Z is for ... The Zutons

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Today is 30th April, so here is my twenty-sixth post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.  For more music, please have a look at my last.fm profile.

The Zutons

https://myspace.com/thezutons

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I have to admit, when The Zutons first came out, I really didn't like them.  I don't know why I didn't like them.  They just didn't appeal to me.  I could have seen them in a really small venue when I was at university, but I didn't.  And now I wish I had!

Many of you may have heard 'Valerie' by Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson, but how many of you know that it was originally written by The Zutons?  Please listen to the original as it's so much better than the cover.

They're indie.  They're rocky.  They're a band I missed out on for a while.

The Zutons - 'You Will You Won't'

*****

Honourable Mentions go to - 

Zig & Zag - Ok, these guys aren't musicians.  They're aliens from the planet Zog, and they used to co-present The Big Breakfast on Channel 4 during the 1990s.  I dare you not to love it.  Wrap your ears around Dem Girls.

Zwan - If you like The Smashing Pumpkins, you'll like Zwan, basically because they sound pretty much the same (and it's not just because they have the same lead singer).  Wrap your ears around Honestly.

Zero 7 - They're a bit jazzy and a bit electro.  You can chill out with these guys.  Wrap your ears around Today.

*****

What Z bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A-Z Challenge post - Z is for Zut Alors!

Y is for ... Yeah Yeah Yeahs

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Today is 29th April, so here is my twenty-fifth post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.  For more music, please have a look at my last.fm profile.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

http://www.yeahyeahyeahs.com/

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Yeah Yeah Yeahs are part of the New York indie rock craze that took over the music world in the early to mid 2000s.  They're rocky and grainy (I do love a grainy singer).  Karen O screams and screeches and sings, and makes you want to get up and dance.

*****

Honourable Mentions go to -

Young Knives - Another Indie Soc band.  Again, a lovely English accent comes through in the vocals.  Wrap your ears around She's Attracted To.

Yellowcard - This band is from the American 'punk' ilk.  Sometimes they can sound the same as the next band, but I still like them.  Wrap your ears around Empty Apartment.

Yum! Yum! Orange - Japanese ska pop?  Surely not?  But yes, it exists and it sounds like this.  Wrap your ears around Precious Days.

*****

What Y bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A-Z Challenge post - Y is for You Can Do It

X is for ... The xx

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Today is 28th April, so here is my twenty-fourth post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.  For more music, please have a look at my last.fm profile.

The xx

http://thexx.info/

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I found The xx on one of the millions of music television channels.  It was the video which captured my attention before the song (Islands), but the music is beautiful on its own.  Romy has such a soft, hypnotic voice, and the music is so simple, you can't help but drift away in it.

'Islands' by The xx

*****

Honourable Mentions go to -

I wish I could have some honourable mentions, but I don't know any other X bands or artistes.  Please introduce me to some!!

*****

What X bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A-Z Challenge post - X is for X mistakes Y for Z

W is for ... The Whip

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Today is 26th April, so here is my twenty-third post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.  For more music, please have a look at my last.fm profile.

The Whip

http://www.thewhipband.com/

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The Whip is another support band that I fell in love with.  They're electro dancey, and they have a female drummer (I don't know why I like that, I just do!).  You'll learn the lyrics in a second, but that doesn't matter.  You'll be dancing like a lunatic to even notice what they're singing!

*****

Honourable Mentions -

The White Stripes - Are they brother and sister?  Are they ex-husband and wife?  Who cares?  These two people make so much noise with just drums and a guitar, and they like to wear a lot of red.  Wrap your ears around Fell In Love With A Girl.

The Walkmen - If you like a bit of Razorlight, I think you'll like this band.  Wrap your ears around The Rat.

Walk off the Earth - I'm not always a fan of cover bands because they tend to play the song the same as the original and they don't (in the words of Louis Walsh) make it their own.  The members of WOTE are brilliant musicians and manage to add their own dimension to the songs they cover.  Wrap your ears around their cover of Lorde's Royals.

*****

What W bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A-Z Challenge post - W is for Word Ladder

V is for ... V V Brown

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Today is 25th April, so here is my twenty-second post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.  For more music, please have a look at my last.fm profile.

V V Brown

http://vvbrown.com/

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I'm not a huge fan of female singers.  I don't know why.  But V. V. Brown has a great stage presence, quirky style, and beautiful voice.  I think I first saw her when she supported Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly a few years back, and then she was everywhere, advertising for Marks and Spencer.

'L.O.V.E.' - V V Brown

*****

Honourable Mentions go to -

VHS or Beta - Again, this is another band I found while at university.  I dare you not to dance.  Wrap your ears around Night on Fire.

The Vines - I like this band because the lead singer gurns when he sings.  They also make good music to rock out to.  Wrap your ears around Get Free.

Vega 4 - I wish, I wish I could remember where I first came across these guys.  Never mind.  I like them.  I hope you do too.  Wrap your ears around You and Me.

*****

What V bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A-Z Challenge post - V is for Veuillez trouver ci-inclus

U is for ... Urthboy

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Today is 24th April, so here is my twenty-first post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.  For more music, please have a look at my last.fm profile.

Urthboy

http://www.urthboy.com/

source

I came across Urthboy, otherwise known as Tim Levinson, via last.fm.  This is a great website that takes note of music that you're already playing and makes suggestions with similar bands and artistes.  I'd been playing Hilltop Hoods for a while, after being introduced to them by my boyfriend at the time.  I didn't think I'd really like hip-hop, but then I thought all hip-hop was that 'guns, bitches, and bling' tripe that bled out from America.  I guess Australians have a different view of that musical genre.

There's something raw and grainy (a bit like Buck 65) that I really like about this guy.

'We Get Around' - Urthboy

*****

Honourable Mentions go to -

UNKLE - These guys are a DJ outfit, who produce and remix music.  When making their own stuff, they have a lot of other artistes singing on their tracks, so they may have worked with people you already like.  Wrap your ears around Reign.

Underworld - If you were a teenager in the 90s you will have seen the film Trainspotting, and if you saw Trainspotting you will have listened to this band.  Wrap your ears around Born Slippy.

*****

What U bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A-Z Challenge post - U is for Univocalicism

KLWG April 2014

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Today, the Kessingland Library Creative Writing Group met.  And we had a great turn out, with 11 people.  The group really has grown, and new people keep coming, which is great.

Last session, I handed out a copy of Wilfred Owen's poem 'Exposure', which contains half-rhymes.

Homework was to write a half-rhyme poem.  A lot of people found it difficult but gave it a go, and the results were extremely impressive.

Here's my untitled piece -

a sight, a glance, a fleeting look

a quickening pace for a lonely heart

breaking ice with bursts of heat

a key is needed for this rusty lock

a smile, a nod, a nervous wave

a tingle wandering over skin

blinking eyes afraid to scan

a crowded room through which to weave

a walk, a glide, a twisted turn

a sudden gasp of mottled air

counting seconds passing by the hour

a jerky movement to a jumbled tune

a palm, a hand, a friendly touch

a shudder surging through the blood

merging moments becoming blurred

a match to light this fading torch

a taste, a lip, a secret kiss

a closeness shaped with bodies bound

quivering fingers form a bond

a freedom flight from a single curse

a space, a path, an open door

a venture taken with life at stake

following eyes silently stalk

a memorable minute forever held dear

*****

In the session, I wanted to talk about different narrative perspectives in writing.  I think most people are familiar with 3rd person perspective and 1st person perspective, but 2nd person perspective is something that not many people had heard of or even read.  I managed to find a few novels written in 2nd person, and gave the group excerpts of these to read and respond to.

'Winter Journal' by Paul Auster

'Stolen' by Lucy Christopher

'Why We Broke Up' by Daniel Handler

'Rule 34' by Charles Stross

'Ablutions' by Patrick deWitt

'Bright Lights, Big City' by Jay McInerney

So the task in the session was to write to yourself in 2nd person perspective/narrative.

You try.  I know you do.  It's not easy but you want to make a difference.  You want to make the world  better place, you want to make people happy, but it's not easy.  For some reason, people don't want to be happy.  For some reason they like to find problems in everything and you can't understand it.  You like to spend your time watching people, trying to work out what makes them tick, but they're complicated creatures.  You've tried to be like them but you didn't like it.  You found it unnatural to be so mean, so selfish, so rude.  You knew it wasn't you, but you persevered even though it was making you miserable.  You often wondered how people could be so mean, so selfish, so rude, and still be smiling.  Perhaps they didn't care about others as much as you did.  You tried to talk to them, to see if they could see things from your point of view.  You didn't expect them to agree with you, but you'd hoped you could open their eyes to the bigger picture.  But for some reason they didn't want to know.

*****

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 21st May, 10:30-11:30, at Kessingland Library.

Homework for next time is to use one of the following Picasso portraits to inspire a piece of writing.

T is for ... TV on the Radio

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Today is 23rd April, so here is my twentieth post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.  For more music, please have a look at my last.fm profile.

TV on the Radio

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TV on the Radio were another Indie Soc find.  I used to think that I liked music, until I went to university and found that there was so much more out there than I was aware.  They're kind of electro-rocky, with a good background beat.  A good band to just get lost in.

'Staring at the Sun' - TV on the Radio

*****

Honourable Mentions go to - 

Transplants - Ex-boyfriend again!  They're punky and rocky, and a bit sweary.  Wrap your ears around Diamonds and Guns.

Tom Waits - My dad really likes this man, but when I first heard him I found his voice too raw to enjoy properly.  I was used to shiny, well-produced fluff.  But now I can really appreciate his voice and his talents.  And do you know he was in Shrek 2?!  Wrap your ears around Hoist That Rag.

Tenacious D - I'm sure most people have heard of these guys.  I think they are amazing.  Jack has an outstanding voice, and they don't take themselves seriously at all.  Wrap your ears around Tribute.

*****

What T bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A-Z Challenge post - T is for Tautogram

S is for ... Saul Williams

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Today is 22nd April, so here is my nineteenth post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.  For more music, please have a look at my last.fm profile.

Saul Williams

http://www.saulwilliams.com/

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If I didn't have ex-boyfriends, I wouldn't have such a wide taste in music!  Saul Williams is primarily a poet with a hip hop backdrop.  Thankfully his lyrics are deep, rather than those of more famous hip-hop artistes.  Live, he is crazy mental, but he pulls it off so well.  

'List of Demands' - Saul Williams

*****

Honourable Mentions go to - 

Sonic Boom Six - I first heard this band about 8ish years ago because an ex-boyfriend wanted to see them live.  They were so different to most things around, with their ska/punk/rap sound.  Wrap your ears around Northern Skies.

The Skints - Being friends with Sonic Boom Six, I was bound to really like this band.  And guess what?  I do.  A drumming lead singer.  A rapping guitarist.  And a woman with a great taste in clothes who plays every other instrument and more.  Yep, good combination.  Wrap your ears around Sociopath. 

Scroobius Pip (with Dan le Sac) - Spoken word poetry is awesome.  Clever lyrics, English accent.  Man with a beard.  Wrap your ears around Beat That My Heart Skipped.

*****

What S bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A-Z Challenge post - S is for Snowball

R is for ... Random Hand

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Today is 21st April, so here is my eighteenth post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.  For more music, please have a look at my last.fm profile.

Random Hand

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Random Hand used to be label mates with a few of my favourite bands (Sonic Boom Six, Mouthwash, The Skints), and would regularly go on tour together.  I can't remember when I saw Random Hand for the first time, but I knew they would be a band that I'd like, mainly because the lead singer plays the trombone.

They're a combination of punk and ska, with some rock thrown in for good measure.  I would advise you though, if you do go to see them live, stand at the back or you may get dragged into a circle pit, from which there is no escape!

"Anger Management" - Random Hand

*****

Honourable Mentions -

Rise Against - I was introduced to this band by an ex-boyfriend.  Although they are a hardcore/punk band, they've done a couple of softer songs which are beautiful.  Wrap your ears around Roadside.

Rammstein - Although I did well in my German GCSE, I really can't remember much other than to ask what someone did at the weekend.  This doesn't stop me making up words that sound similar to those being sung by these guys.  Wrap your ears around Sonne.

Radio 4 - This is another band that I found at Indie Soc club nights at university.  Any music which makes me dance is always a good thing (not that I'm very good at dancing!).  Wrap your ears around Dance to the Underground.

*****

What R bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A-Z Challenge post - R is for Rime Pour L'Oeil

Q is for ... Queens of the Stone Age

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Today is 19th April, so here is my seventeenth post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.  For more music, please have a look at my last.fm profile.

Queens of the Stone Age

http://www.qotsa.com/

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If I'm completely honest, I'm not a real fan of any bands/artistes beginning with Q.  I haven'y really come across many - perhaps you kind bloggers out there could change that by introducing me to more.  Anyway, I do quite like Queens of the Stone Age, in as much as I won't turn them off if they come on the radio.  I first heard them about 10 years or so ago, with a song on a compilation album.  I couldn't really work out the lyrics, but I would rock out to the drums and guitars as I drove along.

I later found out that the song was about drugs.  I'm not the kind of person who would promote drugs, but I still do like the song (and a few others that they've made).

"Feel Good Hit Of The Summer" - Queens of the Stone Age

*****

Honourable Mentions go to -

Queen - Classic 70s and 80s rock.  Big hair.  Loud guitars.  Songs that last 10 minutes.  Wrap your ears around Fat Bottomed Girls.

Queen Latifah - I knew she was a singer, but I hadn't heard her sing until I saw Hairspray.  Wrap your ears around Big, Blond and Beautiful.

*****

What Q bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A-Z Challenge post - Q is for QQSD

P is for ... The Pipettes

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Today is 18th April, so here is my sixteenth post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.

The Pipettes

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The Pipettes climbed into my ears when I was at university as part of the Indie Soc DJ playlist.  They're fun, they're quirky, they're a bit retro with a modern twist.  You'll end up bobbing along, even if you don't want to!  The group still exists, but sadly without any of the original members.

"Pull Shapes" - The Pipettes

*****

Honourable Mentions go to -

Placebo - This band got me through some tough times when I was growing up and going through puberty.  We all need something to cling to during our uncomfortable teenage years and whenever I listened to these guys, the world didn't seem so bad.  Wrap your ears around Every You Every Me.

Pete Murray - Lovely grainy voice.  Soulful, deep.  You can cry if you want.  Wrap your ears around So Beautiful.

The Perishers - If you've ever been in love, you will connect with this band.  They're soft and romantic and great to cry to when you're feeling a bit lonely, longing to be loved.  Wrap your ears around Nothing Like You And I.

*****

What P bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A-Z Challenge post - P is for Pangram

O is for ... OK Go

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Today is 17th April, so here is my fifteenth post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.  For more music, please have a look at my last.fm profile.

OK Go

http://okgo.net/

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I can pretty much guarantee that everyone reading this post has come across OK Go at some point in their lives.  You may recognise them for dancing in the back garden, or dancing on treadmills, or performing with The Muppets, or performing with dancing dogs, or for stop motion movement around a park.  I think this band is more famous for their videos than their music, but that shouldn't stop you listening to their music without watching the video. 

"Get Over It" - OK Go

*****

Honourable Mentions go to - 

The Others - This is another band that I discovered at university via Indie Soc.  They're very much in the core of indie rock.  Wrap your ears around This Is For The Poor.

Our Lady Peace - Kind of melancholic, kind of emotional, kind of lovely if you're in that frame of mind.  Wrap your ears around Somewhere Out There.

Oasis - You really can't beat a good bit of early 90s BritPop, and how better to be transported back to my teens than with the musical talents of this band.  Wrap your ears around Live Forever.

*****

What O bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A-Z Challenge post - O is for Oscillatory Poem

N is for ... The Network

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Today is 16th April, so here is my fourteenth post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.  For more music, please have a look at my last.fm profile.

The Network

www.thenetworkband.com/theNetwork.swf

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I found out about The Network via the Indie Soc forum at university.  Although the band is obviously made up of the members of Green Day, Tre, Billy Joe, Jason, and Mike haven't confirmed the rumours.  They sound nothing like Green Day though.  They're a bit electro rock, but just as good.

*****

Honourable Mentions go to - 

New Town Kings - An ex-boyfriend introduced me to this band.  I'm quite surprised he liked them because he could be fairly grumpy and these guys seem like they like to have fun.  Wrap your ears around Fire In The Hole.

Nik Kershaw - When I was little I was in love with this man.  He is very 80s and a bit cheesy, but he's a part of my childhood and that's why I still like listening to him.  Wrap your ears around The Riddle.

Natty - It's a warm, summer evening.  The sun is low in the sky.  Cold beer.  Barbecue.  This man singing.  Wrap your ears around July.

*****

What N bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A-Z Challenge post - N is for N+7

M is for ... Metronomy

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Today is 15th April, so here is my thirteenth post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.  For more music, please have a look at my last.fm profile.

Metronomy

http://www.metronomy.co.uk/

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Metronomy was another support band, and they were so good that I can't even remember who they were supporting!  Metronomy stood out because there were three guys (the line-up has changed since then) on stage, two holding a guitar each and one holding a saxophone, standing behind synthesizers and microphones.  Plus, they all had a round light on their chests.  I don't know if you've ever seen those lights that you can stick on the wall in awkward places, like in the cupboard under the stairs, and when you want to turn the light on you just tap the front.  It saves having to worry about running electricity cables in those hard to reach places.  Anyway, these were the sorts of lights they had on their chests.  As the music played, they would tap their chests creating a pretty awesome light show.

I'd not seen anything like this band before.  I've seen them a few times with the original line-up, and once with the new line-up.  If I'm honest, they don't have the same impact as a four piece.  It's not that I don't like their more recent music, because I do.  They're just not the same live as they used to be a few years ago.

*****

Honourable Mentions - 

Mew - They supported The Cooper Temple Clause when I saw them in 2004.  I was a bit surprised because they're not very musically similar.  Anyway, they were amazing.  Wrap your ears around Am I Wry? No.

Mouthwash - Mouthwash is my absolutely all time favourite band to see live.  There's just something about them.  Unfortunately they split up in 2011.  Wrap your ears around Ask and it is Given.

Madness - It's not possible to be a fan of ska without being a fan of Madness.  I guarantee that your little legs will be jiggling after listening to them.  Wrap your ears around House of Fun.

*****

What M bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A-Z Challenge post - M is for Multiple-choice Narrative

L is for ... Longview

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Today is 14th April, so here is my twelfth post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.  For more music, please have a look at my last.fm profile.

Longview

http://www.longviewmusic.com/

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Longview came into my life through either an ex-boyfriend or as a support band.  I really am going to have to pay more attention to my music so I know where it comes from.  Anyway, I like them.  They're a bit rocky, a bit romantic, a bit indie, and a bit dreamy.

"When You Sleep" - Longview

*****

Honourable Mentions go to -

Leonard Cohen - My dad listened to him a lot when I was growing up so I was bound to pick up some of his musical tastes.  There's something really hypnotising about Leonard's grainy voice.  Wrap your ears around Dance Me To The End Of Love.

Levellers - I saw these at V Festival in 1999 and they had so much energy and made so much noise.  Wrap your ears around What A Beautiful Day.

Lykke Li - I saw one of her videos on MTV but didn't see her name or the name of the song pop up on the screen.  I spent ages trying to remember lyrics and hunting through Google to find her again.  And I did!  Wrap your ears around Little Bit.

*****

What L bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A-Z Challenge post - L is for Lipogram

K is for ... Killa Kela

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Today is 12th April, so here is my eleventh post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.  For more music, please have a look at my last.fm profile.

Killa Kela

http://www.killakela.com/

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I love people who can beatbox.  I wish I could do it, but I can only manage 'boots and cats' for a few seconds before I end up dribbling like a lunatic!  There are some amazing beatboxers out there and Killa Kela is one of them.  I saw him a few years ago and the sounds he can produce with just his own voice are incredible.

*****

Honourable Mentions go to -

The Killers - This band got me through most of my university career.  I first heard them on the radio when I was in my second year and I fell in love with them as they were unlike other bands around at that time.  Wrap your ears around Somebody Told Me.

The King Blues - The King Blues supported Sonic Boom Six many, many years ago.  I don't always like politically fuelled music, but I do like where these guys are coming from and the sound they make.  Wrap your ears around I Got Love.

Kid Velkro - These guys were a support band but really stood out.  Unfortunately I don't think they went on to bigger and better things which is a shame. Wrap your ears around Just Like That.

*****

What K bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A-Z Challenge post - K is for Kan't Find A Konstraint Beginning With K

J is for ... JJ72

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Today is 11th April, so here is my tenth post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.  For more music, please have a look at my last.fm profile.

JJ72

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I've never known a man's voice to reach the high notes in quite the same way as JJ72's Mark Greaney.  When you sing along, you can try to hit them, but it never works out quite the same way!  They're soft and hard at the same time.  

"October Swimmer" - JJ72

*****

Honourable Mentions go to - 

Just Jinger - These guys are from South Africa, and I was introduced to them by a South African friend at university.  Wrap your ears around Painting Hours.

Junior Senior - Most of the time I like songs with deep and meaningful lyrics, but every now and then I just want to listen to something awesomely shallow which gets me dancing.  Wrap your ears around Move Your Feet.

Jack Peñate - This man is so much more than awesome hair.  He's got a lovely Englishy tone to his voice.  I love it when accents come through when people sing.  Wrap your ears around Second Minute or Hour.

*****

What J bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A-Z Challenge post - J is for J'ai oublié

I is for ... Ian Brown

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Today is 10th April, so here is my ninth post for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This year I am sharing my musical tastes with you.  I hope I can introduce you to some new bands/artistes, and if you'd like to comment perhaps you could introduce me to some of your favourite bands/artistes beginning with the appropriate letter of the day.  For more music, please have a look at my last.fm profile.

Ian Brown

http://www.ianbrown.co.uk/

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Ian Brown started out as the lead singer of the band, The Stone Roses.  I will admit that I wasn't a Stone Roses fan, and I'm still not.  I know, I know, but I promise that I'm not a completely bad person.  But there's just something about Ian's solo career that I love.  His voice is the same, but the music is so much better.  And even though he's now in his 50s, he still has that Mancunian brit-pop, indie boy swagger.

"Stellify" - Ian Brown

*****

Honourable Mentions go to - 

Idlewild - I saw these guys supporting Bluetones at my very first gig.  I then saw them a few years later supporting R.E.M.  They've got too many good songs so listen to them all if you have the chance.  Wrap your ears around Roseability.

Imperial Leisure - I heard of these guys when I was driving home for work one night.  I always have the radio on in the car but don't always pay attention to what's playing.  But as soon as this song came on, I turned up the volume and danced all the way along the dual carriageway.  Wrap your ears around In A Letter.

Innerpartysystem - If you fancy dancing like a robot, dance to this.  Wrap your ears around Die Tonight, Live Forever.

*****

What I bands/artistes do you like listening to?

2013 A- Z Challenge post - I is for I Remember