TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 13/01/13 - Imagine Dragons, Congo Ashanti Roy andPura Vida, Torche, Stereophonics, Vinyl Williams

Five tracks to help fight off the January Blues!

London Scouser:-
Imagine Dragons - Radioactive (2013)

For my first foray into the realms of TOTW I believe I've found a corker. Las Vegas's Imagine Dragons have had success in their homeland and I think that with this track they are going to repeat the feat over here. I heard this for the first time at about 5am going into work and immediately had to track it down. Now the more I hear it the better it sounds. It has an epic feel about it despite it only being 4 minutes long. But what a great 4 it is. They are playing at The Forum on April 11th, I may check them out.

I won't say much about the video except for two things. 1 - it's really cool, especially seeing Lou Diamond Phillips & 2 - Shellhunter, you should not watch this. You have been warned

Old Pa's Corner:-
Congo Ashanti Roy & Pura Vida - 'Only Jah' (2012)

Roydel Anthony Johnson (born 12 April 1943), better known as Congo Ashanti Roy is a Jamaican singer best known as a member of The Congos but who also recorded solo and as a member of Ras Michael's Sons of Negus.
This track is taken from the album 'Hard Road'  and has been on my play list all this week. Oh boy! I need my reggae fix every now and again and this does it for me big time. It is the way I like my reggae and is a really consistent album all the way through. Pura Vida are a Reggae band from Belgiun by the way. 

Flycasual:-
Torche - 'Harmonslaught' (2012)

I first heard this song just before Christmas, it was the perfect, unexpected headphones moment. At work, on a break, an opportunity to catch up on some tunes when this beast of a track comes on and blows me away and a few cobwebs in the process. I almost spat out a mouth full of donut all over the table it startled me so, it was exactly what I wanted to hear. Out of all the inane types of music categories, Torche have apparently been given the fortunate/unfortunate tag of 'Sludge Metal' which in the case of this song, with it's thumping drums and monstrous riff, I believe is especially apt. It makes me think of a fat troll trudging through a swamp with a belly full of Hobbits. A scene not too dissimilar to myself slogging through my local park on a traditional post Christmas lunch walk. I've been going through this ongoing Rock/Metal phase ever since Sfw introduced me to the Miami rockers through a song from their excellent 'Harmonicraft' album, which was featured on a TOTW last year. 'Harmonslaught' is their new single and is available on the Torche website here....

Shell Hunter:-
Stereophonics - 'In A Moment' (2012)

The boys are back in town and this latest single released at the back end of last year is intense! I heard it a few times on the radio and thought wow, these guys sound just like Nine Inch Nails with the constant industrial drone in the background and the rough guitar. I thought I'd better find out who it was and was surprised to see it was the Stereophonics' new single with the lush smokey voiced Kelly Jones back in full swing. A fresh new album called Graffiti On The Train due for release in March could hold a new edgy sound which will put the hairs on my chest! Download the track for free from the 'Phonics website here www.Stereophonics.com


SFW:-
Vinyl Williams - 'Inner Space'

This track by LA Based Artist & Musician, Lionel 'Vinyl' Williams has been tripping round my head all week. Call me bonkers, but can I say it takes you on a psychedelic sonic adventure in a way not to dissimilar to Hendrix's 1983 /Moon Turn the Tides from Electric Ladyland. On a lighter note, I think his name sounds Welsh and Lionel 'Vinyl' Williams would be a great name for a record store.

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