Monday, December 3, 2012

We Are Live: Heart of Glass


Original video located here. Accessed 3rd December 2012

Song title: Heart of Glass

Artist: Blondie

Year: 1978

Why I like this song:

This year, Hobart was blessed with a triple bill and a half: Blondie with support from the Stranglers and the Saints.
Definitely a revival of late 1970s goodness but no matter: I'd be a fool to miss it so I went and saw it.

First up was the Saints. Unsurprisingly, their material came from the post-Ed Kuepper period of the band but they still delivered. Like Fire Would was great live and Chris Bailey still had a stage presence, both singing and playing bass.

Then came the Stranglers. They played their hits (Golden Brown, Always the Sun, Peaches, No More Heroes) and they gave it their all. Of particular note was seeing Dave Greenfield doing his thing - he was hiding behind a battery of keyboards but I could still pick out a big smile on his face.

And finally there was Blondie: Roaring into life with an excellent set. True there were three remnants of their seventies heyday - Debbie Harry, Chris Stein and Clem Burke - but they still put on a great show. Funny thing: of the afore-mentioned three, it is interesting to note that Burke was the most energetic out of all of them, going all out on his drumkit.

So in the end this was a great show: Three veteran acts that delivered and proved they are no slouch in performing live. Yes they may have had plenty of time to perfect their live act but they still showed up a lot of younger acts and proved untarnished by age.

Friday, November 30, 2012

This Song Rocks: Warrant


Original video located here. Accessed 30th November 2012

Song title: Warrant

Artist: Foster the People

Year: 2011

Why I like this song:

Lately, I've been listening to Foster the People's album Warrant. 
Sure there have been the big hits but personally, the best moment is at the end.
I'm always a sucker for a great bassline and this one has it in spades. In fact, this song taps into a winning formula: Have a substantial bass line and build the rest of the song by laying many other colours on top.
And boy does it work here.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Choon of the Month: Pleasure and Consequence


Original video located here. Accessed 26th November 2012

Song title: Pleasure and Consequence

Artist: City Calm Down

Year: 2012

Why I like this song:

I like songs that build: Where various pieces gradually come together to build a whole (put a pin in this, we'll come back to it).

And this is one such case: The synths come in, followed the bass and drums and the vocals. The mood is established and then the floodgates open.

Granted the synths are the selling point but they do so with flair

Friday, November 23, 2012

This Song Rocks: My Heart is on Fire


Original video located here. Accessed 23rd November 2012

Song title: My Heart is on Fire

Artist: Asta

Year: 2012

Why I like this song:

Tasmania represent.

I find it hard it believe that this gal is in her late teens as she sings with a voice rich in experience and authority. Hope this leads to a lot more doors opening for her.....

Friday, November 2, 2012

The Asian Connection: Forever


Original video located here. Accessed 10th July 2021

Song title: Forever..

Artist: Savage Genius

Year: 2005

Why I like this song:

This is the opening to the anime Elemental Gelade and it certainly grabs the attention. It's the sheer energy of this, slamming on the accelerate pedal and never letting up. Its the sound of a pop act, Savage Genius, using every trick they can think of to make a winner of a pop song and it works.
Perhaps western acts should take notes...

Monday, October 29, 2012

Choon of the Month: Feels Like We Only Go Backwards


Original video located here. Accessed 9th November 2012

Song title: Feels Like We Only Go Backwards

Artist: Tame Impala

Year: 2012

Why I like this song:

...so.... much...psychedelic....

I admit: I've been sceptical about Tame Impala before but hearing this has brought about a reconsideration. Why? Put simply: This sounds like it stands on it's own plane of existence. And I will champion anything that beats to the sound of it's own drum and refuses to buck to trends. 

Friday, October 26, 2012

Nineties Revisited: Beautiful Girl


Original video located here. Accessed 11th January 2013

Song title: Beautiful Girl

Artist: INXS

Year: 1992

Why I like this song:

I will always have a soft spot for this song as I will forever associate it with my grade six leavers dinner.
Okay so the above video may have a different intention but you can't deny the romanticism behind this song.