Shiny Toy Guns are a North-American rock band created in 2002 and currently composed by Carah Faye Charnow (vocals, synthesizer), Chad Petree (vocals, guitars), Jeremy Dawson (synthesizer, bass), Daniel Johansson (guitars, synthesizer, bass) and Mikey Martin (drums).
They are known for songs like Le Disko, Rainy Monday, Ghost Town and Major Tom.
The band has released two albums so far: We Are Pilots in 2006 and Season Of Poison in 2008. The third album simply named III has been postponed since May/June 2011, the first date released by Shiny Toy Guns on several interviews. Recently they've announced the third album is set to be released on July 2012 with a single released in May.
Shiny Toy Guns debut album - We Are Pilots was released on October 2006 by Universal Motown. The album was nominated for the Grammy award for Best Electronic/Dance Album at the 50th Grammy Awards.
Most songs that appear on this album are influenced by Chad and Jeremy previous bands.
We Are Pilots had two album versions before the final and known one - the first released in January 2005 and the second in November 2005 - including two different covers for each edition.
You Are The One has he same basis has another song released by Chad Petree and Jeremy Dawson under Slyder.
The song appeared on video games like Grand Theft Auto III and FIFA 07 and on TV shows like Hell's Kitchen and Private Practice.
‘We are here to challenge your thoughts and entertain your mind’
Both quotes could describe this band and wouldn’t have to say more. But let’s be explicit here…
Five out of six of Rudely Interrupted’s members have some kind of physical or intellectual disability. As everyone may have already heard, whenever someone has a disability they are very good at another thing.
Rory Burnside – the lead singer - is blind and has Asperger’s syndrome Marcus Stone – the keyboardist – has also Asperger’s and is 80% deaf. Sam Beke – the bassist – has Down syndrome. Josh Hogan – the drummer – is autistic and has some physical disabilities. Connie Kirkpatrick – the percussionist – has Down syndrome. Rohan Brooks – the guitarist – is a music therapist who came up with the idea.
I found out they were a special band before hearing them, but let’s be honest here: you don’t see any difference in this song.
Elektra Zagreb is a young project created in 2011 defined somewhere between indie rock and noise pop.
Composed by Luis Campos (guitars), John Cardoso (drums), Andrei Davidov (vocals) and Ricardo Andrade (bass guitar) - releasing their first self-titled EP including singles like Sweet Factory and Jolie (I Can't Stop) - they've performed on places like Club Stop and Casa Viva - in Porto -, Music Box and Bacalhoeiro - in Lisbon -, Festival de Música Independente in Braga and several showcases in FNACs.
They've released a second EP Giving Birth. The Young Whales with 5 songs in January 24, 2011 and have also participated on the Portuguese initiative "A Música Portuguesa A Gostar Dela Própria" check it here.
They are absolutely one of new bands to follow - this intriguing voice with a "heavy" background instrument are pretty compatible forming a very interesting combination.
Discover more about Elektra Zagreb on their Facebook and Bandcamp.
Three confirmations and three different nationalities - The North-American The Rapture, the English Bloc Party and the Portuguese Capitão Fausto are the newest names on the 18th edition of Super Bock Super Rock, happening between July 5 to 7.
On the first day, July 5, Bloc Party - who recently return to stages and Capitão Fausto - are presenting their first album Gazela released in the end of 2011.
On July 6, The Rapture are performing their album In The Grace Of Your Love released in 2011.
A daily ticket is able for purchase for 45€ and a three-day pass for 80€.
The festival has confirmed bands/artists like Lana Del Rey, The Horrors, Incubus and Regina Spektor.
Check all the confirmations below.
July 5: Incubus; Battles; Bat For Lashes; Pete Doherty; Azealia Banks; Apparat; Dâm-Funk; Alabama Shakes; Hot Chip; Bloc Party; Capitão Fausto July 6:The Horrors; Lana Del Rey; Wraygunn; Friendly Fires; The Rapture
July 7:
Regina Spektor; Little Dragon; Flying Lotus;
Check all the information about Super Bock Super Rock on this link.
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks are the most recent confirmation on Paredes de Coura.
The North-american singer was confirmed today by the Portuguese radio station Antena 3, one of the main sponsors of this festival.
Stephen Malkmus, better known for his previous work Pavement, is coming to Portugal on August 14 to promote his last album released in 2011 Mirror Traffic.
The 20th edition of Paredes de Coura is going to happen on Praia Fluvial do Tabuão from August 13 to August 16. The four-day pass (including camping-free) are available for purchase on the local stores for 80€.
The confirmed names are:
August 15 Midlake August 16 Kasabian; Anna Calvi; Of Montreal
Once again, and because I received such good critics about my last post – I received only one, anyway…… - I won’t give any historical data, in this case there is nothing to say at all, because everyone knows her. I will stick to my opinion and the way I see her work and her talent.
From what I read from her biography – still haven’t finished it – she is the kind of artist that is where she is, only because of her hard work. At the beginning she got nothing comparing to other artists.
In my opinion, artist like Gaga or P!nk that really had to work to be someone in music industry may be the ones that give more credit and passion to what they do, because they know how hard it was to be where they are now. I actually think you can see the ones that respect their own work and effort and those who don’t - you can see this in daily life too.
She began to play at small bars and by that time she had already ‘different’ outfits, it was her way to show herself. I think Gaga didn’t need to dress such things in order to be reckoned, but that's part of who she is now. From the very first start of her career she wanted to be different, she felt like she was and created such characters with such exotic and enigmatic clothes, but that’s just one part of the show.
Personally, I enjoy much more the innocent Gaga with whatever clothes she is on and a piano in front of her. Not because I don’t like to see her dancing or I think her tours aren’t good, but because I think her real talent isn’t shown in those occasions. She may create those shows but she is not putting 100% of her talent in that, at least the part of the talent I most admire about her: her voice and her writing skills.
Gaga & Ellen
Two incredible women together:
I just really love what I do.
Lady Gaga - Edge of Glory (Live @ BBC Radio 1)
No words. I think this is my favorite live performance and with no doubts my favorite music from her new album, Born This Way. Take a bit of your time to feel her passion and to hear such a beautiful voice.
There ain't no reason you and me should be alone tonight Yeah baby, tonight yeah baby But I got a reason that you-hoo should take me home tonight I need a man that thinks it right when it's so wrong Tonight yeah baby, tonight yeah baby. Right on the limit's where we know we both belong tonight.
Lady GaGa - Speechless (Live @ The Ellen DeGeneres Show)
Speechless. The song and the performance.
Lady Gaga - Marry the Night
The very first video she directed.
We all know every Gaga’s videoclip tells a story, they can be even classified as short movies.
When I look back on my life, it's not that I don't want to see things exactly as they happened. It's just that I prefer to remember them in an artistic way and thrutly the lie of it all is much more honest because I invented it. Clinical psychologist tells us arguably that trauma is the ultimate killer. Memories are not recycled like atoms and particles in quantum physics, they can be lost forever. It's sort of like my past is an unfinished painting and as the artist of that painting I must fill in all the ugly holes and make it beautiful again.
Sean Lennon is an American singer, songwriter, musician better known for being son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, half-brother of Julian Lennon, also a singer and musician.
He has a very rich music career releasing several albums solo and in collaboration with other artists.
On his solo career he has released three albums Into The Sun (1998), Half Horse, Half Musician (1999) and Friendly Fire (2006).
He has also collaborated with Albert Hammond Jr., Cibo Matto, The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger, Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band.
Friendly Fire is based on Sean Lennon's relationship with the actress Bijou Phillips. According to him, Bijou had an affair with his childhood best friend Max Le Roy who shortly died, before they could solve things.
L'Éclipse is a French version of Parachute - both appearing on the same 2006 album - featuring the French singer M or Mathieu Chédid.
On the last days several artists have been confirmed to most of the Portuguese festivals.
A lot of debut performances are going to happen but there's also space for incredible bands with many years of career.
Check all the confirmations below:
On Optimus Alive happening in the Passeio Marítimo de Algés has recently confirmed the presence of Death In Vegas, Buraka Som Sistema and Danko Jones (that's going to replace the North-American Lostprophets who cancelled their presence due to "schedule commitments") on July 13. The first two artists are confirmed to perform on the Alternative Stage - Palco Heineken - while Danko Jones is replacing Lostprophets on the main stage - Palco Optimus.
On July 14, performing on the same days as Florence + The Machine, Mumford And Sons and The Cure, the young North-American project Awolnation is performing on Palco Heineken and the British Noah And The Whale will perform on Palco Optimus.
Keep up with all the informations about Optimus Alive here.
Four more names have been added to Ornatos Violeta, on EDP Paredes de Coura. The North-American Midlake will perform on August 15 and Kasabian, Anna Calvi and Of Montreal are performing on August 16, the last day of this festival.
Remember, the four-day pass for this festival is 80€, read everything here.
On Marés Vivas TMN three names have been added: The Sounds on the same day as Wolfmother and Franz Ferdinand, July 18 and two days after, July 20, Ebony Bones and Billy Idol were confirmed to play alongside with Gogol Bordello.
Read about Marés Vivas on this link.
On Super Bock Super Rock, happening in Meco near Sesimbra - the organisation has recently confirmed the performances of Hot Chip on July 5 and Friendly Fires, Wraygunn and Lana Del Rey on July 6.
More info here.
Sudoeste TMN has confirmed the presence of The Roots, better known for being the resident band on Jimmy Fallon's TV Show since 2009. The band is going to perform on August 4 on the same day as The Ting Tings and Xutos & Pontapés. Check here.
Today is the birthday of one of my favorite singers, Jessie J.
Happy Birthday
I wanted to write something about her but didn’t want to waste time re-writing what is on Wikipedia- it’s really a waste of time, because everyone has access to that.
I wanted to do something different maybe because I have some free time but maybe it’s just that I like her so so much, that I feel like you guys deserve to know her, the way I do. And I know that sometimes we don’t know how incredible some artists are because the credit given isn’t as much as it should be.
But let’s say in a few lines how she got where she is now… She graduated in the class of 2006 along with singers Adele and Leona Lewis. Since that time she has been in the music industry mainly writing songs for other artists. She began recording her debut studio album in 2006 and it was completed on 19 January 2011
If you have been following what I like the most on an artist you have noticed that I give a lot of credit to what artists can do on stage. I love searching for live performances of my favorite singers/bands. I love even more when they are capable of performing live as good as on studio and when they are good enough to innovate and be able to surprise their fans with their vocal abilities. And Jessie does that. She sings in a way that it seems that singing is actually easy. I usually say that she plays with her own voice, mostly live when she improvise.
Jessie J Who You Are - The X Factor Live
Why is it so emotional? Because when you start writing songs as an artist, and all this – point at the stage and public - doesn't exist in your world and you are sitting in a studio and you really don't know what your journey is going to do, it's scary. ‘Cuz I wasn't in a great place when i wrote that song and if i haven't been in that bad place, I wouldn't be able to sing it to people to make them feel better. I feel good.
Notice that in this video she gives the idea that she sings for her fans too. Because she has been in “that place” and if she hasn’t she wasn’t able to sing it for other people. At the same time she is doing what she loves, but she is helping others. And trust me, this song is an hell of cheer up.
Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing It's okay not to be okay Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart Tears don't mean you're losing Everybody's bruising Just be true to who you are
Jessie J - We Found Love (Rihanna's cover)
Awesome comment on Youtube: Did Rihanna just get owned in her own song?
I wasn’t the author of that comment but I totally agree with what he is trying to say. No one has ever made me like a song with a cover when I didn’t like the original. It’s nothing against Rihanna – she may have some talent, I don’t know – but Jessie J makes her song a TOP one. This is an incredible performance and an incredible interpretation of the original song.
The Voice
Along with will.i.am (of The Black Eyed Peas), Tom Jones and Danny O'Donoghue (of The Script), Jessie J will be on the coaching panel Each coach chooses their team acoording to The Blind Auditions and have the goal to make them winners while giving them advices based on their own careers. I'm sure that the people that will be on Jessie’s team will have a lot of luck because they will find an enthusiastic, young and dreamer coach.
By now you must have already understood how incredible and inspiring she can be, as an artist and as a person.
I look forward to hear her new album and who knows a show here in Portugal.
---
In Portugal there is this web fan-base: http://www.facebook.com/JessicaCornishPortugal - Here you can find every single news about Jessie the minute it goes out. I appreciate it very much!
Florence + The Machine is a band created in 2007 by Florence Welch in collaboration with other musicians: Robert Ackroyd (guitars, backing vocals), Chris Hayden (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Isabella Summers (keyboards, backing vocals), Mark Saunders (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Tom Monger (harp).
The band's name is a tribute to Welch's teenage collaboration with Isabella "Machine" Summers - who performed for a while as Florence Robot/Isa Machine.
According to Florence"The name 'Florence And The Machine' started off as a private joke that got out of hand. I made music with my friend, Isabella Machine to which I was Florence Robot. When I was about an hour away from my first gig, I still didn't have a name, so I thought 'Okay, I'll be Florence Robot/Isa Machine'".
Their style is usually described as "dark, robust and romantic" due to their peculiar way of creating music, innovating constantly from song to song and evolution as a band.
Ceremonials is the band's second album released in October 2011 by Island Records, the main producer was Paul Epworth.
Initially the album was idealized to be recorded in the US but ended up being recorded in the Abbey Road Studios in London.
The album is being very well received by critics, with huge comparisons with artists like Kate Bush.
To NME, Florence said "(Ceremonials) is a more joyous album'" and according to her the album is about how she matured over the last years.
Ceremonials counts with 12 tracks and 9 more on the deluxe version, making a total of 55:58 on the standard version. What The Water Gave Me, Shake It Out,No Light, No Light and Never Let Me Go have already been release as singles.
Only If For A Night (4:59) The opening track starts with a sweet classic piano and the strong Florence voice. At some point the songs sounds like an epic rebellion, with a beautiful chorus and strong back instrumental. Honestly a very beautiful way to start an album, promising an exciting discover through this work. The song has this double way of being a Florence song and sounds so epic, so huge, so overwhelming.
"Then I heard your voice as clear as day, And you told me I should concentrate, It was all so strange, And so surreal, That a ghost should be so practical."
Shake It Out (4:38) The song is joyful, strong and huge. Released as the official first single of Ceremonials and has been very well received for being a pop song with gospel elements including organs, bells and tambourines. Vocally speaking, Florence was compared with artists like Annie Lennox due to the incredible vocals.
About this song, Florence described to MTV NewsShake It Out as "... magic one. I feel weird because I'm always talking about how I'm writing songs when I'm hung over most of the songs weren't but 'Shake It Out' was. Like 'Cosmic Love' (it was) written when you're not feeling too great. It became the ultimate hangover cure, and then it became about something bigger. Like trying to get rid of 'hangover ghouls'."
Actually Shake It Out reminds me of Cosmic Love, musically speaking, and for good reasons. The song is really strong, full of rhythm mixing happy and sad feelings, turning to this iconic song.
"And our love's pastured such a mournful sound
Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground
So I like to keep my issues strong
But it's always darkest before the dawn"
What The Water Gave Me (5:33) The song was named after Florence saw a Frida Kahlo's paiting and inspired by the English writer Virginia Woolf.
Described as a art rock and indie pop being notably followed by harps and guitars. Once again Florence shows all her powerful vocals on this song, turning everything to a dramatic, enthusiastic poetry.
About the song, Florence once said "It's a song for the water, because in music and art what I'm really interested in are the things that are overwhelming. The ocean seems to me to be nature's great overwhelmer. When I was writing this song I was thinking a lot about all those people who've lost their lives in vain attempts to save their loved ones from drowning. It's about water in all forms and all bodies. It's about a lot of things; Virginia Woolf creeps into it, and of course Frida Kahlo, whose painfully beautiful painting gave me the title."
This song is one of my favorite, it has everything. It's strong, beautiful, simple but so complex at the same time.
"'Cause they took your loved ones
But returned them in exchange for you
But would you have it any other way?
Would you have it any other way?
You could have had it any other way"
Never Let Me Go (4:31) The third single from the record, with the video released on youtube on March 7.
Sounds very classy, very fancy at some point. Sounding like Florence + The Machine but in another level, the band exceeded themselves once again. The highlight of this song is absolutely the instrumental - it's gorgeous, it's huge, it's so.. surreal!
The song sounds so nice, the chorus turn to something even bigger than imagined.
"And the arms of the ocean are carrying me And all this devotion was rushing over me And the crushes of heaven, for a sinner like me But the arms of the ocean delivered me"
Breaking Down (3:49) This is one of the songs that really don't sound like a characteristic Florence's song. It's a mystery at the beginning, a thrill to discover how will the song develop along the way... And it's exciting! A whispered voice, an epic chorus from one of those old classic bands.
I really love the violins, they put the song on some other special level. It's . This song had everything to be something average but they changed it, they magically turned things around and turned into something really big.
This song may not ever be a single but I really hope that people have the chance to know them and be excited to listen it the way that I do.
"I can see is coming from the edge of the room Creeping in the streetlight Holding my hand in the pear grove Can you see it coming now?"
Lover To Lover (4:03) I hope I'm not the only one but the piano's intro of this song just blows my mind. Sounds somewhere between Queen and Elton John, really like the good 70's and 80's songs.
Once again, as we can listen along CeremonialsFlorence exceeds herself from song to song.
At some point, Lover To Lover really seems one of those songs that should belong to some movie soundtrack. It's catchy, full of energy, exciting, stays with you for hours... This song has everything, it's incredible how powerfully romantic but at the same time so destructive the song can sound.
That might be a Florence + The Machine moto: mix feelings on the same song - and thankfully they do!
"And i've been taking chances
I've been setting myself up for the force
And i've been keeping secrets
From my heart and from my soul
Going from road to road
Back to back
Lover to lover and black to red
But i believe, i believe"
No Light, No Light (4:35) One of my favorites of the record and the second released single.
This is a clear Florence song - strong instruments, epic vocals, genuine combination, exciting composition. No Light, No Light is one of the highlights of the entire album, it's absolutely "a revelation", they are a solid group and that reflexes on their songs and composition. They know absolutely what they are doing.
After listening this, I just feel free, the need of running away and shout! It reminds me of another Florence + The Machine's song Heavy In Your Arms.
The song was written by Florence Welch and Isabella Summers - and with this I have one request... Do it more often! The combination is genious!
"Through the crowd I was crying out And in your place there were a thousand other faces I was disappearing in plain sight Heaven help me, I need to make it right"
Seven Devils (5:03) On this song it's obvious the gospel component. All the instruments sound very iconic, very respectful even the vocals are harder, more dramatic on this track.
Probably the hardest song to enjoy on the album, either you like it or not - there's no middle term on this one due it's dark and troublesome feeling. The lyrics reflect that so well . But it's exciting to see how versatile they are.
"Seven devils all around you
Seven devils in your house
See I was dead when I woke up this morning
I'll be dead before the day is done
Before the day is done"
Heartlines (5:02) This song is EVERYTHING. My honestly favorite song from Ceremonials.
Sounds like Florence + The Machine, feels like Florence + The Machine and it's an absolutely Florence + The Machine song.
It's exciting, it's strong, has rhythm, has an epic flow, it's inspirational, it's unique.
One of those songs that really take all my breath away.
"On the sea, on the sea and land over land.
Creeping and crawling like the sea over sand.
Still I follow heartlines on your hand.
This fantasy, this fallacy, this tumbling stone.
Echoes of a city that's long overgrown.
Your heart is the only place that I call home,
I cannot be returned, you can?"
Spectrum (5:12) I imagine perfectly this song on a live performance.
I hate to repeat myself but Florence and her band only do amazing song and once again this song is very good. Spectrum is overwhelming, exceeds all the expectations. The variations along the song are powerful, are catchy and give such enthusiastic rhythm.
How can such young artists write such explosive songs?
"Say my name
As every colour illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again"
All This And Heaven Too (4:06) The lyrics are very interesting and complemented by an extraordinaire instruments - highlight for the simple drums and backing vocals.
It sounds almost like a superstitious song but mysterious at some point, probably to the idea given through the way the instruments are played. The more I listen to it, the more I like it!
"But with all my education,
I can't seem to commend it,
And the words are all escaping me,
And coming back all damaged,
And I would put them back in poetry,
If I only knew how,
I can't seem to understand it"
Leave My Body (4:35) Weird sounds and guitars, those are the first things you listen on this song. Starting softly and growing as long as the song continues, catches your attention for the powerful drums complemented by a beautiful and fast piano contrasting with the slow and epic vocals - from Florence and backing vocalists.
I would personally chose this song to be somewhere in the middle but the choice is smart, it gets stuck in your head. You would like to end the album with a powerful song so people can remember it. And the way it ends, like a shout under water it's absolutely stunning. The song is amazing and so so beautiful!
"Said I'm gonna leave my body
Moving up to higher ground
I'm gonna lose my mind
But history keeps pulling me
Pulling me down"
Conclusion: The album is VERY very good. It's exciting to see such talented people all together performing and creating such beautiful music. Ceremonials ain't one of those obvious pop albums where it's easy to like for being so predictable. Ceremonials it's the opposite, you love the album for being so different, so unexpected, so strong and powerful. It's overwhelming! People usually say the first album is easy but the second is where you really prove what you are... And with this amazing second album? Florence + The Machine are here to stay and to grace us with their incredible talent.
Modjo was a French house/pop duo composed by the producer Romain Tranchart and the singer Yann Destagnol - also known as Yann Destal.
The members met each other in 1998. The first big result of their recording sessions was the hit Lady (Hear Me Tonight) that got very known in 2000. The song is really influenced by heavy pop and disco and features a sample from Chic's Soup For One.
Other successful songs were Chillin', What I Mean and No More Tears.
The duo has just release a self-titled album in September 2001.
After the release of No More Tears in 2002, the band decided to pursuit solo career.
They name Daft Punk, DJ Sneak and Ian Pooley has influences.
Hanni El Khatib is a singer-songwriter and musician from Los Angeles, with Palestinian and Filipino descent.
On live performances he is accompanied on the drums by a long-time friend Nicky Fleming-Yaryan.
In 2010 he released two singles Dead Wrong and Build. Destroy. Rebuild. via Innovative Leisure from Stones Throw Records. The debut album was released on Will The Guns Come Out on September 2011 being composed by eight songs and three covers. You can check a promo about his album on his youtube here and learn a bit more about this artist.
His genre can be defined somewhere between garage, rock and indie but with a few touches of the 50's and rock and roll.
He has opened shows for the English Florence + The Machine. He has recently performed in Portugal, on the festival Vodafone Mexefest.
Hanni El Khatib sounds something like Lenny Kravitz and Jack White together, specially on this You Rascal You.
Besides the music career, Hanni worked has "a creative director for a skateboard company called HUF. I was working has a graphic designer and art director." he explains on his promo video.
"I fed you since last fall, you rascal, you.
I fed you since last fall, you rascal, you.
I fed you since last fall,
Then you got your ashes hauled.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!"
LostAlone are a British rock band created in 2005.
Nowadays the band is composed by Steven Battelle (vocals, guitars), Alan Williamson (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Mark Gibson (drums, percussion, backing vocals).
LostAlone counts with 2 studio albums: Say No To The World (2007) and I'm A UFO In This Town (2012), besides two EPs Light The Waves and Honey And Burlesque.
The album was released on March 5, 2012 and was produced by Jacknife Lee (previously worked with U2 and R.E.M.), Greg Wells (worked with Mika and Katy Perry) and Gerard Way (singer from My Chemical Romance). Love Will Eat You Alive is the second single and is going to be released on April 1, 2012.
The official video aired for the first time in NME on February 27, 2012.
"When you're caught in a web with no will to survive
When you're caught in the web your love will eat you alive
And you run and you run and you run but we're already dead"
Tropical Tobacco is a very young pop/experimental solo project from Lisbon, Portugal.
This young man describes his project has "a young man, a guitar, all the midi paraphernalia you can imagine and a voice out of tune."
Created in last January, Tropical Tobacco has released a two-track EP named aboriginal - recorded at his home having has inspiration the experimentation, loops mixed with several instruments turning to this magical and mysterious world. Ambiguous is the other song that belong to this EP. Download the songs legally and for free here.
All the music inspires this young artist and also revealed that belongs to a band, without mentioning which one - "they are two completely different things" he says.
Pineapple Express sounds a lot of a Wu Lyf music - somehow the combination of a funny instruments transmitting an excitement environment and a peculiar and rusty voice brings all that Wu Lyf spirit, but one thing is right - Tropical Tobacco has a promising future!
You can contact Tropical Tobacco on his Facebook page here.
Noiserv is a Portuguese solo project by the multi-instrumentalist singer songwriter David Santos.
David Santos became one of the most important, alternative and experimental Portuguese acts of the last decades - walking hand in hand with dreams and reality.
He is also a member of the Portuguese band You Can't Win, Charlie Brown.
The project started in 2005 with a few songs on a demo 56010-92. A few months later, the label Merzbau released them online.
In 2008 he releases his debut album One Hundred Miles from Thoughtlessness, a four-time sold out and very-well received album.
Somewhere in the following year, he made some international performances in countries like Germany, England or Scotland.
2010 brought Noiserv back - in July with a lovely EP named A Day In The Day Of The Days - a soundtrack for an entire day and November when he finished a collaboration of 15 songs that appeared on the soundtrack of the documentary José & Pilar - about the Portuguese writer José Saramago and his relationship with Pilar Del Río.
He also collaborated with artists like UTTER, Luís Costa (also member of YCWCB) or Sérgio Godinho.
On recent interviews he revealed that a new album is coming soon.
Mr. Carousel or alternatively known as 6.00 am - Mr.Carousel belongs to A Day In The Day Of The Days EP released in 2010.
The video animated by Ricardo Duarte and designed by Diana Mascarenhas.
a Jigsaw are a Portuguese indie folk band who's career started in 1999, composed by three talented multi-instrumentalists: João Rui, Susana Ribeiro and Jorri.
The band's name came from a song Jigsaw You from the Belgian band dEUS.
They were considered by the French magazine Les Inrockuptibles! as one of the MUST band to follow in 2012 and the Dutch magazine Heaven considered them to be one of the most interesting and curious European Indie Folks bands.
Their first work was an EP From Underskin in 2004. In 2007 the band released their debut album Letters From The Boatman, being very well received by Portuguese radios and becoming the Revelation Band of that same year.
In 2009 a Jigsaw released Like The Wolf that deserved a deluxe edition on the following year. Like The Wolf is a full album, rich in instruments and talented people. The duet Return To Me between João Rui and the American Becky Lee Walters received a honorable mention on the International Songwriting Competition 2009, having Robert Smith and Tom Waits has part of the judges.
Drunken Sailors & Happy Pirates their third album was released in 2011. In 2012 they saw a second edition of the album being released - coinciding with a Jigsaw's Iberian tour starting in February.
The album has been very well received by critics so far, confirming the band's talent and capacity of exceeding themselves.
The song Crow Covered Tree was recorded in Monsanto, Sintra and it was directed by Joana Linda.
"A looming thought was lurking in my head Dr. Death came to visit us again With my lungs tangled in my thoughts I leaned back against the pillow I would make my way back to sleep once more"
More artists have been added on the last days to the Portuguese festival happening in Algés.
The recently created Portuguese project Miúda is going to perform on Optimus Alive! on July 13 on the Palco Heineken, on the same day as Justice, Snow Patrol or LMFAO.
On the same day the North-american Dum Dum Girls will perform on the same alternative stage.
On July 14, performing on the same day as Florence + The Machine, Mumford And Sons and The Cure, there will be Big Deal, Here We Go Magic and Lisa Hanningan, all on the Palco Heineken.
Keep up on the entire information about Optimus Alive! 2012here.
Check the confirmed artists below: July 13: Stone Roses; Refused; Justice; Snow Patrol; Lostprophets; LMFAO; Dum Dum Girls; Miúda
July 14: The Cure; Florence + The Machine; Mumford And Sons; Katy B; The Antlers; SebastiAn; Big Deal; Here We Go Magic; Lisa Hanningan
July 15: Radiohead; Mazzy Star; The Kills; Metronomy; The Maccabees; Caribou; The Kooks; PAUS; SBTRKT; Warpaint; Miles Kane;
The new sensation Lana Del Rey made a new video for her already known single Blue Jeans, belonging to her debut album Born To Die.
This new video was directed by Yoann Lemoine, who previously worked with Katy Perry, Moby and Yelle and also brings back the actor Bradley Soileau - a previous work with Del Rey can be seen on Born To Die video here.
The Beatles are one of the most successful British bands.
They were created in the 1960's and since 1962 the band was composed by John Lennon (guitar; vocals), Paul McCartney(bass; vocals), George Harrison (guitar; vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums; vocals).
Their short career didn't affect at all their work, pursuing after 1970 solo careers.
The Beatles released thirteen studio albums: Please Please Me (1963), With the Beatles (1963), A Hard Day's Night (1964), Beatles for Sale (1964), Help! (1965), Rubber Soul (1965),Revolver (1966), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), Magical Mystery Tour (1967), The Beatles [also known as "White Album"] (1968), Yellow Submarine(1969), Abbey Road (1969) and Let It Be (1970), besides several compilations and re-releases.
Yesterday is credited to Lennon/McCartney but the song was only written by Paul McCartney, in 2000 he requested Yoko Ono to simply change the order of the credits but Yoko refused.
Appearing in Help! released in 1965, the song is about a break-up and is dedicated to McCartney's mother who died of Cancer when he was only fourteen years old.
Due to the melancholic acoustic guitar ballad followed by some string instruments like cellos and violins, the song end up being so different from The Beatles previous works that the band decided not to release it as a single, until 1976.
Starting on a dream, McCartney dreamed the entire melody and his first worry was that the melody was a unconscious plagiarism as he said "For about a month I went round to people in the music business and asked them whether they had ever heard it before. Eventually it became like handing something in to the police. I thought if no-one claimed it after a few weeks then I could have it."
The initial title was Scrambled Eggs, McCartney said "So first of all I checked this melody out, and people said to me, 'No, it's lovely, and I'm sure it's all yours.' It took me a little while to allow myself to claim it, but then like a prospector I finally staked my claim; stuck a little sign on it and said, 'Okay, it's mine!' It had no words. I used to call it 'Scrambled Eggs'.", Lennon later added "The song was around for months and months before we finally completed it. Every time we got together to write songs for a recording session, this one would come up. We almost had it finished. Paul wrote nearly all of it, but we just couldn't find the right title. We called it 'Scrambled Eggs' and it became a joke between us. We made up our minds that only a one-word title would suit, we just couldn't find the right one. Then one morning Paul woke up and the song and the title were both there, completed. I was sorry in a way, we'd had so many laughs about it."
The song was written in Portugal, on a car trip from Lisbon to Albufeira (Algarve) in May 1965 because according to Paul McCartney he "hate to waste time and the trip was long". He was going on vacation with his girlfriend at the time Jane Asher to Bruce Welch, from The Shadows, home in the South of Portugal. The couple ended up leaving early than predicted to record the song on the Abbey Road Studios in London.
"Why she had to go I don't know
She wouldn't say
I said something wrong now I long
For yesterday"
This is the end of this Themed Week related with Songs that Marked the Humanity - to check all the chosen songs click here.
Michael Jackson is an icon, considered to be the King of Pop due to all his life, career, talent and scandals.
"Michael Jackson is considered to be the most successful entertainer of all times."
To know a bit more about this iconic artist click here.
With 10 studio albums, other many compilations and that only on his solo career, Jackson is a timeless artist influencing artists from several genres and generations.
Smooth Criminal is the seventh single taken from his 1987 album Bad.
The song is about a woman named Annie, who has been attacked on her apartment. Smooth Criminal is also the theme song for Michael Jackson's 1988 movie Moonwalker.
The song had two early versions written in 1985 and a demo was recorded in 1986. A first version was called Chicago 1945 about Al Capone, but didn't make into the album so he re-wrote and work on the song until the known Smooth Criminal.
Pink Floyd, a British Progressive rock band created in 1965 and composed by Roger Waters (vocals, bass guitar, guitars, percussion, programming), Richard Wright (keyboards, vocals, organ, piano, synthesizers, mellotron), Nick Mason (drums, percussion, programming), David Gilmour (vocals, lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, special effects). Syd Barrett (vocals and guitars) and Bob Klose also made part of Pink Floyd's formation at the beginning of the band's career.
Known for songs like Wish You Were Here, Comfortably Numb or Hey You, the band has released 14 studio albums - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967), A Saucerful of Secrets (1968), Soundtrack from the Film More (1969), Ummagumma (1969), Atom Heart Mother (1970), Meddle (1971), Obscured by Clouds (1972), The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), The Wall (1979), The Final Cut (1983), A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) and The Division Bell (1994) besides 3 live albums and several compilations.
To know a bit more about their album The Wall click here.
Another Brick In The Wall - Part II belongs to one of the best known Pink Floyd albums The Wall and is the second of a three-part song all included on the same album.
On the plot of the movie with the same name that features the artist and activist Bob Geldof - representing the character based on Waters himself "Pink", this song appears "After being insulted by the teacher, Pink dreams that the kids in his school begin to protest against their abusive teachers."
"We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teacher! Leave us kids alone!
All in all you're just another brick in the wall
All in all you're just another brick in the wall"
Last March 8 - due to the International Women's day - I shared a John Lennon's song called Woman, read here.
John Lennon was a English singer, songwriter and musician, better known for his career with the successful British band The Beatles.
The song Imagine comes from the same title album released in 1971 and it was inspired by "Cloud Piece" poem from Yoko Ono's book Grapefruit.
With this song Lennon "was asking us to imagine a place where things that divide people (religion, possessions, etc) did not exist.", also Imagine has a strong political message hidden behind a soft melody - he believed this way his message would achieve more people.
The album Imagine was considered to be more commercial than the previous John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band yet still as successful as the previous.
The song received a Grammy Hall of Fame award and was considered by Rolling Stone magazine as the 3rd greatest song of all time.
Artists like Seal, P!nk, Chris Cornell or Peter Gabriel have covered the song on several occasions. Check Ana's post about some of them here.
Prince is the artistic name for the American singer, musician and songwriter Prince Rogers Nelson, who's career started in the late 1970's.
Known for his peculiarity, eccentricity and talent, Prince is the creator of songs like When Doves Cry, Kiss, Cream or Diamonds and Pearls.
At some point, Prince was known as The Symbol or The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, written as
With 25 studio albums, 2 live albums, 5 compilations, 12 EPs and many singles, Prince is one of the most complete and creative artists of the last decades.
Purple Rain is taken from the album Purple Rain released in 1984, belonging to the same titled movie.
The song is a mix between rock, pop, gospel and orchestral music and is considered to be one of Prince's signature songs.
Artists like Etta James, Ben Harper, Foo Fighters or Maroon 5 have performed this song.
"I never meant to cause you any sorrow
I never meant to cause you any pain
I only wanted one time to see you laughing
I only want to see you laughing in the purple rain"
The festival that is going to happen in Ericeira between June 29 and 30 has recently announce more names.
Barrington Levy, Selah Sue and Ponto de Equilíbrio are the newest confirmation on the Portuguese festival mostly dedicated to Reggae.
The tickets for Sumol Summer Fest 2012 will cost 40€ a daily ticket, 50€ a two-day pass without camping and 65€ a two-day pass including camping (also the night of June 28).
The announced artists are: June 29: Alpha Blondy; Ponto de Equilíbrio; Selah Sue; June 30: Gabriel, O Pensador; Barrington Levy;
SebastiAn and Refused are the new names added to the Portuguese festival.
The Swedish band Refused and the French DJ SebastiAn are performing on this year's edition of Optimus Alive respectively on July 13 and July.
Refused were created in 1991 and released three albums until their split up in 1998. This year they are returning with performances on several festivals. On this festival they will perform on Palco Optimus, along with Justice and Snow Patrol.
The French DJ and producer SebastiAn is performing on the alternative stage Palco Heineken. On the same day as Florence + The Machine and Mumford And Sons.
The confirmed names for Optimus Alive'12 are:
July 13: Stone Roses; Refused; Justice; Snow Patrol; Lostprophets; LMFAO;
July 14: The Cure; Florence + The Machine; Mumford And Sons; Katy B; The Antlers; SebastiAn;
July 15: Radiohead; Mazzy Star; The Kills; Metronomy; The Maccabees; Caribou; The Kooks; PAUS; SBTRKT; Warpaint; Miles Kane;
Remember a daily ticket for this festival is 53€ and the three-day pass is 105€.
More information here.
After Queen, another English band will be part of this Themed Week's category Songs that Marked the Humanity, at some point or somehow.
Radiohead are an English alternative rock band with electronic influences, created in 1985.
Known for songs like Karma Police, Lotus Flower or Fake Plastic Trees, the band is composed by Thom Yorke (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Jonny Greenwood (guitars, keyboards, some more), Ed O'Brien (guitars, backing vocals), Colin Greenwood (bass) and Phil Selway (drums, percussion).
With 8 studio albums released - Pablo Honey (1993), The Bends (1995), OK Computer (1997), Kid A (2000), Amnesiac (2001), Hail To The Thief (2003), In Rainbows (2007) and The King Of Limbs (2011) - besides two compilations, one remix album, seven EPs and several singles.
Creep was the first single taken from Pablo Honey and according to Colin Greenwood, Thom Yorke wrote the song while he was studying at Exeter University in the 80's and Jonny Greenwood said the song was inspired by a girl that Yorke had a crush with and unexpectedly appeared on a show.
The song has a love-hate relationship in the band, at some point on their live performances fans would only request Creep so around 1998 during their OK Computer tour they drop the song only recovering it in 2001 and performing it once in a while.
"I don't care if it hurts
I wanna have control
I wanna a perfect body
I wanna a perfect soul
I want you to notice
When I'm not around"
To keep up on this Themed Week just follow the link.
Last Wednesday, March 7, the names for the Rock in Rio electronic stage were revealed.
This year's edition will receive more artists and will cover the all days of the Portuguese edition of Rock in Rio between May 25 and 26 and June 1, 2 and 3.
Remember the daily ticket for this festival costs around 61€.
The confirmed names for Tenda Electrónica - Heineken are:
May 25: Life Is A Loop Live; Leo Janeiro; Bis Boys Please
May 26:
Azari & III Live; The Magician; Punks Jump Up; The Discotexas Band Live; Miguel Quintão; Mirror People (Rui Maia from X-Wife)
June 1:
Jamie Jones; Maceo Plex Live; Dyed Soundorom; Kings of Swingers: Renato Rathier + Mau Mau; Magazino; José Belo + Zé Salvador
June 2:
Masters at Work ("Little" Louie Vega & Kenny "Dope" Gonzales); The Martinez Brothers; Johnwaynes Live; Miguel Rendeiro; DJ Poppy
June 3:
DJ Harvey; DJ Vibe; dOP Live; DJ Dixon; Stereo Addiction
To know all the confirmations and information about Rock In Rio Lisboa 2012 read here.
Jeff Mangum and The Olivia Tremor Control will close the festival on June 10.
The performances are going to happen on Casa da Música, in Porto.
The concept is the same as Optimus Primavera Sound- several artists playing at the same time at different places of Casa da Música. The entry will be exclusive to people who have the general pass and the entry is limited to the capacity of each room.
Soon other names will be announced to Jeff Mangum and The Olivia Tremor Control.
Remember the pass is 99€ and check below the confirmed artists.
Björk; Spiritualized; The xx; Beach House; The Walkmen; Afghan Whigs; Shellac; Wilco; Death Cab For Cutie; The Dirty Three; Explosions in the Sky; Veronica Falls; Yo La Tengo; Olivia Tremor Control; The Drums; Washed Out; Jeff Mangum; Codeine; Neon Indian; Other Lives; SISKIYOU; Number Showcase; Sleepy Sun; Thee oh Sees; Flaming Lips; Rufus Wainwright; Black Lips; The Rapture; Atlas Sound; Lee Ranaldo; Yann Tiersen; Saint Etienne; War on Drugs; Wolves in the Throne Room; Tennis; John Talabot; Erol Alkan; We Trust; Gala Drop; Bigott; Esperit!; Forest; Swords; I Break Horses; Mujeres; Baxter Dury; Tall Firs; Wavves; Death Grips; Demdike Stare; James Ferraro and the Bodyguard;
The festival ERP Remember Cascais is going to happen on September 7th and 8th on the Manuel Possolo Municipal racetrack.
On the press conference that happened last Tuesday, March 6th, the organisation confirmed the presence of Alphaville, Ali Campbell from UB40 and Sétima Legião, a Portuguese band.
The tickets for this festival will cost 30€ (a day) and 50€ (two-day pass).
The confirmed names are September 7: F.R. David; Alphaville; Ali Campbell (UB40)
September 8: Liz Mitchell (Boney M); Sétima Legião; Bonnie Tyler
This themed week's category was voted on FYMS Facebook and it's going to be related with Songs that marked the Humanity at some point.
My first choice is the British band Queen.
The band was created in 1971 and it's originally composed by Freddie Mercury (vocals, piano), Brian May (guitars, vocals), John Deacon (bass, guitars, vocals) and Roger Taylor (drums, vocals).
Queen is known for hits like Bohemian Rhapsody, Love Of My Life, We Will Rock You, Radio Ga Ga or I Want To Break Free.
With 18 studio and live albums - Queen (1973), Queen II (1974), Sheer Heart Attack (1974), A Night At The Opera (1975), A Day At The Races (1976), News Of The World (1977), Jazz (1978), Live Killers (1979), The Game (1980), Flash Gordon (1980), Hot Space (1982), The Works (1984), A Kind of Magic (1986), Live Magic (1986), The Miracle (1989), Innuendo (1991), Live At Wembley '86 (1992) and Made In Heaven (1995) - that included Freddie Mercury as singer, before his death due to AIDS complications.
We Are The Champions is one of the most characteristic and known songs from Queen.
The song was composed by Freddie Mercury and released as a single from their 1977 album News Of The World.
It's recognized for becoming the anthem for victories (usually on sports).
Mercury wrote this song to build an audience response. According to Brian May"We wanted to get the crowds waving and singing. It’s very unifying and positive".
Artists like Robbie Williams, Jonas Brothers, Green Day and Lily Allen covered and performed this hit, on several occasions.
John Lennon was a English singer, songwriter and musician, better known for his career with the successful British band The Beatles.
On his solo career he is known for songs like Imagine, Give Peace a Chance or Happy Xmas (War Is Over).
After the end of The Beatles around 1970's he started a solo career - releasing eight studio albums: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970), Imagine (1971), Some Time in New York City- with Yoko One - (1972), Mind Games (1973), Walls and Bridges (1974), Rock n' Roll (1975), Double Fantasy- with Yoko One - (1980) and Milk And Honey- with Yoko One - (1984), besides three experimental albums, two live albums and seventeen compilations.
Woman is the second single taken from John Lennon's Double Fantasy released in 1980, although at the beginning the album wasn't very well received, it's always associated with Lennon's murder three weeks after.
The song is very known for being an ode to his wife Yoko Ono and to all women, how he realized that the woman of his dreams was his actual savior.
On an interview for Rolling Stone magazine later in 1980, Lennon said "Woman came about because (...) I saw what women do for us. Not just what my Yoko does for me (...) Women really are the other half of the sky, as I whisper at the beginning of the song. And it just sort of hit me like a flood, and it came out like that. (...) I did it as I did Girl many years afo. So this is the grown-up version of Girl."
"Woman I know you understand
The little child inside of the man
Please remember my life is in your hands
And woman hold me close to your heart
However distant don't keep us apart
After all it is written in the stars"
The British Indie rock band is the new confirmed name for the Vila Nova de Gaia's festival.
Kaiser Chiefs are performing on Marés Vivas on July 19 - on the same day as The Cult and Garbage. Kaiser Chiefs released their forth work The Future Is Medieval in June 2011 (an album - Start The Revolution Without Me - was released yesterday in the US, including several songs taken from The Future Is Medieval). Check the last single taken from the album below.
The performance was confirmed on the Portuguese radio station Radio Comercial, one of the main sponsors of the festival.
Remember that artists like Wolfmother, Franz Ferdinand and Gogol Bordello are also confirmed on the festival.
Check everthing about Marés Vivas 2012 edition here.
Julie & The Carjackers are a Portuguese band created in the summer of 2009 by João Correia and Bruno Pernadas.
After several years of working together on other musical projects from jazz to rock, the project was created "to give shape to a body of songs that both the musicians had been composing but couldn't fit in their previous projects." as we can read on their Facebook.
Influenced by tropical and jazz music, Julie & The Carjackers are a rock-folk band who shares timeless and unexpected music.
In 2010, the band released a self-titled online EP through Optimus Discos. This first work was very low-fi, very home-made, somewhere near the naif and strongly influenced by bossa-nova and the 90's American rock music.
In 2011, they saw their song Boxes being included on the music collection Novos Talentos FNAC.
Later that year, in November, Julie & The Carjackers released their debut album Parasol.
The album is a reflection of their many influences from Chico Buarque to The Beatles and The Beach Boys, with rich arrangements, curious instruments and a sweet environment. Parasol was mixed by Luís Nunes - better known as Walter Benjamin - and released by the Portuguese label Pataca Discos.
Julie & The Carjackers are composed by João Correia (vocals, percussion and guitars), Bruno Pernadas (guitars), Inês Sousa (vocals and percussion), Margarida Campelo (vocals and keyboards), Pedro Pinto (double-bass and electric bass) and António V. Dias (vocals and drums).
According to João Correia, Mr. Williams is about a guy who thinks is sloppy and unlucky but he isn't because he wastes his time complaining instead of appreciating what's around him.
The North-American project created by Justin Vernon will perform for the first time in Portugal.
Bon Iver is going to perform on Lisbon's Coliseum on July 24th and Porto's Coliseum on July 25th.
The tickets will be available for purchase next Friday, March 9th.
The ticket's price for the Lisbon's show will be between 30€ and 35€ and for Porto's gig will be 25€ and 35€.
Remember the indie folk project has released two studio albums - For Emma, Forever Ago (2008) and Bon Iver, Bon Iver (2011).
Last February, it was released the video for the newest single taken from Bon Iver, Bon Iver - the beautiful Towers, see the video below.
Miles Kane, probably this artist is better known for working with Alex Turner on The Last Shadow Puppets or has singer on The Rascals.
Miles Kane released his debut solo album Colour of the Tap last May 9, 2011.
The last single taken from the album is Rearrange and was co-written with Alex Turner from Arctic Monkeys.
The English musician is performing on the last day of the Portuguese festival Optimus Alive! on July 15, at the alternative stage - Palco Heineken. Performing on the same day there's also Radiohead, PAUS, The Kooks and Warpaint.
Discover the other artists performing on this festival.
