Showing posts with label Cut Copy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cut Copy. Show all posts

Cut Copy

Cut Copy are going to be back soon. Their 3rd album is on the way. Not a great deal of live dates, but give them time. It'll come soon enough. Just the news that they have finished making the album is good enough to have a cup of coffee and a biscuit to. Lean back in your chair and smile.

Here is a little short video of clips from the studio.

Favorite Albums of the Decade: 40-31

Day 2 of my favorite albums of the decade is upon us, with albums 40 through 31 coming today. Before we start that, a recap of the list so far (you can see that post here):

50. Andrew WK - I Get Wet
49. The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
48. Stars - Set Yourself on Fire
47. Badly Drawn Boy - About a Boy Soundtrack
46. Explosions in the Sky - All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
45. M.I.A. - Kala
44. of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
43. Hot Hot Heat - Elevator
42. The Stills - Without Feathers
41. Cake - Comfort Eagle


40. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)

Recommended Track: My Girls

Why I Love It: While the cries of "album of the decade!" may have been a pinch strong at this album's release, the hype that this was Animal Collective's best yet was not. This is AC distilling their sound into more of a pop structure, as you can sense Panda Bear's influence (after 2007's stellar Person Pitch) becoming more and more prominent throughout. This may be the definitive headphones and audiophile album of the decade, as this album is all about rich textures and layers of sound. Not only that, but when they take us through the chorus on "My Girls" and we get the gleeful "Ohhh!!", there may not have been a more euphoric moment from music this decade.


39. The Apples in Stereo - New Magnetic Wonder (2007)

Recommended Track: 7 Stars

Why I Love It: The Apples in Stereo were another out of nowhere band for me, regardless of the fact that they had been around for 16 years before I knew any better. This album is one that is filled with delicious vocoder driven vocals, 70's pop instrumental arrangements, and a sunny disposition mostly about...science? Whatever it is really about (obviously I am all about the lyrical content here), this album is one that surprised in its ability to alternately get me screaming out vocals and to regress into a far more contemplative state. This is not an album weighed down by import, but mostly one wondering "can you feel it." Yes we can, and it feels good.


38. Ghostface Killah - Fishscale (2006)

Recommended Track: Shakey Dog

Why I Love It: For all of the reasons Raekwon's Cuban Linx sequel is a success, so is this album. While for the most part Wu Tang Clan had a quiet decade, Ghostface exploded to become the most dominant voice from that crew. With his searing vocals, Ghostface tells us yarns of what a day to day life for a coke pushing gangster is like on the East Coast. Especially on "Shakey Dog", which is, to me, the apex of rap as a form of inner city storytelling. Not only that, but we get all kinds of guest appearances (including an honest to god Wu track), comic book and kung fu flick nods, and we learn a little about the metric system on the way as well. Who saw that coming?


37. The 88 - Over and Over (2005)

Recommended Track: Nobody Cares

Why I Love It: The 88 released one of the best albums of the 1960's, giving us rather straight forward pop rock tracks with soaring vocals, clap along rhythms, and tracks about sweet things such as coming home to your love, or things of that sort. Of course, the fact that it was released in 2005 to relative obscurity sort of alters that concept a bit, but that does not rob this album of any of its brilliance. While their follow up was...not strong, this album (which I found when I first started reviewing albums at my radio station in college) is laden with pop gems that I'd say match up with nearly anything from this decade.


36. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours (2008)

Recommended Track: Hearts on Fire

Why I Love It: Cut Copy is a group that so effortlessly fused indie pop, electronica, and influences from the 1980's into their sound on this album that they were pretty much impossible to be denied. While it's true this album really doesn't intend to be much more than an album that is light, airy, and fun to dance to, it doesn't really matter. Cut Copy is so obviously comfortable with their identity and their sound on this album that everything they do ends up sounding like everything you wanted to hear from them, but you didn't even know it. That's how you know it's good.


35. Muse - Absolution (2003)

Recommended Track: Butterflies and Hurricanes

Why I Love It: Muse is one of the most incredible bands on the planet, as in many ways they are about as talented as anyone out there. For example, Matt Bellamy, lead singer, guitarist, and pianist for the group, can do all three things about as well as anyone in music today. Whether you're looking for a classically trained piano piece in the midst of a track, or an absolutely insane riff, or some of the most beautiful vocals you'll hear from any man, they'll deliver this and plenty more. This album became a very popular one because of a few standout singles, but the depth of the album is where the gems are hidden, such as the more slow burning pieces like "Butterflies and Hurricanes" and "Blackout."


34. Cursive - The Ugly Organ (2003)

Recommended Track: Art is Hard

Why I Love It: "When you get on stage and they scream your name...oh Cursive is so cool...". From the very moment I heard those moments, with the former part sang in standard style and the "so cool" part in the background with muted vocals, I immediately knew I was a little bit in love with this band. At first, I was drawn in by the arty aggressiveness of "Art is Hard" and "Some Red Headed Slight of Hand", but later on I was pulled in by the more introspective moments like "The Recluse" and "Staying Alive." About that time I started to realize just how stellar of an album this was, and it ended up being my favorite album by one of Saddle Creek's absolute finest. Front to back, this album is loaded with power, brains, and a hidden soft streak that they'll scream at you to ignore. Brilliant.


33. Spoon - Gimme Fiction (2005)

Recommended Track: I Summon You

Why I Love It: First, I have to say that if I was going to make a list of favorite tracks of the decade (I may still do that), "I Summon You" would have to be up there for the top prize. This album followed their less structured and more eclectic album Kill the Moonlight and really focused on focusing the bands strengths into more straightforward tracks. For the most part it was a success, as tracks like the aforementioned "I Summon You" and "My Mathematical Mind" end up being every bit as wonderful as anything else in the Spoon discography. However, it falls somewhere in between the spontaneity of Moonlight and the polished pop sound of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, and that lack of identity keeps it in the 30's for me.


32. Phantom Planet - The Guest (2002)

Recommended Track: One Ray of Sunlight

Why I Love It: Alright, cool it with the laughter. If you're thinking "really? the band that made the O.C. theme song?" well, you'd be right. That is in fact this band. However, hidden under that overplayed (but infectious) track is an album that is 60's bubble gum pop at its finest. Loaded with more hooks than a meat locker and featuring more toe tapping beats than almost anyone should be expected to handle, this was my album of choice for one entire summer during the middle of this decade. It still stands up to the test of time as an album that will get spins from time to time, just because every once in a while you need a little bit of pop in your life.


31. Air - Talkie Walkie (2004)

Recommended Track: Alone in Kyoto

Why I Love It: Whether it's the simmering creepy beauty of "Run", the effortless cool of whistle happy "Alpha Beta Gaga," or the Eastern quietness of standout track "Alone in Kyoto", Parisian duo Air takes us on a journey through their sound on this album. The way they structure their purely electronic sound gives the album the feel that it is more organic than your average album of this sort, giving it additional weight and soul throughout. This is their masterpiece in my mind, and one of the best electro pop albums of the decade, assuredly.

Slices of Fried Gold - 9/8/08


So I'm looking to start some new blogging traditions. I started some a while back (lists on Mondays, reviews of new albums on Tuesdays, reviews of new comics on Wednesdays, plus the Weekend Edition) but now I think I'm going to get back on it. I'm going to start up a recommendation segment on Mondays, and I'm going to call it "Slices of Fried Gold." Get it? Like my blog title? God. I'm good.

No less, I'll recommend three to five things (or more if I'm feeling saucy) that I've been enjoying quite a bit lately in the world each week. Here we go!


Music: Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours

I went from not having listened to this band a month and a half ago to blaring this album over and over to the number of 221 listens in that period of time. I'm quite the fan. I've pretty much been digging anything electro pop lately, and this is about as good as it gets when it comes to that tasty little genre.

Incredibly dance-y, remarkably easy to sing along to, and just a blast of an album.

This is a definite contender for 2008 album of the year for me.

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Comics: 100 Bullets by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso

I picked up the first trade for this last year, read it, liked it a good amount and asked for more for Christmas. My wish was granted, as I received four more trades. Awesome right? Yeah, except I didn't read them until recently. Now I can't get enough, as this brilliantly intertwined crime opera by Azzarello and Risso is an incredible study of morals, the interconnectedness of life, and the human condition.

Plus, there are all kinds of cool gangsters, shady organizations that control the United States, secret agent types that are the ultimate badasses, and so much noir goodness that James Ellroy looks at this book in awe.

One of the best books on the market today and another reason why Vertigo is the greatest publisher out there.

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TV: Entourage season 5

After seasons 3 and 4, I was ready to let this show go. With Medellin, Walsh, and pretty much everything else growing tiresome, I didn't have much patience left. Early reviews were out as well, and it sounded like more of the same. I went into the premiere with much trepidation and was ready to pull the plug at any time.

Surprisingly, I loved it. It's like they remembered what made this show awesome, and then focused on putting that formula back in place. Welcome back guys.

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Online show: Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog

I waited with much anticipation at midnight as Joss Whedon released the first episode of this online show a while back, enjoyed it, then promptly forgot about it for quite some time. Tonight, I loaded it all up on my 360 and watched it - and it was fantastic. Funny, surprisingly touching, and full of strangely great music. Plus, a cast featuring my boys NPH (Neil Patrick Harris for the uninitiated) and Nathan Fillion? How can you go wrong with that?

If interested in watching, make sure to click the link because it takes you to the whole series on Hulu. Gotta love the Hulu.

Cut Copy

I am not normally one to get excited-- no, wait-- yea I am. But even more than usual, I am excited about going to see Cut Copy.

When my Mummy told me I had post to return to and she thought that one of my envelopes might be gig tickets, she is very estute now at gaging that having seen so many in their various packagings, I was giddy. When I opened them in the kitchen on my return anyone would have worried at that much uncontained movement in a space that held so many hot, sharp and generally dangerous items would end in tears. It probably been worth the injury.

My mother was utterly baffled by this extreme reaction. And I must admit, I even shocked myself, I mean, the most exciting thing will be my very favourite song. But sometimes, when you absolutely fall for a song, no matter what the feelings for the band/artist and their other work, the prospect of seeing it performed can do wild things.

So, song in question, Saturdays.



If you'd like a little more Cut Copy then keep your beady eye on the lovely blog Fun And Heartbreak as I may write a post with a Cut Copy track included. Aren't I kind?

Tracks that I have announced as being the single most important track of the year

Yes, there are several. They are not, however, to be confused with the general Tracks of the Year type of thing. No, these tracks are ones that for whatever reason, upon hearing, I announced them to be the single most defining and important track of 2007.

“TRACK OF THE YEAR!”
“What?!”
“Track of the year.”
(pause)
“This is the track of the year.”
“What about the others that you said were track of the year?”
“Errrr… shurrup!”
(general threat of violence)
“There have only been two others, so… this is like track of this third of the year.”
“Whatever Steph.”

First 3rd of the Year



Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire [via YouSendIt for 7 days]

Always slightly in love with Cut Copy and so was very excited when this floated up into musical landscape. Upon hearing it for the first time I think I immediately messaged or called my boyfriend to probably tell him I’d just heard the track of the year. Not that he’d of taken me seriously.

It actually made me believe that there was hope for the-blight-of-the-really-good-debut-album syndrome. Shame I’m still waiting for the follow up to be leaked. Not long now.

My adoration for this song knows no limits. I even enjoy the sax solo, which is rare, as being a saxophonist myself the sound usually makes me cringe. Somehow it’s been utilised perfectly in this song.

Second 3rd of the Year



LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends [via YouSendIt for 7 days]

The “consensus choice” as Mr Morton once described to me. Indeed, he was spot on with that phrase. But absolutely everyone can see why.

That ear-tickling piano accompaniment that carries you through the sheer delights of this song never ceases to break me into shivers every time I hear it opening. Flickers and pops of static that echo through your mind leaving it hollow for the sole purpose of letting this sound, song, voice, lyrics and feeling reverberate the walls of your mind.

The gravity of this song is incredibly personal. A song that becomes entangled in hurt, trauma and heartbreak. The situation transcends the song and ultimately you berate it for ruining a perfect piece of music.

Third 3rd of the Year



Dan Deacon - Wham City [via YouSendIt for 7 days]

Wham City is a track that is split into two parts. Each part as equally wonderful. It really all just depends what sort of mood you are in as to which you’ll prefer at any given time. But as a whole its brilliance.

The joy, magic and wild, confused story-telling that is captured in Wham City will send you to a frenzied child-like tantrum state. Flailing arms, shouted singing, quite possibly running in circles.

After posting this track on yesikan luyaln a while back Wham City became one of those songs I listened to on repeat. I forced those I loved, and wanted to love this track, to listen to it. I sent it to friends and waited with bated breath that they’d feel the same passion for it that I did. And I must admit. Everyone loved it.

Editors gig..


The first picture from last Thursday night's (18/10/07) Editors' gig at the Carling Academy in Newcastle.

Editors have always had a certain appeal to me. Even seeing them when Ten Feet Tall hosted them at Empire, waaaaaay back when. All said though, it was a pretty rubbish gig then, about 20 people in the crowd, Editors were late coming on stage, obviously not happy, played a short 20 minute set and left. As disappointing as it had been I enjoyed the time they were on stage. So having seemed to miss every tour or festival appearence they had made for about the past two and a half years I was looking forward to last Thursday.

The Back Room for me deserved all the praise it received in 2005. It fitted perfectly with my temperment to become the soundtrack to my mental breakdown of the time. As apprehensive as I was about An End Has A Start this year, and with my initial reaction to it being "Tom's vocals sound like Danny McNamara!!", I grew to love what is obviously a very different album from their debut, with feelings that the progression fans would have liked to hear from them not happening and a slightly more mainstream sound being adopted.

Having not been to the Carling Academy since Doves in 2005 I was pleasantly suprised by the venues capacity to home a lot of people comfortably. We walked in to see the end of the Ra Ra Riot, who didn't really find their flow til their last song, bit too late.

Queue Editors:



Shockingly energetic. Pounding through their recognisable tracks from the latest album. Crowd never missing a word. Yet, something not quite right. Slight dischord here, accidental changes in tempo there, mismatching of sync of band members.

"Maybe they are drunk" suggests Paul.
"I don't think so, you know when you are watching a drunk band. The Aliens?" I reply.
"Yea. You're right."

Thrashing out some of the highlights of The Back Room and utterly enthrawling the crowd, if somewhat haphazardly in places. Let's get this straight though. In the main, they were great, fantastic, a lot better than I had ever anticipated. But the musicianship and communication of the band members let them down somewhat.

This makes it especially hard to pass comment on all the new material they featured. One in particular had an incredibly atonal first chorus, and not in a cool-Cut-Copy-atonal kind of way, just atonal and wrong. But if I'm honest I really did like the sound of the new stuff. Sorry I can't name titles of songs, but, meh, I was at a gig.

The only other disappointment of the night? Missing The Kissaway Trail. Definately worth a look.

Punks Jump Up



Shake off that sleepy groggy feeling. Get up and throw some shapes/shake yo' ass/get on down and all that type of thing.

Punks Jump Up.

And do it to Dance To Our Disco.

Between this and Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire there seems to be a little loving going on for the saxophone.

And myself being a saxophonist I could pimp myself out there for some work. I'm sure they'd like a 21 year-old, brunette, with awesome dance moves strutting her stuff and 'blowing her horn' for them.