Review: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit in Rolling Stone Magazine

Scan of Rolling Stone's review of the new self-titled Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit album:



3 Stars? You've got to be kidding me... There's not even anything half-negative in that review.

Watch: The Swell Season 'Fogtown' from Vicar Street

Thanks again to Peter who recorded this video himself. Make sure you check out his blog daily. He updates more than I do!

Update: Dublin Bus Crash

Disappointed that there was no topless pics on page 3 of either Metro or Herald AM. Topless bus pictures!

Thanks to Sinead for the pic.

Album Cover: Ryan Adams - Valentine's EP

Cover art for the upcoming Ryan Adams compilation which will be available on February 10th.

Extra Cheese tracklist:
Two
Blossom
Answering Bell
Evergreen
My Love For You is Real
Desire
Unreleased bonus track Hey There, Mrs. Lovely

'Hey There, Mrs. Lovely' should be a highpoint. But where's the 20-20 boxset?

Cancelled: Scooter at the RDS

Bad news dance fans. Scooter have cancelled their three Irish shows, in Castlebar, Killarney and Dublin. The reason for the cancellation is "unforseen circumstances", or "unknown unknowns" or somesuch. Anyhow, they promise to return in autumn or winter.

See what you're missing, 'Nessaja':

Download: WOMEN - Group Transport Hall

In case you didn't know WOMEN are men. The band that is. This weekend sees the release (in Ireland anyway) of He's Just Not That Into You a film based on a men are pricks style manual for single ladies everywhere. I know some ladies who live their life by it. It's their bible. My other half has read it, and she says it's rubbish. The film has a great cast, but will most likely be the most cliché-filled movie ever.

Instead of going out to the cinema, you should stay in with some WOMEN and have a nice relaxing evening. To entice you, I have a free download of 'Group Transport Hall' from their self-titled debut.

They're set to tour the US with their producer Chad VanGaalen which would be a show worth checking out if you're on the other side of the pond.

Download:
WOMEN - 'Group Transport Hall'

Setlist: The Swell Season, Vicar Street, Dublin, 5 February 2009

Thanks to Peter from 2UIBestow for the following setlist. He was at the show last night and says it's the best gig he was ever at. Expect a review of the gig over there soon.

Main Set from The Swell Season
If You Want Me
Spencer The Rover [John Martyn cover sung by Colm]
When Your Minds Made Up
The Moon
Falling Slowly
Fogtown [Michelle Shocked cover dedicated to Mic Christopher]
Bananaman [Glen solo]
Lay Me Down [Glen Solo]
Madam George [Van Morrison by Glen solo]
Crazy [Patsy Cline sung by Glen's Ma]
Seven Day Mile
Broken Hearted Fixer Hoover Guy
HeyDay [Mic Christopher cover]
Star Star

Encore [Songs by/with The Special Guests]
To The Bright & Shining Sun [with The Walls]
I Have Loved You Wrong [by Mark Dignam]
Colm Mac Con Iomaire solo first then with Liam O' Maonlai,
I fought the Law [with Paul Noonan and Mark Dignam]
Fitzcaraldo
Forever Young [Bob Dylan cover sung by Liam O' Maonlai]

A wonderful looking set, and I'm raging I didn't go myself. Also sad news about Glen and Marketa's relationship, but hopefully their working relationship will continue.

On another note, Mark Dignam will play Whelan's on Sunday with some special guests, one of which will be Glen Hansard. Tickets are €15, and are still available. Show starts at 8 p.m.

Buy tickets:
http://www.ticketmaster.ie/event/18004235A237360B?artistid=980414&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1

Download: Dan Black - I Love Life

Dan Black was one of BBC's Sounds of 2009. I'm just proud I got there first. Anyhow, I'm delighted to have another of Dan's songs for download, a demo of 'I Love Life'. Hopefully a more polished version will appear on the studio record, due out later this year.

Download:
Dan Black - 'I Love Life'

Watch new video 'Alone':


More info:
http://danblacksound.com/

News: Dublin Bus makes further reductions

Dublin Bus makes further reductions as it downgrades to single-decker buses!

Thanks to D Meagher for the photo, which no doubt you'll be reading about in all the newspapers tomorrow.

Download: Free Ryan Smith Albums

Ryan Smith has decided to forego that business of taking in money in return for physical produce. Instead, he's made two of his albums available for download on his webpage. Last year's I Just Want To Feel That Way and 2006's Neil Avenue can now be downloaded as either mp3s or WAVs here:
http://www.ryansmithonline.com/music.html

Thanks Ryan. We all love free stuff!

Live: Blur at Oxegen 2009

Never mind those rumours about Glastonbury and Blur in 2009, they'll be playing Oxegen. That's been confirmed, and I am delighted. They'll most likely be performing new material, as Damon Albarn finally returns to his day job. That Monkey album was alright, but Blur's last installment, Think Tank was glorious.

And it's better than getting Kings of Leon again. A true headliner.

Download: North Elementary - Golden Tigers

North Elementary are about to release their new album Not For Everyone, Just For You, which looks set to sound like a great record from an up-til-now little-known band. However, the release of this record should see them move up the stratosphere, just have a listen to 'Golden Tigers' if you don't believe me! The indie album will be released February 24th, and can be purchased here:
http://eskimokissrecords.com/index.html



Download:
North Elementary - 'Golden Tigers'

More info:
http://www.northelementary.com/

Album News: Hold Steady - A Postive Rage

New live album from The Hold Steady? Count me sold! Their live EP Live at Fingerprints is a must-have, so this full-length will be stellar.

It's called A Positive Rage and has the following tracklisting:
1. Intro
2. Stuck Between Stations
3. The Swish
4. Chips Ahoy!
5. Massive Nights
6. Ask Her For Adderall
7. Barfruit Blues
8. Same Kooks
9. You Gotta Dance (With Who You Came With)
10. Lord, I’m Discouraged
11. You Can Make Him Like You
12. Your Little Hoodrat Friend
13. Southtown Girls
14. Citrus
15. First Night
16. Girls Like Status
17. Killer Parities

Due out April 7th, I hope a leak is imminent. Not that I'd approve of that or anything! However, I must complain that 'Hot Soft Light', 'Chillout Tent', 'Party Pit' and 'Modesto is Not That Sweet' were all cut from the full set.

Yesterday I Listened to #3

Another installment. I do these when I have a build up. So it should be "Yesterday and the day before I listened to..."


Bloc Party - Silent Alarm

The original and best Bloc Party album. I don't think they'll ever equal it. Especially with the direction they've gone post-'Flux'. Although last year's record was promising. Nothing will beat 'Banquet' though.


Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You

The first half of the new Lily is excellent, especially 'Not Fair', but after that it gets a bit samey. There are loads of clever and witty lyrics though. So on repeated listen, I may love it more.


Alphabeat - Alphabeat

Discontinued by the manufacturer, Amazon claims. That's because I have the original Swedish version of the record. It's more or less the same, but like the new Lily, it weighs heavily towards the front. Glorious pop, which rightly cheered me up on a snowy day!


Angie Aparo - The American

I like playing records that are near each other alphabetically. It saves my scroll wheel. Plus I was in a pop mood, so this record fir perfectly. One of my all time favourite albums, it failed to get the noteriety it should have. I recommend it to everyone. It's beautiful. Make some new stuff Angie (well new stuff I can actually get over here!)


Seth Lakeman - Kitty Jay

The album with which I fell in love with Seth (I'm a bit out of love after last year's too-poppy record). His best record, filled with haunting tales of Dartmouth. His brother is Cara Dillon's other half, and also plays on Seth's records. So if you like Cara, you should love this.


Uncle Tupelo - No Depression

Before Wilco and Son Volt, there was Uncle Tupelo. Heavily influenced by Gram Parsons, and a heavy influence on Whiskeytown, this is one of the essential alt-country records. It does get a bit samey towards the end, especially on the deluxe edition, but there are some glorious bar-room tunes on here.

Live: U2 at Croke Park

Strong rumour going around that U2 have penned in three Croke Park shows for their upcoming No Line on the Horizon World Tour. Dates being scheduled are 24th, 25th and 16th of July. Also, Jurys down the road has put up its prices by 200% for that weekend. So it could well be true. I'll confirm it as soon as possible.

'Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own' from 2006:

Irish Blog Awards 2009: Longlist Announced

Wooooooo! I've made the longlist for the Best Music Blog category in the Irish Blog Awards. I didn't make the Best Newcomer, which was the one I thought I'd have most chance in. But to make the Best Music Blog longlist has me all Kate Winslet.

Congratulations (and multiple backstabs) to everyone who made each list. They can all be found here:
http://awards.ie/blogawards/2009/02/03/2009-irish-blog-awards-longlists/

Full list of nominees:

Best Music Blog - Sponsored by DownloadMusic.ie

* Asleep on the Compost Heap
* Nialler9
* On the Record
* The Torture Garden
* Drop D
* Indiehour
* Kilkenny Music
* Guess List
* Unreality TV
* frmckenzie
* theredscrapbook
* mp3hugger
* Those Geese
* Analogue Magazine
* Off Her Rocker
* State Blog
* Swear I’m Not Paul
* Unarocks
* Stuart Bailie
* Musical Rooms
* Nick Thinks

Download: The Black Lips - Short Fuse

The Black Lips are set to release second album 200 Million Thousand (isn't that the name of a terrible Bon Jovi best of? Well something like that). The album is due on February 24th in the US, so 20th here. From first indications, it could well be better than their REM-infused earlier records. I live in hope. (Thanks to a reader for clarification, I better check out those other two albums!)

Also, if you look closely at the cover art, you can see a face between the lines. Read between the lines or somesuch, no doubt.

Download:
The Black Lips - 'Short Fuse'

More info/buy: http://www.black-lips.com/

Live: Mogwai at the Academy

Should I make three posts in a row, or just one big one? Why? Cause Mogwai are playing Dublin's Academy on the 20th, 21st and 22nd of March (Friday through Sunday for all you calender freaks).

Tickets are priced €30 for each night and are on sale tomorrow, February 4th.

And here's a video from one of Mogwai's friends:

Download: The Very Most - April is the Kindest Month

Happy belated St Brigid's Day and Groundhog Day, and all that they bring with them. Leaves back on the trees, sunnier, warmer weather, longer evenings. Oh no wait, this year, it's loads of snow! But Spring also brings the new EP from Idaho's The Very Most, also called Spring. It's a fine EP, and I'm lucky enough to be able to offer up a free mp3 from it.

Even better news is that because it's from Indiecater Records, it'll only cost you €2.50 here:
http://www.indiecater.com/

Download:
The Very Most - 'April is the Kindest Month'

Staff

Contributions are welcome from all of our readers. If you would like to contribute a setlist or even a live review of a gig, send it in. You can email swearimnotpaul@gmail.com or else contact us through any of the methods listed on the contact page.

Editor:
Ronan Hunt-Murphy

Contributors:
Ronan Hunt-Murphy
Christopher Sapp
Niall Murphy
Gill Casey
Paul Musterman

Setlist: Lady GaGa, O2 Dublin, 1 February 2009

If anyone has a setlist for the Pussycat Dolls who she supported, please send it in. Thanks.

Beautiful Dirty Rich
Money Honey
Love Game
Pokerface
Paparazzi
Just Dance

Live in Sweden, no Dublin videos yet:

Watch: Fight Like Apes - Tie Me Up With Jackets

The new video from the best Irish album of 2008 (hopefully the Meteors and Choice will agree).

Fight Like Apes - 'Tie Me Up With Jackets':

Watch: U2 - Get on Your Boots video

Re-uploaded, legally and above board this time:

Setlist: Bruce Springsteen - Superbowl XLIII

Possible Superbowl setlist:
10th Avenue Freeze-Out
Born to Run
Working On A Dream
Glory Days

According to people who've seen the soundcheck.

Played at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL.

Watch: Bruce Springsteen - Kingdom of Days

He added another RDS show after his first sold-out. I wonder will they be as loud as the ones last year? I hope so, I hope to be able to hear them from D6 down the road!

On another note, could 'Kingdom of Days' be the second single from new album Working on a Dream. Quite possibly, because here's the video: