Preview: X Factor 2009 Live Finals, Week 3

It's Big Band week this week on X Factor. Michael Buble is the special guest and mentor, and Westlife will be the live performers on Sunday's results show.

Although how some of these songs are Big Band songs, I haven't a clue - especially the versions they are meant to be singing. Beyonce? U2? Well, we'll just have to wait and see. Come on John and Edward!

Rachel: 'Proud Mary' - Creedence Clearwater Revival (Beyonce version)

Stacey: 'When You Wish Upon A Star' - Cliff Edwards

Lucie: 'My Funny Valentine' - Ella Fitzgerald

Joe: 'Sway' - Pablo Beltran (Michael Buble version)

Lloyd: 'Fly Me To The Moon' - Frank Sinatra

Danyl: 'Feeling Good' - John Coltrane/Nina Simone (Muse version)

Jamie: 'Angel Of Harlem' - U2

Olly: 'Bewitched' - Steve Lawrence (theme tune from the 60s TV show)

John and Edward: 'She Bangs' - Ricky Martin

Miss Frank: 'That's Life' - Frank Sinatra

Watch: Drive-By Truckers' Patterson Hood - In the Air Tonight

Words cannot express how awesome this is. Drive-By Truckers frontman Patterson Hood (and his band) covering Phil Collins' 'In The Air Tonight':

Blogs What I Like: I Love Charts

I like I Love Charts. In fact I love I Love Charts. It's a fantastic site, and although some of this has been done before, these guys collect everything. It's a fantastic tumblr blog, and shows how to do it right (like Garfield Minus Garfield).

Some of them are pretty basic like the one above, and then some are exceptionally well done. But all of them are interesting.




And some are downright geeky:


Check it out:
http://ilovecharts.tumblr.com/

Album News: Tom Petty - Live Anthology

Tom Petty's upcoming Live Anthology is due out next month, and the tracklist for it has been released. It looks amazing. Hopefully it'll sound just as amazing.

Disc 1

1. "Ladies and Gentlemen..."
* June 30, 1981
* The Forum, Los Angeles, California
2. "Nightwatchman"
* June 28, 1981
* The Forum, Los Angeles, California
3. "Even the Losers"
* March 6, 1980
* Hammersmith Odeon, London, England
4. "Here Comes My Girl"
* March 6, 1980
* Hammersmith Odeon, London, England
5. "A Thing About You"
* June 28, 1981
* The Forum, Los Angeles, California
6. "I’m in Love" (Bobby Womack)
* December 7, 1982
* Wembley Arena, London, England
7. "I’m a Man" (Ellas McDaniel)
* September 21, 2006
* Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, Florida
8. "Straight into Darkness"
* December 7, 1982
* Wembley Arena, London, England
9. "Breakdown"
* June 30, 1981
* The Forum, Los Angeles, California
10. "Something in the Air" (John Keene)
* November 4, 1993
* Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, Florida
11. "I Just Want to Make Love to You" (Willie Dixon)
* March 17, 1995
* Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario
12. "Drivin’ Down to Georgia"
* November 4, 1993
* Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, Florida
13. "Lost Without You"
* November 4, 1993
* Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, Florida
14. "Refugee"
* June 11, 1983
* Irvine Meadows, Irvine, California

[edit] Disc 2

1. "Diddy Wah Diddy" (Ellas McDaniel, Willie Dixon)
* February 1, 1997
* The Fillmore, San Francisco, California
2. "I Want You Back Again" (Rod Argent)
* February 7, 1997
* The Fillmore, San Francisco, California
3. "Wildflowers"
* March 17, 1995
* Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario
4. "Friend of the Devil" (John Dawson, Jerome Garcia, Robert Hunter)
* February 3, 1997
* The Fillmore, San Francisco, California
5. "A Woman in Love (It’s Not Me)"
* June 29, 1981
* The Forum, Los Angeles, California
6. "It’s Good to Be King"
* September 21, 2006
* Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, Florida
7. "Angel Dream (No. 2)"
* April 19, 2003
* The Vic Theatre, Chicago, Illinois
8. "Learning to Fly"
* June 16, 2006
* Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Manchester, Tennessee
9. "Mary Jane’s Last Dance"
* September 21, 2006
* Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, Florida
10. "Mystic Eyes" (Van Morrison)
* October 27, 2006
* The Greek Theatre, Berkeley, California

[edit] Disc 3

1. "Jammin’ Me"
* February 7, 1997
* The Fillmore, San Francisco, California
2. "The Wild One, Forever"
* March 6, 1980
* Hammersmith Odeon, London, England
3. "Green Onions" (Stephen Cropper, Al Jackson Jr., Booker T. Jones, Lewie Steinberg)
* February 6, 1997
* The Fillmore, San Francisco, California
4. "Louisiana Rain"
* December 7, 1982
* Wembley Arena, London, England
5. "Melinda"
* August 26, 2003
* UNO Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
6. "Goldfinger" (John Barry, Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley)
* January 31, 1997
* The Fillmore, San Francisco, California
7. "Surrender"
* June 11, 1983
* Irvine Meadows, Irvine, California
8. "Dreamville"
* October 16, 2002
* Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
9. "Spike"
* July 29, 1986
* Portland Civic Stadium, Portland, Oregon
10. "Any Way You Want It" (Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson)
* June 11, 1983
* Irvine Meadows, Irvine, California
11. "American Girl"
* April 13, 1983
* The Cow Palace, San Francisco, California

[edit] Disc 4

1. "Runnin’ Down a Dream"
* September 21, 2006
* Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, Florida
2. "Oh Well" (Peter Green)
* June 16, 2006
* Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Manchester, Tennessee
3. "Southern Accents"
* September 21, 2006
* Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, Florida
4. "Crawling Back to You"
* August 26, 2005
* The Greek Theatre, Berkeley, California
5. "My Life/Your World"
* June 23, 1987
* Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
6. "I Won’t Back Down"
* November 15, 2007
* The American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York
7. "Square One"
* June 17, 2006
* UMB Bank Pavilion, Maryland Heights, Missouri
8. "Have Love Will Travel"
* July 5, 2002
* Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, New York
9. "Free Fallin’"
* August 14, 2005
* Irvine Meadows, Irvine, California
10. "The Waiting"
* June 28, 1981
* The Forum, Los Angeles, California
11. "Good, Good Lovin" (James Brown, Albert Shubert)
* June 30, 1981
* The Forum,, Los Angeles, California
12. "Century City"
* July 8, 1980
* The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
13. "Alright For Now"
* March 17, 1995
* Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario

[edit] Disc 5

1. "Think About Me"
* July 24, 1987
* Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum, Jacksonville, Florida
2. "Down South"
* September 17, 2006
* Austin City Limits Music Festival, Austin, Texas
3. "I Need to Know"
* June 29, 1981
* The Forum, Los Angeles, California
4. "Billy the Kid"
* May 28, 2001
* Chronicle Pavilion, Concord, California
5. "I’d Like to Love You Baby" (J.J. Cale)
* April 21, 2003
* Soundstage Studios, Chicago, Illinois
6. "Image of Me" (Wayne Kemp)
* October 10, 1987
* Wembley Arena, London, England
7. "Born in Chicago" (Nick Gravenites)
* April 21, 2003
* Soundstage Studios, Chicago, Illinois
8. "Like a Diamond"
* October 16, 2002
* Grand Olympic Auditorium,, Los Angeles, California
9. "The Last DJ"
* December 7, 2002
* Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
10. "No Second Thoughts"
* July 27, 1981
* The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
11. "Ballad of Easy Rider" (Roger McGuinn)
* July 24, 1987
* Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum, Jacksonville, Florida
12. "Don’t Come Around Here No More"
* July 7, 2001
* Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, New York
13. "Too Much Ain’t Enough"
* December 31, 1978
* Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California
14. "County Farm" (arranged by Tom Petty)
* February 4, 1997
* The Fillmore, San Francisco, California

Live: Paul McCartney at the O2

Great news Beatles fans. By the time you've finished Beatles Rock Band, you can actually go and see one of the former Fab Four in Dublin. Paul McCartney will be playing the O2 on December 20th, with tickets priced €86.25 for standing, and €126.25 or €156.25 depending on where your seats will be. It'll be worth every cent!

They go on sale next Wednesday, the 28th at 9 a.m. and could sell out pretty fast.

Watch The Beatles in Dublin in 1963:

Stream: John Mayer - Battle Studies clips

Amazon has exclusive 30 second clips of each of the eleven songs on the new John Mayer album Battle Studies, which is due out on November 17th.

Tracklist:
1. Heartbreak Warfare
2. All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye
3. Half of My Heart
4. Who Says
5. Perfectly Lonely
6. Assassin
7. Crossroads
8. War of My Life
9. Edge of Desire
10. Do You Know Me
11. Friends, Lovers or Nothing

Stream here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Studies-John-Mayer/dp/B002QEXN2K/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1256133446&sr=8-9

Album Review: David Geraghty - The Victory Dance

Oftentimes when the guitarist of a band makes a solo album (or a second solo album, in this case), they're often filled with more noodling than songs. Their solo career gives them a chance to do those five minute solos they can never do with the original band. This is not the case with Bell x1's David Geraghty.

You wouldn't know it from his work with Bell x1, but Geraghty is a more than accomplished singer. His voice is perfect for an album like this - he's kind of like the male Lisa Hannigan. Except this album is better than hers. It's also a huge improvement on his debut Kill Your Darlings.

The album opens with 'Watch Her Win' a pounding keyboard led number that gives the album its name in the refrain "woah oh oh oh, it's the victory dance that's been drawing you in." Dave starts off well and then moves it up a notch to the utterly enchanting 'Tuesday's Feet'. It's got a memorable chorus, which packs a lot of punch. Plus, the backing is Arcade Fire-esque without going overboard.

Then it never really goes downhill. Beware, it's nothing like his parent band. Instead it's a gorgeous record, where each song is captivating in its own enchanting way. Whether it's the soft warmth of 'Instant Sunshine' or the beautiful banjo on 'Wear Out You Name'. It's all so beautiful.

'Soft Spot' sums up the album perfectly. It's an album you'll always have a soft spot for, and is better than the latest album by that other troubador, David Gray. 'Last Time Around' features a marvellous interplay between keys and guitar, and allows Geraghty the chance to show off, but he reins it in before it goes too far. 'The Emperor's Hand Me Downs' is the song Randy Newman never recorded, but with much better vocals! It could easily feature on a soundtrack.

'Change My Mind' is a lovely little love song, 'Stones' is a real grower with a wondeful climax, and closer 'Falter' eases you to the end of the album in style. At ten songs it never outstays its welcome, and will remain a visitor you always want to have stay. There's no doubt I'll be revisiting this album every few years, to bask in its glow once again.

Awards: IMTV Video Music Awards Nominees

The nominees for the IMTV Video Music Awards have been announced, and they feature a fine selection of Irish talent.

1.BEST LIVE VIDEO
LISA HANNIGAN - I DON’T KNOW
LISA HANNIGAN - LILLE
LADYDOLL – BUTTON
THE BRILLIANT THINGS – RISE
AND SO I WATCHED YOU FROM AFAR – SET GUITARS TO KILL


2.BEST DANCE VIDEO
LE BIEN – HERE AND THERE
NOISE CONTROL – ADDICTION
DARK ROOM NOTES – LETS LIGHT FIRES
ARVEEN & MISK - HELLS BELLS
LE GALAXIE – YOU FEEL THE FIRE

3.BEST STYLED VIDEO
DIRTY EPICS – COMING UP
JULIE FEENEY – IMPOSSIBLY BEAUTIFUL
LAURA IBIZOR - SHINE
THE CORONAS – LISTEN DEAR
THE BLIZZARDS – POSTCARDS


4.BEST SOLO MALE
YNGVE WIELAND – LITTLE BOY
PADRAIG RUHSE – GONNA BE A CHANGE
JJ – PLAYING THE GAME
PEARSE MCGLOUGHLIN – WAYS TO KILLS A WEREWOLF
ENDA REILLY – MOL AN AIMSIRE

5.BEST SOLO FEMALE
LISA HANNIGAN – LILLE
JULIE FEENEY – LOVE IS A TRICKY THING
WALLIS BIRD – HOME
MISS PAULA FLYNN – HOLIDAY IN SWEDEN
GEMMA HAYES – HOME


6.MOST ORIGINAL CONCEPT FOR VIDEO
FIGHT LIKE APES – SOMETHING GLOBAL
THE CHAPTERS – VIDEOTAPES
HERM - HEADS
GRAND POCKET ORCHESTRA – BALLET SHOES
SEAN NEEDHAM - I’M NOT AFRAID

7. BEST PRODUCTION / SPECIAL EFFECTS
SICKBOY – SILENCE IN CONVERSATION
CAP PAS CAP – WE ARE MEN
JAPE – FLOATING
HAM SANDWICH – BROKEN GLASS
202′S - EASE MY MIND

8.BEST VIDEO BY A NEW COMER (public Vote)
HOGAN – I WANT YOU
HOARSEBOX – ALL I NEED NOW
BATS – SHADOW FUCKING
BOWLEGGED – RED LIGHT
TALLULAH DOES THE HULA – BAD BOYFRIEND

9. DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
EOGHAN KIDNEY
LORCAN FINNEGAN
SIMON EUSTACE
LINDSEY BYRNES
WILL MCCONNELL

10. VIDEO OF THE YEAR 2009
DUCKWORTH LEWIS METHOD – MEETING MR MIANDAD
FIGHT LIKE APES – TIE ME UP WITH JACKETS
THE CORONAS – LISTEN DEAR
THE BLIZZARDS – POSTCARDS
VALERIE FRANCIS – PUNCHES

Watch the five nominees for Video of the Year 2009:









Except you can't embed the Blizzards - 'Postcards'. :(

Live Review: The Holy Roman Army, Twisted Pepper, 17 October 2009

The Holy Roman Army just get better and better. If you haven't checked out their excellent debut album How the Light Gets In, I suggest you do immediately. Their live show is just as fantastic. Although there were a few sound issues on Saturday night at Twisted Pepper for HWCH, they still played their hearts out. I was hoping for a bit of 'Stagger Gently Home', but as it was for Hard Working Class Heroes 09, the set was a short one. They opened with the jaggedy 'Berlin' and thus found their groove early on. 'Caught in the Wire' was a definite highpoint, with Laura's vocals really soaring. Chris really gave it his all on 'Dublin in the Deadlight', a beautiful funky tune, even better in a live arena. Closer 'Elegy' seemed effortlessly gorgeous, and is a match for anything Animal Collective or Grizzly Bear have out there. I recommend you see them if you have the opportunity.

Setlist:
1. Berlin
2. Caught in the Wire
3. Dublin in the Deadlight
4. How The Light Gets In
5. Elegy

Here's the band playing earlier on Saturday at Road Records:

Stream: John Mayer - Heartbreak Warfare

John Mayer has launched the Augmented Reality section of his website. It's where you use your own webcam to appear in the video for 'Heartbreak Warfare' from upcoming album Battle Studies.

Test it out, and hear the full version of 'Heartbreak Warfare' here:
http://www.johnmayer.com/ar/?event=ar

However, some of us don't have webcams...

Stream:

Live: Dave Matthews Band at the O2

Every time Dave Matthews and his band or Tim Reynolds or whomever has come to Ireland, I've gone to see them. So there's no doubt I'll be going to see Dave Matthews Band playing the O2 on March 9th 2010.

Tickets go on sale this Friday. Not sure of a price yet though.

Watch 'Satellite' at the Point, the last time DMB came to town:

Download: Midnight Masses - Walk on Water

'Walk on Water' is the opening track on Midnight Masses' new EP Rapture Ready, I Gazed At The Body. It features vocals from TV on the Radio's Jaleel Bunton, and is the perfect answer to TVotR withdrawl symptoms. The rest of the EP is damn good too, especially the Sonic Youth cover 'Do You Believe in Rapture?' which sort of lends its name to the EP's title.

Tracklisting:
01 Walk On Water
02 Preacher’s Son
03 Desperate Man
04 Do You Believe In Rapture?

Download:
Midnight Masses - 'Walk on Water'

More info:
http://www.myspace.com/midnightmassesandtheendofdays

Album News: The Very Most - Autumn EP

The Very Most are back with the third of their seasonal EPs. This one, Autumn, has that lovely warm feeling that everything autumnal should have. When it's cold outside, just shove this on, and you'll be uplifted immediately. Who cares about the rain? It's been made available by our good friends over at Indiecater, and thus costs only 2 euro!

Download:
The Very Most - 'Autumn Air'

Stream/Buy:
http://www.indiecater.com/the-very-most-autumn/

Review: X Factor 2009 Live Finals Week 2

Week 2 of X Factor series 6 was Diva Week. This is never an easy week for the fellas, as for most of them, diva doesn't come naturally. Whitney Houston was their mentor and the musical guest for this week's live show, and a good few of the acts sang her songs. Most of them sang them better than she's able to sing these days too (although none of them would've matched Whitney in her prime - drugs have a lot to answer for!)



Lucie Jones opened the show with her take on Whitney classic 'How Will I Know', showing that she can do upbeat as well as the slower songs. While she wasn't fantastic, she was more than capable, showing her strength across the board. As each week goes on, Lucie just gets better and more polished. She's still my favourite for eventual winner.

Second on was the pelvic masterclass that was Olly Murs. Olly gave the best performance of all on Saturday night, and was first called out in Sunday's results show. He deserved to be, as he performed a stunning version of Tina Turner's 'A Fool in Love'. That dancing was guaranteed to send the girls wild. It even gave me a palpitation or two. I could never get away with trousers like that!

Miss Frank were without their mentor Louis Walsh this week (due to Stephen Gately's funeral). This made things more difficult for them, and they didn't have the same impact as before. They did a pedestrian version of 'All the Man that I Need', leading to a clever but snide remark from Simon that it took 3 years for Girls Aloud to gel!

Rachel Adedeji hasn't improved at all since the first live final. She didn't fall, and that alone is an achievement for her! She sang 'If I Were A Boy' by current queen bee diva Beyonce, but was as ordinary as ever. Once again, her hair was the only thing that stood out; this week making her look like Grace Jones.

Housewives favourite, and permanently smiley Joe McElderry took on Whitney too, singing 'Where Do Broken Hearts Go'. He was decent enough, thus winning over more fans. Plus he's very humble, so that'll help his case. When Rachel was interviewed on the Xtra Factor afterwards, she just seemed like a spoiled child. Joe, on the other hand, seems like a really nice guy. He should go far too.

Simon pulled off a coup for Danyl Johnson, allowing him to sing a new Whitney song (thus probably getting him some extra mentoring along the way). He wasn't as good as last week, and I don't think he'll actually get much better. He has probably peaked, but for now, he still remains the favourite. Doesn't seem as likeable as some of the other contestants either.

Sixteen year-old cutie Lloyd Daniels sang previous winner Leona Lewis's massive hit 'Bleeding Love', but was scuppered by the arrangement. Once again, Cheryl showed poor judgement, cementing her place as the worst judge in the competition. Even Louis is better, and I can't stand Louis. Dannii, you see, hasn't ability herself, so she knows how to sell, and what song suits what artist. Cheryl is only a novice, but she'll get better. As will Lloyd. His looks will keep him in for another while yet.



One of the highlights of the evening was John and Edward. They took on their idol Britney Spears's 'Oops... I Did It Again', and massacred it in style. Their singing and dancing was all kinds of awful, but with this song, and their outfits, I'm now starting to see why people like them. It was hilarious. Like everything that makes the auditions funny rolled into one double act. Priceless. Glad they stayed in. A note to Cheryl regarding her comment about them at the end of Sunday night's show: they're still in it because Louis makes the correct song choices. He knows his acts strengths and weaknesses.

Rikki Loney was another of Cheryl's acts, and while he had a better song, he had a terrible night. His vocals were all over the place. Perhaps it didn't suit him at all. He sang 'Respect' by Aretha Franklin (but written by Otis Redding). Diva week didn't suit him as well as musical heroes in the first week, but now we won't have the chance to see his return to form. Alas. Rachel should be gone.

The man of the hair, Jamie Archer, sang 'Hurt' by Christina Aguilera, and he is another act whom I think has reached their peak. He's good, but he seems to do the same routine every week, regardless of the song. You'd know he was a pub performer all along. He'll do well in the competition, but I hope he doesn't win. Plus, I'd be afraid I'd get the nits from him.

Last up was Paul Whitehouse's Perry Stacey Solomon, who sang Etta James's 'At Last' (originally by the Glen Miller Orchestra, and more recently covered by Beyonce). Her version was pretty good, and I know she's very popular already. It's her off-stage persona that ruins it for me though. She's be great if it wasn't for that. I expect if you threw a yarn of wool in her direction, she'd run after it.



Sunday night's live results show opened with 'Queen of the Night' by Whitney Houston, and it was hard to see anyone who stood out - it's a damn repetitive tune. Whitney herself sang (sort of) on the programme, performing new single 'Million Dollar Bill'. She only seemed to sing parts of it, and when talking to Dermot after, struggled to compose herself. Her dress almost opened during the song, which would've given us a glimpse of Titney, but as that never happened, and her singing wasn't up to scratch, it was all a bit Shitney.



Overshadowing Whitney's performance was Cheryl Cole's will-she-mime story, which seemed to run all week. In the end, she chose not to mime (she didn't really have a choice, unlike Alexandra who mimed last weekend). She was all the better for it. Although she was far from great, she improved as the song ('Fight For This Love') went on, and gave a worthy performance. Although she was dressed up as M. Bison from Street Fighter.

The bottom two this week was made up of Rachel (once more) and Rikki. I had predicted this before the show, but had hoped Rachel would be the one sent home. However, after the two girls voted to keep their own acts, Simon made the very wrong choice to send Rikki home. Rachel won't bring anything next week, and will probably face the chop third time of asking. At least there was a chance that Rikki might have returned to form. Rachel can't, the only good thing she's good at is falling.

I can't wait until Saturday already. Next week is Big Band week with Michael Bublé set to mentor and perform, and Westlife to give the first ever live performance of new single 'What About Now'. See you Saturday...

Stream: Norah Jones - Chasing Pirates

'Chasing Pirates' is the lead single from new Norah Jones album The Fall, which will be released on November 17th (same day as John Mayer's new album). Ryan Adams has contributed lyrically to this album, and hopefully vocally as well.

Tracklist:
1. Chasing Pirates
2. Even Though
3. Light As A Feather
4. Young Blood
5. I Wouldn't Need You
6. Waiting
7. It's Gonna Be
8. You've Ruined Me
9. Back To Manhattan
10. Stuck
11. December
12. Tell Your Mama
13. Man of the Hour

Stream: Norah Jones - 'Chasing Pirates'