Mirror Kissers

At other music blogs, you could (if you're quick enough, yo) download gorgeous out of print Miles Davis Quintet music, or not even in print yet material from the Strokes, or "The First Day of My Life", (swoon, thud) if you wanna. However, here, um, you can hear about something that i heard about, and maybe live vicariously through my blog to experience the thrills and spills of all shows i go to! Wee! Lucky you.

(Evannah, was that you who left me demented multiple messages a few posts ago??!! Dude! Hollaz at my twin.)

Stellastarr* HAD A NEW ALBUM OUT SEPTEMBER 13th, 2005. Almost 2 years later to the day that "Jenny" was released we are getting new music from Shaun "wierd voice that doesnt match his pretty face" Christenson and his boys and girl. You can sample some new songs at their site. Go!

The Cribs say, "Take drugs, don't eat, have contempt for those you meet." Normally, I would not take such advice. However, these boys play the violin, they embellish their loud, in your face, punky tracks with the recorder and in their liner notes, thank Edwyn Collins for the "help" with their debut album. Swoon, thud. I am in deep smit with this record and find it hard to remove from the stereo. I am sure having a song on the O.C has not done them any harm, I just hope people look past that "hit" and don't think of them as a one hit wonder, they have alot more to offer. The New Fellas takes no prisoners, yells in your ear, "YOU'RE NOT ALL THAT, YOU ARENT ALLOWED TO SAY YOURE BETTER" and in the same song the humble recorder is allowed to handle the breakdown, before a slamming drum shake-up. WOAH! They might like us to think that they are well 'ard, but then we are not fooled, there are hand claps and "la la la la's" a plenty on this record.

They wear their influences on their ripped stripey sleeves, and have definitely upped the ante with lyrical content that taps straight into what we're all thinking.

Sufjan Stevens Steals Our Hearts

Sufjan Stevens and the Illinoisemakers = quite possibly the most fun band ever. These boys and girls, six in all, wearing bright orange and navy gym class/cheerleader outfits (complete with sweatbands) bounded onto an altar bedecked in trumpets, banjoes, drums, keyboards, a piano and guitars, jumping around and smiling like mad. They had a cheer choreographed for every song, and there was even a human pyramid at the end of the evening, !!! This was all slightly at odds with the venue, the dimly lit church, the Passionkirche, complete with a massive gleaming organ in the background.

So this is the WEST COAST TEAM SPIRIT! tour which Sufjan & his crazies have embarked upon. This gig attracted a big crowd, the pews were packed out and people were sitting on the floor. Before each song, Sufjan talked a little about the city he would next sing about. Then, after the "history lesson", he would plant his hands on his hips and yell, "oK!", a little uncertainly at the rest of the troupe and they would all perform a cheer before going into the song. Too! Much! Fun! This one time, something technical went wrong onstage, and instead of standing around making small talk, the band stayed in character and all started doing clumsy warm-up stretches til whatever broke got fixed. T'was a sight to behold.

The crowd demanded an encore by pounding on the floor with their feet and slamming their hands on the balcony wall, and we got the Illinoisemakers back for a few more songs from Seven Swans and a few solo turns by Sufjan.

now i know how to pronounce his name properly, and i have learned lots of little bits about Jacksonville, Decatur, Metropolis..

C'mon Now Sugar, Bring It On, Bring It On

Brendan Benson is coming to town. Okt 25th at the Mudd Club. Dirrrrty.

LOVE.

The past few days I have spent rummaging in flea markets and shady street stalls. In Germany they have a "special" genre of music called Schlage, easy listening, i believe. SO there is ten tonnes of those records everywhere, you really have to dig.

Today i even visited a plain old music store. on my way out the door, a big poster with big letters caught my eye, "DANDYS SAY SMOKE IT!". it put the song in my head straight away.

SUFJAN STEVENS AT THE PASSIONKIRCHE!!!!WEDNESDAY NIGHT!!!!SEE YOU THERE!!!!

Why Don't You Close The Door, And Shut The Curtains

no wonder i like stripy t shirts so much, it's pirate apparel!

THE FIGURINES NEW ALBUM IS OUT NOW AND AVAILABLE IN GERMANY, DENMARK AND SWITZERLAND. IT IS CALLED "SKELETON". SO GO TO GERMANY, DENMARK OR SWITZERLAND AND GET IT. IT IS FAST AND WHINEY AND IT WILL MAKE YOU THINK, "SAY WHAT?" AND THEN WANT TO SHAKE YOUR BONES. HAHA IM ALREADY IN GERMANY I CAN GET IT RIGHT NOW IF I WANT.

There are some interesting things happening in the world. Yesterday was John Peel Day. I didn't know til it was too late...Although, for some reason I was thinking about Pulp alot. Tonight there is an Elliott Smith tribute night. I am scared to go because it is being held in a venue called "Bastard". At the moment in Berlin, on the other side of town in Charlottenberg, there is an exhibition of photographs of James Dean. Dead people, yay! Also recently was Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Audio Bullys have a lovely new song out. It is different to their other songs that I have heard. It is about looove. It has violin and tinkly piano bits. These contrast nicely with the singing: a gravelly eastender barman type voice. "Everyfing I say I say for you. Everyfing I do, you do it you". You can totally listen to it here. Lavly Jabbly.


oK, is everybody making new songs that are different to their other songs that I have heard? What is this "Juicebox" that the Strokes have made? I am not sure. I am enthralled by the duh na nuh na guitars...Julian's "fast singing" is atrocious.


OK AFTER YOU HEAR SKELETON YOU WILL PROBABLY BE THINKING, "OH JESUS, WHERE CAN I GET ANOTHER RECORD BY THE FIGURINES??!!" OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WELL, THEN IT WILL BE PRETTY EASY FOR YOU TO FIND ANOTHER RECORD BY THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE ANOTHER ALBUM, CALLED "SHAKE A MOUNTAIN". I WUOLDNT SAY THEY WERE GOOD IF THEY WEREN'T.

People Are Fragile Things, You Should Know By Now

Quote of the day,

bossblog, "this song just took my pants off." hoorah!

The last show i went to was about 4 weeks ago, but I got run over by a mail truck the next day so I couldn't really write up my experience of the night. I've missed an absolute tonne of shows, art brut, the magic numbers+shout out louds, tom vek....Pang.

Anyway, The Editors put on such a great performance that night I'm so happy they are coming back to Berlin, !!! (See below). The singer in the band, Tom Smith, jerks around the stage in crazy demented movements, sometimes raising his guitar over his head as if he is about to smash it into smitherines. "Blood" and "Munich" were amazing moments. They took to the stage in a line-up that went like this:

the Figurines
Editors
Stars
Koufax
Supergrass

I had never heard of The Figurines, they were an absolute delight. They have been jamming together since they were about 10 years old (seriously..) and put the band together officially in the early 90's. Imagine if Interpol made music for dancing to, like the Rapture. I see they are touring Denmark at the moment with Oh No Ono and I am Bones. Add to this the fact that the dole in Denmark is a whopping 800 euros a month, I think I want to move there.

...nah oK I'm staying in Berlin.

STARS! I can't believe I saw STARS! They are so great! They broke my heart. I was lurking sort of on the right in front of the stage for most of the night but when they came on i scrambled to the front, swoon. Sometimes Amy's voice was a bit lost, but hey. i was sad they didn't play "What the Snowman Learned about Love" but very delighted that "Elevator Loveletter" made the cut.

I don't know who Koufax think they are (Ed harcourt, probly) but their only redeeming moment was when they sang "Stepping Out", this song from the '80s. Every other song they played made me want to puke. I can't believe someone has ripped off Ed Harcourt, while he is still playing crummy support slots, and Koufax had a lovely spot right before Supergrass. I love Ed Harcourt, who does not make me want to puke, at all.

these hot dates are hot. on fire! all red and shit.

Babyshambles am 11.11. im Columbia Club
The Go!Team + Her Space Holiday am 27.11. im Magnet
The Duke Spirit am 13.10. im Magnet
Sufjan Stevens am 19.10. in der Passionskirche
Maximo Park + The New Pornographers am 26.11.05 im Postbahnhof
Editors nun am 13.11.05 im Postbahnhof
Franz Ferdinand + The Rakes am 08.11.05 im Tempodrom

Fuck Forever is the best song ever.

PS what is that Bloc Party song? something about `only two more years?´ its...kind..of..not..good...

And Through The Noise I Heard A Song

I've been away! In a strange faraway land. I was held hostage by some toothy pirates in a cave, I managed to escape by the light of the moon twinkling on the waves rolling in upon the shore. Yarrrr.

Berlin, Berlin. So great it's the cheapest capital city ever in the whole wide world. (probly, right?).

Well, more to come soon. Hard Fi were playing tonight but i went for Indian food instead. Final Fantasy is gonna be here Monday night, I totally want to go. Hope that works out. Talk to you later.