Bye Bye!

I can't be arsed with this anymore. Anyway, I'll leave the blog open so you can leech off the albums I've posted.

Sex Pistols - Spunk

Booted from the master tapes, pressed and sold about a week before their debut LP (Bollocks) was shipped. The band members themselves have noted that the versions of the songs on this boot are the ones that they much preferred over the 'official' release. I agree, it's dirtier and Johnny Lydon's vocals are at their rawest and most ferocious.

Not only different production-wise, but lyrically sometimes. God Save The Queen and Bodies are the only songs off Bollocks not to be included, but there are a few exclusive tracks, notably No Fun a cover of The Stooges, which opens with Lydon growling 'a sociology lecture, psyyyychology, a bit of fuckology'. Coupled with the different takes on Anarchy in The UK and Pretty Vacant make this just devilish. This proves that the 'Pistols weren't just all show - you won't hear punk rawer or more ferocious than this. 

Rating: 9/10

El Guincho - Alegranza

Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. Only The Avalanches' Since I Left You, comes close to being as sunny as this record. It feels like you're in a pool party in some privately-owned Caribbean Island. El Guincho is basically a summer-time Panda Bear, putting several samples on loop and singing and dancing (probably)  jovially on top of them. 

Rating: 9/10

Apes and Androids - Blood Moon

Hailing from New York City, A & A seemed to have been beamed in from a galaxy far far away with their Big Bang explosive, euphoric, neo-classical songs that almost drown in their own enormous scope. 

This album is basically incredible. I mean they do a superb 'parody' of Of Montreal, classic Queen, one or two Buzzcocks worthy punk songs, and then right at the end they chuck in a few extra tracks that would probably have made In Rainbows.  I know there are seemingly billions of records you've 'just got to hear' right now, but seriously you need to hear this.

Rating: 8/10

Foals - Antidotes

Touted as the sound of 2008 by those we're told 'in the know', Foals certainly know how to make it hard for themselves, by leaving off their biggest hits 'Hummer' and 'Mathletics' from their debut. Not to mention ignoring David Sitek's version of their album.  The guy who's not only in TV On The Radio but produced Yeah Yeah Yeahs debut, and is behind the blossoming Brooklyn scene (Battles, Yeasayer, Dirty Projectors).  Foals then aren't afraid to be bold.

Unfortunately, if you didn't like the early singles there's nothing radically different here that'd change your mind. Yannis' yelping and the often too one-dimensional jittery indie-dance, is admittedly hit-and-miss. Aswell as the skin-tight rhythm section, horns have been added over some of the tracks to add a bit more depth. In truth though,  it's repetitive and you'll likely grow pretty bored after repeated listens. Even with its ephemerality and irritating repetition, there are some good songs that should keep you dancing for awhile - the industrial drums half-way into  'Balloons'  rescue it from just being another steadily 'frantic' song.  The album actually impresses the most, and Foals begin to display some promise after 'Balloons'. 'Heavy Water' shifts the listener into a bolder, dreamier second half. 'Big Big Love (Fig 2)' is a lush, almost psychedelic strum with schizoid drums threatening to break the peace. But no, the song flows deftly into 'Like Swimming' a totally instrumental track that's actually quite pleasing on the ears. 

All in all, if you enjoyed 'Hummer' or 'Mathletics' then you'll absolutely adore it, just don't think you'll be listening to this come next year.

Rating: 6/10