Feature Album Review - The Dresden Dolls; No, Virginia

Boston based musical duo, The Dresden Dolls have been together 7 years, 3 albums, 7 singles, 2 DVDs and countless live performances.

This year sees the release of their fourth full length effort, No, Virginia (out now through Roadrunner records), which is actually a collection of unreleased tracks and B-sides from the Yes, Virginia sessions from their sophomore album of the same name.

The Dresden Dolls sound is usually labelled as being ‘Punk Cabaret’ a title invented by member, Amanda Palmer due to a fear that the press would refer to them as ‘gothic’. In actuality, ‘Punk Cabaret’ is quite a fitting title but one that doesn’t really lend itself to a full explanation of what to expect from their distinctive and overtly unique sound.

I myself am not a fan of ‘The Dolls music. It’s all a little too avant-garde and pretentious for my liking. It’s almost as if they’re trying so hard to be quirky and memorable that they’ve forgotten they’re meant to be making music worth listening to.

The tracks I find the most tolerable include, ‘The Mouse And The Model’, ‘The Gardener’ and ‘The Kill’.

There’s just something about Palmer’s voice that rubs me the wrong way. I can’t quite pinpoint what it is. All I know is after an entire album of her somewhat husky garbling I’m well on my way to needing a large glass of whatever’s on tap.

Don’t take my word for it though. There’s every chance I’m part of the minority that just ‘doesn’t get’ what The Dresden Dolls specific brand of genius is all about. If you’re yet to hear them by all means give No, Virginia a spin. To each their own, after all.

Kyle n Kieren (aka me n Teegs...)

frYars is lovely

I seriously can't stop listening to The Ides EP, it's incredible.

If you've yet to hear the genius that is frYars then check him out here on his myspace.

Feature Album Review - Snowman; The Horse, The Rat and The Swan

It was two years ago now that Perth based indie four piece, Snowman infected our airwaves and CD players with their self titled debut full length release. Their quirky, disjointed and often confusing sound has understandably been the source of much interest.

Snowman are set to release their sophomore record, The Horse, The Rat And The Swan on the 24th of this month, through Remote Control Records.

The album as a whole is a fast paced, highly energetic trip into a nearly unidentifiable world. If you’re into convention then Snowman probably aren’t the band you’ve been waiting for.

The standout tracks include ‘We Are The Plague’, ‘The Gods Of The Upper House’, ‘She is Turning Into You’ and Daniel Was a Timebomb’. The last of which has a distinctively punk-esque edge to it. I’m not talking the pale imitation ’pop-punk’ that we hear so much of these days but the kind worth your time - early Clash/Sex Pistols/Buzzcocks type punk.

In general The Horse, The Rat And The Swan is not my kind of album. At least not the kind I can picture myself feeling the need to listen to on a regular basis but despite that I still find myself quite intrigued by the whole production.

There is something oddly engaging about a record that has the ability to create a sort of noise opera from the very depths of their songs. Snowman defy normality and embrace originality. Definitely a band you’ve got to hear to understand

Injustice for all...

The following has to be one of the most shocking, embarassing and shameful [for Australian Immigration anyway] stories I've heard of late and it's even worse when you consider this isn't an isolated incident.



Daighila are a hardcore/punk band from Malaysia and came to Australia to do a brief East Coast tour late last month, but upon entering the country ended up being interrogated for several hours and then placed in a detention centre for another 24. In a statement to fans on their blog they explain that:

"...They 'assumed' that we came to find jobs and become illegal workers. Despite the lack of proof to convict us and the fact that we've already booked a ticket back from Brisbane, they insisted that we allegedly came to find jobs like the other groups of Malaysians who were detained prior before we arrived. We also presented proofs that we have stable lives in Malaysia. But it was all ignored..."

The band were sent back to Malaysia without any reinbursment or refund for their already purchased return tickets and each member copped a massive fine. It's sad that this happens in the "lucky" country, especially because the band worked really hard to come out here. They weren't going to make any money off their shows, they were doing it for their love of music and the connection they've made with people through their music [whether you like the genre or not].

Sad indeed...

Albert Hammond Jr shows ass, hipsters aroused

NSFW

the start of the obsession?...probs not.

HOMECOMING!

Amazing
Incredible
rate flank0w
whatever, I had a good time.
Heaps of pics on flickr

Here's a few...

*sighs*

There are many gigs I wish I could have attended in the history of ever but the most recent was the Love Music Hate Racism concert in Victoria Park, London on the 27th of April.

The reason for this is the random 'Supergroup' that was formed which included -

Fionn Regan
Kyle Falconer (the View)
Kieren Webster (The View)
Edward Larrikin (The Pan I Am)
Andy Nicholson (ex Arctic Monkeys)
Drew McConnell (Babyshambles)
Mick Whitnall (Babyshambles)
Jon McClure (Reverend and the Makers)

OH EM GEE!!!!!

I think I would have passed out!!!!

yes, alex...

ATTENTION!!!!

Six piece experimental indie outfit, The Seabellies are fast becoming one of the most fresh, exciting and talked about bands to come out of Newcastle in a long while. Their memorable live act and quirkily addictive songs set them apart from most other bands on the scene at the moment.

In a short space of time The Seabellies have managed to create quite a name for themselves. Participating in a high profile tour with indie darlings Dappled Cities and Bluejuice, winning ‘Artist of the Year’ at the Newcastle ABC awards and securing slots at both Essential Festival and Come Together.

On top of that they have just released their first single ‘Heart Heart Heart Out’ through itunes, which is currently in high rotation at 106.9 Tune!fm.

The Bellies will be touring nationally this month including a stop off in Armidale where they will be headlining ‘Homecoming’, the much anticipated indie club night which will be held at the UNE Bistro this Thursday the 8th of May.

Tickets are only $5 and you’re guarantied a night the likes of which have not been seen in this town for far too long a time. So if you’re sick of going out, only to find you have no choice but to deal with top 40 clichés and monotonous hip hop tracks then ‘Homecoming’ was designed for you.

As well as the fantastic Seabellies they’ll be a host of fantastic DJ’s playing a range of great tunes. So if you’re over 18 and are looking for something a little different and a lot of fun then make sure to head down to The Stro this Thursday. The Seabellies are well worth checking out.

RiotBecki! and Rozay! leave! Exclamation points are used excessively!

The new Pipettes are Ani and Anna. I, personally, hope they work their way through the whole alphabet, only ever replacing when they have found two girls whose name start with the same letter. Shutup, it would be awesome.