A Return Of Sorts

And so Javid returns to the fray of the whiteboydancefloor after a months-long absence. Where have I been? What have I been doing? Whats that smell? As much as I'd love to say I've been travelling the world picking up delicious bits of music from hither and tither and yon unfortunately all I can say is that the mix of Uni/Work/Other shit suffocated my brain to the point that any idle time was thought of in a guilty sense, time that could be better spent.

Anyway exams are done and I've got all the time in the world now so prepare for more inane humour and self-obsessed egotism. But I wont overload you to begin with.


Speaking of returns - the one and only Matisyahu is making his first return to our shores since 2006 where he amazed everyone present (including myself) at Splendour in the Grass and some other shows. The sight of a dude dressed in traditional Orthodox Jewish clothing, complete with beard, singing soulful but beautiful melodies about spiritualism and Isreal to some entrancing reggae beats is certainly one you dont see too often.


He's coming out to support the release of his new album - 'Light' - due out at the end of August which sees him transcend a new spectrum branching into a bit of electronica, evidenced by the release of the upbeat 'Smash Lies'. Could this perhaps have stemmed from his recording with the Crystal Method on the new track 'Drown In The Now'? I dont know. Either way I enjoy both.


You can find Matisyahu on these dates at these venues and I can personally testify that you will get your moneys worth:
August 12th - Metro Theatre, Sydney
August 13th - Prince Bandroom, Melbourne

And one last thing - Its great to see that the second announcement for Splendour In The Grass consists of pretty much the same freaking bands and acts no one cares about that Australian festivals have been going with for years - although there are exceptions to this rule like Little Red - and on Little Red the release claims (and still does) that they are "bringing their mod-soul to Splendour for the very first time" now I'm not a scientist but Little Red have not only played there before - they did it LAST YEAR. In summary, I'm glad I didnt get a ticket. Well not glad, but I don't regret it. Anyway, peace.

The Hand We're Dealt

I think if William Fitzsimmons was born looking like well, ok I can't think of a good looking man that illustrates my but so I'll put it to you this way. If William Fitzsimmons looked a little less like Matisyahu or Kirk Reynoldson or a American Civil War soldier, I think he would be huge! But the killer beard does give him presence.

It may sound like I'm trying to be offensive, but honestly I'm just being realistic. Like maybe if I had muscles and talent I might just have turned out to be the greatest rugby league player there was. But you got to go with what you got and while I too was blessed with an unfortunate face, I was not blessed with the kind of songwriting talent that William Fitzsimmons was.

Most of the time that soft whimsical shit just washes over me. I think it's because there is an over supply of artists who think they are a unique folk experience, everywhere you turn someone is trumpeting how fucking atmospheric and epic their shit it. I can only imagine for a quality songwriter like William Fitzsimmons how much these hacks cheapen his craft. Regarding Wi-Fi's music, he has a superb voice and a very skilled approach to song arrangement. Sometimes it doesn't matter what he's singing about, he'd make the GFC sound sublime.

But I guess it goes with the territory, so at the risk of babbling with light fluffy bullshit superlatives, give William Fitzsimmons album "The Sparrow & The Crow" a listen, it definitely one of those solid albums as opposed to a few hits mixed with a heap of crap. A sure fire hit for Sufjan type fans.



Myspace: William Fitzsimmons

We are kids and we can't decide

As soon as I wrote that title I realised that I am fast approaching the point where I can group myself with the kids, let alone the cool kids but hey, hopefully this next installment I've got for you might make you more inclined to think I'm hip.

Long story short, I am absolutely gushing over the new release from Swedish indie darlings Lacrosse. The newwy is entitled Bandages for the Heart and for someone who takes a while to warm to anything, I found this one instantly lovable and I really think it is accessible for everybody.

Lacrosse certainly didn't get me at the best of times, 4am in the morning, driving to Richmond where it was a lovely -2 and the prospect of yet another day at the Cardboard factory and yet by the first two tracks ("We are the kids" & "You are Blind") I was absolutely enamored with Lacrosse.

If i described it as vibrant Swedish pop it probably wouldn't do it's quality justice but it still gives you a good idea what they're all about. I guess if I had to be critical, the duel male / female vocals might begin to wear thin but I personally love the shout at me type choruses of bands like Port O'Brien and now Lacrosse.

I was a bit slow to get on the Lacrosse band wagon, but now that I'm here, I'm certainly not getting off. Bandages of the Heart is a brilliant solid effort rather than a flash in the pan 2 or 3 songs with plenty of filler.

If it doesn't lift your mood, you are more depressed than Marvin the robot on Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

Check out this Cabbury kids-esque video for "We are Kids".

Youtube: Lacrosse - We are Kids