Phil Selway, best known as drummer with Radiohead, has embarked on a solo project. You can download his latest single By Some Miracle for free here, or feel free to listen below. His debut album Familial is set for release in August.
Air conditioning. It”™s a tale of two extremes for me today – either it”™s completely off and I feel like a packet of microwave-steamed vegetables, or it”™s on so high that the condensation dripping on my face is threatening to give me legionnaires.
Got a few reviews incoming today and early next week, just so you know. If you like what you see and want to write one of your own, just give us a shout.
Today”™s playlist is one I”™ve been looking forward to for a while, but it took a little bit of bullying to finally coerce it out of its author. Hope you enjoy.
Last night we posted our Glastonbury 2010 review, and we hope you enjoyed it. Remember, we”™d love for you to comment and are always hungry for a good ol”™ debate or just a bit of incessant banter. We”™re also looking for a few more contributors to help us generate some awesome content. If you think you could crack out the odd review or news post for us, or if you have a feature idea that you have a major passion for, please do get in touch.
Today”™s playlist is by Andy McKenzie, who first submitted a mix to us earlier this year. Thanks for this one, you balding git <3
Living is a problem because everything dies – Biffy Clyro
Cannonball – The Breeders
Young cardinals – Alexisonfire
Sunny days (Sesame Street) – Fall silent
B.Y.O.B. – System Of A Down
Almost easy – Avenged Sevenfold
Ace of spades – Motorhead
What can I do? – Poptart Monkeys
Over my head – Lit
I”™m on the Run – The Sewergrooves
Who the fuck? – Graham Coxen
Heart shaped box – Nirvana
My generation – The Who
Juneau – Funeral For A Friend
Fallen leaves – Billy Talent
When I argue I see shapes – Idlewild
Everlong – Foo Fighters
It”™s been a summer – New FOund Glory
Cute without the ”˜e”™ – Taking Back Sunday
The Curse of curves – Cute Is What We Aim For
Lost in stereo – All Time Low
Five becomes four – Yellowcard
Longview – Green Day
All the small things – Blink-182
Pure morning – Placebo
Well thought out twinkles – Silversun Pickups
Y control – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Seven nation army – The White Stripes
Life to lifeless – Killswitch Engage
A box full of sharp objects (Live) – The Used
Right so here is another mix for you all, this time it”™s guitar based and again there should be something for everyone here.
So for me some of the standout tracks are as follows:
Cannonball by The Breeders. EPIC does not describe this track well enough, this is one of those tracks that once you hear it, it gets stuck in your head for days. Also if you have not heard it before then where the hell have you been?!
Sunny Days by Fall Silent a metal cover of the Sesame Street theme tune. This one was on regular rotation when I was at Uni.
Who the Fuck? by the musical genius Graham Coxen. Taken from his first album, “The Sky Is Too High”, this is a perfect low-fi track, Coxen played all the instruments himself and I suggest you check out all his solo work.
Fallen Leaves by Billy Talent, another of those songs that gets under your skin and stuck in your head.
When I Argue I See Shapes by Idlewild. Idlewild are one of my favourite bands and unfortunately they seem to not be as well known as they deserve.
Everlong by Foo Fighters. Man to I have some history with this song”¦ Every and I mean EVERY time I hear this it has the same effect on me, one that I can only describe as your first Prozac high, the rush from the back of your brain to the front.
Well Thought Out Twinkles by Silversun Pickups. Again another band that should be bigger, this track has to be one of their best.
A Box Full Of Sharp Objects (Live) by The Used. I had to pick this live track because of Spotify”™s shitty licensing as the album this is originally from is not available (like so much, unfortunately). [Editor – Andy has since found the regular version :)]
Afternoon! 79 playlists”¦ Crikey. Time flies, and all that. I remember getting to 5 playlists and thinking “Whoa, we”™ve managed a whole week! Badass!”.
Last night we posted our Glastonbury 2010 review, and we hope you enjoyed it. Remember, we”™d love for you to comment and are always hungry for a good ol”™ debate or just a bit of incessant banter. We”™re also looking for a few more contributors to help us generate some awesome content. If you think you could crack out the odd review or news post for us, or if you have a feature idea that you have a major passion for, please do get in touch.
Today”™s playlist is by Andy McKenzie, who first submitted a mix to us earlier this year. Thanks for this one, you balding git <3
Living is a problem because everything dies – Biffy Clyro
Cannonball – The Breeders
Young cardinals – Alexisonfire
Sunny days (Sesame Street) – Fall silent
B.Y.O.B. – System Of A Down
Almost easy – Avenged Sevenfold
Ace of spades – Motorhead
What can I do? – Poptart Monkeys
Over my head – Lit
I”™m on the Run – The Sewergrooves
Who the fuck? – Graham Coxen
Heart shaped box – Nirvana
My generation – The Who
Juneau – Funeral For A Friend
Fallen leaves – Billy Talent
When I argue I see shapes – Idlewild
Everlong – Foo Fighters
It”™s been a summer – New FOund Glory
Cute without the ”˜e”™ – Taking Back Sunday
The Curse of curves – Cute Is What We Aim For
Lost in stereo – All Time Low
Five becomes four – Yellowcard
Longview – Green Day
All the small things – Blink-182
Pure morning – Placebo
Well thought out twinkles – Silversun Pickups
Y control – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Seven nation army – The White Stripes
Life to lifeless – Killswitch Engage
A box full of sharp objects (Live) – The Used
Right so here is another mix for you all, this time it”™s guitar based and again there should be something for everyone here.
So for me some of the standout tracks are as follows:
Cannonball by The Breeders. EPIC does not describe this track well enough, this is one of those tracks that once you hear it, it gets stuck in your head for days. Also if you have not heard it before then where the hell have you been?!
Sunny Days by Fall Silent a metal cover of the Sesame Street theme tune. This one was on regular rotation when I was at Uni.
Who the Fuck? by the musical genius Graham Coxen. Taken from his first album, “The Sky Is Too High”, this is a perfect low-fi track, Coxen played all the instruments himself and I suggest you check out all his solo work.
Fallen Leaves by Billy Talent, another of those songs that gets under your skin and stuck in your head.
When I Argue I See Shapes by Idlewild. Idlewild are one of my favourite bands and unfortunately they seem to not be as well known as they deserve.
Everlong by Foo Fighters. Man to I have some history with this song”¦ Every and I mean EVERY time I hear this it has the same effect on me, one that I can only describe as your first Prozac high, the rush from the back of your brain to the front.
Well Thought Out Twinkles by Silversun Pickups. Again another band that should be bigger, this track has to be one of their best.
A Box Full Of Sharp Objects (Live) by The Used. I had to pick this live track because of Spotify”™s shitty licensing as the album this is originally from is not available (like so much, unfortunately). [Editor – Andy has since found the regular version :)]
As you know, we went to see Broken Social Scene (one of our favourite bands) on Saturday night with our competition winner, Rhys Howell. Rhys has written a review of the gig for us, which you can read after the break.
We”™ve embedded a live vid of “The Sweetest Kill” for those that couldn”™t make it (shame on you!).
Love,
Spotisfaction Crew
Rhys says:
On discovering I”™d won Compisfaction I thought wouldn”™t it be great to write up a review of the Broken Social Scene gig I”™d just won a ticket for. I then had another brainwave. Why not do it in the form of Haiku? So I have. Part 1. The competition and pre-gig.
Late night I enter, “Mr Blue Sky” is the song.
Will I win or not?
Discover a text;
Hypothetical, it is:
If win can I go?
Affirmative “Yes!”,
I reply to the message.
Still not offical.
Check on the website –
Amazingly, I have won!
Ready to drive South.
Ignorant of band,
Wikipedia”™s my friend.
Spotify, also.
Join us after the break for the tracklist and Paul”™s blurb. Paul says:
I”™m off to Barcelona next week to got to the Primaverasound 2010 music festival. I thought it would be a good idea to post a playlist with some of the bands I am most looking forward to seeing whilst there. Perhaps others can post similarly themed playlists for any other festivals they may be attending soon. Here it is:
The Big Pink – Dominos
A Sunny Day In Glasgow – Failure
Beak> – Pill
Pavement – Passat Dream
Broken Social Scene – Fire Eye”™d Boy
Wire – Too Late
The Fall – Theme From Sparta F.C.
Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls
Pixies – Wave Of Mutilation
Condo Fucks – Watcha Gonna Do About It
Ganglians – Hair
Atlas Sound – Walkabout
Yeasayer – Ambling Alp
Orbital – Belfast
Gary Numan – Are ”˜Friends”™ Electric
Real Estate – Basement
Los Campesinos – There Are Listed Buildings
Bis – Eurodisco
The Charlatans – Sproston Green
Beach House – Norway
Lee Perry And The Upsetters – Enter The Dragon
Low – California
Mission Of Burma – Spider”™s Web
Wild Beasts – We Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues
Unfortunately the organisers have seemed fit to put Pavement and Mission Of Burma on at the same time, grrrr.
Sorry for the super late update today – Thom and I had a ridiculously busy day at work, which isn”™t much of an excuse but will have to do. We”™ve got more of our VFTA: Broken Social Scene series incoming tomorrow, as well as a write-up of the gig by our competition winner, Rhys.
Today”™s playlist was submitted to us by Paul Pritchard on May 20th, but we”™ve been unable to run it until now. Consider it a retrospective instead of a preview.
Join us after the break for the tracklist and Paul”™s blurb. Paul says:
I”™m off to Barcelona next week to got to the Primaverasound 2010 music festival. I thought it would be a good idea to post a playlist with some of the bands I am most looking forward to seeing whilst there. Perhaps others can post similarly themed playlists for any other festivals they may be attending soon. Here it is:
The Big Pink – Dominos
A Sunny Day In Glasgow – Failure
Beak> – Pill
Pavement – Passat Dream
Broken Social Scene – Fire Eye”™d Boy
Wire – Too Late
The Fall – Theme From Sparta F.C.
Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls
Pixies – Wave Of Mutilation
Condo Fucks – Watcha Gonna Do About It
Ganglians – Hair
Atlas Sound – Walkabout
Yeasayer – Ambling Alp
Orbital – Belfast
Gary Numan – Are ”˜Friends”™ Electric
Real Estate – Basement
Los Campesinos – There Are Listed Buildings
Bis – Eurodisco
The Charlatans – Sproston Green
Beach House – Norway
Lee Perry And The Upsetters – Enter The Dragon
Low – California
Mission Of Burma – Spider”™s Web
Wild Beasts – We Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues
Unfortunately the organisers have seemed fit to put Pavement and Mission Of Burma on at the same time, grrrr.
In other news, if you”™d like to become a contributor to Spotisfaction, we”™re always looking for feature writers, reviewers and people that can comb the web to collate interesting music news. We”™re also looking for an art director. If you want to get involved in our lovely little site, please get in touch. We still want your playlists and one-off articles or reviews if you don”™t want to sign a contract in blood / formally become part of the team, too!
Take it easy, sleazies. See you tomorrow night.
[David]
Above are a collection of songs by Broken Social scene, bands whose members comprise them, their support act on Saturday, and a small selection of artists on their Arts & Crafts label. Enjoy. And please buy a ticket to see these guys at some point on their tour if you can possibly make it.
Safe, blood. Tomorrow evening, a bunch of us are going to Birmingham”™s O2 Academy for the first Spotisfaction Meet-up. We”™re going to see Broken Social Scene and Sky Larkin, and it”™s going to be a fantabulous time. If you”™re in the area, I believe there are still tickets available – come along and I”™ll buy you a beer (I originally typo”™d ”˜bear”™, which would have been a much better incentive).
In other news, if you”™d like to become a contributor to Spotisfaction, we”™re always looking for feature writers, reviewers and people that can comb the web to collate interesting music news. We”™re also looking for an art director. If you want to get involved in our lovely little site, please get in touch. We still want your playlists and one-off articles or reviews if you don”™t want to sign a contract in blood / formally become part of the team, too!
Take it easy, sleazies. See you tomorrow night.
[David]
Above are a collection of songs by Broken Social scene, bands whose members comprise them, their support act on Saturday, and a small selection of artists on their Arts & Crafts label. Enjoy. And please buy a ticket to see these guys at some point on their tour if you can possibly make it.
Some very very good news for unsigned and indie artists this morning. Spotify have signed a deal with TuneCore, the preeminent digital distribution site.
TuneCore”™s model is designed to help unsigned artists. With a small fee per track, anyone can upload their songs to TuneCore and have them distributed to some of the biggest stores on the ”˜net (iTunes, Amazon MP3, Napster and Rhapsody, to name a few). These artists then keep 100% of the royalties and maintain the rights to their own work.
This deal with Spotify now means that these artists will be able to get their work onto Spotify”™s streaming servers, and will allow much larger audiences to access their music whilst generating streaming royalty revenue for the artists. Fantastic news all round, really.
Do you think this is a good idea, and would this deal make you more likely to use TuneCore”™s services if you were an unsigned artist? Let us know in the comments.
For further info, please read here:Â http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1041624&c=1
[David]
Some very very good news for unsigned and indie artists this morning. Spotify have signed a deal with TuneCore, the preeminent digital distribution site.
TuneCore”™s model is designed to help unsigned artists. With a small fee per track, anyone can upload their songs to TuneCore and have them distributed to some of the biggest stores on the ”˜net (iTunes, Amazon MP3, Napster and Rhapsody, to name a few). These artists then keep 100% of the royalties and maintain the rights to their own work.
This deal with Spotify now means that these artists will be able to get their work onto Spotify”™s streaming servers, and will allow much larger audiences to access their music whilst generating streaming royalty revenue for the artists. Fantastic news all round, really.
Do you think this is a good idea, and would this deal make you more likely to use TuneCore”™s services if you were an unsigned artist? Let us know in the comments.
Not sure what this VFTA malarkey is all about? See here.
To listen along with Ben, BSS”™ “You Forgot It In People” is on Spotify.
Following a brief hiatus in the first half of the decade, the Canadian musician ensemble, Broken Social Scene released their second album, “You Forgot It In People”; an album that was sure to carry more weight to it due to the further addition of artists to the already heavily populated group.
With the surplus members and ideas, the band, namely core founders Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew, expanded their sound and embraced new moods still allowing the listener to escape real life, but this time without the dreaming.
“You Forgot It In People” offers a more accessable selection of ”˜indie-rock”™ gems then previous album “Feel Good Lost”, in the sense that the intimate ambiance has been replaced with vocals and stronger melodic hooks. The band have not however abandoned their initial dream state sound completely. Essences of ethereal lifts and heavy orchestral tones are still present throughout, but are now supported by poetic lyrics, attempting to make sense of the real life one had left behind.
A track that perhaps breaks this rule, ”˜Cause = Time”™, strikes hard at the album”™s heart and tells of the how society resorts to sex and selling its body, in an attempt to find meaning in life. ”And they all want to love the cause, ”˜cause they all need to be the cause, they all want to fuck the cause”. Yet, such a dark message is still accompanied by melodic guitars and a pulsing tempo, making it almost anthemic and full of emotion. Another significant track here is ”˜Looks Just Like The Sun”™; a chilled and relaxed refrain that doesn”™t just look, but also feels like the sun, as the lyrics describe someone whose presence radiates on the listener. Both tracks giving justified backing to the album”™s title, suggesting that such individual florishes, and human error, has been taken for granted in society as a whole.
As with their debut, the band take the listener on an exploration through a series of ideas and visions, and peaks and troughs, but overall have managed to create a fine fusion of dark imagery with their trademark escapist tone, culminating in a very strong follow up album. At the time, this quality was recognised as the band recieved awards and accolades from right across the board; a just victory deserved for a group with such a unique vision and sound. From here, it is possible for Broken Social Scene to go anywhere, having both existed in beautiful dreams, and now harsh, yet lucid realities.
Ben Hawling
Following a brief hiatus in the first half of the decade, the Canadian musician ensemble, Broken Social Scene released their second album, “You Forgot It In People”; an album that was sure to carry more weight to it due to the further addition of artists to the already heavily populated group.
With the surplus members and ideas, the band, namely core founders Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew, expanded their sound and embraced new moods still allowing the listener to escape real life, but this time without the dreaming.
“You Forgot It In People” offers a more accessable selection of ”˜indie-rock”™ gems then previous album “Feel Good Lost”, in the sense that the intimate ambiance has been replaced with vocals and stronger melodic hooks. The band have not however abandoned their initial dream state sound completely. Essences of ethereal lifts and heavy orchestral tones are still present throughout, but are now supported by poetic lyrics, attempting to make sense of the real life one had left behind.
A track that perhaps breaks this rule, ”˜Cause = Time”™, strikes hard at the album”™s heart and tells of the how society resorts to sex and selling its body, in an attempt to find meaning in life. ”And they all want to love the cause, ”˜cause they all need to be the cause, they all want to fuck the cause”. Yet, such a dark message is still accompanied by melodic guitars and a pulsing tempo, making it almost anthemic and full of emotion. Another significant track here is ”˜Looks Just Like The Sun”™; a chilled and relaxed refrain that doesn”™t just look, but also feels like the sun, as the lyrics describe someone whose presence radiates on the listener. Both tracks giving justified backing to the album”™s title, suggesting that such individual florishes, and human error, has been taken for granted in society as a whole.
As with their debut, the band take the listener on an exploration through a series of ideas and visions, and peaks and troughs, but overall have managed to create a fine fusion of dark imagery with their trademark escapist tone, culminating in a very strong follow up album. At the time, this quality was recognised as the band recieved awards and accolades from right across the board; a just victory deserved for a group with such a unique vision and sound. From here, it is possible for Broken Social Scene to go anywhere, having both existed in beautiful dreams, and now harsh, yet lucid realities.
A new feature on Spotisfaction. Every now and again one of us will cobble together some rare (read: probably not on Spotisfaction) tracks that have made their way into our playlists for you to download. Yes, music to download. This week, I have:
The Shins – Strange Powers (Magnetic Fields Cover)
Between The Shins and Broken Bells, I would almost forgive you if you”™d had enough of James Mercer”™s fantastic and distinct voice by now. Almost, but not quite. Perhaps this cover is just what The Magnetic Fields need to open up their music to a wider fanbase.
Phoenix – Lisztomania (Acoustic Spin Session)
Lisztomania (or Wrestlemania, as it has become known as in Spotisfaction Towers) is a fantasic song, and hearing it live and acoustic just reinforces the fact that France”™s hottest export Phoenix write beautiful songs.
Florence + The Machine – You’ve Got The Love (The xx Remix)
I”™m not the greatest fan of Florence + The Machine, truth be told. But this reworking by The XX really hits the spot for me.
Hot Chip – Transmission (Joy Division Cover)
This is one of my favourite Joy Division tracks. I can”™t imagine how this cover actually came about. Prepare yourself for something a bit different.
Tune in next time for MOAR of what is on my radar.
Good news for UK fans of The Depreciation Guild, who had to cancel the European leg of their Spirit Youth tour earlier this year. The word on the street is that they are looking to play some UK dates in September. This is fantastic news and I urge everyone to consider checking them out. In the meantime, check out their reworking of “Broken Bones” by Chatelaine. Chatelaine is the solo project of Toni Halliday of Curve fame.
To cheer yourself up if you”™re not heading to Glastonbury this year, check out the video for ”Say No To Love” by The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart.
Also, they”™ve currently got a few UK dates lined up for next month”¦
18/7 – Suffolk, Latitude Festival
23/7 – Spain, Contempopranea Festival
24/7 – Spain, San Sebastian Festival
25/7 – Derbyshire, Indietracks Festival
28/7 – Brighton, Concorde 2
29/7 – London, Heaven
31/7 – Stirling, U18s Festival
Greetings Spotisfactioneers (ha! take that spellcheck!). I bring today”™s playlist to you whilst in an over-excited pre-Glastonbury funk. To celebrate, I”™ve included a song from the band I”™m most looking forward to seeing there: Broken Social Scene. To anyone catching them at their own show, I salute you.
Anyway, to business: the title of this playlist comes from the ambiguous opening line of my opening song, Tame by the Pixies, probably the archetype of the Pixies often stolen quiet-verse-loud-chorus dynamic.
I first came across Manchester Orchestra at the Reading Festival a couple of years ago. I”™m not sure how to describe them but have been meaning to rave about them for a while so give them a listen. This is followed by a tune from Wilt, the band born from the ashes of Kerbdog. A song called ”˜Dave You were Right”™ shouldn”™t be this affecting (it sounds like someone conceding defeat in a pub argument) but it packs an emotional punch.
”˜Margaret Yen”™, is my favourite song by Northampton”™s My First Tooth, whom we had the pleasure of seeing at a recent Cheltenham Underground night. For a four-piece they”™re very versatile and well worth checking out.
To end, we have songs from the two bands that got me through winter with the insanity kept to a minimum (Bright Eyes and Death Cab For Cutie), followed by two for the summer. ”˜Mouthful of Cavities”™ is best enjoyed on a guilty, hungover Sunday afternoon in bed when you know you should be frolicking (or some more manly pursuit, chopping trees perhaps) in the sun. Malcolm Middleton”™s ”˜Death, Love, Depression, Death”™ rounds things off nicely, the double-M”™s jarring Scottish accent the perfect antidote to the countless mediocre bands who sing in a horrifying, soulless mid-Atlantic brogue.
Greetings, those of you who haven”™t been lucky enough to get to Glastonbury this year. I feel your pain. Out of the four of us here at Spotisfaction Towers, there can only be one! This time around the one who gets to head to Glastonbury was James TAE. He best enjoy it”¦
Anyway, today”™s playlist comes from Dan Base of The Cheltenham Underground. He is one of the lucky ones off to Glasto and as he felt bad for those not going, he put this playlist together, entitled “Hips Like Cinderella”. Enjoy.
Greetings Spotisfactioneers (ha! take that spellcheck!). I bring today”™s playlist to you whilst in an over-excited pre-Glastonbury funk. To celebrate, I”™ve included a song from the band I”™m most looking forward to seeing there: Broken Social Scene. To anyone catching them at their own show, I salute you.
Anyway, to business: the title of this playlist comes from the ambiguous opening line of my opening song, Tame by the Pixies, probably the archetype of the Pixies often stolen quiet-verse-loud-chorus dynamic.
I first came across Manchester Orchestra at the Reading Festival a couple of years ago. I”™m not sure how to describe them but have been meaning to rave about them for a while so give them a listen. This is followed by a tune from Wilt, the band born from the ashes of Kerbdog. A song called ”˜Dave You were Right”™ shouldn”™t be this affecting (it sounds like someone conceding defeat in a pub argument) but it packs an emotional punch.
”˜Margaret Yen”™, is my favourite song by Northampton”™s My First Tooth, whom we had the pleasure of seeing at a recent Cheltenham Underground night. For a four-piece they”™re very versatile and well worth checking out.
To end, we have songs from the two bands that got me through winter with the insanity kept to a minimum (Bright Eyes and Death Cab For Cutie), followed by two for the summer. ”˜Mouthful of Cavities”™ is best enjoyed on a guilty, hungover Sunday afternoon in bed when you know you should be frolicking (or some more manly pursuit, chopping trees perhaps) in the sun. Malcolm Middleton”™s ”˜Death, Love, Depression, Death”™ rounds things off nicely, the double-M”™s jarring Scottish accent the perfect antidote to the countless mediocre bands who sing in a horrifying, soulless mid-Atlantic brogue.
Not sure what this VFTA malarkey is all about? See here.
To listen along with Ben, BSS”™ “Feel Good Lost” is on Spotify.
The year 2000; the start of the new millennium, but more importantly the birth of new ideas, perspectives and emotions.
Around the same time as the world welcomed in this new decade, a fresh sound was growing from the suburban basements, and urban meadows of America and Canada. A sound that projected pure poetry and delicate lyrical narratives, set to beautifully crafted instrumental dream states. Circa 2000, the pioneers of this ”˜post-rockesque”™ styling included bands such as Bright Eyes, The Shins and Death Cab For Cutie, all of which continue to evolve and develop this glorious sound 10 years on. But one group who appear to have nurtured the genre throughout the decade, and are still exploring it to this day, are Broken Social Scene.
Formed in Canada in 1999, Broken Social Scene originally existed as a mix of collaborators, musicians and friends who blended an array of musical projects and ideas together. After two years of fine tuning, founding members Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew wrote the band”™s debut album “Feel Good Lost”; a myriad of moods and tones that truly paints a picture of the mass artist collective present and the new millennium perspective.
“Feel Good Lost” is apt as a debut as it consists mostly of instrumental stylings, and in many ways acts as introduction to the band”™s avant-garde direction. The moods contained in the album rise and fall and a series of emotions, and dreams are explored in intimate detail. ”˜Alive In 85”™ capturing a rather more jovial mood setting with muffled yet busy tempo, and gently wafting guitar melodies. Whereas, ”˜Stomach Song”™ represents a more claustrophobic, enclosed atmosphere, with its murky orchestration and eerie collection of vocal clips looped over and over throughout. The collection of work here tends to float along sweetly, culminating in the heavy ”˜Last Place”™, that acts as the awakening from the troubled, yet peaceful dream of the album.
As “Feel Good Lost” reaches it”™s optimistic closing track ”˜Cranley”™s Gonna Make It”™, one can”™t help but agree with the album”™s title; that it has felt good being lifted out of the harshness of real life, and left alone to wonder in this pure dream state. Admittedly, Broken Social Scene”™s debut isn”™t one of strength or power. But what it does hold is potential, promise and the odd sense of escapism that exists so beautifully in the music of all those visionary band”™s way back in 2000.
The Year 2000: That start of the great escape!
Ben Hawling
The year 2000; the start of the new millennium, but more importantly the birth of new ideas, perspectives and emotions.
Around the same time as the world welcomed in this new decade, a fresh sound was growing from the suburban basements, and urban meadows of America and Canada. A sound that projected pure poetry and delicate lyrical narratives, set to beautifully crafted instrumental dream states. Circa 2000, the pioneers of this ”˜post-rockesque”™ styling included bands such as Bright Eyes, The Shins and Death Cab For Cutie, all of which continue to evolve and develop this glorious sound 10 years on. But one group who appear to have nurtured the genre throughout the decade, and are still exploring it to this day, are Broken Social Scene.
Formed in Canada in 1999, Broken Social Scene originally existed as a mix of collaborators, musicians and friends who blended an array of musical projects and ideas together. After two years of fine tuning, founding members Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew wrote the band”™s debut album “Feel Good Lost”; a myriad of moods and tones that truly paints a picture of the mass artist collective present and the new millennium perspective.
“Feel Good Lost” is apt as a debut as it consists mostly of instrumental stylings, and in many ways acts as introduction to the band”™s avant-garde direction. The moods contained in the album rise and fall and a series of emotions, and dreams are explored in intimate detail. ”˜Alive In 85”™ capturing a rather more jovial mood setting with muffled yet busy tempo, and gently wafting guitar melodies. Whereas, ”˜Stomach Song”™ represents a more claustrophobic, enclosed atmosphere, with its murky orchestration and eerie collection of vocal clips looped over and over throughout. The collection of work here tends to float along sweetly, culminating in the heavy ”˜Last Place”™, that acts as the awakening from the troubled, yet peaceful dream of the album.
As “Feel Good Lost” reaches it”™s optimistic closing track ”˜Cranley”™s Gonna Make It”™, one can”™t help but agree with the album”™s title; that it has felt good being lifted out of the harshness of real life, and left alone to wonder in this pure dream state. Admittedly, Broken Social Scene”™s debut isn”™t one of strength or power. But what it does hold is potential, promise and the odd sense of escapism that exists so beautifully in the music of all those visionary band”™s way back in 2000.
As promised, a few more behind-the-scenes pictures of the Glastonbury site minus the punters, courtesy of James TAE. The crowds will be arriving from 9pm tonight, those lucky sods. Let”™s keep our fingers crossed for awesome weather and fabulous music!
The infamous fence:
The Park stage being built:
The entire soundsystem for the BBC Introducing stage packed into flight cases:
The Pyramid Stage!:
If any of you lovely folks are going, let us know how you get on. You can either Tweet us with your experiences, or send us a write-up when you get back.
LOVE.
Spotisfaction Crew.
As promised, a few more behind-the-scenes pictures of the Glastonbury site minus the punters, courtesy of James TAE. The crowds will be arriving from 9pm tonight, those lucky sods. Let”™s keep our fingers crossed for awesome weather and fabulous music!
The infamous fence:
The Park stage being built:
The entire soundsystem for the BBC Introducing stage packed into flight cases:
The Pyramid Stage!:
If any of you lovely folks are going, let us know how you get on. You can either Tweet us with your experiences, or send us a write-up when you get back.
It”™s time to announce our competition winner! It was a close-run thing, with a large selection of utterly awesome feel-good songs being sent our way. However, as with all these things, there can be only one winner (no matter how much we wish we had a decently sized prize fund). Our top three are as follows:
We definitely hope to run more competitions like this, so if you have any ideas do get in touch.
Spotisfaction Crew.
PS. A massive honorable mention to Rob Morgan, who would have won with his entry: “Wouldn”™t It Be Nice” by The Beach Boys – however, he couldn”™t make it (and indeed was the person who kindly donated his ticket!). Cheers, bro.
Some very very good news for unsigned and indie artists this morning. 
Not sure what this VFTA malarkey is all about? See 
It”™s time to announce our competition winner! It was a close-run thing, with a large selection of utterly awesome feel-good songs being sent our way. However, as with all these things, there can be only one winner (no matter how much we wish we had a decently sized prize fund). Our top three are as follows:
3rd Place: Tom Mitchell, with