The Widowmaker - new album song titles.

Right, this is an absolute exclusive. Here are the song titles for the new Widowmaker album, due for release in 2011.

These are NOT in the order they will appear on the album:

All This Time

The Number Seven

Things

Go Quietly

Brokenheartedness

Tell Me To Stay

I Better Put You Down

Two Pence Piece

Leave It Out

The Wolf

26 Palms

So there you have it :)

Landlords/Ladies.

Why do I pay £350 per month rent when I don't even get supplied central heating and when I have the audacity to ask my landlady about it, she replys 'you'll have to call the gas board'.

Errrrm:

Dear Wicked Witch of the West,

Despite your actions to try to get me to call, I feel it encumbered upon me to remind you of your duties, considering you receive well over £1200 per month in rent from this house. A 4 minute phone call to the gas board shouldn't be out of the question.

Failing that, it is also a 5 minute ride on your broom.

Regards
Your loving tenant.

Ian Easton

The Tallest Man on Earth

...was amazing by the way. A review and pics to follow, but here's a sneak preview.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs964.snc4/75761_466360844222_511699222_5363779_4843863_n.jpg

Gosh I'm so good to you people.

And...breathe.

In an effort to remain calm, I've been attempting breathing exercises throughout the day. However this genius plan was scuppered yesterday when I woke up with what can only be described as a 'stinking cold'. This subsequently moved to my chest and now I can barely breathe. My poor young (27 years old is still young for these little fellas) sinuses are packed with bug, and said bug is making my stress-relieving exercises redundant!!

Of course, I don't actually do breathing exercises, but if I did then i'd be screwed.

Things are rather hectic for me currently. I have what seems like an ever-growing and evolving amount of university work hanging over my head, ready to drop at any given second. With that, I am working at The Sound on mondays, and also writing songs with Dan for the new Widowmaker album (title yet to be decided).

Dan and I are also discussing ideas for new promo shots. I was thinking something along the lines of this:

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTsYufNFQA3u7MY20Sf7DgUgWSCoDb4Me_LWIVJHY5v9hOEpEHS

Alas, I jest of course. I came up with the idea of something along the lines of this, to which Dan agreed:

http://www.fredrickboling.com/wildbnch.gif

Obviously with our instruments. But I love how the subjects in those pics always look shocked or scared and the glazed look their eyes have. So maybe something like that, with our instruments (banjo and boots included) surrounding us.

Who knows.

Also, did anyone hear about MC Hammer making a comeback? These new dinosaur comebacks are really getting out of hand:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1149.snc4/149161_10150320231125096_586505095_16333257_3876143_n.jpg

There is still hope for me yet.

The Libertines - Reading Festival 2010

After the booing-bonanza that was the Guns ‘n’ Roses set on the Friday night of Reading Festival 2010, there is only one band name on every festival-goers lips – and it isn’t Arcade Fire. A certain hushed sense of anticipation begins to twirl and forge its way from the ground of the site as the giant L-shaped elephant in the room looms. In an era of rock-comebacks, comes the most anticipated of all – at last, The Libertines are coming. After so many no-shows, arguments over who-wrote-what, tabloid tales and rumours, they are finally here. To the rising red curtain of their first-album’s artwork and Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll meet again’, The Libertines swagger onstage on time, after the heart-warming and nostalgic appetiser that is the big-screen slide show of the band’s heyday.

Then, as cool as you like, Pete Doherty, Carl Barat, John Hassell and Gary Powell throw themselves straight into the opener, ‘Horrorshow’. How apt indeed. One thing is for certain, The Libertines sound tighter than ever before. The band’s secret rehearsals seem to have paid off, and we begin to see something shine through that transcends the entire shambolic history of the band – the music.

And as if by magic, we begin to see and hear the heritage of The Libertines. Pete and Carl slip into their roles like an old glove, and we behold what all the fuss was about in the first place. We see the unabashed way they stare into each other’s eyes as they share the microphone á la Lennon/McCartney. We hear the vital and immediate thrash of duo guitars and bouncing rhythms and counter rhythms as the two duel against each other onstage, as brothers in arms. We see the head-bopping and hear the shoop-shooping of old, as the band hurl themselves shamelessly into a greatest hits set, and the crowd bellow every word, for there is not an unknown song here – this could possibly be the greatest sing-along of our generation.

Perhaps the loudest sing-along is the perfectly-timed ‘What Became of the Likely Lads’, and we witness just that. Here they are, in front of our eyes playing the songs of Albion. Other standout tracks are the obvious ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’, ‘Time For Heroes’ (which is stopped midway through due to a crowd crush) ‘Death on the Stairs’ and ‘Up The Bracket’. Throughout the set, Doherty seems remarkably lucid, and it’s Barat who seems the more nervous out of the two. Nevertheless, The Libertines pulled off what no-one ever thought they would. When their backs were against the wall, they came, triumphed, conquered and stole the weekend from under the noses of Arcade Fire, of whom prior to the show, lead singer Win Butler asked ‘Liber-who?’ – What a divvy.

Ian Easton

Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can, album review

Not just a mere progression from Alas, I Cannot Swim, Miss Marling’s new offering I Speak Because I Can boasts a slightly more frequent display of poignancy. With many production techniques being taken from boyfriend Marcus Mumford’s neck of the woods, Marling leads her more mature vocals through a far wider range of folk inspired meanderings. If the question ever loomed that this girl was a flash in the pan, then let this album answer that question abruptly. The album serenades you through a list of songs; some seen before on previous EPs – ‘Rambling Man’, ‘Blackberry Stone’, ‘Maid By Maid’ and ‘Alpha shallows’. All are far more upbeat and bordering on euphoric in this new recording, these are a wonderful set of new renditions, which were much needed.

However it’s been a while since Marling’s first offering of a record, and the lack of tracks here makes you question what’s taken her so long. Although all ten songs are superbly crafted efforts, it does beg the question that there may be more in Marling’s armoury in terms of prolific song writing. There are talks in the air of a third album before the turn of the year, and perhaps she is saving herself, not wanting to peak too early. The highlight of the album is undoubtedly the haunting and spine-tingling ‘Alpha Shallows’. This track, along with ‘Hope in the Air’ is serious business and the bastard twin of debut album’s ‘Night Terror’ and ‘The Captain and the Hourglass’. This long-awaited album needed these songs, as they bring the whole record beautifully to life with an intensity that is not to be seen on any other track here.

Although short, I Speak Because I Can is a mature and solid second effort from the reigning queen of folk. In fact, it could be said that she has succeeded in reinforcing that title for the 2010 year. There are obvious influences from close touring partners, but what would a 20 year old Marling be, if not easily influenced by peers? Despite perhaps not having the massive impact of her debut album, I Speak Because I Can may just be a case of giving us what we have become used to with Laura Marling, for this is a grand effort from a truly wonderfully talented young songwriter.

7/10

The Tallest Man on Earth

The Wild Hunt – album review

Dylan, Dylan, Dylan. That’s all you hear these days when a new folk artist arises from the undergrowth. The truth is, very few of those comparisons are worth the backslapping or the hospital. Swedish-born Kristian Matsson aka The Tallest Man on Earth may be one of the few folk artists bursting with raw talent who actually blow away the cobwebs and live up to the hype. Dylan never had this effortless ability on guitar, did he?

Bursting with Americana-influenced meanderings, TTMOE’s second album, The Wild Hunt, is so full of refreshing hooks that you could sit listening to him and his guitar, in a 1960s time warp, for hours on end. You never even get bored or even want to compare him to any other artists, past or present.

Following up on his acclaimed debut album, Shallow Grave, Matsson could have been forgiven for becoming complacent. Shallow Grave was such a superbly crafted collection of high quality songs, one might think there may be some filler left over for the recording of The Wild Hunt. Not the case. This album is full of – dare I say it – an even more rounded and well-chosen set of tracks. Stand out songs include the brisk ‘Burden of Tomorrow’, the endlessly summers ‘Drying of the Lawns’ and the head-nodding ‘King of Spain’.

Who thought a recording of one man and a guitar could hold your attention for so long, could be so exciting. It’s a testament to this man’s ability, voice and never-waiving ear for a standout song. Buy this album.

4/5