This year seems to be going much faster than last year. I'm sure I said the same thing last year, and the year prior to that, but still, it's March already!
I didn't really know what to write about, so took an easy option and decided to write about music, as it's quite a large part of my life. I spend most of my time listening to and composing music, which means I, theoretically, should be reasonably good at this.
There are two albums that i'm really looking forward to at the moment: Peter Doherty's 'Grace/Wastelands' and 'KLANG' by The Rakes. By 'looking forward to', I mean that I can't wait to buy them both, however, being the naughty boy that I am... I already have both of them.
I bought The Rakes' first album, 'Capture/Release' a few years ago and really liked what I heard. Their second, 'Ten New Messages', was at first a little bit of a dissapointment. I never really got into it when it first came out, and only now, after a couple of years, do I appreciate the good songs it has to offer. Still, I don't think it's anywhere near as good as their first.
On the other hand, I believe that 'KLANG' is better than both. It seems The Rakes have gone back to writing more of the quick, energy fuelled tracks that filled 'Capture/Release', and this can only be a good thing. The first five tracks are not brilliant, but still very listenable, while the latter half of 'KLANG' really blew me away. I definately reccomend it.
They came to Hull last month and I went to watch them. I must say, they put on a good live show, too!
I'm listening to 'Grace/Wastelands' now, and I feel that I will have to listen to it a little more before I write more about it. I am a huge fan of both The Libertines and Babyshambles, and Doherty himself. I particularly enjoyed Babyshambles' last effort, 'Shotter's Nation', and thus far, am also loving Peter's latest release. The songs feel much slower than his previous albums, although this makes them no less enjoyable. There are some very good tracks on this album.
I travelled to Manchester on Friday to see Franz Ferdinand for a second time. I saw them last June when they played to a crowd of no more than 180 at The New Adelphi Club in Hull. I count myself very lucky for having an oppertunity to see such an established band in such conditions, and meeting the band afterwards was also excellent.
Last time, they played a few new tracks that everyone was quite unfamiliar with, but since then have released their third album, 'Tonight: Franz Ferdinand'. Released in January, the album went down very well, and I for one absolutely loved it. It's great for dancing around the room to.
This time, then, I was a little more prepared. They played a show full of both classic songs, and a good selection of their new ones, including new single 'No You Girls', 'Turn It On', 'Ulysses' and 'Twilight Omens'. They played very well and spoke to the crowd inbetween tracks. 'Live Here Now' were recording the show, and for £15 I was able to get my own high quality copy of the night's performance to keep, in a very nicely packaged CD set no more than 10 minutes after they left the stage.
That's it for now!
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