Noah’s Lark
The Metro.
It’s not the musical connoisseur’s choice. Its tries to keep it’s finger on the pulse but bands are often in the trend morgue by the time Metro get stuck in. Or don’t even get admitted.
In the space of a three weeks, Noah and the Whale have gone from being a band that my girlfriend’s friend said her friend plays in and that I should check them out, through the next big thing name-dropped by too-cool-for-fools Lauren Laverne, to a full page article in the Metro, East Midlands edition. Not the South Yorkshire music hotbed edition, or London international centre of all new things edition. No, in the edition for the Brummie-lite part of the country no-one pays any attention to unless they live in Rugby, or watch it.
The illuminating thing about the Metro’s article is that they run with a photo of the band, pre-hype. No, photo-shoot styling here. No slick hair, english country gent waistcoats (minus the irony), and hunting dogs (ok, not in any of their pics, but may as well be), but just four lads in casual clothes and unmanagable tangled hair. Maybe the Metro had got in early, but by the time it got round to print the band had got a makeover and more airplay than hours in the day.
Everyone wants to be the first to say I was there before they were famous, and when that’s not possible, they want to be the first to provide a true insight, to differentiate themselves given that everyone is giving their ten pence worth. Noah and the Whale already appear to have been crushed by the stampede.
One insufferably repetitive wet song later and there’s a clamour to acknowledge that 5 Years Time isn’t typical of their approach, and that actually the lyrics are much darker. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8YCSJpF4g4 in case the video above doesn’t work).
Unfortunately, their ubiquitous song is a millstone already. Apparently is was meant as a low-key simple song, which it is. Yet after a few listens you’ve worked it out and it’s no fun anymore (if indeed it was in the first place). It doesn’t have to be this way. Take the same basic building blocks, call yourselves Eels and create an enduring gem of a song.
It’s fitting that lyrically 5 Years Time dwells on the wonder of the moment. Whatever lies at the heart of their tunes, I can’t help but feel that they are either victims of an unstoppable movement, or have things so perfectly lined up in marketing terms (previous collaborators/music and media contacts with influence etc). that this explosion of interest has been created with precision timing.
I fear the latter.
However, I saw their acoustic set for 6 music (http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/events/summersundae2008/hub/) and having missed half of their main set (queues for the toilets if you must know) feel I need to give them more of a chance. If only to know whether the ark was ready for the flood.
More from the festival soon…
P.S. Did you spot my long lost twin in their video?
Recommended for:
George – I think they are following a style you created a while ago!
Claire – It’s all part of your southern education. A twee contrast to northern grit
Laura – Because Birmingham is sunny too
Tommy G – You seem to be loving China, so this shouldn’t spoil things.
Steer clear:
Vicki HF – There was plenty more promising material at Leicester Summer Sundae
Si – I’m guessing you’re sick of the song already and imagine you’d want to throw things at them if you saw them across the street.
Hypewatch – Ida Maria
Now, I was there before Steve Lamacq. So were Dave, Jimmy, Beth and Claire at a dingy Borderline gig.
Most of us are departing more quickly than him too. That’s the thing about hype, you find it you shout about it because you beat other people to a band but then you realise the error of your ways. Now in this instance I was simply testing opinion and reserve the right to say i was never a fan.
is she good? If you sing about Stella you raise expectations. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd1vZv6j27s&NR=1
And to be honest the line “i wanna give you the world if you just stay with me tonight” is something you say after, rather than to Stella.
Its also quite an achievement to sing the line “I like you so much better when you’re naked” in a way that actually makes you want to run away fully clothed as fast as possible holding on to your delicates for added protection. Because it’s not like she’s not got pop appeal, but she scares me when she sings. Slipknot don’t scare me, masks and all, but she does. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cySmUjQB05I&NR=1
Verdict: Only if you dare
Trot on
Running. You either do or you don’t.
The gym. Most people have tried and now don’t, but you’ll break again after Christmas.
Why, in all gyms, without exception, is the music relentless techno techno techno? I know it takes a certain breed to be gym bunny/muscle moron, but why should the rest of us have to endure such an evil workout for the ears when we’re already punishing other parts?
There are two ways to deal with this – bring your ipod or plug into the TV channels (yes, I know you simply can’t miss Richard and Judy and that to put it on at home would risk the ridicule of your flatmates/significant other/cat. Don’t worry, know one else in the gym cares, and they’re probably thinking how sweaty you look).
Although i’m not one to miss a book club moment, it’s the ipod for me, but it gets in the way, all those headphone wires. Why can’t we have an indie gym?
‘But you can’t run to guitar music’ I hear you cry…Ha! yes, you can, and you’ll damn well get out and pound the streets until you agree with me.
You have to choose wisely, admittedly, but if you get it on the money then you too can enter a race with excitement. Time to lose the fear of the crowd (they may shout “keep going, you can do it”, but really they’re thinking “wouldn’t do that if I were you, not with that body” – it’s puppy fat you judgemental bastards).
But where to start? Well, this one’s for everyone no matter how fast or slow you want to go. Step up Mr P. Doherty and pals the Little ‘Ans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLkTCkwpgY8
Of all the people eh – if nothing else motivates you to keep going, just think, you could follow his example instead
But what if you want to up the pace, get those legs pumping. Techno techno techno? Don’t you dare! Instead, may I introduce a rather odd looking quartet and one of their more popular tunes. Queens of the Stone Age:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lliA2Av8dd8
Enough aggression to bring out the intensity of a lung-burster, and a Dave Grohl-inspired beat to drive you to the finishing line. Too heavy? Then try Sunderland’s finest (Mr Keane excepted), the Futureheads. Hugely under-rated pop talent, but with this gem on repeat you can finally make that pesky Duracell Bunny eat your dust. Take that you smug furry freak.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PYgCN2kIsg
But there is one very surprising song that stopped me collapsing at about the 5k mark on Sunday as i tore round Hyde Park (BUPA people, where oh where was the water at this stage? The Serpantine was mocking me ‘you want me but you can’t have me…’). Oh Kate Nash, you came good once again. One of the treats of Leicester Summer Sundae, I also saw Ms Nash in Surrey – a great birthday pressie from workmates but the crowd, they just didn’t appreciate you. But I do, and it was as if you were my personal saviour, whispering ignore the pain, keep going…thank you Nash, and yes, you can eat all the lemons you like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orACIBjHuI4
Recommended for
Brendan – I can imagine you ranting in the gym at yet another techno tune, or a bad book choice by R & J. Try this instead!
Kris – You’ve had it too good for too long – a 5 minute walk to work since you were 18. You have a lot of catching up to do boy!
Claire – In case you come out of running retirement
Steer clear
Loren – I can’t see you being motivated by anything other than Republica, and anyway can’t have you running faster than me.
Caught out there – The Darkness
First in a new series…bands that I liked at the time but looking back, what the hell was i thinking. And I know I’m not alone…
Yes, the Darkness, faux shag rockers from East Anglia. Rockers don’t come from East Anglia. Cambridge hosts the most world’s most famous folk festival, please leave us and our webbed feet alone thank you.
But, as if caught up in some guilt-led excitement, i was the music equivalent of a girl just out of convent school, breaking all the catholic rules…i confess, i spent a whole day at the Darkness video shoot.
It’s easy to look back and sneer, but their gig at The Garage was genuinely exciting, Justin led around the crowd on the shoulders of his Roadie, proper power chords and harmonies on the lead guitar. Wonderful…see there I go again!!
Ok, lets be honest, it was fun while it lasted. But lets not play them in public again. Except at Christmas, because in one song, they found their purpose. Don’t let the Bells End just yet.
Guilt-trippers
Andy Brown and Carolyn – it’s all your fault
Kris – Blame your dad and his stadium rock heritage
James R and Bev – I’m sure you were on the ride with me
Matt Christie – I bet you were in a tribute band
Claire - Anything this cheesy has your prints all over
Innocent guv
Russ S – Wouldn’t even bat an eyelid
Paul – Nothing better than the real thing, so doubt you went near them
Mash secret rocker – Please say you didn’t!
Hypewatch – MGMT
MGMT
“For all its musical philandering, unbridled excess and shrouds of irony, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a record with more musical depth and warmth all year than this one.” NME 8/10
Irony in music and ridiculous clothes are not going to get my music juices flowing. In fact, these types need a proper clean up and perhaps a word from whathisname, Gok? (see pic at http://www.nme.com/reviews/mgmt/9519)
A snippet of Electric Feel and I’m whisked off to one of those hideous clubs, y’know, in places like Birmingham where you step in at the tender age of 29 to hear 70’s funk and you realise you’re still the kid on the dancefloor about to be chatted up by a 45 year old with a blonde wig. This is one the wedding DJ’s will be playing in 10 years…
But halt! ‘Time to Pretend’, now that’s a proper, prick up your ears tune that will be bounding round your head for a while.
And there’s enough buried deep within songs like Weekend Wars and The Youth to forget for a moment that they have oversized sunglasses and silly high voices. Hmmm, i think i agree with NME. Oh dear.
Verdict – Go on then, if you must.
Recommended for
Claire – you too like big sunglasses
Vicki W – It’ll bridge the gap between your indie cool and James’ cheese!
Si – Somehow, i think they’d be worth seeing live
Steer clear
Kris – It’s just too wierd
Andy Brown – or possibly not, i just can’t tell with you. You might like their alleged ironic side
First post…
Which band should I give the honour of my first post to (and lets be honest, it’s quite an honour)? I could throw the full force of music passion on to the best band in the world (Super Furry Animals), kick off with a guilty pleasure (there ain’t no party like…), or lay into shite like One Night Only. What about the underrated or misunderstood (Dexy’s Midnight Runners – forget Eileen, it’s all about Geno), or the group you thought knew all about (DJ Danger Mouse reworking of the Beatles White Album)…decisions eh!
No, I’m going to kick off with the sound tingling my spine right now as i write this…
The first 35 seconds of this one song are flawless and I defy anyone not break out an air guitar moment at the end of this…dah dah, dah dah…Weezer really do rock, their new album has been out for weeks and i missed it. To make up for slacking it’s now on repeat and is sounding like a real treat…
http://www.myspace.com/weezer – Pork and Beans
And all the meatier in the surrounds of the new flat and gorgeous hifi of course!
RECOMMENDED FOR:
Ben – (You can break the Phil habit!)
Paul
“When its party time, like 1999, I party by myself cos I’m such a special guy.” (from Troublemaker)
Laura (for those rock rather than Roachford moments)
Vicki HF - (I’m yet to find fault in your CD collection)
Beccy S (because you’ve probably danced with them at a festival)
Mash secret rocker (thanks for the Green Album)
Tommy G (reckon this would go down a treat in China)
STEER CLEAR
Claire (too many heavy guitar moments)
Anna sis and Matt bro (they diss Timbaland)
