Archive for the ‘Music’ Category

5

Top Movies Ever (So Far) – Numbers 199 to 101

Friday, March 5th, 2010

Movies!!

Hiya! This post is an continuation from this one in case you are wondering about the weird numbers.

I look down this list and I’m like “woah!” what an amazing couple of months in the house that would be. Really brilliant. In my opinion of course.

Some people might say that The Godfather is too low. For having a name like Mario, you be surprised to hear that I’m not really one for Gangster movies. Goodfellas isn’t in my top 250. Or even The Departed. I’m happy enough with the final place that he old Don has been given.

Stay tuned for the top 100!

199 to 101

Position Movie
199 The Silence of the Lambs
198 South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
197 The Orphanage
196 House of Sand and Fog
195 The Breakfast Club
194 Kill Bill Vol. 2
193 E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
192 Office Space
191 Dawn of the Dead
190 A Few Good Men
189 Pan`s Labyrinth
188 Cocktail
187 Shaun of the Dead
186 About Schmidt
185 Labyrinth
184 We Own the Night
183 Crocodile Dundee
182 Phone Booth
181 Home Alone
180 (500) Days of Summer
179 Cinema Paradiso
178 I Heart Huckabees
177 The Thing
176 The Karate Kid
175 Superman: The Movie
174 Absolute Power
173 The Last Boy Scout
172 Sin City
171 Kill Bill Vol. 1
170 EDtv
169 The Others
168 Bruce Almighty
167 Jaws
166 Blade Runner
165 Hotel Rwanda
164 Dawn of the Dead (1979)
163 Ghostbusters
162 X-Men
161 Irréversible
160 The Count of Monte Cristo
159 Total Recall
158 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
157 Children of Men
156 Very Bad Things
155 Dazed and Confused
154 The Godfather
153 Atonement
152 A History of Violence
151 Sleeping with the Enemy
150 The Wedding Singer
149 Lethal Weapon
148 I Am Legend
147 Let the Right One In
146 Gangs of New York
145 Apollo 13
144 Liar Liar
143 The Truman Show
142 3:10 to Yuma
141 Big
140 Training Day
139 The Number 23
138 A Fish Called Wanda
137 Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
136 Crash
135 Gattaca
134 A.I.: Artificial Intelligence
133 Ghost
132 Burn After Reading
131 Alive
130 Krull
129 Mallrats
128 Ratatouille
127 Closer
126 Starship Troopers
125 Aladdin
124 Stand by Me
123 Heartbreakers
122 Con Air
121 The Incredibles
120 Requiem for a Dream
119 The Butterfly Effect
118 Sideways
117 Waitress
116 Toy Story
115 The Hangover
114 Enemy at the Gates
113 Sleepy Hollow
112 The Lost Boys
111 The Negotiator
110 Coming to America
109 Finding Neverland
108 Back to the Future Part III
107 Cape Fear
106 28 Days Later
105 Alien
104 21 Grams
103 Groundhog Day
102 Spaceballs
101 Monsters, Inc.

14

Blackbud: A Tribute

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

Blackbud

A few years ago I went to King Tuts in Glasgow to see a mates band, Luma. Honestly. In all the gigs I’ve ever seen this one is probably my favourite ever. Purely for the fact I was only expecting to enjoy the band I came to see. Too many times I’ve been to King Tuts and disappointed with ‘Volume Up To 11′ bands that have little interest in anything close to a melody.

Luma were on first that night. I had obviously seen them a few times before but was even chuffed at their performance that night. They played a brand new song, that I consider to be their best. Blue Peter Garden.

Luma – Blue Peter Garden:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Fortune Drive

Another band played that night that blew my socks off. They were called Fortune Drive. The voice of the singer was unreal. I remember them ripping into a song I know now as ‘My Girlfriend’s an Arsonist’. It was one of they moments that I was not really concentrating on the band just drinking my pint being sociable; my head doth turn after hearing the little guy on stage absolutely fucking belting out the tunes. Been following them ever since.

Fortune Drive – My Girlfriend’s an Arsonist:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

But, the biggest surprise to me, and the subject of this here post, was a band called Blackbud. I remember being intrigued by them initially cause Ryan from Luma said something along the lines of “These guys are proper musicians.”

I don’t think it would be an understatement to describe the next few songs that went into my lugs as ‘life changing’. Imagine, if you will, being in King Tuts. The band comes on, they don’t say much, and go straight into playing this tune:

Blackbud – Cold Haroundan:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Joe Taylor is the lead guitar of Blackbud and does all the vocals. He reminds me of Hendrix the way he plays. Effortless. Emotionally attached to every note. Eyes closed, shoulders reacting to the wail of his electric.

joe taylor

Joe Taylor

The other guys, Adam and Sam clearly know what they’re about too. I’ve read some amazing critical acclaim for their work. They just, and I’m sure they would admit this, lay an immaculate floor for Joe to do his stuff.

They are signed to Independiente and are now on their second album.

Their first album is immense. Every song is absolute genius, from the Stone -Roses-esc, Days Passing Away to the haunting track Alone.

Second album is more of the same. But I do get the feeling that some of the tracks were a bit forced. Highlights include Golden Girl, Left Your Arms Empty and Came Down Easy.

OK. So you get that I’m a fan. I’ve seen them every time they have been in Scotland since that night.

What really irritates me. Nay, fucks me off: Is that if you are reading this and don’t know me in person, then chances are this is the first time you have heard of these guys. 3 or 4 years I’ve been expecting them to kick off. Remember that video of the Britney’s fan crying under the covers? Well thats me right now, only I’m in despair of the coverage these guys deserve.

Sure, Zane Low had them on his show and their song ‘Heartbeat’ was Hottest Record In the World for a Week, but that ain’t good enough.

Have a watch, have a listen.

Blackbud – Came Down Easy:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Blackbud – Heartbeat:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Buy their albums here (iTunes Link)

13

iPhone Album: Beatles Cover

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Yet another song created entirely on my iPhone using the FourTrack app. This time I’ve covered a Beatles song. I’ve always loved this song cause it was John Lennon’s confessed attempt at copying Bob Dylan.

There is something paradoxical about a guy the stature of John Lennon sitting playing the guitar copying another artist. Some say resulting in a song better then any of Bob Dylan’s.

There are, of course, other Beatles songs that are attempts at plagiarism (Back in the USSR comes to mind) but this is my favourite.

Listen here:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

You can here my other iPhone album tracks here

After your done with me. Listen to the master:

28

iPhone Album

Monday, September 28th, 2009

iPhone Album is in the making

I recently received a voucher that I could use in various shops and, being the geek that I am, I went to WHSMITH and got myself an iTunes top-up card. There are tones of apps out there that I’d love to have so thought that, if I got a wee bit of credit to play with, I could have some fun.

Last night I bought this fancy app. It’s a four track for your iPhone. I’ve been playing the guitar since I was 16 (I watched this show and became determined to learn). I’m not that great, but I give it a bash. I wish I was a better singer.

Anyway, when I got this app last night I went straight into recording. Here is the result of 15 minutes messing about:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I’m going to do more and post them on here, eventually having an iPhone Album. Who knows, they might be on iTunes themselves one day. haha

5

Blackbud – You can run.

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

Their new album is out on the 8th of June. But I was surprised to find the video for their forthcoming single on youTube.

I’m going to see them at King Tuts on the 31st of May. Can’t wait!