Updated show list

Monday morning I was glad to find out Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin is coming to the Netherlands in june. Then I got home and found out Boris Yeltsin died. Weird...

Anyways, I was in the lab where participants were performing my first experiment (exciting times) and I couldn't really focus on other work there. So I spent some time updating my showlist. Lots of cool artists in the coming months!

Here are some video's from the artists I'm planning to see in the near future.

Video: Lonely, Dear - I am John


Video: Malcolm Middleton - A Brighter Beat


Video: Andrew Bird - Plasticities (live on Letterman)


Video: Architecture in Helsinki - The Cemetary


Video: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Pangea


Video: Modest Mouse - Dashboard


Video: Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Bomb.Repeat.Bomb


Video: The Hold Steady - Your Little Rathood Friend


Video: Bright Eyes - At The Bottom Of Everything

Finally Friday Video's Week 16 [2007]

Video: Black Flag - TV Party

Anticipated Records Do Not Dissapoint...Or Do They?

Oh seven is a year of highly anticipated records. Some of the best releases of 2005 have their follow up lined up this year. The New Pornographers will release their new one in august, Be Your Own Pet has started working on a new album and some albums have already been released. Do these albums live up to their high expectations? Here are my thought on some of them.

The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

The internet buzz surrounding this album was almost scary. However, the band made a great album, a little less daunting than on Funeral, but much better than what I expected.

Video: The Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running (Live)

Bright Eyes - Cassadega

Most mature Bright Eyes record to date and that's not a bad thing. There's still emotional intensity but packed in a somewhat different form and with a thicker production. Call it Americana or country or folk or something in between...I like this...a lot!

Video: Bright Eyes - Four Winds

The National - Boxer

An album less rocking than their previous effort (Alligator). However, the songs on this album suits the singer's distinct voice perfectly. Special stuff!

The Arcade Fire, Bright Eyes and The National had to fight against almost unrealistic expectations. With that in mind, I have nothing but the utmost respect voor these artist for putting out yet another great album. If you haven't fallen in love with these artists yet, this is the time to jump on the wagon!

Mp3:
The National - Fake Empire

Oh yeah, on a more negative note...the new Fountains of Wayne record....not so good.

Show Review: Camera Obscura @ De Balie, April 15th

Last night's show was planned at Paradiso, but for logistical purposes was moved to the nearby "De Balie". Definitely not a bad decision, because this venue -normally used as a theatre- perfectly suited the intimacy of Camera Obscura's show.

I really didn't have any expectations from the show, but I was pretty impressed. I can't really put my finger on what it is, but there's something about this band. Sure...one could argue that nothing happens on stage. The band just stands there performing some songs. The only member who shows some energy is the multinstrumentalist who played percussion, trumpet and at times guitar. I cant disagree with that, however, I argue that this stage presence complements the bands sound and style perfectly. Singer Tracyanne Campbell is the absolute star of the band. With a voice to die for she grabs your attention, almost like putting a spell on you. She made the slower songs sound so vulnerable and delicate that there was almost complete silence in the audience. A sight not often seen or heard at a show and it was beautiful. The faster songs sounded tight and more powerful than on record. Camera Obscura is definitely a band whose live show adds elements to their records. In fact, while travelling to work this morning, I played the albums Let's Get Out Of This Country and Underachievers, Please Try Harder and it's like I appreciate the band more...I get songs I didn't use to "get". It's definitely a plus to have these positive associations from the live experience!

Conclusion: definitely a great show. Intimate, fun and dreamy. As an encore the band played a decent cover of Abba's Super Trooper. Not bad. Not bad at all.

The band just released their fourth single (Tears For Affairs) of the album. Below you'll find all four video's from the Let's Get Out Of This Country album. Enjoy!

Video: Camera Obscura - Tears For Affairs


Video: Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country


Video: Camera Obscura - If Looks Could Kill


Video: Camera Obscura - Hey Loyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken

Finally Friday Video's: week 14 [2007]

Yay! The Finally Friday Video series is back...

Stylus magazine published their top 50 one hit wonders this week. Here are two that made the cut...

Video: The Flying Lizards - Money

Video: Gary Numan - Cars

Show Review: I'm From Barcelona @ Melkweg

Zero percent pretentiousness, one hundred percent fun. That basically sums up an I'm from Barcelona show. Yesterday was no exception, though I have to admit that I liked last year's Utrecht show a little more. For instance, their were less Swedes (but I still counted 18) on stage than at the previous show and the Amsterdam audience was a little less excited (but still way more excited that normal at a sunday show).

The band's enthusiasm again was very contagious and you rarely see this amount of equality between a band and the audience. Although their setlist showed similarities with their previous show in the Netherlands, they played some other songs as well. At first I wasn't really (or really wasn't) into their Bryan Adams cover of Can't Stop This Thing We Started, but they managed to give this song a typical I'm from Barcelona sound. Singer Emanuel started the intro of Purple Rain, but unfortunately, they didn't pursue that one...

Adventure Kid, who made a techno 8bit version of their hit song We're from Barcelona delivered the after party, with bandmembers partying and dancing along with the audience...good times!

Download Adventure Kid's version of We're From Barcelona by clicking here!

Excusez moi!

I'm sorry for hardly putting up new blogs. File Transfer Complete has been falling victim to my new job/life, which by the way is working out quite fine! Though I could finish this blog with one final post, I have a feeling there's a future for this blog. I still have a need to inform you about my latest discoveries and with the purchase of my 80 gig I-pod (right now it contains over 2500 songs, probably one tenth of the final number :]) I at least have more time to listen to great new and not so new music.

This week I'm busy designing my first study, but I'm planning a reanimation of FTc in the coming weeks. For now I'll keep the shows section up to date.

Thanx for your patience...it's appreciated!

The National announce tracklist, release date

Alligator by the National was one of my favorite albums of 2005. The new album that is titled Boxer will be released May 22nd. Can't wait. You can find the tracklist and more info in this article by Billboard. They'll also be touring Europe this fall!

Here are some video's from Alligator.

Video: The National - Abel

Video: The National - Daughters of the Soho Riots

Finally Friday Video's Week 8 [2007]

Some friends of mine are throwing a German themed party tomorrow and I was asked if I knew some good German songs. This is one of the songs I recommended. I sure hope that between all the really bad Schlager songs they will play this one!

Video: Sportfreunde Stiller (ft. Roque Santa Cruz) - Ich Roque

Finally Friday Video Week 7 [2007]

Video: The Walkmen - The Rat

Finally Friday Video Week 6 [2007]

I was surprised to find a full page article on the Hold Steady in Dutch free newspaper Metro this morning. Like a punch in the face, it reminded me of the sold out show I'm going to miss tomorrow. Therefore, this week's video is to torture myself even more...

Video: The Hold Steady - Stuck Between Stations (Live on Letterman)

Some new video's

I'm still having trouble finding the time to work on my blog. I'm working on it though!Here are some new video's by FTC approved bands...

Video: Annuals - Brother


Video: Lonely, Dear - I am John


Video: Love is All - Ageing has never been my friend

Video: Of Montreal - Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse

Finally Friday Video Week 5 [2007]

Look what I found on my brother's I-pod!

Video: Danzig - Mother

Show Review: The Fratellis @ Melkweg

I'm under some bad spell considering shows lately. I wanted to go to the Hold Steady show feb. 10th, but it is already sold out. The same goes for The Fratellis show of last monday. My big brother thaNniSh did have tickets and was kind enough to write a short review [thanx!].

Costello Music was one of last years most enjoyable albums. Nearly six months after the release of their debut album, The Fratellis finally toured the Netherlands. Although it was in the Old Hall in the Melkweg and on a monday night, it was worth the wait! In comparision to Razorlight, this was definitely a band that seems to enjoy themselves on stage.

The first couple of songs were played very fast, which worked out well for some songs (Everybody Knows You Cried LastNight), but not for Flathead. The pa-da-da sing along felt victim to the speed - a shame! It was positive however to see the band expand their album tracks live. The crowd's reaction however was a bit tame; between songs it was almost completely silent.

Absolute highlight of the show was Chelsea Dagger. It was like everyone was waiting for this moment: the crowd went erserk..goosebumps! Surprisingly enough this was not the last song. It was followed up by Ole Black 'N' Blue Eyes after which an encore of three songs (including a semi-acoustic version of For the Girl) concluded the show.

3voor12 has put the Fratellis show in Haarlem of last week online here.

Top 25 Punk Albums (According to IGN)

Remember Kerrang's really really bad list of the top 50 punk albums ever? IGN made one too and it's actually quite decent, I would say. The omission of Rancid's ...and out come the wolves is somewhat unforgivable, but at least it gets an honourable mention...

IGN's top 25 punk albums:

25. Social Distortion - Social Distortion (1990)
24. NOFX - Punk in Drublic (1994)
23. Green Day - Dookie (1994)
22. The Misfits - Walk Among Us (1982)
21. The Descendents - Milo Goes to College (1982)
20. Plasmatics - Beyond the Valley of 1984 (1981)
19. Husker Du - New Day Rising (1985)
18. Generation X - Generation X (1979)
17. Big Black - Songs About F*cking (1987)
16. Minutemen - Double Nickels on the Dime (1984)
15. Bad Religion - Suffer (1988)
14. Richard Hell & The Voivoids - Blank Generation (1977)
13. Operation Ivy - Energy (1990)
12. Minor Threat - Out of Step (1984)
11. MC5 - Kick Out the Jams (1969)
10. X - Los Angeles (1980)
9. Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Material (1979)
8. Black Flag - Damaged (1981)
7. New York Dolls - New York Dolls (1973)
6. Bad Brains - Bad Brains (1982)
5. The Stooges - Fun House (1970)
4. The Sex Pistols - Nevermind the Bollocks (1977)
3. Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables (1980)
2. The Clash - The Clash (1977)
1. The Ramones - The Ramones (1976)

The Arcade Fire

So...my Ipod got lost in the mail and a new one should be on its way. To make my travels a little bit more pleasant this week, my brother was kind enough to lent me his (Thanx!). In the train this morning I was scrolling through his albums and I found one I hadn't played in a while: Funeral by The Arcade Fire. Their new album (Neon Bible) will come out soon (March 5th) and is probably the most anticipated album of 2007 in "indieworld", which is not surprising considering the succes of Funeral. Anyways, here are some video's from the previous album. Check out the band's Myspace to hear some new ones.

Video: The Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)

Video: The Arcade Fire - Laika

Video: The Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)

Finally Friday Video's week IV [2007]

Video: Aerosmith - Love in an Elevator

Thank you UPS...

Maybe I should check in with blogaholics anonymous, because I'm having blog withdrawal symptoms. I still have to find a way to combime my new job with this blog. UPS misplacing my brand new Ipod doesn't really help either, which means I can only listen to music on my laptop for the time being(crappy sound). I hope next week will be better blogwise.

For now I'd like to point your direction to the elaborate media section on the website of Barsuk Records. With a roster featuring Rocky Votolato, Nada Surf, Death Cab for Cutie, Mates of State and the Long Winters among others, Barsuk is one of the finest indielabels. Here are some Barsuk video's...

Video: Mates of State - Fraud in the 80's

Video: Nada Surf - Blankest Year

Video: Smoosh - Find a Way (these girls are still in their early teens, which makes this song pretty awesome)

Video: The Long Winters - Fire Island, AK

Sinners Stick Together!

Boston based The Sterns describe their own sound as "Jangly Guitar Pop Circa 1986 with a Punk Rock Aesthetic Circa 1979". They certainly prove this on their album Sinners Stick Together, which will be released on March 13th. The album is filled with well crafted indie/powerpopsongs, not unlike early Elvis Costello (check out 'Papa, You're in your Prime') or a more rockin' version of Belle and Sebastian. There are enough other references of course, but this band has created a really fun album that is hard not to like!

The Sterns on MySpace

Mp3's:
The Sterns - Supreme Girl
The Sterns - Papa, you're in your Prime

Finally Friday Video's Week 3 [2007]

Let's get one thing straight: I'm not a Rod Stewart fan...but he has one song that I really really like. Okay, as you'll will notice, the video to 'Young Turks' is rather lame, but it are these words (that wouldn't be misplaced in any punkband) that make me love this song:

Young hearts be free tonight
time is on your side
Dont let them put you down
dont let em push you around
Dont let em ever change your point of view

Video: Rod Stewart - Young Turks