Created originally as a solo project for lead singer Ben Gibbard, Death Cab for Cutie expanded to the quartet line up it boasts today after Gibbard's debut solo release garnered far more attention than he had originally anticipated.
Known for their somewhat melancholy and emotionally driven tracks, the band have seen their fanbase expand in recent years after attention was drawn to their music via it's appearances in popular tv shows such as The O.C., Six Feet Under and CSI: Miami and more recently, the Twilight films.
If lyrics are poetry then Gibbard is a singing Keats, and his harmonies are sounding even more romantic on the band's cover of Christmas classic 'Baby Please Come Home'. Christmas has never sounded so lovesick.
Monday 14 December 2009
Thursday 10 December 2009
Christmas Crackers: Day 10
One of the more child-friendly songs, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is undoubtedly one of the most loved festive tracks. With an endearing story and infectious repetitive tune, you'd be hard pushed to stop yourself from singing along. King of Chill Jack Johnson has recorded his own version of the song and as a result of his acoustic touch it sounds far more Christmas-on-the-beach-in-California than stuck-in-the-snow-in-Greenland. Whereas many renditions of the track bring back memories of being surrounded by screaming kids demanding Santa, this will make you simply want to lounge back with a glass of mulled wine and a smile.
Christmas Crackers: Day 9
Consisting of only one permanent member and ever-changing supporting musicians, Eels are hardly what we'd consider to be a generic band. Formed in 1992, permanent member E has already released seven albums under the Eels guise, with an eighth due out January 2010. Combine this total with his five solo releases and we've got ourselves a pretty dedicated musician.
Yet in between creating controversy in the media with his pugnacious interview quips and profanity filled song lyrics, E has found the time to record an Eels Christmas track. 'Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas' is a great festive track whilst maintaining the band's cool rock and roll status. Plus, the video below (thanks, random person on youtube) is set to clips from The O.C. You might hate it but it can't be that bad if rebellious E allowed two of his songs to feature on their soundtrack. Plus, everyone should have a bit of Christmukkah in their lives.
Yet in between creating controversy in the media with his pugnacious interview quips and profanity filled song lyrics, E has found the time to record an Eels Christmas track. 'Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas' is a great festive track whilst maintaining the band's cool rock and roll status. Plus, the video below (thanks, random person on youtube) is set to clips from The O.C. You might hate it but it can't be that bad if rebellious E allowed two of his songs to feature on their soundtrack. Plus, everyone should have a bit of Christmukkah in their lives.
Tuesday 8 December 2009
Christmas Crackers: Day 8
Long gone are the days of the smooth crooner, when the dulcet tones of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole were regulars on the airwaves, life took place in black and white and kids grew up with Watch with Mother. Fast forward to present times and everything revolves around brutal reality, chaos beyond our control and kids watching the Teletubbies; which if the three is worst I shall let you decide.
Recently one Canadian gentleman has been staging somewhat of a musical revival for days both romantic and retro, and with dazzling success. Michael Buble has won the hearts of women of all ages around the world; he is suavely handsome, sings so smoothly you could ice skate on his melodies, and talks of a time where men sweep women off their feet and want more than just a quick one out the back of the club. Sounds pretty appealing to me, and a Christmas snuggled in front of the fire with such a man sounds like an even more attractive prospect. Thus, it is hardly surprising that Buble's version of festive classic 'White Christmas' is making an appearance on this list.
After a weary day in the exhaustingly harsh real world, you'd be a fool to turn down three minutes of sound reflective of a time when things seemed to be so much classier, thoughtful and downright easier.
Recently one Canadian gentleman has been staging somewhat of a musical revival for days both romantic and retro, and with dazzling success. Michael Buble has won the hearts of women of all ages around the world; he is suavely handsome, sings so smoothly you could ice skate on his melodies, and talks of a time where men sweep women off their feet and want more than just a quick one out the back of the club. Sounds pretty appealing to me, and a Christmas snuggled in front of the fire with such a man sounds like an even more attractive prospect. Thus, it is hardly surprising that Buble's version of festive classic 'White Christmas' is making an appearance on this list.
After a weary day in the exhaustingly harsh real world, you'd be a fool to turn down three minutes of sound reflective of a time when things seemed to be so much classier, thoughtful and downright easier.
Christmas Crackers: Day 7
However much you may try to deny it, it's a universal fact that everyone loves a little bit of quintessential pop music now and then. So I have no qualms in having McFly's version of 'Deck The Halls' as one of the songs on my Crackers list. Arctic Monkeys and Courtney Love have both publicly declared their admiration for the boys, so those who argue they haven't got any form of real credibility within the music industry already have two heavyweights to try to pitch their case against.
Despite their music attracting the teen masses, the band simply can't be classed in the same league as the majority of other cheesy acts flooding the scene. You may not like their style of music but you cannot accuse them of prancing around the stage to pre-recorded tracks as many other artists recording the same genre do. They write all of their own songs, play their own instruments and separated from their record label after feeling they had lost too great a proportion of their artistic license to the men in suits. Doesn't sound like your average manufactured boy band to me.
So let's all move on from our need for 'cool' artists for a minute and embrace some talented boys having a bit of Christmas fun.
Despite their music attracting the teen masses, the band simply can't be classed in the same league as the majority of other cheesy acts flooding the scene. You may not like their style of music but you cannot accuse them of prancing around the stage to pre-recorded tracks as many other artists recording the same genre do. They write all of their own songs, play their own instruments and separated from their record label after feeling they had lost too great a proportion of their artistic license to the men in suits. Doesn't sound like your average manufactured boy band to me.
So let's all move on from our need for 'cool' artists for a minute and embrace some talented boys having a bit of Christmas fun.
Monday 7 December 2009
Christmas Crackers: Day 6
With their sweeping melodies and dramatic instrumentals, everyone's favourite orchestral-driven indie band Arcade Fire, have succumbed to the holiday urge and recorded their own version of one of the most soulful Christmas songs, 'Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire'.
Bewitching us here with their flamboyantly fervent sound, this is definitely a track to incite that warm festive feeling. The elves would be proud.
Bewitching us here with their flamboyantly fervent sound, this is definitely a track to incite that warm festive feeling. The elves would be proud.
Christmas Crackers: Day 5
It's been quite a year for the eccentric Lady Gaga, and her sex-driven costumes and songs have undoubtedly helped garner a large proportion of this attention for her. Yet it seems particularly tragic when she becomes so attached to the topic that she can't even detract from blatant insinuations when she writes her own Christmas song.
With a catchy backing track that starts off very much like a Gwen Stefani solo effort, this is quickly misted over by a haze of unrefined and imprudent lyrics. Lyrics such as 'my Christmas tree is delicious' make little sense and those that do simply come across as crass. The whole song feels incredibly rushed, as if nobody bothered to put any thought into it whatsoever and gave no consideration to it's listeners. Luckily for me, it's so lackluster that I don't have many positive thoughts to contribute in return.
So if you're looking for a questionable track to startle the grandparents on Christmas Day, Lady Gaga's 'Christmas Tree' may just be the song for you.
With a catchy backing track that starts off very much like a Gwen Stefani solo effort, this is quickly misted over by a haze of unrefined and imprudent lyrics. Lyrics such as 'my Christmas tree is delicious' make little sense and those that do simply come across as crass. The whole song feels incredibly rushed, as if nobody bothered to put any thought into it whatsoever and gave no consideration to it's listeners. Luckily for me, it's so lackluster that I don't have many positive thoughts to contribute in return.
So if you're looking for a questionable track to startle the grandparents on Christmas Day, Lady Gaga's 'Christmas Tree' may just be the song for you.
Friday 4 December 2009
Christmas Crackers: Day 4
This lady is never far from the headlines, particularly with her relationships. So it's hardly surprising that when she recorded a Christmas song she chose to sing one about a Mum having an illicit rendez-vous with a bearded man who snuck into the house via the chimney.
Amy Winehouse has bought her unique blend of soulful jazz to this Christmas classic, and it works an absolute treat. This version perfectly encapsulates the retro feel of the earlier Ronettes version, whilst still flaunting oodles of original Wino charm.
Amy Winehouse has bought her unique blend of soulful jazz to this Christmas classic, and it works an absolute treat. This version perfectly encapsulates the retro feel of the earlier Ronettes version, whilst still flaunting oodles of original Wino charm.
Thursday 3 December 2009
Christmas Crackers: Day 3
It may not snow in Las Vegas but that hasn't stopped this foursome getting into the Christmas spirit. The Killers are occasionally known for their somewhat bizarre song lyrics (are we dancer?), and their take on writing festive songs is far from traditional either. But who needs traditional when you can have an accompanying video of Brandon Flowers tied up in the Vegas desert watching a sock puppet show performed by an evil Santa? Not me.
This is becoming somewhat of a custom to The Killers' December schedule, with this being the fourth year that the band have released a Christmas song. This year's track is titled rather un-festively 'Happy Birthday Guadalupe', but this can be (partially) forgiven due to the fact all proceeds are going straight to the charity RED, run to help combat AIDS in Africa. For today's track I'm going with one of their older, more suitably themed Christmas songs, 'Don't Shoot Me Santa'. Maybe not one to play to people who still believe.
This is becoming somewhat of a custom to The Killers' December schedule, with this being the fourth year that the band have released a Christmas song. This year's track is titled rather un-festively 'Happy Birthday Guadalupe', but this can be (partially) forgiven due to the fact all proceeds are going straight to the charity RED, run to help combat AIDS in Africa. For today's track I'm going with one of their older, more suitably themed Christmas songs, 'Don't Shoot Me Santa'. Maybe not one to play to people who still believe.
Wednesday 2 December 2009
Relighting My Fire
If having Take That reunite wasn't enough to cause me vivd flashbacks of my childhood, then walking into WHSmith this morning and seeing a Smash Hits magazine sat on the shelf was.
As a kid I read Smash Hits religiously and even did several stints of work experience there as a teenager; both helped in reaffirming the fact I definitely wanted to be a writer. Obviously distraught when it finished a few years back at the fact I'd never get the chance to write for it properly, you can only imagine my glee when I saw the bold red typo of the title beaming out at me earlier. Unfortunately, it is not returning on a permanent basis but just for a Take That special - which, let's be honest, is still good enough for me.
Stashed in my cupboard as a kid were folders full of Take That clippings; literally every single picture I could find was ripped out and put into the collection. An archive of incredibly dubious hair cuts and even more dubious jelly-filled music video images, after their demise I felt no need for such alarming photos to be kept anywhere near my peripheral vision, so promptly disposed of the lot. Needless to say, when their comeback was announced, my urge to re-look at my (somewhat hilarious) childhood collection was swiftly quashed.
As if sensing my anxieties, some clever bod has decided to release this special edition Smash Hits and I couldn't be happier. Displayed before me again are pictures of the boys from in the early nineties, with haircuts and clothing choices that were only forgivable back then. Filled with pictures both past and present as well as a detailed timeline and archived articles from original Smash Hits interviews, this is perfect for anyone wanting to recreate what they once lost, or simply to laugh at what they never got to experience the first time around.
Smash Hits: Take That edition is on national sale until 31st December 2009.
As a kid I read Smash Hits religiously and even did several stints of work experience there as a teenager; both helped in reaffirming the fact I definitely wanted to be a writer. Obviously distraught when it finished a few years back at the fact I'd never get the chance to write for it properly, you can only imagine my glee when I saw the bold red typo of the title beaming out at me earlier. Unfortunately, it is not returning on a permanent basis but just for a Take That special - which, let's be honest, is still good enough for me.
Stashed in my cupboard as a kid were folders full of Take That clippings; literally every single picture I could find was ripped out and put into the collection. An archive of incredibly dubious hair cuts and even more dubious jelly-filled music video images, after their demise I felt no need for such alarming photos to be kept anywhere near my peripheral vision, so promptly disposed of the lot. Needless to say, when their comeback was announced, my urge to re-look at my (somewhat hilarious) childhood collection was swiftly quashed.
As if sensing my anxieties, some clever bod has decided to release this special edition Smash Hits and I couldn't be happier. Displayed before me again are pictures of the boys from in the early nineties, with haircuts and clothing choices that were only forgivable back then. Filled with pictures both past and present as well as a detailed timeline and archived articles from original Smash Hits interviews, this is perfect for anyone wanting to recreate what they once lost, or simply to laugh at what they never got to experience the first time around.
Smash Hits: Take That edition is on national sale until 31st December 2009.
Christmas Crackers: Day 2
After yesterday's cockle warming track, today's offering is here to prove that not all Christmas songs have to be sickly sweet. It seems obligatory for every half-decent band to record a Christmas track, and having toured with Green Day and Blink 182, Californian punk-rock band Sugarcult are showing their value by throwing their raucous sound into the festive mix.
Here's their version of 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town' - evidence surely that even the edgiest musicians will always have a place in their heart for some tinsel and a candy cane.
Here's their version of 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town' - evidence surely that even the edgiest musicians will always have a place in their heart for some tinsel and a candy cane.
Tuesday 1 December 2009
Christmas Crackers: Day 1
It's December, which means it's time to get ready for Christmas. No, I'm not putting up my tree quite yet, but it's only three weeks away (or just over) and people spend longer time than that getting excited before they go on holiday. So to get everyone in the spirit I am going to post a different Christmas song performed by a band or artist each day.
Today's offering is one of my favourites, Coldplay's cover of 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas'. Originally released on their 'Mince Spies' EP (they can write puns as well as songs), it was also re-recorded in Radio One's Live Lounge a couple of years back and received a great response. The epitome of a great Christmas song, it puts a smile on your face and makes you want to snuggle up in front of a log fire.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)