Live: Oxegen 2010 Hot Press Signing Tent

The first batch of acts for the Hot Press signing tent at Oxegen 2010 have been announced. Expect more to be announced in the coming weeks.

Lineup so far:
Wild Beasts
Villagers
Ash
Cathy Davey
Delorentos

Some great names there so far, and there's sure to be more.

Watch Wild Beasts 'Assembly':

Album Review: Villagers - Becoming a Jackal

Conor O'Brien is receiving a lot of hype from all directions. Critics are praising him everywhere. And justifiably so. His debut album as Villagers, Becoming a Jackal, is yet another reason why 2010 is turning out to be the best year for Irish music ever.

Since the dissolution of the Immediate a few years ago, you'd think that O'Brien may have gotten rusty, but if anything, his vocals have improved tenfold since then. His voice is glorious and soars on many of the tracks. 'I Saw the Dead' is a perfect album opener, with a wonderful entwining piano melody and enchanting vocals from O'Brien.

The album's highpoint is the title track, and the song which introduced him to the world on Later with Jools Holland a few weeks back. It's one of the songs of the year, regardless of nationality. But luckily for us, the album is full of gems. The first four songs are as good as any opening run in recent memory. 'Ship of Promises' could be a fantastic radio single, and if his new label Domino have the sense (which I imagine they do, they've done everything else perfectly up til now) then it will be all over the airwaves this summer.

'The Meaning of the Ritual' had been originally on last year's Hollow Kind EP, but has been spruced up for the full-length, and I must say the improvements have turned it into a better song. The album's guitarist Tommy McLaughlin was in charge of production duties, and this hands-on approach has really added a warmth to the album. This can be heard throughout, particularly in the breezy 'That Day'. It's also perfect for radio, as is 'Home' and 'The Pact'.

'Set the Tigers Free' is yet another highpoint, as is the growl of 'Pieces'. There's some more straightforward singer-songwriter tunes on here too, such as 'Twenty Seven Strangers' and the splendid closer 'To Be Counted Among Men'. In fact, there's not a weak point on the album. It's a perfectly well rounded record

Columns What I Like: Drowned in Dublin

Not quite a Blogs What I Like feature, but close enough. You're already probably an avid Drowned in Sound reader, and probably haven't failed to notice the new column in town. Niall Byrne, the curator of Ireland's Annual Best Music Blog nialler9, has started a new in-depth feature on Drowned in Sound.

It's called Drowned in Dublin, and features all the best new Irish music from the likes of the bigger names such as Heathers and Villagers, as well as collectives such as Popical Island and the Richter Collective, and then some lesser known artists such as MelJoann and Solar Bears.

Holding it all together is a wonderful Soundcloud playlist, which will probably get about a dozen listens from me over the weekend.

Drowned in Dublin playlist by Nialler9

Read the full article here:
http://drownedinsound.com/news/4140139-drowned-in-dublin-1

News: Villagers - Becoming a Jackal tops Irish chart

Congratulations to Conor O'Brien and his project Villagers, who have topped the Irish Albums Chart this week with their debut Becoming a Jackal. Fantastic news for Conor, whose career is going from strength to strength. He's set for bigger things than Jools Holland. This is just the start.

Setlist: Villagers, Set Theatre Kilkenny, 19 May 2010

Conor O'Brien's Villagers played the Set Theatre in Kilkenny yesterday in order to promote their excellent debut album Becoming a Jackal. Thanks again to Keith for the setlist. The Set Theatre is a gorgeous venue, and if you get a chance to see someone there, I urge you to take it. Jim Caroll called last night's gig the "best gig in ages", commenting that it was "Sublime on so many different levels".

Setlist:
The Meaning of the Ritual
Home
Becoming a Jackal
That Day
Pieces
To Be Counted
The Pact
I Saw Dead
Down Under Sea
Ship of Promises
---
Tigers
On a Sunlit Stage

Live: Oxegen Hot Press Academy Tent Lineup

There may be just three weeks to go to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa (of which Matthew Upson won't be attending), but there's just seven weeks to go to the biggest musical festival of the year, Oxegen 2010.

Many people complained about the lack of Irish acts when the initial lineup was announced, but the announcement of the full lineup for the Hot Press Academy Stage should surely rectify that. As well as great foreign imports such as Julian Casablancas (of the Strokes), Laura Marling, Yeasayer and Kele Okereke (him from Bloc Party), there's plenty of homegrown artists due to appear. The highlights for me will be Conor O'Brien's Villagers, Cathy Davey, Wallis Bird, and O Emperor. Oh and I forgot to mention, old frogthroat-skeleton hands herself is playing, that's right Diana Vickers will be there!

Lineup:
JULIAN CASABLANCAS
ASH
CATHY DAVEY
WE ARE SCIENTISTS
KELE OKEREKE
VILLAGERS
BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB
YEASAYER
LAURA MARLING
THE HIGH KINGS
WALLIS BIRD
FRIGHTENED RABBIT
MYSTERY JETS
3OH!3
SHED SEVEN
DIANA VICKERS
O EMPEROR
LISSIE
JOE ECHO
THE MIDDLE EAST
EXAMPLE
HURTS
MAYER HAWTHORNE
CHAPEL CLUB
DAISY DARES YOU

While you're at it, check out the brand new Oxegen website here:
www.oxegen.ie

Watch O Emperor 'Don't Mind Me':

Album News: Villagers - Becoming a Jackal

The full tracklist for Conor O'Brien's debut album as Villagers has been announced. The former Immediate frontman releases Becoming a Jackal on May 14th on Domino Records, and will be preceded by the single of the same name. The album is also due to include 'The Meaning of the Ritual' from last year's EP. Conor is currently over in the US preparing for SXSW.

Tracklist:
I Saw The Dead’
‘Ship Of Promises’
‘The Meaning Of The Ritual’
‘Home’, ‘That Day’
‘The Pact (I’ll Be Your Fever)’
‘Set The Tigers Free’
‘Twenty-Seven Strangers'
‘Pieces’
‘To Be Counted Among Men’
'Becoming a Jackal'

Watch 'Becoming a Jackal' official video: