Nothing quite like the “full force of nature” is there….

I do wonder what the artist was thinking, when they decided to draw that image – but you have to admit, they have got the expressions spot on. Everytime I see it, it still gives me a chuckle. Brings a whole new meaning to the term “Team Jacob” don’t you think?

So WHY and HOW did I come across such a finely illustrated image?

Well, over the past few months (and mainly because I’m subjected to it endlessly by my peers at work) there has been a wealth of indie bands springing up every 2 hours on various pretentious “tastemaker” blogs. It turns out though, that they have quite a bit more in common than simply playing a similar style of music.

After a little research, imagine my surprise at these 8 discoveries!

1. They all have an animal related name.
2. They have at least one song with an animal in the title.
3. They all look like tedious Uni students.
4. They all sing about the changing of seasons and usually the various activities conducted by animals during said seasons.
5. They are all branded the next big thing, by the likes of Pitchfork and Hype Machine.
6. Their artwork has a very specific aesthetic, based around yep you’ve guess it, animals, collage and primitive illustrations.
6. 95% of them suck.
7.  Hipsters love them.
8. A least one member in the band has a beard.

Now before you think I’m making all of this up, I’ve actually put together a playlist, comprised ENTIRELY of indie bands with animal names – just so you can fully grasp how ridiculous the whole thing has become. (To date I have 91, I’m trying to get to 100.)

Have a listen to my official indie bands with animal names playlist here.

Frightening isn’t it….

And the deeper I researched, the scarier it became. As I stumbled across such shockingly bad names as “Summer Cats, Sue And The Unicorn, Seabear, Owl + Moth, Freelance Whales, Bear Hands, Collections Of Colonies of Bees, Ultra Dolphins and finally Avery Tear And Panda Bear”

It is utterly bizarre to me, that a genre of music can be so limp-wristed and cliched. I’m well aware of the fact, that death metal bands for instance have utterly ridiculous names – but that specific genre has been around for over 20 years. These indie bands have literally only been around since the start of maybe 2004 onwards. I can’t understand, why they all have to look the same, sound the same and then give themselves the same name – it’s like this odd indie checklist they all go through prior to releasing anything.

Here’s a video from “Seabear” complete with random montages of the woods, inoffensive bland vocals that could be anyone and someone who looks pretty much like those tedious Uni students I was mentioning before.

But thankfully, help is at hand.

There is one band, one indie artist, one genuine talent, one great hope – that stands tall, looming large over them all.

Yes BEARHAWK.

Who’s music sends you into such a state, you almost forget to use adjectives. Almost.

And really, I don’t need to say anything else about them – because you should already know how amazing they are. If you don’t, please don’t embarrass yourself by telling your friends you’ve not yet heard them – that would be tragic and cause you to appear musically and culturally bankrupt.

Instead, educate yourself by visiting their official site and experiencing the creme de la creme of everything indie.

Oh and for all you hipster kids, with your touch-type-net-speak  - please abbreviate to BRHWK  - that’s mandatory for any indie loving “I think I’m a professional photographer because I’ve installed the Lomo camera app on my iPhone” fan.

Much appreciated.

Alex

p.s. Disclaimer: I may or may not be involved with BRHWK.

Marilyn Manson has just released his brand new video for the track ‘Running To The Edge Of The World’ which is from his recently released record ‘The High End Of Low’.

A word of warning, the clip isn’t for the faint of hearted. It was directed by the man himself in a hotel room and needless to say….it doesn’t disappoint.

You can watch it below, or by clicking here

Alex

So 5 days and 1,926 kilometers later, my whirlwind holiday with my partner in crime, the one and only Yummy Yasmin, has sadly come to an end – boooo!. (This is why I went down)

But there’s much to celebrate, in fact, so much happened in such a short space of time, that I’m desperately writing it all down to share it with you, before I forget some of the situations and highlights, in what was a frenetic and fun few days.

(I’m going to split the trip into two blog entries, because otherwise we’ll both be here all day. So think of this as the first act, with the second act to follow in a few days.)

Now for anyone that has flown to Melbourne from Sydney, this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but no sooner had we taken off from Sydney’s domestic terminal, we landed in Melbourne!

One of the shortest and thankfully smoothest flights I’ve ever been on (and trust me I’ve spent a bit of time whizzing around in the air) quite why anyone would consider driving for 12 hours in a crammed car, crawling along the motorway, when it’s nearly as cheap, certainly a lot easier easy and much faster to fly is any-one’s guess.

I was really impressed with Virgin Blue as whole and the longstanding cliche of their attractive, tall, slim blond air-hostess certainly got a chuckle out of me. Quite how Mr Richard Branson gets around workplace discrimination I’ll never know, but hey for eye-candy value alone, you certainly won’t hear me complaining.

During our stay, home for the next 72 hours, would be the 5 -Star Como Hotel in South Yarra, situated no less than on one of the main shopping areas in Melbourne, Chapel Street.

I’ve been to Melbourne a few times, yet never been to South Yarra before. What I’d been told held true, it’s undeniably an affluent area, similar to Paddington / Woolahra in Sydney, with lots of boutique shops, filled with lots of upper and middle class Caucasian people, all looking rather fashionable, the chaps with their Ray Bans, the ladies direct from the salon with their freshly styled hair.

The wah? Who? Erm....

And yet for all the obvious money on display, the locals fluttered past displaying an air of confidence, without ever coming close to being pretentious – which was both refreshing and rarely seen in Sydney. They didn’t seem to have to prove a point, maybe the notion that Melbourne has an inferiority complex, is merely a myth?

Chapel Street is actually a really long stretch of shops that spans several different suburbs. When you’re leaving one and crossing over into another, you can immediately feel the entire aesthetic of the area change literally from one meter to the next. High fashion outlets, suddenly morph into second hand bookstores, whilst the Prada shoes which once tapped on the sidewalk next to you, become replaced with the flip flop echo of a pair of Havana’s.

Life imitating art

One particular shop, was a Halloween store, or rather a store which pretty much had every sort of Halloween inspired, witchy, spooky, gothic attire ones little black heart could desire. It also had some fucking HUGE replica spiders dangling from various devices throughout the shop.

However, they were all unbeknown to me as I walked in (you can see where this is going right?). I turned around only to be confronted with a ginormous black hairy tarantula, legs fanned out on the ledge next to me! It was so big, heavy and bulky in its appearance, it could have literally have been used as a doorstop!

If I went to burgle a house and was confronted with that on the floor as I opened the door, rest assured I would be a mere dot disappearing over the horizon!

Rather worryingly, out of the corner of my eye, I could see another one dangling in the center of a web and to my utter horror within seconds, I started seeing them all around the shop, yes it turns out, I was literally surround by a den of large black threatening spiders in all shapes and sizes. Some where hairy, some had fangs, some were in webs and some were made of shiny black rubber.

It was the stuff of nightmares, honestly.

I’m not ashamed to admit, I have a genuine phobia of spiders, anyone who knows me well, is aware that I simply can’t handle being near them, real or not. Upon the realisation that I was almost certainly surrounded  by the damn things, the room started spinning and I felt suddenly out of breath, so I closed my eyes stumbling towards the exit, fearing that I might be confronted with even more, as I made my escape.

I was so stressed out by the whole ordeal, I literally had to sit on the street for a few minutes to catch my breath  and regain some semblance of composure

It got me thinking, though, that there should be warning signs in shops like that, for people who suffer from the very real fear of arachnophobia?

When you going to concert or a exhibit that uses strobe lights, people with epilepsy are given advanced warning, am I right? So if you have a phobia of a certain creature (and I think a high proportion of people have a strong fear of or keen dislike for spiders in general anyway), don’t you think a shop which sells them or their likeness, should providing warnings as well?

I know if they had, I wouldn’t have had to endure such a panic attack.

Yet strangely enough, it’s moments like this, which holidays are made up of, for better or worse. But, as you can imagine, I shan’t be revisiting that shop anytime soon.

Later that night, before the first of 2 Marilyn Manson shows at the festival hall, we went to an All-American themed diner called ‘Sodarock’. When I say “All-American” it genuinely was, old-skool jukebox machines blaring out 1960’s swing, a life sized Elvis Presley and amusingly enough, they even served “Spiders” (2 scoops of vanilla-ice cream into a flavored soda) on the menu.

But the real highlight of the experience came half way through our meal, when the entire staff of the restaurant suddenly leaped from behind the counter and promptly started to dance in unison to ‘Shake Your Tailfeather’ by Ray Charles & Blues Brothers Band.

Clearly rehearsed, it never the less had the entire restaurant grinning from ear to ear (myself included) in apparent confusion and surprise. Synchronized, dancing 1960’s waitress’s, rounds of applause and a yummy meal who would have thought?

Now, as you know, the main reason I flew to Melbourne, was to see Marilyn Manson on tour (dedicated fan I know!) I actually ended up seeing him 4 times in 5 days.

Marilyn Manson On Tour 2009

Melbourne Festival Hall Saturday October 10th 2009 (sold out)
Melbourne Festival Hall Saturday October 11th 2009
Sydney Enmore Theatre Tuesday October 13th 2009
Sydney The Hordern Pavillion October 14th (sold out)

Now I don’t want to bore you with all the details, if you’re not a fan, little of it will make much sense anyway, SO here’s a summary spanning the 4 shows, otherwise I’ll be here all day haha.

1. Melbourne crowds are vastly different to Sydney ones. Much more subdued and docile. In fact, most of them seem to be utterly obsessed with taking photos of themselves during the show, than actually watching it.

2. The Festival Hall in Melbourne, has a really shit P.A. system, the whole venue actually reminded me of a sports gymnasium

3.  The best show by a long long way, was the final one I saw at the Hordern Pavillion. Best crowd, strong performance and decent sound.

4. He’s certainly done better tours, but I did like the striped back approach this time. More about the music, less about the theatrics.

5. Decent setlist, would have liked to have heard something from The Golden Age of Grotesque album though.

6. He’s still got it and for the most part, was in good spirits “You do realize Melbourne, that I am the man, with the golden dick?” haha although he is looking a little older now. He’s certainly not over-weight, as the press may have lead you to believe – trust me, I got a good look being so close to the front of the stage

7. Standout track of the entire tour strangely enough, was Dope Show, crowd loved it on all 4 occasions. Lowlight, the rather flat version of Tourniquet at both Melbourne shows and ridiculously over-priced merch. $125 for a hoodie, wah?

8. He played one less song at both Sydney shows. So Melbourne, I guess you got more value of money! Tourniquet, was left out (and not replaced either) at both Sydney shows, not sure why.

9. Twiggy was awesome as usual.

10. The Sydney crowds had more energy, made more noise and had a much bigger and better mosh.

Finally, here’s some photos from Melbourne and here’s a playlist I put together, featuring some of my favorite tracks.

After the 1st show, Yasmin and I headed back to the city, on a mission to find a nice bar to see out the night with. Whilst it’s clearly a tourist destination, some of the bars and restaurants at the Crown Casino Complex are actually really good, and with a view on the Yarra River complete with soft city lighting, they turn out to be perfect place to end an evening.

Decisions, decisions....

We ended up going to a little place called Nobu where we had some rather yummy cocktails, I can’t for the life of me remember what was in them, but I do remember thinking I could pretty much drink them for eternity they were that good. It was quite funny really, going from the hooded PVC gothic hordes of the concert with their plastic cups of VB, to the sharp suits and dim lighting of one of Melbourne’s finest cocktail lounges. Nobu then, two thumbs up from me.

After that, it was back to the hotel for an amazing spa bath, THE perfect way to end the day. I really wish I had one of those in my own house, ah the novelty of hotels – I could have stayed in that spa forever after spending nearly 16 hours on my feet all day.

So there you have it, day one, easy flight, the beautiful people, dancing waiters, spiders of vengeance, sweaty goths, lip smackin’ cocktails and walks along the Yarra River at night.

Now if you thought that was decent first day, wait until I post my review & photos from the second day. A Trip To Melbourne – Act 2, will follow soon.

Until then, isn’t it about time that YOU booked a holiday? Go on, after reading all that, you know you want to haha.

Alex

Giving a demo at the MySpace Music press conference October 1st 2009

It’s been a hectic few days, in fact the last couple of weeks have been somewhat of a blur. This is largely due to spending excessive hours @ work, in preparation for the launch of MySpace Music in Australia and New Zealand.

On October 1st, key media players across Australia were invited to come down for the great unveiling and celebrate it’s arrival at the press conference. From the major record labels (who have equity in the venture) through to established news outlets such as SMH, News Ltd, to industry coverage from the Music Network and support from the ever dependable ABC, everyone, who is anyone in Australian media, was there.

As you’d expect, there was a tremendous amount of excitement, fanfare and relief on the day. The product had been in development for over a year, with on-going rumors raising the expectation levels each and every day, however, I’m delighted to say they’ve been met & even exceeded with it’s launch. It really is a fantastic avenue for musicians and there’s little doubt in my mind, that it’s a massive step-forward for individuals who are fans of music and want free, quick and easy access to it.

As a result, Australian and New Zealand MySpace users can listen to songs & albums from over 5 MILLION artists on the site, including their extensive back catalogues.

It’s mind-boggling trying to even begin to comprehend that isn’t it

To give you an example,  Elvis Presley alone has 121 albums available on MySpace all of which you can stream in their entirety, unlimited, legally and for free.

(I’ve been listening to Daft Punk’s 2007 Alive album religiously recently).

Plus you can create your own playlists and share them with friends – just like you did with those old-skool mixtapes back in the 80’s & 90’s. Even Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has put together his own personal playlist on the site, respect!

Those two quick examples alone, should demonstrate the reach, influence, impact and potential MySpace Music has. It truly is instant and free access for everyone who is a fan of music. Come and try it out.

Exciting times ahead

Speaking of exciting times, in under a week, I’m heading down to Melbourne to go and see Marilyn Manson play two shows there, how is that for dedication hehe, I seriously can’t wait, my version of a mini-holiday.

I’m actually seeing him twice in Sydney, so all up 4 times in 5 days, and if I’m really lucky who knows, I might even get to meet him again. If I do, rest assured I’m going to send the world the photos! His new record ‘The High End Of Low’ just keeps getting better and better with each listen.

I’ll be updating and using Twitter whilst I’m down there, so please do stay in touch if you don’t already. It blows my mind that I can take a photo from my Blackberry, send it to Twitter, which then syncs with my MySpace and Facebook accounts, allowing you guys to all view it.

I used it today actually.

I found this chap, around the back of Oxford Street, left for dead on the side of the curb, after a big night out. So I took it upon myself to prop him up and arrange him in a manner the locals would approve of….

I left him there like that, so here’s hoping he gets lucky tonight.

It’s true, I rarely fail in finding ways to amuse myself haha!

Alex

p.s. Today I watched my beloved Sydney FC return to the top the league, Arsenal hammered Blackburn 6-2 and EVEN Norwich City won 5-1. Talk about a great weekend of football!

I’ve been laughing at lot this morning.

It’s all thanks for my recent discovery of a band called “Millionaires” who have pretty much hands down got my vote, for worst band of 2009. A shocking mish-mash of Photoshop solar flares, fluro animated GIFs, embarrassing attempts at make-up, plastic props and lyrics so inane, they make Britney seem like a wordsmith.

And I haven’t even begun to describe what they sound like. It’s probably best that I don’t, for fear of scaring you off actually. Or you could summon the strength to check out their clips below, I promise it will make your day. In fact, the only way these characters would make money, is by going on partypoker.com because I can’t understand how anyone who is sound of hearing, would buy their music .

I’m a fan of a well-crafted pop song, I have nothing against the novelty and inherent obsolescence that pop music bring to the world of music. But even so, there is fun light-hearted catchy pop and then there are those horribly mis-guided attempts at being credible and semi-talented. This is the latter.

Now before we get started,  these are the ACTUAL lyrics for their song called “ALCOHOL” (Which I might add, they very thoughtfully spell out for you during the song).

Ladies, take it away :-

MILLIONAIRES – ALCOHOL LYRICS:

Friday night it’s time to party
Drop it down and get real naughty
Girls talk shit, we don’t care
We’ll take off our underwear!

Come get fucked up!
Give me my alcohol
Let’s get fucked up!
A-L-C-O-H-O-L

All these boys are drinking ale
And we bust out White Zinfandel!
Yeah we’re getting pretty trashed
But these boys ain’t gettin any ass

Drink every drink that could be tasted
Look at us, we’re fuckin wasted
We stumble, mumble, no one cares
Just cause we’re the MILLIONAIRES!

Teen binge-drinking never sounded so enticing did it? And just in case you think this is actually all I joke (I admit it, I did originally) here is the video they made to accompany the song.

(If you can’t see it below, watch it here)

“ALCOHOL” Official Music Video by The Millionaires

They have over 200,000 friends on MySpace, which is rather frightening to me – I for one didn’t think it was possible for 200,000 people to have such shocking taste in music haha.  They even make The Veronica’s seem credible in comparison.

But it doesn’t end there, a few days ago they just posted a BRAND NEW VIDEO for their new single ‘Just Got Paid’ and guess what, it’s the ‘Directors Cut’ .

Now, as you can imagine, I could hardly contain my excitement. The photo above, complete with the fake monkey, plastic dollar signs, cheap-ass binki’s and fake chalice (encrusted with top of the range plastic diamonds) only served as a mere preview of the utter atrocity set to unfold.

And just when you think it couldn’t possibly get any worse, well it just did. Here’s their second attempt at a music video. (If you can’t see it below, watch it here)

Millionaires – Just Got Paid – Director’s Cut

MILLIONAIRES – JUST GOT PAID LYRICS:

Cause I just paid!
Lets get laid!

I dropped 2 stacks on this dress & it’s comin off later
With a pro skater or maybe with this waiter
And he said we’ll head home popping bottles of Patrone
With my tone on his phone all the callers unknown

Can you believe I get paid to shake my ass on stage
We’re getting drunk errrrrryday you’re makin minimum wage
We live the life you wish bitch don’t say shit!
No talent just lucky but they stilllll wanna fuck meeEEH!

So what have we learnt today? That 3 talent free girls, enjoy getting utterly inebriated and desperately seek to get laid when it comes to payday. Awesome.

Strangely enough, those two scenarios are often connected. You can always tell when it’s payday in the city, people go out, get drunk and in doing so (and with beer goggles in full effect) tend to hook up with other blurred eyed randoms.

Maybe I’m underestimating the “Millionaires“? Maybe it’s all part of an elaborate ploy on their part? A social commentary on the effects of alcohol, cash in your account and unattractive people having sex? Broken down into two horrifying videos and a wave of ridiculous photos?

Who knows? But one thing I am sure of, there will be few bands in 2009 able to knock them off their lofty status as frankly THE worst band of the year.

Alex

Whilst they are not neccessarily my favorite albums, I think the imagery, concept and thought that went into each cover below is pretty inspiring. (They’re not in order of preference)

In truth, I was limited to what Sleevage had available, so I picked my favorites from their rather small inventory. I could have searched the net for like 5 days straight, resized every album cover I liked and uploaded them all here – but um…..that was honestly never going to happen! I’ll leave that to other vastly more dedicated types!

Enjoy,
Alex

My favorite artist and band of all time are back!

Anyone who knows me well, is aware that I’m am a HUGE HUGE HUGE Marilyn Manson fan. My bedroom walls, which are covered in band posters dating back to 1996, are testament to that! Not to mention all the signed memorabilia, t-shirts and limited edition merch I have hidden away.

The most exciting 48 hours of my life, when I got to meet the band twice backstage, once in Sydney and then the following night in Newcastle, back in 2003 for ‘The Golden Age Of Grotesque’ tour. 

I’m rarely lost for words, but I was totally and unashamedly starstruck at the time. I still remember those two evenings, down to the minutest detail, talking to him about his photographs and who play what on which album, memories like that will always stay with me I think.

You can download the new Marilyn Manson track “We’re From America“, directly from www.marilynmanson.com

It’s taken from the forthcoming album “The High End Of Low” set for a May 26th worldwide release.

After hearing it, I CANNOT WAIT to hear the rest of the album, it’s not the greatest song he’s ever written (that goes to Coma White) but as a taste of things to come, it’s one hell of a start!

Mr. Manson, we salute you!

p.s. Listen to more from Marilyn Manson here

Alex

“I GAVE MYSELF 158 SCARS IN ONE DAY”

Marilyn Manson Makes “Cocksure”, Autobiographical New Album.

Marilyn Manson has spoken exclusively to Kerrang! About his band’s upcoming new studio album, The High End of Low. The 15-Track record sees Manson reunited with former bassist and writing partner Twiggy Ramirez – who left the band in 2002 citing creative differences – and producer Sean Beaven (Nine Inch Nails, Slayer) who recorded the band’s 1996 breakthrough album, Antichrist Superstar. Tracks set to appear on the release include I Want To Kill You Like They Do In The Movies, Arma-goddamn-motherfucking-geddon, Devour, Four Rusted Horses, album closer 15, and We’re From America, which was made available as a free download from the band’s site www.marilynmanson.com, earlier this week.

We’re From America is the first track fans will hear from the album, can you give us more details about the song?

“I think a lot of people will hear the track and initially think it’s just political, but it’s not just that, it’s also me describing a lot of fucked-up scenarios that I’m going through in my personal life. Someone asked me, ‘Why are you so fucked up?’, ‘Well, I am from America.’ I hate the fact that so many people have fucked the country up, and so many people fucked up my personal life and I allowed it to happen. So in a way, I feel like America as a whole feels, but in no way does that make me a tree-hugging patriotic freedom rocker.”

What sound were you going for in the studio?

“It was just to not worry so much about trying to be professional, or trying to be anything. The guitar sounds like [Twiggy’s] dick when it’s hard. That’s why I describe the record as ‘hard’, not ‘heavy’. Because if you’re going to have a music that is going to be called a ‘dick’ – would you want it to be heavy? That’s a burden. Or ‘hard’ Cos then you could do things with it. The record comes across – no pun intended – with the confidence of someone who is cocksure – no pun intended. It’s completely unafraid of anything.

Were you concerned with what the record company would think of it?

“No. At one point I told everyone, ‘I don’t really care’. What are they gonna do? Return it? You gonna fire me? Call in some special police who come down and yell at me. Did you forget what band you are dealing with? The record companies seem only recently to be having some strange concern that I might be crazy. Really? I might be crazy? I think they’re a little late on that one!”

How would you describe the overall attitude of the album?

“This is not a record that we would leave black and self-titled and mature. This is the experienced record. This album is the 12th Grade guy that has VD and did cocaine in high school, who has been arrested once and the 9th Grade girl wants to fuck him.”

Does the album have a running concept or any specific themes?

“The songs on this record are quite autobiographical, but they’re also very much their own stories in the same sense as some of my earlier work on Antichrist Superstar. The songs are in the order in which they were written and sung. It was a story that took place and I didn’t really know what it was going to be till it happened. I had to find out how it was going to end in order to end the record. This album left many scars, and I think they are good ones.”

Literal scars too?

“Well, I gave myself 158 scars in one day. It was me trying to prove a point to someone – myself. It wasn’t like my years in the past of self-mutilation, something to be hidden, or a type of compulsion. This is more like tattoos, 158 things that happened that day and I wanted remind myself.”

Are there any other reminders of the record’s creation?

“I wrote all the lyrics on the wall of my room. It wasn’t to be decorative; it was one of those things, like it’s the last thing someone sees before they put them somewhere else. I think it looks good. And if anyone wants to come into this room and fornicate with me, I think they are a keeper… and when I say keeper, I mean kidnapping. I am probably going to do most of the press for the record from my house, before I leave or destroy it, because you can see the story and what the record as made from within the house.”

How else did you document it?

“During the whole process I took a lot of photos, so the artwork is a lot of storytelling and the way that the songs have turned out is more from my point of view rather than looking at me. Because I always wanted to take pictures, my house is set up like a movie set. Instead of lamps I have movie lights and smoke machines and things.”

Does the album also have a movie quality to it?

“Yes. I really look at this record as a film, maybe because I sort of directed it. I stopped trying to conform regular life into the idea that it’s regular life. Why isn’t it all just a movie? If people are watching, they’re watching me being an asshole or being boring or creating something amazing. That’s just a part of the movie. It allowed me to be more creative.”

Are there any tracks in particular that surprised you or will surprise fans?

“15 is track 15 on the album. It’s the most important song I think that’s been written by Marilyn Manson as an entity. It’s the most unusual song I have ever heard. I thought that the album was done, as there is a glorious epic track [before that] that I think will make Twiggy forever recognised as a guitar hero. That felt like the end of the record, but what was happening in my life had not resolved itself. So on January 5, one five, I sung 15 and the lyrics will tell the story of that day…”

Did finishing the record mark the end and a resolution of your problems?

“I think that my life definitely ended and began. The record sounds very final, but it’s almost optimistic – thought that feels a strange word to use. It’s a phoenix from the fire and a redemption, resurrection.”

You can view a scan from the article here and page 2 here

Official Marilyn Manson Resources
http://www.marilynmanson.com
http://www.mansonusa.com
http://au.myspace.com/marilynmanson
http://www.kerrangmagazine.com

Alex

The Prodigy did a recent interview, going through track-by-track about their new record “Invaders Must Die” their best since Fat Of The Land in 1996. Watch it below, its really insightful and if you want to listen to more tracks from the album itself, just click here

If you can’t see the video below, follow this link

Hope you like,
Alex

Thanks to my friend Kate, I was lucky enough to get the chance to see the godfather of electro, Gary Numan in Sydney last week.

It was great to see him live, I’d been wanting to go but couldn’t afford it. So getting to see him, was a bit of treat hehe, it actually made me appreciate just HOW influential he’s been in creating and furthering that electroclash and synth-pop sound. A sound which seems all the rage these days, but one which he was pioneering back in the 1970’s.

If you don’t know the name Gary Numan, you’d certainly know the songs including “Cars” and the classic “Are Friends Electric?” both of which have been sampled and covered by hundreds of bands.  A testement to his talent, longevity and influence in the music scene.

Without the likes of him paving the way, bands like The Knife, Hot Chip, Fischerspooner, The Faint, Depeche Mode, Massive Attack or even Underworld wouldn’t have been able to build on his success.

You can experience more Gary Numan here

Good music, never goes out of style

Alex