Yes I'm still alive..

I've actually been doing quite a lot but to make up for the time without blogging, this is gonna be an extra long blog. I might even miss out some bands as I have SO many to write about!

I ordered 2 cd's a couple weeks ago and they arrived this week; Eight Legs - Searching For The Simple Life and William - Self In Fiction. I haven't had much time to play William's album yet because I've been far too busy playing Eight Legs. I actually just fell in love with the album on the first play, they're your typical indie band similar to The Kooks, Joe Lean and the JJJ and even sometimes The Futureheads and The Maccabees. If you haven't heard them, download 'These Grey Days' and 'Blood Sweat Tears'. However, William's album still does sound really good so far. They kind of remind me of Vampire Weekend on some of their songs, they're quite original as they mix indie beats with the unusual vocalist and it really works.


Kids Love Lies
www.myspace.com/kidslovelies

This is surely one of the most exciting new bands you'll listen to in a while. I don't have one bad word to say about them. Quite similar to Blood Red Shoes as they play mostly upbeat indie with a female vocalist. They're also really versatile as they have a perfectly sung slower song, 'Chimera' which is just as good as the rest. Infectiously catchy and instantly lovable, they're just far too good.
Recommended: every song on the myspace.


The Kabeedies
www.myspace.com/thekabeedies

Upbeat, happy, careless pop. Similar to bands such as Los Campesinos! and Johnny Foreigner as they are a band where a female and male share the vocals, and sing over beats made to dance along to. Singing about fun and light hearted topics such as mythical beasts, dancing and parties, it's clear to see this band is purely about having a good time.
Recommended: Palindromes, Lovers Ought To, Mythical Beasts.


The Xcerts
www.myspace.com/thexcerts

I've heard this band before, but this time round I realised I had underrated them. They're not too different from the majority of indie pop bands out there, but scottish 3 man band The Xcerts produce catchy music which works really well. Their songs vary in tempo and I the songs breakdown and pick back up again in exactly the right places. A really good band to sing to and even though you probably won't love them at first, but they're definitely worth a listen.
Recommended: Growing Old, Listen. Don't Panic, Just Go Home.


4 Or 5 Magicians
www.myspace.com/4or5magicians

Another band I'd heard before and actually liked but never got round to listening to again. Making music quite different from a lot of indie bands, it isn't just up tempo beats with catchy choruses. They have weird and different intros, long intros that aren't boring, but are a great build up to the song and a vocalist who's accent shows through in his strong voice. All of these factors should ensure that this band are remembered and seperated from the rest. All of their songs don't sound quite similar, so they haven't really made their own individual sound but have a lot of different sounds to make something totally different.
Recommended: Ideal Man, Change The Record, I'm In The Band.


A1 Bassline
www.myspace.com/a1bassline

Totally different to the music I usually write about, A1 Bassline is a DJ who produces garage dance songs, and mainly remixes of other songs. He's really amazing at what he does and I love basically everything I've heard so far. If you're into artists such as Partyshank, Glamour For Better or Pendulum, or like techno, dance or drum and base, you should like him straight away. There's actually a remix of Glamour For Betters' 'Shape Cutting Catalyst' up on his myspace now.
Recommended: Bad Man Horror Theme Clip, Shape Cutting Remix, Girl Thing.

- Speaking of Glamour For Better, their new album Darling You're Nothing is out now. Click here where you can find it on Itunes. On previewing the songs on there it sounds amazing as I would have expected so I should be getting it soon.


The other day, accidentally finding the website of Be Your Own Pet's record label Infinity Cat Records, I stumbled across quite a few new bands, a load of them really impressed me so I'm going to mention some here...

MEEMAW
http://www.myspace.com/pigsinpossumalley (yeah that's their myspace..)

Quite a different band, they produce indie, punk, garage and a lot of their songs sound different as they have two vocalists. I'm not quite sure they're taking this music thing seriously their song 'Smoking In The Sun' contains a very small amount of lyrics but they still manage to talk about milk, bread, diet coke and having a leather face.. it still makes good fun music though.
Recommended: Witch Solo, Smoking In The Sun, Dry Hump.


JEFF The Brotherhood
www.myspace.com/jakeandjamin

Featuring just 2 brothers Jake And Jamin (Jamin being the former drummer of Be Your Own Pet), who are both in quite a few bands on the label, this band is just those two making experimental punk, indie, very alternative rock which is completely fresh and good to hear when you're used to the majority of bands reminding you of something else. They have long intros, a lot of instrumental parts, unexpected change of tempo and beats and catchy lyrics when they do finally appear. It sometimes feels like you're listening to not just one song, but a whole medley of songs with them and it's exciting to hear what the song will develop to next. They definitely deserve to be heard.
Recommended: every one on the myspace.


Cake Bake Betty
http://www.myspace.com/cakebakeb

Saving one of the best till last, Cake Bake Betty, also known as Lindsay Powell (and sometimes a heap of other members including the band above) delivers a load of piano songs, sung with a beautiful voice not too different from Regina Spektor. If you like different female vocalists like her, Florence and the Machine and Kate Nash then Cake Bake Betty should be an instant love. She's one of the only artists I'm playing at the moment.
Recommended: yet again, every song on her myspace. She also has a new album, 'To the Dark Tower' out now.



That should do for now, the next blog should feature some new pop punk, and I'm seeing Be Your Own Pet's final gig ever on the 26th August so that should really be something to write about. See ya!