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.

Bowie-Mania hits our shores again: Bowie at the V&A

Like every other Bowie/Ziggy/ Aladdin Zane / Halloween Jack (etc) fan I am literally counting down the days to the 23rd March when the David Bowie exhibition at the V&A Museum will open it's doors. The exhibition will be exploring all the many aspects of Bowie's career that made him the effortless icon he is today. The exhibition will feature over 300 items which include handwritten lyrics by the man himself, the stage costumes that thrust him into the limelight, Bowie's instruments plus many more.

The focus of the exhibition will be upon the creativity of Bowie which led music into a new age, setting the bar ridiculously high for any musician which wished to emulate his style. The V&A offers fans a 'fly on the wall' look at Bowie's collaborations with photographers, artists and designers through Bowie's own personal items.

It is about time that 'Bowie-Mania' hit our shores again as Bowie is a revolutionary figure, the Marx of the music world. Through his eccentricity and split-personalities, many of his fans in the 1970s did literally believe he was 'The Starman', visiting earth to liberate the people from the stuffy society. In my eyes he has achieved this aim plus I would not be surprised if his birth certificate emerged stating that Mars was his place of birth.

If the exhibition fails to quench your thirst for Ziggy then CLICK HERE to browse the various events which the V&A will be hosting surrounding the exhibition.

Day of the Demos

This time of year, all music fans seem to be sitting on the edge of their seats eagerly awaiting album releases from their favourite music artists and oh, do we like being teased with juicy snippets of news! Today I have come across two new demos from none other then Carl Barat and Noel Gallagher.

For those of you who are not a 'fan' of Carl Barat on Facebook then you may not have come across his teasing demo of 'War of the Roses' which would feature on his album in autumn. When I first  came across the song and saw the title, my expectation was that it would be reminiscent of the slow, romantic tracks on his previous album such as 'Shadows fall' or 'So Long My Lover' however I was pleasantly surprised with the direction that Barat has taken his new material. War of The Roses punches the speakers with a kick-ass attitude in the bass line which he complements within his lyrics where he seems to have more confidence in singing then his previous solo work. The song takes us to his urban north London roots with its blare-out vocals towards the end and the catchy rhythm. All in all, although War of The Roses is much more daring then his previous solo songs, it will not disappoint Barat's fans as it has many of his characteristics with a healthy dosage of elements from The Libertines. However as I mentioned before, this demo is just meant to be a teaser and a bedroom recording which Barat 'let slip'.

If you are curious, then head over to Carl Barat's Facebook page; click here for a cheeky listen

Ok, so I may have grabbed your attention with the news of Noel Gallagher's demo of 'She Must Be One Of Us' but it seems I may have been a little too slow in checking out the video as I was met with a rather defiant declaration of 'This video contains content from EMI who has blocked it on copyright grounds'. At least we have a title and a very strong suggestion that there may be an album release in 2013 from the eldest Gallagher.

A Trip Down Rock 'n Roll Memory Lane

So today I'm in one of those nostalgic moods, longing for summer when the season of music will be on us once again but also looking back longingly at the best moments in my music related life when I have had the chance to meet and chat to the very people that inspire me. Here's a selection of images that have a special place in the memory box of my mind.

Meeting Nicky Wire at his talk and book signing at Rough Trade East

Me and the boyfriend meeting Artmagic (Sean McGhee and Richard Oakes)
at Banquet Records 

Meeting Alex from Elliot Minor at their acoustic performanc
at O2 Islington  

Matthew from The Front Bottoms at The Cricketers

Snow Day Playlist

As I looked out my window this morning, I was greeted by a rather beautiful sight. The street was covered in a blanket of unspoiled, pure whiteness, a true winter wonderland. For those of you who have taken a snow day, wrapped up in a duvet with a hot water bottle, I have compiled the perfect winter playlist.

1) Carl Barat 'The Fall'

 This tale of passion and woe between two lovers is the perfect sexy soundtrack for a duvet day with your partner. The piano line takes the listener into the throes of winter with its light jingle and if you're not feeling too sluggish, then warm your cockles by doing the Tango to this tale of debauchery.

2) Fleet Foxes 'White Winter Hymnal'

The vocals within this song will make you drift of into a glorious dream as the Fleet Foxes chant 'I was following the, I was following the pack, All swallowed in their coats,With scarves of red tied around their throats,To keep their little heads from falling in the snow, And I turned round and there you go.
And, Michael, you would fall, And turn the white snow Red as strawberries in the summertime'. Ok, so the lyrics may seem a little bleak but the vocals along with the tambourine and guitar line makes this song the perfect accompaniment to mulled wine by the fire place.

3) Manic Street Preachers 'Small Black Flowers that Grow In The Sky'

Just like most of the lyrics that Richey wrote, this song has very solemn tone to it. However the addition of harps to the track deems it sadly beautiful and James Dean Bradfield's husky vocals will relax every sinew in your body.

4) Suede 'The Asphalt World'

I may be biased as I am a huge fan of Suede but Asphalt World is arguably one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard and is perfect for a cold winter's night. The slow beat and the daring imagery within the verses takes your mind to a different world as Brett takes a full lunged approach to 'With ice in her blood, and a dove in her head, how does she feel when she's in your bed?' as he tells the tale of the love triangle.

Carl Barat

       

A New Age for Music

In light of the announcement of high street giants 'HMV' going into administration I was wondering where I heard a warning of this before. The answer was in MC Lars' 'Download this Song'. MC Lars' image is the adorable nerd rapper with his songs always focusing on intelligent subjects such as literature, poetry and even space travel. However, 'Download this Song' has been on repeat on my iPod due to the serious message it carries. Although the song was released in 2006, it has never been more relevant then today as Lars explains to big record companies that the music industry will fall apart if they fail to recognize that we are now in the digital age and if they want to keep up with technology then they need to embrace it; otherwise they are doomed to failure. If free digital songs are available to consumers then of course consumers will grab it with both hands, everybody loves something for free but is up to record companies and distributors to adapt to this. This may have been the very reason why HMV sank like the Titanic, and while my sympathies are with those who now need to find new jobs, it is good news for indie record stores. I have always loved indie stores due to the fact that the staff are passionate about what they do and most importantly, they stress the importance of physical copies. There is nothing like the buzz that you feel when you walk out of a shop, anxious to get home so you can discover something new. You will not find this buzz sitting on your computer. In fact with many vinyls, EPs and LPs that I have purchased, there has been a code on the inside so the consumer can have a physical copy and still enjoy the song on their iPods.

Next time you feel the urge to buy a new single or album, seek out your local record store and more then likely the staff will get to know you, and in time, start recommending new releases that you may like. This is a huge contrast to the service that HMV offered, a faceless corporate organization that I always felt lost in. (one member of staff even admitted to my boyfriend that he didn't even LIKE music). Remember that the fate of music is in the hands of the consumer.


It's 2006, the consumer's still pissed , won't take it anymore so I'm writing a list, Don't try to resist this paradigm shift, The music revolution cannot be dismissed $18.98 Iggy Pop CD? What if I can get it from my sister for free?  It's all about marketing Clive Davis, see? If fans buy the shirt then they get the mp3  Music was a product now it is a service  Major record labels why are you trying to hurt us?  Epic's up in my face like, "Don't steal our songs Lars," While Sony sells the burners that are burning CD-R's. So Warner, EMI, hear me clearly, Universal Music, update your circuitry. 
                                                                                                                                  MC Lars

Mick Rock and Kevin Cummins - Rock Photography Legends

While idly browsing through HMV on a Saturday afternoon, I came across the coffee table book 'Psychedelic Renegades. Photos of Syd Barrett by Mick Rock' so being a fan of Syd Barrett I naturally picked it up. This is where my love affair of rock photography began and now the walls of my studio apartment are adorned with posters ripped out of NME and album artwork such Gold Against the Soul, Pink Floyd's Animals, Dr Dee and many more. I now have two favourite rock photographers, Mick Rock and Kevin Cummins, who for me, capture perfectly the essence and personality of their subjects in their purest form.

I'll start by talking about 'Psychedelic Renegades' as it can contains such an artistic insight into the Syd Barrett's day to day live. The first set of photographs takes us to the streets of Earl's Court where Syd is posing with a convertible that formerly belonged to Mickey Finn of T-Rex. The convertible dominates the frame as it seems to be a symbol of Syd's own life, what was once exceptionally good at what it did and a high powered, sought after machine was reduced to having a tyre missing and covered in police notices warning of a removal due to neglect. The first set of photos are a particular favourite of mine as the photos are tinted in a light grey which makes Syd's heavy, deep set eyes thick in eye-liner all the more dramatic.

Syd's personality is epitomized in this photograph. 

The second set of photographs within the book are much more vibrant as they are set in Syd's apartment with much emphasis on his red and blue painted striped floorboards. This adds a much more bohemian element with Iggy, a half-Eskimo girl, baring all in the background. Although Psychedelic Renegades is my favourite work by Mick Rock, I am also particularly fond of the work he did with David Bowie, capturing the essence of Ziggy Stardust in all his colourful glory.



Kevin Cummins

I discovered Kevin Cummins through my love of the Manic Street Preachers as I came across photos of the Glamour Twins, Richey and Nicky, and marveled at how the photos summed up the messy, effeminate glamour of these two characters. Born in 1953, Cummins was fortunate to be there, camera at the ready  at the dawn of the punk age, capturing Johnny Rotten and the Sex Pistol's in action. He has captured many defining moments of music history, frozen there in his images are Ian Curtis in his trench coat, taking a thoughtful drag on his cigarette, Richey staring at his reflection with his chest covered in blood having just carved 'VIH' on his chest (the intention was to carve 'HIV' but having done it in the mirror, Richey hadn't realized that he was carving back to front) and Morrissey smiling to himself. My favourite photograph by Kevin Cummins has to be his series of photos taken of Richey. Standing against a red backdrop, a topless Richey has Andy Warhol's famous head shots of Marilyn Monroe printed repeatedly across his chest and arms. These images captures the idea of Richey BEING a 'Manic Street Preacher' as with his arms stretched out, he seems to be elevating himself as an idea, a person placed on earth to tell everybody what is wrong with the world, which he did in his lyrics. By having Marilyn Monroe printed across his body, he is reminding us of his inner depression being played out within the media circus which was also the fate of Marilyn.

All in all, I wouldn't describe myself as having extensive knowledge of photography, but I am fascinated by Rock Photography. It is essential in capturing moments that define a generation and these images will always live on in the hearts of every rock 'n' roller.

Richey and Marilyn: A shared fate captured.