Stuff And Shit Is Cool

GAME REVIEW: Micro Machines V4 [PS2/PSP]*

2006-08-24T02:31:00.000-07:00

*PS2 version reviewed. Apparently there is very little difference between the two, so feel free to take the following as applying to both. Also, if you own both versions you can interlink to open up some bonus materials.

The Micro-Machines franchise is one of the few game series to have successfully combated gaming's move into analmost exclusively 3-d realm, both critically and commercially. So it was with some excitement that SASIC played Micro Machines V4, the latest entry in the series which comes from developer Supersonic Software, who have more than theirfair share of racing-game experience. Surely the combination of miniature cars and developing experience will make for the best entry in the series yet?

What is immediately obvious is that this game, unlike many racers nowadays, is dedicated to making things as simple aspossible for the player, which might make the more cynical suggest this is a game aimed squarely at the younger market.To an extent of course this is true, not many 25 year olds get there Micro Machines out in public, but it instead givesthose who aren't 100% in tune with sorting their carburetor and coping with having to press 100 different buttons at onceto take a hairpin turn a game that they can get full enjoyment out of. The game is literally racing for 99% of the experience, unlike say Grann Turismo which is 40% racing, 60% fine-tuning your car.

The 40+ tracks and 750 (yes, SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY!) cars featured here are as imaginative as any other entry in the series and when coupled with the dazzling array of fun weaponry to unload on your unsuspecting foes (from Machine Guns to Giant Mallets) lead to some frantic and fun races, even if the tracks are disappointingly short for the most part.Although the majority of the cars are pretty much identical (split as they all are between 25 different classes) it does give at least something to encourage replay until the collection is finished.

So, bad points? Well, graphically the game leaves a lot to be desired, and any negativity that some may pour uppn the gamessimplicity could have been allayed by giving us some eye candy. On top of this, the game is just ridiculously easy - if you zip through it, not much caring for the art of collection and perfection, there's little here to rouble the hardened gamer formore than a couple of hours in all honesty. Still, the mulitplayer mode more than makes up for this aspect of it all, being as gripping and entertaining as it always has in the Micro Machines franchise.

So, overall, a colourful entertaining and enjoyable experience, that brings simplicity back to the racing genre. Although graphically dissapointing and far too easy, there are enough positives here to give plenty of fun for all but the most grumpy and cynical gamer.

7/10 - Good

GAME REVIEW: Dead Rising [Xbox360)

2006-08-22T03:21:00.000-07:00

Everyone has had the chat with their mates about what would make the 'best.... ever'. Usually its something unfeasible 'Wouldn't it be great if The Smiths and Radiohead had made a joint album?', 'Wouldn't a film were Arnie and Stallone had been enemies have been amazing?' or 'Wouldn't it be amazing if their was a game were you where trapped in a shopping mall swarming with Zombies and ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING IS A WEAPON!' Hey, wait a second....

Coming with a disclaimer that the game isn't anything to do with 'Dawn Of The Dead', Dead Rising nevertheless never tries to insult the players intelligence about its inspirations - some allusion or reference to any film from Zombie film/game history wades to the surface around here somewhere. But it doesn't get in the way of what is probably going to be one of a frighteningly large amount of people's favourite games ever,

Assuming the persona of Frank West, a photojournalist hell bent on investigating what's going on at Willamette Mall, and with only 72 hours to do it, you simply run around the mall (including the grass lands outside) and avoiding or killing pretty much anything you come across with anything you come across. And anything you come across includes CD's, Frisbees, Light swords, bowling balls, scythes, shotguns, other zombies hands...The list is endlessly inventive and endlessly enjoyable. In fact, it overtakes GTA in the way that you can get just as much enjoyment from the game by mucking around simply breaking and killing stuff as you do from following the in game narrative itself. And there is a lot to kill - there is an unprecedented amount of detailed enemies on screen for you to both kill and be killed by and all with a spookily accurate realism. More importantly, this all happens without slowdown, the bane of so many similarly ambitious games.

One particularly interesting feature of the game is the way in which it implements its real time system, with key events happening at specific times (in a similar way to the N64's 'Zelda: Majora's Mask) and if you're not careful important story elements and opportunities can (and will) be missed, giving that essential replay value that many games lack.

It's very hard to find anything bad to say about a game which fulfils all the criteria that gaming is meant to have: fun, technically sound, featuring the best elements of others within its genre whilst retaining its own individuality, interesting, offering new experiences. Essentially, Dead Rising plays like a game made for gamers by gamers, made by people who understand the sort of game we've been wishing to be made since se first picked up our first joypad/stick/keyboard.

Ultimately, Dead Rising is the best reason to own an XBOX 360 so far, the sort of great game that makes those who don't own the console want to as soon as they've finished playing their mates copies. It doesn't even suffer from the fact that it doesn't feature any real online features... why would you want to share your Dead Rising time with anybody else?

9/10 - Excellent

MY 100 FAVOURITE ALBUMS OF ALL TIME

2006-08-16T05:07:00.000-07:00

A contentious guitar-orientated list by Alan Jones

Adem - Home songs
Aphex Twin - Richard D. James
The Arcade Fire - Funeral
The Avalanches - Since I Left You
The Auteurs - New Wave
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
The Beatles - Rubber Soul
The Beatles - Revolver
The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles - The Beatles
The Beatles - Abbey Road
Belle + Sebastian - Tiger milk
Belle + Sebastian - If You’re Feeling Sinister
Andrew Bird - … And The Mysterious Production Of Eggs
Bjork - Debut
Bjork - Vespertine
Blur - Modern Life Is Rubbish
Blur - Parklife
David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust And The Rise And Fall Of The Spiders From Mars
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club
Kate Bush - Hounds Of Love
Capt. Beef heart - Trout Mask Replica
The Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
The Cocteau Twins - Heaven Or Las Vegas
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
Doves - The Last Broadcast
Bob Dylan - Highway 61’ Revisited
Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks
Eminem - The Slim Shady LP
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
Brian Eno - Ambient 1: Music For Airports
Felt - Forever Breathes The Lonely Word
The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin
Aretha Franklin - Young, Gifted And Black
Sage Francis - A Healthy Distrust
Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
Gang Of Four - Entertainment!
Marvin Gaye - What’s Going On?
The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike!
The Happy Mondays - Pills, Thrills And Bellyaches
PJ Harvey - Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
The Hidden Cameras - The Smell Of Our Own
Hood - Cold House
Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights
The Jesus And Mary Chain - Pyschocandy
Joy Division - Closer
The Kinks - The Kinks Are The Village Preservation Society
The La’s - The La’s
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band - John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible
Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go
Massive Attack - Blue Lines
Moby - Play
Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
The National - Alligator
Neutral Milk Hotel - In An Aeroplane Over The Sea
The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
Nirvana - Nevermind
Oasis - Definitely Maybe
Oasis - (What’s The Story) Morning Glory
The Open - The Silent Hours
The Open - Statues
Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Pixies - Doolittle
The Prodigy - The Fat Of The Land
Pulp - Different Class
Pulp - This Is Hardcore
R.E.M. - Automatic For The People
Radiohead - The Bends
Radiohead - OK Computer
Radiohead - Kid A
Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine
The Redskins - Neither Washington nor Moscow
Saint Etienne - Foxbase Alpha
The Rolling Stones - Exile On Main Street
The Sex Pistols - Nevermind The Bollocks… Here’s The Sex Pistols
The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun
The Sleepy Jackson - Lovers
The Sleepy Jackson - Personality - One Was A Spider, One Was A Bird
The Small Faces - Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake
The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness
The Smiths - The Smiths
The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
Sonic Youth - Goo
Spiritualised - Ladies And Gentleman… We Are Floating In Space
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
The Streets - Original Pirate Material
Sufjan Stevens - Come On Feel The… Illinoise!
Super grass - In It For The Money
Teenage Fan club - Bandwagonesque
The Television Personalities - …And Don’t The Kids Just Love It
The Verve - A Northern Soul
Scott Walker - Scott
The Wedding Present - George Best
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wire - Chairs Missing

Ocarina Of Time-less-ness-ness-ness.

2006-05-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

Last night, for the first time in a good old while, I played 'The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time' on the N64. As the title screen came into view, with Link galloping along Hyrule field to the strains of Koji Kondo's solemn Ocarina melody, I saw the copyright date at the bottom of the screen.

1998. Eight years ago.

To put that into context: Labour had been in power one year, Oasis where still uber-popular, Theo Walcott was 9, the Star Wars prequel series was still 'anticipated' rather than 'disappointing.' I have had conversations (admittedly not very good ones) with people who were born AFTER this game was released.

Yet it still takes a King Kong-sized dump upon anything that the 'next-generation' of X-Box, PS2 and Gamecube have offered us. Proof, if proof be need be, that technical specs are more or less meaningless in the pursuit of creating great games.

Think about it when looking at how the Wii's graphics 'aren't as good' as X-Box360 or PS3. Ask who you trust more to still entertain, excite and enthuse you in almost a decades time.
The answer starts with 'N'.

Album Of The Year? Open, says me.

2006-03-23T03:31:00.000-08:00

Statues - The Open [Loog Records]

Imagine, if you will, that you have released 2004's standout Indie Rock debut, a critically acclaimed, emotional masterpiece that had everything the commercial market needed coupled with invention and a dedication to be different that must surely mark you out, as Marlon Brando said in 'On The Waterfront' as 'a contender'. The Open did that with their oppulent 'The Silent Hours' album, a brooding triumph of a record if ever there was one. Then remember that the full Brando quote is 'I coulda been a contender' and then feel sad in the fact that this also applies to the Open. It was all 'coulda-beens' and 'shouda-beens.' Lead single, 'Close My Eyes' stalled just short of the Top 40 and since then its all been close calls for a group who missed the sales success their work deserves, whilst Cock Party and The Kaiser Shits (yes, both amausing names I made up myself) go on to glory and hit record recognition The Open stagnate and disappear...
So how would you react? Give up on the biz and everything you've aspired to after the whole 'will-we-get-signed-won't-we-get-signed' rigmoral, playing to half empty venues full of people who don't give a fuck... after suffering all that do you give up because your underapprciated masterpiece chalks up sales in single figures??? Or do you think 'fuck Top Of The Pops' and release a Jazz-influenced, middle-finger-salute-to-the-haircut-brigade-stormer of a sopohmore record that even you first pales next too? Guess which route The Open chose??
Straight from album opener 'Forever' a seven minute long epic comprising lost in the wilderness vocals, swirling atmospherics and howling saxophone, the listener knows they are onto something different. That this leads into a rousing three minute indie dancefloor mini anthem in 'We Can Never Say Goodbye' which pogos along at speed, engrossing, bewitching and uplifting despite its love at the end of the line lyrics. The stark opposition of these two tracks when contratsted with each other best sums up the ethos of Statues - its varied, idiosyncracies never allow the listener to become bored, always demanding attention and wonder with what will follow next.
That's not to say the group have completely abandoned every aspect of their sound, this is still recognisable a follow up to 'The Silent Hours', the scale of War-era U2 (you know, when they weren't COMPLETELY insufferable, just PRETTY insufferable), the etheral spaciness of Cocteau Twins and 'Spirit Of Eden' era Talk Talk still offer a welcome antidote to the Talking Heads/Wire/Gang Of Four fixation that the groups peers have, but newly instilled is a sense of spontaneity, a willingness to take their own ability to a higher level and to offer an artistic challenge to the concept of what the band are.
So, in short, a mesmerising triumph, a challenging, yet accessible record that probably won't get the group any new fans but will assure those who have already fell for this groups charms that they really are that far ahead of the rest of the crowd....

Score - 9/10 Excellent

GAME REVIEW: Full Auto [Xbox360)

2006-03-15T02:55:00.000-08:00

Everything is about Guns nowadays. Even Gorillaz are singing about 'Kids With Guns' so it follows suit that Sega would want to take the idea one step further. And so it is we end up with Full Auto... or as most will see it, 'Cars With Guns.' Yes, 'Cars With Guns' that idea that so incensed Matt upon these very pages a few months back. So, does Full Auto enlist its gund to give us a brand new gaming experience or is it simply a go faster stripe for the turgid boredom that the Racing Sim usually is?

The story (yes, even racers have stories nowadays) sees you as a retired racer dragged back into the circuit by a mysterious group known only as 'The Shepards' to compete in a series of violent races. And thats about it. No one knows why, but at least its an excuse to blow stuff up - these are 'violent' races after all.

Sound wise the game is fine, with functional sound effects and in-game music, although this didn't stop SASIC slapping on some Aphex Twin from race to race. One complaint - the music returned to the in game sounds at the end of each race. Why? If SASIC puts Aphex on we want Aphex to STAY ON, just like it does in every other game.
Graphically too, the game is fine. Whilst not fully justifing its Next Gen tag, graphics are clear and nicely rendered and there are some very good lighting effects, particualrly from explosions. What the graphics do particularly well, however, is create a realistic background for you to drive through. The attention to detail is remarkable, lending a realistic weight you wouldn't expect in a game featuring cannons strapped to the roof of minis. What even better is the amount of damage that you can enforce upon the scenery (take not GTA, PGR etc.). From spilling rubbish bins to knocking over lamp posts everything is your plaything. Perhaps best is the amount of damage you can do on each building. During one race, SASIC pulled over to blast one building all the way to hell. Satisfingly out constant volley of bullets rendered noticebale damage to the buildings structure and gave a welcome reminder to our rampage of destruction (and had nothing to do we where last at the time.)

The guns serve a higher purpose than simply causing the local council problems though. Only through destruction can you fill your two powerr gauges. One gauge is for the standard boost function but the other is needed for your unwreck feature. 'Unwreck' feature I hear you ask? Well, esentially the same as the reverse metre from 'Prince Of Persia' this allows you to reverse for a few seconds (its limited to the amount in you metre, mind) every time you make a bit of a mess of your lap. Take a corner badly? Have another go! Fly straight into that explosion? Take a harder left on attempt two! Althought this does take some of the tension form the traditional 'I only get one shot at the perfect lap' racing, it does make achieving those X-Box achievements a lot less random and iritiating and adds a spark of originality to a largely staid genre.

It is, unfortunately, but undertandably, removed for the on-line mode which does make the game considerable less inticing online than offline. Not least because online suffers from some loss of framerate and lag which irritates (it is slightly evident offline, but not enough to be particuarly concerned) and this is hopefully something developers Pseudo Interactive will be mindful of in future releases. The on-line option is one of several in game modes which, although diverse enough, are, as with all racers, to be fair, just the same idea with a lick of paint. There is a healthy choice of sports cars and tracks to keep things interesting though.

So, Full Auto then. A nice addition to the XBOX360's early catalogue, which is more downright fun than PGR but not as technically adept or deep as the latter. Still, for a quick arcade gaming blast of FUN (yes, games are meant to be fun, remember) the XBOX360 offers nothing better at the moment. Worth a look.

Verdict - 7/10 Good

The Outfit is The Worst Thing.

2006-03-06T16:37:00.000-08:00

Wow! The 360 Marketplace is getting some great demos at the moment!
[/SARCASM]

Hot on the heels of the car-crash that was Full Auto Demo (no pun intended) we get a Live-enabled taster of THQ's latest attempt, The Outfit.

Where to start? IT'S THE WORST GAME I'VE PLAYED IN YEARS. The graphics are sub-PS2 quality, at best. I'm sure my Commodore VIC-20 can do better walk cycles. Complex actions such as 'moving' and 'shooting' are as fun as being kicked in the face. Live functionality is average at best, with constant connection errors flashing on my screen every few minutes. I was stripped from my first game as the connection was that bad. And the demo has a terrible bug. 'This game only runs in 60hz. Please change your settings.' I'M PLAYING ON AN HD YOU FUCKING TWAT.

I HOPE THE FULL GAME IS BETTER.

Who says Football's all commercialised these days?

2006-02-27T06:16:00.000-08:00

Latest score from the Top Of The Table clash in the Wales Premier Division?

Total Network Systems 3 - 0 Airbus UK

Coming soon

The Derbyshire County 1 - 1 Barclays Rovers

Nintendo hates YOU less than YOU think.

2006-02-11T04:03:00.000-08:00

Every gamer knows that Japan gets great games we don't get - we DO get Driv3r but we DON'T get the latest genre bending RPG's because apparantly the UK doesn't like RPGs. (This despite the fact Final Fantasy or Zelda are always topping Best Game Ever polls, but you know...) But maybe this could all be changing - not only is the brilliance of Chibi Robo and We Love Katamari being brought to us (on 'Cube and PS2 respectively) but we're also going to be filling our console pipes with the gaming tabacco that is Brain Training DS!!

Basically a non game in the same way Nintendogs is - Brain Training has been a wallet busting hit in Japan and the U.S. and will touch down in the 'Europe' in April under the new moniker of Prof. Kawashima's Brain Training. I would heartily plead with everyone to buy this along with Trauma Center: Under the Knife as if these games don't sell at least semi well it could impact on our chances of getting the weird and wonderful again in the future. And maybe we'll get Driver 4 instead.

Shudder.

Single Minded 06/02/06

2006-02-07T05:28:00.000-08:00

Regular readers (yes, both of you) may be wondering where in flipping crikey the single reviews are (they're in a jar, mate.) Well it seems the wonders of p2p mean I can't actually find any of them on Limewire. Which means that unless it starts 'coughin' up the 'goods' then this section of the blog will have to die.

To be fair though, the Single Of The Week for this week is irrelevant. Because The Television Personalities have unleashed 'All The Young Children On Crack' upon the nation this week and all the music magazines and websites have agreed to publish the single of the year polls NOW because its as good as over.

The end.

Franz Fall Down

2006-02-07T03:46:00.000-08:00

2004 belonged to Franz -2005 DIDN'T. That's the harsh truth of it - the album got number 1 and everything but everyone was a bit 'meh' weren't they? I don't know why, the second album was really good and had some quality tracks - not least of all the opening track 'The Fallen' which drops into singles land (and presumably somewhere in the Top 40 too) on March 27th. B-Sides to be confirmed, though French DJ Duo 'Justice' have apparantly done a remix - which will be shit judging by the last few Franz/France collaborations as anyone who heard Daft Punk's dreadful 'Take Me Out' remix will testify.

Getting Closer To The Goal

2006-02-06T04:13:00.000-08:00

The Life Pursuit - Belle And Sebastian [Rough Trade]

Things have sure changed in the Belle And Sebastian camp since the release od their full scale debut 'If You're Feeling Sinister' in 1996. Isobel Campbell has left (and last week released Ballad Of The Broken Seas wuth Mark Lanegan, which I'll review as soon as I can afford it) and others have joined giving the band a much different dynamic. After 2000's transitional 'Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant' (a bit like this seasons Arsenal, still got it in patches but lacking a leading influence) it looked like maybe the band had reached the end but smashed back into the consious with their critically acclamied 'Dear Catastrophe Waitress', a big pop album which took them further away from the tweeness of their earlier records. However, as their full performance of 'Sinister' at the Barbican last September showed, this is a band finally at comfort with their past, yet also striving for a different future.

So a good time to release their sixth full scale album (7th if you count the soundtrack LP 'Storytelling') and move onward again. This time the pop sensibilites of 'DCW' have been complimented by a strong soul influence, particularly Northern Soul. This results in a slightly funkier collection thn previously, if lacking, in areas, the energy and charm of 'DCW.' Murdoch's songwriting is as strong as ever, though his voice suffers from not fitting into the 'soulful' troubadour mould as easily as the 'twee' troubadour mode of yore, though he gradual adapts to it over the course of the record. Particular highlights include 'Sukie In The Graveyard' and first single, 'Funny Little Frog' but as a whole the songs here are consistently of a higer quality of any record since 'Sinister' if not quite matching the peaks of 'DCW' in terms of one off tracks - there's nothing with the commercial dancing charm of 'I'm A Cuckoo' for ecample.

So, overall, a cracker of a record that, whilst not up to 2003's Dear Catastrophe Waitress's' ridiculousless high standards is still going to be in ANYONE WITH EARS top 10 records of the year. Enthralling, interesting and an evolution of one of the finest bands of the last 20 years this is recommended to anyone with even the slightest interest in indie.

8/10 - Very Good

FUCK OFF Boy Least Likely To...

2006-02-03T09:55:00.000-08:00

Lovely, CRIMINALLY OVER-RATED popsters, The Boy Least Likely To... have cancelled their headlining club tour of North America because they have instead decided to tour with James Blunt as support on HIS headling tour of North America.

FUCK OFF, TWATS.

SASIC January Top 10 Singles

2006-01-31T03:51:00.000-08:00

Ok, Ok there are a lot of lists on here because they are fun... just be thankful that I haven't mentioned how the Arctic Monkeys have sold 360,000 copies of their debut album in SEVEN days.

Shit...

Anyway...

1. Funny Little Frog - Belle And Sebastian
2. Friend Of The Night - Mogwai
3. Your Enemy - The Hazy Janes
4. Lottery Winners On Acid - The Crimea
5. The Greatest - Cat Power
6. When The Sun Goes Down - The Arctic Monkeys
7. A Day In The Life Of A Pool Shark - The Idiot Pilots
8. Conceived - Beth Orton
9. Wandering Eye - Fat Freddy Drops
10. Man In Garage - Coldcut

Happy now?

Single Minded 30/01/06

2006-01-31T00:32:00.000-08:00

Welcome to another Monday and another batch of singles to distract us until the new Open album comes out... swish...

Conceived - Beth Orton
As inconsitent as anyone, this dreamy lounge indie-pop thankfully falls in the bucket marked 'quality'.A promising indictaion for the forthcoming album. 4/5

A Day In The Life Of A Poolshark - The Idiot Pilots
Opening with a bizarre synth sample and then mutating into a fuzzy, garage rock stomp and back againas interesting a three minutes as 2006 has thrown up. The fact they are close collabrorators with Deftones/Team Sleeps Chino Moreno should tell you what to expect. 4/5

Ladyflash! - The Go! Team
The remastered version from the recent re-release of 2004's Thunder, Lightening, Strike LPwhich sees all the samples taken out to stop the lawyers. As a result the song loses someof its unique atmosphere but is still a joyful romp. 3.5/5

Hustler's Ambition - 50 Cent
Taken from the soundtrack to his new film, this track marks a move towards the more traditionalhip hop of Fiddy's influences. Marks a new less sample-centric move and easily his best releasesince 'In Da Club.' Still hardly Dead Prez or Public Enemy though. 3.5/5

Yard Of Blonde Girls - Micah P. Hinson
Previous to this the only Micah I'd heard of was the Burnley midfielder, Micah Hyde. I mentionthis because he could probably make better than this dreary pomp rock balladerring take on the Jeff Buckley original. 2.5/5

You Spin Me Right Round - Dead Or Alive
Classic 80s pop fodder re-invigorated by Pete Burns being a freak on Celebrity Big Brother (6,000,000 viewers) instead of Nevermind The Buzzcocks (1,000,000 viewers.) Obviously a disco pop classic with the type of 'screws into your brain' chorus every pop act yearns for. 4.5/5
Boyfriend - Ashlee Simpson
Remember when Avril Lavinge was big? Ashless Simpson can, with this sub-pop punk offering a perfect example featuring vocals spookily reminiscent of Vanessa Charlton. Avoid. 1.5/5

Us - Regina Specktor
Whether you can stomach this depends entirely on how you cope with the vocal ticks of Regina. Stick with it and a wonderful Tori Amos-a-like quirky piano ballad shines through. 3.5/5

Far Away -Nickleback
Sounds exactly the same as the last song, which sounded the same as the one before that.Dreadful pop-nu-metal hybrid that is offensive to the ears as the genre suggests. 1/5

Wandering Eye - Fat Freddys Drop
Long jazz influenced funky jam from the 7 piece live Dub/Reggae band from Wellington. As cooland relaxing as the name suggests, harks back to the 'swinging cats' of the 50s. 4/5

When I Think Of You - Lee Ryan
Tryinf his hand at soul tinged pop and failing spectacularly thanks to a weak voice, poor song and lacklustre backing instruments. Utterly vile. 1.5/5

Friend Of The Night - Mogwai
Not the ear-bleeding return that has been promised but nevertheless a stylish and welcome return from Scotland's third best band. Epic, gorgeous, thrilling and as fresh as anything they have ever done. Beautiful piano led melody in their aswell. 4.5/5

Also Out (a sure sign I'm bored of writing long reviews)
Sometimes - Howie Beck Competant Beck-Lite acoustics from Broken Social Scene producer
3.5/5
I Touch Myself - Saucy Monkeys Punk butchering of Devinyls classic 2/5
Reckless - Tilly And The Wells Like Rilo Kiley, just not as good 3/5
Malone - Magick Johnson Couldn't find it on Limewire NA/5
Iwe - Noisettes An interesting mix of rock and blues that isn't as loud as the name suggests 3/5
Five Sunsets In Four Days - Young People Dirty guitar and pounding drums combine to put this US indie rock collective SLIGHTLY ahead of the pack. 3.5/5

SINGLE OF THE WEEK

Mr Beast - Mogwai [Pias Recordings]

Clap Your Hands That It's Finally Arrived....

2006-01-27T01:04:00.000-08:00

Clap Your Hand Say Yeah - [V2]

As one of the most popular import albums of recent times, it's strange to think that Clap You Hands Say Yeah's debut has only dropped in the garish racks of HMV and the like this week. For many of us it's like seeing your favourite film getting released in the 'proper cinemas and everyfink' after its spent six months playing to those in the know at the local back street art house cinema. But at last its available to the public at large, rather stupidly, on the same day as The Arctic Monkeys album... oh dear... so will it be ignored? Maybe. Will it be the one people are still talking fondly of in ten years time? It should be....

A fair sign of genius territory is when an album which opens with a 2 minute carcophony of wurlizter and fairground music supported by chants of 'Clap Your Hands' echoing through a tannoy and has the most marmite 'love-it-or-hate-it' vocals since Morrissey is still the best thing you've heard in a long time. Standing somewhere between the lo-fi-ish crunching guitars of Arcade Fire's 'Wake Up', the art-rock tendancies of Talking Heads and Jeff Magnum-ish 'tendancy to be flat vocals' there stands CYHSY.

So there a bit like Neutral Milk Hotel featuring Win Butler doing Talking Head covers with a bit of 16-bit era Sega synth thrown in. How can this not be good?

But what of the songs? Well the swooning Over and Over again contains the some apposite 'anti-success' lyrics in "Success is so forbidding/But it makes me think I'm winning/Quiet/Dim the lights/Adopt another lifestyle..." which have the vital air of sincerity that most other claims for this lack.. and seems to have the ketboard from Lemmings on the Mega Drive in the background, the soft alt-country of Details Of The War moulds into album highlight 'The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth' with gentle guitar lines becoming energetic riffs and then switiching back. In fact every song here as something beautiful to offer.

So ANOTHER success story from the Internet - you know that things that's killing music whilst simultaneously giving us the biggest debut album ever (Artic Monkeys) and the most deserved indie success this side of The Arcade Fire (CYHSY.)

As Murdoc would say - 'I love it when a plan comes together.)

9/10 - Excellent

What Happened To Sega?

2006-01-26T09:47:00.000-08:00

I honestly couldn't go any longer without having a rant about this.

On February 10th, Sega will release 'Full Auto' exclusively for the Xbox 360. The game is pretty hyped (obviously, being one of the first batch of games to be released since launch) and has been billed as 'one to watch'.

Last night, a demo of the game was released on the 360 Marketplace. 'Great', I thought! I could do a little preview of it. It looks exciting.

Here is my preview...

FUCK OFF. CARS DON'T HAVE GUNS.

Even Sega, who have kept us happy through dark times with the fabulously blue Outrun 2 and recently published, by far the best game for the 360, Condemned, are resorting to the gangster image. The game basically takes a bit from Need For Speed, a lot from Burnout, and shit loads from Twisted Metal. Needless to say - it's fucking embarrasing.

So, Sega. Fuck off.

Single Minded 23/01/06

2006-01-24T05:45:00.000-08:00

A pretty poor week for the singles in my humble onion but onwards we go...

This Time - Starsailor/A Place In Displacement - South
Strange how groups who fall in the same bracket of melancholic rock as the all conquering mega selling behomoth of Coldplay find themselves sidelined as the genre is hitting its commercial peak - what with Kubb and The Feeling and all. Admittedly Starsailor is a slightly rockier take on the sound but is all the better for it. Deserves better than the ignomany that they will be afforded. 3.5/5

Skin Deep - Natasha Thomas
Oh dear god no! The dreaded 'r'n'b ballad' gets its first dreary, self obssessed outing of the year. Sounds like every other attempt at this ever made. Avoid 1.5/5

Analogue - A-Ha
Unfortunately not an Alan Partridge covers band (who doesn't want that Abba medly out on 7") but the return of the 'Take On Me' Swedish popsters. Potent power pop that mizes the wisdom of age with the vitalty of great pop songwriting well, with a rousing chorus. Sort of like a paletable U2 3.5/5

Honesty - Alex Parks
Identi-kit radio friendly pop from winner of the worst of the recent spate of talent shows Fame Academy 1/5

If You Where Mine - Marcos Hernadez
Imagine the smugness of Westlife all combined into one man. Here it is. 0.5/5

Your Enemy - The Hazy Janes
Probably the weeks only essential single, a glorious trashy update of Teenage Fanclub (Star Sign in particular) and all in all the first really promising band to emerge in 2006. 4/5

Flybuzz - Your Vegas
More gutter-rock tripe from England's most over-rated musical 'shire - Yorkshire. 1.5/5

Stop Look And Listen - The Maybes?
7" only debut from the scouse popsters, think a fuzzier take on The Coral's pop psychedelica and you're half way there. Promising. 3.5/5

Eve Of The Battle - The Isles/Good As It Gets - The Lights
Two reviews at once is a great idea, especially when both bands can be described in two words and one score - generic indie. 2.5/5

Move - Sol Peppy
The Beta Band being fronted by The Sunday's Harriet Wheeler without either bands class or energy. Hmmm... 2.5/5

Dance Me In (Optimo Remix) - Sons And Daughters
12" only remix turns lethargic indie by numbers into disco highlight thanks to handclaps and chorus samples. Cool. 4/5

Set It Off - Stereo MC's
Remeber when they where massive? Well they won't get back there with this but a nice entry into their catalogue. Just short of the invention that it needs to really be noticed. 3.5/5

Other Releases I Couldn't Find On Limewire -

We Are Evil -Robyn G Shiels
No Soul - Rumble Stripe

Single Of The Week -

It could only be the lovely

Your Enemy -The Hazy Janes [Measured Records]

The Shit Awards

2006-01-24T01:41:00.000-08:00

Its award seasons all over again what with the Brits and the Oscars and the Golden Globes and the... well you get the idea.. anyway the reason that the NME Awards caught the attention is that near enough every category has the same five or six bands in ie. Oasis, Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand, Babyshambles, Bloc Party or Arctic Funkeys. And in a rather amusing turn of events Babyshambles are in both Best and Worst album categories which probably sums up the nature of the NME awards - half right at times but overall a bit confused.. Here's the nominations, with my predict(able?)ed winners in italics...

Best British Band -
Arctic Monkeys
Bloc Party
Kaiser Chiefs
Franz Ferdinand
Oasis

Best International Band
Arcade Fire
Green Day
The Killers
The Strokes
Foo Fighters

Best Solo Artist
Antony And The Johnsons
Richard Ashcroft
Ian Brown
Graham Coxon
Kanye West

Best New Band
Arctic Monkeys
Editors
Magic Numbers
Maximo Park
We Are Scientists

Best Live Band
Arctic Monkeys
Franz Ferdinand
Green Day
Kaiser Cheifs
Oasis

Best Album
Babyshambles - 'Down In Albion'
Bloc Party - 'Silent Alarm'
Franz Ferdinand - 'You Could Have It So Much Better'
Kaiser Chiefs - 'Employment'
Oasis - 'Don't Believe The Truth'

Best Track
'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor' - Arctic Monkeys
'Fuck Forever' - Babyshambles
'Do You Want To' - Franz Ferdinand
'I Predict A Riot' - Kaiser Chiefs
'The Importance Of Being Idle' - Oasis

Best Video
'Do You Want To' - Franz Ferdinand
'Dare' - Gorillaz
'I Predict A Riot' - Kaiser Chiefs'
The Importance Of Being Idle' - Oasis
'Juicebox' - The Strokes

Best Event -
Carling Weekend: Reading And Leeds Festivals
Glastonbury
Live8
T In The Park
V Festival

Worst Album
'Down In Albion' - Babyshambles
'Back To Bedlam' - James Blunt
'The Bravery' - The Bravery
'One Way Ticket To Hell... And Back' - The Darkness
'Wonderland' - McFly

Worst Band
Babyshambles
Coldplay
The Darkness
McFly
Son Of Dork

Of course there are the usual pointless 'Best Website Awards' (surprisingly nme.com garners ANOTHER nomination but the pants wettingly inventive, fantastic and fun Goillaz.com is ignored) in there but I'll be buggered if I can be arsed to cut and paste and thenn format all that toss.

Also congratulations to Richard Ashcroft and Graham Coxon for gaining nominations despite no new releases in 2005! You guys are legends - much better than Sufjan Stevens who released the opulent 'Illinoise' in the same period,

Best DVD Cover EVER revealed....

2006-01-23T09:23:00.000-08:00

Don't...Don't... Don't... Don't..Don't Believe The Hype

2006-01-22T08:46:00.000-08:00

Whatever They Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - The Arctic Monkeys [Domino]

Such is what the Arctic Monkeys can get away with at the moment they haven't been even slightly admonished for the worst album title in a long, long time... but there it is the world of music have a new darling. Much in the same way Oasis stepped into the Nirvana shaped media hole of 1994, so have The Arctic Monkeys slipped into the gap left by The Libertines. The papers at the minute seem to love the idea of bands who have close ties with their fans and the monkeys/fan bond at the moment seems to the closest based as the band's success is on myspace.com and word of mouth. Yes they seem a pleasant enough bunch of chaps and the site of people knowing all of the songs at gigs when a band doesn't even have a record out says a lot for the connection between artist and audience, but that isn't what this review is about. It's about the quality of the record being as I am someone who recognises that The Monkeys are FAR from being either the best band around or even the most promising of the spate of newcomers at the moment. So how do the songs manage without the fanatical support of the toni&guy brigade bouncing around you...

All the songs present here have been bouncing around on the internet in some form or another for a good year now so the album is somewhat robbed of any freshness before it starts. Of course, there is the hope that great production would introduce some sparkle to damper the familiarity, but the production here appears to be the albums real weak link, with nothing added to the songs at all - in fact some have had the quality down graded a notch with 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor's' slower verses drastically weakening the energy of the song.
What has remained through is the Cocker-esqse biting satire of the lyrics which helps lift the songs above the sum of their parts, with 'A Certain Romance' and 'Fake Tales..' in particular. Musically though they don't really anything more than a slightly more polished Libertines and at times can delve into being just plain generic, though it does retain a certain energy and charm throughout that prevents you from hating the group.
Overall then a genuine, lyrically clever, if musically stunted record that does nothing to surprise but entertains with its rock 'n' roll thrills. Not deserving of the hype but deserving of a listen.

7/10 - Good

Definitely Monkeys

2006-01-20T08:40:00.000-08:00

Why does every other post on here seem to be about the Arctic Monkeys... I don't like them THAT much.. but it does seem everyone else in the country does and HMV predicts that the group could end up with the fastest selling album since Definitely Maybe 12 years ago - which heralded the arival (in the newspapers at least) of Britpop. Or 'Britpop' as it had already become by then...

With predicted sales of 200,000 in the first week alone, a second #1 single on the spin in the form of 'When The Sun Goes Down' due this Sunday and sold-out gig after sold-out gig it seems The Arctic Monkeys are now the biggest band in the country. Just think Doherty this could all have been yours...

Things Aren't What They Used To Be...

2006-01-18T02:39:00.000-08:00

...Thankfully.

I Look Ill brought this to my attention, a fantabulous 1984 interview with The Smiths (you know, the second best band ever) which was presumably made before the media hated them in the Suffer Little Children furore.

The highlights include Morrissey's name appearing in captions at the foot of the screen as 'Paul Morressey' and his explaination for waving flowers on stage. Because they don't burp, apparantly.

Flowers - 'Don't burp.'

OH, Hey, Sis!

2006-01-16T05:06:00.000-08:00

Oasis have announced they will conclude their winter tour with a pair of dates at Nottingham Arena on the 13th and 14th of February this year, with tickets going on sale this Saturday (21st January) at 9am. The tour itself starts on January 24th and takes in Norway, Sweden, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and two dates at Sheffield's Hallam Arena. They will presumably have shit support, as they always do.

More line-ups than a Harlem police station.

Enter Bibamatt...

2006-01-16T02:09:00.000-08:00

Ho ho! The rabid misspelt ramblings of AnOrdinaryBoy (ie. moi) upon this semi-hallowed ground have now been joined by another - Bibamatt!

Welcome, Bibamatt yell both SASIC's readers!

Anyway, get posting bitch.

[Below] Ordinary Sales

2006-01-16T01:27:00.000-08:00

The new Top 75 Albums were published yesterday with The Ordinary 'Celebrity Big Brother' Boys album Brassbound nowhere to be seen. Which begs the question -

Just how badly does youre album need to be selling to not get into the Top 75 after a tenfold increase in sales?

Interestingly what has shown some chart msucle is single (which in one interview Suggs called a 'Madness rip-off' - bang on the money there, Suggs) 'Boys Will Be Boys' which was originally released on the 6th of June way back in 2005. However, this week it bounced back into the hit parade at #33, the highest the group have been in the singles chart since the song originally charted at #16 (follow-up single 'Life Will Be The Death Of Me' stalled at #50, largely because it was fucking dreadful and had the strange choice of a 'band-peforms-gig-at-poolside video) and will get a full, physical, in Woolworths-and-everything release on the 23rd of January. THAT'S SEVEN DAYS? Excited?

Single Minded 16/01/06

2006-01-16T01:18:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of updates, essays and stuff are a byatch....

Oh God! There's LOADS of them.. and most of them are SHIT!*

What Ifs Maybes - Bromheads Jacket
Oh god! Another Leeds bands? Well these ones aren't too bad, with some extremely strange half-rapped lyrics creating a feeling of The Streets fronting an energetic punk outfit. Would get grating over the course of a full LP but in single form it comes across as a fun, knockabout 3 1/2 minutes (3.5/5)

Nasty Girl - Nortorious B.I.G. feat Every Rapper ever by the look of it.
More deradful identi-kit boastful c-Rap music from the man who's more prolific dead than alive. This is absolutely fucking dreadful. 2006 has already produced its worse single (0/5)

Jack U - Felix Da Housecat feat. P Diddy
You know things are bad when you're so bereft of ideas you need to draft in P.Diddy/PuffDaddy/P.Hiddely-Ho-Neighbourino to help lend some inspiration to your flat, half rate danceoffering. Diddy's shouting is quite possible the least convicing vocal in music history andhis half baked rapping is almost as bad. Lazy, dull, insiped... don't bother (1/5)

The Greatest - Cat Power
And so it comes to Cat Power to save us from a fate worse than Opeth, with her usual lilting piano melodies and hushed vocals combining to an even more devestating effect than sheusually manages. Sumptous strings too. (4/5)

Commercial Breakdown - The Sunshine Underground
Second slice of funky pop from the Leeds (again?) quartet, holds the attention for the duration but doesn't offer enough to make you want to find out anymore. Compared to someof the shite out this week though its 'Strawberry Fields Forever' A tad formulaic. (3/5)

Little Derek - Sway feat Baby Blue
Oh my god! A rap record with a 'featured' artist that actually adds to the song. Along with Plan B, Sway (the Mobo winning before he had a record deal rapper) is 2006's most promising rap newcomer. Here he shows why showcasing his lyrics and beats effectively, without quite setting the pulse racing the way early Dizzee Rascal did. Still one to watchthough (3.5/5)

What's Your Damage - Test Icicles
Screamy-noisy-guitary blend of everything funk pop, strectches a bit too close to the the aweful faux-American emo of Funeral For A Friend for this listeners liking, but passable enough for a band riding a band wagon. Also, it goes on FAR to long (2.5/5)

Twelve - Forward Russia!
Irritating live, irritating on record. Wire-y style power pop with neither the imaginationnor ability to sustain itself a bit of a waste really. Hmm.... anyone know how to do the upside down ! at the start of their name - that would be useful.. oh yeah, there is a nice little xylophone background bit too which raises the score half a mark. (2/5)

Super Heartbeats - The Motorettes
Rawk 'n' roll which would sound more at home in 70s New York than anywhere else. Not bad just seems a bit pointless as long as (Thank GOD!) the Ramones albums are still available (2.5/5)

Hi Tack - Say Say Say (Waiting For You)
Oh god! Of all the songs MJ and PM have done between them Hi Tack sample the cheesiestone available. It wasn't even the best MJ/PM duet for Fooks sake. Ah well, this dance-y effort is nice enough and fits in well with where the whole dance scene (except Vitalic)seems to be doing at the moment - the middle ground. (2.5/5)

Funny Little Frog - Belle And Sebastian
There is no way I can review this in an unbiased manner. This is a band so good they could cover 'The Kaiser Chiefs' and make it tender, heartfelt, vital and all the otherthings that other bands just can't do. They have crafted another 4 minute epic here instantly making everything else here seem largely irrelevant. Finely crafted pop perfection (4.5/5)

When The Sun Goes Down - The Arctic Monkeys
Oh hype, so much to answer for. You've taken a perfectly good northern take on The Libertines and fed them standards they can't match. Here's another spikey, guitar drivenanthem that does everything it says on the tin but won't change the world like some seemto think it will.Still, as good a single as many will manage this year. As George Michael once said - 'Listen Without Predjudice' Before spunking on a toilet wall, presumably(4/5)

New Years Day - Bedouin Soundclash
We already have one U2 we don't need them being covered by a Candian ska group. Urgh! U2's ONLY good song ruined for your dis-pleasure. (1.5/5)

Also Out This Week

Check On It - Beyonce.. Yawn. Is this really the same woman who gave us Crazy In Love (1/5)
Eddie's Song - Son Of Dork.. Sub-Busted pop punk (2/5)
All Time Love - Will Young.. More Jazz tinged pop from PopStars/Idols second best graduate (3/5)

SINGLE OF THE WEEK
Rather Predictably

Belle And Sebastian - Funny Little Frog [Rough Trade]

*John Cale has also released a download only single 'Outtathabag' today but I'm not PAYING to review something. P2P RULEZ!!

nOOb

SASIC Singles Of 2005 - 10-1

2006-01-11T06:24:00.000-08:00

So, this will definitely probably be the last poll thing I do concerning 2005, mainly 'cos its 11 days ago now and we should all instead look at the future (2006) and not the past (2005)! But I half started it earlier so I ought to finish it....

10. Hard To Beat - Hard Fi [Unnecessary Records]
The record label name is quite ironic really considering how many consider Hard Fi to be unnecessary themselves and to an extent they are - a dull live act and a patchy at best album. But here there is an urgency, a certain wit to the lyrics and a spark in both musical and vocal delivery that means they'll never have been a complete waste of time. Nice faux-trance section in the last bridge too. Chav-Rock!

9. In The Morning - The Coral [Deltasonic]
Just as The Coral release there best single since 'Dreaming Of You' they drop off the radar. Oh dear. A shame since this breezy, cheery summer anthem was a highlight of the usual flabby radio playlists this year and is PROBABLY the best song Paul McCartney never wrote. So, destined probably to be forgotten instead for stuff of the second album which weren't half as lovable as this. Isn't life, and the music industry, a bitch?

8. E-Pro - Beck [Interscope]
As the lead single from the under-valued 'Guero' album, E-Pro highlights all this is great about Beck - effortless innovation and an almost cast iron gaurantee of something quite unlike anything you'eve ever heard. Buzzing with crunching guitars, what has to be the video of the year, and some noncensical lyrics about some bollocks, a micor classic from start to finish. It even as a 'na-na-na-na-na-na-na-NAH' chorus! YES!

7. Biology - Girls Aloud [Polydor]
After Love Machine the girls best single, a riotous move from Northern Soul pastiche through electro-pop to an outro that sounds worringly and brillaintly close to Bowie's Jean Genie, a flawless example of perfect pop personified. Undoubtable the best straight-up pop group ever.

6. Apply Some Pressure - Maximo Park [Warp]
Something of a mysterious signing to Warp Records, the most fun you can have whilst listening to a band trying to our Gang Of Four/Wire the Futureheads yet still ull and exhuberrent enough for you to love instead of hate. A blistering example of how a single should be done - as catchy as rabies, as simple as Jodie Marsh and as exhillarating as driving the wrong way down a motorway. Probably.

5. You Don't Have To Shout - The Robocop Kraus
Bizarre bizarre bizzare. German electro pop running riot, involving the years best example of the repetitive chorus par excellence, this barking madness deserved to be one of the years underground successes and wasn't. In fact I didn't discover it myself until last month, for shame. Ahh well, give it a try just don't expect to particualy understand what is going on.

4. The Importance Of Being Idle - Oasis [Big Brother]
Ahh, The Kinks where great weren't they? My favourite Kinks song is either Waterloo Sunset, Sunny Afternoon or The Importance Of Being Idle. What? The Importance Of Being Idle isn't by The Kinks? Who is it by? Oasis? I thought they just ripped off The Beatles? Oh I don't mind - it's summery, its quite clever lyrically and its a big bold bitch of a tune, which surely is what Oasis are all about. Their best single since 'Don't Look Back In Anger'.

3. Munich - Editors [Kitchenware]
Yeah, I know its been released this year but that was a re-release it sill qualifies. The highlight of their Back Room album, a rip roaring indie rock stompy that remorselessly crushed any band trying anything similar this year (and their were plenty). The vocals of course recall a certain Mr Curtis, but that can't be helped - anything this dramatic deserves nothing less.

2. Everything I Taught You - The Alterkicks [Fierce Panada]
Quite frankly these should have been the biggest new band of the year. Scraping in at just 75 in the hit parade a confusing and glorious fusion of scouse rock and flamenco guitar to create a spacey yet familar sound complete with plaintive yelp and intriguing atmosphere, the best anyone human managed all year. The single picture here is actually from this years re-issue (everyone does that now don't they?) so I;m hoping you'll see it and March and maybe, just maybe, recognise it and pick it up.

DRUM-ROLL PLEASE! The winner of our first (and probably only to be honest) annual Single Of The Year is...

1. Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz feat. Del La Soul [EMI]
'Shum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-erh-hurr'! The most gripping intro to any song this year, the best bass-line of the year, a guest appearance for DEL-LE-FRIGGIN'-SOUL this is practically the perfect single. Heralding the return of Damon Albarn's cartoon side project, Feel Good Inc. held the listeners attention more effectively and happily more than any other 3 minutes this year. So no one knows what its about (probably nothing) but it doesn't. This is what a single is meant to be. Hip-Pop bliss!

Single Minded 09/01/06

2006-01-09T02:05:00.000-08:00

Ah ha.. did you see what I did with the title there? Single minded 'cos this is singles and single minded as in... no?.. ahh whatever....

You Don't Love Me - The Kooks
The third single from one of the better of the new influx of pop/rock bands is also, unfortunately, their worst so far, certainly no where near previous release Eddie's Gun. Still, a nice enough song even if their ideas are running dry worringly early. 3.5/5

Heartebeats - Jose Gonzales
Or, to give it its full title, that song of the phone ad. What the ad doesn't show is how irritating Gonzales voice is on this track, a little to close to Joel Gibb of the Hidden Cameras without the latters sense of enjoyment. Try Stay In The Shade for a better example of Jose's skills 3/5

Lottery Winners On Acid - Crimea
'We walk through the streets like Lottery Winners On Acid'... such a happy sentence can only be supported by a joyful trip through 60s pyschidelica mixed with a strange 'seaside' vibe and Polyphonic Spree-style vocals. Probably released to early in the year to realise its full oppurtunity to be something of a summer anthem. Joyous. 4/5

Muscle Car (Freeforms Remix) - Mylo
The billionenth release from an album originally released in 2004, Mylo's latest offering shows that no only is he having problems getting a new album out he had problems filling his original release with anything particularly interesting. Rendered obsolete by Vitalic's OK Cowboy, not a bad song just uninspiring, though there is a nice breakdown in the middle. 3/5

Night With Colour - Richard Ashcroft
Remember back in 1997 when Ashcroft was when of the best songwriters around? Sadly he can't, a pompous, bombastic and directioness mess of a record, pissing on the memory of A Northern Soul et al. 2/5

Also Out This Week
Burn The Witch - Queens Of The Stone Age - Same old, same old 3/5
Man In Garage - Coldcut Keeping up high standards 4/5
Something New - Zero Point Field No it isn't 3/5
Mind's Eye - Wolfmother Interesting enough 3/5
Come Sing Me A Song - Sing Sing Well, if it means you won't 2.5/5

So, the single of the week is - The Crimea - Lottery Winners On Acid [WEA]

Art Rock v Dad Rock

2006-01-08T09:48:00.000-08:00

While Liam Gallagher hitting out is hardly news, the responses can sometimes be good. After comparing Franz Ferdinand to Right Said Fred, FF lead singer Alex Kapranos had this to say...

"Every contemporary band was at the end of some form of vitriol from him. I'm
not particularly bothered by him, it just seems like bitchery from cheap
neurosis."

Contemporary? Vitriol? Neurosis? Dear me, Alex, if you're going to slag Liam off at least use words the guy will understand. But perhaps better is the analogy that Kapranos used on Liam and his distaste for his rivals.

"When I read the press that surrounded them earlier in 2005, it sounded like an extremely anxious, neurotic young girl at a high school who though that she had a younger, better looking competition and was just bitching about everything about her."

Better looking girl? Must be that lovely eyeliner.

SASIC Singles of 2005 - 11-20

2006-01-08T08:51:00.000-08:00

Do you know what's great about charts/lists? They are easy ways to fill up your blog without having to put much thought into content. You can just reel of a meaningless list and people will be more interested than if you wrote a 12,000 disection of modern pop culture and its parables with Greek myth. This is fact! So, instead of my 12,000 disection of modern pop culture and its parables with Greek myth here's the 20 singles which made me go 'Yum' during the last 12 months -

20. 1 Thing - Amerie [Sony]
19. Galavanise - The Chemical Brothers [Virgin]
18. Spit It Out - Brenden Benson [V2]
17. Shot You Down - Audio Bullys feat. Nancy Sinatra [Source]
16. Forgot Myself - Elbow [V2]
15. From The Floorboards Up - Paul Weller [V2]
14. Hope There's Someone - Anthony And The Johnsons [Rough Trade]
13. Black And White Town - Doves [Heavenly]
12. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor - The Arctic Monkeys [Domino]
11. Somewhere Else - Razorlight [Vertigo]

Belle And Seb Factgasm

2006-01-07T05:32:00.000-08:00

Belle And Sebastian are probably the best band in the world, so the news of a new release is enough to send anyone into a frothy excitement. With the illegally already available 'A Life Pursuit' LP due for real, proper, hold-the-case-in-your-hand release due on February 6th, the first single 'Funny Little Frog' is due out a week Monday (16th Feb) and will be available on the following formats and tracks -

7"
a. Funny Little Frog
b. The Eighth Station Of The Cross Kebab House

CD.
1. Funny Little Frog
2. Meat And Potatoes
3. I Took A Long Hard Look

DVD
1. Funny Little Frog [Video]
2. Lazy Line Painter Jane [Live]

The vigilant amongst you will notice that 'The Eighth Station Of The Cross Kebab House' is finally available to the public at large after being bumped off the WarChild compilation late last year, possibly to make room for the horrific Kaiser Chiefs cover of 'I Heard It On The Grapevine'. Hmmm...

New Futureheads Album Out Now

2006-01-06T08:06:00.000-08:00

The Futureheads have announced they have 14 tracks ready for the follow up to 2003's self titled debut. Here at SASIC, however, we've had the second Futurheads' album for a while now - it's great and the link to buy it from Amazon is here

Also there is the eagerly awaited new albums from Kasabian, The Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay and The Kaiser Chiefs!!

SASIC Top 30 Albums of 2005 - The Top 5-1

2006-01-06T07:43:00.001-08:00

So here we are, the last five records that, both numerically and musically form the SASIC Top 5 albums of 2005. Of course you disagree, you’re ignorant and prejudiced, but, hey, that’s what the little comments section at the foot of this post is for. So use it.

5. Andrew Bird And The Mysterious Production Of Eggs – Andrew Bird [Fargo]
Falling vaguely in the area of Jeff Buckley, but infusing rock, jazz, pop and folk to create a melting pot of styles without straying away from his own sound, the prolific Bird’s latest offering is his best yet. Songs such as ‘Fake Palindromes’ and ‘Measuring Cups’ will still sound as fresh and invigorating in 10 years.

4. Outside Closer – Hood [Domino]
Still no closer to anything approaching mainstream acceptance, Hood’s latest offering is as different from their last record as that was its predecessors. Glitchy beats, synths and hushed vocals create a soundscape all of their own and the songs are memorable even without anything approaching choruses. An understated, overlooked classic.

3. Z – My Morning Jacket. [ATO Records]
A name which sounds worryingly like that of an emo-band but MMJ are anything but, with Jim James versatile voice soars over a mixed collection of metal, pop and funk in an album of two very different halves, from the minimal feel of ‘Wordless Chorus’ to the layered bombastic tracks such as ‘Off The Record’ from the album’s second half, presenting an always entertaining and surprising album.

2. Alligator – The National
Grasping the chance of a major label debut, The National’s third album sparkles with a hunger and ambition perhaps lacking from earlier releases. If there’s a band with a more emotional front man than Matt Berringer than they’ve kept themselves well hidden in the last year, and their live shows whilst touring the record have been some of the most involving. Add to this a tendency for Pulp-like half spoken vocals and a wicked turn of phrase and you have as finely balanced a record as seen this decade.

1. Funeral – The Arcade Fire [Rough Trade]
Oh, it’s so obvious! The Arcade Fire as album of the year! You know why it’s so obvious? Because it IS the best album of the last 12 months. Hell, it’s probably the best album of the last five years. Seemingly coming from nowhere, Win Butler’s powerful, idiosyncratic yelp mixed in with their own take on Talking Heads art-rock creates a sensational set of well crafted, individual songs that stick in the head long after the last track, the gorgeous ‘In The Backseat’ has drifted by. Album of the year in just about any year.

So, there you have it, the Top 30 records of an eventful twelve months. What about for 2006? Well Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Belle And Sebastian will definitely be there or there abouts and the Arctic Monkeys probably won’t. Anywho here’s the Top 30 count down just for those who can’t be bothered to scroll down a bit.

1. Funeral – The Arcade Fire [Rough Trade]
2. Alligator – The National [Beggar's Banquet]
3. Z – My Morning Jacket. [ATO Records]
4. Outside Closer – Hood [Domino]
5. Andrew Bird And The Mysterious Production Of Eggs – Andrew Bird [Fargo]
6. Feels - Animal Collective [Fat Cat Records]
7. Illinoise - Sufjan Stevens [Rough Trade]
8. Into The Woods - Malcolm Middleton [Chemikal Underground]
9. You Could Have Had It So Much Better - Franz Ferdinand [Domino]
10. Takk... - Sigur Ros [Fat Cat Records]
11. A Healthy Distrust – Sage Francis [Epitath]
12. Aerial – Kate Bush [EMI]
13. In Case We Die – Architecture In Helsinki [Mooshi Mooshi]
14. Best Party Ever -The Boy Least Likely To [Too Young To Die]
15. Don’t Believe The Truth – Oasis [Big Brother]
16. The Meadowlands – The Wrens[Lo-Max]
17. Late Registration – Kanye West [Roc-A-Fella]
18. Before The Dawn Heals Us – M83 [EMI]
19. Arular – M.I.A. [XL Recordings]
20. The Great Destroyer – Low [Rough Trade]
21. Richard Hawley - Coles Corner [Mute]
22. Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous [Brute]
23. Jim Noir - Tower Of Love [My Dad Recordings]
24. Gorillaz - Demon Days [Parlophone]
25. Department Of Eagles - The Cold Nose [Melodic]
26. Maria Taylor - 11:11 [Saddle Creek]
27. Keren Ann - Nolita [Blue Note]
28. Black Mountain - Black Mountain [Jagjaguwar]
29. New Order - Waiting For The Siren's Call [London]
30. Editors - The Back Room [Kitchenware]

SASIC Top 30 Albums of 2005 - The Top 10-6

2006-01-06T03:48:00.000-08:00

Oh lordy it's that time - the top ten albums of the last twelve months! There'll be tears, tantrums and the most obvious winner imagineable! Huzzah!

10. Takk... - Sigur Ros [Fat Cat Records]
Translating as 'Thanks' in the bands native icelandic, a glacial masterpiece that corrects much of what was wrong with last album () and reminds everyone why they fell in love with Agertis Byrjun (I make NO apologies for spelling that wrong). Only they do this kind of thing - but godamn, they do it well.

9. You Could Have Had It So Much Better - Franz Ferdinand [Domino]
Well, to answer the band we already have - on the first album to be precise. Still a commendable and worthy follow up, brimming with the hooks and such that we all love, and a first foray into differert styles with album highlight, the wonderful 'Eleanor, put you're boots back on.' Swish

8. Into The Woods - Malcolm Middleton [Chemikal Underground]
As grumpy, sweary and beligerent as ever, any album with the line 'Ah, Autumn, you fucking cunt' is 100% on the money in everyway possible. In fact lyrically the album is almost flawless, with lines such as "rather have you than sing these shit songs' showing a humour so often missing in similar work. Like a more accessible Arab Strap album. What more recommendation do you need?

7. Illinoise - Sufjan Stevens [Rough Trade]
The second entry into the ridiciously ambitious 'States' series is Stevens' finest hour. The only complaint one can have is it's a tiny bit overlong, but don't let that take away from what is a stunning musically inventive, lyrically ingenius set that probably taught me more about America than everything else I've ever seen/read ever. Roll on the other 50-odd states!

6. Feels - Animal Collective [Fat Cat Records]
A heady mix which is sometimes pop ansd sometimes not, just a great big fat brilliant album.. of which I don't really know what to say other than BUY IT NOW!

I shall make you wait for the fearsome top 5!!!

Monkey Business

2006-01-05T06:58:00.000-08:00

The Arctic Monkeys have brought forward the release date of their clunkily titled' Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' album a week to the 23rd January. Which basically gives you one week less to lord it over you're mates who haven't downloaded it yet. Except, anyone vaguely interested in the band has downloaded all the songs ages ago anyway since thats the reason its so eagerly awaited. Surely this makes the early leak of the album meaningless - I've had all the tracks since about November in one form or another. So Domino are getting a bit panickity over nothing. Ah well, at least it means someone other than the Kaiser Shits are on the NME.COM newspage anyway...

SASIC TOP 30 ALBUMS OF 2005

2006-01-05T06:40:00.000-08:00

‘Oh, look Daddy! Is it a bird? Is it a plane?’
‘No Junior, it’s the horrifically inaccurate SASIC Top 30 Albums of 2005 numbers 20-11.’
‘Oh, that’s disappointing.’

20. The Great Destroyer – Low [Rough Trade]
Unfairly underrated in some quarters, Low provide another ‘sludge-core’ (who the fuck comes up with this genre names?) classic, with enough hooks and pithy lyrics to keep anyone gripped for the duration.

19. Arular – M.I.A. [XL Recordings]
Fulfilling the promise of her earlier releases, M.I.A. unleashes a full debut that combines the anger and the indignation of her lyrics with some of the freshest beats around. For some reason, also includes songs co-written with Elastica’s Justine Frischmann, which should be enough to make it worth a try in anyone’s book!

18. Before The Dawn Heals Us – M83 [EMI]
With the Prodigy’s singles compilation proving their best days are behind them and the new Chemical Brothers offering only showing fitful examples of their past glories, it remains with M83 to keep the dance/rock flag flying with a wildly inspired collection varying from Kraut-rock to straightforward electronica. Bliss.

17. Late Registration – Kanye West [Roc-A-Fella]
Proof, if proof be need be, that Kanye is the future of American rap, a collection which surpasses 2004’s ‘The College Dropout’ in every way and even makes Maroon 5’s Adam Levine sound human on their ‘Heard ‘em Say’ collaboration.

16. The Meadowlands – The Wrens
A remarkably mature record, as deep and heartfelt as anything produced this year. Even though it is let down by being overly long in some areas a brave and involving record which will hopefully see them grasp the success hey so richly deserve.

15. Don’t Believe The Truth – Oasis [Big Brother]
Holy shit! Even Oasis have knocked a decent record out this year. Easily their best since 1995’s Morning Glory, it justifies the belief from all the saps that brought Be Here Now et al, (me included) that they still had something left in them. OK so their ripping off The Stranglers and The Kinks off this time instead of The Beatles this time, but who cares when the results are this triumphant and, above all, FUN?

14. Best Party Ever -The Boy Least Likely To [Too Young To Die]
As childlike as their record label’s name suggest, The Boy Least Likely To’s debut effort combines the childlike innocence of its wonderful lyrics with enchanting music to make everyone feel the child inside of them. Except, hopefully, Gary Glitter.

13. In Case We Die – Architecture In Helsinki [Mooshi Mooshi]
As schizophrenic as some of the little twats you see on ‘Supernanny’, as inventive as some of the twats you see on ‘Scrapheap challenge’ and one of the year’s most entertaining live bands, AIH’s quirky blend of twee and, to an extent, new wave on this second album, was undoubtedly one of the years highlights for those lucky enough to embrace it.

12. Aerial – Kate Bush [EMI]
So what does a 13-year wait give you? Kate’s best album since ‘Hounds Of Love’, a record in which she makes singing pie to the nth digit sound sensual, songs about Hoover’s which seem normal rather then ridiculous and once again entraps us in a world which can only be her own. The best double album of the year by an embarrassing distance, and well worth the hype.

11. A Healthy Distrust – Sage Francis [?? ??]
In a poor year on the whole for Hip-Hop, the underground scene is strongly represented in the form of Francis’ second album, a strong continuation of the promise and themes from ‘Personal Journals’, but taken to a higher level this time out. The rap record of the year, no question. This is what Eminem would be doing if he still had his heart in it.

The Top Ten will follow shortly. Aren't you excited? No? Well fuck off, then :) Lol Rofl nOOb

The SASIC Top 30 Albums Of The Year

2006-01-04T04:32:00.000-08:00

Well, everyone else is doing it, so why not me? Here's my top 30 albums of the year that encompassed Jan 1st to December 31st. For ease of use only UK releases count, meaning the frankly almost-perfect Clap Your Hands Say Yeah must wait until this years poll!

Here's 30-21...

30. Editors - The Back Room [Kitchenware]
29. New Order - Waiting For The Siren's Call [London]
28. Black Mountain - Black Mountain [Jagjaguwar]
27. Keren Ann - Nolita [Blue Note]
26. Maria Taylor - 11:11 [Saddle Creek]
25. Department Of Eagles - The Cold Nose [Melodic]
24. Gorillaz - Demon Days [Parlophone]
23. Jim Noir - Tower Of Love [My Dad Recordings]
22. Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous [Brute]
21. Richard Hawley - Coles Corner [Mute]

Don't worry the top 20 will get pretty pictures and stuff....

What To Do When You're No Longer Important...

2006-01-03T03:42:00.000-08:00

First Impressions Of Earth - The Strokes [Rough Trade]

Way back in 2001, when The Strokes' 'Is This It?' became the official 'most important record of all time' to anyone who read Q or NME, I was more interested in listening to my Beatles records, contemporary musak not really registering until the following year. So upon first hearing 'Is This It?' I was just a bit 'meh', a decent enough attempt to update the Velvet Underground sound whilst wearing cooler jeans that didn't really sustain the interest beyond the odd single (the album not the jeans). Then the second album, 2003's 'Room On Fire', came out and sounded exactly the same which put the Strokes the position of going from revolutionising music to holding it back in the space of around 18 months. Which is nice. So, they promised from their penthouses and whilst wearing ripped jeans, the third album will take years and will once again revolutionise music. So it took about 3 months longer and sounds like... The Strokes' first two albums but with a louder bass. Hmmm.... needless to say the lack of invention has now hit Oasis like proportions without Noel Gallagher's songwriting (which contrary to snobby belief is still good) or the mannered growl of Liam to help you ignore the fact you've pissed away 30-40 minutes of your life by listening to it. So, with first single 'Juicebox' you pretty much some up the record. A pretty unadventurous retread of the original material, with SLIGHTLY different production and none of the hype or fuss to fool people that it might be something worth giving a try. It's not so much that the band are bad its more that they're dull - and surely that is music's biggest crime? Maybe they should split up and give the world something the quality of 'Transformer'. But you somehow know they never will....

5/10 - Average

What's all this about then???

2005-12-23T14:32:00.000-08:00

Greetennings and willkommen! This is my new extra special, singing, dancing, all encompassing blog of truth... I have a Derby County FC blog here, but I can't be arsed to update it much to be honest... my interest seems to flicker between games, books, film, football, music and such things to much to concentrate a journal on one subject, so I thought, instead, I'd cover everything in one area.

I've had a few little websitey things up and down the years ranging from one based on my mates band to the obvious live journal, which has been intermittently filled for going on a year now, most of it fairly morose/pointless. So, think of this as something approaching a livejournal, but actually about StuffAndShit... I'd like to make it clear by the way, although I have stolen a phrase from Nathan Barley, I do realise it's utter shite.

So, maybe the other stuff will get updated, maybe this will never see the light of day that is a second post but you know, it's free and you don't HAVE to read it, so it doesn't matter either way really does it?

To make sure that your visit has been worthwhile here's a picture of Keira Knightly...

"I would LOVE to see her take a shit."