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Pop Musicology - "The Second Drummer Drowned"

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Pop Musicology - July 2006

And What Will Be Left Of Them? New Single Released Today!

July 31st 2006 11:30

Scummy but pretty 'clatterpop' geniuses And What Will Be Left Of Them? release their brand new single today, entitled Wet Week In July. It is the first release on their very own Little Hellfire record label and is downloadable COMPLETELY FREE! That's why I've got it! Not really. Buy their old singles too, particularly Hi-Fi Low Life. It's officially wicked. But Wet Week In July is no less wicked. It is testament to AWWBLOT?'s unstoppable hereditary compulsion to write tunes so immediately abrasive but hummable. They should market this stuff to post-rock kids in a global initiative to get the bastards to dance. It's so easy with AWWBLOT?...

Their Little Hellfire Club night has been garnering the plaudits of punk pop fans everywhere - the best night out possible in Worcester, one doesn't dubt. And when money is truly no object, PM will make the journey to see it in action. Till then, I will do my very best to catch them whenever they play in London. Last time I saw them live, they were lovely enough to do an interview here! Please support AWWBLOT? - they are not only wonderfully deranged people, but the creators of fine hip-swinging and accidentally sweat-swilling pop n roll glory. BUY BUY BUY!

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Chris Cornell does new Bond Song

July 30th 2006 16:02

Ex-Soundgarden sludge-provider and the lung-force at the front of Audioslave Chris Cornell is to provide the theme song for the new James Bond movie, Casino Royale. The song, entitled 'You Know My Name', is no doubt a part of constructing an 'edgy' milieu for the newly refurbished Bond series.

No evidence of any downloads or places to hear a smidgen of this latest opus, but PM assumes it will rock tremendously. Maybe there'll be some more rock singers doing theme songs from now on... Axl Rose taking on the Harry Potter series? Gene Simmons tackling the forces of evil in a bid to re-instate his band as the dominant force of rock in the universe? Hang on a minute...

Cornello Royale

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Festival Snobbery

July 28th 2006 18:09

Mud - Crap

Mud is rubbish. But, according to stalwarts, it is essential for festivals. Having seven shades of shit in the hood of your parka is apparently where it's at. All those hoary old sods that were at Glastonbury when Arthur Brown set his head on fire will incessantly harp on that Festivals have gotten too middle class, too saturated by high-earning non-fans who just want a piss-up in a field.

But the truth is (thanks hoary old sods) that they have. Attend any major festival event this year and you will see a diverse mix of young professionals and a still-healthy contingent of 15-year-old emo kids pretending to be drunk. This writer recently attended one of the single-day O2 Wireless festivals in London's Hyde Park, expecting to see this exact demographic, and considering that post-Libertines vanity project Dirty Pretty Things were on the bill, this was not an unreasonable assumption. Indeed there were a great many bandwagoneers in their faux-desecrated tramp attire, but they were outnumbered by young professionals seemingly taking the afternoon off for a stroll round the festival site (and at £37.50 per day ticket, that’s a pricey stroll). None of them seemed too bothered about the music, but were happy to eat a Styrofoam plate of five quid curry and 'slum it' for a real Festival experience.

Arthur Brown - Hoary Old Sod

It's easy to say that the music is paramount and that it's what we all traipse through the fug for. It's even easier still to say that all these middle class sods have ruined that with their Pimm's and picnics. As long as they don't get in the way of all those honest types enticed in by the tantalising prospect of unlimited legendary performances in only one weekend, that's fine. Well, allow me to elaborate on what transpired at the O2 Wireless Festival…

For one, the bright sparks at the O2 Wireless Festival had deemed it appropriate to screen the World Cup at the back of the site. Fine. Seems somewhat pointless to me, seeing as the ticket price goes to some fine young musicians that are eminently more watchable than a football match you could view highlights of on your mobile on the way home, but fine. A quick glance towards the back of the site confirms that all the young professionals are heading for the football, curry and coffee in hand. That I can deal with, because they're all off at the back cheering and sunbathing and not disturbing the music.

But hark, what happened next? Approaching the back of a crowd of around 50,000 people after a short jog across the festival site (having just seen Wales's Super Furry Animals leave a tent of sweaties baying for George Bush's blood), I was unsurprised to learn that my cronies and I had missed the first few songs of The Strokes headlining set. 'No bother,' thought I, 'we can enjoy the rest of the set at the back – we're among like-minded music fans who will respect my right to hear the songs and watch New York's finest laze their way through another stellar performance.' How wrong I was.

As the set progressed, it quickly became apparent that the football-watching masses had come back to hear a few Strokes songs they knew from the radio. OK, that’s fine. Just don’t disturb those patiently trying to watch Julian Casablancas & co swagger from opus to opus. I became aware that, bundled on the floor to the right of me, was a pink-shirted-elite drunken oaf of a man, clearly too drunk to stand and appreciate the show. He had a few friends with him to make sure he wasn't going to swallow his tongue or vomit on his Patrick Cox shoes, so I thought nothing of it. Instead of helping this poor Bryl-Creem stain recover, his equally well-tailored mates insist on jumping on him, walking on his back, spoon-feeding him rancid curry and, worst of all, bellowing in his ears to elicit some sort of vocal response. And elicit a vocal response he most certainly and emphatically did, after around half an hour of continuous interference from his comrades. Bloody hilarious. Suffice to say, my concentration didn't stay where it should have and I became hopelessly distracted, unable to enjoy the show.

Gutted...

The question is – why bother coming? To prove to your financially inferior friends that you've still got your finger on the musical pulse? Or just to get pissed in a field and watch the football? Well it's hardly a massive counter-culture statement to attend a Festival organised by one of the largest mobile phone companies in Britain, and you could've gotten pissed and watched the football in the pub. Heck, you could have even got home in time to watch the Festival highlights on Channel 4.

So what's the real reason? I put it down to this: these upstarts are merely fuelling an unglamorous ambition to be able to tell their absent friends that they were simply too wrecked to enjoy what any reasonable person would have watched with ready eyes and ears. The Festival itself is high-profile enough to warrant a large amount of potential surprise at the event's inevitable exaggerated re-telling, and the exploits of the protagonists are suitably debauched to earn a chuckle and a back-slap next time they’re circling the water-cooler. Enjoyed the music, did you? 'Yes thanks, they were playing Dido in the taxi on the way home…'

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New Hot Club De Paris Video

July 27th 2006 16:49

Hot Club De Paris

Hilarious and buoyant folk-punk stompers Hot Club De Paris have released a video for their new single "Sometimesitsbetternottostickbitsofeachotherineachotherforeachother".
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Bertrand Burgalat at the Luminaire Last Night

July 26th 2006 18:15

Here are some pictures (and, if technology has become my best friend for today, a video) of Bertrand Burgalat's show last night at the Kilburn Luminaire in London.

Bertrand Burgalat - Sweet and Lowdown

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Guns 'n' Roses Statement - Losing Their Bottle

July 25th 2006 10:40

The following statement was issued by Axl Rose after his patchwork Guns 'n' Roses were bottled off the stage at their Newcastle gig on the 19th:

"Izzy (Stradlin) was the first to immediately support the decision verbally(i) to me personally before I had physically left the stage area (ii). Tommy (Stinson-bass) and Frank (Ferrer- drums) came to my dressing room (iii) to say how much they appreciated the decision to not continue under those conditions, and express their support for not tolerating anyone throwing items at the stage with a negative intent. This has been G N' R's policy since playing Donnington in 1998 (iv). "
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New Yo La Tengo MP3 - Thanks, Matador!

July 24th 2006 23:52

Matador Records have seen it fit to make available a brand new track from Yo La Tengo's new record, 'I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass'. The song, entitled 'Pass Me The Hatchet, I'm Goodkind' is bloody great. Of course.

Yo La Tengo - Soft and Strong and Long

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DANANANANAYKROYD - Demo for Download

July 24th 2006 01:46

Simply the best band name ever. For now, anyway.

DANANANANAYKROYD - Eclectic

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Euros Childs Live At The Spitz! Pics! Words!

July 22nd 2006 16:06

Euros Childs & Band

Euros Childs tonight deals so deftly with a restlessly hot audience in the Spitz (temperatures reached an unprecedented six million degrees in the capital tonight) that the sweat dripping from people's faces magically did an about-face and trickled happily back into the pores. After some terrible support act is finished sounding like Britpop dry-humping the corpse of the Kinks, Childs and his merry band of very child-like friends shamble onto the stage (except the drummer, who looks about sixty) and let the magic spew forth.
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The Automatic Trash Morning TV... Ha!

July 21st 2006 21:15

The Automatic - They've Got Arms... For Throwing Stuff

Early birds in Britain may have caught next big indie hopefuls destined for the top (followed by an inevitable crash to the floor) The Automatic performing their monster single, er, 'Monster' on breakfast TV. Rather surprisingly, they chucked their equipment and rolled around on the floor. Great fun. Maybe we're seeing a return to some good old fashioned FUN and JUMPING ABOUT in live performances. Less Chris Martin spazzy gyrations, more pure energy and throwing shit about.
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Stupid Things The NME Says #2: Muse

July 20th 2006 13:20

Muse - Don't overdo it, eh?

This time, the NME train their sights on nobody's favourite apocalypto-rocker buffoons Muse. PM points to the 22 July 2006 issue and the article about Muse's most recent album...
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Mercury Music Prize Shortlist Announced

July 19th 2006 14:10

So it's rolled around again, and we are presented with another poor representation of British albums this year. But then everyone says that every year (why didn't the Go! Team win last year? Why?!). So rather than pointlessly list the albums that PM thinks should have made the list like most other people probably have and will, it is pertinent to instead simply list some of the nominees and a reason why they shouldn't win…

Arctic Monkeys (Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I'm Not) – Yeah, they're important. But they're also going to be as maligned as Oasis by the time their next album comes out. Too young.
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Belle and Sebastian Curate Children's Album

July 18th 2006 17:29

Indie stalwarts and terminal wearers of sensible trousers Belle and Sebastian are curating a collection of songs for children. How twee!

It is due to 'arrive' on September 11th as a fundraiser for Save The Children. Featured artists include The Flaming Lips, Franz Ferdinand, Jonathan Richman, Travis (aren't they all dead?), Snow Patrol and, most excitingly, The Divine Comedy performing the theme to Winnie The Pooh!
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Japan's Uneasy Balance With The West

July 17th 2006 00:28

Japan - Bendy

Japan is a bastion of cool for Western nerds who like to pretend they are… well… cool. The myriad of multicoloured cultures revolving around music, art and cinema have been lynchpins of Forbidden Planet catalogues for years, instantly marking those in the West who readily consume Japanese kitsch culture as the equivalent of connoisseurs of European fine wines. This frustrating poise from Western folk tends to act as an umbrella for accepting some of the less worthy aspects of the Japanese culture. From the mid-90s spate of indie bands giving themselves Japanese names (Urusei Yatsura etc.) to the blanket acceptance of Ghost in the Shell as a classic film, Japan's culture is one that is received in the West as a terminal novelty, with very little critical processing involved. It seems a lot of the Japanese culture is part of a continual flux of exchange and influence – Western culture exports itself to Japan, where it is imbued with a stamp of national identity and then ferried back to us, ready to be consumed by bedroom-bound music and movie fans everywhere.
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Album Openers List

July 15th 2006 01:57

Writing as I so gratefully do for Indie Workshop, I am occasionally involved in constructing some sublimely nerdy and equally comforting lists. The latest of these concerns our favourite opening tracks from any album.

The ones I'm putting forward are...
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New Yo La Tengo MP3 and Album

July 14th 2006 12:40

One of PM's favourite bands EVER, Yo La Tengo, have announced that they are releasing a new record in September. It is called... wait... lemme check...

"I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass'.
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Commodore Milan B. Williams Dies

July 14th 2006 01:18

One of the founding members of The Commodores, Milan B. Williams, died on Sunday night from cancer.

And what was the tribute his bandmate Walter Orange left for him?
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Camera Obscura and their mysterious adoption by the USA

July 13th 2006 01:17

The word 'stalwart' immediately comes to mind when considering Scotland's Camera Obscura. The indie-pop starlets have become staples in the bed-wetter's lexicon for fey, ever-so-slightly sexy tunes about film stars and depressed teenagers. They are an aspirations band – one that speaks equally of the hum-drum affinities of a dull existence whilst painting ever-more glamorous pictures of the movie star lifestyle all those bored working class kids dream of. So far, so Belle and Sebastian, yeah? Well, that's easy to say when you remember that Stuart Murdoch produced Camera Obscura's first big single, Eighties Fan on Andmoresound Records.

(On a side note, let's pause to remember the unbelievably viscous string arrangements on that song, that alleviated only to allow harrowingly poignant interjections from Tracey-Anne Campbell's vocals, shining like the spit on a coalminer's boot… there).
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Wicked Wisdom - Holy Hell!

July 11th 2006 19:09

Lordy...

The latest product of Hollywood intertextuality is a Nu-Metal 'supergroup' whose asinine predictability is only matched by their horrific lack of musical decency. PM only mentions them after catching a chance TV interview with them on Sunday morning kids programming, where they proceeded to make the sign of the devil about twelve times and talk very seriously about their awful music. Wicked Wisdom's singer is none other than Mrs Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith. Not content with flaunting her woodenness on the great unwashed with her faxed-in performance in one Matrix film or other, she now deems it necessary to extend her range to the humble world of adolescent metal music.
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Monade - Pictures from last night!

July 11th 2006 13:07

Last night was the closest PM has ever got to seeing Stereolab in the flesh. But spin-off Monade are more than a simple side-project or pale imitation of Laetitia Sadier's 'other' band, more a living entity in their own right. Their construction and intuition for instrument-specific writing was excellent, containing enough intrigue in their arrangements and structures to keep a roomful of people leaning towards the stage. The basslines in particular were subtle yet extremely penetrating, never taking the focus away from Sadier's ethereal vocals.

Monade - Laetitia Sadier, Xavier Chabellard, Marie Merlet and the arm of Nicolas Etienne

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Semifinalists - London's Lo-Fi Winners

July 9th 2006 21:42

There’s a buzz about the Semifinalists, and it’s not big enough. PM distinctly remembers being sat in a (purposefully) shady corner of the house listening to their songs on MySpace, a position held for some time. And what’s the best bit about these marvellously delicate and beautiful songs? They don’t get old! That’s the best bit! Usually, when PM feel a song is worth to listening to more than one time in a row, PM massacres it big-style…

Semifinalists - Flash ON

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ATP Looks Amazing...

July 7th 2006 17:54

Was just browsing the All Tomorrow's Parties line-up to see if any big changes had ocurred... and it looks simply glorious.

Deerhoof, Six Organs Of Admittance (one of PM's favourite records of the year so far), Melvins, Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth for chrissakes!
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Thom Yorke - The Eraser

July 7th 2006 13:24

Thom Yorke's first solo record, The Eraser, is rubbish. It has its pleasant moments, it even starts off quite promisingly, but it ultimately falls a long way below anything that his inevitable comparison-point of Radiohead have ever done. Except maybe Pablo Honey. That was shit.

Yorke with Radiohead

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Jarvis Cocker's New Cuss-Heavy Protest Song

July 5th 2006 22:53

The former Pulp frontman has released a brand new slice of politico-pop fury called 'Running the World', and here it is. It contains naughty words. Lots of them.

It seems that Cocker is none-too pleased with the post-Live8 financial furore that surrounds the World Leaders he rather hilariously castigates in this epic of... poltical proportions?
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Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Sadly Missed

July 5th 2006 10:11

Pop Musicology has, for years now, enjoyed the insanity of Welsh folk-prog-pop collective Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. They were to the independent scene what Wes Anderson is to cinema – provincial, minutely detailed and imbued with a palpable sense of home. In fact, scratch that. They are more difficult to describe than that, and they deserve better than a mere comparison. GZM were shaped by themselves and nobody else – a rare example of the truly unblemished rock outfit. So when they finally announced a few weeks ago that, after a fifteen-year career, they were calling it a day, the tributes began popping up all over the net and printed press. Here is another…

That unblemished aspect to their milieu can be attributed to several things. Frontman and chief songwriter Euros Childs grew up in a Welsh village in the middle of nowhere, a place of which he memorably said that it was easier to buy old records by Camel than any chart smashes. So with an impeccable progressive and folk indoctrination, Childs set up Gorky's with some friends from school. The ensemble took its first steps onto stage in local youth clubs, slowly rising up the ranks and headlining shows while they were all still in school uniforms. This honest-to-goodness upbringing forced the kind of songwriting that favoured the surreal, the innocent and the downright lovely. Early albums are very hard to come by nowadays, despite some long-promised re-issues due any time soon (PM keeps checking Amazon for release dates, but so far zip. Any clues warmly appreciated).
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Stupid Things the NME Says # 1: The Killers

July 4th 2006 10:17

This is the first in an occasional series where the UK's flagship alternative music rag is scrutinised for their parading of style over substance, horrific genre creations, ill-advised faux-important rants and any other misjudgements on their part.

For a first incision, let us consider the issue dated 1st July 2006, and the cover article on The Killers.
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The Scandinavians are coming!

July 3rd 2006 08:13

Scandinavia - big

After reading fellow Orble blog Music Times, Pop Musicology feels compelled to stick up for Scandinavia and Northern Europe. It's true that there isn't a great deal of exposure there as far as the rest of the world is concerned, but there sure as hell is a lot of music being made. Music Times points to the safe example of Sigur Ros, a wonderful band and no mistake (having seen them earlier this year, PM can vouch for their splendour). But it is ignorant to suggest that there is nothing more to these regions than hair-metal.
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