FINALLY!

BEN LOVETT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE SECOND ALBUM WILL BE RELEASED BY THE END OF THE YEAR!!!!! YAYYYY!!!!!

The Kissaway Trail

The Kissaway Trail are a band from Denmark. I do not think they are as appreciated as they should be. Most of the members are very attractive. I first came across them at 11 o'clock in the morningat Lollapalooza 2010 before Wild Beasts. We had never heard of them before but they ended up being one of those pleasent suprises you find wedged in a festival slot. They're pretty instant live and they have a hell of a lot of passion which is exhibited in the bass player's reserved rage. "That fellow there, sweating his face off and furiously shouting about drinking champaign?" I said to my sister, "Yes, he seems like a good guy. You could have a good conversation with him, I bet."

Also, whenever you're playing in front of a crowd of people, many of whom haven't heard of you before, it's good strategy to throw 'Where Is My Mind?' into the setlist.

Listen to The Kissaway Trail. They'll make you happy. Or however it is you wish to feel.

Album Review: Foster The People 'Torches'

'Torches' is everything you could ask for from a summer album these days. Familiarity,mellowness as well as high energy, killer synths, defiant, clever, cruel, sweet lyrics, a song with the word "beat" which reflects another thing the album is certainly well faceted with, several variations of microphones, hooks in every corner, mega chrouses and lots and lots of fun.

9/10

#3- Wild Bests 'Smother'

My roommate walked in immediately upon my pressing play. She said, "Is that Nightmare Before Christmas?" in that tone she talks in. And I gave her a look and Hayden continued to sing and she continued to do whatever the hell it is she came in there for and then leave the room to talk to people in that tone of hers.

"Is that [the] Nightmare Before Christmas [soundtrack]?"

I'm not quite sure what the fact that this question was asked means for the album, existentially. To ignorant listeners, listeners who listen to that deplorable new Katy Perry song, perhaps the album has that sort  of essence. These Katy Perry fans may or may not be onto something. 'Cos it's haunting in a cartoony way or something like that.

Actually, the first few lyrics of  'Lion's Share' are the only part where I could understand the confusion with Jack Skeleton. Towards the end, Tom Flemming's voice gracefully seeps through with the almost threatening lyric, "Boy, what you runnin' from?" It's terrifying (and so beautiful) how he recites it like a serial killer with a grin. The piano and whooshing instrumentation create an atmosphere in which you can envision yourself in a dark alley...or just being in denial. "'Cause it's a terrible scare, but that's why the dark is there, so you don't have to see what you can't bear." Whoever the narrator is has terrible intentions. And the stunning harmonizing of Tom and hayden's incredible, unique voices make it all the more eerie.

Wild Beats are on a much higher level than I, so the rest of the review will be just as terrible as the beginning. I apologize in the meantime. Bear with me. Why? I don't know.

'Smother' is an album of epic proportions (oh god) when it comes to all those things Wild Beasts are masters at. "What it's about is romantizing the mundane and blowing it up to be something else. We're glamorizing normaility in a way." Ace.

So I can stop there.

Tom Flemming and Hayden Thorpe have vocal techniques and voices that are so original and more classic than probably any other artist right now. Alternative elegance.

Hayden often moans during 'Bed of Nails', which gives you an idea on what it's about. "I would lie anywhere with you," is a nice sentiement but it's not that easy. It carries on to become a sexualized, torturous creation of something...Frakensteinian...something alive.

Tom's voice is captivating and, unlike on 'Two Dancers' with his singing of pagan rituals, it's terribly sad. He sings of waiting, with breakfast all laid out, on 'Deeper'. "the sun is rising/ And going down again" It's sort of painful. You can picture Tom in such conditions. His words on 'Invisible' create a war-like image compact with love and decay. The poignance he bellows propels you into the song. His voice captures you and makes you feel how he feels. It's a certain ability. You feel how he feels on 'Reach A Bit Further' when he is nearly begging. you feel just as desperate. And with 'Burning', you could be at a party (which you probably won't be while listening to this album), he guides you into feeling abandoned, lonely, guilty, defenceless etc. It feels good though. You could cut the passion with a knife. His delivery is that of a lachrymose gentleman.

'Plaything' is a testament to insecurities covered up with sexual ego. First they concur, and then they conquer. Hayden's singing is like a husky shrieking through teeth. He's in a bit of psychological pain addressing the subject. He's holding someone prisoner. it's very Silence of the Lambs. But you see, he has no one tied up in his apartment in East London (...actually I don't know that for sure). This is what they mean by making the dull grandiose. Embellishing fantasies into music. Embracing the imp of the mind. It's just love.

'Albatross' is an eloquent lament about a bird.

No, just kidding. Sort of. There's significance with the albatross. "I, I blame you, I blame you, for all of the tings I've been through." "It's my neck around which you hang."

'Smother is a masterpiece and don't you dare try to argue with that. And when you really grasp it, it's the most rewarding thing Wild Beasts are so very intelligent, original, imaginitive, inventive, tears/euphoria -inducing etc. This album is lonely and comforting. terrifying and satisfying. Stark and brillaint. Sexual and awkward.

Beastly.

9/10

#2- Tunes From The Vault: Smog 'Chosen One'

Smog is a Bill Callahan creation. I'm not sure if there were anymore members than Bill himself in Smog, and if there weren'tthen I'm not sure why the changing of the name...Obviously i'm not very well versed in grungey anti-folk music (that's what it is, right?), but that's not the point.
I first heard this song in a well-lit room, I believe I was in a fairly good mood as well. Then this song took me to an entirelly different place. A sad place.
And then it never did it again so I don't really listen to it that much anymore.
I don't know what it was, maybe the lyrics really resonated well, after all, I am a wild horse on a collision course with the sun. The song evokes numb saddness that you can only experience once. It sneaks up on you because it's not powerful, per se, but it manages to have full power over you for 3 min and 12 sec.
So please. Bring yourself to a brightly lit room at a time when you think you're feeling just fine, put this song on and we'll see how you really feel.

#1 Where Are Television Personalities?

Why is it that every record store I go to, there is absolutely no Television Personalities?
There isn't even anything that acknowledges they exist (unless they have 'Congratulations' in stock, which is likely, but not helpful today my sister said to me "Did you know Brian Eno is a real person?" Her mind will be blown when she finds out Dan Treacy is too). I don't understand why they are overlooked.
So if anyone has an explanation, I'm all ears...eyes...whatever.