Well I have finally finished my work for this term and so am able to do an update with the music that has got me through a couple of weeks of stress, and varies quite widely through genres as per usual.

I’ll start off with a song that was played in almost its entirety on the West Wing Season 4 opener (which is as far as I’ve got so far with the series - loads of good stuff to go I know :)), and that is I don’t like Mondays by Tori Amos. It’s a great and yet haunting track which is a cover of good ole’ Bob Geldof’s Boomtown Rats. There is also a box-set available of her stuff for those of you that are yet to experience her unque charm.
[Visit] Tori Amos / MySpace
[Buy] Tori Amos - A Piano: The Collection

[Download] Tori Amos - I Don’t Like Mondays / 2

Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 has been on numerous film and tv soundtracks as far as I can work out and that is why it sounds so familiar (although it could have been my mum blasting it out throughout my childhood), but either way it is a very calming and relaxing song, with this rendition by Yo-Yo Ma the best that I have heard. It is in one word beautiful.
[Visit] J.S. Bach / Yo-Yo Ma
[Buy] Yo-Yo Ma - Bach: Six Unaccompanied Cello Suites

[Download] Yo-Yo Ma - Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 (Prelude) / 2

The Blow are a great electronica/indoe band from Oregon in the States and produce songs that to me give off a similar feeling to Hot Chip and some of the other uber cool bands of the moment. Prentheses is the first track I heard from their new album and I fell in love with them straight away. It was the perfect album to start rehabilitating myself into the Christmas party atmosphere.
[Visit] The Blow / MySpace
[Buy] The Blow - Paper Television

[Download] The Blow - Parenthesis / 2

Kid Koala is a Canadian DJ I only heard of in the last couple of months with the release of his latest record ‘Your Mom’s Favourite DJ.’ I instantly adored the way he manages to use scratching and turntablism as an instrument in the jazz, swing and big band style sounds that he mixes. He manages to add an almost freeform jazz factor to song classic songs that sound like they’re from the 1920’s, updating them to the 21st century and making them catchy as hell. This track is from his first album, simply due to the continuous mix that is his second album and I didn’t want to chop it up, and it does show off his skills to great effect.
[Visit] Kid Koala / MySpace
[Buy] Kid Koala - Your Mom’s Favourite DJ

[Download] Kid Koala - Skanky Panky / 2

…and lastly an Australian band that is starting to recieve the hype it should and that is Architcture in Helsinki (AIH). The spacey electronica from these guys will guarantee to put a smile on your face if not start to see the LSD trip of dancing pink monkeys and elephants. They have just released a remix album, which although good doesn’t quite match the tripy gooooodness of the original or the first album where this track is taken from.
[Visit] Architecture in Helsinki / MySpace
[Buy] Architecture in Helsinki - In Case We Die

[Download] Architecture in Helsinki - The Owls Go / 2

-Tim

Well the new Bloc Party has leaked and although it apparently isn’t the final post production mix I have to say it is my favourite sophmore album in a long time. I’m really looking forward to this when it comes out in February after the final mix-down - but aprt from the mix being a little top heavy this is sounding great! Hunting for Witches and On are my favourite tracks after a couple of listens. I would love to post a track or two, but I think that’s a little unfair on the band this early an unfinished as well unless they give their ok. You can find the holw album at the usual suspects though if you’re looking;)

Over at GoodWeatherForAirstrikes these quite some debate going on about this, and also a little bit of news about the new Deerhoof album also leaking - something I a little less excited by (but I haven’t had a chance to check it out yet).

-Tim

Here at the Blue Walrus, most of the music we post can generally be decribed in that rather wide spanning indie category, and I am thinking that is a bit narrow as it doesn’t cover all my tastes for one.

I got sent some material from Nate Farrar a few days ago, and can’t stop playing these so I thought it would only be fair to share them with you all. Some reviewers are noting the similarities in bluesy singer/songwriter style, but I can’t stop thinking of good ole’ New Orleans when I listen to it.
[Visit] Nate Farrar @ BWO Records / MySpace
[Buy] Nate Farrar - Shell Shocked

[Download] Nate Farrar - Let me Down
[Download] Nate Farrar - Moonlight’s Just a Memory

Kitty, Daisy and Lewis I first came across at Bestival and loved the bluesy almost country sound that these youngsters were playing. And yes they are young with ages ranging from 14 to 19, with influences ranging from Louis Prima to Johnny Cash. They are still yet to release an album but have realesed this excellent single on Rob da Bank’s Sunday best label.
[Visit] Kitty, Daisy and Lewis @ Sunday Best / MySpace
[Buy] Kitty, daisy and Lewis - Mean Son of a Gun

[Download] Kitty, Daisy and Lewis - Mean Son of a Gun / 2

-Tim

Well it has been a long break, for myself and Hamish as essays etc have taken over my life at uni, but after watching the latest episode of The OC, there is a Placebo track being played throughout much of it which I just loved and thought I would share it (along with a great Kate Bush original video). It isn’t on any of their albums as far as I know, but seems to have surfaced on a Q freebie CD at some point. So here you go:
Placebo / MySpace
[Buy]Placebo - Meds

[Download]Placebo - Running Up That Hill / 2

I have also been sent a few tracks which are rumoured to be on Babyshambles next release, known as the Blinding EP, which is sounding pretty good in my opinion. It is a bit of more of the same, but with a little less chaos, which is something that annoyed me on Down in Albion. Sedative is my favourite track and just for you guys
Babyshambles / MySpace
[Buy]Babyshambles - The Blinding EP (Pre-order)

[Download]Babyshambles - Sedative / 2

That’s it for today, but stay tuned - updates should be a bit more regular from now on

-Tim