Time Machine - Volume I

Sometimes I would like to go back in time. Who wouldn't ? I bet Morrissey would ride that horse. Maybe one day we can all ride it. Who knows?

Until that day, his old depressions are my daily smiles.

Pop is...

… young, lame, simple, dancelike, addictive, happy and touchable, like The Balconies.

Pick of the day

New project of Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi is out in stores – Rome.

They invited Mr. Jack White to star in a couple of the songs and here is the result :

Wild Beasts - Smother

There are things in life you cannot explain. Like how some songs seem to have been written and compelled for you. Like somehow I’ve met a group of musicians on a random night in some lost pub and told them all my secrets, my doubts, my fears, my dreams. It’s just scary, makes me feel naked, with no arguments, explanations or reasons for that.

Well, enough of my bullshit philosophy – someone should stop me but it’s just me and the laptop.

If you’ve never felt at least a small breeze of what I described, I feel sorry for you and please read another blog (all this power is just freaking me out!) – otherwise buy, download, go on youtube or call your secretary = Smother from the Wild Beasts is out there. It’s pure magic, the cold feeling of a soft knife stabbing your chest in the hands of a lovely ghost lady. Yes, it's that good.

A small sample to translate the feeling:

The Vaccines - What did you expect from the Vaccines?

This is my 'comfort zone'. Everyone knows It’s not going to be the album of the year, fact. But it’s honest, clean and straight-forward. I enjoy that. Even if you can quickly identify all their influences, past and recent, who cares? Not me, not them for sure. And again, I enjoy it.

All tracks are 'pretty-much-nice-yes-i-make-indie-rock-that-sounds-like-the-80's’ but I want to highlight two of them : ‘All in White’ - the lyrics are simply flawless; and ‘If you Wanna’ -lovable popish tune.

Live performance of ‘If you Wanna’ :

Gang of Four

I have to admit that a few months ago I had never heard of these guys - slapped myself in the face. A friend gently offered me 'Entertainment' and the love story begun.

There is something special on an album recorded in the late 70's that comes into your ears in 2011 and sounds 'actual'.

Like if I would wake up and thought 'I would love to put The Clash and Ramones in a studio and see what came out of that'. Well, it's literally Gang Of Four.

'Damaged Goods' gives them full credit:

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

What I like about PJ Harvey is not even the bad-shit-ass good music she makes, it’s really the indiscrete and silent way she says ‘all you lady singers with your big boobs, your doggy dance moves, your sweet-shit melodies and your pseudo-alternative looks – go fuck yourselves’. She is just awesome.

‘Let England Shake’ is another quality album that shows her good work in getting the message across. She is here, she is real, she is easy. In 12 tracks England is seriously blessed with great lyrics and great tunes. This calls for a 10/10 score and a blinking pint.

Video of ‘Last Living Rose’ – you can sing along : “Goddamn Europeans / Take me back to beautiful England / And the grey damp filthiness of ages / And battered books”

Junior Boys - It's All True

Junior Boys have always surprised me – for better and for worst. One has gotta love their intimacy over cool electronic vibes, simply undeniable. Listening to ‘Like a Child’ is a ride I want to take every day of my life, pure tenderness. However, I feel there is something missing in each of their past three albums. Probably consistence, probably differentiation, probably I'm stupid. Still to figure it out.

Well, the new album is out soon (June), it’s called ‘It’s All True’ and apparently could be the Canadian band final cut into the electronic/pop music world. I hope so honestly. Have a look to what is likely to be the album's single and speak for yourselves:

Tribute to Gil Scott-Heron

A word of respect for Mr. Gil, may you RIP.

Soul/Funk/Jazz has lost one of their own. The melodies, the messages, the influence of a man that never saw the world the same as everyone else did. A truly visionary on his own style and composition. Gil Scott-Heron is gone from the real world but was kind enough to leave dreadful memories such as 'The Bottle':

Rock & Roll III - the final cut down

Ok, let’s get down to what is missing on my R&R ‘trilogy’.

Who am I talking about? Well…they look geeky, they have an unoriginal band name, they are what I call an ‘out-of-the-box’ kind of thing - they make it all seem so ‘weird’. This band has released 5 albums in the past 10 years and they should be the reference for any wanna-be (real) Rock band.

A unique style from a unique duo, ladies and gentlemen I present you…The Black Keys:

And for something else...