alex lee thomson #5
By: Alex Lee Thomson
Gosh, has it been over a year since my last blog? So much to boast about, so much to share, yet I feel more compelled to splash my love around (no like that) for a great summer of music and festivals ahead.
Since I scribbled here last I've got myself onto a number of nice ventures, none quite as exciting as working with this years' Secret Garden Party where new lovelies Esser, Cage the Elephant, Mumford and Sons, The All New Adventures Of Us and Wallbirds will be sharing stages, frolics and fun-times with Grace Jones and the legend that is Jeremy Warmsley. That brings me to my song of the year so far. Reprimand me if you wish though I stand by my judgement that Warmsley's cut of 'Temptation' is maybe the best four minutes or so you'll ever spend snuggle between a set of earphones. Certainly one of the best things I've heard all year.
Other great songs this year, besides 'Time to Pretend' which actually came out last year, then... 'Fascination' by Alphabeat is a stupidly infectious pop track while 'More News From Nowhere' found Nick Cave hunched over my record player time after time for far longer than is medically recommended. Some great live shows from him this year, from Air Studios playing with Spiritualized in the spring, to the Hammersmith Apollo; wowing my eyebrows off (and I have so little eyebrow in general).
I guess the reason I'm erratically moving along this blog is to brag my rekindled love for The Subways. Their new record will not win favours with those who didn't get their rocks off to 'Young For Eternity' but it's a remarkable LP that's not so much more mature as much as it is just better made, still full of youth and spunk. Oh, I do love the spunk. Billy's voice is baron, angry and recovering nicely from an illness that almost stopped the making of 'All or Nothing'. This record though, really is all or nothing and worth checking out for 'Turnaround' and 'Lostboy' alone.
The record is, to the Subways, what 'Superabundance' was to Young Knives I reckon.
I really could ramble on for days about great new bands, from Young Runaways and SixNationState, to The Humanity, Post War Years and Official Secrets Act, but I won't. Go out and find your own best loved goodnight tales.
See you all at Club Rockfeedback and the Rockfeedback Basement.
Now, I'm off to Facebook your mums.