If you're heading to Justin Timberlake or REM or Goldie or anywhere else, have fun.
and....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RO RO!!!!!
Rock.
Una
Friday, June 29, 2007
Happy Weekend!
Have a good weekend y'all. I'm off to a spa in Cork for some pre-Oxegen chillaxing.
If you're heading to Justin Timberlake or REM or Goldie or anywhere else, have fun.
and....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RO RO!!!!!
Rock.
Una
If you're heading to Justin Timberlake or REM or Goldie or anywhere else, have fun.
and....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RO RO!!!!!
Rock.
Una
UnaRocks articles of the day
'What the fuck was that?' # 2 - RTE
Online playgrounds for adults - International Herald Tribune
The UFO at 60 - Wired
The rise of stealth wealth - Newsweek
John Roberts: Conservative - Slate
Lily Allen arrested - TMZ
Online playgrounds for adults - International Herald Tribune
The UFO at 60 - Wired
The rise of stealth wealth - Newsweek
John Roberts: Conservative - Slate
Lily Allen arrested - TMZ
PotatoRocks
Thanks to Green Ink who made this wonderful picture of me following my Mr Potato Head comment.
Hee hee!
Hee hee!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Blogsecret
A message from Jenna: fun game to play!
"IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
So, here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool...
Opening Credits:
Pet Shop Boys - What Have I Done to Deserve This?
Waking Up:
Zombies - Time of the Season
First Day At School:
Beatles - I'm So Tired
Falling In Love:
Billie Holiday - Good Morning Heartache
Fight Song:
Joy Division - Interzone (RCA Demo)
Breaking Up:
C&C - Time Consumer
Prom:
The Jam - The Butterfly Collector
Life:
Elvis Costello - Less than Zero
Mental Breakdown:
The Ramones - Chainsaw
(WOW THIS IS FREAKING ME OUT.)
Driving:
Ready for the World - Oh Sheila
Flashback:
Neutral Milk Hotel - The Fool
Getting back together:
Depeche Mode - Black Celebration (...yikes?)
Wedding:
Interpol - Say Hello to the Angel
Birth of Child:
Rich Kids - Ghosts of Princes in Towers
Final Battle:
Bob Marley - Running Away (London Version)
Death Scene:
Of Montreal - So Begins Our Alabee
Funeral Song:
Sparks - Waterproof
End Credits:
John Lee Hooker - One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (Live at the Cafe Au Go Go and Soledad Prison)
....YOU NOW WANT TO COME SEE MY MOVIE."
So, that was Jenna's movie, now here's mine:
Opening Credits: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Way Out
Waking Up: Republic of Loose - You Know It
First Day At School: Black Rebel Motor Cycle Club - Still Suspicion Holds You Strong
Falling In Love: Nirvana - About A Girl (heehee!)
Fight Song: Sufjan Stevens - The Pick-Up
Breaking Up: Arcade Fire - Antichrist Television Blues
Prom: Remy Zero - Life In Rain
Life: Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye
Mental Breakdown: The Subtonics - Tokyo Shakedown
Driving: The Immediate - Let This Light Fill Your Eyes
Flashback: Damone - Out Here All Night
Getting back together: Death Cab For Cutie - Lightness
Wedding: Hole - Miss World
Birth of Child: Nirvana - Polly
Final Battle: Kathleen Edwards - Away
Death Scene: Radiohead - My Iron Lung
Funeral Song: Pearl Jam - Nothingman
End Credits: Interpol - Not Even Jail
now you try! Mine was strangely accurate, as was Jenna's end credits track.
So, here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool...
Opening Credits:
Pet Shop Boys - What Have I Done to Deserve This?
Waking Up:
Zombies - Time of the Season
First Day At School:
Beatles - I'm So Tired
Falling In Love:
Billie Holiday - Good Morning Heartache
Fight Song:
Joy Division - Interzone (RCA Demo)
Breaking Up:
C&C - Time Consumer
Prom:
The Jam - The Butterfly Collector
Life:
Elvis Costello - Less than Zero
Mental Breakdown:
The Ramones - Chainsaw
(WOW THIS IS FREAKING ME OUT.)
Driving:
Ready for the World - Oh Sheila
Flashback:
Neutral Milk Hotel - The Fool
Getting back together:
Depeche Mode - Black Celebration (...yikes?)
Wedding:
Interpol - Say Hello to the Angel
Birth of Child:
Rich Kids - Ghosts of Princes in Towers
Final Battle:
Bob Marley - Running Away (London Version)
Death Scene:
Of Montreal - So Begins Our Alabee
Funeral Song:
Sparks - Waterproof
End Credits:
John Lee Hooker - One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (Live at the Cafe Au Go Go and Soledad Prison)
....YOU NOW WANT TO COME SEE MY MOVIE."
So, that was Jenna's movie, now here's mine:
Opening Credits: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Way Out
Waking Up: Republic of Loose - You Know It
First Day At School: Black Rebel Motor Cycle Club - Still Suspicion Holds You Strong
Falling In Love: Nirvana - About A Girl (heehee!)
Fight Song: Sufjan Stevens - The Pick-Up
Breaking Up: Arcade Fire - Antichrist Television Blues
Prom: Remy Zero - Life In Rain
Life: Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye
Mental Breakdown: The Subtonics - Tokyo Shakedown
Driving: The Immediate - Let This Light Fill Your Eyes
Flashback: Damone - Out Here All Night
Getting back together: Death Cab For Cutie - Lightness
Wedding: Hole - Miss World
Birth of Child: Nirvana - Polly
Final Battle: Kathleen Edwards - Away
Death Scene: Radiohead - My Iron Lung
Funeral Song: Pearl Jam - Nothingman
End Credits: Interpol - Not Even Jail
now you try! Mine was strangely accurate, as was Jenna's end credits track.
That's a wrap
Forgot to blog about the end of TTV for the summer. Tuesday night was my last slot. Had mucho fun throughout the year (perhaps too much at the wrap party last week. Eek.) and met some really nice people, and it was fun to talk about random stuff on TV. It was especially helpful for going out on a Tuesday night because I would already have my make-up face on when leaving RTE. Rock, and handy.
Now, if only they'd take down the Mr Potato Head picture of me...
Now, if only they'd take down the Mr Potato Head picture of me...
MeNoFemBo reinstates third member
In response to the unexpected departure of Ado MeNoFemBo, and subsequent booting of him from the band, Ado writes:
"how dare you! i´ve taken the Menofembo project to Europe. here i am , slaving away writing tunes and scouting out studios as near to the beach as possible. Anyway, I need to Detox before this band fucks up my life..."
All is forgiven Ado.
MeNoFemBo is back.
"how dare you! i´ve taken the Menofembo project to Europe. here i am , slaving away writing tunes and scouting out studios as near to the beach as possible. Anyway, I need to Detox before this band fucks up my life..."
All is forgiven Ado.
MeNoFemBo is back.
OMG.com-ingtons
I have to be there
Una
listening to: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - 'Is Is' EP (awesome)
reading: London Independent
drinking: iced coffee
eating: yogurt and honey
watching: CSI Miami
Una
listening to: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - 'Is Is' EP (awesome)
reading: London Independent
drinking: iced coffee
eating: yogurt and honey
watching: CSI Miami
Byesies TBMC
This Saturday is the last night of the Temple Bar Music Centre as we know it. It's closing for refurbishment and will reappear later as something slightly different. I must say I will miss it in its current guise. I had mucho fun there, especially in the last year. Many of my, Corina, Lili and the Remedy homies' Saturday nights were spent backstage taking pictures of ourselves jumping (this trend will never grow old) and hanging out and rocking out with lovely people like Pendulum, The Hacker, Miss Kittin, Damien Lazarus, DJ Hype, Scratch Perverts, Koze, Michael Mayer, MANDY and the likes.
But all good things must come to an end. However, before they do, the Remedy heads will bring you a night to remember this venue by. Goldie will wreck the gaff on Saturday night, so get down there to say a temporary goodbye to the TBMC.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Record reviews
I never really post album reviews I do for the Tribune here, so here are some recent ones. For the laugh, like.
White Stripes
Icky Thump
XL Recordings
**
Don’t you just wish White Stripes would spend more time in the studio? Perhaps then they would make a record that for once sounds finished. This is another we’re-so-effortless-we’re-so-cool instalment that is for the most part incomplete, messy and generally annoying. ‘Conquest’ sounds like Tenacious D, ‘Rag and Bone’ with its silly kids TV “hey Meg” conversational interludes is just irritating and most of the riffs and solos are unpolished half-ideas. Frankly, there isn’t one great track on this album. It’s still listenable, and occasionally alright, but when you can be brilliant, then why not go for that instead? Maybe Karen Elson won’t give Jack the time off.
Download: ‘Icky Thump’, ‘A Martyr For My Love For You’
Unkle
War Stories
Surrender All
***
Unkle is more of a drop-in centre than a group. Having contained DJ Shadow, Scratch Perverts and Mani in the past, this new record is predictably not short of collaborators. 3D, Ian Astbury and Josh Homme all lend their touches as the trip hop is replaced with an Autumnal rock session. There’s little originality, and no real structure or theme despite promising artwork and intentions, but there’s a few highlights nonetheless. ‘Mayday’ - a glam romp with the Duke Spirit - is fantastic as is the instrumental jam of ‘Chemistry’. Not bad at all.
Download: ‘Mayday’, ‘Chemistry’, ‘When Things Explode’
Super Extra Bonus Party
Super Extra Bonus Party
Alphabet Set Collective
****
This debut from the unclassifiable Irish quartet is probably the most inventive Irish album this decade. Brimming with an energy and exoticness usually alien to a local collective, bass, beats, bleeps, and great vocals from a Brazilian MC to Nina Hynes, combine to create complex yet fun electronica. Opening with a loping trumpet hook and spliced beats on ‘Adventures’, and closing with beatsy rock there’s an array of eclecticism in between. Occasionally things get a little too lo-fi, and while the quieter moments still sound good, it’s when SEBP bounce on ‘Favourite Things’ and ‘Erosion’ that things really come to life.
Download: ‘Everything Flows’, ‘Favourite Things’, ‘Propeller’
Jenny Lindfors
When The Night Times Comes
Independent
***
Lindfors’ debut album puts a lid on a lengthy period of touring and well, just presence, that earned her fans and respect along with a substantial space on the fading singer-songwriter scene. Here, she sticks to an organic formula, making a night-time collection of twelve melancholic and very listenable tracks. There is a slight too great a dependence on the minimal, and there are only so many fine enough tracks you can listen to with a lone acoustic guitar and sparse African drum tapping, even if the vocal is beautiful. Occasionally, Lindfors drifts into cringe (namely on ‘2x1’) but overall this is a well thought out atmospheric record.
Download: ‘ Night Time’, ‘Lovestage’
Kings Of Leon
Because Of The Times
RCA
****
After two fine albums, Kings of Leon do the unthinkable, and don’t change. Their compositions of dark, fighting lyrics from their strange guarded universe, and licks and riffs that attack with originality and zeal has developed quickly since their debut just four years ago and culminated in this excellent record. It’s full of ham-fisted love on ‘Knocked Up’ and peculiar anger on ‘My Party’. The jewel is ‘On Call’ a staggering synthy mess that sounds like nothing any other indie band is doing. Much of the album, like the band, is strange and changes in tone are often and spring from nowhere using a coded formula that only KOL understand and only KOL can do. Here, they’ve very nearly perfected it.
Download: ‘Knocked Up’, ‘Fans’, ‘On Call’
The National
Boxer
Beggars Banquet Records
***
Having broken boundaries with ‘Alligator’, The National returned to Brooklyn to write for a year and the results are nothing less than quietly impressive. Focussing on their tender side, the band swap the electric guitar belters of ‘Abel’ for soft acoustic guitar and piano driven love songs that take time to brew and build into unadventurous, yet beautiful stories. Sufjan Stevens’ contributions on ‘Racing Like A Pro’ and ‘Ada’ result in two highlights. It’s a hazy, slightly depressed alternative to the jittery summer rock currently on offer elsewhere.
Download: ‘Ada’, ‘Fake Empire’, ‘Slow Show’
Various
Spiderman 3 Soundtrack
Record Collection
***
Spiderman is indie, yo! The presence of The Killers, a fine track – ‘Sealings’ – from Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Wolfmother, The Walkmen, great newbies The Oohlas and boring hit makers Snow Patrol ensure that. The standout track is ‘Sealings’, a dark spooky rocking offering from Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and a must for fans who want to hear where the Williamsburg-ites might be heading on their next record. The Killers do their best U2 impression on ‘Move Away’ and Flaming Lips embrace the bizarre as usual with a silly cartoon of a song ‘The Supreme Being Teaches Spider-Man How To Be In Love’. ‘Small Parts’ from the Oohlas finish the album off with cute style.
Download: ‘Sealings’, ‘Move Away’, ‘Small Parts’
Natasha Bedingfield
N.B.
Sony BMG
*
Getting sent an album sampler is never a good sign; it generally means that the record label doesn’t really want you to hear the complete album for better, but mostly for worse. With Natasha Bedingfield however, it’s a bit of a blessing because there is no way I would ever be able to sit through a listening session of an entire album of hers. The five tracks here are full of irritating tinny beats, horrendous me-so-clever po-faced corny lyrics about being a strong girlie in a boy’s world and grating vocals. It’ll sell millions.
Download: ‘I Wanna Have Your Babies’
The Cribs
Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever
Wichita
***
The three brothers from Wakefield have been outstripped by the smarter British counterparts over the past few years, gigging and charting in the shadows, and it looks like they’ll remain there for the foreseeable future, despite the fashionable contributions of Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos as the producer. There’s plenty to dance to here; jittery guitars, a bit of punk and an offensive regional vocal, which is essential in British pop-rock these days. But it’s still indecisive indie that is slightly short on both melody and oomph, although the appearance of Lee Ranaldo from Sonic Youth on ‘Be Safe’ is brilliant.
Download: ‘Men’s Needs’, ‘Women’s Needs’, ‘Be Safe’
The Twang
Love It When I Feel Like This
Polydor
**
For all the cred that hangs on their NME cool tag, The Twang make decidedly unfashionable music. The Brummie fivesome rattle through eleven baggy rock tracks on this debut. The lyrical gist is ‘we’re regional / we get hammered / we smoke Benson / we make the neighbours angry foolishness. Musically, they steal equally from U2 and Oasis, namely on ‘Wide Awake’ and on the silly ‘Ice Cream Sundae’ (sample lyric: cooler than an ice cream sundae / looking back we sure had some fun days... cruise along the super highway.) All this macho posturing makes you feel glad that the most relevant rock bands internationally are fronted by women.
Download: ‘Wide Awake’, ‘Cloudy Room’
Fridge
The Sun
Domino
**
The abstract musings of Kieran Hebden - who took a break from this band to go on his own as Four Tet and then play around with Steven Reid’s drumming genius – return on a meandering record. There’s no real structure here to speak of, just stoned wandering instrumentals. The only time anything brilliant does shine through, it’s on ‘Lost Time’ when wordless vocals are added and there’s a melodic repetition, showing that Hebden really needs to nail down something solid to produce anything of merit. That said, it’s not a bad record, there are some interesting guitar progressions, and occasional previously unheard sounds, but it really is too scatterbrained.
Download: ‘Lost Time’, ‘Oram’
Macy Gray
Big
Geffen
***
Macy Gray - the big haired eccentric whose voice lies somewhere between a coffee grinder and coffee itself - is back with some tracks thanks will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas who has signed her to his label. He and Fergie appear here, and although it's not going to rock the world, it's a fine, complete album. On occasions though it's watery and flat. 'Shoo Be Doo' is just lazy and sustaining the formula of jazz tinged r'n'b often becomes the raison d’être of this record. A few sparks fly on Justin Timberlake's 'Okay' and again on his creation 'Get Out'. But it's Macy's loveable voice that saturated every shop, supermarket and radio station when she released 'I Try', that rises to the top here, effortlessly sprinkling every track with her unique flavour.
Dowload: 'Finally Made Me Happy', 'Get Out', 'Treat Me Like Your Money'
Hinder
Extreme Behaviour
Universal
0 stars
Oh, it's extreme alright, extremely rubbish. Hinder, a ridiculous collection of kerazy frauds have made the world a slightly worse place with the launch of this awful Nickleback pastiche. It has sold a bazillion copies in the US where college students are clearly too drunk and dumb to understand that this is the worst record released this year. "Go home and get stoned / Cause the sex is so much better when you're mad at me" yells Austin Winkler - who is in possession of a desperately fake gravel voice (more pebbledash really) - on the opening track. Wow! Drugs, sex, and here's me thinking rock and roll was dead. There are absolutely no redeeming qualities to this album. It's melodyless, brainless and irritatingly boring. So bad, it actually made me angry. Hinder - you, me, outside, now.
Download: another album
Jeff Buckley
So Real
Columbia
****
Ten years after Buckley drowned in the Mississippi river, his estate, and Columbia release another compilation of sorts as the singer-songwriter’s popularity posthumously grows. 14 of his best known songs and covers are here unchanged; ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Last Goodbye’, ‘Grace’ along with a heavier ‘road version’ of ‘Eternal Life’ and lesser known ‘Forget Her’ and ‘Vancouver’. Unfortunately, not included are Buckley’s two best performances; ‘Morning Theft’ and a cover of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s ‘Yeh Jo Halka Halka Saroor Hai’, but it’s still inevitably beautiful.
Download: ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Lover You Should’ve Come Over’, ‘Je N’en Connais Pas La Fin’
Bonde Do Role
With Lasers
Domino
***
In case you haven’t noticed, it’s summer and Brazil is so hot right now. Enter finally, the debut record from Bonde Do Role who twist baile funk and the carioca sound adored by Diplo. The result? A sleazy, humourous, beatsy party in your stereo. My non-existent command of Portuguese means that I’m just guessing that lyrically it’s all about wrecking the gaff, sex, boozing and all the other things that indie-dance kids are getting up to these days. In other words, it’s just great energetic fun, and probably the only album to have playing in the background to serious pre-Electric Picnic caipirinha drinking.
Download: ‘Danca Do Zumbi’, ‘Tieta’, ‘Office Boy’
White Stripes
Icky Thump
XL Recordings
**
Don’t you just wish White Stripes would spend more time in the studio? Perhaps then they would make a record that for once sounds finished. This is another we’re-so-effortless-we’re-so-cool instalment that is for the most part incomplete, messy and generally annoying. ‘Conquest’ sounds like Tenacious D, ‘Rag and Bone’ with its silly kids TV “hey Meg” conversational interludes is just irritating and most of the riffs and solos are unpolished half-ideas. Frankly, there isn’t one great track on this album. It’s still listenable, and occasionally alright, but when you can be brilliant, then why not go for that instead? Maybe Karen Elson won’t give Jack the time off.
Download: ‘Icky Thump’, ‘A Martyr For My Love For You’
Unkle
War Stories
Surrender All
***
Unkle is more of a drop-in centre than a group. Having contained DJ Shadow, Scratch Perverts and Mani in the past, this new record is predictably not short of collaborators. 3D, Ian Astbury and Josh Homme all lend their touches as the trip hop is replaced with an Autumnal rock session. There’s little originality, and no real structure or theme despite promising artwork and intentions, but there’s a few highlights nonetheless. ‘Mayday’ - a glam romp with the Duke Spirit - is fantastic as is the instrumental jam of ‘Chemistry’. Not bad at all.
Download: ‘Mayday’, ‘Chemistry’, ‘When Things Explode’
Super Extra Bonus Party
Super Extra Bonus Party
Alphabet Set Collective
****
This debut from the unclassifiable Irish quartet is probably the most inventive Irish album this decade. Brimming with an energy and exoticness usually alien to a local collective, bass, beats, bleeps, and great vocals from a Brazilian MC to Nina Hynes, combine to create complex yet fun electronica. Opening with a loping trumpet hook and spliced beats on ‘Adventures’, and closing with beatsy rock there’s an array of eclecticism in between. Occasionally things get a little too lo-fi, and while the quieter moments still sound good, it’s when SEBP bounce on ‘Favourite Things’ and ‘Erosion’ that things really come to life.
Download: ‘Everything Flows’, ‘Favourite Things’, ‘Propeller’
Jenny Lindfors
When The Night Times Comes
Independent
***
Lindfors’ debut album puts a lid on a lengthy period of touring and well, just presence, that earned her fans and respect along with a substantial space on the fading singer-songwriter scene. Here, she sticks to an organic formula, making a night-time collection of twelve melancholic and very listenable tracks. There is a slight too great a dependence on the minimal, and there are only so many fine enough tracks you can listen to with a lone acoustic guitar and sparse African drum tapping, even if the vocal is beautiful. Occasionally, Lindfors drifts into cringe (namely on ‘2x1’) but overall this is a well thought out atmospheric record.
Download: ‘ Night Time’, ‘Lovestage’
Kings Of Leon
Because Of The Times
RCA
****
After two fine albums, Kings of Leon do the unthinkable, and don’t change. Their compositions of dark, fighting lyrics from their strange guarded universe, and licks and riffs that attack with originality and zeal has developed quickly since their debut just four years ago and culminated in this excellent record. It’s full of ham-fisted love on ‘Knocked Up’ and peculiar anger on ‘My Party’. The jewel is ‘On Call’ a staggering synthy mess that sounds like nothing any other indie band is doing. Much of the album, like the band, is strange and changes in tone are often and spring from nowhere using a coded formula that only KOL understand and only KOL can do. Here, they’ve very nearly perfected it.
Download: ‘Knocked Up’, ‘Fans’, ‘On Call’
The National
Boxer
Beggars Banquet Records
***
Having broken boundaries with ‘Alligator’, The National returned to Brooklyn to write for a year and the results are nothing less than quietly impressive. Focussing on their tender side, the band swap the electric guitar belters of ‘Abel’ for soft acoustic guitar and piano driven love songs that take time to brew and build into unadventurous, yet beautiful stories. Sufjan Stevens’ contributions on ‘Racing Like A Pro’ and ‘Ada’ result in two highlights. It’s a hazy, slightly depressed alternative to the jittery summer rock currently on offer elsewhere.
Download: ‘Ada’, ‘Fake Empire’, ‘Slow Show’
Various
Spiderman 3 Soundtrack
Record Collection
***
Spiderman is indie, yo! The presence of The Killers, a fine track – ‘Sealings’ – from Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Wolfmother, The Walkmen, great newbies The Oohlas and boring hit makers Snow Patrol ensure that. The standout track is ‘Sealings’, a dark spooky rocking offering from Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and a must for fans who want to hear where the Williamsburg-ites might be heading on their next record. The Killers do their best U2 impression on ‘Move Away’ and Flaming Lips embrace the bizarre as usual with a silly cartoon of a song ‘The Supreme Being Teaches Spider-Man How To Be In Love’. ‘Small Parts’ from the Oohlas finish the album off with cute style.
Download: ‘Sealings’, ‘Move Away’, ‘Small Parts’
Natasha Bedingfield
N.B.
Sony BMG
*
Getting sent an album sampler is never a good sign; it generally means that the record label doesn’t really want you to hear the complete album for better, but mostly for worse. With Natasha Bedingfield however, it’s a bit of a blessing because there is no way I would ever be able to sit through a listening session of an entire album of hers. The five tracks here are full of irritating tinny beats, horrendous me-so-clever po-faced corny lyrics about being a strong girlie in a boy’s world and grating vocals. It’ll sell millions.
Download: ‘I Wanna Have Your Babies’
The Cribs
Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever
Wichita
***
The three brothers from Wakefield have been outstripped by the smarter British counterparts over the past few years, gigging and charting in the shadows, and it looks like they’ll remain there for the foreseeable future, despite the fashionable contributions of Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos as the producer. There’s plenty to dance to here; jittery guitars, a bit of punk and an offensive regional vocal, which is essential in British pop-rock these days. But it’s still indecisive indie that is slightly short on both melody and oomph, although the appearance of Lee Ranaldo from Sonic Youth on ‘Be Safe’ is brilliant.
Download: ‘Men’s Needs’, ‘Women’s Needs’, ‘Be Safe’
The Twang
Love It When I Feel Like This
Polydor
**
For all the cred that hangs on their NME cool tag, The Twang make decidedly unfashionable music. The Brummie fivesome rattle through eleven baggy rock tracks on this debut. The lyrical gist is ‘we’re regional / we get hammered / we smoke Benson / we make the neighbours angry foolishness. Musically, they steal equally from U2 and Oasis, namely on ‘Wide Awake’ and on the silly ‘Ice Cream Sundae’ (sample lyric: cooler than an ice cream sundae / looking back we sure had some fun days... cruise along the super highway.) All this macho posturing makes you feel glad that the most relevant rock bands internationally are fronted by women.
Download: ‘Wide Awake’, ‘Cloudy Room’
Fridge
The Sun
Domino
**
The abstract musings of Kieran Hebden - who took a break from this band to go on his own as Four Tet and then play around with Steven Reid’s drumming genius – return on a meandering record. There’s no real structure here to speak of, just stoned wandering instrumentals. The only time anything brilliant does shine through, it’s on ‘Lost Time’ when wordless vocals are added and there’s a melodic repetition, showing that Hebden really needs to nail down something solid to produce anything of merit. That said, it’s not a bad record, there are some interesting guitar progressions, and occasional previously unheard sounds, but it really is too scatterbrained.
Download: ‘Lost Time’, ‘Oram’
Macy Gray
Big
Geffen
***
Macy Gray - the big haired eccentric whose voice lies somewhere between a coffee grinder and coffee itself - is back with some tracks thanks will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas who has signed her to his label. He and Fergie appear here, and although it's not going to rock the world, it's a fine, complete album. On occasions though it's watery and flat. 'Shoo Be Doo' is just lazy and sustaining the formula of jazz tinged r'n'b often becomes the raison d’être of this record. A few sparks fly on Justin Timberlake's 'Okay' and again on his creation 'Get Out'. But it's Macy's loveable voice that saturated every shop, supermarket and radio station when she released 'I Try', that rises to the top here, effortlessly sprinkling every track with her unique flavour.
Dowload: 'Finally Made Me Happy', 'Get Out', 'Treat Me Like Your Money'
Hinder
Extreme Behaviour
Universal
0 stars
Oh, it's extreme alright, extremely rubbish. Hinder, a ridiculous collection of kerazy frauds have made the world a slightly worse place with the launch of this awful Nickleback pastiche. It has sold a bazillion copies in the US where college students are clearly too drunk and dumb to understand that this is the worst record released this year. "Go home and get stoned / Cause the sex is so much better when you're mad at me" yells Austin Winkler - who is in possession of a desperately fake gravel voice (more pebbledash really) - on the opening track. Wow! Drugs, sex, and here's me thinking rock and roll was dead. There are absolutely no redeeming qualities to this album. It's melodyless, brainless and irritatingly boring. So bad, it actually made me angry. Hinder - you, me, outside, now.
Download: another album
Jeff Buckley
So Real
Columbia
****
Ten years after Buckley drowned in the Mississippi river, his estate, and Columbia release another compilation of sorts as the singer-songwriter’s popularity posthumously grows. 14 of his best known songs and covers are here unchanged; ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Last Goodbye’, ‘Grace’ along with a heavier ‘road version’ of ‘Eternal Life’ and lesser known ‘Forget Her’ and ‘Vancouver’. Unfortunately, not included are Buckley’s two best performances; ‘Morning Theft’ and a cover of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s ‘Yeh Jo Halka Halka Saroor Hai’, but it’s still inevitably beautiful.
Download: ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Lover You Should’ve Come Over’, ‘Je N’en Connais Pas La Fin’
Bonde Do Role
With Lasers
Domino
***
In case you haven’t noticed, it’s summer and Brazil is so hot right now. Enter finally, the debut record from Bonde Do Role who twist baile funk and the carioca sound adored by Diplo. The result? A sleazy, humourous, beatsy party in your stereo. My non-existent command of Portuguese means that I’m just guessing that lyrically it’s all about wrecking the gaff, sex, boozing and all the other things that indie-dance kids are getting up to these days. In other words, it’s just great energetic fun, and probably the only album to have playing in the background to serious pre-Electric Picnic caipirinha drinking.
Download: ‘Danca Do Zumbi’, ‘Tieta’, ‘Office Boy’
Facebook submission
After avoiding it for so long, there was no point in fooling myself any longer. UnaRocks is now on Facebook.
Say hello if you want.
Say hello if you want.
UnaRocks articles of the day
iPhone lives up to the hype - International Herald Tribune
Generation 2.0, and how to make money from it - Businessweek
Macho movies are not necessarily homoerotic - Slate
Turkish Live Earth cancelled - NME
US Weekly blacks out Paris Hilton coverage - San Francisco Chronicle
Rupert Murdoch's tax evasion - New York Times
'Secondfest', Second Life's music festival - The Guardian
Chris Beoit's txt messages - TMZ
Generation 2.0, and how to make money from it - Businessweek
Macho movies are not necessarily homoerotic - Slate
Turkish Live Earth cancelled - NME
US Weekly blacks out Paris Hilton coverage - San Francisco Chronicle
Rupert Murdoch's tax evasion - New York Times
'Secondfest', Second Life's music festival - The Guardian
Chris Beoit's txt messages - TMZ
Happy Birthday JP!
Happy birthday to JP, Cork's #1 langer. Met him and Frisbee Rob, Ro Ro, Fuzzy, Setanta folk, Dualta and Aoibhinn for a few pints in O'Reilly's last night.
Very jealous of Aoibhinn, she's off to Japan on tour with her band for a few weeks the week after next. JEALOUS.
Una
reading: RTE Guide
listening to: Happy Mondays - 'Uncle Dysfunktional'
eating: nothing yet, hungy
drinking: water
watching: Feud
"what the fuck was that"
This is what I said to Johnny B last night in our gaff when we heard a pretty loud explosion. We had just come in the door from the chipper opposite the Coombe. I thought it was a shotgun blast, B didn't. Turns out it was something a little more serious than that.
From RTE
"Residents have returned to their homes following an explosion in Dublin's south inner city.
Gardaà believe a grenade exploded in the Park Terrace area of the Coombe shortly before midnight.
No one was injured in the blast.
An Army Bomb Disposal team then carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious bag found nearby.
It is understood there were no explosives in the bag and it is not connected to the first incident.
Between 75 and 100 homes in the vicinity were evacuated last night.
Francis Street, which had been closed, has now reopened to motorists in the city but some minor roads around the Coombe have not yet been reopened."
From RTE
"Residents have returned to their homes following an explosion in Dublin's south inner city.
Gardaà believe a grenade exploded in the Park Terrace area of the Coombe shortly before midnight.
No one was injured in the blast.
An Army Bomb Disposal team then carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious bag found nearby.
It is understood there were no explosives in the bag and it is not connected to the first incident.
Between 75 and 100 homes in the vicinity were evacuated last night.
Francis Street, which had been closed, has now reopened to motorists in the city but some minor roads around the Coombe have not yet been reopened."
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
MeNoFemBo lose member (temporarily)
Monday, June 25, 2007
UnaRocks video of the day
Here's a short film called 'Pound', by the director Evan Bernard. Gotta learn that handshake.
Dirty Dozen: Vol 67
1. Matt And Kim - 'Silver Tiles'
2. Misha - 'Summersend'
3. Editors - 'Feel Good Inc'
4. Justice feat. Uffie - 'The Party' (smack my Luvtek remix)
5. Beirut - 'Postcards From Italy'
half a dozen. Blair - 'Wolfboy'
7. I Was A Cub Scout - 'Pink Squares' via Good Weather For Airstrikes
8. Danko Jones - 'Caramel City'
9. The Ramones - 'Somebody Put Something In My Drink'
10. Dizzee Rascal - 'Where's Da Gs'
11. Kraftwerk - 'Europe Endless'
dozen. Beauty School Drop Out - 'Saturday Night' via HeadphoneSex
2. Misha - 'Summersend'
3. Editors - 'Feel Good Inc'
4. Justice feat. Uffie - 'The Party' (smack my Luvtek remix)
5. Beirut - 'Postcards From Italy'
half a dozen. Blair - 'Wolfboy'
7. I Was A Cub Scout - 'Pink Squares' via Good Weather For Airstrikes
8. Danko Jones - 'Caramel City'
9. The Ramones - 'Somebody Put Something In My Drink'
10. Dizzee Rascal - 'Where's Da Gs'
11. Kraftwerk - 'Europe Endless'
dozen. Beauty School Drop Out - 'Saturday Night' via HeadphoneSex
"I think the gig was good, but I couldn't really tell because of my acute frostbite"
MCD will hold eight outdoor concerts in Phoenix Park in late October and November according to the Sunday Business Post and Jim
"MCD, the country’s largest music promoter, has landed a major deal with the Office of Public Works (OPW) to hold eight outdoor concerts in the Phoenix Park, Dublin later this year.
The concerts will take place at the park between October 16 and November 5 and the anticipated attendance at each concert will not exceed 10,000 people. The company intends to apply for a concert licence from Dublin City Council in the next two weeks seeking permission to host the concerts, which will take place on the land adjoining the visitor centre at the Phoenix Park.
MCD, owned by millionaire businessman Denis Desmond, is one of the country’s most prominent concert promoters. The company promotes the Oxegen festival, which takes place at Punchestown, Co Kildare, on July 7 and 8. Leading bands such the Killers, Arcade Fire and Snow Patrol are scheduled to play.
Six concerts will take place at Malahide Castle over the summer. Last weekend, the Arctic Monkeys performed, while US singer Pink was on stage last night [Saturday].
Next week, homegrown band Bell-X1 will play at the venue. Senan Turnbull, director of services for community, recreation and amenities at Fingal County Council, said local hotels had enjoyed a surge in business from the concerts.‘‘People who are not from the area book their concert tickets and then book a place to stay in the area,” he said.
Turnbull said pubs, restaurants and shops were all likely to benefit. He refused to be drawn on the exact amount promoters were paying the council for the use of Malahide Castle, stating that this information was ‘‘very commercially sensitive’’. "
Outdoor gigs in the winter. Odds are Irish concert promoters are hoping for the rapid acceleration of global warming. I don't really get why the Malahide gigs are mentioned in the article though, because they are Aiken gigs.
Anyway, I wonder who will be playing Phoenix Park?
"MCD, the country’s largest music promoter, has landed a major deal with the Office of Public Works (OPW) to hold eight outdoor concerts in the Phoenix Park, Dublin later this year.
The concerts will take place at the park between October 16 and November 5 and the anticipated attendance at each concert will not exceed 10,000 people. The company intends to apply for a concert licence from Dublin City Council in the next two weeks seeking permission to host the concerts, which will take place on the land adjoining the visitor centre at the Phoenix Park.
MCD, owned by millionaire businessman Denis Desmond, is one of the country’s most prominent concert promoters. The company promotes the Oxegen festival, which takes place at Punchestown, Co Kildare, on July 7 and 8. Leading bands such the Killers, Arcade Fire and Snow Patrol are scheduled to play.
Six concerts will take place at Malahide Castle over the summer. Last weekend, the Arctic Monkeys performed, while US singer Pink was on stage last night [Saturday].
Next week, homegrown band Bell-X1 will play at the venue. Senan Turnbull, director of services for community, recreation and amenities at Fingal County Council, said local hotels had enjoyed a surge in business from the concerts.‘‘People who are not from the area book their concert tickets and then book a place to stay in the area,” he said.
Turnbull said pubs, restaurants and shops were all likely to benefit. He refused to be drawn on the exact amount promoters were paying the council for the use of Malahide Castle, stating that this information was ‘‘very commercially sensitive’’. "
Outdoor gigs in the winter. Odds are Irish concert promoters are hoping for the rapid acceleration of global warming. I don't really get why the Malahide gigs are mentioned in the article though, because they are Aiken gigs.
Anyway, I wonder who will be playing Phoenix Park?
UnaRocks articles of the day
Ten books for the summer - New York Magazine
Glasto in photos - NME
How Facebook could crush MySpace, Yahoo and Google - Slate
Fendi fashion show on Great Wall of China - Reuters
Are gay people rich? - GCN
Zimbabwe companies to be 'black only' - RTE
A film-maker's attempt to save an Iraqi metal band - The Guardian
Glasto in photos - NME
How Facebook could crush MySpace, Yahoo and Google - Slate
Fendi fashion show on Great Wall of China - Reuters
Are gay people rich? - GCN
Zimbabwe companies to be 'black only' - RTE
A film-maker's attempt to save an Iraqi metal band - The Guardian
Ze Weekend: gig and partytastic
Myself, Lili and Iano's neice Kates went to the all-ages Blast gig in Radio City at around 2pm. There were THIRTEEN bands on the bill. Chicken oriental, like.
I'd never heard of any of them (bar Delorentos of course), but Warm Wax, a half naked metal rap band from Ballymun were kind of impressive. Lots of sweat.
The Delorentos gig was just crazy. The whole thing was like a music video - by the end nearly everyone in the crowd was on stage. It was pretty cool. Lili has photees here
After that, myself and Lili jumped on the train to Malahide to see Pink. The Darts were jammers because everyone was coming from the parade. It was PISSING rain though and all we wanted was a beer to in Pink's words, get the party started. Finally we got there (major shout out and thank you to Sinead and Aiken for the tickets) and Eabha was working at the bar. Awesome-o
Met up with Ragin Spice and her crew and Helen and Sandra and danced away to Pink. She was pretty poor at interacting with the crowd, but she looked amazing, so basically, who cares. We couldn't stay for long though because we had to get to our third gig of the day.
After dancing out of Malahide Castle to 'Don't Let Me Get Me', me and Lil hopped in a taxi to Whelan's and were just in time for what turned out to be one of the best gigs I've been to this year. Ham Sandwich were on FIRE. I said to Lili ages ago that this was going to be 'their gig' - you know those gigs where everything aligns; it's at the exact right time, even though it's pissing rain everyone turns up, the buzz is crazy. And that's what it was. They played a complete stormer. 'Click Click Boom' sounded AWESOME. Afterwards, we hungout upstairs and then danced like obnoxious people and generally had loads of fun.
Then we had to head down to Dragon. Me and Lili nearly didn't get in because obviously being Pride it was jammers, but the bouncers were lovely and abided. All of the grrrls were there and there was lots of dancing and fun to be had. After that we went to a party in Helen's mate Louise's gaff and then in Ciaran's gaff and then the dregs to my gaff.
I had to get up for the match on Sunday with Laney. What a shite game though. Offaly - CRAP, Dublin - being brutal. Still at least we won. Met up with Kev Kev and Jane-O afters, then me and Laney went to Laser and rented some movie about a guy who tries to get on University Challenge (forget the name of it) and orded Indian, yum.
Did anyone watch that RTE drama 'Damage' last night? Two hours of people screaming at each other and crying and cocaine and rape scenes. Dodgerama.
Now I'm in workies.
Una
drinking: Barley water
eating: Milkybar cookies
reading: the Sindo
watching: L Word season two (again)
listening to: Unkle - 'War Stories'
PS: looking back on this post I realise that all the photees are basically Lili looking like she's wasted. Sorry dude!
I'd never heard of any of them (bar Delorentos of course), but Warm Wax, a half naked metal rap band from Ballymun were kind of impressive. Lots of sweat.
The Delorentos gig was just crazy. The whole thing was like a music video - by the end nearly everyone in the crowd was on stage. It was pretty cool. Lili has photees here
After that, myself and Lili jumped on the train to Malahide to see Pink. The Darts were jammers because everyone was coming from the parade. It was PISSING rain though and all we wanted was a beer to in Pink's words, get the party started. Finally we got there (major shout out and thank you to Sinead and Aiken for the tickets) and Eabha was working at the bar. Awesome-o
Met up with Ragin Spice and her crew and Helen and Sandra and danced away to Pink. She was pretty poor at interacting with the crowd, but she looked amazing, so basically, who cares. We couldn't stay for long though because we had to get to our third gig of the day.
After dancing out of Malahide Castle to 'Don't Let Me Get Me', me and Lil hopped in a taxi to Whelan's and were just in time for what turned out to be one of the best gigs I've been to this year. Ham Sandwich were on FIRE. I said to Lili ages ago that this was going to be 'their gig' - you know those gigs where everything aligns; it's at the exact right time, even though it's pissing rain everyone turns up, the buzz is crazy. And that's what it was. They played a complete stormer. 'Click Click Boom' sounded AWESOME. Afterwards, we hungout upstairs and then danced like obnoxious people and generally had loads of fun.
Then we had to head down to Dragon. Me and Lili nearly didn't get in because obviously being Pride it was jammers, but the bouncers were lovely and abided. All of the grrrls were there and there was lots of dancing and fun to be had. After that we went to a party in Helen's mate Louise's gaff and then in Ciaran's gaff and then the dregs to my gaff.
I had to get up for the match on Sunday with Laney. What a shite game though. Offaly - CRAP, Dublin - being brutal. Still at least we won. Met up with Kev Kev and Jane-O afters, then me and Laney went to Laser and rented some movie about a guy who tries to get on University Challenge (forget the name of it) and orded Indian, yum.
Did anyone watch that RTE drama 'Damage' last night? Two hours of people screaming at each other and crying and cocaine and rape scenes. Dodgerama.
Now I'm in workies.
Una
drinking: Barley water
eating: Milkybar cookies
reading: the Sindo
watching: L Word season two (again)
listening to: Unkle - 'War Stories'
PS: looking back on this post I realise that all the photees are basically Lili looking like she's wasted. Sorry dude!
Saturday, June 23, 2007
"I´m so glad you´re not dying of a hangover today"
This it what Lili Lili Lili said to me this morning (I am in her apartment now) because according to her, when we want to do something exciting on a Saturday I am always in bits. But not today!
Last night I went to Beirut in Tripod with the Killer, Burco and Emily. I really enjoyed it but the dood was smashed. For the encore he came out and sung Hallelujah and completely fucked it up. But he´s likable, so it kind of worked.
Then we went to Ed´s gig in Kennedys. It was so much fun - everyone was there. Niamh is home for good, Burco, Viv, Ed, Killer, Mr Nialler9, the Super Extra Bonus Party boyos (who had just come from Peter Gabriel), Jasper, Fionn, Rob. It was awesome. Ed´s set was just brilliant.
I left early enough though to be prepared for the epic day today. First we´re off the the Blast gig to see the Delo boys then to Malahide to see Pink with a group of 20 lesbians (happy PRIDE everyone!!!) and then to Whelan´s to see Ham Sandwich.
Rock and roll people, have a fun weekend.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Ed Devane tonight at Kennedy's
Nialler has already flagged this, but Ed is my homie so I'm bigging him up. Ed is pretty much a beat GENIUS and has created some of the most interesting, confusing and mental noises ever invented on this earth. I urge you to go check him out because listening to his stuff is just an incredible aural experience. Plus, he doesn't play here much because he lives in Barca, so that's even more of a reason to drop down.
Check his MySpace page here where you can hear four tracks. Or you can download a giant live set from eddevane.com here
Go Ed!
photee by Burco
Check his MySpace page here where you can hear four tracks. Or you can download a giant live set from eddevane.com here
Go Ed!
photee by Burco
t.A.T.u. movie moves up a gear *update*
Remember that time I blogged about Mischa Barton starring in a movie about two girls who meet at a t.A.T.u. concert in Russia and then fall in love? Well, I wasn't smoking crack. This is the chick who mushroom-lovin' Mischa falls in love with (in the film). Her name is Shantel VanSanten and so far her career has reached the epic heights of starring in NBC reality show 'Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search'. Amazing.
According to IMDB though the film called 'Finding t.A.T.u' has Danielle Panabaker (who has done some bit parts in CSI and Law & Order) as Shantel's character too. Let's stage some foxy boxing to sort this one out, shall we?
Mischa's character is called Lana Starkova (Mischa's Russian accent, can't wait).
Could this be the best Mischa Barton film of all time? Even better than that completely random one I watched once when really hungover one day about Mischa being able to read dolphins minds? (has any one else seen that, it's fucking weird)
*update*
Congratulations to Tom who found the name of the Mischa Barton movie where she could mind read dolphins that nobody believed I saw and thought I was making things up.
Ladies and gentlement, I give you, 'A Ring Of Endless Light'
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Horrors for Oxegen
Rumour mill # 694:
Scenester goth rockers The Horrors will play the Oxegen festival this summer.
3 gigs in one day? C'est possible, no?
Myself and Lili are planning to hit three gigs in three venues in Dublin on Saturday.
Delorentos all-ages show @ Radio City
Pink @ Malahide Castle
Ham Sandwich at Whelans
We are the Jack Bauer of music.
Also will probably go to Beirut in Tripod on Friday followed by the wonderful ED @ Kennedy's. So really, it's five gigs in two days.
Phew!
Delorentos all-ages show @ Radio City
Pink @ Malahide Castle
Ham Sandwich at Whelans
We are the Jack Bauer of music.
Also will probably go to Beirut in Tripod on Friday followed by the wonderful ED @ Kennedy's. So really, it's five gigs in two days.
Phew!
KP Nuts #2
Kate Moss' and Pete Doherty's 'band' KP Nuts have filmed another offering clicky
"rot in jail, you cunt, rot, rot, rot forever." Great writer that Moss.
"rot in jail, you cunt, rot, rot, rot forever." Great writer that Moss.
UnaRocks articles of the day
Damon Dash and social networking - CNN
Aliens don't do drugs - Slate
Sao Paulo says no to advertising - Businessweek
Ultra-luxury products the new luxury products - International Herald Tribune
Angelina Jolie: The Worst Ever Celebrity Profile by Esquire - Slate
cough splutter puke - RTE
Cocaine clinics open in Galway, Cork, Dublin - Irish Examiner
Aliens don't do drugs - Slate
Sao Paulo says no to advertising - Businessweek
Ultra-luxury products the new luxury products - International Herald Tribune
Angelina Jolie: The Worst Ever Celebrity Profile by Esquire - Slate
cough splutter puke - RTE
Cocaine clinics open in Galway, Cork, Dublin - Irish Examiner
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Paul Tylak - YouTube genius
Paul Tylak is one of my favourite YouTube doods. His Sorted Party series was awesome, and now he's followed it up with this 'Joy' series. High-lair-ios.
And then there's 'Give Im A Go'
Meet Paul
RTE, call this guy, will you?
And then there's 'Give Im A Go'
Meet Paul
RTE, call this guy, will you?
Hard Working Class Heroes goes live
clicky
The Hard Working Class Heroes festival launched last night at the pool hall in the Palace. Even though it was a pissy night, there was a darn big turnout. And there's loads of new stuff going on this year for the festival's 5th birthday.
Bands can apply to play the festival here and the closing date is July 19th.
This year the festival is being held in the Pod complex in five rooms (five I hear you say? Yes. Two of them are new and hold 300 punters each and have not been named yet. Help name there here.
The Hard Working Class Heroes festival launched last night at the pool hall in the Palace. Even though it was a pissy night, there was a darn big turnout. And there's loads of new stuff going on this year for the festival's 5th birthday.
Bands can apply to play the festival here and the closing date is July 19th.
This year the festival is being held in the Pod complex in five rooms (five I hear you say? Yes. Two of them are new and hold 300 punters each and have not been named yet. Help name there here.
Also, there are a bunch of Scandinavian bands playing this year. Keep up to date with the Scandinavian Invasion here
The launch was fun. Chatted with Brian and Angela who run the festival and who both rock. I've so much respect for them for building this up with zilcho financial reward for themselves and all for the love of the music and showcasing new bands, it's awesome.
Also bumped into Michael Tripod, Peter Vital, John Brereton (who is responsible for most of my journalistic buzz. When I worked in the Hub with him, The Event Guide were looking for a new music writer and John suggested me to Kieran Owens the editor there, and I went on to write for them for nearly two years. Previous to that I wrote for Infotainment, QED, The Slate, fashion.ie, Cluas.com and after I wrote for Gay Community News, one random travel article in the Sunday Independent, Totally Dublin and now the Tribune, yaysies.), Martin who manages Dark Room Notes, the rockin Nadine from Phantom, and the lovely Fight Like Apes crew.
The Minutes (whom I last saw when Brian was playing with them supporting Maximo Park @ Dolans in Limerick), Angel Pier (who have a savage guitarist) and the amazing amazing Fight Like Apes who I love more and more every time I see them play. If you haven't seen them live yet, you're missing out so catch them NOW!
Then me and Lili left and went for a Baileys at around 10pm in the seriously dodgy gangster pub beside my gaff where a group of GANGSTERS were sitting around watching a DVD of Carlito's Way. Pretty funny. We left swiftly, obviously and went to Chicken Hut.
The launch was fun. Chatted with Brian and Angela who run the festival and who both rock. I've so much respect for them for building this up with zilcho financial reward for themselves and all for the love of the music and showcasing new bands, it's awesome.
Also bumped into Michael Tripod, Peter Vital, John Brereton (who is responsible for most of my journalistic buzz. When I worked in the Hub with him, The Event Guide were looking for a new music writer and John suggested me to Kieran Owens the editor there, and I went on to write for them for nearly two years. Previous to that I wrote for Infotainment, QED, The Slate, fashion.ie, Cluas.com and after I wrote for Gay Community News, one random travel article in the Sunday Independent, Totally Dublin and now the Tribune, yaysies.), Martin who manages Dark Room Notes, the rockin Nadine from Phantom, and the lovely Fight Like Apes crew.
The Minutes (whom I last saw when Brian was playing with them supporting Maximo Park @ Dolans in Limerick), Angel Pier (who have a savage guitarist) and the amazing amazing Fight Like Apes who I love more and more every time I see them play. If you haven't seen them live yet, you're missing out so catch them NOW!
Then me and Lili left and went for a Baileys at around 10pm in the seriously dodgy gangster pub beside my gaff where a group of GANGSTERS were sitting around watching a DVD of Carlito's Way. Pretty funny. We left swiftly, obviously and went to Chicken Hut.
I took shite photees, but Lili took some so all she has to do now is get off her orse and send them to me.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
UnaRocks articles of the day
Billboards are watching you - Wired
Can rap recover from sales slump - USA Today
The obsession with pink - The Observer
Where do Hollywood babies come from? - The Slate
Arcade Fire gear up for Glasto - The Guardian
Muse, live at Wembley in pictures - The NME
Obama, code name 'Renegade' - Washington Post
Am Irish, will travel - RTE
Can rap recover from sales slump - USA Today
The obsession with pink - The Observer
Where do Hollywood babies come from? - The Slate
Arcade Fire gear up for Glasto - The Guardian
Muse, live at Wembley in pictures - The NME
Obama, code name 'Renegade' - Washington Post
Am Irish, will travel - RTE
Online Petition begins to keep Linda Martin as a judge on You're A Star
Seriously
A petition has been set up requesting that Screentime Shinawil - the production company responsible for “You’re A Star” renew Linda Martin’s contract as a judge on the popular T.V. talent show.
The petition also requests that the above named company make a public apology to Linda for the way they have treated her.
It was prompted by all the recent speculation which then became confirmation that Linda is indeed not going to be a part of the programme when it returns in only a few weeks time.
The producers apparently want “to freshen things up in the light of poor ratings this year” and it would seem they intend to do this by replacing Linda Martin.
Louis Walsh said last week that if it turned out to be true that there should be a campaign to keep her on the show and is quoted as also saying that in his opinion they would never get anyone better than her.
Alisa Rose, herself a former singer now involved in artist management has decided to take him up on his suggestion and said “Immediately I heard the news, I thought people should protest against this, apart from the fact that Linda is very popular and in no way should be blamed for the poor ratings, it is absolutely disgraceful the way it slowly leaked to the media and was not dealt with privately.
No one deserves to be treated like this and particularly not someone who has represented and done their country proud in the genre of their talent.
Would we treat any of our great sportsmen this way? I think not.
Whatever your personal opinion of the Eurovision it is a fact that Linda won the competition for Ireland and she should be shown respect.”
The Campaign is beginning with an online petition and Alisa Rose who lives in Co. Cavan is hoping to link up with people in other parts of the country who will assist with a paper petition for the less computer literate. She is also contacting prominent figures in Irish showbusiness and former “You’re a Star” contestants urging them to get behind the petition and add their signatures.
“I have recently started my own management company and in my experience it’s really difficult for women in this business. There’s a lot of discrimination towards us. I mean just look at how many female band managers there are in Ireland, very few and from what I can see the ratio of male to female singers is much greater on the Irish music scene today.
That’s why the few successful ladies we have should be appreciated, like Linda Martin. She’s a great role model to the young acts starting out and to the not so young who need the motivation of seeing someone maintain their career well over the years. She looks fabulous plus she has a wealth of experience to share and I’m absolutely positive that the young ladies in particular would do well to listen to her advice because who better to advise them than someone who has been there themselves, knows the pitfalls and always handles herself professionally.”
Alisa Rose is interested in hearing from anyone who would like to get involved in the campaign as it builds momentum over the next few weeks.
At the moment the petition can be linked by emailing lindamartinpetition@hotmail.com.
“I think it’s so important that we not only let Screentime Shinawil know that we want Linda back but also that we let Linda know that she has so much support whether it be “You’re a Star” or some other project that will be her future” Alisa Rose concludes.
A petition has been set up requesting that Screentime Shinawil - the production company responsible for “You’re A Star” renew Linda Martin’s contract as a judge on the popular T.V. talent show.
The petition also requests that the above named company make a public apology to Linda for the way they have treated her.
It was prompted by all the recent speculation which then became confirmation that Linda is indeed not going to be a part of the programme when it returns in only a few weeks time.
The producers apparently want “to freshen things up in the light of poor ratings this year” and it would seem they intend to do this by replacing Linda Martin.
Louis Walsh said last week that if it turned out to be true that there should be a campaign to keep her on the show and is quoted as also saying that in his opinion they would never get anyone better than her.
Alisa Rose, herself a former singer now involved in artist management has decided to take him up on his suggestion and said “Immediately I heard the news, I thought people should protest against this, apart from the fact that Linda is very popular and in no way should be blamed for the poor ratings, it is absolutely disgraceful the way it slowly leaked to the media and was not dealt with privately.
No one deserves to be treated like this and particularly not someone who has represented and done their country proud in the genre of their talent.
Would we treat any of our great sportsmen this way? I think not.
Whatever your personal opinion of the Eurovision it is a fact that Linda won the competition for Ireland and she should be shown respect.”
The Campaign is beginning with an online petition and Alisa Rose who lives in Co. Cavan is hoping to link up with people in other parts of the country who will assist with a paper petition for the less computer literate. She is also contacting prominent figures in Irish showbusiness and former “You’re a Star” contestants urging them to get behind the petition and add their signatures.
“I have recently started my own management company and in my experience it’s really difficult for women in this business. There’s a lot of discrimination towards us. I mean just look at how many female band managers there are in Ireland, very few and from what I can see the ratio of male to female singers is much greater on the Irish music scene today.
That’s why the few successful ladies we have should be appreciated, like Linda Martin. She’s a great role model to the young acts starting out and to the not so young who need the motivation of seeing someone maintain their career well over the years. She looks fabulous plus she has a wealth of experience to share and I’m absolutely positive that the young ladies in particular would do well to listen to her advice because who better to advise them than someone who has been there themselves, knows the pitfalls and always handles herself professionally.”
Alisa Rose is interested in hearing from anyone who would like to get involved in the campaign as it builds momentum over the next few weeks.
At the moment the petition can be linked by emailing lindamartinpetition@hotmail.com.
“I think it’s so important that we not only let Screentime Shinawil know that we want Linda back but also that we let Linda know that she has so much support whether it be “You’re a Star” or some other project that will be her future” Alisa Rose concludes.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
nineteenth sign today of impending apocalypse
But for a real laugh, scroll down and check out the comments on this
But for a real laugh, scroll down and check out the comments on this
Hello, I'm James Dean, I mean Pete Doherty
Doherty and Moss (her pictures are boring so I'm not uploading them) take some time off the crack pipe to shoot some photees for Roberto Cavalli.
Things about me that you wouldn’t think were true, but are.
In light of Handelaar, Damien and Niall OK's list bonanza, I've tried to come up with an 'oh really?' list of four things. It's quite difficult actually. Now you try.
1. I am 100% certain I will die in a plane crash and have nightmares about it constantly. But I'm not afraid of flying.
2. I am prone to anxiety attacks when I am walking in specific unfamiliar surroundings and can't get my bearings. Busy streets in cities I am new to are probably the worst, although it has even happened to me in Dublin if I suddenly see one building I don't recognise. The problem is amplified if it's a large area indoors (Sonar, Dundrum Shopping Centre, airports). So I carry Xanax at all times.
3. I absolutely, completely, cannot drink sambuca.
4. I never wear heels, not because of an anti-girly thing, but because one of the results of having several problems with my joints means that I cannot straighten my legs fully. Elevating the fallen arches in my feet absolutely kills my knees.
1. I am 100% certain I will die in a plane crash and have nightmares about it constantly. But I'm not afraid of flying.
2. I am prone to anxiety attacks when I am walking in specific unfamiliar surroundings and can't get my bearings. Busy streets in cities I am new to are probably the worst, although it has even happened to me in Dublin if I suddenly see one building I don't recognise. The problem is amplified if it's a large area indoors (Sonar, Dundrum Shopping Centre, airports). So I carry Xanax at all times.
3. I absolutely, completely, cannot drink sambuca.
4. I never wear heels, not because of an anti-girly thing, but because one of the results of having several problems with my joints means that I cannot straighten my legs fully. Elevating the fallen arches in my feet absolutely kills my knees.
Mongrel
If you pick up the latest issue of Mongrel, check out the BudRising page where this photo:
can be seen.
I'm famous now.
(this is the second time I've been in a beer ad, which kind of makes sense. The first one was when Heineken bought pictures from Lili for a poster campaign they were running in bars around London and one of them was of me and Corina at Oxegen. Actually, Lili, did you ever get pics of those posters?)
Una
drinking: Diet Coke
eating: nothing yet. Hungy
listening to: Sickboy - 'The A-Tune'
reading: Emergence (still. It's heavy going alright?!)
watching: My So-Called Life
can be seen.
I'm famous now.
(this is the second time I've been in a beer ad, which kind of makes sense. The first one was when Heineken bought pictures from Lili for a poster campaign they were running in bars around London and one of them was of me and Corina at Oxegen. Actually, Lili, did you ever get pics of those posters?)
Una
drinking: Diet Coke
eating: nothing yet. Hungy
listening to: Sickboy - 'The A-Tune'
reading: Emergence (still. It's heavy going alright?!)
watching: My So-Called Life
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