN

The sounds of a band truly finding themselves has never been more enjoyable.

18. BEACH HOUSE – TEEN DREAM

Beguilling and warm. This mysterious offering only makes me love Beach House more than i already did.

17. WILD NOTHING – GEMINI

Unmistakably influenced by the 80’s, this wide eyed debut from Jack Tatum and co is literally summer on a disc.

16. GAYNGS – RELAYTED

The compelling tribe of artists known as Gayngs were always going to give us something special with all the collective talent they have in their possession.

15. FLYING LOTUS – COSMOGRAMMA

Giving us another multi layered odyssey was always going to be the main target for one of the most consistent IDM artists out there. He succeeded in typical mesmerising fashion.

14. SALEM – KING NIGHT

Mysterious, cold yet tender and encapsulating. A chilling album from these dark hosts.

13. ERRORS – COME DOWN WITH ME

Following up debut album “It’s Not Something…” was always gonna be hard but Errors managed to seemingly effortlessly succeed. Never has electronic instrumental music sounded so cool.

12. SURFER BLOOD – ASTRO COAST

With vocal melodies and lyrics evoking a heavier Beach Boys this was one of the first albums of 2010 that made my ears prick up and pay serious attention when it came out last January.

11. TOBACCO – MANIAC MEAT

The main man from Black Moth Super Rainbow continues his solo project in style. Roping in Beck for some guest vocals on this aggressive 16 track LP.

10. EIGHTIES MATCHBOX B-LINE DISASTER – BLOOD AND FIRE

The Brighton legends returned to form and then some with this tight, well structured sonically enticing outpouring. Sprucing up a few older tracks and adding in some amazing new ones was the perfect way to keep there notoriously loyal fans more than happy.

9. FOUR TET – THERE IS LOVE IN YOU

Keiran Hebden never lets us down and last years album was no different. Maybe more tender/softer than previous releases in some areas and certainly not as complicated but still groovy enough to make you want to dance away to your heart’s content.

8. ARCADE FIRE – THE SUBURBS

The big one that everybody was and still is talking about. The album that turned Arcade Fire from indie playlist stalwarts to world renowned epic song possessing music Gods.

7. PANTHA DU PRINCE – BLACK NOISE

Another early bird, released in February ’10, that stuck around in my head all year long. An expressive and ever expanding work of art.

6. GOLD PANDA – LUCKY SHINER

Previous EP releases from Gold Panda gave us an idea of what was gonna be in store for his debut album but nothing could have prepared us for the twist and turns that “Lucky Shiner” slides through. It’s a story of an album. One that’s worth reading over and over again.

5. DEFTONES – DIAMOND EYES

There’s no doubt about it, the Deftones are timeless. Diamond Eyes was a long time coming. The band have been through a very tough time over the last few year and if anybody deserves to be praised this year it is them. Combining styles form all of their previous albums to create an elegant piece of alternative rock. Nobody does it as good as the Deftones. They’ve been around for over two decades but show no sign of slowing up and tracks like “Royal” show they still have that bite that all other modern rock bands envy. They’ve left their calling card once again.

4. MF/MB/ – FOLDED

This was a late discovery of mine last year. I’m honest enough to admit i’d never even heard of the band until a friend recommended them to me in the winter. And what a recommendation. The material on this album ranges from the simple stuff to the extravagant experimental stuff. Staying sublime the whole way through and not losing sight of the art rock/pop stylings.

3. KANYE WEST – MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY

The best word i can think of to describe this album is primordial. It’s the beginning of a new vein of hip hop and RnB. Jam packed full of special guests ranging from Jay Z to Bon Iver and full of ideas. It’s an essential listen from start to end.

2. 65DAYSOFSTATIC – WE WERE EXPLODING ANYWAY

Colossal riffs and beats as always from the Sheffield masters of post rock. Adding that little something different with each passing song. They’re gaining an ever growing fan base throughout the world and it’s easy to hear why. They’re at the forefront of everything that is modern instrumental music. They’re the pioneers of sonic brutality and this album shows that they plan on keeping that title for a long time to come.

and the WINNER of Best Album of 2010 is…..

1. O.CHILDREN – O.CHILDREN

The self titled effort form O.Children was pretty much a shoe in for Number 1 on this list from the moment i heard it. You’d need to reform Death From Above 1979 and get them in a studio with Queens of the Stone Age to make the best album they possibly could to even make me THINK about changing my mind on this one. Back to O.Children though, being named after a Nick Cave song meant they were always going to be dark/gothic but they’ve just taken dark and made it darker. Eerie in parts,atmpospheric and always moody and intense. They wear their influences on their sleeve (Joy Divison, Echo and the Bunnymen etc) and use them to carve their own niche. They embrace the miserable side of things and somehow turn it into catchy hooks and perfectly timed choruses. They’ve sombrely embraced the world and with this album as their introduction the world will surely return the favour. They deserve it.

I’ve made ZIP files with one track from each album and posted them on mediafire. Below are the tracks included and download links.

SIT WOLF: TOP 30 ALBUMS OF 2010 (Part 1)
30. !!! – AM/FM
29. Gil Scott Heron – Me And The Devil
28. Future Islands – Tin Man
27. Nedry – A42
26. Blackbird Blackbird – Avalanche
25. Holy Fuck – Stay Lit
24. Meursault – One Day This’ll All Be Fields
23. Baths – Maximalist
22. Warpaint – Shadows
21. The National – Runaway
20. Mt. Kimbie – Ruby
19. These New Puritans – Attack Music
18. Beach House – Silver Soul
17. Wild Nothing – Live In Dreams
16. Gayngs – Crystal Rope
DOWNLOAD PART 1 (30-16)  here

SIT WOLF: TOP 30 ALBUMS OF 2010 PART 2
15. Flying Lotus – Do The Astral Plane
14. Salem – Frost
13. Errors – Antipode
12. Surfer Blood – Floating Vibes
11. Tobacco – Fresh Hex (feat. Beck)
10. Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Monsieur Cutts
9. Four Tet – Sing
8. Arcade Fire – Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
7. Pantha Du Prince – Lay In A Shimmer
6. Gold Panda – Parents
5. Deftones – You’ve Seen The Butcher
4. MF/MB/ – 1000 Times
3. Kanye West – So Appalled
2. 65daysofstatic – Crash Tactics
1. O.Children – Ruins
DOWNLOAD PART 2 (15-1)  here

S.I.T WOLF  X

SIT WOLF: The Top 30 Music Videos of 2010 (Part 2)

Tonight continues the countdown to Number 1 in the Best Music Videos of 2010. So let’s carry on where we left off…

15.  The Vandelles – Lovely Weather

14. Blackbird Blackbird – Pure

13. Mitchell Museum – Warning Bells

12. Warpaint -Elephants

11. Groove Armada – Paper Romance

10. O.Children – Ruins

9. Gil Scott-Heron – Me And The Devil

8. Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – So Long, Goodnight

7. Chromeo – Don’t Turn The Lights On

6. Arcade Fire – We Used To Wait

5. Breakbot feat Irfane – Baby, I’m Yours

4. Wu Lyf – Split It Concrete Like The Golden Sun God

3. HEALTH – We Are Water

2. Flying Lotus – Kill Your Co Workers

AND THE WINNER IS…………….

1. Gayngs – Cry

S.I.T WOLF X

ps. one notable exclusion is the Huoratron video for “Corporate Occult”. Most video sites have taken down the embeddable link for it due to the “violence and sex” in the video. Otherwise it would have comfortably made the Top 10 at least. You can however watch it over at Take Your Pills. Enjoy.

Eighties Acid

Some good news on the Eighties Matchbox front that i’ve been meaning to post….they haven’t split after all! 🙂

….however it seems they have once again went from a 5 piece to a 4 piece and yet another guitarist down. After the previous parting of ways by messrs Huxley, Fownes and Norris it seems that Trent McLenahan has now left the band. Although whether or it’s been on his terms or whether he’s been thrown out is another matter. If rumours are to be believed there was trouble brewing for a while in the Matchbox camp and it all exploded on stage earlier this month with Guy McKnight announcing on stage that the would no longer continue as a band. I don’t know the ins and outs of the story but apparently the show ended with a small scale riot after McLenahan struck newest member Dominic Knight with his guitar mid set. In the melee that followed bassist Sym Gharial allegedly hit a bouncer. But this is all fan forum talk and like i said i have no idea if it’s true or not, only the band know the truth of what happened. I’m just glad the guys have stuck together. They truly are one of the worlds most under-rated bands. A cult band to rule all cult bands.

And with a new show booked in for the 15th December it seems that The Disaster are ready to keep tearing up venues across the UK and beyond. Hallelujah!

In the event that the unthinkable should happen and Eighties Matchbox do split up for good, i think we’ve got an heir to their throne….

Step (gallop?) forward Acid Pony…

MP3: Acid Pony – Dead Swiss

S.I.T Wolf  X

The Disaster Party. Join Now.

Before i begin, i’ve heard a rumour recently that Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster have split. I really hope it’s just that, a rumour and nothing more.

In all honesty i probably should’ve had this post up up sooner but i’d kinda forgot about it. Earlier this year i posted about the long awaited comeback of the Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster and mentioned that i had most of the “hard to find” tracks. Since then i’ve had a few requests through this site and through emails asking if i could forward the tracks on. So here they are….

The tracks range from early pre debut album demo’s through to b-sides, live tracks and an amazing cover of T-Rex.

I was gonna upload all the tracks separately but decided against it as i didn’t have the time to convert them all tonight. They were all on a CD i made years ago so i ripped them back onto my laptop and then just created zip files and uploaded them to my mediafire account.

EIGHTIES MATCHBOX – RARITIES (PART 1)
——————————————————-
1. Count The Voices
2. Love Turns To Hate (original version)
3. Surrender
4. 20th Century Boy (T-Rex cover)
5. Briefcases for Girls
6. Ice Cream
7. Grrr
8. 6:30
9. Alchemy
10. Charge The Guns (demo version)
11. Chicken (demo version)
12. 6:30 *
13. Ha!
14. Return December
15. Professionalism
16. We Don’t Rock
17. Ho Ha
18. Alex
19. Torrential Abuse
20. Turkish Delights Of The Devil
21. Mr Mental (live)
22. Giant Bones (live)
23. Morning Has Broken (live)
24. Palominos Dream
DOWNLOAD: TEMBLD – Rarities Part 1
* For some reason the track “6:30” appears twice. It’s the same version twice over.

EIGHTIES MATCHBOX – RARITIES (PART 2)
——————————————————-
1. In The Garden (original version)
2. You Say You’re The Doctor But I Know You’re The Mister
3. Eureka!
4. I Hate The Blues
5. Presidential Wave (live @ the BBC)
6. Celebrate Your Mother (live @ the BBC)
7. Flag Party
8. Horse Of The Dog
9. Lazy Bones
DOWNLOAD: TEMBLD – Rarities Part 2

I have a few other ones lying around too. Two tracks from the “In The Garden” EP.

MP3: Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Terrible Night

MP3: Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Horses Can Swim

An,  just to keep with the b-side theme, here’s a newer one from earlier this year and the new line up…

MP3: Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Sushwep

Speaking of the most recent incarnation, new addition guitarist Dominic Knights solo project “Screaming Tupelo” is more than worth checking out.

The most accurate description i’ve heard of him is the following:

Raised at the altar of Elvis and The Cramps, baptised in the fire of sonic fuzz and primitive stomp, Screaming Tupelo is a one man ear-pounding, heart-thumping blues-punk evangelist, delivering his testimony of raw blood and tears, sweat-soaked rock’n’roll.

MP3: Screaming Tupelo – Up Jumped The Devil (Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds cover)

And now for one from the old brigade. Original lead guitarist and founding member Andy Huxley (that’s him sitting down top left up there) left in 2005 and went onto form Vile Imbeciles.

MP3: Vile Imbeciles – Tramp

Then Rich Fownes came and went. In his 3 year tenure in  the 80’s Matchbox he obviously contributed a few songs. The one that stuck out most is called “Kemptown Animal”. Since his departure from the Disaster he has played in/formed two bands, With Scissors and Bad For Lazarus. He’s also been known to play live with UNKLE and he had a planned role in Nine Inch Nails live band that eventually crumbled.

The track “Kemptown Animal” was also recorded by Bad For Lazarus with Rich on vocals. I don’t actually have the Eighties Matchbox version but if anyone knows where i can get it then it’d be well appreciated.

MP3: Bad For Lazarus- Kemptown Animal

There are also a few more Eighties Matchbox rare tracks that i’d like to get a hold of. They’re mostly the newer demo’s and b-sides from “In The Garden” era and onwards. Once again, any help in finding these is much obliged.

S.I.T Wolf  X

THE MONDAY LIST #20: Sympathy For The Devil

Yesterday i saw the trailer for the new M. Night Shyamalan movie “Devil”. Apparently it’s a return to form for the Indian born director. After the classics of “Sixth Sense” and “Unbreakable” there was the decent enough “Signs” but then in my opinion his features since then have pretty much been in a steady decline. None more so than his latest effort “The Last Airbender” which has also been panned by media and critics alike.

But “Devil” definitely has the potential to be a resounding edge of the seat, “what happens next?”, “who is it?”, tension filled movie. It’s centred around 5 people who are in an elevator when it breaks down (my worst nightmare) and as the situation starts to turn more sinister they begin to suspect that one of them is in fact Lucifer himself. This of course leads to all sorts of eerie goings on and twists and turns.

The film is the first of the Night Chronicles Trilogy which focuses on the supernatural in modern society. It’s due for release on September 17th.

Seeing the trailer and taking inspiration from the idea behind it i’ve decided to dedicate the 20th Monday List to Mr Satan. To be fair i’d already assembled a List for Him Upstairs about a year ago so it’s only fair we go down to the basement and give the bad guy his 15 minutes of fame as well.

SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL
———————————–
MP3’s

1. Beck – Devils Haircut
2. TV On The Radio – Let The Devil In
3. Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Turkish Delights of the Devil (Live)
4. Telepathe – Devils Trident
5. Rolling Stones – Sympathy For The Devil
6. Cooper Temple Clause – The Devil Walks In The Sand
7.  The Gun Club – A Devil In The Woods
8. Max Romeo – I Chase The Devil
9. Zola Jesus – Devil Take You
10. BRMC – Beat The Devils Tattoo

Bonus tracks….

Although there is no actual reference to the devil in this song it’s widely believed that the song “Cross Road Blues” is about Robert Johnson meeting the Devil at a cross roads and selling him his soul in exchange for the ability to have pretty much unlimited skills on the guitar. So goes the legend anyway….

MP3: Robert Johnson – Cross Road Blues

Obviously, no one actually knows who, what or where the Devil is. Or in fact, even if he/she/it exists at all. I personally don’t believe in the whole good and evil side of things. Don’t get me wrong, i suppose i believe in something, a higher power/being or whatever but not enough to have faith in any one particular religion. I’m open to life just being life. But enough religi-ranting, the point i was originally going to put across was that most people who do believe in God and the Devil believe that they are both distinctly male. They are mainly perceived this way in modern society but who knows why.

But what if the Devil was a woman…..

MP3: Yannick Aellen – The Devil (Is A Woman I Never Slept With)

MP3: Primal Scream – Miss Lucifer

There is of course the one thing that everyone agrees on……that the devil is quite a scary proposition in any form.

Al Pacino was the coolest Devil ever. Fact.

S.I.T Wolf   X

How Did We Get So High Without Flying?

First off i’d just like to say that this weed i’m smoking right now is fucking amazing. Kudos to Simon for the heads up.

Moving on, i’m really sorry for the complete lack of posts recently. Hopefully this one should make up for it.

The reason i haven’t been posting recently is because we still don’t have the internet connection sorted in the new flat yet. I never thought 2 weeks without the internet would affect me in the way it has. I miss Cracked.com the most. That was my daily read. I’ll be permanently back online by the beginning of June but until then it’ll have to be random posts whenever and indeed wherever i find the time and space.
http://www.cracked.com/

I’m writing this post from my parents house (i came to visit my mum tonight). She made me my dinner tonight, her cooking is still unsurpassed. Still the best.

I’m really enjoying staying on my own and finally getting to dip my toes into the dark waters of the big bad world. But i’d be lying if i said that i don’t miss “home” and my old bedroom in particular. It wasn’t the biggest, it wasn’t the nicest but it was mine.

Not much has changed in the two weeks since i’ve moved out. I think my mum and dad are planning on changing the room into some sort of spare room for when little Emily stays over.  But until then it remains undisturbed. Everything i chose to leave behind is still there, still stationed exactly where i left it.

The trails of blue tack still grace the walls like confusing dot to dot puzzles. Just pieces of blue lumps attaching themselves to the wallpaper free at last of gig tickets, stolen posters and memories. The carpet bares the scars of many a drunken night, it lies in anticipation, waiting for the only pair of trainers that it’s familiar with to come trodding over it and plant themselves behind the door. The TV unit still occupies the far corner and still slowly and wilfully gathers dust like sand on a beach. The shelves remain committed to the walls, almost frightened to let go, scared to part. The cupboard door still jams slightly if it reaches more than a 60 degree angle and i’m still the only one who knows how to open it properly without tearing the rug from the floor. I take a strange kind of comfort in that fact.

I suppose it’s only a matter of time before this rooms loses it familiarity but right now it still kinda feels like home. A home from home if you like. The history still and always will remain yet somehow i sense it’s ready for a new beginning but at the same time i know it won’t forget the past…and neither will i.

Now it may come across that i miss “home” like hell. That i’m inconsolable about moving out and want to return. In fact that couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, i miss home, i miss my village but this is a new chapter in my life. One that’s only just begun and has many pages still to turn.

The area that i’ve moved too ( Kelvinside/Maryhill) is a nice place. It has a certain naivety about that i can’t quite put my finger on just yet but i’m sure i will soon. The locals are mainly students and businessmen and women although i have seen a few semi famous footballers strolling around so far.

I’ve kinda fell in love with the Botanic Gardens and the Kelvin Walkway in particular. It’s scattered leaves and chirping birds breed a feeling of tranquillity.  It’s woozy charm, distinguished smells, welcoming benches and green outlines have pulled me in. I walk it twice a day. To and fro work. Each morning and night soundtracked by a different album. Populated only by cyclists, dog walkers and the occasional jogger it’s uneven, winding paths are a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of Glasgows busy West End streets were students and workers alike roam around like cattle and cars shuffle along from traffic light to traffic light. Red, amber, green. Red, amber, green.
I’ve already spent a few nights down in the depths of the walkway. Sitting amongst the shards of bark and the singing birds. Being alone down there with some good weed and my Ipod is pretty much heaven to me. It clears the headspace and inspires.

As for the flat itself, i’m over the moon. I mean obviously i like it or i wouldn’t have moved in but i find it more and more comfortable as each night passes. After two weeks it’s truly starting to feel like MY house. Whether i’m lying in bed watching a DVD, lying on the couch eating Doritos and playing the PS3, relaxing in the chair with a book and a bottle of rum or even simply doing the dishes. Either way it doesn’t matter, it feels like my own place. It feels nice.

My favourite moment so far was Saturday morning just past. I woke up at 9:30am, had a shower and took a wander over to the local shop and bought the essentials. Newspaper, milk and bread. £2.30. I then plundered back up the stairs to the flat, put the kettle on, slid to slice of Hovis into the toaster and waited. Toast ready. I spread the butter onto the now crispy and golden brown surface and  apply the perfectly sliced cheese. Then it’s the coffees turn. Two dollops of Nescafe followed by the water and a splash of milk. A quick stir and i’m ready to go. I was ready for the table by the window.
Once seated i wet my thumb and proceed to skim through newspaper whilst at the same time slowly yet eagerly devouring my coffee and toast. When i’m finished i reach for a Marlboro light, open the window and puff away till my heart’s content. All the while gazing out the window onto the buildings around and the streets below. Gazing out to the place i now call “home”. That’s when it kicked in….” I live HERE now, this is MY house, MY street”. It’s the simple things.

The new surroundings have also triggered a new sense of eagerness to start making music again. I’d been greatly uninspired for months but i find my thirst for making music returning slowly. Recently i picked up my guitar for the first time in weeks (months even maybe) and plugged in the old faithful pedal and strummed and picked away all night. I’ve decided to start a new project. I know how i want it to sound but i don’t know what i want to call it (suggestions more than welcome). I want the new music to sound ethereal. You know that dream like state, almost like elation. The feeling you get when you wake up on a Sunday morning knowing that you can go back to sleep. That’s what i want to encapsulate. I’ve already harboured a few ideas and garnered a few guitar sounds and loops together. I’ll be sure to stick some demos/samples up on here when i next get the chance.

Also as a random thing….i’m getting two goldfish soon. It’s something i’ve had in my head for months. I even have names planned now. One will be called Lemon and the other will be Jack. 30 Rock Obssession much?

So, what does the future hold for me and this blog? Well, with the blog i won’t be able to post regularly or even semi-regularly until June. But next time i’m near a computer i’ll  make the time to get the Six Mix and Video Dose for May posted. I know i’ve mentioned the new mixtape a few times as well and that will go up some point soon in the next few weekends. There’s also so much more in the pipeline. Once i’m back online i’ll be pretty much posting non-stop. I’ll be sitting at the table, glass of rum in one hand and typing with the other.

As for my social life, that hasn’t been affected at all. I’ve made time for family and friends. I always do, they’re and always will be the most important thing in my life. I’ve paid numerous visits to people and had a few vistors myself. I’ve had friends over and had a few unplanned visits, mostly at weekends…coincidence? Drunken friends looking for somewhere to crash for the night! I know the deal, i’ve done it myself a hundred times, it’s fine. All part and parcel of being a friend if you ask me. The actual house warming party itself hasn’t been arranged yet and is looking likely to happen somewhere between the beginning and middle of June.

I’ve got a few gigs lined up as well.

22nd May at Various Venues in Glasgow is the Stag and Dagger festival. It’s choc-a-bloc with some truly eclectic and amazing artists and DJs. It should prove to be a classic night in the making.

http://www.last.fm/festival/1364459+Stag+And+Dagger

26th of May at Stereo is the welcome return to live action of Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster.

And finally, Maybeshewill will be tearing down the walls at Admiral Bar on the 1st of June.

I’ll do my best to get reviews of the gigs up if i can.

I’ll be back posting regularly soon, until then, take care.

S.I.T Wolf   X

ps. my old room still smells like me (in a good way not a bad way!)

How Do You Feel When You Feel The Fool?

Ok, just to clear things up…..the post about The Prodigy and Bob Dylan collaborating was an April Fools joke. I’d like to think that most people got that but it seems quite a few didn’t and actually downloaded the MP3. The “sample” was just a mash together of “Blowin’ In The Wind” and “No Man Army”. I apologise for any upset caused.

MP3: Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – The Fool

To make up for it i’ll post some new Deftones stuff. Been meaning to post this for a while anyway now.

The new album’s due on the 4th May. Two songs have been released so far, “Rocket Skates” and “Diamond Eyes” which is also the name of the album.

Having gave the full album a listen to i can safely say that the Deftones are BACK. Chino’s voice is back to its vocal chord shredding best when he screams which had maybe been missing from the last two albums in my opinion. “Diamond Eyes” as a whole is certain to keep fans of early Deftones happy as well as capturing the ears of a new generation. There’s also more than a few “melancholic” moments that are reminiscent of Chino’s other band Team Sleep or even the bands White Pony era.  If i had to compare it to a previous album though i’d need to go for “Around The Fur”. It garners that whole raw sound that they’re so good at.

My favourite song (so far that is, it’s likely to change!) off the new album is “Royal”

MP3: Deftones – Royal

S.I.T Wolf X

The Return of the Eighties

Sorry if the title is a bit misleading. I’m not talking about the return of that glamorous era of the 80’s, no, i’m talking about one of my favourite bands of all time…..the Brighton psychos Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster. They’re finally releasing a new album. “Blood and Fire” is set for release on the 17th of May, more than 5 and a half years after their last offering “The Royal Society”. If you haven’t heard these guys before i’d seriously recommend starting off from the beginning and getting their debut “Horse of The Dog”. You won’t be disappointed.

TRACKLISTING FOR BLOOD AND FIRE

1. LOVE TURNS TO HATE 3.09
2. MISSION FROM GOD 2.36
3. SO LONG GOODNIGHT 4.25
4. UNDER MY CHIN 2.18
5. RIPTIN 3.25
6. MONSIEUR CUTTS 2.32
7. I HATE THE BLUES 2.49
8. MAN FOR ALL SEASONS 2.14
9. DON’T ASK ME TO LOVE YOU 2.41
10. HOMEMADE 4.05
11. NEVER BE THE SAME 3.21
12. ARE YOU LIVING 4.08

MP3: Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Love Turns To Hate (Demo)
(this is a demo version from 2005)

The Matchbox hold a very special place in my heart. They were a band i found just by chance when i raided my sisters CD collection one night back in 2002. The cover of “Horse of The Dog” jumped out at me initially so i took the CD, gave it a listen………and never returned it. I’m sorry Lisa. The album is one of sheer punk psychobilly garage noise. Guy McKnights wild tones swinging from a woozy and evil Elvis to an even more intimidating version of Lux Interior. His almost primal shrieks were the perfect match for the Cramps and Birthday Party-esque structures and frenetic pace of the music. For an album that clocks in at just 25 minutes it certainly managed to leave a massive impression. It was just what i was looking for at that age (16 going on 17), aggression and rebellion.

MP3: Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Psychosis Safari
from “Horse of the Dog”

Their second album “The Royal Society” was more of the same. Dirty music, filthy tongues, self assessing lyrics, there was an almost paranoid feel to some tracks with Guy McKnight tying to keep his personalities in check. The paranoia feel only added to the tension and made the tracks even more appealing. On “Royal Society” the Matchbox had also proved that they had an ear for a catchy song or two. All 3 singles released from the album were Top 40 UK chart hits. With Mr Mental giving them their highest ever position at 25. Mr Mental also featured in the zombie comedy Shaun of the Dead in a memorable car scene.

MP3: Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Rise Of The Eagles
from “The Royal Society”

After releasing “The Royal Society” they kind of stalled. There were a few in’s and out’s on the guitar front between 2005 and 2008. The inconsistency there would obviously have had an effect on the non release of new material. But new songs were aired during live shows. Most went down well, really well in fact. A few of the songs from that era (circa 06-07) are actually on the upcoming new album. Two of the songs in question are “Love Turns To Hate” and “I Hate The Blues”. During this time i was aching for more Matchbox and i successfully managed to get a hold of just about every single Matchbox track available through a Russian fans unofficial website, sadly this site exists no more. It had every b-side and demo they ever done as available free MP3s, a live version of just about every song, videos, everything a fanatic would need. It’s safe to say i downloaded every single file i could from that website and i still have them to this day. My favourite demo and in fact one of my favourite Matchbox songs of all time is “Count The Voices”. Sadly for me it’s not made the album. But i’ve still had the joy of seeing it live about 4 or 5 times. Which brings me to the next section. The Eighties Matchbox live = amazing chaos and a guaranteed party.

I’ve not missed one single live show of theirs in Scotland since 2003. I’ve seen them play just about every single small venue in Glasgow and Edinburgh. I also had some of the best nights of my life when i seen them support Queens of the Stone Age at the Carling Academy back in 2007 and also in support of System of a Down at the SECC in 2005. I’ve seen them bring crowds to their knees, to their feet, to the celing (actually to the ceiling, yes) and on to the stage. Actually most of their gigs i’ve seen always end up with the crowd on stage, myself included on two or three occasions. Without a doubt though the best gig i’ve ever been to of theirs (there’s been a lot) was at the Garage in 2004 for a Halloween gig (they love their Halloween shows). Words can’t describe that night. So i won’t even try. Ok i will, it was just a perfect harmony of razor edged punk on their part and some of my best friends and i having a fucking brilliant night on our part. That was also the first time i met some of the band members. I would go on to meet them all several times over the next few years. I was once even accosted at a set of traffic lights by the bassist Sym Gharial looking for a cigarette. I happily obliged and he walked back to Glasgow Central station with us before heading off to some nightclub like the rest of us. That’s the thing see, they’re just normal guys. All lovely people who just happen to be in a crazy Rock n Roll band. There’s no egos, no complex.

In 2007 there was finally an official release in the form of the “In The Garden” EP. My friend Melanie very kindly sent me up a pre-release copy from London a few weeks before it was due out. It was put on constant rotation for about 3 months there after. After the EP release there were rumours abound of a new album. In between that time and the present the band have recorded with several different people, James Lavelle and Chris Goss included. The details of the new album seem to be quite close guarded though so who knows what versions of what songs have made it on…..

MP3: Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – In the Garden
from “In The Garden”

You can’t fully appreciate the force of these guys until you’ve experienced them live.

MP3: Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Celebrate Your Mother (live)
Live @ Ocean, London (March 2003)

The band also sometimes choose to moonlight as The Boogs. They released a song under the moniker, it was “Palomino’s Dream”. A delightful psych-rock number as could only be expected.

So there we have it. That was a quick summary of the career of the Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster so far. Thank god they’re back.

S.I.T Wolf X

ps. if anybody has or knows anybody who has the Eighty Degrees of Separation DVD please let me know! It’s ultra rare and is just about the only thing i don’t have of theirs.

Recycling?

Musical plagiarism or just influence?

This is a subject i’ve wanted to write about for a long time now but i’ve only just found the time to get down to it tonight. The song that made me decide to finally commit to this post was Owl City’s “Fireflies”. I heard it on the radio at work and although i find myself humming along to its undoubted catchiness i still can’t get the fact that he’s ripped off The Postal Service out my head. First time i heard it i actually thought it was a new Postal Service song. He even makes himself sound like Ben Gibbard through extensive autotuner and compression use. Yet i had to laugh when i read an interview with him in which he stated that he had only ever really heard a few Postal Service songs before and that they hadn’t really “caught his ear”.

Here’s the section:

“I’ve become more of a fan (of The Postal Service)  having started Owl City, actually. I had some friends in high school that would have it playing in their cars and stuff. It was cool, but it never really caught my ear. It’s kind of ironic, looking back at it, because a lot of people do relate the two projects. I can totally see it now, but I didn’t really then, for what it’s worth.”

Hmmm…..sorry Owl City but i get a pungent waft of bullshit when i read that.

VIDEO: Owl City – Fireflies

VIDEO: The Postal Service – Such Great Heights

But i’m not picking on or singling out Adam Young for being influenced by The Postal Service. All i’m saying, all i’m asking is how does it come across? Is it plagiarism or coincidental influence/inspiration?

Some of my favourite bands have been hugely influenced by others to the point of almost sounding like them so i’m not saying it’s a bad thing, don’t get the wrong idea. Interpol clearly listened to Joy Divison. A Place To Bury Strangers obviously owned some My Bloody Valentine records. Josh Homme grew up with Black Sabbath and Black Flag. Boards of Canada have heard Brian Eno. I could go on. Put it this way if there was no Jesus and Mary Chain there’d be no BRMC and if it wasn’t for The Cramps or The Birthday Party i’d imagine Eighties Matchbox would sound a bit different. So it is a GOOD thing to be influenced.

MP3: Jesus and Mary Chain – Degenerate

MP3: Black Rebel Motorcylce Club – Whatever Happened To My Rock N Roll

MP3: The Birthday Party – Release The Bats

MP3: Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Morning Has Broken

Without a shadow of a doubt one of the hardest things to do in music is create a truly original sound. There’s that much music around that it’s nearly impossible to create a song that cannot be compared to another band or another song. Personally i feel that bands are now labelled as “the new insert famous band name here” too much, there’s nothing wrong with comparisons but it get’s a bit boring when every week some new band are being labelled as the new Sex Pistols, the new Oasis, the new Green Day or the new Babylon Zoo. Ok, forget that last one. In fact forget them all, i’m not a fan of any of the bands i mentioned, they’re just the first famous-ish ones that popped up. I have in fact been guilty of labelling bands once or twice myself to be honest. On this very blog actually, i believe i said Japandroids could be the new Death From Above 1979 but i did state that i also don’t like labelling bands.

“….Make no mistake, these guys have the potential to be the new Death From Above 1979. Although to be honest i don’t like comparing bands to each other, it’s not fair on either so instead i’ll just say the Japandroids sound like they might be influenced by DFA and it’s a badge they seem to wear with pride.”

But that’s going slightly off subject. This is about the plagiarism/influence debate not labelling bands. So back to it, here’s a few examples of apparent plagiarism. Some are obvious, some are slightly similar.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs vs Love and Rockets

The Accused: Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Gold Lion

The Original: Love and Rockets – No New Tale To Tell

Hockey vs anything by Tom Petty (this was a suggestion by Emma)

The Accused: Hockey – Song Away

The Original: Tom Petty in general

Elastica vs Wire

The Accused: Elastica – Connection

The Original: Wire – Three Girl Rhumba

Green Day vs The Kinks

The Accused: Green Day – Warning

The Original: The Kinks – Picturebook

Nirvana vs Killing Joke vs The Damned

The Accused: Nirvana – Come As You Are

The Other Accused: Killing Joke – Eighties

The Original: The Damned – Life Goes On

Couldn’t find an embeddable (is that a word Kempy?) video for this one so here’s the MP3

MP3: The Damned – Life Goes On

So it can be everything from drum beats to chord progression and rhythms to vocal delivery, it’s more or less all been done before by someone somewhere. That’s not to say there’s nothing original left but it is does make for a good debate on similarity, comparisons and the old age debate of a blatant rip off. And what does it tell us about music today? Has it really all been done? Or is that unknown chord still out there waiting to be found?

I mean, bands take influences on board, of course they do. If you grow up listening to certain music and then you yourself begin to play music, of course you’re going to have taken something from the music you love. The chances are that the band you love and are influenced by have themselves been influenced by someone else. It’s an endless line of influence, a knock on effect, a domino effect, musical dominoes if you like.

I only discovered about three years ago that what i thought was part of one of the best Queens of the Stone Age drum intros ever is in fact copied straight from a Black Flag song. One of the opening drum segments of “Song For The Dead” and the intro to “Slip It In” are pretty much identical. Queens of the Stone Age actually came out and stated that the intro to “Song For The Dead” is in fact an homage to Black Flag. All together now….Awwwww, bless.

MP3: Queens of the Stone Age – A Song for the Dead

MP3: Black Flag – Slip It In

I, myself have questioned what i come up with when writing tracks or making music. I constantly find that i tell myself “oh you can’t have that at the breakdown bit, it sounds too much like QOTSA” or “you can’t use that intro, it sounds like a Mogwai rip off”. Just the other week i wrote a song that i thought sounded too much like something Boards of Canada would compose, i kept it in mind anyway and called it “Bored Of Canada”. It sounds a little bit like this one by the reclusive legends…

MP3: Boards Of Canada – Julie and Candy

So the whole thing i’m getting it here with this post is..

When does influence become plagiarism? Or does it all? Is it mere coincidence?

It’s a subject that is and always will be open to debate.

Opinions welcome.

Also, feel free to leave any other songs you believe to be plagiarised. I’d like to here what others think.

S.I.T Wolf X

Something Wicked This Way Comes

This is a special Halloween mixtape, feel free to download it if you want. I threw it together this afternoon in the midst of a hangover. Apologies for the quality of the track “Dragula”. The bitrate was really low and i only realised halfway through the mix. I would have left the track out if i’d known but i recorded the mix all in one go and made the mistake of not checking the quality of the tracks first. Like i said i was hungover and it was a last minute thing. I just had a quick browse through some of my music files and took the songs i thought to be most apt for a Halloween mix.

Something Wicked This Way Comes Tracklist
——————————————–

1. Intro
2. Queens of the Stone Age – Burn The Witch
3. Smashing Pumpkins – Ava Adore
4. Rob Zombie – Living Dead Girl
5. Eagles of Death Metal – Chase The Devil
6. Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Puppy Dog Snails
7. Pixies – Dead
8.Talking Heads – Psycho Killer
9. The Cramps – Human Fly
10. Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – I Put A Spell On You
11. Prodigy – Voodoo People
12. John Carpenter – Halloween Theme Tune
13. Michael Jackson – Thriller (Remix)
14. Zombie Nation – Forza (Fukkk Off Remix)
15. Zombie Nation – Kernkraft 400
16. Designer Drugs – Zombies!
17. Rob Zombie – Dragula (Hot Rod Herman Remix)
18. NiKiT – Sudden Death
19. Bobby Pickett – The Monster Mash
20. ToToM – Ghostbusters Theme vs Smashing Pumpkins vs Ram Jam
21. Max Romeo and The Upsetters – I Chase The Devil
22. Imogen Heap – Getting Scared
23. Aphex Twin – Come To Daddy (Intro only)

MP3: Someone’s In The Wolf – Something Wicked This Way Comes Mixtape

Here’s some songs that i considered for the mix but to keep it under 80 minutes i decided to leave them out…

MP3’s

Band of Horses – Is There A Ghost?

The Cranberries – Zombie

Ladytron – Ghosts

Sneaker Pimps – Small Town Witch

Aereogramme – Thriller (Michael Jackson cover)

And a few videos…

Unicorn Kid – Wee Monsters

Alkaline Trio – Halloween

Happy Halloween

S.I.T Wolf X