Nope, no slayers here / Aardman Studios is burning down

But where are the stakes? 

Off to see Serenity tonight. Wasn't a huge fan of Firefly but have heard only good things about Mr Whedon's latest work. Plus, this will be the only work from Joss until his take on Diana and her lasso (and that's not going to be ready until 2007) so I'd best get my fix now. Random burblings from my mushy brain...

* Guess Britney wanted her bra after all. Nuts!

* Spare cash? Spend it on these beauties.

Various Artists - Leave Them All Behind
Damn fine collection of tunes from the always reliable Modular stable, plus other assorted indie-dance tracks that sit very nicely alongside them. Pretty much all the tunes you've heard at Trash this year and more. Two CDs for a tenner? Bloody lovely I tell ya.

The Fall - Heads Roll
Mark E Smith in fantastic album shock! OK, the man is a bit of an icon (even if his appearance almost a year ago on the BBC on the day of John Peel's death was a bit random) but recent Fall albums have been underwhelming to say the least. Heads Roll however is a rampaging return to form, complete with Smith's drawled lyrical flow and tunes that veer from lush the one moment to downright stomping the next.

* Fancy a round of golf with the RZA?

NEWS JUST IN! Aardman studios is ablaze....sniff! Wensleydale on toast anyone?

Subter October / Britney's bra? You're so kind.

Subter October is a go-go. In it you'll find -

* an interview with the de-lightful, de-lovely and de-lish RecordPlayer lasses

* critiques on both Spain (the country) and The Strolling Bones (the retirement home escapees) from Houman Sadri

* and the first burblings of a new way for bands to be heard online

(Note to all fledgling bands and artists: Yes, there are other ways for your music to be heard instead of bombarding all MySpace users to be your 'friends'. I don't care that your influences are Incubus, Led Zepplin and Phish. Your music still sucks.)


That's a lot of diamonds. 

* Fine, I'll admit it. I enjoy the Britney celebrity roadshow (who, unlike Paris Hilton, does have a shred of talent). Combine that with charidee, and by golly folks, you've got yourself a weiner. All proceeds from the 'Out Bid Me Baby One More Time' auction go towards the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund.

Oh, and if you want to donate but ain't down with Brit's garments, the OkayPlayer kids have some lovely 'ReNew Orleans' shirts you can trade for your hard-earned. ReNew Orleans? Geddit? Huh? Geez, I don't know why I bother. Grumble....if anyone wants me I'll be bidding for Britney's beret. Whaddya mean pink ain't my colour? Oh, yeah, that was last season, and I'm not down with the Jude Law style.

Fire Demons 'R' Us

Finally saw Howl's Moving Castle yesterday and it was pretty good, although not a patch on Princess Mononoke. Have to go see it again though as my local kino only had the 'American' dubbed version, and I'd have prefered to see it with the original Japanese language soundtrack. I guess that's what DVD's are for, although I'll be waiting until November 16.

*If you live in Lahhndahhn town, head to the fine record store that is Phonica for a free Slices DVD featuring clips and multimedia from Warp, Hexstatic, Novamute and Mantis. Tasty tasty!

*Speaking of rekkid stores, I had a fine weekend record shopping with the regular Soho trawl on Saturday, and a trip to Brighton on Sunday (with possibly the best record shop to person ratio in the UK). No pier of rock action for me though as it was straight to Resident and then Mic Check for some tasty treats where I found the new Roots rarities mix-tape compiled by DJ Ayers. I also finally snaffled the lovely Foreign Exchange 'Connected' album from last year, and a few cheapies from Rounder Records (Gang of Four, Beasties and Alter Ego). Grand total? Just over 20 squid. Met up with some new friends for evening pints, and then caught the last train back to the big smoke. Slept like a baby...a bit like this one!


Lil' Xander and some weirdo. 

* One Soulful Negro has a Roots rarity too, featuring the last appearance of Malik B. Heck, they even compare it to Prince's infamous 'Wally'. Oooh!

Kate. Bush. Yes.

Yes, not long now... 

Have just heard Kate Bush's new single on WOXY.COM, and it's simply beautiful. One of those songs you hear for the first time and halfway through the goosebumps begin to tingle. Stunning. Pencil in October 24th in your diaries for the single, and November 7 for the album.

Hand + ball = What do you think?

No goals, no penalties. Jipped, I tells ya!

*You've got only 3 more days to check out ?uestlove's fine selection of tunes on last weekend's Worldwide show on Radio 1 (filling in for Gilles Peterson).

*A sequel to No Direction Home? C'mon Bob, you know it makes sense.

*Kicking more dirt on Johnny Cash's grave - yes, it's the totally unecessary musical of his life, 'Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Musical Story'. Oh. Dear. Surely not another lemon, sorry, Lennon.

*Pharrell's solo joint is dropping on November 15, entitled 'In My Mind'. Here's the first single, Can I Have it Like That featuring Gwen 'Never mind Gavin, I still love you even though Institute are shit' Stefani. If you listen to ?uestlove's Worldwide show above, you'll find the Timbaland-helmed track Spaceship (feat. Magoo) around the 35 minute mark, and it's even hotter.

*New stuff too from The Strokes, Juicebox, but be quick! Thanks to Badminton Stamps. First impressions?

'Arr, squiddy, I got nothin' against ya. I just heard there was gold in yer belly'

Thar's the culprit! 

Giant Squid! Suddenly I don't feel like swimming in the ocean for quite some time. Bet Steve Zissou never saw one of those. However, I'm sure he doesn't care since he's too busy admiring his nifty kicks. I don't care what Gawker says, I gotsta get me some!

Shoes, shoes, shoes...

*For those wondering, Can't Mix Won't Mix is in hibernation, but may surface in a new venue (and possibly under a new name) in the next few months. I'll keep y'all posted.

*Ding Ding! Here we go again.

*Oh dear. Looks like Steve Jobs has a problem on his hands. But why do people need more than one iPod?

Roots / Breakin' with Mr T / R.I.P. Maxwell Smart

Howdy pardners. Anybody catch part one of Scorsese's Dylan documentary last night on BBC2? Fascinating stuff, and the footage from the Newport Folk Festival with Dylan and Joan Baez was just lovely (even if he did then treat her like most other women in his life. Poor form Bob!). Part 2 is on tonight, and the DVD comes out on Monday for those who've missed their fix of Zimmerman action.

News news news...

* Illadelphers The Roots have found a new home after leaving Geffen. Yup, they're now rockin it with Hova down at Def Jam. Does this mean a reunion of the killer combo from Jigga's unplugged set?

*Gold. Yes, it's Mr T learning how to break and body pop in the campest way possible. Hey, don't mock him fool!

*Sad day for spies all over the globe as news filtered through that Agent 86 passed away last weekend. Sniff!

Stax of slacks / 72 years is a loooong wait (Well done Swans)

In the aftermath of seeing Blues Explosion rip up Koko this week as part of the Don't Look Back series, here's Major Leaguer's top five songs about slacks, pants, trousers...

5. Dirty Jeans - Magic Dirt
4. Baggy Trousers - Madness
3. Bellbottoms - JSBX
2. Hot Pants - James Brown
1. Short Shorts - The Royal Teens (yes, this wins by a country mile!)

Oh, musn't go without quickly mentioning the good work of Mr Leo Barry from Sydney. Well done Sydney. I'm sure some regular Major Leaguer vistors woke up with sore heads this morning ;)

Been a while, I shouldna left you....

Yeah, yeah. Blogging doesn't necessarily maketh the man, or summin' like that. I've got to stop reading those classy liberal newspapers, what with their big words and lack of Page 3 models. Shame on me! Although the new format for the guardian is lovely indeed (yes, it's in lower case because that's how the title appears on the front page. You can download free PDF versions of the new Berliner format until September 26).

So kids, what's news? Spent the week having various drinks of the alchoholic and non-alcoholic kind with friends old and new (Conal - have fun in South America! I'll see you next time I'm in Melbourne), writing some things for Ditched and Subter, spending an hour last night gazing at a lush full moon before falling asleep, buying records I can't afford (but that's not really news since it's the same ol' story every damn week), and seeing bands of varying degrees in Camden. Such as...

* Pedro The Lion (last Sunday at The Underworld), who avoided the sound problems that befell their support acts, and provided this indie-rock geek with two hours of warm mushy emo, filled with the occasional chopping guitar riff. I'd write more, but I'll save it for another day (or more importantly the next issue of Nature Loves Courage ...available at all good London record stores from mid-October, issue launch party coming soon) . But if they're playing in your neck of the woods then check them out.

If I had a little money...I'd snap up some of these records out this week.

* Nada Surf - 'The Weight Is A Gift' (CD, Barsuk/V2)
* Papa M / Unhome - 'Mama You've Been On My Mind / Pine Tree'("7 re-issue, Awkward Silence)
* Broadcast - 'Tender Buttons' (CD/LP, Warp)
* Jackson and his Computer Band - 'Smash' (CD/LP, Warp)...this album's just a wee bit special, and fans of quality electro up for something new in the vein of Isolee need look no further...

Oh, and even though Lil Kim's jail term starts today, at least The Source sees fit to provide us all with some laughs to ease the pain, as pointed out by the fine peeps at Spine. Yup, 5 mike review for 'Naked Truth' (I mean, I know The Source's standards have slipped in recent years but...what? 5? Does that means she's as good as Eric B and Rakim or Nas?.......what? 5?!?!)

Put the needle on the record....

....and the drum beat goes like this!

Had a blast spinning tunes on Sunday for the Cancer Research '12 Bands in 10 Hours' gig at The Duke in Chiswick. Money raised, bands played (Eddie and Paul - you lads will go far one day!), drinks drunk, and a good time was had by all. Thanks to Chris, Lucas, and Eddie for inviting me to participate in a lovely day out...

* The September issue of Subter.com is up and out there. Check it out peeps.

* If you're up for a dance this Thursday night, pop along to Bethnal Green Workingmen's Club for the new night from those elegant deckwreckers The Record Players. Cheap pints, live music from Sam the Balladeer amongst others, and surprises galore.

* If you only buy one record this week, make it Little Brother's The Minstrel Show, ok? Over and out.

Major Leaguer stereo selections (or 'party stuff what I played on Sunday, y'hear?')

VHS Or Beta - Night On Fire (Cut Copy Mix)
Nada Surf - Blankest Year
Bob Dylan - Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 (Chronicles is out in paperback this week!)
AC/DC - Back In Black
The Roots - I Don't Care
ODB feat Kelis - Got Your Money
The Clash - Hateful
Gang 90 - Jack Kerouac (from this year's best compilation of Brazilian punk-funk, The Sexual Life of Savages...yes, there's been several of them!)

Diss this, diss that - Common vs Rising Son, Yungun & Doc Brown

Oops...looks like Common's in a spot of bother, due to comments made on the subject of inter-racial relationships during an interview in the June issue of Touch, as well as lyrics from the track 'Real People' from his latest album, Be. In response, UK rappers Rising Son, Doc Brown & Yungun have joined together, and created 'Dear Common (The Corner Dub)', where Rising Son calls one of Chi-town's favourite son's a 'racist bitch'. Ow.

* Hear the trio's response track (thanks to HipHopGameUK)

* Read Elle J Small's original article in Touch which kicked off the whole shebang (one of the best pieces of music journalism for quite some time)

* The Okay Player boards have some interesting, if sometimes irrelevant, views about the issue.

All I got is Nada....oh, and Antony

Ricky from the Kaisers never looked this good... 

First things first, it looks like the 'juggling ball' Mercury music prize got it right for the second year in a row. Who'da thunk it? Well done Antony.

News, news, news!

* Saw the power pop stylings of Nada Surf at The Spitz last night (which is the cosiest venue I've been to in quite some time. Gets a bit hot though!)

So....no, they didn't play 'Popular'. Yes, they played heaps of tracks from Let Go, and a few from Proximity Effect. And, yes, they played half the new album, highlights being 'Do It Again' and 'What Is Your Secret' which are prime candidates for future singles. Here's what the fans thought...

*Phew! Alex Chilton is safe and well after being rescued from the murky New Orleans waters. Unfortunately, thousands of other Big Easy residents haven't been so lucky. Here's a list of charities and organisations that you can contact to pledge your support.

* On a related note, here's Kanye's outburst during last week's New Orleans beneift telethon (and whether you agree with Kanye or not, the bemused look on Mike Myers face is priceless)

Sleater-Kinney @ Koko - 2/9/05

If you go down to the woods today... 

...you'll see Sleater-Kinney rockin' their socks off. Last night's SK gig at Koko in Camden was one of the best gigs I've seen in a long time. Plenty of tracks from The Woods , a few choice oldies (finishing their final encore with 'Dig Me Out'), and some stellar jams between the three of them near the end of the main set. The segue from 'Let's Call It Love' to 'Entertain' was a nice surprise, especially since I expected them to go into 'Night Light' like they do on the album.

Janet Weiss is one of the best drummers I've ever had the chance to see live, Carrie was extremely energetic with Townsend-style high kicks all over the stage, and although Corin's vocals sounded a bit rough at the start (quite possibly due to the length of the European festival tour they've been on), she soon kicked into gear with an brilliant turn on 'Jumpers' (song of the night).

They're touring the UK again in November so if you haven't had the chance to check SK live yet I strongly recommend it.

Let Sleater-Kinney 'Entertain' you.

Kate Bush! Hooray!

She's back! 

Click the link and go running up that hill again with Ms Bush! We missed you....

I got my (Hilltop) Hoodie on...

Continuing on with the look at Australian hip-hop, here's two more links for your body poppin' pleasure.

* By popular request, I've got to mention The Hilltop Hoods. Their casual style is a refreshing change, and the fact they don't need to rap with a Stateside twang is just one of the many reasons why they've built up quite a following in their home country. Check The Sentinel from 2003 album The Obese for a quality Aussie hip-hop cut.

* Here's what Nation Master Wiki says about Aussie beats and rhymes.

Little Brother / Nicolay

For those in the know, one of the best hip-hop albums of 2003 came from Little Brother. Comprising of MC's Phonte and Big Pooh and beat-maker extraordinaire 9th Wonder, the group's debut The Listening is reminiscent of A Tribe Called Quest's Low End Theory and De La Soul's Stakes Is High - soulful production from 9th (of Jay-Z, Murs and Jean Grae fame), and clear, witty rhymes from Pooh and Phonte.

Those that slept on The Listening should pick it up in preparation for the group's major label debut, The Minstrel Show, which is so hot it caused the editor-in-chief of The Source magazine to resign last week over a dispute on the planned 4-and-half mic rating it was going to get (an issue that may be more complicated than it seems, although this isn't surprising considering The Source's diminishing status amongst hip-hop heads).

4-and-a-half mics or not it's out on September 12 (and the following day in the States). Here's the video for The Minstrel Show's first single, 'Lovin' It' featuring Joe Scudda.

Speaking of Little Brother, one of 2004's best hip-hop albums came from LB rapper Phonte and unknown Dutch producer Nicolay, who together as Foreign Exchange created Connected through the wonders of e-mail (for you indie kids, that's just like The Postal Service!). It's an especially impressive joint considering the pair had never even met each other in the flesh until after the album came out! Nicolay is about to drop a new instumental album 'City Lights Volume 1.5' this September, and if you go to the man's site you can browse through his discography whilst listening to his last beats-a-plenty mixtape 'The Dutch Masters Vol. 1' which is worth getting just for his remix of Common's 'Come Close'. Hot. Shit.

Nada Surf - The Weight Is A Gift

Nada Surf - The Weight Is A Gift 

Yes, this little indie lad is very excited. 'Let Go' was one of 2002's true gems, so to say I've been waiting for a follow-up is a bit of an understatement. The Weight Is a Gift is out on September 19 here in the UK (one week earlier in the US, Australia, Japan and Canada, while Germany gets an extra week on top of that....huh?) and the tracks I've heard so far are fantastic. Check out the band's MySpace page to hear 'Do It Again', another melancholic slab of power-pop. Ace.

Oh, and Nada Surf are playing a sold out show at The Spitz here in London on the 5th of September, but if you miss them fret not because tickets are now on sale for their return gig in November at the Scala, but be quick to snap them up!.

Hip-Hop from the land down under....

So someone asked me the other day about hip-hop in Australia, and what the scene is like down below the equator. Well, I told him the 411 in detail, and now over the next few days I'm going to spread the word right here. This week Major Leaguer will focus on upside down beats and rhymes for y'all to check out, so here's your first daily dose...

*One of the best places to start is the grandaddy of Oz hip-hop writing, Stealth. Still going strong after 15 years, Stealth is so respected that you can even pick it up in the States, and focuses on the local Australian scene as well as the cream of world hip-hop (ie. not just Fiddy and Snoop) as well as graffitti and breakin'.

* Australian documentray maker Oriel Guthrie's flick Skip Hop takes a look at the the scene as a whole, and features battles, b-boys and b-girls, and interviews with key people in the scene. Definitely worth seeing if you can track it down.

* Although The Black Eyed Peas have fallen by the wayside in recent years with a glut of sing-a-long chorus driven drivel ('Don't Lie'? What's next, songs about road safety?), king B.E.P. Will-I-Am is planning to take a six month sojourn to develop Aussie hip-hop talent. A chance for redemption perhaps...

*Speaking of prodcution, one of the maestros of the boards in Australian hip-hop is Danielsan from Koolism (ARIA Best Urban release winners in 2004 for Part 3: Randon Thoughts). The duo, Danielsan and MC Hau, are currently working on new material at the moment, but if you haven't heard of them Part 3: Random Thoughts is a perfect place to start (check out Nite Time to hear Danielsan and Hau's skills)

* Elefant Traks are a Sydney label that focus on several top-notch hip-hop and electronic artists, and when the Trax lads aren't wheelin' and dealin' they produce beats and rhymes under the moniker of The Herd. Quali-tay all around.

Back with more tomorrow....

R.I.P. Robert Moog

Sniff....Dr Robert Moog, one of music's true innovators, died on the weekend at the age of 71. Moog was the man responsible for revolutionising music through the creation of the electronic synthesizer. The instrument allowed musicians to create synthesized keyboards sounds on small, relatively cheap keyboards. Musicians from the 1960s to today owe much of their signature sound to the use of Moog keyboards, such as Brian Eno, Frank Zappa, The Doors, The Grateful Dead and many more.

Five ways to pay your respects...

*You know you want one. Pick up a Moog doll today.

*Grab a copy of the classic Moog edition of The Beastie Boys affiliated Grand Royal magazine (the same issue in which Bob Nastovich from Pavement shares his horse racing tips!).

*Watch the fantastic Moog documentary, featuring interviews with the likes of Stereolab, Mix Master Mike and DJ Spooky.

*Learn how to make your own theremin, the electronic wave-based device that first attracted Dr Moog into creating his own electronic instruments.

*Bone up on the winners of the Polar Music prize, Sweden's musical equivalent of the Nobel prize which was awarded to Moog in 2001 (past winners have included Stockhausen, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Ravi Shankar, and Pierre Boulez).

Goodbye La Latina, Hello Dalston

zzzzzzzzzzzz.....whoa.....So it seems the Madrid adventure is o.v.a.h - ovah.

Pictures in the next week or two (no digital camera, so it'll have to be the Boots 7 day wait). WARNING: There will be snaps of cute babies. Can't say I didn't warn you.

Meanwhile, I leave you with these feline gems.

*As pointed out today by The Guardian, here's some fun games involving cats and stacking (No, it's not cruel. Yes, I love cats. It is quite funny though, and very cute).

*If it suddenly all goes pear-shaped (or your cat stack comes unstuck), then the least you can do is help your injured kitty with the help of this Robot Wars-esque invention (ta to the Protein Feed kids). Ain't technology grand?

Hasta Entonces.... / The Rakes

So, Spain huh? At the moment it's around 34 degrees on a hot Madrid night, and the Major Leaguer holiday has consisted of walking around La Latina, a visit to a lil' football stadium, countless beers and sangrias, and nuthin' much else. I heart holidays.

Record of the week

The Rakes - Capture/Release

Major Leaguer favourites, and damn good guys too, The Rakes perfectly capture the after work, down the pub, at the club, kebab on the way home style of British life. Capture/Release is one of the summer's best releases, with an Ian Dury-esque 'everyday' lyrical slant, and tunes to boot. Plus, they're one of the best live bands around at the moment, and with the festival season still in full swing, you'd be foolish to miss catching The Rakes at your nearest sodden field.

Spain? / Death Cab For Cutie 'Plans'

Well, this may be the last post for a week, or it may not (if British Airways staff continue to strike and deny me my summer holiday).

Sigh....

Record of the week

Death Cab For Cutie - Plans



 
First outing on a major label for Seth Cohen's favourite band, and it's another strong collection of tunes about hearts (both broken and mended) from Ben Gibbard and the gang. Indie purists fearing complacency and over-production due to the band's jump to the murky waters of the mainstream should fret not. Songs such as first single 'Soul Meets Body' are as beautiful as The Photo Album's 'A Movie Script Ending', while 'Different Names For The Same Thing' uses the same mid-song detours that characterised Transatlanticism's stand-out track 'We Looked Like Giants'. Sure, it'll shift units like hotcakes, but right now I can't think of a band that's more deserving of commercial success than DCFC, and that's a statement Seth and Captain Oats would no doubt agree with.

Danger Doom taster here!

The folks at Freemotion have something special for lovers of masked villains and men in mouse suits.....check the Toney track! Yeah, Major Leaguer's become an MF Doom love-in....

BBQ in Brixton this weekend? I think so...

This just in...

Chloe's Party Summer BBQ
starring...optimist club....tiger force...jeremy warmsley...jamie t...hands on heads...emmy the great....manic cough.....Brixton windmill...Sun Aug 14th

join our myspace on www.myspace.com/chloesparty

no bananas!

Sounds like a damn fine gig, and Jeremy Warmsley and Emmy the Great are worth checking if you haven't seen them yet (yes, Jeremy still gets more Major Leaguer hits then the Arctic Monkeys!). If I wasn't in Spain this weekend trying out for Real Madrid, Brixton Windmill is where I'd be. Yup.

Just like a Rakes song really

Wake. Eat. Bus. Work. Eat. Work. Bus. Nap. Eat. Blog. Sleep. That's about the short of it recently. Am counting down the days to my Spanish siesta in Madrid (three more sleeps kids!) which should enable me to get tanned, drink quite a bit, see H & S's new baby Xander (hooray!) and just relax. Any suggestions on what to see and do in Madrid?

Newsy stuff...

* It seems David Gray is miffed that he didn't get chosen by his Bobness for Live8. NoRockNRollFun reports that the warbler is trying to get to grips with this whole 'erasing foreign debt' concept, but it sounds more like sour grapes really (that's because your music's sh8...ha! See what I did there? Huh? Wha? Fine, sod you then...grumble)

* Mojo + Dylan = 100 reasons why Bob is king. Props for including Mississippi at number 9 too.

*Things you really should stump up some cash for this week

Ladytron - Destroy Everything You Touch
Blimey, this is great. The icy group return with the second single from their major debut, Witching Hour. This is only out on promo at the moment (the folks at Pure Groove should help you out), and the Archigram mix is definitely stokin' my coals the moment.

Goldfrapp - Ooh La La
Allison and Will return for another slice of elecro-pop jiggery. Sure, it sounds a bit like half the other tracks on Black Cherry, but still miles ahead of most Top 40 records you'll hear this year. It's all about the Tiefschwarz mix though... (again, hit up Pure Groove for your fix)

The OC - Series Two
What? You think the world of Major Leaguer is just about backpack hip hop, indie, and electro stylin'? No way, there's always time for the Seth and Summer show! Now with added two Atwood brothers for the price of one (Ryan and his jailbird bro!)...and a great big side order of indie rock to wash it down! You do feel guilty after watching it though, like when you've just had McDonalds and you get the 'fast food' regret afterwards. BURP! Oops, sorry.

News-o-rama (Ryan Adams, Hazey Jane and more)

Music. News. Here. Now. Thank. You.

*Pitchfork has the lowdown on the new albums from the man with no sense of quality control, Ryan Adams. Bless his cotton socks...

*If you find yourself in Edinburgh for this year's Fringe Festival, check out the stylings of the lovely Hazey Jane. No confirmed dates yet, but I'm sure all will be announced shortly on her MySpace site, and after Edinburgh she'll be heading Stateside for a short tour.

*Danger Doom leaked! However, instead of bringing the release date forward, UK distributor Lex will are holding tight to the October 10 release date for The Mouse and The Mask.

(Oh, and in a related story, Danger Doom is providing almost 20 times as many hits for Major Leaguer than the Arctic Monkeys. Indie Hip-Hop 2, Indie Rock'n'Roll 0).

* New Boards of Canada! Warp have set a tentative release date for the follow-up to 2002's gorgeous Geogaddi, so if you walk in to your friendly record store on a yet-to-be confirmed date in October, and have the appropriate amount of local currency (pounds, dollars, euros, clam shells, pebbles) then I'm sure you can reach an agreement with the peeps behind the counter to trade your hard earned for BOC's latest. No title or details yet, but keep checking here for details when they come to hand.

* The second Burn to Shine DVD is out on August 22 (August 23 for you chaps and chaplettes in the States) and is a fine accompaniment to Burn to Shine 1 in which a select few of the US's finest underground bands were filmed performing at full volume in the living room of a derelect house, which was then knocked down the following day (and yes, the bands had left the house before the wrecking ball came along. I hate seeing hardcore kids cry). The stellar idea of Fugazi's Brendan Canty, the first Burn to Shine featured the likes of Ted Leo, Q and Not U (who have recently called it a day), Weird War, and The Evens (the drums/guitar duo of fellow Fugazi member Ian MacKaye and Amy Farina). The second instalment looks even better, as the focus is on Chicago this time. Performances come from Wilco, Tortoise, Shellac (noise!), The Ponys and Freakwater. Sounds tasty huh? That's not all though, as Burn to Shine 3 has just finished lensing, with Portland's finest providing the tunes for the pre-demolition party. Expect appearances from Sleater Kinney, Quasi, The Shins and The Decemberists. I'm in feedback-soaked heaven...

Mmmm...Bowling shoe fresh / Bye Bye Tyrone (sniff!)

Bowl-a-rama madness for Will and Woodrow's birthday bash last night. Despite getting off to a slow start, your correspondent quickly found form and was soon turning those gutterballs into spares (well, sometimes), and finished the final game with a flourish - three strikes in a row. Oh, I did have the aid of the kids bowling frame, but that's just our lil' secret ok?

*Bad news folks. It looks like Chappelle's Show isn't coming back for a third series. No more shouts of 'I'm Rick James, bee-aaatch!' Even sadder still, no more Tyrone the crack fiend!

New Pornographers - Twin Cinema

Lazy days indeed. Cricket, selling my soul to Audioscrobbler, and reading Spin and Plan B (and Spin is starting to get good again, despite the entirely non-musical feature on soccer hooliganism - huh? Wha? What does that have to do with Death Cab or New Pornographers?)

Speaking of Neko Case's band...

*New, New, New, New Pornographers album coming out on August 22. Having had my excitement built up late last year thanks to Neko's fabulous live album, The Tigers Have Spoken, it'd be an understatement to say that I'm eager to hear what new material Case, Carl Newman and the rest of the band have in store. Here's the title track to wet your whistle... (thanks to the gang at Mindjack for the heads up)

*Subter.com has had a facelift for the August issue, and looks very swish indeed.

*Don't send your kids to Mexico, or they'll be taught songs of death!

*Christmas is just around the corner, and I know I've got my gifts ready. Well, at least my carols are sorted anyway....mew....

So sweepy...yawn! Oh, rekkids too...

Yawn....Wednesday really is the hump day of the week. Felt tired for most of the day, especially after having homemade chilli burger for lunch which only made me want to have a kip straight afterwards. Slept on the bus home from work for the second day in a row, which is a pretty remarkable feat considering it's a rattling ol' Routemaster model (which will soon be taken out of service in the next two months...sniff!).

Tomorrow will be a much needed day off watching cricket, reading newspapers, and maybe even cleaning the house (well, at least putting some laundry on. No escape from domestic chores!). Oh, and catching up on some music too....

Simian Mobile Disco - Sick
The Simian lads have gone and made another minor classic, this time a shouty anthem about being sick of...well...everything. Expect a bleepy remix in the not too distant future at a club near you.

The Juan MacLean - Dance With Me
Absolute stunner of a finale from one of the best albums out at the moment. (not made by me unfortunately, despite the eerie similariies in our names!) Another winner from the white-hot DFA stables, and not to be confused with...

Cosmo Vitelli - Dance With Me
An oldie but a goodie that I recently re-discovered on an old Kitsune compilation. Love songs for robots anyone?

Scout Niblett - Uptown Top Ranking
In a perfect world, Scout and I would be married and living in the Catskills raising kittens. Sigh....one can only dream. Great cover, if slightly unsettling at first listen.

Knackered / Isolee - We Are Monster

What a tiring weekend....from playing a fun set with Sioux-Elin in a packed Catch (and then passing out from a mixture of exhaustion and a pre-set meal of dodgily cooked chicken, only to wake up the next day in bed fully clothed!), a Saturday with a bad stomach ache, and a Sunday where there was no escape from work. Aching all over, and very tired. Just two weeks till summer holidays in Madrid...phew!

Record of the week

Isolee - We Are Monster



Those who continue to mourn the so-called death of dance albums should grab a pair of headphones and settle down with the latest opus from Raijko Muller. Upon first hearing 'We Are Monster', you immediately sense that what you're hearing is extremely familiar, much like an old friend you suddenly bump into after far too many years apart. Clicks, house grooves (and we're talking proper house here kids, as in the kind you'd encounter in a dark warehouse in Chicago in circa 1985), swirls of what appear to be Hawaiian guitar (the gorgeous 'Schrapnell'), acid squelches, and the sense of joyful abandon that comes with only the most playful of records. There's a sense that seeing these tracks performed live by Muller himself in a packed club would really be something special, but minor quibbles such as these don't really matter because listening to 'We Are Monster' in your own abode seems like the idea of heaven at this very moment. Fuck, damn, this is one fine album.

Listen to....Isolee - Schrapnell (thanks to One Louder for the link)

Can't Mix Won't Mix chart - July

The typically rainy London summer weather made Can't Mix a low key affair last night, and with Will's short set leaving me with three hours to fill till close, it meant that I could test a few new tunes plus play out a few old favourites too. Got asked three time last night by random punters whether I had any 'gear'....I don't think that's happened since my dancing days at Club Habana back in Canberra years ago! Also learnt that any time I'll wheel out 'Axel F' from now on will be accompanied by loudly shouted 'DING-DINGS' from drunken yobs (which was kind of the response I secretly hoped for. Damn that frog...)

Can't Mix Won't Mix Top Ten July 2005

X-Press 2 feat Kurt Wagner - Give It (Skint)
Avenue D - You Love This Ass (Pete Love This Acid Mix) (Phela)
Ladytron - Destroy Everything You Touch (Island)
Missy Elliot - Lose Control (Jacques Lu Cont Mix) (Atlantic)
Freeform Five - Elctromagnetic (Evil 9 Broadway Dub) (Fine)
Annie - Happy Without You (Riton Vocal Mix) (679)
Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F (MCA)
Death From Above 1979 - Black History Month (Alan Braxe and Fred Falke Remix) (679)
Danger Doom - Sofa King (Epitaph)*
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five - Scorpio (Plaid mix) (Sequel)

* Ta muchly for the tune BSE. Fancy a return visit to Can't Mix in September?

Nitty Gritty @ Catch this Friday

Apparently I'm spinning records at Club Nitty Girtty this Friday at Catch nightclub in Shoreditch as special guest alongside the lurrrvely Sioux-Elin (superstar). News to me!

Come along, get drunk, dance, pull down your pants and have a lovely time, ya dig? Expect soul, strange hippity hop, the odd broken beat and a riff or two.

Club Nitty Gritty this Friday 29/7
@
Catch
22 Kingsland Rd
Shoreditch EC2
10pm - 2am

Can't Mix Won't Mix Wednesday 27th July

'So, Euan from Can't Mix Won't Mix, what can we
expect at CMWM this week?'

'ZZZZ......Wha? Hey, why'd you wake me up
man?'

'Sorry, just finding out if you guys have any guest
DJs this week, or anything of note happening to let
the kids know about'

'Dude, why'd you wake me up? Dammit man!
Um......I think we spent our Guest DJ fund on
hookers and blow...and magic beans...'

Can't Mix Won't Mix
Wed 27 July
with Will Kane and Euan
@ The Pool
104-108 Curtain Rd Shoreditch, EC2

Hip Hop / Electro /Indie nonsense
FREE!

'Damn you magic beans.....grow!'

Karate Chop!

Hail Satan! Tenacious D's 'Pick of Destiny' teaser site is finally up and running. Check out the Hell O'Clock news while you're there.

Been a strange few days in London, with situations reminiscent of a fortnight ago. Everyone is on edge, but at the same time people know that life still must go on. As I write this, bombs have gone off in Egypt an hour ago. It's all a bit freaky...

Bargain Hunt / Frank Black

For anyone residing in North London, best leg it to the Dalston Oxfam branch sharpish as they're having a rather fine CD and Vinyl sale this week. Last Sunday this is what I managed to pick up for less than a tenner...

Singles
Scout Niblett - Uptown Top Ranking
Interpol - C'Mere (with remixes from all four band members)
Ralph Myerz - Casino

Albums
Ray Lamontagne - Trouble
Tegan and Sara - So Jealous
The Fiery Furnaces - Burberry Boat
The Notwist - Neon Golden

Le Vinyl
OST - Beverly Hills Cop
Spectrum 311 - Lying Eyes (with Juan McLean and Simian Mobile Disco remixes)

Grand total? £6.41! Bleedin' heck....cheap as chips! I heart charidee shops.

UPDATE: How'd you get to Major Leaguer?

Google and Yahoo search hits keep on coming for Jeremy Warmsley, Roll Deep and Q-Tip (new single with Busta already out on import - dyn-o-mite!). Arctic Monkeys are only clocking around 2 hits a week, although with the shambles that is Mr Doherty's Babyshambles hitting the skids again this week, maybe the NME will elevate the Monkeys to the title of 'most hyped new band of the moment' (which is a unfortunate burden I wouldn't wish upon any young artist), which will no doubt increase their Major Leaguer hit rate. We'll see....

Record of the week

Frank Black - Honeycomb

Black Francis attempts Blonde on Blonde on his new LP, the follow-up to his accoustic Frankblackfrancis album, and of course his never ending award tour with the re-united Pixies.

With the legendary Jon Tiven and Dan Penn behind the boards, and featuring a jaw-dropping guest list that Ryan Adams would trade half a dozen indie actress girlfriends for just to share oxygen with (Spooner Oldham, Steve Cropper, Reggie Young, David Hood), Black rises to the occasion with aplomb, gathering a collection of quickly written originals and well-chosen covers (Doug Sham's 'Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day' is an inspired, and unexpected choice) to knit together a country soul album that breezes by quite nicely. It's worth noting that Black's voice is in particularly fine form too, with the Pixies singer showing a more soulful timbre than on previous records.

Who you gonna call?

Major Leaguer's top five songs about ghosts

5. Walking With A Ghost - Tegan & Sara
4. Ghost Town - The Specials
3. Friendly Ghost - Eels
2. Your Ghost - Kristin Hersh & Michael Stipe
1. Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.

Googling 'songs about ghosts' also gets you here, although there's nary a tune about spectres throughout. Instead, Songs About Ghosts is a nifty short story zine published in New York. I'm sure Ray Parker Jr would approve (apparently Ray is writing and recording again after a long hiatus - hooray!)

Danger Doom. Yep, a mouse in a mask...

Drool.....Drool....Drool. MF Doom and Danger Mouse have wrapped up work on the forthcoming Danger Doom album, out in October, and if Mince Meat is any indication then it'll earn 'em both five gold stars and a smiley stamp on their '05 report card. Next for DM is the Gnarls Barkley collabo with Cee-Lo, while Doom is putting the finishing touches on work with Tony 'Ghostface' Sparks. Drool...Drool...Drool...

Can't Mix Won't Mix this Wednesday - Will and Woodrow! / R Kelly's Ben Hur

Can't Mix is back again this Wednesday night @ The Pool in Shoreditch, and supersub Woodrow Phoenix is stepping into the breach to cover for my absence (I'm looking after Dave and Carolina's 7-month-old baby, Audrey, while they worship at the feet of Trent Reznor. 1...2.....3.....awwwwwwwww. Stop it right now).

Expect a load of 60s French pop, old soul, funk and electro as Woodrow and CMWM resident Will Kane take to the wheels of aluminum. Cost? Nothing to you my good friends, not one penny.

Can't Mix Won't Mix
@ The Pool
104-108 Curtain Rd
Shoreditch, EC2
8pm - 1am
FREE!

Oh, and news just in....

*I'll be spinning records at Club Nitty Gritty on Friday July 29.....more details when they come to hand.

*Speaking of DJs, or vaguely professional ones at that, congrats to Milky who scored the number four slot in the In The Mix ACT DJ Poll! Well done son....taught him everything he knows. Sorta.

*Trying to catch the full motion picture epic that is R Kelly's Trapped In The Closet (Pts 1-5). Will has informed me there's a twist at the very end. I'm guessing that our pal R wakes up to find it's all a dream, before getting peed on by his lady friend. Well, that's how Dave Chappelle would have played it anyway, except he's still AWOL in South Africa.

Where was I? Oh yeah...

Way-hey! No work on Tuesday. How will I pass the time?

* Listen to the new Cut Copy single, Future, especially the Chromeo mix. Stylin'.

* Book flight to Madrid for August holiday. Must also start compiling musical care package to bring to Houman when I arrive, as he insists the Spanish charts are complete rubbish (Shakira? Rubbish? I think not...)

* Begin the search for new shoes as my pair of Gravis sneaks are crumbling. Chuck Taylors perhaps...cheap as chips.

* Finish reading The Princess Bride. Inconceivable!

* Sleep....zzzzz

Record of the week - Sufjan Stevens 'Illinois'

Second American state themed album from Stevens which reveals more with repeated plays. It's a love letter packed with historical references, neo-classical stop-overs (Reich and Glass anyone?), campfire sing-a-longs, and carefree whimsy that Stevens threads together with ease, making this one of the best LPs I've heard this year. The only question is, will his next 48 albums be just as good?

Major Leaguer bonus

Shock! Latest Harry Potter book leaked five days before release. World keeps turning...

Thanks y'all...

Just a quick note to say thank you to everyone that called, texted, e-mailed and got in contact after the events in Central London today. Luckily I wasn't working so I didn't have to go into town. My workplace is right above one of the busiest tube stations in the West End, and has a history of having to deal with bomb threats and evacuations (not exactly the most fun thing to experience as you can imagine). Luckily all work colleagues are safe, and so are my friends around town.

Watching the chaos from the safety of a friend's house, I realised that events such as today's explosions can happen anywhere, especially in a city like London. At a time like this it's important to reach out to your friends and family, and to those who have been affected and offer whatever support you can. I've lived in London since 2002, and feel fortunate to be in such a vibrant, colourful city. Yesterday's news about the successful Olympic bid made me think back to working at Sydney 2000, and experiencing two of the best weeks of my life in another amazing city.

Today's events have been a shock, although not an unexpected one. However, life will continue, and London will recover. Everybody I've spoken to today in London seems calm, although understandably shaken, but will go about with their lives in a positive frame of mind. My thoughts are with anyone affected by what has happened today, at a time where the support of friends and family is most needed.

To all my friends & family in Australia, Sweden, Spain, USA and the UK.....thanks. I hope you're all well and will speak to you soon.

Euan

I have become addicted to BB...again. Damn.

Peeling myself away from the lewdness of the 205th edition of Big Brother (as hard as it is...snigger....I don't want to swim in that pool), here's what's on the Major Leaguer stereo this week.

Missy Elliott - On And On / Can't Stop (from The Cookbook)

The two hottest hip-hop producers at the moment provide the two hottest tunes on Missy's new LP. On and On is the tag-along track at the end of the Lose Control video, and it's another case of the Neptunes raising the bar when it comes to tracks full of squelchy/poppy bliss. Meanwhile, Can't Stop sees Elliott ride the same Rich Harrison hi-hat & brass wave previously surfed by Beyonce (Crazy In Love) and Amerie (1 Thing). Both have 'club banger' written on 'em, and are begging for stereo workouts all summer long.

Royksopp - Only This Moment (Alan Braxe and Fred Falke mix)

Forget the original version and head straight to the French house duo's re-rub for a big fat serving of filtered goodness. I could listen to this all day....

Stars - Ageless Beauty (from Set Yourself On Fire)

The Canadian 04-05 invasion continues, and if the music emerging continues to be this gorgeous then Major Leaguer may be setting up camp in Montreal fairly soon. Stars' third album slipped out into UK stores earlier in the year on import, but if upcoming single Ageless Beauty follows the same path as other Cannuck successes, notably The Dears Lost In The Plot and Arcade Fire's Neighborhood 2 (Laika), then the Montreal/Toronto collective's time on indie label Arts and Crafts may be shortlived. Many a mix tape made by scruffy indie boys falling for fey indie girls this year will feature Ageless Beauty sandwiched between Blur's You're So Great and Rilo Kiley's Portions For Foxes. Ain't love grand?

Major Leaguer bonus

Oh, and on a TV related note, let's hope the Beeb reconsider their attempt to revive one of the best shows of the 90s.

'Wot Do U Call It?' Roll Deep / The changing face of Hip-Hop audiences

To answer Wiley's question (posed on his solo effort from '03, Treddin On Thin Ice'), grime isn't garage, esky, or hip-hop. It's all of that, but distilled into a distinctly British mould which is throwing up some of the best young MC's and producers around. The new Roll Deep album features some of this talent, including Wiley, and is definitely worth a listen. Upcoming single The Avenue is arguably the standout track, with a sample nicked from The Maisonettes Heartache Avenue. Tasty stuff.

Across the pond, Village Voice has an intersting article about the changing demographic of the American hip-hop audience by ex-Source editor Bakari Kitwana.

Rollerskating Jam Named 'Saturdays' / Le Tour / Make Poverty History

The joy of a weekend away from work. Saturday comprised of -

*Battling through swarms of punters at the local markets just to get a dozen eggs and six apples. I also got 'a loaf of bread, a container of milk and a stick of butter'. I remembered, I remembered!

*Re-discovering an old friend

*Reading the latest issue of that fine webzine Subter.com

*Getting cyclical as Le Tour starts again - I can never get sick of watching Lance Armstrong destroy Jan Ullrich. (Props to Rob Arnold who works on the English version of the site. I remember getting drunk with Rob, Briony and the ONS crew during the Sydney Olympics. 10 beers, tequilas and potato wedges are never a good combination!)

*Watching in hope for Pink Floyd to have a barney on stage at Live8, but it never happened. Damn.

Oh, and even though the Live8 concerts might not be your idea of raising awareness of one of the world's biggest problems, the least you can do is click the banner in the top right corner of this site and take some time out to read about the situation.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (unless you're Frank Farina or Dawson)

Strange days indeed....

*Let her go! Pacy will never forgive you now.

*On the day the Socceroos get admitted into the Asian Football Federation, meaning their chance of World Cup qualifiaction will become much more realistic, coach Frank Farina gets the kick up the ass. Crap...

*Avril's going to marry the Sum 41 singer. Hang on, are they even old enough to, y'know...rent a forklift truck?

*New Dandy Warhols opus due in September. No word on whether they've decided to return quit mimicking Bowie, T-Rex, and Duran Duran. Put down the eyeliner Courtney...

*Big fat PLUG....Hooked On Phonics is back at The Pool in Shoreditch this Thursday (31st). The Real are gonna pop by and do that zany thing they do with beats and geetarrrs (I think it's called playing music). It's free before 9pm, then it's £3, which is virtually nuthin'. Phonics and Can't Mix are like brudders man, so if I don't mention their night I get Wet Willies and Hurts Donuts all week. Ow.

*Oh, here's the new indie band of the moment. Like Arcade Fire in '04, this is the band all the bloggers and zines are clinging too, include Major Leaguer. Yeah, guilty like Micheal J....whoops. I'd better watch it or the dove lady will hunt me down.

Doomtastic - The Masked Villain

What's the best soundtrack to immerse yourself whilst writing? For me at this present time it's MF Doom...check this nice mix comprising some of the Villain's best work (the link won't last long so check it while ya can)

Super....

Oh, the pumpkin soup was quite scrummy. Hit it up with some malted wholemeal bread and you've got yourself a fine meal...

Spurred/The rise and rise of The Dears

OK, so it wasn't 4-1, but the Spurs still delivered the goods to win game 7 against the Pistons. Ginobili is now officially a god....let's hope the Jazz get a good draft pick and make the playoffs next year (yeah, yeah, laugh all you want, I'll still support those mormons anyday of the week)...

Have just arrived home from the corporate behemoth that was day 1 of the Wireless festival at Hyde Park. The Dears have definitely improved after six solid months of touring and played the stand-out set of the night. New Order? Pretty much a tribute show nowadays ('Show us your hits!') and not very inspiring. Dresden Dolls? Wrong audience, and definitely wrong time of the day (4pm on the main stage? You're having a laugh!). Rilo Kiley? Five songs, and then kicked off because another band ran over time...hopeless planning to say the least. Still, Jenny was lovely in fetching white cowgirl boots...*sigh*

A day of rest tomorrow, full of writing and cooking. Pumpkin soup anyone?

Can't Mix Won't Mix wrap-up (ah...Pointer Sisters!)

Well that was fun...last night's Can't Mix was ace. Good crowd, great tunes, free Hoegaarden - what more do you need in a night? Big thanks to Dom from Nature Loves Courage for helping out (you need to bring more records next time!), Luke and Pat for their turntable antics, and of course Will as always (ever the professional, especially when it comes to French pop). Tune of the night? Pinball Number Count by The Pointer Sisters. If you're part of the Sesame Street crew you know where I'm at...nice one Pat.

Can't Mix Won't Mix June selections

*Freeform Five - EEEEAAOOWW (Narcoleptic Mix) (Kitsune)
*The Raveonettes - Love In A Trashcan (Columbia)
*Maximo Park - Once, A Glimpse (Warp)
*NWA - Express Yourself (Priority)
*Tom Vek - I Ain't Saying My Goodbyes (Phones remix) (Tummy Touch)
*Wire - Dot Dash (Harvest)
*Blendcrafters - Melody (MF Doom remix) (Up Above Records)
*Royksopp - 49 Percent (Wall of Sound)
*Goldfrapp - Oohlala (Virgin)
*Scott Grooves - Mothership Reconnection (Daft Punk remix) (Soma)

Nature Loves Courage vs Can't Mix this Wednesday @ The Pool

Where were we? Oh yes...

So, after BSE from www.abitnice.com dropped
some science on our asses at the last Can't Mix
(new Missy - Quality with a capital Q), we sat
back for a moment and realised that we'd been
neglecting the indie kids we know and love.

However, if you're thinking, 'Oh no, not more Gang
of Four tribute bands with scruffy hair and pencil
thin moustaches' you'd be wrong because this
week you'll actually hear Gang of Four (yes!) and
so much more.

Our fine friends at disreputable zine Nature Loves
Courage wanted to throw a bash to celebrate their
fourth issue, and we at the Can't Mix institute
thought long and hard (we even got our protractors
out and measured the angles), then said '**** it,
let's do it'. So, it's NLC vs Can't Mix...bring the
mother-****ing 'J Mascis brawling with Lou Barlow'
ruckus...

Nature Loves Courage @ Can't Mix Won't Mix
Wednesday 22nd June
8pm-1am @ The Pool, Curtain Rd, Shoreditch,
EC2
Free!
DJs: Will Kane, Euan (Can't Mix), Dom, Pat, Luke
(NLC)

What's on the stereola? Arcade Fire, Riot Grrl,
Beat Happening, Butthole Surfers, Mogwai, Slint,
HipHop, Interpol, Cure, SST Hardcore, Albini,
Sebadoh, Pavement, Pixies, Jesus and Mary
Chain, My Bloody Valentine, Smiths, Lou Reed +
new bands championed in NLC. Time to get those
Mudhoney 7"'s out...

Obi Wan Ginobili (nope, not my joke, I swear)

A lazy day in front of the NBA....watched Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan whip the Pistons to give San Antonio a 2-0 lead. Now, now, some of you might be saying 'Hold on, haven't you seen Game 3 yet?' Well, the answer is noooooooooo. I'll watch it on Saturday becuase it's on Sky over here and since I don't have the sports channels on my cable subscription I'm relying on a guy at work to tape it for me (Awwww....yeah, he rocks). I'm hoping for Detroit to win at least one of their home games, but I think San Antonio will win it in five. Yup, 4-1 San Antonio. That's a lock.

In other news

* I hear gator wrastlin' will land you in jail...

* Kanye's sophomore effort's been bumped back to August (you heard 'Diamonds From Sierra Leone' yet? Qual-i-tay all the way...

* Old news I know, but I'm still tempted to get tix for The Mars Volta curated ATP weekend in December. Anybody want to shout me tix as an early birthday present?

I 'heart' Saint Etienne

Ow! Didn't sleep that well last night, being woken up by the light outside my window at 5:00am. 5:00AM!!! Note to self - buy dark curtains, otherwise there'll be NO......SLEEP......TILL SPRINGTIME! (NAH NAH NAH!)

To make things worse my back is killing me, which is quite odd since I've never had any problems with it before. That'll teach me not to exercise and lift boxes...what was I thinking?

Major Leaguer stereo selection

Saint Etienne - Tales From Turnpike House




Well, given my love for all stylised French pop there was really only one choice this week (did you really think I was going to choose one of the manufactured shag haired bands that are bleating every five minutes on MTV2? Besides, the only other good release today was The Magic Numbers debut, but a new Saint Etienne album is always full of lovely surprises so it got the nod...just).

The second Saint Etienne album to sport the wares of the Xenomania pop svengalis (Finisterre being the first), Turnpike House is consistently splendid, a warm concept (no, no, come back now) album about the residents of an East London block of flats. Sarah Cracknell's lush voice is in top form, and those fans who felt Finisterre may have been too cold for their liking will be relieved to find plenty of 'old Saint Etienne' songs to allay any fears, with Lightning Strikes Twice and A Good Thing standout choices for future singles. Be quick to pick-up the limited edition which carries a bonus six track disc of childrens songs (a taster for a full album which is planned for release in just in time for Christmas!)

Can't Mix Won't Mix flyer

This is the current Can't Mix Won't Mix flyer at the moment. A nice two-tone feel if you ask me. If you think this one's the bees knees though, wait until you see what WK's rustling up for the next one! 

Stu Egan's Blog

I've been dropping into Stu Egan's site from time to time over the past six months and his award tour has certainly producing some cool happy snaps of people and places around the world. He's also quite a handy writer too, with his musings on hip hop regularly appearing in Hip Hop Connection (this month's issue will make you wet your Carhartts if you're a Def Jux head) and other mags about town. Go on, take a Spacewalk.

The week Major Leaguer went corporate...sorta

Highllights of the week?

* Can't Mix Won't Mix 3 - Bse from A Bit Nice dropped some science on our asses at Can't Mix on Wednesday (i.e. he played some lovely hip hop really) including the new Missy joint...damn! You're welcome back any time...

N.B. 22nd June sees Can't Mix number 4 being taken over by the Nature Loves Courage kids for their issue 4 launch party. Did I mention there'll be free NLC badges? Oh yeah....8pm-1am at The Pool Bar on Curtain Rd, EC2. If I don't see you there, I'll get Steve Albini to come over to your house and kick your ass...

*Still Sudoku mad....it's sucking my life away...

*Avoided hearing any Dr Who plot developments from WK...tomorrow's episode could be either brilliant or bollocks.

*Hearing today that Steven Gerrard's pre-season will be cut short thanks to European football. Get in there...

*Finally finding the Pere Ubu track I'd been trying to track down for several years since seeing the filmclip for it on ABC's Rage music video back in September '96 (It was the night that Custard first programmed the show, and included Dead Milkmen's Punk Rock Girl, Soundgarden's Jesus Christ Pose, and Wall Of Voodoo's Mexican Radio....whoa ohhhh, radio). Anyway, I digress...the track's called Love Love Love and is from their hard to find (and expensive) Cloudland album. It marked a poppier path for the band in comparison to their early albums such as The Modern Dance and Dub Housing.

* Oh, and as you look to your right you'll see the newly constructed Google AdSense shrine. Clicky on the linkys if you will and I'll promise I'll blog more often (or you can click on them if you want me to stop. Your choice...)

There's also a search window at the bottom of this page if you can't be assed to type in W....W....W....DOT....G...O...O...G...yeah, yeah, you get the picture. Suddenly I feel all techno-mo-logical ...

Artic Monkeys Experiment
C'mon lads, Amerie and now Jeremy Warmsley are kicking your keisters when it comes to hits directed to this site.

(Hey, that three slang words for buttocks in the one post. Looks like that journalism degree's really starting to pay off after all these years. Better remove it from the emergency toilet paper stash)

How'd you get to Major Leaguer? / Arctic Monkeys Experiment update

So, if you've just found this site for the first time it might be due to these Google searches...

6/6/05 (6:06am) - 'T4' welsh presenter - yep, the teen TV presenter Steve Jones who apparently 'conqered' Pamela Anderson and, just recently, Rose McGowan.

5/6/05 (8:37pm) - 'live in the year 3000'+lyrics - When did I blog about Busted? Oh yeah...

5/6/05 (6:28am) and 2/6/05 (11:23am) - 'frog brothers' - If you don't own this on DVD, shame on you.

2/6/05 (10:54am) and 1/6/05 (11:25am) - 'jeremy warmsley i-believe' Jeremy's single is out this week on Exercise Records. It's good, so do the right thing and get yr wallet out. Oh, here's an interview I did with Jeremy for this months issue of Subter.com

Artic Monkeys Experiment: Update

Only 3 searches in the last 3 days for 'band of the moment (while Pete Doherty is absent presumed missing presumed recording the sound of himself pissing his career down the toilet)' The Arctic Monkeys resulted in hits for Major Leaguer, whereas Amerie keeps on keepin' on, scoring 10 hits for this lil' site.

Booty shaking R'N'B 1, Indie Rock 0.

Addictions / Sleater Kinney / Arctic Monkeys

This week I have become addicted to...

...those damn Sudoku puzzles in The Guardian and The Independent each day, so much so that my internet and cable usage over the last week has been almost non-existent (maybe that's a good thing, I hear some of you say. Well....you're right...dammit).

...Amazon marketplace. Cheap books, cheap CDs. Why pay more that a fiver for anything?

...Bio-yoghurt mixed with honey and pine-nuts....yummmm!

This site has started to get quite a few hits each day now, especially after the Amerie post a few weeks ago. So, let's try a lil' experiment. I've just read a feature about the NME's hottest new band of the moment (well, one of the 50 or so this week), The Arctic Monkeys. They're supposedly a mix between Blur (good!) and The Libertines (bad!) and they're touring the UK right as I blog. So, let's see how many hits Major Leaguer gets just from mentioning them. I'll keep track each day and let all y'all know....

Major Leaguer album of the week

Sleater Kinney - The Woods

First Low, now Sleater Kinney. It seems Sub Pop can do no wrong this year. The Woods is one of those albums that re-establishes your faith in good old rock'n'roll, a crackling set from a band that have reached their creative peak. Produced by Dave Fridmann (who was also at the boards on Low's The Great Destroyer, the other Sub Pop must-have of '05), The Woods sees Brownstein, Tucker and Weiss expand upon their last two outings, All Hands on the Bad One and One Beat, crafting an album that reveals new giddy thrills with every listen. Plus, in the form of Entertain they've crafted the best song to get your rocks off to so far this year. This one isn't going to leave the Major Leaguer stereo for a long time....

Can't Mix Won't Mix aftermath/ damn broken puter!

Grrr....technology was not my friend this week, no siree. Thanks to the joys of Windows XP Service Pack 2, the hard drive on my laptop crashed and I had to spend a small fortune getting it fixed. Two days without my puter didn't help either, especially since my Subter deadline is pretty much around the corner (ok, fine, it's here....it's coming in 24 hrs Brad....I swear....pinkie swear, ok? Ta...).

Spoke to the lovely Jeremy Warmsley today, who will feature in this month's Subter column. A talented musician and swell lad really. Go to his website and check him out...

Can't Mix Won't Mix this week had the added bonus of showing one of the best football games I've ever seen. Even though my 'Kewell 7' shirt didn't really help (Harry, Harry, Harry...what the f**k is going on?), the second half fightback was absolutely brilliant. Forgot I had to DJ afterwards as well, and just kept on drinking....head sore the next morning....oh dear... apologies for all who had to endure 2 hours worth of shouting from this deranged fan....up the 'Pool....

The CMWM badges went down exceptionally well, and the designs for next month's exclusive badge, and of course the flyer, are looking v tasty indeed. Once I get my laptop fully up and running I'll post the design right here on Major Leaguer...the man who designs them, the charming Will Kane, put on quite a show behind the decks as well. Comic artist and beat junkie...too cool for school.

Sniff...sneeze...grrr. Damn cold...

As usual, every May brings with it the pre-summer cold, and no matter how hard I try at the moment I just can't get rid of it. Spent the day in bed reading trashy music mags (especially NME which just gets worse every week) and taking power naps. Watched the third episode in BBC's exceptionally good Soul Deep documentary. The focus tonight was Motown (and to a lesser extent Chess) and was packed with footage of Diana Ross making faces on 1960s TV shows. If only music television today had go-go dancers in sequinned dresses....sigh. Afterwards, BBC Four showed the fantastic Standing In The Shadows of Motown documentary. A damn fine night on the box indeed.

Major Leaguer stereo selections for this week

Maximo Park - Once, A Glimpse (from A Certain Trigger)
Gorillaz feat. MF Doom - November Has Come (from Demon Days, out May 23)
Common - Go! (from Be, our May 23)

Ow....my flyering feet hurt!

Deadline time is frying my mind. Deadline time is frying my mind. So many deadlines, so lil' time.

Martin Grech tonight at the Barfly (supported by Weapons Of Mass Belief). It'll be interesting to hear the new material in a live setting. Also, this is the third Monday in a row I've been at the Barfly (1st - Clor, 2nd - Pippettes). I should probably just bring a suitcase and decamp there...jeez!

Spent day flyering for Can't Mix in Stoke Newington and Angel, and resisted all attempts to buy second-hand clothes and records. Just. Polo shirts are-a-calling though, and today's weather easily justified investment in Penguin & Fred Perry shares. Bring on summer I say.

Stakes Is High

That's the slogan on the t-shirt that Southampton player Graeme Le Saux was wearing on TV yesterday. Who'da thunk he was a De La fan?

So the first Can't Mix Won't Mix night has been and gone, and I think it went all right, considering most peeps were at The Real's gig at Death Disco (they also made their Drowned In Sound debut this week as well...busy lads!). People were drinkin', dancin', romancin'...the next one's on May 25th, which funnily enough is the same night a certain football team play in a lil' cup final in Istanbul. Looks like it could be a night of glory or misery for me....eep!

Major Leaguer stereo selections

Maximo Park - Graffiti (from A Certain Trigger, out May 16)
Bright Eyes - I Believe In Symmetry (from Digital Ash In A Digital Urn)
The Raveonettes - Somewhere In Texas (from Pretty In Black, out June 6)
Vitalic - Valletta Fanfares (from OK Cowboy)
Four Tet - Everything Ecstatic

Can't Mix Won't Mix - May 11 @ The Pool

Right....shameless plug here....

The first official Can't Mix Won't Mix night is on this Wednesday May 11 at The Pool bar in Shoreditch. Guest DJ on the night will be Franco (The End) who will be dropping plenty of electric cuts for y'all to get down and dirty to (or get shamelssly drunk to...your choice really). The CMWM lads will be on the decks too, and entry is FREE! Yup, not one penny. Or pence. So....

Can't Mix Won't Mix @ The Pool,
104-108 Curtain Rd, EC2, Shoreditch.
Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday, 8pm - 1am.
Playlist - Electro/Indie/Hip-Hop

Over and out...

If you liked Crazy In Love...

So, those of you who know me are aware I'm partial to the odd bit of R&B, especially the sucker punch 'damn, what was that?' kind that you want to spin again once the needle leaves the groove. Well, Amerie's '1 Thing' is one such tune. Produced by Rich Harrison (of 'Crazy In Love' fame) it's an Apache-style drum fiesta with an ace vocal. Her first album was slept on, so here's hoping working with producers like Harrison and Lil' Jon (who contributes the title track to her new album, 'Touch') gets her the recognition she deserves. Plus, there's always the video if you're not convinced.....

Oh, last Thursday was also Major Leaguer celebrity spotting day.
*Spaced's Simon Pegg looking lost (in Carnaby Street)
*The welsh presenter from Channel 4's T4 (not Vernon) who apparently had 'relations' with Pamela Anderson (at the White Stripes album playback at the Cabinet War Rooms)
*The actor who played Burnside on The Bill walking towards Oxford Street. Burnside! He looked quiet scary really. Probably on the way to nicking some geezer. Probably. Burnside!

'Who wants celery?'

Highlights of the past 7 days...

*Willie Mason at ULU. The lad's a genius, and was backed by his 15 yr old brother on drums (who was wasted after two beers and a cigarette. Bless). Never been to a gig where the main act throws celery and kiwi fruit at the audience!

*Brendan Benson at Waterfront, Norwich. Power pop.....swoon.

*Meeting deadlines for DIS, Ditched, and by sunday Subter.com (honest Brad....it's on it's way!)

*Securing the club night at The Pool in Shoreditch. More details shortly...just keep May 11 free ok? Although if yr going to see The Real at Notting Hill Arts Club then I'll let you off, but just this once...

The definition of Indie, according to Vice

"I feel like there has been created, in the past two to three years, an indie-yuppie establishment. Bands like Death Cab for Cutie, Iron and Wine, the Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, they are great bands, really great bands, with great albums, great songs, high quality. And to me, it’s just so fucking boring. It’s like fancy-coffee-drinking, Volvo-riding music for kids. And kids should be listening to music that shakes them up more, makes them uncomfortable. … I don’t think we’re ever going to sign an indie rock band. … I want to sign stuff that is more immediate and shakes you up a bit."

So sayeth Adam Shore, general manager of Vice Recordings (y'know, the Atlantic backed record label offshoot of Vice Magazine), speaking to the Columbia Spectator. Funny, because weren't these guys one of Vice's first signings? In fact, according to Trend Central, they signed waaaaay back in May of '03. Oh, and that lil' band Vice also signed called Bloc Party? Hate to break it to you Adam, but despite the art-punk leanings, they're indie too. Don't want to diss the fine folks at Vice (especially the eternally dope Eric Lavoie) but c'mon, who are you trying to fool?

Thanks to Brooklyn Vegan and Stereogum for the heads up on Vice's slightly odd guide to indie rawknroll....

High rotation on the Major Leaguer stereo this week...

Hot Hot Heat - Middle of Nowhere (from Elevator, April 25)
Nine Inch Nails - The Hand That Feeds (from With Teeth, May 2)
Autechre - Untilted (Untilted, April 18)
Aimee Mann - That's How I Knew This Story Would Break My Heart (from The Forgotten Arm, May 2)
Maximo Park - Apply Some Pressure (from A Certain Trigger, May 16)

Pitchfork and Fluxblog - Indie heaven?

Here's an interesting article from the Chicago Tribune about the impact that websites such as Fluxblog and Pitchfork have on the music industry. About three years too late, but still worth reading (Credit goes to largeheartedboy for finding this piece).

Have just realised that I've missed T-Model Ford playing at The Spitz tonight. Not only was it the chance to see one of the last Fat Possum ol' boys in action, but Alan Sparhawk (Low) and his dirty side project Black Eyed Snakes were supporting as well. Dag nabit!

The Frog Brothers!

Weekdays are the new weekend (well for me anyway). Two days off for laundry, haircuts, writing, cleaning and hopefully checking out my Lost Boys special edition DVD. Corey overload....

Record of the week - Tom Vek 'We Have Sound'

The one man wonder who was in the middle of a frantic bidding war at last year's In The City gathering in Manchester finally gets around to releasing his debut. Packed full of stacatto drum loops, punk funk basslines, Talking Heads vocals and crazed yelps, it's mightily impressive stuff (although If I Had Changed My Mind does sound eerily like Two States by Pavement. Which isn't a bad thing really).

Subter III

Issue Three of Subter is online from today. Check out the interviews with Anna Nalick and The Real, then listen to streamed tracks from both artists. Go on. You know you want to.

Listened to the new Roisin Murphy (singer from Moloko) album today, and it's quite tasty indeed. Y'know why? Cause' it's got Matthew Herbert's clinky, whirry, jazzy production all over it. Yum.