Introducing: Smoke And Silver
It must have been probably two years when it all started. My close friend Matt Knight (lead guitar) talked about starting up a little project with his friend Charlie (vocals, guitar, drums) called Smoke & Silver – a modern day rock / blues band with a nod to the past and a quick glance to the future. Just an idea, a sketch and a vision between the two of them.

They’d both been in a band called ‘Modern Life’ who’d gained some genuine commercial success, having supported the likes of INXS on the wave of their own self-titled track. But since ‘Modern Life’ had run its course, both of them took some time out to head into a new creative direction on their own.

Over 2 years, countless rehearsals, fine tuning and hundreds of hours in various studios – Smoke & Silver was born. I remember being a part of the very early recording sessions, hanging out at the studio and listening to all the ideas being put together. Even then, you could tell they had some genuine potential and true talent – they just needed to define their ‘sound’ a little more.

Fast forward since those early days 2 years ago, and it’s here that we arrive in the present day with their first video and debut track. If I had to draw a comparison, it’s a little reminiscent of Queens Of The Stone Age’s “Lullabies to Paralyze” era.

It’s called “On The Riverside” and really, rather than try and describe it using various adjectives that don’t nearly do it justice, it’s probably best if you just hit play on the video people and soak it in.

If you love it (and I’m 99% sure you will!) make sure you tell your friends about these guys – they’re ones to watch in 2011 that’s for sure

‘Like’ them on Facebook
Visit their official site.

Enjoy,



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I’ve mentioned them previously, but one of my favorite bands She Wants Revenge have just posted their first new music since their 2009 EP Up and Down. It’s called ‘Take the World‘ and is directed by band member Adam Bravin (DJ Adam 12).

It’s taken their trademark sound of dark synths and bass-heavy sound and expanded on it, with some truly wonderful results. It’s the sound of a band at the beginning of a new era and for me is up there with some of their best work to date.

You can always measure the talent and depth of a band, by their ability to continue to grow and evolve their sound.

As for the video itself, it’s simply beautiful – shot in B&W and featuring……..well my kind of girls. For his first time directing, it’s a fantastic effort, I for one would love to see Adam direct more, especially if this debut is a mere hint at his future talent.

Enjoy the video below and please, if you love it – spread the word, these guys deserve to be heard.

Their new record is due for release in late May 2011 via Eleven Seven Records.

Visit their official site
Follow them on Twitter
Add them via Facebook
View photos on Flickr

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So here it is, the brand new video from Kanye West ‘All Of The Lights’ featuring Rihanna and Kid Cudi with vocals by Fergie, Charlie Wilson, John Legend, Tony Williams, Alicia Keys, La Roux, The Dream, Ryan Leslie, Alvin Fields and Ken Lewis. (Quite a colaboration!)

Oh and for all you Rihanna fans out there, she’s looking even more yummy than usual!

I have to say, it’s actually one of my favorite tracks from his latest album ‘My Dark Twisted Fantasy‘ which by all accounts was THE album of 2010. I do think Kanye has an ego the size of the universe, but there is no denying his talent and genuine vision – its great to see someone shaking up the stale hip-hop genre, even if these days he’s a little more pop than hip-hop.

You have to admit though, parts of the video (especially the titles) are a little too similar to the opening credits of Gaspar Noé’s “Enter The Void” (video after the jump). Some are saying that this is a nod to Gaspar Noé, while others are calling it a direct rip off.

I’ll let you be the judge

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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, Avery Tear And Panda Bear, Brown Bear Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Frightened Rabbits, White Rabbits, Fleet Foxes and without a doubt, the worst of all Part Wild Horses Mane On Both Sides.

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.

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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

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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.

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.

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