day 09 - a song that you can dance to

catch-up is the name of the game, yikes!

Two Door Cinema Club - 'What You Know'

The video makes it easy. There's a girl pounding her fists in drums covered in glitter. What more could you need? The backbeat is in your face. Just brilliant to dance to. I danced so hard to Two Door the last time I saw them, my calves hurt so bad for 3 days afterward. Not kidding.

It's funny thinking about Two Door and Delphic, my 2010 bands, b/c they are so different. While Delphic feels to me "intellectual", Two Door is more "in your face, no frills". I love them both, for entirely different reasons.

Delphic - Red Bull Academy Radio takeover

when I was trying to find the source of a photo I'd saved eons ago from Delphic's first performance in Los Angeles in June 2010 (approximately a month before I saw them live), I found this very interesting Red Bull Academy Radio takeover show via the China Shop Mag.



the tracks

Matt's picks:
Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work - Kitsune (BROS!)
Thom Yorke - The Eraser - XL Recordings (not a surprise, as it's Matt. read more here from my chat with him in Boston last year.)
Sebastien Tellier - La Ritournelle - Record Makers
Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come - RCA (yes! Motown! and I looooove Sam Cooke.)

Rick's picks:
David Bowie - Rock'n'Roll Suicide - EMI (not a surprise, as it's Rick. read more here from my chat with him at Roskilde last year.)
My Bloody Valentine - Sometimes - Creation Records (the fact that another one of my band friends adores makes this...weird. as in Twilight Zone weird.)
Outkast - Take Off Your Cool - Arista (this selection blew my mind. I'd never have guessed the Boardman liked Outkast. excellent choice.)
Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill - EMI

James's picks:
Studio - Life's A Beach - Information
Jeff Buckley - Morning Theft - Sony
Deerhunter - Microcastle - 4AD
Bjork - Wanderlust - Wellheart Ltd (not a surprise at all for Delphic)

Two Door Cinema Club wins Breaking mtvU Woodie

I am so proud of my buds Two Door Cinema Club for winning the Breaking mtvU Woodie. hell, even Friendly Fires didn't manage that 2 years ago.

watch them perform 'What You Know', my favourite song by them, in front of an adoring audience in Austin last night. hells to the yeah.

2011 mtvU Woodie Awards

Two Door Cinema Club - before they was

this is Life Without Rory, the band Two Door Cinema Club was in before they became...well, Two Door Cinema Club. the presenter says they're 16 years old, which would place this show 5 years ago.

check out Sam Halliday's long locks. and TBH I'm not sure if that's Kev Baird on bass. if it is, it's really weird how he and Sam look like twins. I guess I shouldn't be so surprised:



watch and enjoy a live performance of 'You Missed the Point' by Life without Rory below. (Two Door Cinema Club is a MUCH better band name, isn't it?)

Two Door Cinema Club - ITN interview bites

poor Sam. you can tell by his hands he's sooo nervous! and directly below that, an acoustic version of 'Undercover Martyn' from the same session. loverly.

AH-OH-AH-AH-OH - Two Door Cinema Club rocks out the 9:30 Club

so my favourite Irish boys Two Door Cinema Club were in town last Thursday night to entertain us. along with them were Tokyo Police Club (Canadians from Ontario) and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin (Americans from Missouri) but for me, it was all about Two Door.

you see, I've known their music since before xmas 2009. I/TGTF was the first blog to have written about them, that I'm aware of anyway. certainly one of the earliest mentions of 'Tourist History'. I wrote previously about our first meeting in April 2010 here and here. since then they've skyrocketed to fame and it couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of hard-working guys from a little town in Northern Ireland who dreamed of being massive one day.

well, they've arrived. selling out American venues is a big deal for a band from a town thousands of miles away.

PW review (I compare the whole thing to a three-course dinner, including Two Door as the best curry you've ever eaten in your life)

TGTF review

well, 'What You Know' is thoroughly danceable.

I love 'What You Know' an inordinate amount. it's my favourite track from Two Door Cinema Club's 'Tourist History', because the bass line is relentless and the guitar lines are second to none. the lyrics are great too - so true. "I can tell just what you want / you don't want to be alone, you don't want to be alone / and I can say it's what you know / but you've known it all the time, you've know it all the time..." months before we met in person, I just knew there were something special about these guys.

I just sussed the bass line of the chorus of this song last weekend and am feeling rather victorious, but b/c of so much stuff on top of it, I'm having trouble with the verse. so much so that I kind of begged Kev Baird to help me with it. no response as of yet...

oh bloody hell I LOVE THIS SONG ♥ ♥ ♥ ::sob::

*ahem*

I'm so sorry for the I consider these guys my little brothers. watching them gain the success they deserve from all their hard work they've put in brings tears to my eyes.

why haven't I thought of this before? best idea for a tour ever...

according to a chat I had with the exceedingly intelligent and lovely Matt Cocksedge of Delphic, Squib Swain does lighting for both them and Two Door Cinema Club.

so last night when I was driving home and listening to 'I Can Talk', I was thinking...why not have...

the AH-OH-AH-AH-OH / AH-EE-AY-OH-AH-EE-EE-AY-OH tour

the posters alone would be amazing. they could get placement on Sesame Street.

this is completely copyrighted by me, 'natch.



disclaimer: there is no such tour planned, though it's not from lack of interest on my part. I've tried my best to get the ball rolling on this!

Two Door 'You Think You Know...' Babysweet documentary

in case you haven't seen it yet, here is the amazing 'You Think You Know, You Don't Know: A film about Two Door Cinema Club' documentary by the Babysweet folks. I honestly thought it was going to be on DVD format with the expanded edition of 'Tourist History' (I reviewed it both for Popwreckoning and TGTF) but no. they decided to let everyone have a watch of it, which, in hindsight, was pretty cool of them. watch it below.

I AM SO PROUD OF EVERYTHING THEY'VE ACHIEVED!

I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE THEM IN 11 DAYS!

I'M GONNA HUG THEM LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW!

ok. I'll calm down now.

"I never feel l like I'm mashed enough to watch it" (Rock am Ring 2010 interview)

I know it's not Friday - yet - but it came to my attention that today is a bank holiday in England, so watching this on your day off from work/school is perfectly acceptable.

Delphic and Two Door Cinema Club's lighting man extraordinaire Squib Swain is compared to Squidward of 'Spongebob Squarepants' fame, Rick reveals his former obsession with Melissa Joan Hart as Clarissa in 'Clarissa Explains It All' (seriously, I thought I was on the only one who watched that show religiously, haha), their race with Foals on the Formula 1 racetrack and other topics are explored in this interview at Rock am Ring, conducted interestingly by a Dane (Rock am Ring is in Germany).

2010 in review

I had a think the other night when I was lying in bed, you know, that little twilight time Macca describes right before you fall asleep and strange thoughts come into your head. (at least that is his explanation for 'Yellow Submarine'. a likely story...) and thought it might be nice to have a "best memory" of each month of this year.

January - this is a tie: 1) standing in front of Johnny Marr, jaw on the floor, as he played with the Cribs at the 9:30 on 19 January. he really is that amazing on guitar. and 2) interviewing We Are Scientists backstage at the Black Cat. they are so, so funny. and I got to enjoy the gig with my good friend Catherine, who enjoyed their show even she had no idea who they were / what they sounded like previous to the gig. score!

February - this is probably going to sound a bit strange, but the highlight of February was seeing Delphic's 'Halcyon' video in all its full colour, wide screen glory on a tv display at DC9, 19 February. I had only ever seen it on a computer screen and being able to see it in front of me, huge, brought a smile to my face. that and MB and I were singing along to it and dancing to it like loons, even though no one else there had a clue why were acting that way. (ohhhh, the ignorant!)

March - watching the xx play a sold-out gig at 6th and I Synagogue, 28 March. what a gorgeous, intimate venue to see such beautiful music being played.

April - witnessing Two Door Cinema Club's debut appearance in Washington, at Constitution Hall, 26 April 2010. they could have been scared and apprehensive playing one of the bigger stages in DC, supporting heavyweight Phoenix, but they showed no signs of worry. they were friggin' amazing. I was happy I wasn't the only one dancing along to their tunes but golly, just 5 months prior I'd received a sampler from Kitsune with 5 tracks of theirs (absolutely loving them) and now I was getting to see them live.

the best part was afterwards, when I went right up to Kev Baird and said hello, showing him I knew who he was (he was very surprised!) and when I gave him my business card, he said, "IT'S YOU! you're the woman who writes lovely things about us!" and we hugged. since then I have been sending friends to see them all over the world, and the band know this, b/c inevitably, they meet my friends after and they say, "Mary sent me!" haha

May - Laura Marling at Iota (16 May). I'd just come back from Philly seeing Two Door and was feeling ambivalent about this gig - I'm not a big fan of hers. live, she is WOW. how is it possible someone so young has so much talent?

June - meeting Conor O'Brien (Villagers) and seeing him do a solo show at DC9, 21 June. I wasn't sure if it was such a good idea going to this gig, just days before I had to leave for Denmark, but I am so, so glad I went. we had a nice chat. he wanted to know about me b/c I had said I had learned about him from Steve Lamacq (um, of course!)

July - Roskilde. professionally, this was a major coup, being the only American invited to be an official blogger for the festival. (seriously, I now get the "you went to Roskilde???" gasp from most bands when I tell them I saw them there. probably the best gasp was from Dougy Mandagi of the Temper Trap, whose mind was blown when I told him I had stood behind him as he smoked during the Kissaway Trail's set at Odeon and since he was chilling, I didn't want to bother him. this discussion went on outside the Boston House of Blues, see September.) I saw so many bands gig there that I may never get the chance to see in my lifetime, and I feel truly blessed for the opportunity. personally, I met two English musicians who I think will be friends for a very long time. if their band doesn't get too big and they forget the little people that helped them at the very beginning of their world domination, that is :)

August - I bought my first amp! it's only a practise amp but it signalled my first real foray into bass playing. I am teaching myself how to play electric bass guitar - I started the week after I got back from Roskilde - and it's become a wonderful hobby. I used to sing alto in the school choir, so it's coming pretty naturally to me to play a harmonising instrument than a lead melody one. also of note: I have learned how "sensual" an instrument the bass guitar is. (and yes, that is all I will say on that subject!)

September - travelling to see Temper Trap and Delphic in Philly (26 September) and Boston (29 September). such great shows. forget the money and traveling, I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat for similar amazing experiences. probably the two best moments were 1) interviewing Matt Cocksedge of Delphic, b/c he's such a funny, intelligent, and talented guy and 2) getting hugged by Dougy Mandagi after the Boston show, he'd had such a high after meeting a large group of girls from Indonesia (where he is from) who had travelled all the way to Boston to see their show, because up to that point, they had not played in his home country. I am really glad to have seen them before they start playing stadiums, b/c I'm sure that's where they're headed next. Delphic had a good if not great reception, which is pretty good, considering not too many people know who they are on this side of the pond (hope this will be rectified soon, b/c I've tried my darnedest to promote them over here).

October - seeing the tragedy of DC9 scared the heck out of me (it took a couple weeks before I would even go back downtown again) and First Aid Kit's show was cancelled (boo), the highlight of the month was seeing Delphic there on 8 October, a week before that drunk guy got killed outside the club, is bittersweet.

it had been pretty much a perfect night, the weather was wonderful to hang out on the rooftop bar. (nearly) all my local friends had come for the show, and they were not disappointed. even weirder, one of my cousins was there celebrating a friend's birthday (I had not invited her, she just happened to be there and was surprised to hear there was a band playing that night). before the night was out, I'd introduced her to Rick Boardman - her first rock star encounter (insert proud older cousin smirk here). before the band left, we were able to have a moment with them for catch-up so I could wish them well for the second part of their campaign across our continent. there was mutual appreciation and hugs all around.

aww, now I'm getting teary-eyed! haha.

November - two things. 1) emotionally, I needed to see the Script at the 9:30 on 2 November. (don't you dare laugh.) a lot of people think they're too commercial but I like their sound and they are v. good live. I was amazed how the crowd sang along to every song. what a great night. however, 2) I also needed a good rocking out / kick in the pants this month, and that was delivered by the Joy Formidable at Black Cat Backstage (11 November). it is with some amusement that I remember almost getting hit in the head several times by Ritzy Bryan's guitar. haha.

December - interviewing Brian Briggs of Stornoway at the Black Cat and telling him how much 'Beachcomber's Windowsill' meant to me, and he was touched. before I left the venue, the whole band signed a set list for me, "to Mary, with love from Stornoway, and thanks for the praise online! Oli, Brian, Jonathan, and Rob". I feel very grateful that my "job" allows me opportunities like this.

I am now looking forward to seeing what 2011 brings - more amazing gigs, interviews, and meetings, surely, but I also wish for love. blogging as a single woman is a very, very lonely experience. you just don't know how lonely it is until you actually do it for 2 years and go to most (if not all) gigs by yourself. everyone else is at a gig with their significant other, or at least their friends.

I've travelled alone to all sorts of places for gigs and I wouldn't trade the experiences I've had in places near and far, meeting bands and seeing them gig. but most of the downtime, wandering around an unfamiliar town, is pretty lonesome. it'd be nice to find someone who loves music as much as I do and be able to share that important part of my life with him.

well. it is time to bid adieu to 2010. if you are in DC, London, Manchester, New York, LA, or further afield...I hope you have exciting plans for tonight to say goodbye to this eventful year.

roll on 2011! and happy new year!

Mary x

top gigs of 2010 - TGTF - winner: the Postelles
top albums of 2010 - TGTF - winner: 'Acolyte', Delphic
top 'lists' of 2010 - Popwreckoning - posts tomorrow, 01.01.11

Two Door Cinema Club - Virgin Red Room interview

here is a Boxing Day special in the form of a Virgin Red Room (not Virgin Red Rom as it's misspelled on the Web site) interview with the fabulous Two Door Cinema Club.

female interviewer's a bit of a ditz (is this why everyone in the music business looks at me dubiously when I say I'm there to interview a band???) and the "twinkle twinkle" whispering before the actual bit goes on is a little creepy. but the guys are as adorable as ever. enjoy.

and I recognise Sam's scarf. that must be Kitsune issue, b/c I've seen it around two other musicians' necks, haha ;)

xmas wishes from Two Door Cinema Club

I was thinking to myself Tuesday, wow, maybe this Christmas I'll be healthy! then a couple hours later I succumb to probably the worst incidence of flu I've had since I was small. blehhhh...

so instead of me saying thank you to everyone who's ever come by this blog, as I'm too ill to do so right now, here are Two Door Cinema Club's wishes to all their fans b/c I melted reading them.

n'awwww...I wanna give Kev, Sam and Alex the biggest of hugs right now.

watch the video too!

Hey guys,

We think it’s about time we wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS, and with this festive greeting, we present to you a mashup of our year….it’s a bit of everything…clips from Reading Festival, T In The Park, the Carson Daly show, Shepherd’s Bush Empire, festivals in Japan, Sam wearing his brand new adidas tracksuit, Vegas, Jimmy Kimmel, Kev showing off his dance moves, music videos from Gran Canaria, France and West London, our first UK TV performance on Jools Holland, KCRW radio session in America…our amateur footage that we call ‘tour diaries’. See if you think you can spot yourself….



It’s been a huge huge year for us, and this all comes down to the support we’ve had from you, so THANK YOU. We couldn’t have done it without you [no seriously, we couldn't!] So we dedicate this compilation of moments to ALL OF YOU.

Thanks again everyone – you’ve made our 2010 properly amazing!

Kev, Sam and Alex

x

Two Door Cinema Club and Delphic answer Under the Radar Mag's artist survey

Kev from Two Door Cinema Club and all of Delphic answer some (admittedly American-centric) questions Under the Radar Mag sent them about their year in 2010. (FYI there are apparently more Delphic answers in the physical Under the Radar, but as I've been felled by flu I'm not exactly sure when I'll be well enough to venture out for it. and I'm only getting it if the magazine was smart enough to shoot another nice, 2-page photo of the guys for it, haha.)

Kev of Two Door Cinema Club

Top 10 Albums of 2010

Not really in any order...

Four Tet: There Is Love in You

The National: High Violet

Bad Veins: Bad Veins

Caribou: Swim

LCD Soundsystem: This is Happening

The Black Keys: Brothers

Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Blood Red Shoes: Fire Like This

Stars: The Five Ghosts

Wild Nothing: Gemini

What was the highlight of 2010 for either you personally or for the band?

We’ve been lucky enough to be part of a lot of very cool things, but I think our highlight definitely has to be releasing our debut record. It was kind of like we’d properly laid down our intent.

What was the low point of 2010 for you?

When someone threw beer over my favorite effects pedal.

What are your hopes and plans for 2011?

We’re going to be touring until about April/May. Before 2011 is over we want to have the next record finished and well on its way or finished in the studio.

What are your thoughts on President Obama’s job performance in the last year? Has your optimism, if you were an Obama supporter, waned?

After studying American Politics in school I probably should have taken more of an interest. I think from touring all over the world for the duration of his presidency I have lost a lot of touch. He seems to be doing all right yeah! Doing a better job than I could.

What are your thoughts on the Tea Party movement?

I think in essence they have a point. It’s not a new idea. I think their demands would be rather hard to achieve, though. In these kinds of circumstances I think there are more important things that people should be putting their energy into. There are contradictions in their argument. How can a state such as the United States reduce its enormous debt by lowering taxes that its citizens pay? In my opinion it’s “perfect world ideal-ology.”

With the Internet making every artist’s music potentially available to a wide audience, is it now easier to find listeners or more difficult because you have to compete with so many other musicians?

It is definitely easier. These days you can post things you’re listening to on MySpace or last.fm directly to your Facebook where all 1,000 of your friends who you don’t even know can listen to what you are listening to. You don’t have to be an established band to get fans. If you know how to work the socials to your advantage you’ll benefit.

Who would you rather listen to—a totally original musician whose compositions are groundbreaking but difficult to listen to or a musician whose songs are immediately enjoyable but derivative? Why?

The latter. Music shouldn’t be about what’s cool or not. I listen to music that I enjoy.

In the race to find new bands, are too many unworthy bands being hyped up by music blogs and websites? How are music fans supposed to filter through all these new bands being hyped?

Things have come into this new generation. People are finding the music for themselves and less and less listening to the stuff they are told to by the big institutions. It’s definitely the age of the independent blogger. There are definitely a lot of terrible bands doing reasonably well because of hype, but hype is a curse as well. Hype seems to lower the shelf life of bands, especially if it comes around before they release a record.

If your house was on fire, what would you grab as you were running out?

I unfortunately don’t have a house. I have a suitcase so if that goes on fire I’m fucked.

If you could relive one day of your life, which would it be?

The day I was born so I could start over.

What’s the strangest fan encounter you’ve ever had?

When a whole class of medical students in Paris grew moustaches because I had one.

If you had a bucket list, what would be the Top 4 things on that list?

1. Go to the carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

2. Get a platinum record.

3. Punch an A list celebrity in the face.

4. Sleep with an A list celebrity.

Who was your first love and do you still keep in touch with them?

Beer and daily.

Is there anything that most people are able to do that you can’t (such as drive a car, swim, ride a bike)?

Draw.

--
Delphic extra answers

With the Internet making every artist’s music potentially available to a wide audience, is it now easier to find listeners or more difficult because you have to compete with so many other musicians?

James Cook: The Internet is a junction of avenues that help people find their way to your band. Ten years ago there were no forms of social networking and now there are dozens, all with dedicated band/artist pages. It has changed the way we consume music, although not necessarily for the better. Whereas in the past people were forced to buy a few albums and really consume them, now the listener is spoilt for choice. It’s neither easier nor more difficult, as bands have always had to be competitive, it’s just now they have to approach it in a different way.

Who would you rather listen to—a totally original musician whose compositions are groundbreaking but difficult to listen to or a musician whose songs are immediately enjoyable but derivative? Why?

Matt Cocksedge: Music is dependent on mood—sometimes you want to be comforted by what you know, sometimes you want to listen to something groundbreaking or original because you already know what you know, if that makes sense. One category is neither more valuable nor less worthy than the other. It’s a big landscape and there’s room enough for everyone to find an audience, even Barry Manilow.

In the race to find new bands, are too many unworthy bands being hyped up by music blogs and websites? How are music fans supposed to filter through all these new bands being hyped?

James: The modern music fan has become savvy to the Internet, discerning which blogs or websites they trust, but inevitably it’s like it always was. You filter by listening. It’s easy to tell at that stage which bands are hot air and which bands are of substance. The press should always be seen as a guide rather than a rule.

Who was your first love and do you still keep in touch with them?

Rick Boardman: Delphine—she is our muse, so yes.

Is there anything that most people are able to do that you can’t (such as drive a car, swim, ride a bike)?

Rick: We can do all those things. In fact, we swim and cycle quite often.

Have you ever been starstruck when meeting another musician? If so, by who?

Rick: No.

What’s the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in the last year?

Rick: We don’t dwell on things enough to get embarrassed by them.

What or whom do you miss most when you’re touring?

James: Delphine

What moment made you maddest in 2010?

Rick: When we realized our football club in England was £1.1bn in debt thanks to the Glazers.

What was the first movie you saw in the theater as a child and do you still enjoy it now?

James: Peter Pan—you can’t better those Disney choirs. Of course I still enjoy it, it’s timeless.

In 2010, what was the best movie you saw, book you read, comic book you read, video game you played, and/or TV show you watched?

Rick: Movie—The Social Network by Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher. Book—Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick. TV Show—Mad Men by Matthew Weiner.

What are your thoughts on President Obama’s job performance in the last year? Has your optimism, if you were an Obama supporter, waned?

Matt: Obama has definitely changed the perception of America around the world, largely due to the symbolic nature of his initial policies (on human rights, health care, discrimination) which showed the determination and clear direction of his government. Of course there is a lot left to do, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, and criticism is inevitable. However his hesitation is understandable given America’s relations with the Middle East, and the critical state the nation was in when he took the reins.

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring musician, what would it be? What was the best piece of advice that you’ve ever gotten?

Rick: Everyone and anyone can be a musician these days. Bedroom studios have taken over from commercial studios. All you need is a computer and you are officially a recording artist! But, in order to rise above all the thousands of applicants, you have to make sure you are making the best music with the best songs. There is a sea of bland music out there and only a few who are really doing something special. Work harder than everyone else and write better songs.

I laugh in the face of top 10 lists!

so of my top ten albums of 2010, only three of them made it on the This is Fake DIY writers' top 50 - the Futureheads 'The Chaos' at #47, Two Door Cinema Club's 'Tourist History' at #42, and Mystery Jets 'Serotonin' at #29. pretty disappointing not to see Delphic, Hundred in the Hands, Broken Bells, or Villagers in there somewhere. I don't like Kanye, I don't like the National, and I defo don't like Sleigh Bells! bah.

what HAS been rather interesting is reading independent (personal) blogs choosing Delphic on top 10 or 20 lists. there's too many to list here but I really liked this one from Denmark (I think) called the Idioteque. here is a blurb from their #5 placing of 'Acolyte' (I've left off most of the Pitchfork slagging):

So, Delphic hasn't exactly been the critics' choice. Rock with synthesizers just isn't as hot as guys with beards playing acoustic guitars, and perhaps it never really has been the shizzle this century, at least outside of Denmark, where bands like VETO, Spleen United and Turboweekend have been among the most prominent of the country's sudden surge in independent music.

But how can you resist? When 'Clarion Call' kicks off in a massive crescendo at 1:26, how can you not be drumming your fists into thin air? How can you help nodding along to 'This Momentary''s insistent, four-on-the-floor beats and chanting, haunting vocals? How can you ignore the brilliance of the pivotal track, 'Acolyte' itself, which surges like a tsunami again and again, and clusterbombs you with swooning, rapturous synthesizers? Or when the album fades away with 'Remain', a post-crescendoic blissful nirvana?

Wearing its Haç-heritage pretty visibly on its sleeves seems to often override the fact that Acolyte really isn't exactly the floor filler it's often proclaimed to be. I see it more as a listening record, and while being sometimes slightly characterless; it cleverly manages the oft-attempted fusion of rock and electro, avoiding most of the pitfalls. So Pitchfork gave it a 5.0 grade? I bloody hell couldn't care less - this is one of the most menacingly intense and engrossing albums of 2010!

Why not swim against the tide, as the opening stanza states, we live in unconditional change anyway?

(read more here)

v. nicely said. the more I listened to 'Acolyte', the more I was convinced this was more of an intellectual record. like Jenny and Johnny's 'I'm Having Fun Now' that can be enjoyed superficially/simply as a surf pop record, 'Acolyte' can be enjoyed as a dance album. rave to it. if that's all you want from it.

but it's when you sit down with it long enough that you realise the brilliance. listen to the lyrics. they're spare but they do what they're supposed to - make you think and tug at your emotions. then consider what they do with the synths (the effects in 'Counterpoint' that sound like birds, for example) and you realise this isn't any record. the guitar riffs are awesome. they're not overbearing. they've been placed in just the right spots. just brilliant.

I have my own thoughts of what 'Acolyte' the song is supposed to represent. but I won't post it here b/c I will blush and embarrass myself, so sorry, you will have to come up with your own ideas on this one. I will say, start first by looking how the song is constructed. I got better acquainted with it, working out the bass line and figuring where the bass came in with respect to the many synths.

I often think about how the Pains of Being Pure at Heart sound is a great wave, awash of sound that you want to get swept up in, and 'Acolyte' runs similar to this, but with no lyrics. no lyrics except ethereal, heavenly sighing, as if from another world. if the music in heaven is anything like this...

this week's Roundtable (16/12; best of 2010 - part 2)

sorry this was delayed, but part 3 of our office party took place exactly during Roundtable yesterday (yes, I wondered myself, who puts on holiday parties that take place over 3 days?)

Lewis Bowman from Chapel Club, Alex Trimble from Two Door Cinema Club (pinch hitting, oddly, for his bass-playing bandmate Kev Baird) and journo David Quantick were the guests.

1. Mystery Jets - 'Dreaming of Another World' - the winner - this gave me such a big smile on my face the first time I heard it. I'm desperate to see them live.

2. Laura Marling - 'Darkness Descends' - she's very good live. it's completely a transcendental experience compared to listening to her recording. go see her.

3. Sleigh Bells - 'Tell 'Em' - I still think they're overrated. they're ok, just massively overhyped. are they going to be around in 2 years? I doubt it. ahahahaha Alex Trimble said "it's like a young girl who is singing along to Stomp!" ohhhh Alex. ::huggles::

4. I Am Kloot - 'Fingerprints' - it's all right but it's a bit meh to me (sorry Guy Garvey) compared to more emotional music like Stornoway's ::swoon::

5. Cee-Lo Green - 'Forget You' - it's ok. the only reason it's getting all this coverage is b/c of the controversy.

6. MGMT - 'Congratulations' - it's ok. I like 'Song for Dan Treacy' better. the album is definitely much better than the critics would have you believe.

7. Warpaint - 'Undertow' - again, don't understand the hype. in a way, I'm kind of glad they're on the BBC Sound of 2011. that kind of ensures they won't go anywhere (haha - sorry, I am a bit sore I was not consulted for it this year as Phil was last year...sucks they only consult with UK-based professionals only)

8. Goldheart Assembly - 'Last Decade' - I LOVE THIS. gorge. ::wahhhhh / sobbbb::

Delphic compliments Two Door Cinema Club...and more...

I like this sort of thing a lot. FANDOMS COLLIDING. THUD.

and I'd never heard any of the demos of 'Submission' :O you all heard it on this blog eons ago that 'Submission' was my favourite song on 'Acolyte'. obviously labour of love, I just knew it the best song ::smug::



in the second one, they comment on Phoenix, the xx, Sub Sub and Doves (ooh).

Two Door Cinema Club on Jools Holland

catch this performance of 'What You Know', my favourite song by my favourite Irish boys Two Door Cinema Club from last night's Jools Holland.

guitars can talk!

CMJ. FML.

ok, I already knew several of my friends' bands were playing CMJ.

I hadn't realized how many amazing bands from the UK were actually coming.

it's insane. most of these are from the UK.

Alessi's Ark - UK
Appomattox - friends of mine - US



Bikini - US?
Blood Red Shoes - UK
Brodinski - UK
Dan Black - I've missed him three times now (Dot to Dot last year, Ultra this year, 9:30 Club this year), this will be the fourth. talk about comedy of errors. - UK


The Drums - US
Everything Everything - friends of friends of mine - UK



Fenech-Soler - UK
Ferraby Lionheart - UK
Frankie and the Heartstrings - friends of mine - UK



The Good Natured - UK
Philadelphia Grand Jury - AUS
Phoenix - I have no idea why they need to play CMJ. they've been selling out venues everywhere. weird. - FR
The Postelles - friggin' amazing, I saw them / interviewed them last weekend. Postellementalism. (sorry this embed isn't great live quality, EMI won't let me embed their official video for 'White Night' - go here to watch it). opened for the Futureheads in the spring, then headlined at Koko. amazing. - US



Sky Larkin - UK
The Static Jacks - they opened for Biffy Clyro here last week, and the Futureheads in the summer. 'nuff said. - US



Two Door Cinema Club - friends of mine, they put out my fave album of 2010. if there was one band to see, this is them. - technically UK b/c they're from N. Ireland, but they probably want to be known as IE.



if you have the opportunity to go to CMJ this year - GO. you have been briefed. go forth and prosper!

Delphic vs. Friendly Fires vs. Two Door Cinema Club - Melt Festival (Germany)

while this Delphic interview at Germany's Melt Festival isn't really insightful, I find the enormous green microphones that Rick, James, and the German interviewer are holding completely hilarious. they look like they should be bobbing just above sea level in the ocean. or from far away they might look like massive iced lollies.

'one year later actually, your band is actually quite bigger!'

(stop me, I'm laughing.)

also, I wonder if the two of them were under the weather, or maybe where they were being interviewed was really hot. at 1.07, James takes an odd breath and then leans over. at the end, Rick is literally hot under the collar. I often wonder how they deal with wearing long sleeved shirts and suits when they're playing gigs. but then I remember how much I prefer musicians who dress up...!



I've sort of been moaning about the recent 'Stay Here' Friendly Fires collaboration with Canadians Azari and III and not being entirely happy about it (LACK OF GUITARS, GUYS), I think Melt in Germany and Selector in Poland were the only two festivals that featured both them and Delphic.

consulting the tarot cards? brilliant.

also...funnily enough, the interviewer mentions Two Door Cinema Club at the beginning of the interview. haha! it's all coming full circle for me...



and speak of the devil: here is Kev of Two Door Cinema Club.

'you used to be a big secret. but sorry to tell you, but you are now mainstream.' ::big grin::

oh, and the band war continues. Kev just happens to mention that Delphic is opening for them in Hong Kong in August. ooooh, snap!