Don't forget to vote on how brillo you think Simon Curtis' Broken is here!
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Well knock me down with a feather – it's bloody windy today, let me tell you! There I was all bundled up in my posh Springfield scarf walking from the train station (ew how common) to my office, listening to As Long As You're Mine (from Wicked) on my archos, battling the elements, when all of a sudden I get clonked on the back of the head. Luckily I wasn't being mugged, merely attacked by some woman's errant umbrella that had flown from her grip. It was actually fairly painful to get stabbed by one of the spokes and all she could say was "stop it then!" How rude! I would have biffed her on the nose but then I remembered I'm a pacifist (and I hit like a 2 year old girl). So now I have a slightly sore noggin, but I'm sure I will get over it. I did titter at lunch time when some foolish teenage bint thought it would be funny to run at the pigeons and kick them (oooookay) and her shoe went flying into the fountain and the pigeons didn't bat an eyelid. Note to self: Find out if pigeons have eyelids…
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THEZAPPING GO ALL INDIE (TEMPORARILY) ~ PART ONE:
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Not that there is anything wrong with a bit of glorious indie music. The Kaiser Chiefs have made some of the most in your face pop records of the past couple of years and even pop loving rock hating dazprerogative knew who The Kooks are when they came on't radio t'other day! Get him. So it's time to examine some of the bands bringing rather lovely melodious, self written and played guitar-pop to my slightly oversized ears…
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First up are a group I have been meaning to write about for ages. Blagg are a four piece band hailing from London and, er, Norwich who specialise in putting together a meaty selection of pop-ska tracks. Now there are a number of reasons to like Blagg – first up is their rather unpretentious promo photo. One of them has a Goonies t-shirt on which is so ironically cool it hurts and one (on far right) looks like he is having his arm twisted just to be there ;) And that's the second reason we like Blagg – there's no need for arm twisting to enjoy their music. While they may mine late 70s and early 80s acts like The Specials, Madness and Squeeze for their musical inspiration, the results are songs that sound familiar yet have a fun fresh quality to them that remains completely unjaded and a real treat to listen to. Songs like Parking Fine skip along into your brain culminating in choruses that are as memorable as a Back To School compilation album. And even reference Waitrose! With any luck this band will be lighting up the new acts stage at V Festival later this year… (plus you know I like a band with mad keyboard skills!) .
Next are Air Traffic who also do well in the keyboard department. This Bournemouth four piece have crafted a quality line of piano led indie pop – the type of music Keane should be putting out if they hadn't gone so self indulgent and needy. Rising from practising in industrial units at the airport, to recording live for Zane Lowe on radio one, this band have all the signs of an act in the ascendancy. And why shouldn't they be when they put out tunes like the rousing Never Even Told Me Your Name, the indie-pop perfection of Charlotte and the stunning Just Abuse Me (listen to that amazing piano!) Check em out on myspace now so you can say you were almost in on the ground floor! .
Finally are The View. How did I not know about them? I mean they are on their third single for crying out loud. They write about things they know about, so they are keeping it real y'all. Tracks like Wasted Little DJs are about local party people, while Superstar Tradesman is all about being rude to your neighbourhood barflys. The tunes are always omnipresent, but they take it up to the next level with the rather amazing Same Jeans ~ "I'm gonna go to a disco in the middle of the town/Everybody's dressing up/I'm dressing down" they sing over a guitar infused, harmonica led jangle that makes being skanky and unwashed seem like a little slice of indie pop nirvana. Filthy urchins! Be sure to check out the rather lovely acoustic version of Same Jeans too…
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LINK: Blagg's myspace site
LINK: Air Traffic's myspace site
LINK: The View's myspace site
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THE ONE MOMENT IN TIME:
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Remember when Whitney Houston could do no wrong? She was all over the pop charts like a rash with her first two albums and even recording American idol-esque type songs for the Olympics in 1988 (why no Idol has chosen this as their first single remains beyond me). Then she took a bit of a break, I moved onto Debbie, Kylie et al until her stunning return in late 1990. Just as it seemed pre-slutty Mariah might take over the world, Whitney came back with a funky jill-swing pop of an album called I'm Your Baby Tonight. As a piece of work it addressed the criticisms of her last album being too "pop" by being firmly routed in the r'n'b works of LA Reid and Babyface, yet not jarringly so that it would offend her existing fanbase. Lead off single and title track was a sublime meaty pop track that reigned in the vocal acrobatics somewhat and focused on providing a catchy chorus, some faux rapping and beats perfectly in sync with what the kids in the clubs were getting down to those days (and by clubs I mean mormon discos of course!) My Name Is Not Susan was almost a prequel for It's Not Right… and was a similiarly clubby slice of hip-pop berating her fella for getting her name wrong (the cad), while All The Man I Need bought back the classic ballads she was so famous for. There was also a rather jaunty duet with Stevie Wonder on We Didn't Know which fair warmed the cockles of my heart! However, the album highlight was a restrained masterpiece that was curiously overlooked for single status in the UK – Miracle remains one of her strongest tracks on her strongest album and is an exercise in how sometimes less can really be a lot more. One of the most beautiful Whitney ballads out there, this track shows an artist at the very top of her game.
Coming soon: memorable albums from Pebbles, Sheena Easton, Karyn White, Sweet Sensation and more…
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LINK: Purchase I'm Your Baby Tonight
MP3: Whitney – Miracle
MP3: Whitney – I'm your baby tonight
MP3: Whitney and Stevie – Who Do You Love (Live on Arsenio)
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THE FASHION LOCKDOWN: .
Fashion is tres importante in the world they call pop. And also in my world. Today, at work I have gone for my suave "tv presenter" look a la sexless Dermot O'Lovely or sexy Steve Jones from t4 – you know, a nice pair of jeans, and a white shirt under a dark jumper. Simple yet oh so effective. I look quite the fox even if I do say so myself (despite the less than glamorous background stalls and lack of popstar hair due to excessive windy conditions outside!) Anyway, today is all about how to dress like a popstar, not a tv presenter so as my models I have chosen (ie. pilfered photos from their official website) Rob and Chris from Lockdown. Seriously, it has grown quite scary how much I want this group to succeed now. Anyone who can turn Alice Cooper rocker Poison into a dancefloor stomper, cover Maniac and still come out with their credibility intact on the other side and conjur up pop magic like Hott is alright by me. And the boys dress ok too ;)
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Let's start off with this rather chic look from Chris. Now it's what I call the elegant-casual look (e.g. jeans dressed up with something far more evening wear). And as anyone who saw H on celebrity Big Brother the other day will know, it's a look that's very easy to get wrong. H had the loop of the scarf all wrong and paired it with a jumper. No no no no no! Go for a larger loop of the scarf and pair it with a waistcoat (definitely this season's must have) and a pristine white t shirt. Lovely…
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Now the white shirt/black tie look is very popstar and very now. And it's a very versatile look. You can go for the smart suit look (a la most Westlife videos since the dawn of time, but lets face it a bloke in a well fitted suit usually does look the biz) or a slightly more casual look a la Soren who did very well with tucked in shirt and rolled up sleeves here… Chris has gone for the "much more free to dance around in" look which works equally as well, though you have to be careful not to look like you just got fired from work ;) Wear the tie as an accessory rather than a tie (if you don't know what I mean then there is very little hope for you ;) ) and you won't go far wrong. Oh and pick a white shirt that doesn't look like you used to wear it to school – one with double pockets for example as seen in the pic above.
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Rob is a completely different "kettle of fish" (whatever that means). He manages to look effortlessly styled in every day clothes (that may sound like an insult – it's certainly not meant to be. It's a very difficult thing to accomplish). Taking something from your everyday wardrobe and making it "popstar" can be fairly simple if you know what you are doing. Always go for something fitted – don't just throw on any baggy old top. Accessorise round the neck and wrist – crosses and leather straps are always a safe bet. Finally be sure to go for a rocking belt. It's always good to draw attention to the waistline ;)
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LINK: Lockdown's official gallery
RECOMMENDED STORE: ASOS
RECOMMENDED STORE: Topman
RECOMMENDED STORE: River Island
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QUICK BITZ/BLOG WATCH:
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~ lots of good stuff at arjan - mika's video, justin timberlake and sting's love child and some good Good Charlotte news :)
~ some good stuff too over at hotstufffiles, including news that makes thezapping go moist - take that the musical! But we continued to be baffled by everyone's love for Linda Sundblad...(but then i still don't get Robyn so i need to tackle both at the weekend!)
~ Girls Aloud and Sugababes to Walk This Way? Check it out at Chartrigger...
~ Can we marry Nick? Well no as we are already civilly partnered/common law wife'd! But if he continues doing fab reviews like this, we may invite him on our second honeymoon...
~ XO has a rather brilliant birthday post on Dame David Bowie - he's not really my cup of tea, but this is a brillo read...
~ Veronica Mars/PosterGirl has a quick probe of Henry Winckler. We can't imagine anything better :)
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Coming Weds: the start of another boyband retrospecticus; a look at the alternates starring Mika! Matt Willis! Nerina! Kylie! Delta!; some new tunes we have come across that we like... see you then!