That Blonde Bitch

We've just discovered the ever so wonderful SoKo - bitterness was never so attractive.

Two From Twelve

April 24th sees the realease of the eagerly awaited album of ‘cover’ versions of classic popular songs newly interpreted by the 2007 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Patti Smith, on Tuesday, April 24th.

‘Twelve’ is Patti Smith's first album of new studio recordings since ‘Trampin'’ (her Columbia Records debut) was released in 2004, and is her first-ever full-length collection of songs originally created by other performers.

Four tracks have made their way out in the world as a promo, and here are a couple just for you. Enjoy.

MP3: Patti Smith – Helpless (Neil Young cover) (expired)
MP3: Patti Smith – Pastime Paradise (Stevie Wonder cover) (expired)

And They Did

I was just catching up on Xo’s blog, and for some reason his R.E.M. post reminded me that I hadn’t heard their version of I Will Survive for ages – recorded as part of the Fan Club singles in 1996, the track is Michael all over; awkward, insistent and surprisingly effective.

MP3: R.E.M. – I Will Survive (expired)

Love

I love A Good Start by Maria Taylor. Simple as that.

MP3: Maria Taylor – A Good Start (expired)

Kid Gloves Not Needed

I remember when I first heard the Raised By Wolves EP by Voxtrot in 2005 – it was an instant favourite – soundsing like a favourite EP and fresh all at the same time. It’s been two years since that initial EP, with a couple more following, but no sign of an album – well that is until now.

Voxtrot, the debut LP from, yes, Voxtrot, arrives May 22 on Beggars/Playlouder. The 11-track set follows three favorably received EPs – Raised by Wolves, Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives, and Your Biggest Fan – and contains entirely new material.

Produced and mixed by Victor Van Vugt (Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, Mojave 3), the album sits in a space between the The Killers and Belle and Sebastian; not exactly twee, but still wearing its’ C86 influences on its’ sleeve. Compared to the previous EPs, the album is less immediate, and features more strings courtesy of the Tosca String Quartet.

Whilst I would have liked to see more anthems like Raised By Wolves, the album has enough to warrant repeat plays and suggests that the band will definitely be more than a 3 EP and one album wonder.

(Can I also say how great it is to see an indie band fronted by an asian guy :-)

MP3: Voxtrot – Kid Gloves (expired)
MP3: Voxtrot – Stephen (expired)
MP3: Voxtrot – Raised By Wolves (from the Raised By Wolves EP) (expired)

Modern Life Sucks

Let Me Hear Your Body Talk

I'm not sure how old I was when I first saw the video to the Olivia Newton John song Physical, but I still remember feeling embarrassed watching it when my family were in the room – especially, I don’t remember the gay ending from my youth.

Listening to the original again, it holds up surprisingly well…even if the video does feature ONJ torturing fat people.

The song has been covered a number of times already (e.g. Sophie EB, Goldfrapp). and now the Swedish clothing company WeAretheSuperlativeConspiracy (aka WeSC) have put together a compilation of covers by artists such as Cat5, The Glimmers and Caged Baby).

You can hear the full compilation at the company’s website.

MP3: Cat5 – Physical (expired)
MP3: Caged Baby – Physical (expired)
MP3: Goldfrapp – U.K. Girls (Physical) (not on the compilation) (expired)
MP3: Olivia Newton John – Physical (not on the compilation) (expired)

Another Dreamer

We’re two months into 2007, and there hasn’t been much sign of the singer-songwriter that will be proclaimed as the saviour of the tradition for the year; that is until now…accompanied by the usual hyperbole (comparisons to usual likes of Damien Rice, Jeff Buckley, Nick Drake etc), Jack Savoretti is currently riding the wave of the music man’s publicity machine.

His lucky break came after his hairdresser said she cut the hair of Natalie Imbruglia's manager and offered to pass on some of his music. After being invited to the De Angelis offices with his guitar he was signed on the spot and the rest is history.

Releasing today, his debut album Between The Minds has been Radio 2’s album of the week, and features a bunch of radio friendly songs that should see him nominated for next years’ Brits. Not as instant as those mentioned in the same breath, the album is still fairly impressive for a debut, with 12 full formed songs, and lyrics that (just about) stay out of the ever so dangerous saccharine territory.

MP3: Jack Savoretti – Dreamers (expired)
MP3: Jack Savoretti – Once Upon A Street (expired)
MP3: Jack Savoretti – Dr. Frankenstein (expired)

Back To The Library

I’m surprised this hasn’t blown up in blog-land yet, but checking the barometer that is hype machine, there’s not a lot of love out there for the glorious pop magpies Mr Hudson & the Library who release their debut album A Tale of Two Cites this month.

If you can try and imagine what The Divine Comedy would sound if they had stripped down the production to a minimum and instead were produced by Jay-Z, that goes someway to describing the sound we have here. Taking just the right bits from a host of other bands but crucially adding their own distinctive twist – like The Streets with class, Madness without the cringe factor, or Lily Allen's older, sharp brothers – the result, is a special album of 12 wonderful songs.

Video below of them perfroming their latest single Too Late, Too, Late live on Jools Holland’s show.

MP3: Mr Hudson & the Library – On The Streets Where You Live (expired)
MP3: Mr Hudson & the Library – Bread & Roses (expired)
MP3: Mr Hudson & the Library – Cover Girl (expired)