TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 31/08/14, Jamie T, Interpol, Leonard Cohen, Roo Panes, Jamie N Commons and X Ambassadors
Five tracks to kick back in your Facekini to
Sfw:-
Roo Panes - Tiger Striped Sky (2014)
Singer-songwriter-Burberry Model, Roo Panes seems to have everything. A good looking chap who has a considerable vocal range (He sounds like Scott Matthews) and a talent for well-crafted songs. Roo’s musical education came in part from his grandmother, a classical concert pianist, the hymns of his local church and in part from his parents’ collection of Nick Drake and Bob Dylan records. Hailing from a small town in Dorset, Roo’s surroundings have a strong influence on his music.
“Think I’ll write a tale of my own / I’m going southbound where the ocean is flirting with the coast / And tell me why / I’m underneath a tiger striped sky”.
His debut album, ‘Little Giant’, is avaiable for pre-order exclusively through PledgeMusic or pick it up when it is released in October.
Old Pa's Corner :-
Leonard Cohen - Almost Like the Blues (2014)
This is really exciting, another album of songs by Leonard Cohen. This new song is really just the spoken word with some excellent backing to compliment the dark lyrics (whats new here then). The song is from the new album Popular Problems released on the21st September. Bring it on please.
Shell Hunter:-
Jamie N Commons & X Ambassadors - 'Jungle' (2014)
Each time I hear this song it reminds me of Howlin' Wolf's Smoke Stack Lightnin'. It's the raspy blues voice and raw sparse backing that does it. Looks like I hit the nail on the head with that because Jamie N Commons, although born in Bristol, moved to Chicago with his family when he was 6 and was submerged into all things blues and musical. He later moved back to the UK and began to pursue his career in London when he was 18. He's got a winning voice with dark landscapes comparable to Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Mark Lanegan and Leonard Cohen. X Ambassadors are an alt-rock band from New York and got noticed by the lead singer from Imagine Dragons who insisted they were given a record deal. This track seems like a marriage made in heaven or a jungle even...
London Scouser:-
Interpol - 'All The Rage Back Home' (2014)
Interpol are a band that I really like whilst not seeming to know much about them at all. I thought 'Evil' was brilliant and my other favourite is 'Mammoth'. This track is everything I've come to like about the band, a great dark sound and catchy chorus which gets me singing along and the video reminds me of a Guiness advert. Not much else for me to say really. Maybe this time I will look into them a bit more, especially as they are releasing their 5th album 'El Pintor' on the 08th of September.
Flycasual:-
Jamie T - 'Don't You Find' (2024)
Jamie T has this Marmite-esque musical quality, you either like him or don't but you can't deny his talent. I thought his 2007 debut, Panic Prevention, was good in parts but I thought it a bit gimmicky, like a male version of Kate Nash (a tad harsh maybe, I must listen to it again to see if I can exorcise that) but his second, Kings and Queens was a firm favourite of mine in 2009. 'Don't You Find' snuck up on me after a couple of listens, particularly the poignant lyrics about a love lost. His new album, Carry on the Grudge is due out on September 26th, with 'Zombie' being the second single to be release from it. Click here to hear it.
Comments
Old Pa, my track of the week fo sho', love the backing with the raspy vocals....
Sh, not a bad track. The cat has a great voice which you can't really hear here but I heard him do a shiver inducing version of White Christmas a couple of years ago
LS, ok tune, I think it'll probably grow on me...5 albums? I had no idea but I'm not a fan really.
SH - Not bad
LS - I like this a lot
FC - I like this
Winner - Interpol
SH - no doubting his voice,this gets better the more it goes on. Will benefit from a few listens
LS - funny I was thinking other day have not heard from them....this is OK taster from the album...stadium rock!
FC - interesting one, again will benefit from repeat hearing....I liked the dog in the video
OP - It maybe 'Almost Like The Blues' but for me it's 'Just Like All His Other Tracks' albeit I haven't really heard many. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it again.
SH - I though this sounded familiar and after 'Googling' I see it has been used in ads for Beats By Dre during the World Cup and others. It has a pretty catchy chorus to it with an industrial style backing.
FC - I've like most of what I've heard by Jamie T, and this is a decent comeback. A bit less 'OYY' than some of his others. I'll definitely check out his album.
And the winner is... Jamie N... It was close but I chose purely on alphabetical order of the 2 Jamie's