Joe Harrod
Film taste: Midnight Run.
Music taste: I listen to bands that don't even exist yet.
Hangout: West is best.
Most likes (about London): Meeting people who have the chutzpah to insult you in a dryly entertaining fashion on five minutes acquaintance.
Least likes: Meeting people who think it's OK to talk about money.
Me in 10 words: Friends are the most important thing in life.
Reviews
venue Village Underground
Tuesday, 05 May
Quality venue - I'd love to throw a party here.
Stuff that goes on is a pleasant mix of highbrow/slightly Nathan Barley/rave ups - and anywhere with tube carriages on the roof gets my vote.
Stuff that goes on is a pleasant mix of highbrow/slightly Nathan Barley/rave ups - and anywhere with tube carriages on the roof gets my vote.
artist Calvin Harris
Thursday, 09 April
Singles of the Week 13th April
Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone
Sony BMG
No, Calvin! It's not that this tune is actually bad. It's just that it sounds exactly like the kind of thing you were pumping out in 2006. In the intervening years, we've been treated to a fair amount of great music – weren't you listening?!
Maybe it's a deliberate throwback. There's a haunting, original quality to the vocal and the four-to-the-floor dance underlay is amusingly retro pumping yah! If you were already out of it, this might keep you moving... 2.5/5
Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone
Sony BMG
No, Calvin! It's not that this tune is actually bad. It's just that it sounds exactly like the kind of thing you were pumping out in 2006. In the intervening years, we've been treated to a fair amount of great music – weren't you listening?!
Maybe it's a deliberate throwback. There's a haunting, original quality to the vocal and the four-to-the-floor dance underlay is amusingly retro pumping yah! If you were already out of it, this might keep you moving... 2.5/5
event No Man's Land
Thursday, 09 April
I don't think it's 'Daily Mail' to regard de Botton as an intellectual pygmy on a par with JK Rowling. In fact, it was the hilarity of your own barbed put down that spurred me on.
artist Jazzy Jeff
Thursday, 09 April
Alright, I know he's a serious, influential producer and blinding DJ but I'm afraid he's forever tarnished for me with the Fresh Prince collaborations. Which are good, don't get me wrong! It's just that I only have to hear the words 'Jazzy Jeff' and I'm transported back to the land of the 15 year old black tie disco, 300 posh boys and girls having snogging competitions and dancing to 'Boom, Shake the Room'...
event No Man's Land
Wednesday, 08 April
I couldn't agree more with you! Alain de Botton? If he's a philosopher, then so is Jeremy Clarkson! I mean, whatever next?
artist White Belt Yellow Tag
Wednesday, 08 April
New Releases - 30th March
White Belt Yellow Tag – You're Not Invicible
Distiller Records
An impressively epic showcase for the power of this two-piece band. White Belt Yellow Tag consist of just two lads from Arctic Monkey land, but they sound more like the full U2 line-up on this number, with wailing guitars and tight but reverberating drums underpinning a soaring vocal.
Mind you, listening to U2 has been a fundamentally boring experience since around 1989 and this record, while impressive on a technical and musical level, has a definite 'dull' quality. 3/5
White Belt Yellow Tag – You're Not Invicible
Distiller Records
An impressively epic showcase for the power of this two-piece band. White Belt Yellow Tag consist of just two lads from Arctic Monkey land, but they sound more like the full U2 line-up on this number, with wailing guitars and tight but reverberating drums underpinning a soaring vocal.
Mind you, listening to U2 has been a fundamentally boring experience since around 1989 and this record, while impressive on a technical and musical level, has a definite 'dull' quality. 3/5
artist Operahouse
Wednesday, 08 April
New Releases - 23rd March
Operahouse – Genius Child
Marrakesh Records
With Bowie-esque echoing vocals and plangent, descending guitar line, this track starts promisingly, and indeed, it's got a lot more to it than 90% of the crud out there. The spazz-out breakdown is a little predictable, if we're splitting hairs. And the 'oh my God I'm going under' refrain recalls the Kaiser Chiefs – unfortunate!
That said, this marriage of epic sound, crisp production and heartfelt indie ethos is a winning one. A track that deserves to rock a large crowd. 3.5/5
Operahouse – Genius Child
Marrakesh Records
With Bowie-esque echoing vocals and plangent, descending guitar line, this track starts promisingly, and indeed, it's got a lot more to it than 90% of the crud out there. The spazz-out breakdown is a little predictable, if we're splitting hairs. And the 'oh my God I'm going under' refrain recalls the Kaiser Chiefs – unfortunate!
That said, this marriage of epic sound, crisp production and heartfelt indie ethos is a winning one. A track that deserves to rock a large crowd. 3.5/5
artist Illa J
Wednesday, 08 April
New Releases - 16th March
Illa J – we here
Delicious Vinyl
A smoothed out UK debut from the little brother of the legendary Detroit producer J Dilla features the rolling sound of the deceased producer (who gets a credit) overlaid with a soulful lyric that showcases a fresh voice. There's also a little Quasimoto-style fuzzy ambiance.
If Dilla had finished the track himself it couldn't have turned out better – this has a great roll to it and Illa J is clearly a talent in his own right. 4/5
Illa J – we here
Delicious Vinyl
A smoothed out UK debut from the little brother of the legendary Detroit producer J Dilla features the rolling sound of the deceased producer (who gets a credit) overlaid with a soulful lyric that showcases a fresh voice. There's also a little Quasimoto-style fuzzy ambiance.
If Dilla had finished the track himself it couldn't have turned out better – this has a great roll to it and Illa J is clearly a talent in his own right. 4/5
artist Will Young
Wednesday, 08 April
New Releases - 2nd March
Will Young – Let it Go
19 Recordings
'It's the simple things in life that get me down, like always being right'. Sounds pretty grim, mate. Not as depressing, though, as being mistaken for a waiter by The Hoff.
This is brilliant – a probable, deserving number one. Young's producer Eg White (real name) has added the glorious string quartet outbursts that no self-respecting weepy goes without, and gets Will to do those mid-note demi-tone-wavers that make you think Adele and Duffy have memorable voices. In fact, it's all Eg. 4/5
Will Young – Let it Go
19 Recordings
'It's the simple things in life that get me down, like always being right'. Sounds pretty grim, mate. Not as depressing, though, as being mistaken for a waiter by The Hoff.
This is brilliant – a probable, deserving number one. Young's producer Eg White (real name) has added the glorious string quartet outbursts that no self-respecting weepy goes without, and gets Will to do those mid-note demi-tone-wavers that make you think Adele and Duffy have memorable voices. In fact, it's all Eg. 4/5
artist T.I.
Wednesday, 08 April
From New Releases 9th March
T.I. and Justin Timberlake – Dead and Gone
Jive Records
T.I. takes up the Tupac mantle, gangsta rapping about fear and weakness, biting off more than you can chew, and the persistent desire to turn one's back on gangsterism in favour of, say, chilling out at a beauty spa with Justin Timberlake.
Like Tupac, T.I. has a very fluent, witty style and he's not above celebrity guest spots. Predictable beats and daft, plangent piano melodies also recall the amateurish, forgettable album fodder which fans of Tupac file under 'fast forward'. 3/5
T.I. and Justin Timberlake – Dead and Gone
Jive Records
T.I. takes up the Tupac mantle, gangsta rapping about fear and weakness, biting off more than you can chew, and the persistent desire to turn one's back on gangsterism in favour of, say, chilling out at a beauty spa with Justin Timberlake.
Like Tupac, T.I. has a very fluent, witty style and he's not above celebrity guest spots. Predictable beats and daft, plangent piano melodies also recall the amateurish, forgettable album fodder which fans of Tupac file under 'fast forward'. 3/5
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