The Short and Skinny I

Ok kids, I've formulated a new feature in which I aim to give voice to the more concise side of music- EP's, Mini Albums, B-Sides- which are I feel are too often overlooked in favour of bigger, meatier albums. So, let's get down to it, shall we?

1. WE ARE SCIENTISTS- RULES DON'T STOPRaise a cheer, We Are Scientists are back in town. They bring with them this single, which is pretty much everything we've come to know and love from the California trio- a stomping indie dancefloor hit, that you'll be humming for weeks. The B-Side, Down the Hall, largely follows suit, with a slightly more intimate vocal. But the inclusion of an acoustic version of 'Rule Don't Stop' adds another dimension. This isn't a throwaway, careless guy-and-guitar reworking with little else added to the mix- it's an ambient piece that stands up as a song in its own right. Overall, this single and B-side is short and sweet, but definitely worth a listen.
MP3: Rules Don't Stop (Acoustic)



2. THE ROYAL CHAINS- BEAR ISLANDPinning down the nature of this EP is a puzzle in itself- straddling the lines between indie, pop and rock, and throwing in a few lo-fi and retro riffs for good measure, 'Bear Island' can be savoured on most musical palettes. Confused? You won't be. This band offer something innovative that still gives a nod to their musical predecessors- and boy, does it sound good. Some of the tracks- such as the standout, 'The Wolf'- have a polished edge to them that you simply wouldn't expect from a band as new as this. Watch this space- I have a feeling you're going to be hearing about 'The Royal Chains' alot more in the future.
MP3: The Wolf


3. BOYS WITH X RAY EYES- OH MY! HOW WE TERRIFYWhen you click play, prepare for a riotous, electric barrage of noise delivered with equal parts aggression and youthful exuberance. There's little here that deviates from a tried-and-tested hardcore format- explosive guitar riffs, heavy drums, and a snappy beat- but it does make for good, gory fun. There is of course room for improvement- for me, the balance between singing and screaming hasn't yet been struck- but a highly impressive listen, from a group who are definitely going places.
MP3: Electro the Human Lightning Bolt


4. SASHA IS ACOUSTIC- WHAT EVERY YOUNG MAN SHOULD KNOWFor an album played entirely on a guitar and a drum machine, this is pretty good stuff. What can be deciphered almost immediately is that this young London-based boy is a dreamer, penning songs about lost loves and human will. Such ideas are expressed in some rather eloquent touching lyrics- in 'This Year', he goes from 'sending my head to sweet decay' to contemplating the bigger questions: 'Have you ever thought this was all a test?' Something sweet and simple just in time for summer.
MP3: Celia

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Playlist 9: Love Songs, Part 1- Eileen

Since Valentine's Day is looming on the horizon, we thought we'd each share our favorite love songs with you, to woo your fair maiden/ handsome knight, or just so you can bask in their general loveliness. Up first, Eileen:

Playlist 9.1- Love SongsHere's one for the lovers ;)

1. THE CURE- Just Like Heaven
‘I promise that I’ll run away with you’.
Not only one of my favourite love songs of all time, but one of my general favourite songs of all time. The classic tale of girl meets boy, girl and boy fall in love, boy doesn’t show it and girl’s too insecure to realise he loves her. Heartbreaking, beautiful, a classic.

2. YEAH YEAH YEAHS- Modern Romance
‘This is no- and there is no- modern romance’
I think what makes this song so touching for me is Karen O’s voice. Modern Romance is from ‘Fever to Tell’- an album in which she is frequently heard hysterically screaming and shouting, in a way only she can. So, when she comes out with vocals like this- soft, raw- it adds to wonderful honesty of the song.

3. BON IVER- Skinny Love
‘Who will love you? Who will fight? Who will fall far behind?’
Because not all great romances work out. I suppose that’s the beauty of love- its fragility. What makes a good love song for me is that gentleness and tenderness- big, overblown romantic statements with belted vocals and a full orchestra don’t seem to have the same sincerity as a guy, and a guitar, and something real to say...

4. SAY ANYTHING- Alive With the Glory of Love
'When I watch you, I wanna do you right where you're standing.'
... Having said that, here’s a big overblown love song. I can’t help myself- with lyrics as honest as this, who can’t fall in love with this song? I guess it’s the musical equivalent of ‘The Naked Man’.

5. THE BEACH BOYS- Wouldn’t It Be Nice?
'It seems the more we talk about it, it only makes it worse to leave without it'.
The love song for every teenager, who wish instead of waking up to a cold cup of tea and nagging from your parents, you could wake up beside the one you love. Aaw.

6. REGINA SPEKTOR- Samson
'I cut his hair myself one night, a pair of dull scissors in the yellow light...'
Spektor has several times rewritten biblical or mythological stories, such as Oedipus. In Samson, Spektor doesn’t see a story of betrayal, but a love story- and it’s a story she narrates beautifully.

7. CAT POWER- Sea of Love
'Come with me, my love, to the sea, the sea of love'.
I remember my grandparents dancing to the original song when I was a kid, and Marshall does a pretty good job of filling this cover with just as much sincerity as the original. Lovely.

8. CITY AND COLOUR- Casey’s Song
'With you on my mind and my heart held in your hands, screaming: 'Break Me'.'
Ok, so I thought I’d round up with pretty much my favourite song ever. There’s something in the simplicity of it- the exquisite tone of Dallas Green’s voice, the beautifully-played guitar- that gets me every time.

You can listen to the whole playlist on the nifty little I-Pod below. Enjoy!

For more information about this playlist, click here >>>

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Eileen's Top 10 Albums of 2009

Throughout the month, we will each be bringing you our Top 10 favorite albums of 2009. Up first, Eileen:

10. Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest
This is an album which will no doubt be cropping up time and time again in lists such as this. It is clear from the off how meticulously executed this album is, how painstakingly the Brooklyn-based quartet have strived for perfection, in what appears to be largely a collection of love songs (certainly the case in ‘Two Weeks’, ‘I Live With You’ and ‘All We Ask’). But then, the album in places seems effortless, with something about it that seems to ooze nature- particularly apt, considering ‘Veckatimest’ is an uninhabited island off the coast of Massachusetts. The whole thing leaves me slightly confused, but in a very good way.
MP3: Southern Point

9. Grammatics- Grammatics
One of the most promising first albums I’ve heard in a long, long time. I think what makes this album a stand-out work for me is the sheer ambition- the soaring highs of ‘The Vague Archive’, the magnificently composed breakdown in ‘Relentless Fours’- which you simply don’t see in other fledging musical acts. A bit of a triumph.
MP3: The Vague Archive
8. dredg- The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion
And now for something totally different- some high-concept art/alt-rock, largely inspired by ‘A Letter to the Six Billionth Citizen’ by Salman Rushdie. Yes, I know- and it’s actually good! Although dredg are always a breath of fresh air, they’ve basically followed the same basic backbone as their previous El Cielo- soaring rock ballads interspersed with short, experimental ‘jousts’, as their bassist put it. Maybe not quite as successful as El Cielo (giving that it doesn’t feel that original anymore), but still a top record.
MP3: Ireland

7. Manchester Orchestra- Everything to Nothing
One of the only albums this year that I’ve genuinely been anticipating that has proved better than the act’s previous material. 'Mean Everything To Nothing' has the same triumphant melodies and quiet, introspective periods as 'I'm like A Virgin Losing a Child', but is bolder, better and carried out with a little more finesse. Andy Hull's vocals, in particular, have ripened considerably. Top stuff.
MP3: I've Got Friends

6. Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion
Ok, so you’re probably sick of hearing about this album by now, but how could I not? It is brilliant, afterall. Usually, experimental albums are musical marmite- some love them, some think they’re unbearably pretentious and just random noises that a child could’ve bashed out with a toy xylophone. But on the whole, MPP has received wide-spread praise; a fitting testament, I think you’ll agree.
MP3: Brothersport

5. Neko Case- Middle Cyclone
As I’m writing this, I’m smiling. Why? Because ‘Middle Cyclone’ is so much fun! A country album that never takes itself too seriously, but has moments of rare and brilliant beauty. Not my usual cup of tea, but I love it.
MP3: This Tornado Loves You


4. Bat for Lashes- Two Suns
Before you push the ‘play’ button on this one, get ready to be dragged by your heartstrings into Natasha Khan’s mystical world of surrealism and romance, all capped off by breathtaking vocals. Magnificent.
MP3: Glass

3. Alexisonfire- Old Crows/ Young Cardinals
I’d never really given hardcore/post-hardcore a chance before this year, but I’m so glad I warmed to it. It’s often considered to be a genre with little in the way of artistic accomplishment, but albums such as ‘Old Crows/ Young Cardinals’ explode such stereotypes. Principally based around the contradiction of beauty with violence within the modern world, Alexisonfire take us on a journey through the beautiful and the depraved- as well as a few chantable choruses thrown in for good measure.
MP3: The Northern



2. Patrick Watson- Wooden Arms
I probably use the word ‘beautiful’ too much. But when I call this album ‘beautiful’, I express the utmost admiration for the humble, the intricate and the heart-warming composition of ‘Wooden Arms’. It’s an album to fall in love with, time and time again, and I’m in complete disbelief that it hasn’t received more acclaim.
MP3: Wooden Arms

1. As Cities Burn- Hell or High Water
Yes, my album of the year is ‘Hell or High Water’. There’s something about the circularity of this album that beguiles me to no end- indeed, the rolling currents of the sea are a recurring motif, and several of the songs bear the lyrics ‘round and round we go’. But As Cities Burn definitely aren’t walking in circles- they’re headed firmly in the right direction. Although their last album, ‘Come Now, Sleep’ received considerable acclaim, for me there was something overdone about it- the introduction (‘Clouds’, in which we hear several people’s views of God set to music) and the finale (a 14-minute marathon, Timothy) in particular, seemed as though they could do with toning down. What follows, ‘Hell or High Water’, has all the same triumphant, guitar-swelling peaks, but the quieter moments are brooding, brilliant and just as enjoyable. Nothing here seems overworked- there’s just the right balanced of nature and nurture. It’s an album that takes my breath away every time I hear it. Truly, truly brilliant.
MP3: Pirate Blues

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Playlist 7: White Christmas

Only 19 days left until Christmas, and I've yet to start my Christmas shopping. Oh dear. I really should get more organised...

But how about you- are you feeling festive? If you're not filled with seasonal euphoria quite yet, never fear- I have the answer. This month's playlist is bound to inject a little holiday spirit into your cold, Scrooge-esque heart...

Playlist 7: White ChristmasA list of our festive favorites to get you into the Christmas spirit.

Track Listing:
1. FLEET FOXES- White Winter Hymnal
2. A FINE FRENZY- Let it Snow
3. THE WATER BABIES- Under the Tree
4. STARS- What the Snowman Learned About Love
5. MEW- Snow Brigade
6. JULIE DOIRON- Snow Falls in November
7. FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE- Valley Winter Song
8. CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE- Cold White Christmas
9. RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS- Snow (Hey Oh)
10. SLOW CLUB- Christmas TV
11. THE VEILS- Sit Down by the Fire
12. THE POGUES- Fairytale of New York
13. DODOS- Winter
14. BRAND NEW- Oh Holy Night
15. JIMMY EAT WORLD- Christmas Card
16. BLINK 182- I Won't Be Home For Christmas
17. RAMONES- Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight)
18. PATRICK WATSON- Fireweed
19. BEACH BOYS- Little Saint Nick
20. SUFJAN STEVENS- That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!
21. THE PIPETTES- A Winter's Sky

You can listen to the whole playlist on the nifty little I-Pod below. Enjoy!

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Playlist 6: Day and Night, Pt. II- Night

So, when we decided on the theme for our first group playlist, we came up with 'Day and Night'- seems oddly appropriate with the clocks going back last month, afterall. But what we found when we actually came to choosing our songs was that we simply had to many songs to choose from. So, we've split our playlist into two- you can listen to the first half here. So, may I present to you:

Playlist 6.5: NightThe shadowy underbelly of this month's playlist

Tri's Picks:
1. ARCADE FIRE- Wake Up
2. THE POSTAL SERVICE- The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
3. PASSION PIT- Sleepyhead
4. IMOGEN HEAP- Goodnight and Go
5. TEGAN AND SARA- Night Watch

Eileen's Picks:
6. GRAMMATICS- Shadow Committee
7. TILLY AND THE WALL- Rainbows in the Dark
8. PEARL JAM- All Night
9. DOLLY MIXTURE- Whistling in the Dark
10. MUSE- Darkshines
11. THE PUPPINI SISTERS- Soho Nights
12. KAY HANLEY- Cellars by Starlight
13. YEAH YEAH YEAHS- Date With the Night

Chloe's Picks:
14. LAURA MARLING- Night Terror
15. THE DYKEENIES- Feels Like Sleep
16. BAT FOR LASHES- Moon and Moon
17. TURIN BRAKES- Dark on Fire

Charles's Picks:
18. 65DAYSOFSTATIC- Drove Through Ghosts to Get Here
19. BJORK- All is Love
20. MEANWHILE, BACK IN COMMUNIST RUSSIA...- Anatomies
21. SIGUR ROS- Hún Jörð
22. MONO- The Battle to Heaven

You can now listen to the whole playlist on the nifty little i-Pod below. Enjoy!

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Playlist 5: True Colours

Yes, I've (finally) got around to making another proper playlist- try not to faint with shock. I'm sure you anguish at being left without new muisc for so long will dissolve in a frenzy of aural excitement as soon as you hear this playlist- it's a corker, if I do say so myself.
Y'know how it is with me buy now- a little old, a little new, a little indie, a little jazz, and, this month, a surprising amount of rock. Check it out:

True Colours

A playlist filled with songs about every colour under the rainbow.

Tracklist:
1. French Navy- Camera Obscura
2. Red Right Hand- Arctic Monkeys
3. Purple Haze- The Jimi Hendrix Experience
4. Pot Kettle Black- Tilly and the Wall
5. Behind Blue Eyes- The Who
6. Black History Month- Death From Above 1979
7. Black Hole- Be Your Own PET
8. Green Knight- Memory Tapes
9. Black Tongue- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
10. Brown Eyed Girl- Van Morrison
11. Pink Bullets- The Shins
12. Pirate Blues- As Cities Burn
13. Purgatory Blues- Juliette and the Licks
14. Orange Spider- mewithoutYou
15. Grass is Greener- Dolly Mixture
16. Red and Purple- Dodos
17. Seein' Red- Unwritten Law
18. Red Tide- Neko Case
19. Red River- The Walkmen
20. Whitewash is Brainwash- Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
21. Wine Red- The Hush Sound
22. Your Heart is as Black as the Night- Melody Gardot
23. White Unicorn- Wolfmother

Listen to the whole playlist on the nifty little I-Pod below. Enjoy!

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September: A Memoir

I understand my updates have been a wee bit infrequent this month, but here's what's been going on in the wonderful world of Eileen (that's me) this September:

Film of the Month- 500 Days of SummerWhen it comes to the rom-com film industry, the rules of the game are changing. Everything's getting a little more 'indie'- the tick list back in the days was a cute guy, a cute girl, a 'cute meet' and a predictable ending. These days, it's all about geek-chic guys n' gals striking up funny and witty conversations and going on a string of unconventional dates, to a backdrop of whatever music is 'in' (think Feist and Vampire Weekend).

But what seems to have stayed the same is the predictable ending- unless, of course, you're watching 500 Days of Summer.
You've got all of the usual features of a geek-chic rom-com, but with a few commitment-phobes, wise-cracking younger sisters and gratuitous karaoke scenes thrown in- as well as a bittersweet ending you probably won't see coming.
500 Days of Summer won't break any boundaries- it's still cutesie and indie to the core. It's just taking a familiar genre, giving a few extra perks, and trying to gently nudge it in a different direction.

Album of the Month- 'The Resistance' by MuseWith a band like Muse, I really don't want to say anything overly critical, for fear of having abuse hurled at me by their fans.
Lucky I don't have a critical word to say, really.
'The Resistance' is everything we've come to expect from Muse- dramatic, ambitious, experimental- and oh so much more. They appear to got a giant music blender, shoved in a massive dollop of futuristic electronica, a largely unnecessary amount of anthemic riffs, a sprinkling of Orwell references, a spoonful of recycled riffs (mostly from 'Origin of Symmetry', my favorite Muse album), a fair quantity of Queen, and a little bit of Bellamy magic, to taste.
What we have here is bags of ambition, a more modern sound, but a record that in places tries to hard to achieve those big hitters Muse has so often composed before. Not their best work ever, but definitely signs of musical progression there.

Fashion Designer of the Month- Roksanda Ilincic

Tall, sweeping frocks in soft colours, but with a distinctly structured look- what more could you want? From fashion school to fashion star in a few short years, Roksanda combines a punk-rock feel with the classic lines for a collection that's unique and mindblowing.
I would also like to point out how awesome the scruffy-ponytails Dior were rockin' for Spring/Summer 2010 were:
Posts of the Month:
10 Film Love Interests Who Aren't Utterly Loathsome: Tired of vapid, two-dimensional love interests in films? Want to see some legitimate characters, as well as some romance? Well, look no further- I have a list of 10 Romantic Supporting Actors who might tickle your fancy.

10 Songs of the Week- The Cure, The Beatles, Neko Case, Alexisonfire- my ten songs on heavy rotation during September. Bit of a mixed bag, so hopefully something for everyone.

Missed Connections- Gosh, I'm in an amorous mood this month! The Autumn does strange things to me. Art to celebrate the amorous glances and missed chances we all experience.

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10 Songs of the Week

I'm getting worse and worse for posting, though not through choice. I've only been back at college for a week, and I'm already bogged down with essays and reading lists and all sorts. I guess this is sort of one of those years where I have to work, lest I risk messing up my future.
Ho hum, enough with the negative stuff- how have you all been? All slowly getting back into the swing of things after the holidays, I suspect. I'm having a bit of a musical week, by which I'm meaning to shitloads of music, not that I'm rockin' out to the Sound of Music, or anything. So, I thought it would be nice to share with you what's goin' on musically with me as of late:

THE WHO, 'BABA O' RILEY'
'Who's Next' has easily one of the best album covers of all time, and is one of the best albums of all time as well. Baba O'Riley is very, very high up on my list of ultimate tracks to play air guitar to alone in my bedroom. The Who also provide all of the theme tunes for CSI, and I do love a good bit of CSI.

MARIANA'S TRENCH, 'ACADIA' I just remembered the guitar solo on 'Acadia' reminds me of 'Baba O' Riley', for some strange reason. I still don't think 'Masterpiece Theatre' is a patch on 'Fix Me', but they're still seem like a pretty cool bunch of dudes, so ho hum.

ALEXISONFIRE, ANYTHING, EVERYTHING, JUST GIVE ME ALEXISONFIRE QUICK!
(BUT MAINLY 'THIS COULD BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD')
I'm going to see them in concert in October! Win! I also like to imagine what would happen if Alexisonfire and Marianas Trench got into some Canadian-rock-band-battle-to-the-death. Alexisonfire would easily win- it would be a bit of a massacre, actually. Any member of Alexisonfire could snap the rather effeminate Josh Ramsay (lead singer of MT) like a twig. No offence to Josh- he just seems like he'd benefit from a good square meal.

CITY AND COLOUR, 'AS MUCH AS I EVER COULD'
My Alexisonfire binge just sort of merged into a City and Colour binge. I think I gravely underestimated 'As Much As I Ever Could' in particular.

THE CURE, 'JUST LIKE HEAVEN'
Ooh, I love The Cure. It is a pity that all decent bands from England have been and gone, though. Our music scene is a little lacking in comparison at the moment.

NEKO CASE, 'PRISON GIRLS'
'Middle Cyclone', the album this song is from is easily my favorite of the albums that I reviewed on Song by Song. All of the songs are also alot of fun to sing along to, particularly 'People Got a Lotta Nerve'- on the count of three, 'I'm a man-man-man, man-man-man-eater!'

THE BEATLES, 'PAPERBACK WRITER'
You may notice an old-English-band theme to my current musical taste. I don't know, maybe I'm going to patriotic. For some reason, there's this massive taboo about people listening to '1'- what, just because it's basically a compilation of their famous songs, I'm not allowed to listen to it?

BAT FOR LASHES, 'MOON AND MOON'
Since viewing her performance at the Mercury Prize Awards, I can't stop listening to her. Her strangely hypnotic voice gets me every time.

AS CITIES BURN, 'PETTY'
Still my album of the year thus far. Truly stunning. Enough said.

JOY DIVISION, 'LOVE WILL TEAR US APART'
A truly immense song. Have you watched 'Control', the biopic about them? That too is immense, and so visually beautiful. Go buy it, now.

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Song by Song: 'Humbug' by Arctic Monkeys

Time for another Song by Song, in which I take you through my thoughts upon my first hearing of a new album, so you can pick it up for yourself if it sounds like your cup of tea, or avoid it if it sounds like a big puddle of crap. So much fun it should be illegal.

So, my speakers are turned up, I'm sitting in my comfy chair, and the album's been inserted- let's begin, shall we?

Humbug by the Arctic Monkeys
1. My Propeller
An alright track by anyone's standard, but compared to other Arctic Monkeys' openers ('View from the Afternoon' and 'Brianstorm', for example), this is kind of weak. No brooding minor-key tones or hideously obvious sexual undertones can save you now, I'm afraid- hope this picks up...

2. Crying Lightning
I really do like this song- intriguing lyrics, chant-able chorus, and the way there's something darkly exciting about the whole composition. This song is going to be stuck in my head for the rest of the week now.

3. Dangerous Animals
Ooft, more double entendres? You saucy little primates! Seems like the vibe for this record is going to be 'dark, brooding and ridiculously sexual'- particularly if the S+M-esque lyrics are anything to go by: "Sharpen the heel of your boot, And you press it to my chest and you make me wheeze".

4. Secret Door
Love the eerily tranquil opening. This is a song of contrast for me- the overall sound suggests that the Arctic Monkeys are maturing like a fine cheese, and leaving behind the joyful, carefree days of 'Topshop princesses' and such. But, then the immature lyrics say otherwise. In a word: confused.

5. Potion Approaching
The thing that always slightly puts me off from the Arctic Monkeys is that the vocals and the melody (particularly in the verses) don't quite mesh together, which is evident in this song. However, this is the only song thus far that I've found this with. I like the change of tempo around 2 and a half minutes in as well.

6. Fire and the Thud
This track features guest vocals from Allison Mosshart (The Kills, The Dead Weather), which fits in quite nicely with the spooky vibe goin' on in this song, and the entire album thus far. Not as strong as the other tracks thus far, but it's surprisingly quiet. Are we going to get a song that's comparatively peaceful throughout, and still good? Wait, no, it's got loud. I forgot the Arctic Monkeys can't stay quiet for more than three minutes- they're kind of like hyperactive kids.

7. Cornerstone
Wow- now this I like. The subject's a wee bit creepy (trying to get a girl to effectively become an ex-lover), but it's weirdly beautiful. And quiet! There's no shouting, or electric guitar solos loud enough to make your ears bleed... Maybe the really are growing up.

8. Dance Little Liar
Same dark vibe still prevailing. Echoing sounds, backing vocals that sound like ghosts, and some pretty damn awesome drumming. Not as in your face as their previous work, but they appear to have slipped to the other side of the spectrum- some of these songs aren't catchy enough to be memorable. I'm probably not going to remember what this song sounded like when I proof-read this review.

9. Pretty Visitors
Hey, it's catchy! Much more like we've come to expect from the Arctic Monkeys. Strong, compelling chorus. Lyrics are a little ropey at times- 'What came first, the chicken or the dickhead?' Really?

10. The Jeweller's Hands
Not too shabby, but doesn't really stand up as a closer. For a last song, you want something that's a bit of a triumph, but doesn't sound like you've left all of your talent for the final hour. It doesn't really present a conclusion or a finale, and isn't a stand out song for me.

Overall, this is definitely a different direction for the Arctic Monkeys. Less a collection of potential indie anthems, and more of a dark pysch-rock record, that's seductive and downright creepy in equal measure. I think I quiet like it- not the best I've heard this year, but still a bold record with a clear concept. Good stuff.

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Song of the Day: Uprising by Muse

Say what you like about Muse, but when your eardrums are filled with their alt-electronic sound, you know you're going on a musical adventure. This is certainly true of their first single from their upcoming album, 'The Resistance'. 'The Uprising' starts off with a sci-fi futuristic vibe, then smacks you raging guitars. On top of that, you've got the anarchic, anti-establishment lyrics that are said to be the order of the day on 'The Resistance'. They've even thrown in some handclapping and chanting for good measure.
It's been described as 'Like "Supermassive Black Hole" being raped in a back alley by Goldfrapp', and I quite like it. However, concerns have been raised about how unnecessarily political this album could be- I guess we'll just have to wait and see. In the mean time, have listen to this:

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Karen-O-Rama! Part III

It's finally arrived- due to the success of Green-a-Rama, I present to you: Karen-O-Rama!
In the second chapter of my series on how to dress like my favorite fashion icons, I present to you three of my favorite Karen O looks, and how you get the same vibe in your outfits. So, without further ado, I present to you:

Part III: 'More Tea, Vicar?' (Click to Enlarge):

'Storm in a Teacup' T-Shirt, Start Static for Red Bubble, £14.49
It seems obvious to me that the foundation of this outfit has to be a T-shirt than features a cup of tea. Not only that, but it has to rival the awesome-ness of Karen's actual T-shirt. Step in Red Bubble: a website that puts artist's work onto T-shirts. This 'Storm in a Teacup T-shirt is one of my new favorite things ever. You should also check the 'PyNANAS' T-shirt, which rocks.

Starfish Tap Shorts, Anthropologie, £17.36
Karen's shorts in this picture look small enough to be pants, so why not go whole hog and wear some pants? These shorts/pants/whatever are silk, and have starfish and other sea creatures embroidered into the side panels. Awesome, no?

Red Wide Braces, Topman, £12.00
I know the actual braces are black, but I felt this outfit could do with a bit of a colour injection. I also love the fact they're from Topman. Topman is vastly superior to Topshop, as they have better socks, boxers, hats and evidently braces.

Spider Web Tights, Urban Outfitters, £12.00
I feel the trick to looking fierce in patterned tights is to opt for a pair that are completely unique looking- and they don't come much more unique than these amazing spiderweb numbers from Urban Outfitters.

Amanda Boot, Charles Albert, $37.95
These knee-high red boots will, as their description says, 'add a little sass and attitude' to any outfit. And, for less than $40, they're cheap to boot. To boot? Get it?


Also, for your aural enjoyment, one of Karen O's songs. As there are 3 Yeah Yeah Yeahs albums and three looks, I thought one from each album. So, from 'It's Blitz!', here is Hysteric:

The Complete Series:
Karen-O-Rama! Pt. I
Karen-O-Rama! Pt. II
Karen-O-Rama! Pt. III
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Karen-O-Rama! Part II

It's finally arrived- due to the success of Green-a-Rama, I present to you: Karen-O-Rama!

In the second chapter of my series on how to dress like my favorite fashion icons, I present to you three of my favorite Karen O looks, and how you get the same vibe in your outfits. So, without further ado, I present to you:

Part 2- Fluorescent Adolescent (or 'More Fluorescent Than a Packet of Highlighters') (Click to Enlarge):

Bonfire Denim Shorts, Roxy, $36.50
Karen O is known for her love of kooky and adolescent clothing, so follow her eccentric and example and invest in these awesome bright green shorts. Perfect for raving and for the reach- a rare combination.

Music to My Ears Tank, Forever 21, $12.80
Admittedly this top isn't quite as fluorescent as Karen's, but it's amazing nonetheless. Forever 21 do have some pretty awesome graphic tank tops- I also love this one.

Loose Crop Tank, American Apparel, $15.00
I'm pretty sure this top would clash horribly with almost anything, but this baggy fluorescent crop top is so cool you wouldn't care. If you wore this, people would think you're so avant-garde and on the edge that you meant for your outfit to be a clashing disaster. Available in bright pink and bright yellow, but you should buy both.

Julu Jelly Shoes, Yoox, £ 18.00
Because jelly shoes are do for a comeback. Do you remember them? I had a pair of bright green ones (alot like these ones, actually) when I was a kid. These are available in green, pink, blue, yellow and silver- a colour for every occasion, you might say.

Purple Fishnets, Torrid, $20.00
And, just to make sure we've got every shade under the spectrum covered in one outfit, bright purple fishnets. Warning: this outfit is hazardously bright. Please handle with care, and always wear sunglasses for protection. Not suitable for diabetics or pregnant women. May cause sudden blindness, or a spontaneous loss of life.

Also, for your aural enjoyment, one of Karen O's songs. As there are 3 Yeah Yeah Yeahs albums and three looks, I thought one from each album. So, from 'Show Your Bones', here is Phenomena:

The Complete Series:
Karen-O-Rama! Pt. I
Karen-O-Rama! Pt. II
Karen-O-Rama! Pt. III
Read More......

Karen-O-Rama! Part I

It's finally arrived- due to the success of Green-a-Rama, I present to you: Karen-O-Rama!
In the second chapter of my series on how to dress like my favorite fashion icons, I present to you three of my favorite Karen O looks, and how you get the same vibe in your outfits. So, without further ado, I present to you:

Part One- Black and Blue (Click to Enlarge):Studded Motorcycle Leather Jacket, Stella and Jamie, $403.75

Admittedly, this example is a little pricey, but good quality leather always is. For full Karen O effect, you may want to attack your leather jacket with a stud gun. As you can see in the image, Karen's jacket looks like she just stepped out of an explosion in a studgun factory. However, if you're gong to do this, maybe opt for a cheaper jacket- I don't know about you, but I'm not rich/carefree/stupid enough to splurge on a high-quality jacket just to maim it (even if the results are quite cool).

Structured Tulip Dress, Topshop, 40.00
This dress is the epitome of sexiness. I can't tell whether or not Karen is wearing a top and a skirt (because I'm blind without my glasses), but either way, this dress paired with a leather jacket will make you look both cool and do-able- a very good combination.

Opaque Tights, Bloomingdale's, $6.25
I think this look would work equally well with bare legs, but if you want to go all-out on the blue front, I advise buying a pair of quality coloured tights, such as this pair form Bloomingdale's, because there's nothing worse than laddered tights. Unless they're those purposefully-laddered tights, but I found those a little pointless. They cost more than normal tights- why? Surely, if you liked that sort of thing, you could just buy a cheap pair and ladder them yourselves?

Leather Platform Pumps, JS by Jessica Mary, $59.95
I own only one pair of heels (hot pink, patent leather, 9.5 cm heels), so I really have no clue when it comes to shoes. However, I think these leather shoes look quite versatile- worn with this outfit, they're kind of punk-rock, but you could probably dress 'em down as well.

Studded Belt, Guess, $42.00
I love studded belts, but none of mine are quite as glamorous as this. Adds a little bit of pizazz to the outfit, I feel.

Neoclassical Coral Lipstick, Elizabeth Arden, $19.50
To finish off the look, some bright red lipstick. Why it;s called 'Neoclassical Coral' and not just 'Bright Red', I don't know.

Also, for your aural enjoyment, one of Karen O's songs. As there are 3 Yeah Yeah Yeahs albums and three looks, I thought one from each album. So, from 'Fever to Tell', here is Maps:

The Complete Series:
Karen-O-Rama! Pt. I
Karen-O-Rama! Pt. II
Karen-O-Rama! Pt. III
Read More......