Old News

So on Australia Day I left for a nice almost week-long vacation to the Whitsundays (where it rains 15 times a day). Before I did so I had a chat to fellow wbdf member DEAN about collaborating on a review of the Big Day Out for this year - as we were the only 2 from this blog who attended (thats right - no more funboys). While we never actually got to the writing stage before I left, I departed in the hope that I would come back to find a hilarious and informative review written by our little friend who doesnt say much.

What do you know - theres nothing. I spend a week vacationing in the warmth (or sweltering humidity) of a tropical North Queensland summer and THAT LAZY BASTARD can't even string a few sentences together. Geez. Here I am working up a sweat doing nothing and I come back to find Operator Please porn but no goddam BDO review.

Now, I could go on a review detailing the entire day and the complete and utter lack of general shennanigans that we got up to in our chemically enhanced states but it was over a week ago and I really don't expect you people to give a shit anymore. Even the people in Melbourne (hot enough for ya?) don't care. So I'll keep it brief.

What normally pisses me off about a BDO (the amount of douchebags in the audience + average lineups + overcrowding etc.) didnt really seem to appear this year. Maybe dressing up in short shorts and wearing pink headbands while excercising in the main arena draws a bit of heat from people who are jealous that their girlfriends are looking at our creamy hamstrings - but maybe not. Everyone was in good spirits, I wasnt pushed or verbally abused by drunken idiots and as far as I know none of my friends were either. Every single band I saw had a good sound, played a good set and kept a great vibe throughout the day. Particular highlights included Cog restoring my faith in them and Mike Patton dressed in cricket whites playing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" and then encouraging the crowd to throw whatever the hell they wanted at him whilst he swung a plastic novelty bat. Here are some videos for you to watch so you can either relive the memories or catch a quick glimpse at what you missed.


Cog - The Spine


Serj Tankian - Sky Is Over


Arctic Monkeys - This House Is A Circus

Final thoughts? While the Big Day Out has slowly lost my interest and support over the last few years with ridiculous price increases (why Mr West? really - why?) and general fuckery this year proved to me that maybe its still got a few good years left in it yet. Hopefully those of you that attended feel the same way. But for fucks sake BRING BACK RAMMSTEIN.

The things we find in our inbox

So today I finish work a little early and head to my inbox where I find the usual new music to check out, irrelevant forward emails from people I've been meaning to block and the odd hey pix you've still got my stuff, give it back type emails. Uneventful as always.

But then just before I'm ready to log out and head upstairs to continue my winning Manager Mode season of Fifa 09 (as Barcelona) I find an email from Pedestrian... "Former operator please member in porn".

So I'm thinking ok it will be the usual let down where "porn" is just the name of her solo album or something. But instead it's probably an even more disturbing realisation that the headline is true and one of their ex members did porn. Not being one to really keep up with Operator Please' movements, I didn't know anyone had left.

Now being 22 years old, it's wrong of me to click, probably no different how it's wrong for you to click, but I couldn't help but pray that it was the violinist because underage or not, she is damn fine. Hell I'd settle for the drummer.

What do I find... it's the keyboardist. It was the let down of my early day. I'm sure many of you out there will be like oww your so shallow, the naked body is a beautiful thing. You can shut the fuck up, my naked body isn't a beautiful thing just like hers isn't and I can confirm from seeing her shots and looking into my shower mirror, I definitely attend the gym more than she does / needs to.

So click here if you want bleeped out shots just to prove I'm not making this shit up.

News: Pedestrian.Tv - Sarah Gardiner Ex Operator Please Member in Porn

Fine White Boys

I've made no secret of my unwavering devotion to Whitest Boy Alive. Everyone will tell you how the frontman is also of Kings of Convenience fame but if you ask me, you need not know of his previous exploits to find Whitest Boy Alive anymore enchanting. Truely an organic sound that whispers the building tension so softly in your ear until they're shouting sweet nothings, emploring you to dance.

The track I'm featuring today is Island and it picks up precisely where Dreams left off. It grabs you by the hand gently and turns your head nods into hip swinging.

The follow up to the genius that was Dreams which im sure will be just as mind blowing entitled Rules is coming out 8th Feb.

Mp3: Whitest Boy Alive - Island

Now, when you talking white boys these two are like the wise old elders that everyone knows the true legend of. The brain childs of Roxy Music and Talking Heads, Brian Eno and David Byrne needs no introduction.

Their collaboration is an absolute triumph for white boys everywhere and we still have much to learn from these precious old fossils. Fossils? That's a bit offensive isn't it... but i did the whole compliment sandwich type thing by throwing in precious, you know what I mean.

Tour Dates – ‘David Byrne, Songs Of David Byrne & Brian Eno”
Sydney - 1 Feb @ Sydney Opera House
Sydney – 2 Feb @ Sydney Opera House
Perth – 4 Feb @ Perth Zoo
Brisbane – 7 Feb @ Brisbane Riverstage
Melbourne – 9 Feb @ Melbourne Hamer Hall
Melbourne – 10 Feb @ Melbourne Hamer Hall

Mp3: Brian Eno & David Byrne - Strange Overtones

Friendly Fires

Friendly Fires - Skeleton Boy

I've found my new dance move for 2009...'The Skelkor' (The Melbourne what?).

Be My Crush

If I Had A Heart from Fever Ray

Is it just me...or is this music clip by 'Fever Ray' sexy pants with candy hot or what?

Empire Of The Sun - We Are The People (Cagedbaby Remix)

We are the people

It is the weekend good people!

Before I venture off to the slightly overcast shores of Coogee Bay, I thought a few fun videos would be appropriate.

First up is the second clip from Empire of the Sun. We are the people follows more theatrical globe trotting around some very breath taking landscapes. It's a brilliant film clip, a solid track and when you see the scale of wanky drama involved, you can't help but think Luke Steele was the brain child.

I must say while Luke Steele is arguably one of the most arrogant self obsessed people in music, if I were as good as he, I'd be the same and then some. Depending on your taste, the clip will come off as either an artistic triumph or a preview to Priscilla Queen of the Desert 2.

Video: Empire of the Sun - We are the People




Website: Empire of the Sun

And the other clip I have today is curtosy of Mr Javid Van Der Piepers my whiteboydancefloor partner in crime and my most fierce FIFA09 opponent. This is him pwning Dean, fellow Xquabed band member and another of the whiteboydancefloor crew.

If you don't play FIFA, really I don't think I will be able to find anything about you that makes you worth getting to know. I'm sure the feeling would be mutual. The clip shows a very small sample of Javid's smooth use of toggle and Dean's lackluster defending.

Ladette to Lady

Is it just me getting more bitter with age or is Lily Allen dangerously close to being the most redundant artist of 2009? Jesus the year is barely even upon us, I'm still coming to terms with being 22 or as a friend of my puts it, entering the milestoneless nothing birthday phase and she throws this at us late 2008.

It's probably better I didn't get around to checking it out until the new year or else my gloom and doom of a wasted year mood may have turned into something more serious. Honestly love her or hate her, I cannot deny that when songs like "Smile" and "Alfie" came out at the very least Lily was fresh if not slightly rough around the edges. But it all served to give her a unique laddette like charm.

Now it seems the ladette is a very refined lady in her latest clip "The Fear" coming off as if she is wishing she was less Little Britain and more Veruca Salt. You know, "I want today, I want tommorrow".

Whilst she is looking hotter than ever, the song is so dull and uninteresting I wish I'd heard it on a Sunday so I could enjoy an afternoon nap. Her cover of Britany Spears' "Womanizer" is hardly much better again coming off more Little Britain than it is a distinctly clever British cover the likes what Franz Ferdinand can deliver. Some record executives should get the sack for this shit...Parlophone generally deliver a much higher standard.

I never thought I'd see the day I preferred the Britany version of anything, but here we are... see for yourself.

Javids Top 10 Of 2008: Pt 2

Lets not stand on ceremony as we complete the ceremonious ceremony that is Javids top ten of last year. Hold on to your hats folks, as they may well be worth something one day:

5. Ladyhawke - Ladyhawke
From the opening few seconds of the starting track - 'Magic' this album announces itself. Grandiose dynamics and funky grooves with catchy melodies make this one of the surprise packets of the year. Hell, I only bought it for the sake of 'Paris Is Burning' and the fact I had a bit of spare money but I've fallen in love with this album. If this album is lacking something then I can't really think of what it is. Every note is placed effectively. Catchy pop one minute, chillout retro the next. While I hate one of Pix's favourite bands (Tigercity) for going with the 80's sound and boring the hell out of me, Ladyhawke shows that keeping the modern sound with the 80's feel is the way they should have gone all along.

4. The Grates - Teeth Lost, Hearts Won

One cannot deny the genius and passion that The Grates speak through their music. After the first album a few years ago I sat (no doubt with many others, but not on the same chair) wondering if the second release would meet the innocence and cheeky fun that the first one shouts in your face. It does all this and more. The Grates sound like they've been doing this alot longer than they actually have. An effort that sounds polished, but secretly has scratches on its knees from playing games all day. 'Burn Bridges' gives a pretty clear indication of where the album will take you. This album cant help but make you dance like Patience herself - but at least now we know where she gets it from.

3. Little Red - Listen To Little Red

Do I really need to keep going? Do I really need to hound you inanely with the things that I've been saying over and over and over for the past few months? Richard Branson (or whoever uncovered these guys to play at the V Festival) is a fucking genius. My favourite band of the year definately. Soulful harmonies, catchy tunes and a sound that takes you back 50 years to a time where things didnt matter (Global Warming? pfft). Accomplished songwriting and simple production keep your attention. On stage these guys are absolutely amazing, highly energetic, spot on vocally and a friendly bunch of characters. If you havent listened to these guys yet not only are you an idiot but a slow one as well. Listen to Little Red.

2. The Presets - Apocalypso
To call this album the benchmark of the year is an understatement. ARIA album of the year, awards and critical acclaim here and around the world, The Presets dont need us anymore. But they still love us and hence we reciprocate. Apocalypso is dark, brooding, a little horny, a little scary. The overall.. thickness of the industrial undertones is what sucks me in. Some of the most thought-out music I've ever heard. Such a massive progression from the previous effort and no doubt an album that will stand the test of time. I could continue heaping praise on this release but I dont think I need to. You've all heard it. I'm sure the majority agree with me. Will have us Talk Talk Talk Talk Talk (ing) Like Like Like Like Like That That That That That for ages.

1. Jackson Jackson - Tools For Survival
How did the Presets not get number one? It took a fucking massive effort from a relatively new outfit but last years best album is THIS ONE. Music is alot of things to alot of people but never before have I heard music turned into art turned back into music. The depth of construction and the evident thought that went into making this album shines beautifully. Acoustic sounds, cabaret vocals, some of the heaviest synth you've ever heard. If anyone did HSC music and knows about all the elements of music you might know what I mean when I say all bases are covered. You need to hear this album and I KNOW that you will not be disappointed. A truly beautiful effort well deserving of the number one spot. Not really an album that can be taken in songs though, a sit down (in the car perhaps), start-to-finish listen is whats needed. Once the confusion ends this album will grab you.

And of course there are some bad apples too.

Worst Album - Kings of Leon - Only By The Night

Highest selling album in the country? So the figues might contradict my opinion but COME ON. It took me a long time to get on the KOL bandwagon but 'Because of the Times' got me there. I started to realise that these guys are fun, drunken rednecks who like to sing funky, danceable tunes. Then this piece of shit came out and all the faith I'd built up has been destroyed. I was listening to an interview with one of the Followills about how this album was written when they were all depressed and on drugs. And now its gone on to the top of the charts all over the world? What do you think its going to go on? A new house, a new car and then A FUCKLOAD OF DRUGS which will in turn make them more depressed. Will one of them kill themselves before the next album? Dont tell me I havent listened to this album, dont tell me I'm being dismissive. I bought this CD and have listened to it numerous times over the last few months to try and understand. But I cant. This is not what THIS BAND are about (to me). Yes, 'Sex On Fire' and 'Crawl' are good songs but it takes alot more than that to make a #1 album in my opinion. But obviously I'm wrong. I don't blame them for their commercial success, they haven't sold out. But unfortunately it's the wrong album thats taken them to the top of the music world. It could be genius, but I just dont see it.

Funny that the worst album gets the biggest write-up. Oh well. There's my opinion mo fo's. Tell me what you think, comment with your own favourite albums of the last year, do whatever the hell you want. Now lets hope that 2009 can be the fabulous year for music that 2008 was. Its also a pretty damn big testament (I think) to the strength of Australian music that ALL of the top 5 releases are Aussie. So yeah. Dont expect me to get a southern cross tattoo anytime soon though.

Until next time.

I Think She's Crazy

I am now convinced that the car is easily the most productive place to listen to music. It is like being incased in a tomb of sound, providing you've click clacked front and back, there is no where to run, no mother telling you to clean your room, no sibling to knock on your door and ask what it is your listening to. Admittedly, when driving a car I suppose the road is a consideration if only a minor one though living in Western Sydney, the ability to concentrate on driving a motor vehicle properly is low on the priority list for most residents. So instead I focus on using as few a fingers as I can to hold the wheel and tap away.

Driving to work at 4a.m on my last day of work before Christmas, I threw Alice Russell into my car stereo and I'm not sure what it is I expected to hear. What I am sure of is that my skills of stereotyping artists by their album cover is deteriorating.

There would have been a time when a voice as growling and soul-infused would only have been thought to belong to a 150kg black woman who needs a lil R.E.S.P.E.C.T. That's not me being racist or stereotypical, that's the truth. But it is thanks to the Duffy's, Joss Stone's, Alice Russell's and a few predecessors that nothing is certain anymore.

Alice Russell can take you back to another era yet keep it fresh enough that you are very aware you aren't hearing one of your mother's old records. While she can competently deliver throw backs to times which have past, her cover of 'Crazy' is a perfect example of her original interpretation of the now.

To borrow from the legend Ron Burgundy, on Pot of Gold soul sister Alice Russell takes the basslines for a walk and keeps the symbols splashing. However make no mistake, Pot of Gold is undeniably a powerful vocally driven presentation. The tunes that sit behind Alice Russell's tour-de-force set of bagpipes are at times forgettable excluding the occassional rousing introduction of the brass instruments. Not to say this is a criticism of the music being a hinderance to the overall package but rather that it would be difficult for many instruments to really rise above the instrument that is Alice Russell.

Tour: Alice Russell is touring our shores late Jan - early Feb

29 Jan 2009 Beck’s Bar / Sydney Festival Sydney
30 Jan 2009 Sandwiches Wellington
31 Jan 2009 Sale St Auckland
5 Feb 2009 SoCo St. Kilda Mebourne
6 Feb 2009 Playground Festival Webb’s Creek
7 Feb 2009 The Bakery Perth

Listen: Alice Russell - Turn and Run

Buy: Alice Russell's Pot of Gold

Javids Top 10 of 2008: Pt 1

Another year has passed us by and those of us no longer enjoying the innocence of youth just feel older and slightly more depressed. Its a time to make resolutions and I'm sure part of our collective aim will be to get this blog up and running again after a pretty slow 2008. It was still good but just.. slow.

So now Im going to entertain you with my own, personally selected 'Top 10' of 2008. Before we get into it I would just like to say that the views perpetuated in the following paragraphs are strictly MY OWN. They do not represent the views of any other member of the dancefloor, they are not correct, and they are not better than whatever you think. Its my list, my selection. You want to make one go and start a blog..

Anyway, lets get this show on the road - Today #10-#6;

10. Metallica - Death Magnetic
Oh shut it. Yes thats right, you, electro boy or pop wannabe who just let out a load groan at seeing this album #10 on the list. I dont care if you dont like Metallica. One cannot deny the musicianship and juggernaut of commercial access to metal that these guys developed back in the day. Yes, St Anger was SHIT and we can all acknowledge that - so yes I was more than sceptical when I heard this was in the works. Rick Rubin had the hopes and dreams of every Metallica fan on his shoulders with this one and thank god he delivered. Its not exactly breakthrough material for the band but they have their edge back with solid tracks and pretty good composition too. No matter what era of Metallica you like this album has something that will appeal to you and if you dont like Metallica, and dont like metal, you've probably stopped reading by now anyway.

09. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

When I first heard (and heard of) these guys I certainly wouldnt have ranked myself amongst their fans. Just like Muscles and other acts in the years before they initially just annoyed the shit out of me and I dismissed them as products of an endless young hype machine with songs all over the radio. Unlike Katy Perry though these guys have a bit of talent and by the end of the year I had the CD and not only listened to it but enjoyed it as well. While 'Kids' and 'Time To Pretend' captured the audiences on the airwaves much of the album comes from a kind of eerie, stoner perspective. Like a much less hectic Mars Volta even. Solid.

08. Racontuers - Consolers Of The Lonely

While we may have to call them the Saboteurs over here because of some other band - Ive certainly never heard the other band and will hence refer to this collection of southern minstrels by their proper name. If you haven't heard these guys before its a project featuring Brendan Benson and none other than Jack White. The guitars and loud and soulful, the songs are a mix between drunken and blue and the genius of it all is absolutely undeniable. The first release - 'Broken Boy Soldiers' is one of my all time favourites and while this album may not reach the same epic heights its still standing close enough to the edge to give me vertigo. The closing track - 'Carolina Drama' tells one of the greatest stories I've ever heard through song.


07. Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul

I've been an Oasis fan many years and I'm sure some of you will say that this automatically makes this albums position biased, that I should remove it altogether, flallegate myself for doing such a thing and then destroy this list completely. I think you should calm down. Where Metallica saved their careers by tightening things up Oasis have gone a bit all over the place with this album but in a way that only Oasis can. The whole band are writing songs now, the Gallaghers have stopped fighting and this album doesnt just punch you, it envelops you with a sound big enough to fill a stadium but its also takes the listener to places that might make you forget you're even on an Oasis record. Amazing that (despite the peaks and troughs) this band have managed to almost constantly excel on record (apart from ..Giants but we can forgive that), and this is another fresh take on a trademark sound.

06. Kaiser Cheifs - Off With Their Heads

Everyone I know loves a good dance, loves a good sing along and basically just likes a good hook. The Kaiser Chiefs provide enough hooks on this one to go fishing with Andrew Symonds and Rex Hunt for a month. While I started off looking for the epic suburban grandeur of 'Yours Truly, Angry Mob' it took me a while to realise that this is a much different album. Pop with guitars. The lyrics are still poignant enough about urban life but if you can't (under)stand the lyrics the music is enough. 'Good Days, Bad Days' will be one of the anthems of early 09. Trust me. Would I lie? One of the funnest albums of last year.

So thats it. What will take out number one? What will cop a bagging from me? Im sure you've got ideas in your head and I'm sure at least one of them is wrong. So please.. come back sometime in the next few days (hopefully) and we'll continue where we left off shall we? Also be on the lookout for other 08 related posts from the guys.

Peace!
(and happy new year)