Month: August 2009

Ginger Elvis and a couple of other blokes out of lesser know bands have released a second clip, all 33 seconds of it,  for our enjoyment.

This better not suck all there’ll be trouble.

“Now then Josh.  Can you whack some guitars on this track for us fella?”

“Nice one”

…make sure it’s;

Simian Mobile Disco – Temporary Pleasure

Following on from their excellent debut, Attack Decay Sustain Release, sees Messrs Ford and Shaw upping the guest quota this time round.  Beth Ditto (showing she can effortlessly do disco diva as well as rock chick), Jamie Lidell, Yeasyer’s Chris Keating and Super Furry’s Gruff all helping make their associated tracks standouts.  The latter two’s nonsense rhymes, “She was a power station leaking radiation and it got right under my skin” and “I got that grape kool-aid filled swimming pool” being particular highlights.  The Todd Rundgren sampling Synthesise still sounds just as good as when it first surfaced in May so it’s a shame that Bad Blood with Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor and Ambulance featuring Telepathe bring the the album to a somewhat forgettable close. A tad pedestrian towards the end and missing a manic moment like Tits and Acid from it’s predecessor but a Simian Mobile Disco album firing on 2 of 3 cylinders is still a worthwhile purchase.

Soulsavers – Broken

How is it that a UK based production team can seemingly make authentically fantastic Gothic drenched gospel tinged Americana?  By roping in Mark Lanegen as a collaborator is how.  On the face of it, the Soulsaver’s third album feels more of an extension of their last but with more guests (Mike Patton, Richard Hawley, Jason Pierce amongst others) and the guitars brought to the fore makes for a more rounded effort.  Not that “It’s Not How Far You Fall…” was particularly shoddy.  It’s still very much Lanegan’s show though with him being on 9 of the 13 tracks.  This is a good thing by the way.  Now bring on Leeds Festival.

Soulsavers – Death Bells

I’m not normally one to get excited by supergroups.  They merely serve to disappoint.  OK, there are the notable exceptions, Cream and Velvet Revolver, Good, The Bad and The Queen, being examples.  However, Audioslave, Zwan and many others litter the highway of unfulfilled potential.  Well next on the supergroup conveyor belt is Them Crooked Vultures.    Formed by Josh Homme, Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones you’d expect it to be nothing short then brilliant. Dave Grohl is on record stating “”The next project that I’m trying to initiate involves me on drums, Josh Homme on guitar, and John Paul Jones playing bass. That’s the next album. That wouldn’t suck.”

Judging by the recent 14 second clip on the official website and the fan recorded snippets of their first gig on YouTube, he could be right on the money.

Rumour has it that they may put in an special appearance at Leeds and Reading which makes sense seeing as EoDM, Mark Lanegen, and Homme’s wifey is there with Spinnerette it’s not much of a long shot. If they do I’ll be a happy man. Provided I don’t miss it…