Early Muse demo surfaces

Of all the music that's been released this week, the most intriguing has to be, by far, an early set of Muse demos. These nuggets of gold were recorded in 1996/1997 at Newton Abbey, and showcase their early grunge-like roots and Matt's hysterical iffy vocals. There are some never before heard Muse songs like Falling With The Crowd and Boredom, an early version of Showbiz album track Sober and some b-sides from the Showbiz-era like Ashamed and Jimmy Kane. There's no way that any of this material would give clues as to the Muse that currently are a monstrous force to be reckoned with in 2008, but, if you're a big fan, this is worth a listen purely for the fact that this is the earliest original recordings of the Teignmouth trio available.

The demos are available to download from Muse fansite, Muse Live.

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Coldplay - Viva La Vida

The title track from Viva La Vida has hit the Internet via pre-orders for the upcoming album on iTunes. And do you know something? It's brilliant. This is not the same band that was yearning on previous albums, and certainly not the same band from the stinker that was X&Y. Energetic strings amongst a thumping bass drum. Some of Chris Martin's better and more imaginative lyrics including the exclamatory "long live the king." It's official - Coldplay have turned optimistic. And all the better for it - this song has renewed my eager anticipation for the album and confirmed my fears that Violet Hill really is a weak choice as the first proper single.

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New tracks roundup

I've listened to a good chunk of new stuff recently, so here are some brief reviews of four new songs that have been recently released to the music consuming public:

Coldplay - Violet Hill
The first single off the group's fourth album, Viva La Vida Or Death To All His Friends, is nowhere near first single material when compared to the likes of In My Place or Speed Of Sound. Instead, the sound is darker and heavier (well, by their standards anyway). I think the track is fine but the eerie introduction, clearly Eno-influenced, is far too long. One does also wonder whether this is a real reflection of their new sound...only time will tell.

Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart
Any band who decides to release an eight and a half minute song as a lead single from a new album is brave. It's even more of a feat if the song is actually good, which this is in leaps and bounds. For the first half, its musical sound is mesmerising and when Ben Hibbard's vocals come in, the full equation is completed rather brilliantly. Attention grabbing and one of the more impressive single releases this year, it wets the appetite for forthcoming album, Narrow Stairs, nicely.

The Dresden Dolls - Night Reconnaissance
A solid song taken from their upcoming release called No, Virginia (I can never figure out whether it's a proper album release or just a stop-gap based on the content). It's everything you would expect from the Boston two-piece - Amanda's vocals are assertive yet not overwhelming, whilst Brian's drumming skills are as tight as usual. Overall, a track that will no doubt please the fanbase.

CSS - Rat Is Dead
By far and away the weakest of the four songs that I've listened to. Rat Is Dead, the first single from their second record called Donkey, is basically the same CSS as the first album but recycling the things they did on the first album and hoping no one will notice. They're one of those bands that I could never envisage lasting very long in the music industry. This track proves my theory.

But you can judge for yourself! I have put all four songs for download, since my attempt to create a widget failed miserably. If I were to suggest a favourite out of the four it would be Death Cab For Cutie, but The Dresden Dolls song is also pretty good.

Coldplay - Violet Hill
Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart
The Dresden Dolls - Night Reconnaissance
CSS - Rat Is Dead

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Portishead - Machine Gun

It's been a long time since Portishead released any music. It's also taken an equally bloody long time for me to finally recognise that they actually are just as good as fellow Bristol musical masterminds Massive Attack. Machine Gun, the lead single off their third album (Third - what originality!), is quite a disturbing piece of music. The drum sounds are vicious yet minimalistic and it all builds into a synth-led crescendo that is subtle yet affecting. Not only that, but Beth Gibbons has, it could be argued, one of the most powerful and beautiful voices in music right now.



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Nine Inch Nails - Discipline

Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails is encouraging all of us to take our shirts off and dance to his new free-for-download single, Discipline. Sadly, it just doesn't have the desired effect on me. The trouble is, despite the cool heavy-bass riff and twinkling piano sounds over a rave-like beat, it doesn't really go anywhere. It feels much like the long-lost cousin of With Teeth single Only, except just not as good. Worst of all, it feels like a remix of a song that should been so good. Totally directionless.

If this is a taster of potential new material, the signs aren't good.

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Feeder Old/Feeder New

Feeder have a brand new album out this year. I seem to be one of the only few who still care about this band and it seems that the days of wanting to be Coldplay are now over. Pure rock music is now back on the agenda for this Welsh trio. Miss You is a short, sharp and catchy song with the pop sensibilities that have been their trademark on so many occasions. In a way, however much I like the song, I get the impression that they're trying to recreate past glories. I now fully accept that the days of Polythene are over, but I don't think the band do. However, this is an excellent taster of an album that promises to be more Kerrang (well...close to it anyway) than Magic FM.

But speaking of past glories...

Today on my shopping escapades in London, whilst with my girlfriend's parents on their holidays here, I managed to find a copy of Swim by Feeder on vinyl (as pictured above). I checked the vinyl to see if it really was what I thought it was. This 6-song mini-album is the band's first proper release. This was a taster of what would become the band's debut album. I bought it and, despite a few scratches that ruin things slightly, it works most of the time. And it was £8.

This album showcases the abilities that Feeder displayed in abundance early in their career. They could rock hard with pummeling rhythms and beautifully distorted guitar melodies (Shade and Stereo World), tender moments that were so much better than anything off Pushing The Senses (Swim), and it had Descend, a song so powerful it still feels good in 2008. The re-released CD version, which you might be able to find in some rip-off record shops, have five extra tracks that just do not match the quality of the original article.

As opposed to songs about 'drinking cider from a lemon', this is what I'll remember Feeder for when their career finally subsides.

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LCD Soundsystem - Big Ideas

This track is further proof that James Murphy is a genius. An utter genius. Big Ideas is a one-off track taken from the upcoming film 21. This song is typical LCD Soundsystem but one that could quite easily fit into Sound Of Silver. Layers build and build and build to turn this dance song into a pulsing riot of a tune. It's very much, in fact, like standout album track, All My Friends. This might be a good thing or a bad thing depending on what you prefer. To me this is a very good thing.

The soundtrack also features MGMT, who I've only just discovered after watching them perform at SXSW on YouTube, and UNKLE amongst others. Listen to Big Ideas now on that cute American indie site called Stereogum.

LCD Soundsystem
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Radiohead release second single off In Rainbows

Nude will be the second single off the excellent In Rainbows. The CD will come with Down Is The New Up as a b-side and the vinyl will feature 4 Minute Warning. Both b-sides were songs that were available on the discbox issued out last year.

That's all pretty conventional stuff, but apparently the single will also give fans a chance to remix Nude. That is all that has been said so far but it sounds intriguing...

Radiohead
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R.E.M. - Supernatural Superserious

Quite frankly, R.E.M. could have made a new album based solely on Michael Stipe doing gangster hip hop over a banjo melody and, no matter how awful it would sound, it wouldn't be a patch on the atrocious effort of Around The Sun. It's a relief then that this, the first cut from their 14th studio album titled Accelerate, blows everything from their last album out of the water. It's going to back to what R.E.M. do best - just really good alternative rock. It may not be anywhere near their best but it is nowhere near their worst.

R.E.M. website

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Gnarls Barkley - Run

This is a song that has emerged on the Interweb and certain radio stations recently. It's not the 'official' lead single off the new album, titled The Odd Couple, but it is a taster of what the new album should sound like. Like I said yesterday with the look at the new We Are Scientists track, if you liked the previous album then you will like this a lot. This is a typical Gnarls Barkley song - just shy of three minutes, fast tempo and gospel sounding in places. The problem I have with this is that it just feels...too safe. It's almost paint-by-numbers really - a bit disappointing.

Gnarls Barkley - Run

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We Are Scientists - After Hours

The new We Are Scientists single, After Hours, has recently hit the airwaves and I've now had the chance to listen to it. If you liked their last album then their's a good chance that you will like the new stuff as well judging by this song. The classic formula of good We Are Scientists songs has been tweaked slightly. There's a bit more instrumentation, with an acoustic guitar propelling the song onwards and onwards, and an organ at the very start. It also doesn't sound as...'indie', I guess, as some of the stuff from the last album. I'm tempted to say more mainstream sounding but it might be a bit harsh. The refrain though in the chorus is very radio-friendly and will probably get them a high UK chart placing alone.

Overall, it's enough to make me look forward to their second album (titled 'Brain Thrust Mastery' and out on the 3rd March).

After Hours video
We Are Scientists website

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Overdue tracks of 2007

When I did my look back of my albums of 2007, I was thinking about the possibility of adding a seperate Tracks of 2007 list. In the end I decided against it and instead just named a key track under each of my choices in the albums list.

I've now had a change of heart.

Albeit a month late, the reason why I've done is mainly because there were many other good albums of last year. So one to highlight these albums is by doing this. If you like the tracks, go and get the album.

The list, in no particular order:

Nine Inch Nails - My Violent Heart
Klaxons - It's Not Over Yet
Radiohead - All I Need
Dizzee Rascal - Sirens
The Bees - Who Cares What The Question Is?
Saul Williams - Scared Money
Arcade Fire - My Body Is A Cage
LCD Soundsystem - New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down
Simian Mobile Disco - Sleep Deprivation
Arctic Monkeys - 505
Jonquil - Lily
Kaiser Chiefs - I Can Do It Without You
Kings Of Leon - Fans
Patrick Wolf - The Stars

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