Song #90: Luka Bloom - "The Acoustic Motorbike"

Got Luka Bloom's Platinum Collection CD for nine dollars at JB Hi-Fi. I saw him on Spicks and Specks ages ago and thought he looked really cool, so I was interested to see how a collection of his songs would pan out. There's some wonderful songs in there - he knows how to make a very heartfelt and lovely Irish folk tune. There's a couple of tracks that are pretty daggy, though. This track, the title track to his second album, is one of them.

It's a song about riding a bicycle (an "acoustic motorbike", geddit?). Instead of singing, though, Bloom does this weird semi-rap thing throughout the whole song. It's actually a little annoying at times, especially when the chorus comes through: "git off on yar boike!", he says in his thick Irish accent. It's kitshy, but still I guess it's a little bit of fun.

FINAL RATING (/10): 5

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David

Song #75: Angus and Julia Stone - "Hold On"

 The Stone siblings, Angus and Julia, have returned with their second album, Down the Way. These two have always had a knack for some sweet, beautiful tunes, but they've also written some pretty boring tracks in their time. Thankfully, this little number that opens Down the Way is one of the best things they've done musically.

Julia takes the lead on this one. She still sounds like a little kid, but it's easy to look past - she's very cute and she can keep a tune well enough. The simplistic drum pattern works perfectly as it builds up the song at various accentuated points, as well as the reverberating electric guitar and the wonderful chorus that really assists the song in picking up a notch. If you listen to anything from this record, I strongly recommend it is this very song. Loving it.

FINAL RATING (/10): 8

Down the Way is out next month.

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David

Song #53: The Retreat - "The Weather (Cloudin' Over)"

Okay, got a lot of ground to cover over the past six days, so here we go:

I went and saw Dan Mangan for the third and final time on Friday. He's the one I blogged about back at Song #37. This was his last show in the country before flying back to Canada (ehh), and it was such a thrill to see him off. Of note, however, were his support act - The Retreat.

This Sydney band play a low-key, charming style of countrified pop-rock that recalled acts like Bob Evans, Bright Eyes and even a young Ryan Adams. This song in particular was a charmer. Its major chord progressions and sugar-sweet harmonies were simple but incredibly pleasant. It will also make you want to give lead singer Ross a big hug - and the dude works at JB HiFi in Pitt Street, so there's easily a chance to do so. You have been warned.

FINAL RATING (/10): 7

Follow the doodz on Twitter and the Spaz, etc.

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David

Song #47: Bruce Springsteen - "The Ghost of Tom Joad"

 Australian people will know what I'm talking about - how awesome are 2X and 3X? You know, when you get the two or three CDs in a package for a really cheap price? This happened to me this very week - I picked up a 2X of The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen, and two of his albums in Nebraska and The Ghost of Tom Joad for just thirteen dollars! Going alphabetically, I've thrown on Ghost first, to be greeted with its title track.

It's hard to say it's a generic Springsteen acoustic ballad, as I honestly believe that no two Springsteen songs sound the same.  It's definitely in familiar working-man territory, however - it's the story of a run-down town, hopless and mostly homeless. Definitely something we've all heard before in terms of the Boss' work, but that doesn't mean it's completely meritless. There's a lot of heart in this one, connecting as realistically as he possibly can with the underclass life. Cut away the cheese and you've actually got something passable here. Definitely no Devils and Dust, but still quite nice.

FINAL RATING: 6.5

The Boss is the man.

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Davidsteen

Song #37: Dan Mangan - "Robots"

Ever been to Tomerong? Didn't think so. Neither had this guy before Wednesday. His name is Dan Mangan and he's a singer-songwriter from Canada. People thankfully don't think he's slow, ehh. Rather, everyone at the tiny community hall watching this charming twentysomething performing with his fellow-countryman bassist and two of the guys from Australia's own Dead Letter Chorus, thought he was a dead-set charmer. 

 

Mangan is in the country to promote his new record, entitled Nice, Nice, Very Nice, whilst opening for the wonderful Charlie Parr. This track in particular stood out, as it was the last track he performed and he took crowd participation to the mostly-elderly crowd and unexpectedly delivered. The simple lyrics and melody of "Robots need love too/They want to be loved by you" are charming in an anti-folk kind of way, but when put in with a small crowd singing it in perfect harmony, with just the right acoustics, it becomes pretty special for some strange reason.

FINAL RATING (/10): 8.5

Catch Dan and Charlie tonight in Sydney, tomorrow in Katoomba and Cronulla on Tuesday. You won't regret it.

xoxo

David

Song #26: Vic Chesnutt - "Flirted With You All My Life"

The death of Vic Chesnutt was recently reported, at only the age of 45. I have been reading through a mourning blogosphere, detailing how beautiful and emotional this man's music was, is and forever shall be. Don't I feel like a fool for never before experiencing it.

Better late than never. Flirted With You - from his 2009 album, At the Cut - not only shows where vocalists like Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear and The Decemberists' Colin Meloy got their influences from, but is also a display into a brilliant songwriter. The finger-picking is quaint and well-arranged, the hi-hats sustain an open-road rhythm and the electric guitar paired with the organ is just a gorgeous touch. It's the lyrics here, in particular, that now seem the most eerie. "O death, really, I'm not ready", he howls in the song's sweeping chorus. It's conveyed in a tone that's fearful and uncertain, but now feels more timely and frightening than ever.

FINAL RATING (/10): 10

And, no - it's not because Chesnutt has just died. This is perfect, fragile and irrefutably beautiful music that has sent me into an emotional wreck. I'm off to spend the rest of my Boxing Day in search of all this man's work.

x

David

Song #7: Joe Brown - "Long Gone"

So there I was, watching late night television with my girlfriend, worrying about how I hadn't yet heard a song that I'd never heard before that day. Thankfully, we were tuned into Later... With Jools Holland, who always has an array of brilliant guests on his show. Tonight was no exception, with Mr. Joe Brown taking to the stage (or, at least, the corner of it) with about four other guys to perform a song called Long Gone.

I'm going to be perfectly honest - maybe it was half-past-midnight talking, but this song hit me as a stroke of brilliance. It's bluegrass music in its truest form, played with precise skill and stunning five-part harmonies. The song's a simple my-woman-done-me-wrong number, but it's all done so effectively that you're just in awe of the skill all five of these musicians have.

Interestingly enough, I'd never heard of Joe Brown before this performance, either. Apparently, the guy's an MBE, was the best man at George Harrison's wedding and has worked in music, film and radio. All over a 51-year career! Fuck me, I've got some work to do.

FINAL RATING (/10): 9

This was a real treat to listen to. If you'd like to experience it the way I did, have a look-see on YouTube.

XX
David

Song #5: Boy and Bear - "Mexican Mavis"

Coming up right now for your ears is a DOUBLE EPISODE of TSCC! That's right, boys and girls, I was nowhere near a computer yesterday - for I was at Homebake!

For those of you not in Australia, Homebake is an Australasian-only music festival which features both some of the biggest bands the countries of Australia and New Zealand have to offer, but also some of the best (never associate one with the other, for often it's not really true). At the tiny Hopetoun stage early on in the day, I caught a bit of Boy and Bear, who were the winners of the Triple J Unearthed competition to play the festival. They were obviously very excited to be there, and they were pretty quick to win over the crowd with their clean-cut good looks, upbeat countrified rhythms and absolutely spot on harmonies that threatened to shatter the P.A. with their perfect pitch.

One track in particular that stood out was Mexican Mavis. It's obvious why the band chose this as their single - all the positive traits one can associate with the band on a purely musical basis is placed into a tightly-strung package that's accesible without lapsing too much into an overtly mainstream sound. The harmonies will recall Fleet Foxes, the quaint finger-picking acoustic guitar recalls Nick Drake, the musicianship wouldn't be out of place on a Noah and the Whale album...okay, so maybe they're yet to find a sound that's distinctively "theirs". But there's so much potential here, and it's difficult to ignore this level of sing-along joy to be had.

FINAL RATING (/10): 7

Did they deserve to play Homebake? Absolutely. But they've still got a bit of work to do beyond their amazing knack for harmonies.

If you like what you hear, head over to their Unearthed page and download the track for free. Feel free to add them on MySpace, as well - that is, if you're still a part of that social networking ghost town.

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David

Song #4: Billy Vincent - "Roses"

So this blog has seeming taken off already - and on an international basis, bizarrely enough. On Thursday afternoon, I received an email from a guy called Joe - who happens to play in a band called Billy Vincent.

As much as we'd like to kid ourselves otherwise, I doubt you'll have heard of us. We hope that will soon change though, and in an effort to help things on their way, we'll use many an excuse to point people in our direction. Hence me, here & now, suggesting you take one of our tracks as part of the project.

Proposition accepted; which lead me to the track Roses on MySpace.

The song has a sea-shanty sway with obvious folk and country influences, making for an interesting listen. The song waxes lyrical on melancholy and lonesome questioning such as "Where do you run to escape from your mind?", all the while keeping up a strangely upbeat catchiness. It's not overtly original sounding - Badly Drawn Boy, The Veils and even The View all come to mind. Even still, for fans of the alt-country movement, there's plenty to like about Roses.

FINAL RATING (/10):7.5

If you like what you hear, the band have put their debut album Stay On Course, No Remorse up on their website for freeeeeeeee! I know there's nothing you like more than free shit, so here you go. Take it. Go on! What have you got to lose?

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David