2013 Summarized and 2014 Predicted

Once a year, usually as the month of December fades out into the dawn of a new era, I get visited by three ghosts. The Ghosts of Music Past, Present and Future come to visit as the midnight bells chime twelve..... Ok, I'll stop now as I'm sure there might be copyright laws involved at some point.
However it is that time of year when every music publication, blog, podcast etc review the best events of 2013. I have decided to tackle mine with also making predictions of what will occur in the future*, so here goes;

Best Album Releases

The Next Day - David Bowie

Past:  The King of Pop and personification of rock 'n' roll had been in self-exile since his 2004 'Reality' tour. After leading everyone into thinking that the era of Bowie had been and gone, he carried out the most simplest of publicity stunts which just consisted of popping down the road for a pint of milk. The media were whipped up into a frenzy but even they couldn't predict the sudden, surprise release of 'Where Are We Now?' on the Thin White Duke's 66th Birthday, 8th January, with the announcement of a new album. The Next Day reached Number 1, Bowie's first since his 1993 album 'Black Tie, White Noise'.  

Present:  Bowie and Visconti are still holding all Bowie fans in a state of limbo by releasing contradicting statements over the possibility of live performances. 

Future: Different versions of 'The Next Day' will be released over the next five years with the promises of unheard tracks and remixes of original versions. Despite the controversy over the title track, The Pope will release a statement saying that he is a fan. 

Rewind The Film - Manic Street Preachers

Past: After waving farewell to the Welsh musicians at the O2 arena in 2011 as they announced they were embarking on a UK hiatus, I immediately began suffering Manic withdrawal symptoms (see what I did there?).  Remedy and much excitement came in May of this year however as James Dean Bradfield  announced to NME that recording was in progress of two new albums, with one being almost purely acoustic. Rewind The Film was nostalgia in its purest form for everyone involved as the Manics explored the ideologies that had moulded them as a band.

Present: Nicky Wire is carefully selecting his wardrobe for the tour of the second album. Milkman outfit or leopard print skirt, or both?

Future:  30 Year War will be used as the official song for Margaret Thatcher's memorial service in 2014 due to an embarrassing mix up on behalf of the Tory Party.

 

 New- Paul McCartney 

Past: It seems that 2013 should go down as the official year for musical nostalgia as Paul McCartney released his sixteenth studio album to express his memories of the days before The Beatles as well as more recent events in his life. Selecting producers such as Mark Ronson, McCartney went against the grain of what was to be generally expected of him by making a fun-loving pop album. 

Present: 'New' reached number 3 in the UK album charts and I wouldn't be surprised if DJs everywhere are selecting tracks from the album to put on their New Year's Eve Party song list. 

Future: Paul McCartney will go down in history as the most successful Post-Beatles Beatle.

Best Live Performances

 Roger Waters - The Wall 

After sharing air with the legendary Roger Waters and seeing performed live one of the most famous albums in British history, I predict that I will still be wearing the Tee Shirt when I'm old and frail. On a more serious note, the concert has also inspired me to get more involved in politics and hopefully one day I will get a chance to teach impoverished children in third world countries so that they can have a fighting chance in this world. 

Beady Eye -BE 

'You're not a mod,  you're just a c**t in a Parka coat' I thought to myself as Liam Gallagher swaggered onto stage at Kingston's New Slang. Kudos to New Slang for getting a Gallagher brother up onto their stage but the night for me just contained pure comedic value. You can imagine the crowd that they drew for their acoustic set and although I had managed to wiggle my way to the front, Liam was sat down on a stool so that anyone from the third row back couldn't see their Britpop hero. Cue shouts of 'STAND UP YA PRICK', 'NOEL WOULD STAND UP' and the wittier 'SIT DOWN IF YOU LOVE MAN U' .  I predict that Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds will turn up at Kingston in a demonstration of 'whatever our Liam can do, I can do fucking better...a''ight?' 

Magistrates

The Magistrates had it all together back in 2009, on the verge of huge success. Unfortunately the promise of a debut album never actually materialized and the band went their separate ways. Last month the band were on stage together once more with their new(ish) single 'When We're Apart' as they tested the water. The band create a vibrant, party atmosphere with their electro-dance beat which enables the crowd to just let go of their inhibitions. Hopefully 2014 will see a release of an album to accompany them on their tour. 

Best Moments

Leaving work one night, I had a couple of hours to kill before heading over to New Slang to see The Front Bottoms, my favourite American band. There was no point in heading home so me and my boyfriend decided to amble round Kingston before we spotted Brian, the lead singer of the Front Bottoms, come out of the club. He was rather restless before the gig and so we gave him a quick tour of Kingston. It was rather surreal as we chatted away about many different things, such as explaining to him why it is not okay to be a Milwall supporter. We ended up giving him our Kingstonian scarf to make sure that he went away supporting a decent 'soccer' team. My 2014 prediction is that one day he'll turn up on the terrace to see Kingstonian play. 

My inability to grasp modern technology manifested itself on the worst possible day. My camcorder would chose not to work on the day I had my first ever live interview wouldn't it? However it was fantastic getting the opportunity to interview Mutineers as it felt just more like a friendly conversation, even if I'm still struggling to get the footage from my phone to my computer. I can see Mutineers making more of a name for themselves in 2014 with their upcoming tour whereas I'll be beginning a one-woman war against technology.












*not actually psychic

Rewind The Film: New Video Released by the Manic Street Preachers

21 years ago the Manic Street Preachers were desperate to escape the lonely isolation of their small Welsh town, Blackwood. They took us far away as they possibly could in order to make a name for themselves, even taking us as far as the bright city lights of Tokyo in 'Motorcycle Emptiness', losing themselves in the crowd.  Now more accepting of their Welsh heritage, The Manics are now looking back with contemplative nostalgia at their small town roots, swapping the bright lights of Tokyo for the dim bulbs of a Bingo hall.

 Richard Hawley lends his vocals to the acoustic track of Rewind The Film  as the video follows the everyday life of a senior citizen in the small Welsh valley. The video features no traces of the famous ego of the Manics but instead artistically portrays the alienation and urban decay of working class life. Wire, Moore and Bradfield demonstrate to us just how far they have matured as a band via the melancholy use of acoustic guitar and the brooding vocals by Hawley. However I am glad to say that Bradfield has not lost any of the  passion in his voice as he joins in the chorus.

Rewind The Film contains all the ingredients that made the Manic Street Preachers stand the test of time as a band; thoughtful, brooding lyrics with political undertones combined with talented guitar work, but yet it ushers us gently into a new era of the Manics which will come with their new album release later on this year.

On a sidenote, I purchased tickets to see the Manic St. Preachers perform their new album at the O2 Shepherds Bush empire in September. Excited is not a big enough word!

This post is dedicated to all the dog tired, punk/indie/guitar loving students out there desperately attempting to reach their essay word limit while the outside world goes by in a sunny haze. If you, like me, are looking everywhere for an ounce of motivation while you're glued to your laptop and books, then fear no more. For I have carried out an experiment today in your name where I was seeking the perfect album playlist to motivate you through the long hours.

I started with THE CLASH - THE SINGLES (running time approx 63.89)

The opening tracks will explode you into a state of bewildered awareness as Joe Strummer caws his way through London Calling, infects you with his Duracell bunny energy with Rock The Casbah and stamps his feet through Should I Stay or Should I Go? However by the time you reach The Magnificent Seven with its whole 'white working class man smoking a spliff' vibe you will be bobbing along to the reggae beat as you plough your way through your work. But don't worry as White Riot may shock you back into alertness should you start drifting away.  

Next up was the MANIC STREET PREACHERS - GENERATION TERRORISTS

This album will certainly be an inspiration to any student studying a course of a creative nature as we are told to 'regard all art critics as useless and dangerous' (quote taken from the Futurists' Manifesto). But before you begin, make yourself a coffee, take a moment to ponder on where on earth Richey could be right now, press play and get back to your essay. The teasing guitar work to Slash n' Burn will encourage you to Slash n' Burn through your workload and as we reach Natwest-Barclays-Midlands-Lloyds you can shout along which will relieve you from all that frustration that Student Finance inevitably brings. Repeat (stars and stripes) is certainly not for Royal family lovers (but if you love the Queen then why are you even a Manics' fan anyway dumbass?) but singing along to this punchy tune will make you feel naughty and rebellious, thus relieving any stress at being so tied to an institution such as University. Although depending on how you are getting along with University, I would avoid Theme from M*A*S*H (suicide is painless) should you be feeling really depressed.

Third on the list was JACK WHITE - BLUNDERBUSS

By this point, depending on your concentration levels you may be procrastinating quite heavily. Although Sixteen Saltines is quite a heavy, shout along track, Blunderbuss should begin relieving you off stress with the lyrically violent but still quite calming Love Interruption. By the time that White's cover of I'm Shakin makes an appearance, let off some steam by shimmying your booty around the room. Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy is also a nice little track to hum along to as you polish of your paragraphs.

If you're not yet in an essay coma, next is THE STONE ROSES - SECOND COMING

If you've made your way through all the previous albums and you've made it this far, you must be feeling pretty sleepy by now. Fear not, the Second Coming will ease you through with the epic intro to Breaking into Heaven giving you a reason to carry on living. Tracks such as Ten Storey Love Song and Straight to the Man are gentle on the ears and head. Begging You however will remind you that you are on a very important mission and will get your heart pounding along to the amazing bass line more then a Red Bull could ever achieve.

If you've made you're way through all these albums and are still tapping away at the keyboard, then for the love of God - GO TO SLEEP! This is my final few months at university and there are many more out there who are in the same position as I, wishing there were more hours in the day to reach those dreaded deadlines. I hope this album playlist will get you through those endless days and nights which are ironically too short.