june playlist

the music played on saturday night in nice n sleazys is as follows:

1. wild beasts - loop the loop
2. solange - stillness is the move
3. over the wall - shifts
4. gil scott heron - the revolution will not be televised
5. foster the people - pumped up kicks
6. okkervil river - wake and be fine
7. teenage fanclub - about you
8. television - see no evil
9. joe jackson - happy loving couples
10. elvis costello - pump it up
11. men at work - down under
12. architecture in helsinki - contact high
13. future islands - before the bridge
14. caribou - odessa
15. tv on the radio - caffeineated consciousness
16. the beastie boys - so whatcha want
17. the strokes - machu pichu
18. devo - peeakboo
19. bill butler - right track
20. the velvettes - needle in a haystack
21. lucky soul - white russian doll
22. the primitives - crash
23. the b-52s - 6060-842
24. lush - single girl
25. eux autres - salut les copains
26. buzzocks - why can't i touch it?
27. roxy music - angel eyes
28. belle and sebastian - come on sister
29. the lemonheads - if i could talk i'd tell you
30. elvis - burning love
31. janis and her boyfriends - bang bang
32. ersel hickey - you never can tell
33. outkast - ms jackson
34. janelle monae -cold war
35. tune-yards - bizness
36. jackson 5 - i want you back
37. toots and the maytals - broadway jungle
38. jimmy cliff - the harder they come
39. the velvet underground - what goes on?
40. associates - that first impression
41. prefab sprout - faron young
42. modern lovers - i wanna sleep in your arms
43. felt - the day the rain came down
44. depeche mode - i just can't get enough
45. patti smith - rock n roll nigger
46. idlewild - roseability
47. kenny rogers and the first edition - just dropped in
48. bruce springsteen - badlands
49. fleetwood mac - go your own way
50. charles and eddie - would i lie to you?
51. andrew wk - i love new york city
52. dananananaykroyd - muscle memory
53. r kelly - ignition (remix)
54. david bowie - sound and vision
55. peter gabriel - sledgehammer
56. prince - when doves cry
57. dead kennedys - too drunk to fuck
58. abba - lay all your love on me
59. blondie - call me
60. magnetic fields - california girls
61. sam and dave - can't you find another way
62. the supremes - you can't hurry love
63. pavement - gold soundz
64. paul simon - you can call me al
65. spin doctors - two princes
66. ivor cutler - badabadabada

r.i.p. clarence

COME TO THIS TONIGHT IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU

pains of being pure at heart @ the arches,

Last time Wake the President supported Pains of Being Pure at Heart in Glasgow, the former’s debut was only a few months old; two years later, it’s time to showcase its forthcoming successor. On tonight’s evidence, the band has corn-fed existing strengths and added moxie, rousing Potus not with a gentle nudge but an almighty clatter.

The headliners have already taken the sophomore album plunge, and the unfolding performance confirms they’ve successfully sidestepped any would-be slump. Nothing lifted from Belong jars when set against Young Adult Friction et al, but the newer material nonetheless carries a distinct charge: brighter, bolder and evidencing sharpened song-writing skills. Beneath surface noise they wring fresh excitement from decades-old inspirations, with the likes of Heavens Gonna Happen Now a nigh-perfect refinement of their talents.

Closing the main set with This Love Is Fucking Right, they re-emerge almost immediately to append one final slice of textbook indie-pop and invite the Arches for a post-set White Russian or two. There’s no attempt at any pre-encore ‘will they/won’t they come back on’ nonsense – a lack of pretence neatly indicative of their unfussy aesthetic more broadly.

MEN @ nice n sleazy, 9th june

Last year, Michael O’Neill discussed MEN’s live aspirations. "We believe a live show should be much more than playing songs on a record," he declared, promising "multi-media, mostly in the form of visual sculptural elements." Presumably plans changed en route to Glasgow; a cardboard house-hat and natty homemade threads aside, tonight’s entertainment is firmly conventional.

With support acts AWOL and the room half full, spectacle might have helped spark the evening into life a little more promptly, though with hooks galore, it’s only a matter of time before limbs loosen. A midway Who Am I To Feel So Free feels like the turning point, with Credit Card Babies building the momentum and being duly rewarded with copious shape-throwing. JD Samson and co close with a cover of Bikini Kill’s Double Dare Ya – a respectful nod to fellow Le Tigre member Kathleen Hanna which unfortunately highlights this evening’s comparative lacklustre.

over the wall @ nice n sleazy, 3rd june

It’s day 78 of Over the Wall’s ‘Around the Isles in 80 Days’ tour, and there’s a suitably congratulatory atmosphere building. John Knox Sex Club open tonight’s homecoming in fine fettle: Sean Cumming’s patter is equal parts hellfire-evangelist, bothy-residing bard, and electrifying beat philosopher, and just when their brooding demeanour threatens to become overly serious, he ventures forth to distribute hugs – casting the devil out but putting a little love in its place.

Over the Wall take to the stage to boos, geniality temporarily suppressed thanks to an introduction from Richard Todd, whose dubious potted history of the band’s adventures to date includes the tragic tale of a spatula-headed boy’s cruel dismissal at the hands of Gav and Ben. But the negative vibes are in jest: Shifts disperses the mock-jeers and we’re off, through spiffing mini-epic A History of British Welfarism 1945-1984, all the way to consummate closer Thurso. As chants of ‘ONE! MORE! TUNE!’ morph into ‘KEY. BOARD! HEAVEN!’, the duo reappear to give the people what they want. “We’re having an Arab Spring right here!” declares Gav, as their ode to deceased Casios concludes the evening’s journey victoriously.

james blake @ oran mor, 2nd june

Here's a wee live review written for the skinny...

Unluck opens tonight’s headline set with such bold, crisp precision it instantly silences the room. The same courtesy wasn’t extended to touring support Cloud Boat (**) earlier in the evening, the crowd’s chatty disinterest likely a combination of unfamiliarity (the duo are yet to press their first wax); flat and quiet sound; and a lack of diversity, with every song built to roughly the same spec.

No such hurdles beset James Blake: any fans lost by his album’s stylistic about-face have been replaced several times over; the volume’s been whacked up a couple of notches at least; while his aesthetic range mocks any lingering attempts to fix him exclusively to dubstep’s canon. He’s Autotuney and the Johnsons on Give Me My Month’s simple piano ballad; a male Deradoorian when looping Never Learned to Share’s poignant refrain on multiple vocal registers; and a cyber-soul Bon Iver on Lindisfarne’s austere highlight. His heartfelt sci-fi gospel (Blake’s Heaven?) clicks and pulses beautifully throughout, culminating in Limit To Your Love (superior in its bassy live rendering than on record) and The Wilhelm Scream’s immersive synth wash. If a (second?) backlash is due, count me out.

party hard

In lieu of the usual blurb, we’d like to prepare you for bottle rocket’s 35th edition with some extracts from the musings of Mr Andrew Wilkes-Krier,* a man whose dedication to partying has proven a steady source of inspiration at bottle rocket HQ.

AndrewWK, 10 hours ago: DON’T FORGET TO PARTY.

Oh, we won’t Andrew – in fact, we have one scheduled for Saturday 18th June!

AndrewWK, 15 hours ago: PARTY TIP: LET’S DIRECT ALL ANGER, FRUSTRATION AND NEGATIVITY INTO PARTYING. TURN BAD INTO GOOD.

Well, in these grim economic times, that sure is good advice Andrew, thanks! Here’s another tip: arrive before 11pm and you’ll pay nada; arrive after and it’s a mere £3 entry.

AndrewWK, 18 May: IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START PARTYING, AND IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO STOP.

Actually, Andrew, that’s not strictly true – our hours are 11:30pm to 3:00am.

AndrewWk, 10 May: WHOEVER PLAYS ANDREW WK ON THE JUKEBOX DESERVES 100 HIGH FIVES.

Sure, but let’s break it up a bit: we’ll play all sorts of pop, rock n roll, indie, soul, new wave etcetera etcetera etcetera. Think: The Isley Brothers, Pulp, Bruce Springsteen, MEN, Danananaykroyd, Fleetwood Mac, The Go! Team, Heavenly and Bowie. If you’ve any requests to add to the list, stick them on the facebook page!

Bottle rocket!
Nice n sleazy!
11:30pm-3:00am!
£3 or free before 11pm!
x


* well, his tweets – incidentally, follow us @BottleRocketGla – we’re lovely.

june skinny is all over the place

As well as Battles chatter, there are interviews with Sons and Daughters and Ladytron, plus some things written by yours truly, like:

- damon & naomi @ captains rest live review (read here!)
- 'stranger than fiction' EIFF documentary strand preview (read here!)
- patrick wolf - lupercalia album review (read here!)
- jacob yates and the pearly gates lock pickers - luck album review (read here!)
- white denim - d album review (read here!)
- chad vangaalen - diaper island album review (read here!)
- armadillo dvd review (read here!)

may playlist!

we checked in with our may replacements who revealed the pop smash jamboree they treated sleazys to in our absence. It's rather good, no?

1. Twilight Singers - Teenage Wristband
2. The Go-Betweens - That's the Right Word
3. Surfer Blood - Swim
4. The Associates - The Affectionate Punch
5. The Meters - Cissy Strut
6. Blues Explosion - Hot Gossip
7. Fucked Up - Queen of Hearts
8. AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
9. Arab Strap - Don't Ask Me to Dance
10. New York Dolls - Trash
11. Sons and Daughters - Dance Me In
12. The Clash - Tommy Gun
13. The Smiths - The Queen is Dead
14. Radio Dept. - The Where Damage Isn't Already Done
15. Brenda Lee - Here Comes That Feeling
16. The Beatles - Taxman
17. Pixies - Debaser
18. Blur - Tracy Jack
19. R.E.M. - Driver 8
20. Jackie Wilson - Reed Petite
21. The Rolling Stones - Street Fighting Man
22. Camera Obscura - French Navy
23. Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
24. The Byrds - I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better
25. The Police - Roxanne
26. Talk Talk - It's My Life
27. Best Coast - Boyfriend
28. Bruce Springsteen - Badlands
29. The Rolling Stones - Monkey Man
30. Michael Jackson - Beat It
31. Creedence Clearwater Revival - I Heard It Through the Grapevine
32. David Bowie - Rebel, Rebel
33. Martha and the Vandellas - (Love Is Like A) Heatwave
34. Queens of the Stone Age - Go with the Flow
35. Stevie Nicks - Edge of Seventeen
36. Sons and Daughters - Johnny Cash
37. Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the Dark
38. Roy Orbison - Drove All Night
39. The Breeders - Cannonball
40. Blondie - Heart of Glass
41. LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends
42. MGMT - Kids
43. Arcade Fire - Neighbouhood #3 (Power Out)
44. Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me)
45. Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
46. The Strokes - Someday
47. Del Shannon - Runaway
48. Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
49. The Rolling Stones - Tumbling Dice
50. Ash - Girl From Mars
51. The Bluetones - Slight Return

dvd review: armadillo

Armadillo’s approach to the on-going war in Afghanistan is nominally non-political, but the film was nonetheless the subject of much debate in Denmark –from the press to parliament – due to the contentious actions of its subjects, the young soldiers of the titular Helmand base. Armadillo possesses the momentum of a tightly-scripted fiction; in keeping with the Chekhovian dictum that a gun shown in act 1 should later be fired, an early briefing regarding the ‘rules of engagement’ portends their subsequent (apparent) violation. This narrative economy, coupled with Lars Skree’s stylised cinematography, makes it easy to forget the genuine risks taken, but it does permit an expressionistic edge atypical of observational documentaries, producing one of the most potent edits of the War on Terror’s onscreen depictions to date: as an off-duty soldier ‘relaxes’ with a first-person shooter, the image cuts from his avatar lobbing a grenade to a real-life explosion, a bravura condensation of one of modern warfare’s most unsettling traits.

Out 13th June

EIFF 2011: Stranger Than Fiction

The Edinburgh Film Festival is just over a fortnight away. Here's a wee preview article I wrote about its selection of documentaries for this month's issue of The Skinny:

With the 2011 Sheffield Doc/Fest shifted from November to June, Edinburgh found itself in potential competition for titles this year, prompting a partnership which will “give documentary filmmakers greater access to industry and audiences,” whilst easing “the sometimes difficult process of selecting one festival over another.” And what’s good for documentarians is evidently good for festival-goers, with a strong selection of joint premieres, including: Hell and Back Again, which details a US Marine’s experiences both at war and at home; Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye’s portrait of Genesis P-Orridge’s explorations in gender identity; and Project Nim, James Marsh’s first documentary since the Oscar-winning Man on Wire. Fresh from a triumphant opening night showing at Sundance, it presents an unorthodox biopic of the splendidly-named Nim Chimpsky, the ape at the centre of experiments in communication at Columbia University in the 1970s; think the forthcoming Rise of the Planet of the Apes but with apocalyptic malice replaced by unexpected insights into the human condition.

Elsewhere in Edinburgh’s twin documentary strands, there’s Burning Ice, in which Jarvis Cocker, Martha Wainwright and famous friends witness the first-hand effects of climate change and sing some songs; Bobby Fischer Against the World’s study of the troubled chess prodigy; and warnings of impending doom in Countdown to Zero, Lucy Walker’s stark examination of the potential for global Armageddon due to too many nuclear weapons and not enough oversight – a warning supported by interviews with Pervez Musharraf and Jimmy Carter amongst others. Finally, terrifying in a somewhat more surreal way, Convento boasts one of the most arrestingly peculiar pitches in this year’s brochure: “a dreamlike documentary about an unusual family of artists who live in an old monastery with their robo-beast creations,” proving that life, as the cliché goes, really can be stranger than fiction.

see edfilmfest.org.uk for the full brochure.

reviews: black lips, patrick wolf, night noise team

Black Lips - Arabia Mountain (****)

For a band prone to misinterpreting the spirit of rock and roll (examples abound online – being jerks isn’t the same as being rock stars, guys), Black Lips have no struggle nailing its sound. Asking Mark Ronson to produce your album isn’t very rock ‘n’ roll either, but it is, it transpires, inspired, with the chart-Midas a surprisingly subtle presence.

The quartet echo honky-tonk Stones on Dumpster Dive, The Ramones on Raw Meat and The Sonics on Time, confirming their continued indebtedness to figure-head influences, and while there’s zero progress to speak of, that’s OK. Arabia Mountain is more of the same in the way that every ten pound note is the same: its similarity to the last doesn’t prevent it being gratefully received, valued for what it provides. In the case of Arabia Mountain, the return is sixteen smiles; in the case of the tenner – if spent wisely – Arabia Mountain.

Out 6th June

Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia (***)

What’s in a name? In the case of Patrick Wolf’s fifth record, quite a lot. The Bachelor disappointed, its harsher edge simultaneously alienating both those faithful to his earliest releases, and newer fans enamoured by the upbeat pop of The Magic Position. It started life as a double album, and after splitting the material, Wolf announced part two - The Conqueror – would soon follow. But the sister release never materialised, instead reconfigured as Lupercalia – named after a Roman festival but with clear etymological ties to debut Lycanthropy. And, as the rechristening suggests, any trace of his belligerent cyber-goth phase is dissipated, with new single The City effectively demonstrating a ruling dynamic of simple melodies rendered in unashamedly anthemic fashion. This isn’t an attention-grabbing reinvention, but a natural step forward, and while it won’t please those still pining after another Wind in the Wires, it’s got class to spare.

Out 20th June

Night Noise Team - Slow Release (**)

Night Noise Team launch Slow Release with real gusto, singer Sean Ormsby promising that they’ve “got something for you” on opener The Gift. Thirty-six minutes later and you may well be looking for the receipt, as the Edinburgh quartet try a variety of styles but fail to fully nail any of them. All Brutal Common Sense stands out thanks to its comparatively light touch, refreshing amidst the portentousness of Burning or the over-eager Franz-lifting You Won. But it can’t heave Slow Release out of the doldrums alone; elsewhere, Doors Are Closed sews a decent chorus to a dog’s dinner of a verse; early single Menolick proves it hasn’t aged well; while Drifting is as aimless as its title suggests. Most worryingly, a fifty-three second, stripped-down reprise of 2008’s Rideau constitutes one of the album's few remaining highlights, suggesting that, to these ears, Night Noise Team are trending in the wrong direction.

Out 20 June