DEATH TO TISCALI!

Moving into my new house took a few hours, getting Tiscali to get my internet connection back up has taken nearly a month and a dozen angry phone calls to India. Needless to say I wouldn’t recommend Tiscali Broadband to anyone. Without the net I’ve been unable to hand over large wodges of my cash to online music retailers so I haven’t been listening to as much new music. So I’ve been playing old stalwarts like Bob Dylan and Led Zeppelin to death (Probably prompted by related movies and reunion concerts). However, here are twelve new things I’ve been listening to of late:

After wading through the 300 odd emails that’d accumulated in my inbox I found many links to mp3s from new bands. One of the best is from US band The Pendletons who I’m probably going to insult by describing this track as thrilling Hillbilly-Skiffle-Punk. (The Pendletons MySpace) (Buy)

The Pendletons – Sadsongs mp3

At first I evaluated The View as just another Indie-Smindie band (With an ear for ripping off a fine Cornershop tune). But after hearing this song on the radio every morning where I work, I’ve grown to love it (Almost a year after everyone else made it a #3 hit). It’s Kyle Falconer’s almost incomprehensibly slurred and squeaky vocals which hooked me in (He’s a bit like a British Caleb Followill in that respect) and the way he yelps “Amazed!” at 2.10 is totally electrifying. (The View MySpace) (Buy)

The View – Same Jeans mp3

‘All My Friends’ is another song that passed me by initially until the radio drilled it into my brain. The “So here we go, like a sales-force into the night” line is inspired. (LCD Soundsystem MySpace) (Buy)

LCD Soundsystem – All My Friends mp3

I’ve just discovered Immortal Technique after hearing a Remix of ‘The 4th Branch’ on Wax Audio’s latest release (Click here to get it). If you like vintage Chuck D (And let’s face it who doesn’t?) then your gonna love this literate, angry political Rap track. (Immortal Technique MySpace) (Buy)

Immortal Technique – The 4th Branch mp3

I’m loving this new Remix of one of the tracks I included in my last post ‘Shake A Fist’. Diplo is often brilliant but his productions can sometimes sound formulaic, this Remix is anything but. (Hot Chip MySpace) (Buy)

Hot Chip – Shake A Fist (Diplo Remix) mp3

Here’s a taster from Orphan Boy’s forthcoming album ‘Shop Local’ which I’m predicting to be a masterpiece of savage Punk social observations. (Orphan Boy MySpace) (Buy)

Orphan Boy – Grand Piano mp3

Here a graceful semi-acoustic lullaby from one of the stars of 2007 Sam Isaac. His new album is due in January. (Sam Isaac MySpace) (Buy)

Sam Isaac – Berlin mp3

This remake of BLACKstreet’s 1996 hit was one of the few highlights from October’s mostly awful Radio One covers album (Robbie Williams should be indited for crimes against humanity for his version of The Kinks’ gender-bending classic ‘Lola’). (Klaxons MySpace) (Buy)

Klaxons – No Diggity mp3

A few promo CDs have dropped through my letterbox and the best had to be from London band The Official Secrets Act who have a good line in foot tapping-Pop-Rock. (The Official Secrets Act MySpace) (Buy)

The Official Secrets Act – Snakes & Ladders mp3

This is only the second Remix that KOL have so far released and on the strength of this Funky delight, they shoud include one on every single. (Kings Of Leon MySpace) (Buy)

Kings Of Leon – My Party (Chad Hugo & Kenna Remix) mp3

‘Bangers & Mash’ is a bonus track on the “Double CD, double vinyl, art booklet, lyric booklet, hardcased, super-deluxe” version of Radiohead’s sensational new ‘In Rainbows’ record. Call me mad, but I gladly forked out £50 for a physical copy of the album and releases don’t get much more physical than this beautifully designed, weightly and tactile artifact (Get on to Ebay if you want a copy). (Radiohead MySpace) (Buy)

Radiohead – Bangers & Mash mp3

I’m a big fan of Andy Votel’s ‘Music To Watch Girls Cry’ and ‘Songs In The Key Of Death’ mixtapes. This track is taken from the third installment, cryptically titled ‘One Nation Under A Grave’ (“Cryptically”… I don’t know how I come up with them!). (Andy Votel MySpace) (Buy)

Andy Votel – One Nation Under A Grave (Track 12) mp3

‘King Of England’ is an immaculately produced bit of Punk-Funk with astonishing beautiful and angry vocals from Becky Newman. This is one of the finest and most intelligent Pop songs to be released all year (Hot Puppies are pictued above). (The Hot Puppies MySpace) (Buy)

The Hot Puppies – King Of England mp3

I’ve had this as ‘Mp3 Of The Week’ before but I just can’t get enough. I’m counting the days, hours and seconds ’til Lupe’s second album arrives in my hands. (Lupe Fiasco MySpace) (Buy)

Lupe Fiasco – Superstar (Feat. Matthew Santos) mp3

Last but not least, one of my favourite bands, Manic Street Preachers have taken time out from a highly successful year to record a splendid Christmas tune which they’re offering free of charge to all their fans. (Manic Street Preachers MySpace) (Buy)

Manic Street Preachers – Christmas Ghost mp3

Regular posting will resume soon and at some point I’ll be compiling my top 100 tunes of 2008 (I’m sure a number of these will find their way onto the list).