Swear I'm not Paul: 28/09/2008

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Saturday, October 4, 2008

Album Review: Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul

Oasis Dig Out Your Soul album cover

Oasis – Dig Out Your Soul

Don’t Believe the Truth was the return everyone was hoping for. But returns aren’t always a good thing. Think of Kevin Keegan at Newcastle or Nasty Nick in Eastenders. The return may originally seem good, but then ends up reverting to averageness or even worse. This is what has just happened with Oasis. Their seventh album (released in Ireland last Friday), Dig Out Your Soul is not a continuation of their return to form. Instead it’s their return to being average.

There are elements of the good ol’ Oasis here. But sadly not enough. A few of the tracks in the first half could have made Don’t Believe the Truth (of course there’s no ‘Masterplan’, ‘Live Forever’, ‘Wonderwall’, etc.). Opener ‘Bag It Up’ will make a great single, with its excellent chorus – this is what Oasis does splendidly – big choruses. Remember ‘Lyla’? Well, you’ve probably heard ‘The Shock of the Lightning’ on the radio. Same sort of feel right? Nothing wrong with that. It’s just a pity it doesn’t happen more often on the record.

At first I thought ‘The Shock of the Lightning’ wasn’t a great song, it was just alright. But in the context of the album, it’s one of the standouts. That should probably tell you how good the album is as a whole. Don’t expect anything better.

Oasis can still pull off the good slow track (kind of what Feeder have been doing since the death of Jon Lee). ‘I’m Outta Time’ is the best song on the album, gentle but never boring. It also is probably the point where the album should have ended as an EP. The remainder of it is all a bit samey. It’s Oasis by the numbers.

Imagine how cool that would be a Paint By Numbers album? 1 = Vocals, 2= Lead Guitar, 3 = Rhythm Guitar, 4 = Bass, 5 = Drums, and then there’s 6-10 for small little flourishes here and there. But if you were to look at the Paint By Numbers chart for Dig Out Your Soul, there’d be a lot of 3 and not much 6 to 10. ‘Get Off Your High Horse Lady’ is an awful tune. It tries to be ‘The Importance of Being idle’, but ends up more ‘The Importance of Being Trite’.

There is half a good Oasis album in here though. There will never be another great Oasis album, just like the way Kevin Keegan will never win any sort of league title, but there may be something left to produce a consistently good effort. Maybe an FA Cup final run or somthing.

[At the time of writing I couldn’t think of any recent Man City comebacks. That probably would have been more accurate. But they’re all about the billions and Brazilians these days.]

Friday, October 3, 2008

Live: Jesse Malin at Whelan's

Jesse Malin's debut album was amazing. It was produced by Ryan Adams. So I had to buy it! Since then, his music has waned a little. But the same can't be said for his live performances, as he seems to be going from strength to strength.

He plays Dublin's Whelan's on December 13th, and tickets are on sale now at €20.

Watch 'Lucinda' live:

Free State Today

Let's party like it's 1921. We have a free State. Well, a free copy of State Magazine. The former pay-for-reading magazine is free from today.

You can either view it online for free, or pick up an actual copy from their list of stockists here:
http://www.state.ie/blog/stockists/
or read it online here:
http://www.state.ie/blog/state-issue-7-the-details/


I won't be doing anything for the rest of the day so!

Album News: Killers Day and Age Tracklist

The Killers' third album proper is released at the end of next month. Perfect timing for Christmas (a gift for your sister most likely). Not major news, but by now you've probably heard the first single. It's not the "stripped down" thing they were promising, but we've still 9 other tracks to hear.

Tracklisting:
1. Losing Touch
2. Human
3. Spaceman
4. Joy Ride
5. A Dustland Fairytale
6. This Is Your Life
7. I Can't Stay
8. Neon Tiger
9. The World We Live In
10. Goodnight, Travel Well

Thursday, October 2, 2008

TV: JJ Abram's Fringe on TV3


More new TV for this fall season, or whatever they call it stateside. The new program from Lost producer JJ Abrams was well advertised on TV3. I didn't know quite what to expect from the ads, but it made me watch nonetheless. I'm not a Lost fan, so it wasn't just because of the bandwagon. But now that I'm on this wagon, I think I'll stay a while.

The first episode was clever, filled with scientific terms I don't understand, had a decent underrated cast, and even used a doppelganger. Which is a wonderful plot device, as Stanley Kubrick well knew. And for TV addicts out there, Cedric from The Wire is a prominent character. Well, the actor anyway.

Plus Pacey Witter is back talking at a hundred-miles a second. For a pilot episode (albeit a very expensive one), it was very good and now that I'm old enough to appreciate an X-Files-like show, it could be regular viewing on a Wednesday night.

Oh and one other thing. I wasn't a fan of the way the locations were written. Of course that was where your man lived, there's big bloody letters floating outside!

Anyone else watch it?

Stream: Kanye West vs Justice

Very strange recent post on Kanye's blog. This mp3 of "KW vs MGMT by JUSTICE".

Stream it here:
http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/blog/?em3106=208371_-1__0_~0_-1_5_2008_0_0&em3161=&em3281=

Album News: Will Young and Groove Armada dance album

Yes, that title is correct. According to NME.com, Will Young (the fella who won the first Pop Idol) has recorded "so many dance songs, loads with the guys from Groove Armada".

"I'd like to do a double album - one side of chill-out songs, the other with more upbeat house songs. I think I'm going to put it out next summer and it'll be interesting to see how people react."

Now you may not like what Will does, but you'll have to admit the fella can sing. So it could be an interesting collaboration.

Will's first audition:

Watch: Jack White and Alicia Keys Another Way to Die

I love Bond themes. I love Bond. Well apart from 'Die Another Day' and the associated film. I even loved the Chris Cornell and Duran Duran ones. However, I'm not quite gone on the new one from Jack White and Alicia Keys. But still it's miles better than anything Ms. Winehouse could have spluttered out.

I cannot wait for the film.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Download: The Hold Steady live at the Majestic

Hold Steady live at the Majestic
Thanks to ufck.org legend CCronks (or Connor as his family call him) for these videos. (And thanks to Brandon for the photo.)

The Hold Steady live at the Majestic Theatre in Madison.

Constructive Summer: http://www.mediafire.com/?nui33ezdt1m
Multitude of Casualties: http://www.mediafire.com/?yrmzhhgz1dg
You Gotta Dance: http://www.mediafire.com/?bmivmawnwgd
Sequestered in Memphis: http://www.mediafire.com/?eiinjndbnmz
Yeah Sapphire: http://www.mediafire.com/?zi5ywfgmmyn
Massive Nights: http://www.mediafire.com/?m0hymgmjmcd
Party Pit: http://www.mediafire.com/?ztzlaed2t30
Joke About Jamaica: http://www.mediafire.com/?o2n2kjykzij
Navy Sheets: http://www.mediafire.com/?y3ozqy4yddm
Banging Camp: http://www.mediafire.com/?43i1doej3mo
Modesto: http://www.mediafire.com/?nldmumzmj2m
Chips Ahoy!: http://www.mediafire.com/?jjmzmtftyiv
You Can Make Him Like You: http://www.mediafire.com/?tzdo5jlmula
Barfruit Blues: http://www.mediafire.com/?mhmmgam3gcy
Stay Positive: http://www.mediafire.com/?jzzym4ymwzu
Stuck Between Stations: http://www.mediafire.com/?kjmygmjmywy
The Swish: http://www.mediafire.com/?jnywiqkuwmz
Killer Parties: http://www.mediafire.com/?ingmmjyrw31

Second half:
http://swearimnotpaul.blogspot.com/2008/10/download-hold-steady-majestic-videos.html

Live: Lykke Li at the Button Factory

Yay! She returns. Some of you may have missed the last gig (how could you? it was the same week she was The Ticket's album of the week!), but Lykke Li has announced her second Irish show for 2008.

Swedish popette Li returns to the Button Factory on November 24th; tickets costing €17 are on sale this Friday.

Watch Lykke Li - 'Little Bit':

Live: David Byrne at the National Concert Hall

Not what we all wanted, only a half of the brilliant Byrne/Eno collaboration, but we can't have everything. Either way, David Byrne solo is still an excellent show. He's a marvelous musician in his own right, and any chance to see the Talking Heads frontman should be taken.

David Byrne plays Dublin's National Concert Hall on April 6th of next year. 2009, already? I can't believe it's October. Tickets cost €55.50 to €61.50 and are available now.

Watch Talking Heads 'Once in a Lifetime':

Download: Cut Off Your Hands - Happy As Can Be

Cut Off Your Hands - Happy As Can Be
Sadly, this is only a download of the single, you'll have to get the rest of teh EP through that ancient artform of barter. Exchanging money for pleasure. No wait, that's barter Amsterdam-style!

The EP is out later this month, and pre-empts their Bernard Butler produced debut You and I, which is due next year. The EP a great piece of pop-punk-rock, and is one which I would advise keeping an eye out for.

Tracklist:
1) You Still Love Me
2) Happy As Can Be
3) Shorelines
4) Nostalgia


Download:
Cut Off Your Hands - 'Happy as Can Be'

Check out their MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/cutoffyourhands

Monday, September 29, 2008

Album Cover: Ryan Adams Cardinology Vinyl

Cardinology Vinyl Cover

Damn that cover is so much cooler than the CD release. I'll be using that for my iPod anyhow.

Watch: Heroes Season 3 on Channel 6 tonight

It's back. After a brilliant first season, and a sub-par second season, Tim Kring's Heroes is back on terrestial TV tonight on Channel 6. It's to be shown on the Beeb on Wednesday. We'll see it first.

Well, actually, the Americans saw it first last week. And the first two episodes are pure gold. Back with the best. More Sylar = Good. And Malcolm McDowell returns? Fuck yeah!

I'd love to see them bring back Claude this season. But one can only hope...

Here's the trailer:

Watch: Robotnik 'I Found Jesus in the Year 2027'

One of the most surprising live acts I've seen this year, Dublin's very own Robotnik is absolutely brilliant. And his name has nothing to do with Sonic the Hedgehod.

Anyhow, nialler9 has the video for his extraordinarily catchy 'I Found Jesus in the Year 2027', here:
http://www.nialler9.com/blog/2008/09/29/video-robotnik-i-found-jesus-in-the-year-2027/

Thanks Niall!

Live: Cathy Davey at Tripod

Yet another winter gig. Tonnes of them. Luckily my new house is on the nightlink bus routes!

Cathy Davey will play Dublin's Tripod on December 22nd.

Tickets cost €24.50 and €28, and go on sale this Wednesday (October 1st - it's October already. My God!)

Check out her MySpace here:
www.myspace.com/cathydavey

Watch 'Cold Man's Nightmare':