Peanut’s Playground: Forgotten Classics – 13. Mental Floss For The Globe by Urban Dance Squad

April 20, 2011

Peanut’s Playground is my bi-weekly verbal diarrhea. Every other Wednesday I plan to ramble about stuff I like (in my typically screwed up version of English) and hope you will like too. And in case you don’t… mweh.

Number 13 in my series of Forgotten Classics:

Mental Floss For The Globe by Urban Dance Squad (1989)

Hi guys. Sorry that I missed my slot two weeks ago. Life suddenly caught up with me and well, that’s just how things go sometimes. But rest assured, I’m making it up with a whopper of a classic today! One that you’ve probably never heard of before but hey, what else is new.

Forget about mainstream acts like Red Hot Chili Peppers or Rage Against The Machine. Urban Dance Squad were the true original crossover pioneers. The Utrecht (in the Netherlands) based group combined rock (guitars) with rap (vocals) and old-skool (scratching) and turned it into something completely new.

They actually had some moderate success too. Not over here in the Nether Regions, but in the States. Deeper Shade Of Soul from their debut album actually made it all the way to #57 in the Billboard Hot 100. Which to Dutch standards is really really fucking succesful.

Anyway, this band doesn’t do their thang no more (whatever the hell that means), so digging into their back catalogue is all that’s left now. And there’s no better place to start than here. Because if you don’t like this album, there is seriously something wrong with your hearing.

Download Mental Floss For The Globe here

1. Fast Lane

2. No Kid

3. Deeper Shade of Soul

4. Prayer For My Demo

5. Big Apple

6. Piece Of Rock

7. Brainstorm On The U.D.S.

8. The Devil

9. Famous When You’re Dead

10. Mental Floss For The Globe

11. Hitchhike H.D.

12. God Blasts The Queen

See you in two weeks!

- Martin

Link up with me here:

Peanut’s Playground: Forgotten Classics – 12. Neon Golden by The Notwist

March 9, 2011

By Martin

Number 12 in my series of Forgotten Classics:

Neon Golden by The Notwist (2002)

It was way back in 2002 that Neon Golden by the Germans of The Notwist was named Album Of The Year by the good people of the Dutch (aren’t I the multinational blogger) music magazine OOR. At the time I had no clue whatsoever what this album was all about and why in god’s name it should be crowned ‘King Of 2002′. After all, wasn’t this the same year that also saw the release of instant classics like (amongst others) Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Interpol’s Turn On The Bright Lights, The White Stripes’ White Blood Cells and Cody ChesnuTT’s The Headphone Masterpiece?

Being fashionably late it took me more than two years to finally discover why so many people liked this album. Because it’s fucking awesome, that’s why! Look here, even the acid pissing wankers of Pissfork listed it in their top 10:

Realizing that The Notwist started out as a (mediocre) post-hardcore outfit makes the musical journey that Neon Golden takes you on all the more amazing. Nothing on the band’s previous four full length releases could’ve hinted at the greatness they would achieve with their fifth album. The fluency in the fusion of (subtle) electronics and guitar-driven pop music is impressive to say the least. The closest comparison I can think of is what Radiohead achieved on Kid A, but with a lot less experimentation.

The focus on the songs make the album a lot more lovable at first listen than its experimental counterparts, and somehow without becoming boring after repeated listens. Even after almost 10 years. Hell, Consequence is still one the best songs of the 00s!

So if you happened to have missed out the first time around (like I did), make up for it now. Check out the sample songs and spend your cash on a great album. You will not regret it.

Download Neon Golden here

1. One Step Inside Doesn’t Mean You Understand

2. Pilot

3. Pick Up The Phone

4. Trashing Days

5. This Room

6. Solitaire

7. One With The Freaks

8. Neon Golden

9. Off The Rails

10. Consequence

11. Scoop

12. Propeller 9

13. Formiga

See you in two weeks!

- Martin

Link up with me here:

Peanut’s Playground: Forgotten Classics – 11. Sugar – File Under Easy Listening

February 18, 2011

By Martin

Photography by LittleFlair…

Hüsker Dü means nothing to me. Bob Mould means nothing to me either. That is to say, the music that the Dü and the Mould made/make isn’t really the music that I like the Bob to make. The music I love is this:

Sugar – File Under Easy Listening (1994)

1994 was a great year in music, and File Under Easy Listening (or F.U.E.L.) was one of its highlights.

Roaring guitars. Loud guitars. But also, beautiful melodies. A combination I’ve gotten to love, and few albums have gotten it better than F.U.E.L. Bob Mould’s voice has never been angelic or smooth or anything like that, but who knew how well it would fit melodic songs instead of just raging rockers. His gritty vocals over the infectious grooves and chords are exactly what keep this album interesting.

Every song is memorable. Memorable in such a way that even after listening to it only once it will have you singing along full force! The song structures are, without exception, simple and easy to grasp. But simple does not equal dull. It’s never dull! Better still, it keeps on surprising you, more than 16 years after its release.

All the traits of a timeless classic if I’ve ever heard one.

DOWNLOAD FILE UNDER EASY LISTENING HERE

1. Gift

2. Company Book

3. Your Favorite Thing

4. What You Want It To Be

5. Gee Angel

6. Panama City Motel

7. Can’t Help You Anymore

8. Granny Cool

9. Believe What You’re Saying

10. Explode And Make Up

Don’t forget to check out my other articles, in case you’ve missed them (which would be an absolute shame, because they’re great and shit).

Tudels,

Peanut

Link up with me here:

Peanut’s Playground: Forgotten Classics – 10. The Dears – Gang Of Losers

February 9, 2011

By Martin

Photography by shinelikestars00…

I was going to write about The Dears’ new album Degeneration Street but I opted to do a forgotten classic post instead. This is number 10 in my ongoing series honoring wonderful and often underrated albums:

The Dears – Gang Of Losers (2006)

The reason I’m not writing about the new album is because I really need to listen to it some more before judging. I already know it’s good but I still have to decide how good it really is. For Gang Of Losers I already made up my mind back in 2006.

Of all albums released in the noughties only two have made my all-time top 20 list, and this is one of those two. And in contrast with how many of my favorite music has captured my attention, this time it was the lyrics that pulled me in.

Frontman Murray Lightburn sings about being homeless. Being discriminated. Being deemed a loser. But also about optimism. About the things that are good in the world. And what makes his stories all the more impressive, is the fact that he’s live through it all. He’s actually been there, living on the streets, getting shit dumped upon him. And somehow, someway, this man has managed to make a series of fantastic albums of which Gang Of Losers is (imo) by far the most impressive.

Every song here is memorable. Instantly. And while most of the time this is a bad sign; this time it’s not. I’ve revisited this album at average at least twice a month since its release. And even now, almost five years later songs like Death or Life We Want You and There Goes My Outfit still give me goosebumps, and this is the main sign of a classic if you ask me.

DOWNLOAD GANG OF LOSERS HERE

1. Sinthtro

2. Ticket to Immortality

3. Death or Life We Want You

4. Hate, Then Love

5. There Goes My Outfit

6. Bandwagoneers

7. Fear Made The World Go ‘Round

8. Gang of Losers

9. Whites Only Party

10. Ballad of Humankindness

11. I Fell Deep

12. Find Our Way To Freedom

Don’t forget to check out my other articles, in case you’ve missed them (which would be an absolute shame, because they’re great and shit).

Tudels,

Peanut

Link up with me here:

Peanut’s Playground: Sweep, Swoop, Swept And Mondo Amore By Nicole Atkins

February 2, 2011

By Martin

Photography by SimonSawSunlight…

If there’s one lady in music who has swept me of my feet it’s this one!

Nicole Atkins – Mondo Amore

Besides the fact that Nicole Atkins is one great chica (check out her twitter if you don’t believe me) she also makes some bloody fantastic music as well!

Her 2007′ album Neptune City is among the very few albums from my year-end-list of that year that I actually still listen to. Listen to a lot actually. The combination of grand orchestration, lush arrangements and huge but lovely vocals has proven to be seriously addictive. That she’s able to add really memorable melodies to that mix makes her even easier to love.

Where Neptune City was like the pop-music version of a Vaudeville show, Mondo Amore is Nicole dragging the whole shebang over to the Jersey shores and kicking the crap out of the can-can dancers! Sure there’s her trademark swooping ballads to be found here (Hotel Plaster, Heavy Boots amongst others) but the majority of this album kicks ass and promisses to be just as addictive as her earlier work.

Go check her out if you haven’t done so before, you know you want to!

Download Mondo Amore here

1. Vultures

2. Cry Cry Cry

3. Hotel Plaster

4. You Come To Me

5. My Baby Don’t Lie

6. This Is For Love

7. You Were The Devil

8. War Is Hell

9. Heavy Boots

10. The Tower

Don’t forget to check out my other articles, in case you’ve missed them (which would be an absolute shame, because they’re great and shit).

Tudels,

Peanut

Link up with me here:

Peanut’s Playground: Gimme Some By Peter Björn And John, Something To Love That Is!

January 29, 2011

By Martin

Photography by complejo…

Everyone that has read more than one of my articles over the past 5 years will already know that this Swedish three-man-band has been one of my faves ever since discovering them.

So there should be no surprise to learn that I was extremely excited about their new album:

Peter Björn And John – Gimme Some

If you happen to be unfamiliar with Peter Björn And John’s music (which wouldn’t be that surprising), then I suggest you hop over to their website asap to get some free sample mp3s and videos: PBJ.com and then return here to read on a bit.

Go on.

I’ll wait.

*dumdidumdidumdidum*

Oh hello! Welcome back!

I can only imagine that you’re just as amazed as I was when first hearing their music. If you aren’t, well frankly I think there’s something seriously wrong with you and you should stop reading this and every other future article I write.

Gimme Some is the band’s 6th album (5th proper one) since their start in 1999. Their first glimpse of fame came when their track Young Folks (the whistling song) from 2006′ Writer’s Block was picked up by a massive amount of websites and radiostations. To date they have yet to deliver a bad piece of music, although I will admit that their 2008′ instrumental release Seaside Rock was sub-par to say the least.

After the bit more adventurous Living Thing from 2009 for Gimme Some the band have returned to what their good great at. Making energetic guitar driven pop/rock with hooks that are all over the place. The album is filled with potential singles, the best one of which has just been released as just that. Second Chance is one of the best songs you’ll hear this year, trust me on that one, and the rest of the bunch ain’t too shabby either. Enjoy!

Visit the band’s website to stay updated

1. Tomorrow Has To Wait

2. Dig A Little Deeper

3. Second Chance

4. Eyes

5. Breaker Breaker

6. May Seem Macabre

7. (Don’t Let Them) Cool Off

8. Black Book

9. Down Like Me

10. Lies

11. I Know You Don’t Love Me

Don’t forget to check out my other articles, in case you’ve missed them (which would be an absolute shame, because they’re great and shit).

Tudels,

Peanut

Link up with me here:

Peanut’s Playground: Forgotten Classics – 9. Kyuss – Welcome To Sky Valley

January 26, 2011

By Martin

Photography by VexingART…

Everybody and his brother’s dog knows Queens Of The Stone Age. Well fuck Queens Of The Stone Age! There’s only band that Josh Homme should be known for and that’s:

Kyuss – Welcome To Sky Valley (1994)

There isn’t a band in history that has earned weirder tags than Kyuss. ‘Stoner rock’. Ehh what? Stones that rock? Sure. ‘Desert rock’. Last time I checked the desert it was quiet as fuck, so this makes no sense whatsoever. Oh wait, they had jam sessions in the desert you say? Well I sing in the toilet, so maybe that explains why I make shitty music…

1992′ Blues For The Red Sun might have gained the ‘classic’ label but this here Welcome To Sky Valley is truly the real deal when it comes to Kyuss. It hasn’t got anything close to something that could be considered a single candidate (although Demon Cleaner has appeared in the latest Guitar Hero game) but when it comes to fulfilling the potential that Kyuss had you need not look any further.

Sky Valley is split up in three ‘suits’, otherwise known as three Roman numerals on the back cover of the album. Seriously, there ain’t nothing more to it than that. And be glad for that! Most albums that work with ‘suits’ turn out to be pretentious and unlistenable pieces of crap, and this is not.

The sound is all over the place but at the same time it’s 100% Kyuss and unique in that way. Thrashing, laidback, psychedelic, rocking and thunderous. This has got it all. And all of this accompanied by the Southern wail of John Garcia and Josh Homme’s guitar played through a bass amp.

Welcome To Sky Valley is a unique and amazing album by a band that would’ve been completely relevant had they still existed today. In case you overlooked Kyuss back in the early 90′s, here’s your chance to redeem yourselves.

DOWNLOAD WELCOME TO SKY VALLEY HERE

1. Gardenia

2. Asteroid

3. Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop

4. 100 Degrees

5. Space Cadet

6. Demon Cleaner

III

7. Odyssey

8. Conan Troutman

9. N.O.

10. Whitewater

Don’t forget to check out my other articles, in case you’ve missed them (which would be an absolute shame, because they’re great and shit).

Tudels,

Peanut

Link up with me here:

Peanut’s Playground: How Something New That Seemed To Be Shite Turned Out To Be Quite Good And Mine Is Yours By Cold War Kids

January 23, 2011

By Martin

Photography by iNeedChemicalX…

Now this is a release that I have been waiting for like fucking forever! Well actually the wait’s only been a little less than 3 years but it sure felt like forever to me, but finally FINALLY it’s here:

Cold War Kids – Mine Is Yours

And fuck what a disappointment this album was at first listen!

Wanna know why? Lemme tell you why.

I saw Cold War Kids play live at the Amsterdam Paradiso somewhere in 2006, and they were the most intense act I had ever witnessed on stage. These guys were nothing less than possessed! The drummer was pounding away. The singer ripped his lungs out and the guitars seared with emotion drenched in blood, sweat and tears. They were in one word, amazing!

This is the kind of amazing that I’m talking about:

Imagine my surprise when the first song from Mine Is Yours that actually draw my attention was this one:

Finally Begin

WTF??!! This can’t be the same band!

Don’t get me wrong here; I like this song. I actually like it a lot, but it sounds like something that George Michael could’ve released. And the sound of Ol’ Georgiakis Michaelopopopopoplis isn’t exactly what I had expected from these here guys.

Anyway the initial surprise eventually turned into utter disappointment. Disappointment made me stop listening to the album. Even more so, disappointment actually made me afraid to listen to the album any further. I was actually afraid of the fact that I might start to like this new direction that Cold War Kids had gone into.

In the end it was the sheer quality of Finally Begin managed to steer me to the dark light side and I decided to push on, and what I found surprised me.

Sure there were more songs in the same vein as Finally Begin (read: darn right cathcy/poppy) but not as much as one might expect. Four songs turned out to be ‘new style’. The other 7 could’ve fit in snugly with the band’s previous releases. Intense songs, firmly rooted in blue-collar American rock traditions. And I like ‘em!

All in all this turned out to be a wild ride for a devoted fan like me, but with a happy ending after all. I see this album spinning in my iTunes for quite some time to come. Go check it out!

Download Mine Is Yours Here

1. Mine Is Yours

2. Louder Than Ever

3. Royal Blue

4. Finally Begin

5. Out Of The Wilderness

6. Skip The Charades

7. Sensitive Kid

8. Bulldozer

9. Broken Open

10. Cold Toes On The Cold Floor

11. Flying Upside Down

Don’t forget to check out my other articles, in case you’ve missed them (which would be an absolute shame, because they’re great and shit).

Tudels,

Peanut

Link up with me here:

Peanut’s Playground: And Yes He Also Listens To New Stuff, Like Slippery Slope By The Dø

January 12, 2011

By Martin

Photography by winxyarianna…

A duo from France (him) and Finland (her). If you like Beach House chances are you will love:

The Dø – Slippery Slope

The Dø (pronounced ‘Dough’) are a multi-culti indie-pop duo who took there name from the first letters of their first names (Dan and Olivia). Apparently Dø means all kinds of things in some languages. I’m not sure what, and if you’re interested just check out Google Translate. What’s more important then their name is their music, and that my friends, is pretty amazing!

I loved the duo’s 2008′ debut A Mouthful a lot when it came out, and still do actually. The band has managed to create a sound that is at times light and poppy, while at the same time there’s darkness below the surface and musical experimentation is all over the place. They remind me most of the lighter side (musically speaking) of Beach House, while the trippy- and weirdness sounds a lot like the latest work by (the wonderful) Charlotte Gainsbourg.

Check out the samples below and be convinced.

Visit the band’s website for downloads

1. Dust It Off

2. The Wicked And The Blind

3. Gonna Be Sick!

4. Too Insistent

5. Bohemian Dances

6. Smash Them All (Night Visitors)

7. Leo Leo

8. Slippery Slope

9. The Calendar

10. Was It A Dream?

11. Moon Mermaids

Don’t forget to check out my other articles, in case you’ve missed them (which would be an absolute shame, because they’re great and shit).

Tudels,

Peanut

Link up with me here:

It’s Friday & it’s Hard Times And Nursery Rhymes by Social Distortion! RAWK!

January 7, 2011

By Tsuru

Photography of Sheila Savage by ME for our 3rd Zine! WOOT!

Alright team-o. It’s Friday, been a fun yet busy week! And an even more funner and more busier weekend as we attempt to wrap up Issue No. 2 of our zine! Keep an eye out!

Fortunately, to help take us out for the week, we got another staple in the tsuru bin of awesome bands of since forever in a new Social Distortion album!!!

HOORAY!

It’s interesting… it’s the same conversation we had the other day about Cake’s new album, only to be reinforced in my noggin’ today. What is it about some bands, like Cake & Social Distortion, that they basically can have a formula for pretty much every single one of their songs, make album after album of, essentially, barring any little blips & bleeps here, the same album over and over again, and it be completely okay?

I mean, think about some of your favourite bands. We expect “evolutions of sound”, where they are going next, we love or hate it as this band goes more electronic, more dance, more acoustic, more psychedelic, more whatever, but just cranking out the same shit is uh-uh, no way.

Except… I hear a Social Distortion or Cake album is coming out and I know, pretty much, exactly what I’m going to get and you know what? I still get as giddy as a school boy about to get a blowjob!

I mean, is Hard Times And Nursery Rhymes the exact same album as Mommy’s Little Monster? Of course not, the greys have definitely mellowed Mike out a curmudgeon and this time out, there seems to be a few ladies singing back-up here and there, but, listen to “Alone & Forsaken” and it’s the same guitar technique we know and love by Ness and the crew.

And you know what? It’s such a good thing.

Call it comfort food. Call it white gravy!

Mmm… white gravy, biscuits, fried chicken… Mmm.

But it’s delicious. There’s a reason why Bob Evans is still in business. And that Cracker Country Barrel whatever too! You know what you are going to get and it’s going to be delicious, filling, and oh so satisfying!

Makes you wonder… What other bands could’ve done this and made you happy? Me? Well, you know I love most weezer up to a certain point, but I wonder if, just what if, they did nothing but crank out one “blue album” after another?

Would we really complain? Sure, some people, some music crickets, would dismiss them, but man, what if they just did their one thing and did it well and did it over and over again? Would that really had been so bad? Certainly better than this:

Amirite?

So I say to Mike Ness & the rest of Social Distortion, to Cake and to any other comfort bands you and I may have. Brothers & sisters, don’t stop. Just keep doing what your doing. You seem to enjoy it, I sure as fuck do too. So keep on keepin’ on!!!

Yes.

DOWNLOAD A SHIT-TON OF SOCIAL DISTORTION HERE NOW!

1. “Road Zombie”
2. “California (Hustle And Flow)”
3. “Gimme The Sweet And Lowdown”
4. “Diamond In The Rough”
5. “Machine Gun Blues”
6. “Bakersfield”
7. “Far Side Of Nowhere”
8. “Alone And Forsaken”
9. “Writing On The Wall”
10. “Can’t Take It With You”
11. “Still Alive”

Your SxDx love: Myspace | Official | Label

Cheers,
T.

Peanut’s Playground: Forgotten Classics – 8. Pulp – Different Class

January 5, 2011

By Martin

Photography by Becso…

Let me start off by wishing everyone who takes the time to read my latest rambling a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Now that the pleasantries are out of the way lets move on to today’s selected album for Peanut’s Forgotten Classics. And it’s a classic alright! Number eight in this ongoing series is the lovely, the wonderful, the awesomely amazing and utterly brilliant:

Pulp – Different Class (1995)

In all honesty, I’m not so sure that this particular classic has been forgotten. Actually I’m pretty sure that it hasn’t been forgotten at all. Different Class happens to be a bona fide classic. On this side of the pond that is. What I’m really not sure of, is if it ever really got through to all-a-ya over there in the States and Canuckia. Do you guys know how great this album really is? How important it is? How essential it is? Because it is. It really really is! And not just for us Europeans, but for all of you who love music, like I do.

Different Class plays like a movie in the best British tradition. Full of tongue-in-cheek humor and the kind of cynicism and satire that only the Brits seem to have mastered. The lyrics are all about the differences between the social classes and sex. All delivered with huge quantities of dry wit and sung over wonderful melodies, most of which are timeless.

You might have heard the ‘hits’ (Common People, Disco 2000) somewhere before. They’re both firm staples in the ‘Best Songs of the ’90s’ lists floating around the internet. The real treats here though are the lesser known gems, like Underwear and F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E.. What does it sound like? Well I’m actually not that great in describing what things sound like, so I suggest you try out the samples posted below and decide for yourselves.

Oh btw, try to get your hands on the Deluxe Edition of Different Class if you can. It gives you an extra set of 11 songs, all of which are worth owning.

DOWNLOAD DIFFERENT CLASS HERE

1. Mis-Shapes

2. Pencil Skirt

3. Common People

4. I Spy

5. Disco 2000

6. Live Bed Show

7. Something Changed

8. Sorted For E’s & Wizz

9. F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E.

10. Underwear

11. Monday Morning

12. Bar Italia

Don’t forget to check out my other articles, in case you’ve missed them (which would be an absolute shame, because they’re great and shit).

Tudels,

Peanut

Link up with me here:

Peanut’s Playground: Almost Christmas So Here’s Some Pretty Sounding Stuff, The Arrogant By The Rumour Said Fire

December 22, 2010

By Martin

Photography by fasusu…

It’s the same thing every year. You make your year-end list and always forget to include one or two albums. C’est la vie. It’s just a bit of a shame when you realize that you’ve left out a top 10 candidate just a week after you’ve posted said list.

For me this is the case with:

The Rumour Said Fire – The Arrogant

Let me start of by saying that I know next to nothing about this band. I don’t have a clue where to buy this album either. What I do know is that The Arrogant is another little gem recommended to me by my music mate J, for which I thank her a lot. Again.

So what do they sound like you ask? Well I’m not sure what to compare them to actually. The first thing that pops in my head is what it would sound like when AC Newman would sings Dan Bejar’s songs and vice versa. At times The Rumour Said Fire (who are from Denmark btw) sound like a milder, less intense version of Mumford & Sons, while flashes of a Scandinavian version of Teenage Fanclub also pop up.

It’s upbeat (sounding), light (sounding) and heartfelt (truly). It will warm up your coldest days and light up the darkest moments. Don’t let this one pass you by, because you will regret it as much as I regret not putting it in my Top 10 for 2010.

Visit the band’s MySpace page

1. Sentimentally Falling

2. Comfort To The Dalai Lama

3. Sanctuary

4. The Arrogant

5. Passion

6. Desolation, Mr. Foe

7. Air Force

8. She

9. My Dark Skin

10. By The Shore

Don’t forget to check out my other articles, in case you’ve missed them (which would be an absolute shame, because they’re great and shit).

Tudels,

Peanut

Link up with me here:

Peanut’s Playground: Forgotten Classics – 7. Galactic Cowboys – S/T

December 15, 2010

By Martin

Photography by basistka…

Delving deeper into the vaults I found this here classic album that hasn’t stopped mesmerizing me since it was recommended to me by my friend Nathan somewhere in the beginning of the 90′s. This edition of Peanut Playground’s Forgotten Classics is another one about an album that has yet to be acknowledged for what it is; a classic!

Installment seven is all about:

Galactic Cowboys – S/T (1991)

What do you get when you mix the Beatles with Metallica? Something that in the hands of lesser gods would probably sound like utter crap. Well thank the heavens for the Galactic Cowboys then!

The Texas-based combo called Galactic Cowboys released their self-titled debut in 1991 and it received a shit-load of positive reviews. What it didn’t get though, was actual attention. From anyone. No-one listened to their music back then and almost no-one does today. I happened to be so fortunate that my mate was among the 5 people on Earth that actually did give the band proper attention and pointed me to them, and I was hooked instantly.

The combination of gorgeous multi-vocal melodies, memorable lyrics and LOUD thrashing walls of guitar ticked just about every one of my boxes, and this hasn’t changed over the years. The Galactic Cowboys are just as relevant now as they were back in 1991, and just as deserving of your attention too. Just try ‘em out, you won’t be disappointed.

GET GALACTIC COWBOYS HERE

1. I’m Not Amused

2. My School

3. Why Can’t You Believe In Me

4. Kaptain Krude

5. Someone for Everyone

6. Sea of Tranquility

7. Kill Floor

8. Pump Up the Space Suit

9. Ranch on Mars (Reprise)

10. Speak to Me

Don’t forget to check out my other articles, in case you’ve missed them (which would be an absolute shame, because they’re great and shit).

Tudels,

Peanut

Link up with me here:

Your body is such a wonderland, so Meet Me At Muster Station by PS I Love You!!!

November 11, 2010

By Tsuru

Photography by matmoon…

Busy boy these could o’ days, but it don’t mean we ain’t listenerin’ to the musics!!!! But, being busy DOES mean we may have to make this one quick! It’s a shame too becaues it’s quite the gem. This one come via recommendation by good friend Kyle on the twitters… The deliciously awesome Meet Me At Muster Station by PS I Love You!

A noisy rocker of sorts! Kinda reminds me of Wolf Parade at their noisiest at times, but a heaping helping more distortion added in for flavour crystals! Now, I know what you are thinking, “Noise? Le sigh”. C’mon now, you don’t have to be all Snooty McSnootyPants about noise, you know? All noise means is that you’ll need to turn it up loud. Like really loud. Like to where the noise & distortion & fuzz drown over, not just your ears, but down your neck and all along yer body WHICH, I hear, is a bit like a wonderland.

Photo via hihosylvia…

Mmm… douchy.

So, shut up, turn it up, and rock da fuck out!!!!

DOWNLOAD MEET ME AT MUSTER STATION HERE NOW!!!

Meet Me At The Muster Station
Breadends
2012
CBEZ
Little Spoon
Butterflies & Boners
Scattered
Facelove

Get Over
Meet Me At The Muster Station (Pt. 2)

PS… Some PS I Love You love: Myspace | Label | Official

Cheers,
T…

We’re back and we are listening to Bad Books!!!

November 1, 2010

By Tsuru

Photography of Audrey by me..
Part of my oiseaux rétros de tsurufoto series!

Hello and howdy! Did you miss me? Oooooof course you did! Aw….. tender! Well, after a little break last week to recharge ye ol’ batteries, we are back and queued up with some pretty sweet gemtastical gems of albums to keep our ear canals happy!

It’s going to be an interesting month, to be sure. Oh, first off, happy November to ya! What’s on the docket for the next 30 days? Well, besides featuring wonderful albums, videos, songs, etc, we’ve got our 4th volume of Aaron Loves Meghan in works for our anniversary on November 17th! THEN begins the tallying, analyzing, sorting and coordinating our list for the Most Awesomest Tsururific Albums Of 2010! The goal is to wrap this all up before Baby & I take our next vaca in December when we go to Paris, then come back ready to starting thinking about 2011 (you just know the first 2011 leak is right around the corner)……..

So yeah, gonna be a busy bird this month. What better way to start it all off then by talking about the wonderful little self-titled album by Bad Books!

Okay, the first tag that will probably pop up is psych-pop-rock, with emphasis on the pop-rock as the psych is more because of the distorted bits here, uber-fuzzy sections there, and drug-hazed aesthetics float about like floaters in your eye.

But beyond that, the pop-rock, almost rootsy at times, almost Wilbury-esque at other, and, on occasion, a bit rockin’ is what’s really in control. Catchy bits of lyrics, hooky asides that will randomly pop up — like on “Holding Down The Laughter” when the background singers chime in, you can help but rejoice in it!

My only question about the album is on it’s faith. It seems like I’d notice mentions here and there about god, faith, etc, and I’m not sure if they are actually, you know, christians or if it’s just part of the story-telling. A bit more listenerin’ and a bit more readerin’ up on these guys will clear it up over time, but for now, I’m content to just listen and enjoy!

You should do that too…

DOWNLOAD THE FULL BAD BOOKS ALBUM HERE!!!

1. How This All Ends
2. The Easy Mark & The Old Maid
3. Baby Shoes
4. You’re A Mirror I Cannot Avoid
5. Holding Down The Laughter
6. You Wouldn’t Have To Ask
7. I Begged You Everything
8. Please Move
9. Mesa, AZ
10. Texas

Bad Books love: Myspace | Label

Cheers,
Tsuru

Peanut’s Playground: Forgotten Classics – 6. Caesar – Caesar

October 12, 2010

By Martin

Photography by PollyMass…

Today’s selection is not so much a Forgotten Classic, but rather just Forgotten…

Caesar – Caesar (2003)

Amsterdam’s own Caesar were in one word: amazing! Were? Yes. Were. They no longer exist. But when Caesar were active the world was the better for it (not that more than 500 people realized it). Because they were nothing less than stellar when they existed.

Releasing 4 full albums before there demise, their eponymous fourth was from 2003. The reason I’m writing about it is because I fetched it from the garage last week, ripped it, and fucking loved it! Again. Their particular brand of guitar orientated pop is – in my opinion – the best ever made in the Nether Regions. I must admit, that isn’t that hard since most music that originates from here sucks balls, but still. Caesar were very very good. Easy when they wanted, manic when it was needed. But never ever dull or unoriginal.

Since this album is almost impossible to get a hold off when you’re not from my neck of the woods, I’ve posted a few more songs than usual. Check ‘em out. Be amazed (because you will). And mourn with me about the demise of one of the true unknown bands of heroes.

GET CAESAR HERE

1. Supersonic

2. Stop That Girl

3. El Cat Race

4. In Flames

5. Twist

6. I Know I

7. Dark Matter

8. C.I.A.

9. She Likes My Way

10. The Safeworld

11. Lives Of Mary Lane

12. Please Go On

Don’t forget to check out my other articles, in case you’ve missed them (which would be an absolute shame, because they’re great and shit).

Tudels,

Peanut

Link up with me here:

Peanut’s Playground: What Happens On The Surface And Also Happiness By Hurts

October 6, 2010

By Martin

Photography by TearsOnthePiano…

If you’re looking for substance over form, you’ve come to wrong place. Because this next one…it’s the complete opposite but I still freaking love it!

Hurts – Happiness

This looks to be another release that hasn’t made it to the States yet (if it ever will). And I’m not so sure they would be much of a succes when they do make it over across the pond. But over here, in pop-obsessed Europe they are starting to get a pretty good vibe. In typical fashion the UK, Germany and the whole of Scandinavia have already fallen for them, and rightly so.

Hurts are a two-man synthpop outfit from Manchester. And if you’re anything like me, and by this I mean that you’re a HUGE fan of 80′s synthpop like I am, then you will like Hurts. Hurts sounds like an updated version of bands like O.M.D. and the lighter side of Depeche Mode.

As said, there isn’t much substance here, but who fucking cares if the form is as good as this is. I can guarantee you, more than two listens to this album will have every melody stick in your head for days and will also have you come back to it time after time. It happened to me, even after I first put it aside for being ‘too mwah’. It took a reminder from my music buddy (everyone should have one of those!) to get me to shove it in my iTunes again. Thank you again for that Jeetje, my musical life has become the better for it.

Enough sobbing already! Go check ‘em out. Now!

GET HAPPINESS HERE

1. Silver Linings

2. Wonderful Life

3. Blood, Tears & Gold

4. Sunday

5. Stay

6. Illuminated

7. Evelyn

8. Better Than Love

9. Devotion

10. Unspoken

11. The Water

Don’t forget to check out my other articles, in case you’ve missed them (which would be an absolute shame, because they’re great and shit).

Tudels,

Peanut

Link up with me here:

Peanut’s Playground: Where Love Comes From, Your Loss And Postcards From A Young Man By Manic Street Preachers

September 26, 2010

By Martin

Photography by vampire-zombie…

Today’s selection is a new release. Finally. And it’s a release that all you Yanks and Canucks probably won’t care less about. Your loss. It doesn’t make it any less of an essential release for 2010 whether you care or not.

I do happen to care about:

Manic Street Preachers – Postcards From A Young Man

My love affair with Manic Street Preachers started way back in 1991. I went to some kind of fair with my then girlfriend. On the way to the fair they played Motorcycle Emptiness on the radio and I fell in love with my date right there and then. Not just puppy love, but the head-over-heels-you-will-haunt-my-dreams-for-years-to-come kind of love. I thought about the girl for years after we separated.

Was she that special you might ask? Well…no, she wasn’t but it took me years to figure out that my mental image of her was scored by that one particular song…

So what’s there to say about Postcards From A Young Man, the band’s 10th studio album? Not much if you’re unfamiliar with their back-catalogue, and most of the readers of this website probably are. It boggles my mind that albums from a band as big as the Manic Street Preachers actually need to be specially imported to reach the North American shores. And all because these guys had the guts to be lefties and played a concert for Fidel. As stated above: your loss.

If you do decide to try it, a warning up front is in order. Postcards From A Young Man isn’t anything like last years opus magnum Journal For Plague Lovers. It’s just the album following that one. It’s not a follow-up to it of any kind. Far from it. Where Journal was dark, hard rocking and somewhat alienating (and brilliant!), Postcards is the band’s, and I quote, “last shot at mass communication.” There are lavish orchestral parts all over the place. The melodies are absolutely gorgeous. The ones that only reveal their beauty after several listens. Magical stuff.

I found this album to be extremely addictive, and played it over and over for days on end. That hasn’t happened very often these past years. There is always something new being released pushing older stuff out. But Postcards From A Young Man made it happen.

So yeah, I like it. I like it a lot. If you choose to ignore this band once more I couldn’t care less, but again, it will be your loss…

DOWNLOAD POSTCARDS FROM A YOUNG MAN HERE

1. (It’s Not War) Just The End Of Love

2. Postcards From A Young Man

3. Some Kind Of Nothingness

4. The Descent – (Pages 1 & 2)

5. Hazleton Avenue

6. Auto-Intoxication

7. Golden Platitudes

8. I Think I’ve Found It

9. A Billion Balconies Facing The Sun

10. All We Make Is Entertainment

11. The Future Has Been Here 4 Ever

12. Don’t Be Evil

Don’t forget to check out my other articles, in case you’ve missed them (which would be an absolute shame, because they’re great and shit).

Tudels,

Peanut

Link up with me here:

Peanut’s Playground: Forgotten Classics – 5. Girls Against Boys – House Of GVSB

September 23, 2010

By Martin

Photography by gimmesympathy…

I really really tried very hard to get excited. Not in a sexual way of course (because everyone knows that ain’t a problem *wagga wagga*), but in a musical way. But still no luck in that department. I do have some new stuff in my iTunes worth blabbing about, but well, you know, it ain’t working out for me.

So it’s time for episode number 5 in my series of old crap in new jackets, also known as Peanut’s Forgotten Classics!

Girls Against Boys – House Of GVSB (1996)

‘Drone rock’. What the fuck is ‘drone rock’?? Apparently it’s the music Girls Against Boys used to make. Doesn’t mean much to me though, ‘drone rock’. I’d rather refer to them as bass-driven kick ass post-punk rock fuckers. Somehow that makes much more sense to me than ‘drone rock’ does.

House Of GVSB, the band’s 4th album, was released in 1996 and was their last on the indepent Touch & Go label before moving on to Geffen. The album holds everything that made this band unique. Double bass, ferocious rhythms, freaky synths, fuzzy guitars and completely inexcplicable lyrics. And with completely inexplicable, I mean COMPLETELY!

“When you got
nothing in the lemon
spiders on your ceiling
nothing satisfies

X-Head is X-Vibe
In dust we trust

When your ass
is in the fire
is it coming at ya live?
from all sides
can you decide?

X-Head is X-Vibe
In dust we trust
Super-fire”

Oh really Scott McCloud? Is that so? “X-Head is X-Vibe, In Dust We Trust”? Uhhuh, suuuuure….

Anyway I’ve wasted enough of ol’ Tsuru’s prepaid bytes already. Go and listen to an amazing album, that’s been in my all-time top 10 list for 14 years now, and see what you’ve missed out on way back in 1996.

DOWNLOAD HOUSE OF GVSB HERE

1. Super-Fire

2. Click Click

3. Crash 17 (X-Rated Car)

4. Disco Six Six Six

5. Life In Pink

6. TheKindaMzkYouLike

7. Vera Cruz

8. AnotherDroneInMyHead

9. Cash Machine

10. Wilmington

11. Zodiac Love Team

Don’t forget to check out my other articles, in case you’ve missed them (which would be an absolute shame, because they’re great and shit).

Tudels,

Peanut

Link up with me here:

I got my mop ready, it’s Burst by The Pass!!!

September 14, 2010

By Tsuru

Photography by klairy…

Well oh well oh well, this is a long time coming, it seems, but here we are, Septemberonis two-thousand and tens and we finally have the long hyped, long bloggerined, long We Listen For You obsessed album by The Pass called Burst.

I kinda feel like they’ve been part of our collective blog consciousness for the entire span of this blogs life, between the EP singles, the videos, more videos, and I think another video, more singles, and now the album, proving my theory once and once again…. I would not want to be in a band. It’s exhausting just being on the receiving in of hype-maintenance — coincidentally, the name of my new mp3 blog aggregator “Hype Maintenance: So many blogs, someone’s got push the jizz mop.

*NOTE: To all you internet kids out there, a jizz mop was the mop at this ancient and extinct place called “an adult theater” that the janitor used to use to, uh, clean up after the sceezy patrons. Eventually, they were replaced by a piece of Kleenex and an internet connection… WHICH, for all you environmentally aware “green” peeps who are watching Jesus’s footprints in the carbon sand, saves on gasoline!

*NOTE ON THE NOTE: Really, does anybody really rent “adult movies” from the back room anymore?

Anywhozaldoozals, today we aren’t hear to talk about jizz mops, believe it or not, nope we are here to discuss Burst by The Pass — but now that we have talk about jizz mops, the word “burst” takes on a whole new meaning, eh?

So………… How is the album? I’ve got three words for you: Eff You In!

For those not able to follow along, FUN!!!! Like, super fun! Like really super fun — there, three words again, jeez!! Electro-pop shake your booty good times. I know what you are thinking, “electropop” & “dance”, really T? Does it have the legs to stand the test of time? Who cares! Just turn it on, turn it up, shake your ass, maybe grind up a smidgen to the unfortunate soul standing nearest you.

Just don’t forget the jizz mop.

REMINDER: FOUR MORE DAYS TO ENTER OUR FAN-SIGN CONTEST! WIN MONEY!

01. Treatment of the Sun