I bet that you look good on the dance floor
The Arctic Monkeys are everywhere!! For those of us not living in England, where they have had two number ones in a row, no-one has really heard of the Arctic Monkeys. I downloaded their first song, I bet you look good on the dance floor, from i-tunes about a month ago, but it hadn't come up on my shuffle until about two weeks ago. I have been listening to it almost constantly ever since - absolutely superb. The music is excellent, sort of like the Clash, but a bit mellower - very raw instruments but it's the lead singer's voice and lyrics which stand out. Very English and "witty", comparable to Jarvis Cocker and Morrissey at their best. The album has been very well received and it has sold more in the past day or two than the rest of the top 20 albums in UK combined. It hasn't been released in Hong Kong yet and I can't wait...
What seems to be amazing is that they have become so popular through word of mouth and downloads. I know I am probably way behind the times when I say that I downloaded the song a month ago, since it has been doing the rounds (apparently) for ages.
I tell you, it makes me feel old 'cos I remember very vividly how Duran Duran achieved enormous success in the US on the back of their inventive videos at the time when MTV had just started off - must be more than 20 years ago now - now everyone and everywhere has MTV and a whole host of other music channels so the cool thing to do is to exchange music ideas on myspace. Soon, it will all be done by telepathy
anyway if you haven't heard any Arctic Monkeys (mainly aimed at those outside UK, I guess), go and buy their album (CD) and enjoy!!
also, check out Interpol and the Go-Team! who both released great albums in 2005 (plus the latest one from Elbow is fab!)
Just to stay ahead (or barely keep up with) the times, I downloaded the album by "Clap your hands say yeah" who are supposed to be next big thing - no doubt it will be six months after they have ruled the charts the world over before their songs turn up on my ipod shuffle.
What seems to be amazing is that they have become so popular through word of mouth and downloads. I know I am probably way behind the times when I say that I downloaded the song a month ago, since it has been doing the rounds (apparently) for ages.
I tell you, it makes me feel old 'cos I remember very vividly how Duran Duran achieved enormous success in the US on the back of their inventive videos at the time when MTV had just started off - must be more than 20 years ago now - now everyone and everywhere has MTV and a whole host of other music channels so the cool thing to do is to exchange music ideas on myspace. Soon, it will all be done by telepathy
anyway if you haven't heard any Arctic Monkeys (mainly aimed at those outside UK, I guess), go and buy their album (CD) and enjoy!!
also, check out Interpol and the Go-Team! who both released great albums in 2005 (plus the latest one from Elbow is fab!)
Just to stay ahead (or barely keep up with) the times, I downloaded the album by "Clap your hands say yeah" who are supposed to be next big thing - no doubt it will be six months after they have ruled the charts the world over before their songs turn up on my ipod shuffle.
posted by Akash at 7:18 PM
5 Comments:
Well hello there. I have added Fragrant Harbour to my bookmarks bar, soon you will clockling up a million hits per day!! i have been checking the site every few days, so keep posting amigo. A little local to Hk news would be nice too...or even your thoughts on the cricket, which i would be interested in.
Anyway, shoudl come as no surprise to you that i am listening to the Arctic Monkeys album as i type, having arrived box fresh from amazon today. On my third listen so far, and they're certainly a band with alot of promise. Lyrically it;s all pretty sharp and welll observed. Musically it's pretty straightforward, and it will be interesting to see if they're pallette will broaden. Seems like we get well served by enthusiastic debut albums these days, but little growth thereafter. Anyway, i'm nodding away quite happily to it at the moment.
Your blog has inspired me to put together som web pages on my mac.com space, multimedia content and all...will send out invite soon....
have not really explored Elbow..will give the recent album a go then.
Reguiar albums i enjoyed last year :
Doves Some Cities
Beck Guero
Bloc Party Bloc Party
Interpol both of them
Gorillaz Demon Days
Irregular stuff i've enjoyed
Lali Puna Faking the Books.. it;s german electronica, but dont let that put you off, it's pop and nowt else, and pretty seductive.
Neil Young On the Beach....so i'm beginning to get what people mean now, all fairly acoustic, but just great
LCD Soundsysem
The Rapture
Like both of these alot, from the same camp, The Rapture along with Interpol are New York's musical elite....there's a chance you like this alot
Enough from me, take care.
How did i forget Arcade Fire ?? second only to Interpol. Liked some of Get Behind Me Satan aswell...
Sandy B!!! welcome to the party!
I've just bought Arcade Fire which everyone is raving about. Haven't listened to it yet but will do on your recommendation. THe bloc party album is ok but not great - a couple of really good songs but the rest seems like filler. Love "My doorbell" on GTBMS and I listened to Some Cities constantly when I was in NY while Dad was in hospital.
btw have you ever watched Arrested Development? It is absolute genius.
I caught some episodes of arrested development during the flight from Male to Dubai and I can only echo your praise - fantastic!
Hey Sandy B - how are you? missed you at the wedding....
Apparently we are in a golden age of (british) comedy.
I think i saw an episode of Arrested a while back; it's a US show right ? I remmeber it was actually pretty sharp...the problem is with all these shows, is who knows when the frigg they are on???? and i simply refuse to peruse TV listings...
Things making a splash here are The Thick of It (Beeb2) which is a very funny satire on Blair's coterie of advisors and spinners...it's almost perfect, with a fantastic Alistair Cambpell character.
Extras is also very good, being Ricky Gervais' office follow up. Well received, although cleary never gonna be as successful s The Office.
If Grevais is yoru thing, have you been listening to the Gervais podcasts ?? ridiculous, yet strangely compelling.
It's all Britsh now ya see, what with Frasier et al all history now. Desperate Housewives seems to fill the hole for many, but i don't quite get it, it seems like dressed up pap, with absurd caricatures.
And what has happened to the West Wing ?? Almost alarming really, i've not gone past sereis 4. My brief glimpses of series 5 almost sent me headlong out of my first floor window. Shame really, was always a great counterpoint to the Sopranos for me, being slightly more fun.
Where art thou mr.soprano?
Actually this johny come lately has just got around to Curb your Enthusiasm, and oh dear, i';m consigned to the loungs and the boxed set for the next few months....it;s pretty flawless, no ? anyway, early days on that journey.
Have you seen Brokeback Mountain ? Saw it with Sejal a coiuple of weeks ago...we have taken up mionday night residence at the Everyman in Hampstead, which is now so good, it belies explanation.
We saw it early, and both liked it alot. It's very elegant, and enchanting in it;s own way, and Heath Ledger's performance is the best couple of hours of film acting i';ve seen in years.
I always find it interesting watchign others i know trundle off to see it, but struggle slightly to break free of whatever high expectations they enetr with.
Anyway, i cried at the end of King Kong, and not in a small way, so i'm still struggling to rationalise that particular moment.
also Downfall is very worthwhile.
What do you know about Monty Panesar ?
Waht did you think of Crash ?
What did you think of History of Violence ?
So many questions, i dunno..
Post a Comment
<< Home