• Rock

    Yes, Please

    I was recently lost in thought about the state of Brit rock when I realized it was high time we had “THE NEXT BIG BAND FROM THE HOLY LAND.”

    Honestly, we haven’t had one since Friendly Fires in 2008 so I knew it was only a matter of time before NME started blowing loads of some new band. Of course, I always roll my eyes when they do this…for about a millisecond…and then I proceed to fully embrace whomever they are amping and blow my own mammoth load far more voluminous than they ever did.

    Which brings us to The Vaccines.

    Their first single (Wreckin’ Bar) is 1 minute and 24 seconds of pure, unadulterated fun. Upon hearing it, I felt the same things I felt when I heard “I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor” by the Arctic Monkeys or “Eddie’s Song” by The Kooks. Their next single, “Post Break Up Sex,” made it official: these London lads are the real deal.

    Interestingly, they have a real sense of the history of rock and roll in their band. Taking part of the 1950s-Under-the-Boardwalk style of Glasvegas and making it their own, The Vaccines have a sound that propels you to time where broken hearts and hope chests ruled the lonely nights. “Blow it Up,” for example, sounds like a half speed surf tune for Atlantic City.

    Their first LP, What Did You Expect From the Vaccines, is out in the UK now with a stateside releaser later this spring. They will be opening for The Arctic Monkeys (!!!) on their tour in the US later this spring. I’ll be at the First Avenue show. Check out the video for Post Break Up Sex

  • Friday Five

    The Friday Five: April 1, 2011

    Friday Five

    Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.

    The Five:

    Editor’s Note: I had considered a few different April Fools’ Day scenarios, but ran out of time to execute. I suppose the joke is on me! – Michael

    “Band on the Run” by Paul McCartney & Wings (from Wingspan: Hits and History, 2001)
    “Hard to Say I’m Sorry (single edit)” by Chicago (from The Best of Chicago: 40th Anniversary Edition, 2007)
    “Goin’ Out of My Head” by Wes Montgomery (from Verve Jazz Masters 14, 1994)
    “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee” by Stockard Channing (from Grease, 1978)
    “Take a Photograph” by Dropping Daylight (from Brace Yourself, 2006)

    What’s on your shuffle today?