Sweet Monday

Don't we all love Monday? Hell yes!

Let's get right to the short and sweet.

Kids In Glass Houses are the band on everyone's lips as they debuted their sophomore submission, Dirt.  From single Youngblood (Let It Out) to the anthemic Matters At All and Sunshine, no stone has been left unturned by the once Smart Casual Welshies. Really, if The Best Is Yet To Come then over the next few years we are in for one heck of a treat.

Reading and Leeds' line ups were announced today a mere 15minutes after the much coveted tickets went on sale. Think Arcade Fire, Biffy Clyro, Lostprophets, The Gaslight Anthem, Paramore, You Me At Six, Bombay Bicycle Club and, erm, Blink 182. Oh crumbs! It's really gonna be a great year...Full details at http://www.readingfestival.com/.

BBPD.

London Calling A Truce

Friday night was the closest I'll ever get to a date with Joe Strummer. Ever. And it was love.

It can't be an easy thing, to step into the shoes of one of Britain's best loved rock bands. A band so close to the hearts of many: from anarchists to adolescents. For me, this was the band of choice that my parents played to help me sleep when I was a nipper and, along with Alice Cooper, Human League and New Kids On The Block, made up our Gower/Cornwall holiday mix tapes.

Rebel Truce sounded like The Clash on any of their studio efforts. Which let's be honest is no mean feat. No mean feat at all. Covering the anthology of The Clash and picking out the winners meant we, the punktastic, rebellious mob full of piercings, tattooes and, err, spectacles were in for a treat. White Riot, London Calling and Rudie Can't Fail were nothing short of immaculate creating more than a buzz and a bop (not a Blitzkreig Bop...that's The Ramones, obvs). With outifts, hair and attitude right on the money it really doesn't take a genius to see just why they are the quintessential The Clash tribute act.

Finishing up with Should I Stay or Should I Go for sure made it tough to leave the grungey, dingey but oh so cosy Cardiff Barfly.

BBPD.

You Can't Hide From The Computers

Last night I couldn't hide from The Computers. They were everywhere! In my ears, my toes, my face...

First support came from Northern grime-rockers Chickenhawk. Bloody hell and back again! They were more energetic than the Duracell bunny and more intense than RPatz. And kids, what a drummer....What. A. Drummer. He is a hero. I wish there was more I could say, but they were just that good/borderline insane that words seem to fail me.

Sharper than a chicken's talon

Outcry Collective. Oh my, Outcry Collective. Where to begin? Well, Outcry Collective are a singing anthology of Airbourne/Johnny Borrell/The Darkness with no chat and on stage antics which are cheesier than a hobo's sock. Did anyone catch the table top stage dive which nearly wiped out half the crowd waiting in the side lines? Or the really bad Welsh chat? Hmmmm....I think Charlie Dimmock has better support.

Although you'd think even the toughest tough man would be running, no one could bear to hide from The Computers. Rock hard riffs, punky licks and hardcore hits all came together like a beautiful and abrasive punch in the face. The Teenage Tourettes Campers tripped, fell and twisted the mob around their little finger with large shapes, white denim and general dirt (they had as yet failed to wash any of their onstage, all white ensembles. Mum would be so proud!).

Dirty riffy things

Exeter's finest rocked the shit out of Clwb Ifor Bach from start to finish with their own level of home grown Elvis Costello vs. Rocket From The Crypt vs. whoever the hell they like bluesy hardcore. From Love The Music Hate The Kids to Must Try Harder, the punky licks and retro flicks had us salivating for more. And more. And more.

With anecdotes of wetting the bed and recording in LA - yeah, Alex, we know, it's no big deal! - I for one cannot wait for this quartet to get in and out of the studio, in LA ofcourse, to record and release their debut full length album.

You can't hide from The Computers so get yourself to www.myspace.com/thecomputersfromexeter instead.

BBPD.

Save Your Breath Save Your Day

Save Your Breath have teamed up with their Blackout buddy Sean Smith. Together they have created Stay Young. It's on their Myspace so go check it out.

www.myspace.com/saveyourbreathband

Catch them on tour with Young Guns this Spring. Tour details on Save Your Breath, Outcry Collective and Young Guns' Myspace pages.

BBPD.

Gas-leaked Anthem

Sneak a peak at the leaked new single from Gaslight Anthem. Little bit naughty that it's been leaked but thanks Zane Lowe for airing it and making it this weeks Hottest Record.

Here's American Slang. It's hella good.




BBPD.

Congratulations!

Brooklyn band MGMT had their brand spanking new album, Congratulations, leaked online this week, right before they could offer it to us fans as a free download: 'Hey everybody, the album leaked, and we wanted you to be able to hear it from us. We wanted to offer it as a free download but that didn't make sense to anyone but us.' So yeah, cheers to whoever leaked that. Atleast you can still stream the whole thing at the band's offical website, http://www.whoismgmt.com/.

It's got the same MGMT stamp but with a more definite indie-club beat. I love the retro vibe on It's Working and Song For Dan Treacy. The rainy day, slightly blues sound of title track Congratulations  is nothing less than cool. All in all I find their second record cooler and more accessible the Oracular Spectacular - and I'm loving the slightly Flight of The Conchords-ness of the occasion.

BBPD.

Fun Tuesday

It's Fun Tuesday. Here's some of the shizzle that's been keeping me warm and dry indoors today...From the retro new Futureheads' video to the weird and wonderful JLS inspired offering from Hot Chip, KIGH romcom rock n roll, shriekingly ace Strange News From Another Star and Lostprophet's take on cops and robbers.


Strange News From Another Star - Oh My God They've Given Me The Suburbs








Hope they gave your eyes and ears the same rainy day Tuesday cwtch as they gave me!

BBPD.

Treats Of The Week

Another mundane Monday is nearly done and dusted for another week. Here are a few bits and bobs to make your week sound sweeter than a parakeet's chirp!

On Wednesday The Guns are playing in Barfly Cardiff, and Thursday see's Clwb Ifor Bach rocked to the rafters by local poppers Racehorses and Devon hardcore lads The Computers. I can't wait!

Twinkle voiced and tres cool, Laura Marling's second album, I Speak Because I Can, was released today. As were records from Andrew WK and Public Image Limited with 'A Life 09: Live At Brixton Academy 2009' while Florence and the Machine finally release Dog Days Are Over (as if the track hasn't been overkilled already on ads galore!), Arctic Monkeys' My Propeller and Only Man from Audio Bullys all hit the shelves today.

News highlights include tour announcements from Paramore, Boys Like Girls (they sang the uber-catchy The Great Escape) and a 35th Anniversary Tour from Motorhead. Crumbs! In other rock and indie news, MCR's Frank Iero is expecting twins, Skunk Anansie and Stone Temple Pilots are working on new albums and Attack Attack get set to release Not Afraid on May 3rd 2010. Reaper in Sicily's Matthew Jenkins has sadly been diagnosed with leukemia. BBPD thoughts are with him and his family at this time.

Finally, feast your eyes on Two Door Cinema Club's video for Undercover Martyn.





That's it. I'm off to The Arches' Pub Quiz.

BBPD.

Genius

This may be one of the coolest things I've seen in forever.
This is a Cardboard Record Sleeve and it is wicked.


BBPD.

Threatened-Mantics

UWIC's Drink The Bar Dry in Tommy's Bar last night was a mixed bag of tricks and treats, with local heroes Joy Of Sex, Strange News From Another Star and Threatmantics.

Never before have I seen a band literally disintigrate before my eyes, and what a shame it is too for what was, on the whole, a decent set from headliners Threatmantics. Finding it hard to not actually argue on stage, let alone break away from the looming Strange News From Another Star's shadow. It seemed to be that Taliesyn Källström is the  Linda McCartney to their
Paul McCartney, as drummer Huw Alan Davies bashes out a beat for the last time as a Threatmantic. A talented bunch but I can't honestly say that being screeched at at a pitch that only dogs should be able to compute, is my cup of tea.

Before...

...And After.

A good set, a great band but let's be honest, a good drummer is harder to find than a Topshop-clad screamo.

Back to the start saw Joy Of Sex bring the noise in the only way they know how. Combine "potentially cool" and "spiky, minimalist arty" personas leads only to punchy 2 minute wonders that "spank a spot weld harder than a fruit bat". A self-confessed cynic of girls in bands, JOS quashed any of my aprehension with their incredulous style. Check out track: Bring Me The Head Of Victor Hugo.

The Joy Of Sex.

How much do you love frantic, face melting revelations? Little bit? Cool. Shrieks, peeps, roars and feng shuiing the stage sets were all in a nights work for Welsh mentalists Strange News From Another Star. Imagine wrestling, lets-be-friends texts and more double denim that Billy Ray Cyrus' entire wardrobe add in sweat pouring verses, swaying basslines and insane drumming and you'll be close to the mark of how head bangingly ace SNFAS really are. For a taster click over to their Myspace.

Full Frontal double denim.

Sofa action.

All in all a cracking night. Thanks!!

BBPD.

Cardiff Bus Adventures: Part 2

Today's Cardiff Bus adventure was far less fraught than a few weeks previous. Ever present were the Whitchurch drunks whose personal hygeine habits could be jutsly questioned. Still, atleast the number 23 bus - why oh why do I always get stuck on the long routed bus home? - turned up on time. YIPPEE!!
I settled down into my shared seat after a micro battle with my large uniform filled Hugo Boss bags and picked my song letter at random.
This is what happened.....R (I've left nothing out but it ain't all too pretty....apologies!)
Ray - Millencolin 
Ray of Light - Natasha Bedingfield
Read My Mind - The Killers
Ready For The Floor - Hot Chip
Real Good Looking Boy - The Who
The Reason - Hoobastank
Reasons - New Found Glory
Reasons Not To Be An Idiot - Frank Turner
Recording A Tunnel - Bell Orchestre
Recover - The Automatic
Red Sox Pugie - Foals
Redemption - Switchfoot
Redundant - Green Day
Reflections Are Protection - La Roux
Regret - Cancer Bats
Rehab - Paolo Nutini
Relight My Fire - Take That
The Remedy - Jason Mraz
The Rescue Blues - Ryan Adams
Rest - Green Day
Rest - The Temper Trap
The Rest of My Life - Less Than Jake
The Resurgent - The Arusha Accord

So that was my journey. Next time you're on the bus, play Random Letter iPod and let me know what happens.

BBPD.

Charmed

Rock doesn't get sweeter than this. Well, unless you head to Barry Island and sample Marco's ice cream delicacies, which incidently I did this week. Surrey's finest rock quintet, You Me At Six, hit up the Newport Centre and gave it a massive cwtch. The queue outside was so enormous many of us missed We The Kings. From the excitement of the three 15 year old girls infront of my in the phenominal queue wrapping its way around Newport Centre, I predict the first of the acts' set was a teen-pallette pleasing affair setting the sweaty Tweens, who had made it inside, up for the UK's new next big thing (didn't you get the memo? It's so not Ellie Goulding!)

Coming on stage with no more room than their support acts, pop-rockers We The Kings and Texan Cheddar-rocking genre-blurring Forever The Sickest Kids , YMAS blasted us with track after track after track. It definitely seemed a bit strange and there were times when I questioned if they'd forgotten their set or perhaps decided they weren't too cool to play on any more space than their warm-ups. After each of the first 4 songs everyone expected the black curtain to drop. After each song, we were left confused but rocking out no less.

Then, the sirens started. Red lights flashed. The curtain disappeared and the full stage set, including ramps, lights and satellites, were revealed. YMAS continued to rock in a way that only they can. As the gig went on it only became more apparent why frontman Josh Franceschi is such a hit with his female adorers. He, and his band, are endearing, completely relatable and , let's face it, not too difficult on the eye. Although slightly awkward at times, their on stage rock outs remind you the youthfulness of a British five piece who are as utterly charming as they are talented.

Fireworks seemed an odd choice to end on, but en cores of Always Attract, Save It For The Bedroom and Hold Me Down's Underdog saw the boys go out with a bang. Franceschi left us with attitude exclaiming to his 2000 strong crowd, 'they can't hold me down'.

Oh yeah, and everyone's favourite Blackouter, Sean Smith, came out to play. And it was awesome.

BBPD.

Getting Out And About

Seeing as it is the start of another good week, I'm getting out and about. Plan? Hell yes!

OK, so I'll be taking Roxy to the beach, Dewi out for a gallop in the forestry, going to the Newport date of You Me AT Six's Hold Me Down Tour, attending Strange News From Another Star's EP Launch at Clwb Ifor Bach on Friday and rocking out with Detached with friends John Q Public, Captain Accident and Hit Or Miss for the launch of their EP in TJ's. That leaves enough time to make it to work and enjoy Sunday Club with Giner.

Lovely.

BBPD.

Monday's Here!

Can you believe it's Monday already? No? Me neither! But here it is and I defy anyone to have Monday blues with sky this, erm , blue, sunshine this bright and brand new music for your ears.

First up a little free nugget from folk rockers Mumford & Sons. They received Ezra Koenig's thumbs up for their cover of Vampire Weekend's recent hit single Cousins. You  can find the VW version on their latest album, Contra. Hit the button to here more at Stereogum.

OK, I know it's not brand new but it is a bobby bargain. So if you don't own it already then head to Zavvi.com to get all Smart Casual with Kids In Glass Houses. (FYI, it's a snip at £2.95 for the deluxe 2 disc version).

I can hear you chomping at the bit for your new music this week. Settle down. Here are my picks of the week.

My Passion are back with their loud and proud new video for Crazy And Me. Look past the emo threads, guy-liner and Jedward esque hair and you will hear a band of born performers that force you to listen to their riff-stacked, dance-punk brand of rock.



Indie-rock Yanks, Broken Bells, today had their self-titled debut hit the shelves. Combining legendary artist/producer, Danger Mouse aka Brian Burton, with The Shins frontman James Mercer, was never going to be a bad thing and this offering only proves that theory. Sounds a bit Death Cab meets, well, The Shins but with uber-cool undertones in every LA-retro sounding beat. Listen to Your Head Is On Fire, Vaporize and Mongrel Heart. Not one of the tracks on Broken Bells would be out of place in any of your favourite US dramas. Thumbs up!

Have you time for one more? Ace. Quintessential metal band Iron Maiden have revealed on http://www.ironmaiden.com/ the title of their forthcoming album. The Final Frontier is due for a summer release ahead of summer touring with Dream Theatre and headling Sonisphere. Could the title be trying to tell us something?

Have a good week! Band tips and comments welcome...
BBPD.

Indie Is Still A Dirty Word

If you don't know them already, that's a-ok. They hail from Shefvegas (Sheffield to those who don't nickname everything!). They make peppy indie pop music. They are at present under the radar. They have brand spanking new tunes up on their myspace. They are All The Damn Kids. And if you don't already, you will love them soon.

Another brick in the wall?

Go to www.myspace.com/allthedamnkids to stream and download tracks and find out more about your favourite new indie band. Listen to Like Seeing A Fox In Daylight and Echoes for a taste of things to come. It's peppy, it's stacked with indie beats and it's begging for you to have a real listen to true UK alternative talent.

BBPD.

Covered In Beer

John Q Public and The Hostiles have only gone and done it, haven't they. See the punk lads from opposite ends of the country cover 'Beer' by ska giants Reel Big Fish.



BBPD.

Emily's Heart and Ours Too!

Gonzo loves it and so do I. Needing no real introduction here's Jamie T's brand new single, Emily's Heart. FYI, it sounds quite different to the Kings and Queens version (which, incidently, is ace).



BBPD.

Friday Headliners

Sorry, not the festival kind. Not just yet anyway. Instead, I give you a round up of some of the music news from today.

My Chemical Romance drummer, Bob Bryar, has parted ways with the Black Parade rockers after 5 years. The former drum tech replaced Matt Plessier back in 2004. Frank Iero commented on the band's official website: "As a band we have been very fortunate over the years that our sweet times have greatly outweighed the sour ones, and a great deal of that is owed to you, the fans. Which is why we wanted this news to come from us and not some bullshit gossip site. As of four weeks ago, My Chemical Romance and Bob Bryar parted ways." MCR are currently writing songs and recording their forthcoming, as yet untitled and 'most honest' album to date.

Tarra Bob!

Sacremento's best export, Deftones, have revealed the tracklisting for their forthcoming album, Diamond Eyes. With Chi Cheng, tragically, still in a coma following a car accident in November 2008,stepping in is Quicksand's bassist Sergio Vega. Go to their website to download Rocket Skates right...now!

01. Diamond Eyes

02. Royal

03. CMND/CTRL

04. You've Seen the Butcher

05. Beauty School

06. Prince

07. Rocket Skates

08. Sextape

09. Risk 10. 976-EVIL

11. This Place Is Death

Mutya Buena has applied to own the trademark for the Sugababes' name. After leaving the pop group in 2005, Buena spoke to 6 Music commenting that the group was effectively over after Keisha Buchanan departed in 2009: "I don't know how they replace her or carry on without her. I just think it's really sad. To me it just means the Sugababes have ended really, not in a bad way, but because there are no original people remaining." I for one, hope she succeeds and the Eurovision-pop group will stop living off someone else's once-quirky ideals.

Back in the day when the 'babes were actually good.

Reverend and the Maker's Jon McLure has been involved in some extra-curricular activities after he was arrested in Inverness for possession of cannabis. McLure spoke to NME.com. These are his wise words: "I was with the wife, ordered some room service and was butt naked. Next thing rozzers are at the door so I pulled me kecks on and next thing they are rooting through our cases." He added: "They took my herb and were dead happy because it was the first famous person they had arrested. Anyhow fuck it. They are going to write me a letter telling me off, I might bun up a fat one with the letter." Wow, Mr McLure, you're don't sound like a tool at all!

I wouldn't expect any Godlike Genius Awards any time soon, mate.

Some gossip to round up this post: Kasabian will sing 'World In Motion'  at this summer's V Fest; Hollyoaks stars are set to record 'Sing For England' for England's 2010 World Cup attempt and to raise money for The Alder Hey Image Appeal; with a 27 lorry strong entourage it comes as no surprise that while on BBC1's pre-recorded Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, Lady Gaga had 4 costume changes; The Saturday's Frankie Sandford and McFly's Dougie Poynter have split up

Head over to http://www.kerrang.com/ and www.nme.co.uk for more music news.


BBPD.

Emo's Calling On Music Monday

Music Monday is just about gone, but Twitter is rife with sweet tweetings from some of our favourite new rock bands sending happy greetings from within the studio. Spring time studio hideaways can only mean one thing - brand spanking new albums will be winging their way to us all in the coming months. Yes!

Bands in the studio this Spring and that you may want to keep your ears peeled for include:
Young Guns recording their debut album,
My Passion are working on 2009's Corporate Death Party follow up,
New kids on the Welsh block, I Am Hope, have been tweeting inbetween breaks from recording their debut album. As have Shefvegas indie troup All The Damn Kids. Hit them up on Twitter @AllTheDamnKids and preview their new single on Sound Cloud.

And back to music out now....Straight Lines released their debut album Persistance In This Game is out now on Xtra Mile Recordings. They're Welsh and, oh boy, can they rock. If you were lucky enough to catch them supporting Young Guns before Christmas you'll know what I mean.

Straight Lines. As pleasant as Salt n Vinegar Walkers clad in Fred Perry.

New Zealand wannarockers So So Modern are back at their post-punk, electro math rock. They make Brett and Jerome of Flight of the Conchords seem more of a sure thing than Ellie Gounlding is tipped to be. Leave the self-prophesyingly titled Crude Futures safely on the iTunes shelf. Speaking of Ms Goulding, her debut  was released today and it's as pop filled as a shaken bottle of Coca Cola and nearly as predictable as La Roux. All in all not dreadful, just critically overrated.

Is awkward electro pop your thing too? It is? Epic. Then come join the Two Door Cinema Club hitting us with Tourist History. NME calls on the 'spiky songs that are tighter than a snaake's bumhole in a sandstorm.' And with thumbs up from Kanye West to boot, who am I to argue?

Buy This Addiction. Or else..!

Alkaline Trio are back. And I for one couldn't be happier. This is the only guide to love, loss and desperation you will need. Now, step away from the landfill indie offering of 2008 and be greeted by the warm cwtch of punky licks on This Addiction; Dine, Dine My Darling is my personal favourite. Don't go anywhere. Don't miss a beat. Just listen from beginning to end. No skipping.

Finally, Alice In Wonderland's OST Almost Alice gets by with a little help from some rock royalty friends. Mark Hoppus and Pete Wentz, Avril Lavigne, Wolfmother and 3OH!3 lend their vocal chords, but it is Plain White T's Beatles esque Welcome To Mystery that really makes this collection of melodies truly unique.

That's your lot for today. Enjoy.

BBPD.

Zane loves Foals...The Band, Not Baby Horses

So, Zane Lowe loves Foals. On his blog he comments on their 'spectacular return'.


So here's their new track, 'Spanish Sahara'.

What do you think?

BBPD.

PS Although who wouldn't be taken by this little dude?! Yes, that is a cat he's next to. No, the cat is not the size of a full grown alpha male lion.