Sunday, December 31, 2006

365 days in one 'lil post....

Lists lists lists.....

Top Ten Albums of 2006

1. Cat Power - The Greatest
2. Bonnie Prince Billy - The Letting Go
3. TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
4. Charlotte Gainsbourg - 5:55
5. Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat
6. Fujiya Miyagi - Transparent Things
7. CSS - CSS
8. The Roots - Game Theory
9. Hot Chip - The Warning
10. Ghostface Killah - Fishscale

Top 5 Gigs of 2006
1. Seu Jorge @ Koko
2. Radiohead @ Hammersmith Apollo
3. Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins @ Shepherds Bush
4. CSS @ 93 Feet East
5. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals @ Shepherds Bush

Top 10 'record bag staples' of 2006

1. The Futureheads - Worry About It Later (Switch remix)
2. Peter Bjorn & John - Young Folks (Beyond The Wizards Sleeve remix)
3. Plan B & Epic Man - More Is Enough
4. TV On The Radio - Wolf Like Me
5. Simain Mobile Disco - Hustler
6. Hot Chip - Over And Over
7. Peaches - Downtown (Simian Mobile Disco mix)
8. CSS - Let's Make Love and Listen To Death From Above
9. Cassius - Jack Rock
10. Tie: Joe Jackson - Steppin' Out/Bonnie Tyler Total Eclipse Of The Heart (always, always, always!)

See y'all in '07. Have a great NYE!

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Alan Yentob blogs? More than me?

ZZZZZZZZZZZZ....what? December already? As you may be aware, Major Leaguer has been pretty quiet lately due to:

* my broken puter
* crazy busy work schedules
* X-mas and all it entails
* playing records on a semi-regular basis
* getting tipsy on a regular basis
* immmersing myself in all cricket related matters (Ashes to Ashes...)

So apologies to you, the few regular readers who have been seeing the same damn posts for the last 3 months. 2007? I swear kids, I'll shape up (or ship out). Maybe.

To make up for this slack bloggery (is that even a word?), I'll post the usual best of the year lists in the next week or so, and any other general pieces of niceness that have caught my eye in recent times. Like getting kissed by Petula Clark on my birthday!

* So, like, my favourite hussies at Mindie have made some noise about yours truly on their brand spanking new website (which was launched in style at 93 Feet East a few weekends ago. I may have been spotted playing records, or drinking their stash of Rolling Rock dry. Or both). It's totally awesome, bitchin', and gnarly. Check out the slanderous lies here! Oh, and the rest of the site is mighty schmick too. 'Brap brap', as those Mindie kids say.

* The very fine clubbing institution known as Trash is coming to an end. Say it ain't so Erol!

* World Domination? Yeah. Y Not? Yes, it's bad grammar, but it's also a new night kickstarted by the lovely Nicole Popscene and some guy called Euan. The first Y Not World Domination? will take place at The Oakford Social Club in Reading (sister boozer to the ace Lock Tavern) on December 30th. Or, New Years Eve Eve! More info when it comes to hand.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Records, and the playing of them / Something Secret

Just a quick post to say that I'll be playing records at the 1-2-3-4 Records night this Thursday 14th September at The Old Blue Last pub in Shoreditch (the label that brought you Whitey amongst others).

All these people will be lurking about too (some even playing music on instruments...crazy!)

GLUE
THE IDLE LOVERS
THE SVENGALIS
DOT AND THE DASHED

Plus DJS: SEAN MCLUSKY / PERCY PARKER / CAZALS JUKEBOX / GOODY TWO SHOES / BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR/ THE WHOREMONES

It's free too, so if you're in the area of the 'Ditch, come along and say 'hej'!

Otherwise, you'll find me at Keston Lodge in Islington the following night (ah, Friday if I remember the days of the week correctly) playing even more records, possibly in a drunker fashion. Other highlights of this day will include...ahem...


1) Meeting David Hasselhoff. Oh yeah.
2) Seeing everyone's lovable moody Irishman Dylan Moran perform at Hammersmith Apollo.
3) Sleeping in.

Imagine Lou Reed singing over images of Ewan MacGregor in a scrubby squat and you're almost there (except without the Trainspotting visuals. No, I'm only high on life....and occasionally CD marker pen fumes)

* October 6th. Keep it free. Pleasure Unit. Bethnal Green. Something Secret. Got it? More info in the next few days.....these guys will be there. Will you?

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Charlotte Gainsbourg / 'Watch out Hoges'


* Air + Cocker and Hannon + Godrich + Campbell + daughter of Serge = Possibly the pop album of the year. 5:55 is loveliness indeed. Francophiles need look no further for their next hit of pure Gallic bliss.

* A quick shout out to Lee and the gang for inviting me to play rekkkids at their End Of Summer bash at City Golf last week. Twas a pleasure fer shure. Anyone want to play FFR Pokemon? (Mr Metcalfe, I'm looking at you)

* Stereo goodness below. A mixed bag really this week, especially since Dylan's 'Nettie Moore' isn't exactly a rump shaker. Unless hearing Mr Zimmerman sing of sweet love makes you wanna 'zoom zoom zoom and a boom boom' (Trivial Pop Fact: This contained one of Pharrell's first recorded verses)

Scissor Sisters - I Don't Feel Like Dancing (Erol Alkan's Carnival Of Light Remix)
Justin Timberlake feat T.I. - My Love
The Rapture - Don Gon' Do It
Beyonce - Freakum Dress
Kelis - Fuck Them Bitches
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Cheated Hearts (Peaches Remix)
The Roots - Living In A New World
Pulp - Cocaine Socialism
The Dears - I Fell Deep
Charlotte Gainsbourg - Everything I Cannot See
New Young Pony Club - Get Dancey
J Dilla feat. Pharoahe Monch - Love
Bob Dylan - Nettie Moore
Damn Arms - Test Pattern (Darlin and Belgium remix)

* Speaking of Damn Arms, they've been on the road back home in Oz supporting electro-rock compadres Midnight Juggernauts whilst taking a break from recording their debut album. Rumour has it they might even be back in the UK before Christmas as well. Yeeee-ah.

* It seems half of London's indie community were crammed into 93 Feet East last night for CSS's 'oh-so-sexy-if-initially-beset-by-sound-problems' UK debut performance. If you missed out then I'd urge you to try and wrangle a ticket for this Sunday's sold-out gig at Dingwalls alongside fellow highly touted youngsters The 1990s, because these Brazilians won't be playing small venues like 93 for much longer. Oh, and did anyone manage to get one of Lovefox's mangoes? (no gutter humour intended)

* Finally, why are all the larrikin Australians suddenly heading upstairs to talk to the bloke/sheila at the pearly gates? First Steve Irwin, now Peter Brock. As my friend Tristan said, 'Paul Hogan must be shitting himself'. RIP Brockie.

Monday, August 28, 2006

Review: The Roots - Game Theory


The Roots - Game Theory (Def Jam)

It's a dark, dark world where The Roots reside right now, but that doesn't mean there's no light at all. Album number eight for the Illadelph crew sees their first outing for Def Jam, a worthy home for a band many consider to be true to the essence of hip hop (ie. The music comes first, the beats are tight, and the less bling the better). Many fans were skeptical of what would happen to the band, one of the first signings for the label's new president, CEO, and all-around head Hovito, Jay-Z. Would the band succumb to the pressure brought on by the greater exposure Def Jam would bring? Cave-in and dilute their essence with a slew of big-name cameos ('Come on down Snoop, Kanye, Pharrell, the water's fine!')? Retreat into their shells and bring out 79 minutes of drawn out jams that make Phrenology's 'Water' tame by comparison? One of these paths might just have been taken by a band who have never really broken into the big leagues; that is, if Hurricane Katrina hadn't torn through New Orleans last year, and changed the game completely.

Bristled by the lack of an immediate response shown by the Bush government, and the issues raised in Katrina's aftermath (such as the racial divide in New Orleans, assitance in Iraq vs assistance at home, and healthcare prior to, and especially after, Katrina's impact to name just a few), the gestation of Game Theory suddenly became more clouded. Indeed, no one would have expected a Def Jam debut to be this dark. Or that the mood created by Katrina, the US military's involvement in Iraq, and the general air of unease in the US over the last few years has prompted the band to make their most cohesive, if not best, album to date.

While there's no single track that will garner heavy rotation on MTV ('The Seed 2.0'), no killer 'group jam' (the J Dilla tribute 'Can't Stop This', while touching, is too long and drawn out to demand the listener reach for the repeat button), or no hold-the-phones cameos (nope, Hov thankfully didn't get a guest spot), what Game Theory has in spades is a strong flow that warrants listening from start to finish. Indeed, the aforementioned 'Can't Stop This' is really the only average moment here, and even then it still succeeds in ensuring Dilla's legacy won't easily be forgotten, the track built on one of the rough gems that came from the Detroit native's Donuts LP (released earlier in 2006 just days before his death).

The brooding one-two of 'False Media' and the title track show that this ain't no block party. Black Thought is often unfairly overlooked when it comes to discussions over rap's great MCs, but on Game Theory it's the tension surrounding affairs that really brings the best out of Tariq Trotter. On the booming, brooding 'All In The Music', featuring a welcome return spot from prodigal son Malik B, Thought paints a vivid picture of the darker side of the streets ('They say the city make a dark impression, the youth just lost, and they want direction, but they don't get the police, they get protection, and walk around with heat like Charlton Heston'). 'Long Time', backed by a backdrop of strings and Motown harmonies, sees Thought delve into personal memories of family struggles and survival, 'making something out of nothing, because everybody 50 cent away from a quarter though where I come from'. It's stirring stuff, easily the album's highpoint, and one of the band's best recorded moments.

Elsewhere 'Here I Come' sounds like the perfect backdrop music for a good ol' fashioned car chase, 'Clock With No Hands' is a slow jam made all the sweeter by the presence of Mercedes Martinez from the Jazzyfatnastees, while 'Atonement' (complete with a sample from Radiohead's 'You And Whose Army') ensures that the mood of Game Theory's final minutes is one of reflection.

So where does leave Philly's finest? Well, given the air surrounding much of Game Theory's subject matter, don't expect this to be the unit-shifter the band deserves. The promotional budget weilded by their new label will help expose them to a much wider audience, and initial press reviews have been more than favourable (although critics have usually been kind to The Roots). What Game Theory does indicate is that eight albums into their career, The Roots may have succeded in their fulfilling the inital request made to them by President Carter before signing on the dotted line - 'I want the real Roots album'. Well, Jigga, you got your wish.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

I knew it!

You Are A: Pony!

ponyWho doesn't love a pony? You are one of these miniature horses, renown for your beauty and desired by many. Full of grace, you are a beautiful and very special animal, full of strength and majesty.

You were almost a: Lamb or a Duck
You are least like a: Chipmunk or a MouseThe Cute Animals Quiz

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Who eats nachos at the movies anyway? Seriously.

WARNING: It's a 'back in the day' post, so if reminiscing ain't your style, scroll down to the bits and bobs afterwards. I'll make it worth your while....

Right.

Back in the heady days of my youth, when I had more free time (and cash) to spend, my regular haunts around old Canberra town were the local record store (R.I.P. Impact Records), the mall, and my personal favourite, the cinema. For a city of over 300 000, Canberra didn't do to badly when it came to places to while away a few hours in a darkened room with a bag of popcorn, a caffeinated beverage that had far too much ice in it, some rowdy kids, and a few unemployed peeps wasting the hours between The Midday Show and Neighbours.

If you wanted to see the latest Hollywood tripe, then the Greater Union in Civic and Tuggeranong would suffice. Those who wanted the finest in local and arthouse flicks could usually find a flick at either Electric Shadows or Centre Cinema to suit their refined palette. The mall in Belconnen soon acquired its own cinema in the form of the Hoyts behemoth (10 screens I believe...are that many needed?), and the small quaint picturehouse in Manuka soon became a mini-multiplex as well, although it catered to both the mainstream and arthouse crowd too, so you at least had a choice between the latest Denzel Washington or Daniel Auteuil vehicle (Auteuil everytime).

So for most of my formative teenage years going to the movies became more than just the treat my parents would provide every school holidays. Hours were spent glaring towards large screens, sometimes accompanied by THX or surround sound if my luck was in. Sure, a bad choice might have been made now and then, the realisation coming only after the Coke became watery, and all that was left in the popcorn bag were loose kernels that broke your teeth (Volcano? I think the only reason I saw that load of bollocks was that I'd seen everything else that was showing. And it was a joint decision too, so I'm only taking half the blame for that flaming turd), but overall I'd say the ratio of good to bad flicks was around 80:20.

Then a few years ago I moved to London, and all of a sudden I stopped going to the movies. Partly due to the exorbitant prices charged at the box-offices (especially the tourist traps of the West End), but partly because I had a new city to explore. Long gone were the days when I would pride myself in having seen every film nominated for Best Picture at that years Oscars. This year? Not one of the five up for the gong, not even 'Jake and Heath Get Their Spurs On'. What happened? Well it comes down to these factors - work, music, records, football, relationships, going out, far too much time spent on tubes, buses and other forms of public transportation, making ends meet, shopping, kitting out numerous flats in Swedish furniture, trawling markets for hidden gems, days in the park, travelling, and most of all, getting to know London.

Recently, I've started to watch films again on a more regular basis. Getting into Hayao Miyazaki, watching Samuel L. Jackson getting 'mother-fucking snakes' off a 'mother-fucking plane', seeing Captain Jack swashbuckle and talk his way out of trouble, watching Cary Grant run away from Martin Landau while falling in love with Eva Marie Saint.....suddenly, it's like I'm 14 again, and flush with pocket money and free time, seeing movies regularly seems natural again. Time to grab a bag of over salted popcorn, an over iced Coke, and sit back down in the stadium seats for two and a half hours at a time while my butt gets numb. This time though, no Tommy Lee Jones disaster flicks OK?

NORMAL SERVICE RESUMED

* So that's 10 million quid in the coffers - cheers Rafa!

* That Christina album isn't too bad, as long as you throw away the tripe filled Linda Perry second disc. Here's a re-rub of the Preemo helmed 'Back In The Day', with Termanology filling up a few bars just for fun (thanks to the kids at Spine)

* Nat at A Bit Nice spin-off My Two Dads is compiling a definitive list of your favourite TV theme tunes....ever! (note the exclamation mark to show just how important this task is). Won't you help out, pwwwwwwease? Here's one of my childhood favourites, with added Spanish glamour.



* One of those tarted up boozers that occasionally allows me to plays tunes, as well as get slighty tipsy, finally has a MySpace page. Add the Weld to your list of compadres.

And for those that skipped Major Leaguer's own version of The Wonder Years at the start of today's post, here's your reward.

Told you it was worth your while.

Monday, August 21, 2006

Help me get an I-Pod, k? / Back with the heavyweight jams!

Another long absence between posts huh? Well, I'll see if I can turn that around. But first....I want an I-Pod dammit. Help me get one by clicking here and then you too could have one! You'll have to complete one of the many sponsored offers that the 'Free I-Pod' people have (go for the Screenselect free month trial - free DVDs!) and once you've completed it, and get 5 other people to do the same, then you too could have a lovely Nano or 30GB beast of your own. I'm going to call mine Sparky.....

Right. So what's been going on? Well, the last month has been a bit of a blur with a few spots of deck-wrecking, visitors from the land down under, the odd gig or two, and stacks of good music out. Let's get to the highlights shall we?

* Music first. Best compilation of the year? Well, it'll be hard to top the latest Fabric mix from my fellow mixed up antipodeans, Cut Copy. The tracklisting (B-LO!) basically begs that you spent your hard earned on it immediately with cuts from Justice, New Young Pony Club, Fred Falke, Roxy Music, Midnight Juggernauts, Daft Punk, the Cutters themselves, and a shedload more. In fact, one of those big music chains in the UK is doing a 2 for 1 Fabric deal at the moment, so you can grab Diplo's set from last year for nix at the same time!! Bloody brilliant I tells ya....

1. I Wish You Were Gone - Joakim
2. Future Unlimited - Cut Copy
3. Disco Clown - Munk
4. Hello Empty Room - Who Made Who
5. Future Unlimited - Cut Copy
6. Get Dancey - New Young Pony Club
7. Bang Bang - In Flagranti
8. Side In - Goldfrapp
9. Dead Eyes Opened - Severed Heads
10. Out The Door - Who Made Who
11. Face To Face - Daft Punk
12. Truth And Lies - Presets (1)
13. Work On You - MSTRKRFT
14. Stop - Casco & BWH
15. Your Retro Career Melted - Faint
16. E Talking - Soulwax
17. Into The Groovey - Ciccone Youth
18. Waters Of Nazareth - Justice (3)
19. Eisbar - Grauzone
20. Acid Never Lies - Riot In Belgium
21. Shadows - Midnight Juggernauts
22. Omega Man - Falke, Fred
23. Champu - Diamond, Daniel
24. Angel Eyes - Roxy Music
25. Going Nowhere - Cut Copy
26. Dream Sequence - Cut Copy

Drool.....

* While Through Being Cool is taking a break, there's a new night starting in October that I feel obliged to plug (like the dirty commercialist that I've become). More news when it comes to hand.

* Big shouts and hollering to the Mindie gals who invited me to play some tunes at their 93 Feet East banger a few weeks back. Let's do it again!

* Gig of the month? Gig of the year - Seu Jorge at Koko as part of the TrocoBrahma festival (beer sponsored, yes, but that's a minor quibble. Anyway, this whole post smacks of sell-out don't you think? Maybe I should go off and chill with Leonard Cohen's monk posse for a while to cleanse my soul). Pickchas? Yeah, scroll down y'all.

Sway, Dynamite MC and Instituto (a bit like Brazil's closest equivalent to The Roots)

Mr Jorge himself.

Jorge and the crew join the crew for a mass dance at the evenings end (during the third encore too!)

*What's on the stereo at the moment?

Midnight Juggernauts - Shadows
Outkast feat. Scar & Sleepy Brown - Morris Brown
The Futureheads - Worry About It Later (Switch remix)
The Roots feat Peedi Peedi - Long Time Comin' (yes, it refuses to budge from the stereo. Class all the way. Bring on Game Theory next Monday)
Cassius - Jack Rock (yes, it's rave meets Italo-house!)
Simian Mobile Disco - Animal House
Christina Aguilera - Still Dirrty
Peanut Butter Wolf - 666 mix (Slayer? The Cure? Ministry? Check, check, check! Get it here or be damned for all eternity!)
Snowden - Black Eyes (Le Castle Vania remix)
Ryan Adams - France
OMD - If You Leave (Time for a John Hughes marathon...)
CSS - Alala
Scissor Sisters - I Don't Feel Like Dancin' (it just burrows in your brain...)

* Oh, and grab the Outkast newie too. Jazztastic.

Right, I'm off to dream of free I-Pods and planes sans snakes (the best B-movie of the year? Maybe.) Back tomorrow.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Return of The Roots


Roots + Peedi Peedi = Hawwwwt. Looks like Game Theory's going to be a good un'. Check out new track Long Time Coming at XXL (and if the strings at the end don't give you goose bumps then you're just not human. Yup)

Friday, June 23, 2006

Thursday, June 22, 2006

I've got a scarf, the scarf is for football...


* In the words of Adam and Joe, 'BALL BALL BALL, FOOTY FOOTY FOOTY! 'Am I tense? A little bit, but I'm sure the Socceroos can do the business tonight against Croatia in Stuttgart, with Viduka to score the winner in a 1-0 victory. Those checkerboard Croatians don't stand a chance...

* Faux-French sounds from the States? That'd be Nous Non Plus then. Check out their official digs here, or their MySpace dwellings here ('Lawnmower Boy' is a particular fave here at Major Leaguer)

* New issue of the Shoreditch bible Ditched is out next Friday from the usual trendy trendy bars and cafes in East Lahndahn. An interview between myself and the talented William Besson is just one of the highlights.

* Rekkids, rekkids, rekkids... and bands too! I'll be playing those vinyl discs at The Luminaire in September before the superb sounds of Inbetween Days at Remake/Remodel's night. More info soon.

* And last but not least, if you want to impress the ladies (or lads), then maybe a Yoda backpack isn't a wise move...(thanks to BoingBoing for the heads up)

Saturday, June 17, 2006

It's never been like that, it's never been like that

2 posts in 24 hours? That's more like it.

* Now, there's this football-dealy-thingummy going on in German land at the moment and the Argentine lads didn't look too shabby yesterday. How's this for a goal? (keep an eye out for Diego's special 'moves' at the end - priceless)

* Those clever people at Adidas have done it again. First Adicolor, now this. It's not easy being green...

* June issue of Subter is up and running. Check out Brad's summer tips for your hi-fi.

* If you're not out and about enjoying the summer sun (sorry Southern Hemisphere peeps!), then why not have a Block Party in your home?

Major Leaguer Chart - June '06

MSTRKRFT - Street Justice
Phoenix - Long Distance Call (25 Hours A Day remix)
Simian Mobile Disco - Hustler
Jamie Lidell - When I Come Back Around (Freeform Reform)
Audio Two vs Air - Top Billin
Annie - Crush (And The Lefthanded - Original Version)
Zongamin - Bongo Song
Mystery Jets - You Can't Fool Me Dennis (Good Books Remix)
The Shangri-Las - Leader Of The Pack
Shy Child - Technicrats
The Chalets - Theme From Chalets
Brakes - All Night Disco Party (Graham Sutton Remix)
Tiga - Far From Home (Speed Of Sexor Reprise)

Damn....

....has it been two months between posts? Well, yes. Apologies for the lack of updates, tidbits, links and other goodies. Regular service will resume shortly now that puter problems appear to have been sorted (Scouts honour, although I was never a scout...).

* New MSTRKRFT at 20 Jazz Funk Greats. Thanks to Headphone Sex for the heads up.

* The Orwell, that lovely boozer on Essex Rd in Islington where Through Being Cool resides once a month, now has a presence on tinterweb. Bookmarks at the ready chaps and chapettes. Oh, and TBC is online too at MySpazz (yeah, yeah, say you're not addicted but frankly this social networking malarky is a disease most peeps can't shake. Why don't you add us to your 2,081 other friends? I dare ya!)

* Movie of the summer? Forget X-Men 3, M:I:3, 3 Fast 3 Furious, and any other movies with 3 in the title. It's all about snakes. On a plane. Oh yes. (The fan sites are particularly amusing too, such as this one)

* So my German adventure never got off the ground due to passport problems, and Her Maj's mail service. However, boosted by the Socceroos impressive showing last Monday, spirits are still relatively high for this Sunday's clash with those samba-pansies from South America. Go you good things.....

* Playing rekkids for the Mindie kids at 93 Ft East on August 4. It's gonna get messy fer shure. Brap!

That should keep you blighters amused until tomorrow. Over and out...

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Hot Cross Bunnies

Hey kids.... ever been to Beachclub at Notting Hill Arts Club? It's an extra special monthly shindig showcasing hipster Scandinavian (and the odd English) bands, with Sci-Fi Skane and Mersaultmusic being the guests of honour last Monday. While Sci-Fi Skane's mix of karaoke and mad drumming was infectious, Mersaultmusic stole the show with their supposedly 'live-via-satellite' bass player, whose contibution could be viewed on a TV set perched upon the stage. A nice touch indeed.

* Subter.com April issue is online now. Features include a look at what's indie (and what's not), how to grow old disgracefully, and some hack bitchin' about his MySpace addiction. Pfft....

* Thanks to all who braved the rain on April Fool's day for Through Being Cool at The Orwell. The biggest and baddest TBC yet, and we even managed to drink dry three of the beer taps as well. Aiming for the full set on May 6th!

* Ideas for the Bank Holiday weekend
1) Adventures In The Beetroot Field at Fabric tonight with Hot Chip, Juan Maclean, Shy Child, Long Blondes, Roland Shanks, Shit Disco and many more indie and electro up-and-comers. DJ Sets come from the likes of Bloc Party, Filthy Dukes, the Simain MD kids, Riton and heaps heaps more. Entry free before 8.30pm.

2) OR....also tonight, The Presets headline the Modular Rekkids 'Rave' at Cargo with support from New Young Pony Club and secret guests (shhhh....)

3) Friday? Have a rest, or hire King Kong. And don't say you won't cry. Sniff!

4) Saturday? I'll be spinning the odd circular piece of vinyl at Defectors Weld in Shepherd's Bush. Make mine a brandy and coke. Ta....

5) Sunday? 14 degrees in London means a walk along the Thames followed by an afternoon at the Tate Modern for the Martin Kippenberger exhibition.

6) Monday? One place to be. Trash at The End for The Slits. Yup.

Happy Easter y'all....

On the Major Leaguer stereo:

Shy Child - Technicrats/Summer 7"
Rilo Kiley - The Execution Of All Things
Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
Slint - Spiderland
Secret Machines - Ten Silver Drops
Urge Overkill - Exit The Dragon
The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
William Besson - EP
Good Shoes - EP
Q-Tip - Kamaal The Abstract

Friday, March 31, 2006

Cool? Nah, done with that jazz / Serena Maneesh

Yes, yes. Posts have been few and far between recently as i've been finishing off the monthly Subter spleen-ventage, plus a bit of work for these kids, and these kids. So, whaddya gonna do about it? Huh? Yeah, you're not so tuff now. Pfft....wiseguy.

Through Being Cool caught the eyes of the gang at Time Out this week. If we can make it there, we'll make it anywhere! Seriously, TBC this Saturday will be aceness personified indeed. Stacks of new tunes to play...come. on. down. Gives me another excuse to post our lovely logo too.



TBC @ The Orwell
382 Essex Rd
N1 London

sioux-elin. Euan. Rekkids. You. Join us?

9pm-2am, Saturday April 1 (no foolin!)
Put yr cash money away people. Entry is on the house....

Oh, and the Serena Maneesh album is on high rotation on the MJ boombox. Check out the shoegaze love here, and expect to hear 'Un-Deux' at The Orwell on Saturday night (and maybe some Loveless too...)

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Defectors Weld playlist / David Attenborough = legend

So....having worked in muzak retail for a number of years now, I've been asked who were the coolest 'celebredees' I've served. Well, if I had no narrow it down to three, numbers three and two would have to be Jarvis Cocker (key purchases: Beck - Sea Change and The Wickerman OST) and Henry Rollins (key purchases: Nico - Femme Fatale and The Fall - 2G+2) respectively. So who's in at number one? This gentleman (key purchases: half the damn store...) If you haven't been watching Planet Earth over the last few weeks on BBC then what's up wit you fool? There were swimming monkeys tonight!

SWIMMING MONKEYS DAMMIT!

Ahem....

Defectors Weld playlist highlights 17/3/03 (...and their fur was all wet and fuzzy...Oh, sorry)

Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
Outkast - Spottiedottiedopalicious
Mark Ronson feat. Alex Greenwald - Just
NWA - Express Yourself
Rachid El Taha - Rock The Casbah
Diverse - Uprock
Thee Headcoatees - Have Love, Will Travel
Iggy Pop - I Wanna Be Your Dog
The Sonics - Shot Down
Dolly Parton - 9 To 5
The Pipettes - Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me
Annie - Me Plus One (The Rapture Hush Hush remix)
The Knife - Heartbeat (Rex The Dog mix)
Shy Child - Technicrats
Vitalic - Valletta Fanfares
N*E*R*D - She Wants To Move (DFA remix)
MSTRKRFT - Easy Love
Daft Punk - Human After All (Justice remix)
Cut Copy - Going Nowhere (Digitalism remix)
The Presets - Girl And The Sea (Cut Copy mix)
Missy Elliot - Lose Control (Jacques Lu Cont mix)
AC/DC - Back In Black
Abba - The Winner Takes It All

(....and on the first episode there were polar bear cubs! Huh? What's not to love there?)

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Evolution of man / ATP / Tandem @ Bar Music Hall

After a week of carting boxes from one house to another (and getting a sore back in the process), what better way to relax than to watch last night's Letterman. How? Thanks to this baby!



Sigh. Truly the human race has evolved, and the TV Hard Drive is the pinnacle of our progress. Yeah....now that we've conquered this hurdle, peace in the Middle East should be a piece of piss.

* Tandem at Bar Music Hall next Tuesday (14th March) with elin and myself. Rekkids, rekkids, rekkids, and Belgian beer. The fun kicks off at 8pm.

* Apparently people who like Tribe Called Quest also like DMX (so says Windows Media Player. Mr Gates, you don't know me very well, do you?)

* Last year's best quasi-festival is back. All Tomorrow's Parties presents Don't Look Back 2006, and to wet your whistle, here's the first gigs to be announced...what, Low playing Things We Lost In The Fire? I think I've just creamed my pants.

* Speaking of gigs that make you drop your bundle, this is the only place to be on May 16th.

* 'Industry rule number 4080, record company people are shady'. That's my favourite. What's yours? (Slight hitch. VH1 have already picked 100 lyrics, and you can only choose from that list. Huh?)

'This. Is. How. We. Move' chart for 11/3/06
(oh, speaking of Fiddy, has anyone else heard the 80 Cent mixtape? Hit and miss, but the Many Men/Take On Me cut-up is priceless)

General Echo - Rapping Dub Style
J Dilla - The Diff'rence
The Nu People - I'd Be Nowhere Without You
Caetano Veloso - Alfomega
Ghostface feat. MF Doom - Charlie Brown
Mark Ronson feat. Alex Greenwald - Just
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Gold Lion (Diplo remix)
Wonderland Avenue - White Horse (Mike Monday remix)
The Presets - Down Down Down (Digitalism remix)
Uffie - Pop The Glock (SebastiAn remix)
Hot Chip - Over And Over (Nuam Gabo remix)
Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart

Saturday, March 04, 2006

Whoops! / Through Being Cool

Well, it's been a while 'tween posts. What can I say? Between working and preparing to move house I've had no free time to blog or write, which is certainly frustrating to say the least. To make up for this, here's a jam-packed post filled with goodies and links.

* It's the first Saturday of the month, which means Through Being Cool at The Orwell tonight. Join sioux-elin and myself for records galore, a drink or two, and a swell time. Oh, and we've got a lurvely new logo too courtesy of Will Kane. So, come along kids...



Through Being Cool @ The Orwell
382 Essex Rd
N1, London
9pm - 2am

Oh, it's FREE! (hey, even the Nice kids give props too, Skeff Anselm style)

* Ghostface's newie Fishscale has sprung up on tha net and My Old Kentucky Blog has two of the tracks (both Just Blaze productions as well), plus the latest woozy opus from Secret Machines.

* Finally saw Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire this week. Damn fine film, particularly the performances from Dr Who, and Jarvis and the two 'Heads as The Wyrd Sisters (not the folk group). I don't think I can resist reading the books for much longer now, especially as the fourth installment is heavily abridged. Roll on Order of The Phoenix.

* If you come along to TBC tonight you'll probably hear 'Rapping Dub Style' from this new collection from the guys and gals at Soul Jazz. Uptight? Alright.

* Classic album of the week? No contest. Guru and Preemo all the way.

* Here's a selection of the Defectors Weld playlist from last Friday (thankfully, no speakers blown...)

General Echo - Rapping Dub Style
Derrick Laro & Trinity - Don't Stop Till You Get Enough
Zero 7 - Sommersault (Danger Mouse remix feat. MF Doom)
Kraftwerk - The Model
Envelopes - Sister In Love
Mark Ronson feat. Alex Greenwald - Just
Caetano Veloso - Alfomega
Rachid El Taha - Rock The Casbah
The Pharcyde - Runnin'
Ghostface - Be Easy
Dr. Dre feat Snoop Doggy Dogg - Nuthin' But A G Thang
Jay-Z - I Just Wanna Luv U (Give It 2 Me)
The Rapture vs Mobb Deep - Got It Twisted Sister (DJ Dopplebanger bootleg)
N*E*R*D - She Wants To Move (DFA remix)
Joe Jackson - Steppin' Out
Long Blondes - Seperated By Motorways
Data Panik - Cubis (I Love You)
Rubicks - I See You
Hot Chip - Over and Over (Nuam Gabo remix)
MSTRKRFT - Easy Love
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Gold Lion (Diplo remix)
Motorhead - Ace Of Spades

* Please welcome to blogging fraterntity....Laura. Like, y'know, whatever. Actually, that's what the blog's called.

OK, time for a haircut.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Shit....damn....Motherf***er.... (official Gossip after party)

It's the second Saturday of the month, which means it's Motherfucker time at the Garage. Best get some records ready then....see you there!

Club Motherfucker Live!
Upstairs @ the garage
20-22 Highbury Corner
London N5 1RD
Tube: Highbury & Islington
9pm-3.30am
£4 before 10 cons, £5 others *
Bands early, dancing and that till well late yo!
Arrive Early Mo..'Fuckers!

Live!Live!Live!
Heidi Mortenson
Solo lady Heidi Mortenson performs a terrifyingly exciting mix tomboytronica and electrosoul dirtyrocking nutechpop on a sturdy frame of beats and vocals. She loves twists and fat bass lines and crisp sound-patches. To this she adds a mentalist flavour and lots of energy. She’s recently toured with best pal Kevin Blechdom and resides in Berlin making music with other music crazies.
Oh and she’s totally hawt to boot. Alright!
www.nosnetrom.net
www.myspace.com/heidimortenson

The Ape Drape Escape!
Hand picked from the cream of washed up child stars and inbred royal fodder is this nations saving grace. For the baggy, i..'ll-fitting youth of Great Britain, comes the tailored cut of nervously stitched rock n roll. The swamp sex of degenerate apes beating the jesus out of the art of ability, like Cole Porters bastard child after a night on the tiles. The new sound of Sheffield throbs and pummels, it doesn..'t stand and wait, it lurches at you like a drunken uncle. werd!
www.theapedrapeescape.co.uk
www.myspace.com/theapedrapeescape

David Sugar
VORC artist of the year 2005 and International chiptune superstar, David Sugar will be dropping an 8-bit bomb on our unsuspecting motherfuckers with his own brand of folky, indy, jungley, chip tune, 180 bpm 8-bit punk! Get ready to get your skank on to live gameboy and guitar action! Check it!
www.myspace.com/davidsugar
www.davidsugar.com

between the bands and after, awe-so-me super fun dance party action with
Hosts and Residents
Daughters of the Kaos
with hot guest deejay selectas
Tapedeck (Bosh!)
+ Euan (Through Being Cool!)

Plus, we host the official stylee aftershow party for Washington State Hot Shizzles, The Gossip! Yeah, The Gossip Blud, WAY!!!!!! An aftershow party is like what R.Kelly sings about bouncing at while drinking cristal in one of his songs but dont worry kids, R.Kelly wont be there! we don..'t sell cristal either.
The Gossip will be there though, playing the sweet sweet music on the decks and everything..... and there is more warm beer than you can shake a stick at, Whoopah!
Special Rekkid playing from
Brace + Hannah (The Gossip)

R.I.P. Jay Dee


Damn. R.I.P. Dilla Dawg. You'll be missed.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

Advance warning - Cupid Gone @ Juno, Valentine's Day

Love's dead kids. Let's dance on the rotting corpse.

(For more gorgeous broken hearted images, check out Patricio Oliver's site. Beautiful)

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Steady as she goes / Oh Jenny

*PLUG*
Yes, it's the first Saturday of the month, and you know what that means.

THROUGH BEING COOL @ The Orwell

Join the lovely sioux-elin, and the sometimes-lovely-if-induced-with-trinkets Euan for a night of soul, indie, rawk, perfect pop and much much more.

Saturday 4th Feb (tonight!)
@ The Orwell
382 Essex Rd, London N1.
9pm - 2am.
FREE!

*PLUG ENDETH*

Ahem. Howdy. So, who managed to snare a copy of The Racontuers debut 7 inch single this week? Gonna keep mine minty fresh for years before hawking it on E-Bay to sustain my crack habit (nah, it'll be a sherbet habit. Wizz Fizz....mmmmm).If you haven't heard either of the two tracks, Store Bought Bones and Steady As She Goes, then head over to Zombies Ate My Blog for a tasty treat.

* Another series of The Simpsons on DVD, another well spent 30 quid. Check the commentaries on Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming and Mother Simpson (especially the former, with explanations as to the many Dr Strangelove and Failsafe references contained within)

* Giant Rabbit!

*PLUG II*
If the thought of Valentine's Day and the Hallmark hell surrounding it aren't you're cup of tea, then come down to Juno on Febuary 14th for Cupid Gone. Join Electric Palimino and myself as we celebrate the death of love in the 21st century. Um...by playing records. Loudly.

Cupid Gone @ Juno
134-135 Shoreditch High Street.
7pm till late.
FREE!

*PLUG II FIN*

Album of the week
Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat


Well, indie rock's queen has taken some time off from breaking boys hearts around the globe with Rilo Kiley. Yes, she's breaking boys hearts around the globe with The Watsons Twins instead. Lewis mines memories of her early days as a child actor (as well as more songs about love, plus a Travelling Wilburys cover to boot) to come up with an album that refuses to budge from the Major Leaguer stereo. A delight from start to finish.

Monday, January 23, 2006

Tuesday is the new....um... Tuesday? @ barmusichall

Witness the sickness. OK, so I've been a slack lil' blogger recently due to a combo of illness and busyness (and when say illness, I mean Vicks Vaporub illness, not just the regular illness that you'd expect from Major Leaguer...ahem). But I'm feeling so much better now, so to celebrate I thought I'd play a record or two.

Tuesday night. barmusichall in Shoreditch is the place to be. Join elin and me from 7pm onwards for heaps of tasty treats, plus Belgian beer aplenty. Oh yes yes. If you come down to Curtain Rd you'll hear some of these records I'm just bursting to play....not in an Alien coming out of Ripley's chest way, but you know the deal.

The Knife - Neverland (Ah! New Knife....swoon!)
Lomax - Modern Life (Phones Extended Mix)
Cut Copy - Going Nowhere (SebastiAn mix)
Stereo Total - Bad News From The Stars
Clinic - Walking With Thee
Ghostface - Be Easy
Who Made Who - Space For Rent (The Rapture Hush Hush Mix)
Madonna - Sorry (Man With Guitar mix) ....yes, it's that JLC fella again!

and a whole lot more!

Oh, go out and buy the Cat Power's The Greatest this week. It'll warm your heart like a big ol' hot water bottle!

Sunday, January 15, 2006

It's a motherf***er.....

So, I climbed from my sick bed and answered the call of duty....Club Motherf*cker asked me to spin some records last night at the last minute. How could I say no? A swell time indeed, and playing out the new Justice remix of Cut Copy certainly made the night worthwhile. If you've never been to Club Mofo before then get your ass down their next month on February 11th...it's going to be quite messy. I'll be bringing my Lady Sov records too...meanwhile, it's the ones and twos at Keston Lodge in Islington tonight. If you're in the area, say 'ello.

Non DJing highlight from last night? Has to be Marvin the Martian dropping some fine rhymes about being drunk. Check out his MySpazz profile here.

* Harry, Harry, Harry. Scoring in front of the Kop is a mighty fine way to say thanks. Well done son.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Sandshoe very much / Cat Power 'The Greatest'

So, after an extended holiday break (read: working, working, working, and the odd party) time to get back to business. First up, a big thanks to all who came along to Through Being Cool @ The Orwell last Saturday. Considering it was only TBC number two, I was amazed to see such a good crowd turn up considering New Years was only a week beforehand. Hearing regular cheers and hollers every second tune is sign that elin and I weren't doing too badly when it came to track selection either!

Through Being Cool number three though will really be something special though so make sure you come on down on February 4.....and while you're at it keep Valentine's Day free, especially if you're single and you hate the Hallmark holiday for all it's worth, and want to drink and dance instead! More details as they come to hand....

Major Leaguer selection @ Through Being Cool, Jan 7

OCR West Side Story - America
Zero 7 - Summersault (MF Doom remix)
Marvin Gaye - I Want You
Kurtis Blow - The Breaks
A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It?
Esso Trinidad Steel Band - I Want You Back
Walter Sears - Hey Jude
The Electric South feat. Bob Lind - Sing! (Alabama mix)
LSG - It's Alright
Kanye West - Gold Digger (Diplo mix)
Joe Jackson - Stepping Out
Annie - Heartbeat (Phones Maximo mix)
Envelopes - Sister in Love
LCD Soundsystem - Disco Infiltrator
Gang Of Four - Man In Uniform (Yeah Yeah Yeahs remix)
The Presets - Girl and the Sea (Cut Copy remix)
The Fiery Furnaces - Single
Aretha Franklin - I Say A Little Prayer

Right, this week it's all about one particular record on the Major Leaguer stereo.

Cat Power - The Greatest


Easily the most consistent offering from Ms Marshall yet, The Greatest sees Chan hook up with some of Georgia's finest musicians (including members of Al Green's old band) for a true southern delight. Tracks such as 'Living Proof' and 'Could We' showcase a real groove that elevate Marshall's vocal performance to new heights (think Beth Orton, but with substance), while 'The Moon' harks back to more familiar territory explored her last album, You Are Free. So, just a few weeks into 2006 and we've got a contender for the year's best album. Lovely, just lovely.

Saturday, January 07, 2006

2006....howdy y'all / Through Being Cool


Greetings, salutations, and so on. Happy New Year!

So, what better way to celebrate the start of 2006 than coming to Through Being Cool this Saturday at The Orwell? Nope, didn't think you had a better idea. So come along, get merry with sioux-elin and myself, and have yourself a rockin' time. Oh, and Through Being Cool is now a monthly shindig, so if you can't turn up tomorrow, then come along next month (Feb 4!)

Through Being Cool with Euan and sioux-elin
@ The Orwell
382 Essex Road N1 3PF
London
9pm - 2am
NIX!!!

For more info, and general coolness, contact us at throughbeingcool@hotmail.co.uk