Top 10 Albums 2015

Yes, it's that time on the year again where people like to look back and make a best-of-list. 2015 was another great year where I saw many great concerts, heard wonderful music and discovered some new bands on the go. So for what it's worth, here's my top 10 album list. Have a great new year's and let's make 2016 at least as good.

1. D’Angelo - Black Messiah
Play in Spotify

2. Tame Impala - Currents
Play in Spotify

3. Protomartyr - The Agent Intellect
Play in Spotify

4. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Multi-Love
Play in Spotify

5. Daniel Norgren - Alabursy
Play in Spotify

6. The Icarus Line - All Things Under Heaven
Play in Spotify

7. Ought - Sun Coming Down
Play in Spotify

8. Wolf Alice - My Love Is Cool
Play in Spotify

9. Blur - The Magic Whip
Play in Spotify

10. John Coffey - The Great News
Play in Spotify


Read more!

Rock Werchter 2013 Day 2: Blurry Night

Traditionally I get quite wasted the first day of a festival and pretty bad at the beginning of the next day. But today I actually don't feel that bad. The weather is only getting more beautiful and Joe Piler never looked better. The line-up today doesn't look that good, but I don't care. Since today I'm finally going to see Blur and that alone makes it a great day.

Rock Werchter 2013 Day 2, July 5 2013



Charles Bradley
What better way to start a day with a good hug? Charles Bradley not only gives out hugs during his show. His music feels like a one big hug. He may look like your grandpa, but what a cool grandpa. His voice is strong, his music a crossover between James Brown and Otis Redding. With his James Brown-impersonator past, he borrowed some moves from the "Godfather of Soul". They may not look that flexible all the time, but I'd like to see any of us doing them at 65. Sometimes Bradley picks up the mic stand and carries it around like a heavy burden on his shoulder. And telling from the documentary 'Charles Bradley: Soul Of America' he has quite a burden to carry. Every word he sings is full of emotion and sounds honest. In the end he fills the tent with his love and puts a smile on every person's face.



Official Website | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter | Spotify



Gary Clark Jr.
It's not a bad thing when you're called the new Jimi Hendrix. At the same time it's quite a statement to live up to. Gary Clark Jr. sure looks a bit like the legendary guitar player. His drummer could even be a new Mitch Mitchell with his curly hair. Clark certainly is trying to continue the master's legacy. His blues and rock songs are topped off with long guitar solos and jams. His guitar playing skills are unmistakable, but it misses the rough edges and urgency of Hendrix. Despite that it sounds promising and maybe he will be prove to be Jimi's reincarnation after all. I'll sure keep an eye out for him.



Official Website | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Spotify



Two Door Cinema Club
We catch the end of The Bots' show on the main stage. Two young boys on this huge stage. The end is a bit chaotic and we don't get to watch many songs since they're chatting a lot. I guess they need to grow more. There's still plenty of time for that. Two Door Cinema Club know how to deal with these kind of stages and crowds. By now many people have found their way to the festival ground and have met Joe Piler. And so the band find a willing crowd for jumping and dancing to their catchy songs. It actually sounds nice, but I notice many songs use the same off-beat pattern and follow a similar recipe. Although I enjoyed it, they still haven't fully convinced me. Some of their songs like 'What You Know' and 'Undercover Martyn' are great crowd pleasers of course.



Official Website | MySpace | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify



The Hives
I have witnessed a few The Hives shows before and never get bored of them. This time we decide to take a look up close and we like what we see. Of course they play their usual show. Singer Pele Almqvist is acting like the biggest rock star and his brother guitar player Niklas is adding funny faces to his over the top performance. But it's all part of a The Hives show. It may not be new anymore, but songs like 'Hate To Say I Told You So' and 'Tick Tick Boom' make everyone move. In the end we had a great time once again.



Official Website | MySpace | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify



Kings of Leon
Last year the Followill boys had quite a stormy end of their tour. It looked like the band had a complete breakdown and they needed a break. It has done them well. Their performance is solid, tight and powerful. But where is the fun guys? They play everything on routine and don't seem to enjoy themselves a bit. Although singer Caleb is trying to connect to the crowd more and more, there's still no passion or love. And isn't that what a band should do when playing live? It's still quite impressive though what 'Sex On Fire' can do to a willing crowd.



Official Website | MySpace | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify



Blur
Finally it's time for the moment I have been waiting for. Blur are kicking off with 'Girls & Boys' which is getting everyone to jump right away. Damon Albarn doesn't look really pleased in the beginning but they seem to be enjoying themselves after a while. With so many great songs to choose from they come up with a nice greatest hits show. Of course 'Beetlebum', 'There's No Other Way', 'Country House' all find their way into the set. Fortunately they also play my personal favourites 'Out Of Time' and 'Coffee & TV'. It's a nicely balanced set, with some quiet moments as well. The beautiful 'Under The Westway' brings out the goose bumps. Halfway the four lads seem to be totally into it and are exchanging smiles. I'm so pleased the many British fans around me are singing their number one Blur song 'The Universal' out loud. When 'Song 2' closes the show the whole field explodes into one big "woohoo!". Just magical!



Official Website | MySpace | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify


At this point I'm just intensely happy. So me and my friends grab Joe Piler by the hand and we dance away into the night.

Click here fore more pictures

Rock Werchter 2013 Day 1
Rock Werchter 2013 Day 3
Rock Werchter 2013 Day 4

Read more!

Blur Release Trailer For Their Film

Blur have released a trailer for their upcoming film 'No Distance Left To Run'. It's a documentary film telling the story of Blur's history. The film will be in cinemas in January 2010. It includes archive footage, interviews and of course lots of music from the early years to their epic return last year on Glastonbury. More info about this film is on their website. Watch the trailer here:

Read more!

scribbles week 26 - Fireworks on Glastonbury

Well of course the biggest news was the death of Michael Jackson. But there were some nice things to enjoy as well fortunately. Glastonbury had a killer line-up with some epic moments. And there are some scribbles about Dirty Projectors and Beastie Boys.

What a great weekend they must have had at Glastonbury: Spinal Tap, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and of course the return of Blur:



And as festivals go sharing is caring so there were some guest appearances like Bruce Springsteen joining Gaslight Anthem:



Neil Young and Paul McCartney share stage
And not only in Glastonbury but also later in London Paul McCartney joined Neil Young in "For a Day in the Life":



Dirty Projectors in car accident
Their van flipped while on their way to Toronto. Fortunately they are all alright and no-one was seriously injured.

Beastie Boys name new album and release date
Beastie Boys have revealed the name for their new album: "Hot Sauce Committee Part 1". It will be released September 15.
Read more!

Scribbles week 25

Last week's scribbles include news about Living Colour, Beck and David Lynch.

Living colour are working on their first new album in five years
The new album is called "The Chair in the Doorway" and is set for release on September 15. A world tour will follow.

Becks and some of his friend musicians will be covering classic albums
It is part of his Record Club project and he will try to release a song every day on his website. The first record he will have a go at is Velvet Underground & Nico.

Woman ordered $1.9 million for illegal downloading
The 32-year old woman was fined for sharing 24 songs online. The RIAA must be really proud of themselves.

David Lynch releases rock album
The seven songs were recorded in 1994 and Lynch wrote the lyrics. The album called "Fox Bat Strategy: A Tribute to Dave Jaurequi" is due for June 30.

Members of New Order and Blur are forming new supergroup
The new band will be called "Bad Lieutenant" and are planning to release their first album in October.

Read more!

Blur back on track

In 1988 Blur played their first show in the East Anglian Railway Museum and Saturday it staged their first reunion show for friends and relatives. They played a lively 2 hour set whipping out 28 songs including their big hits.

It was the first gig in a series of warm up shows before playing some big events like Glastonbury. The guys from the YouTube were there as well so you can find some very nice high quality clips there:






Here's the setlist of the show:
She's So High
Girls & Boys
Tracy Jacks
There's No Other Way
Jubilee
Badhead
Beetlebum
Trimm Trabb
Coffee & TV
Tender
Country House
Charmless Man
Colin Zeal
Oily Water
Chemical World
Sunday Sunday
Parklife
End of a Century
To the End
This Is a Low
Popscene
Advert
Song 2
Out of Time
Battery in Your Leg
Essex Dogs
For Tomorrow
The Universal
Read more!