I swam to Portsmouth and back!

Ok...not really. I've just been really really really sick the past three weeks. I sort of disappeared during that time because in doing three Nyquil shots a day, one isn't likely to be too concious.

But I'm back...and of course now I'm having to deal w/my allergies. I didn't even get a day reprieve. Mother Nature...I curse you.

The good thing about all this is that I've been listening to music. LOTS of music. That benefits you...because now that I can actually read what I am typing I'll be providing you with some new material to listen too from Albion. Tonight's post consists of five new bands and five older bands.

We'll start with the newer stuff...

Harrisons: Blue Note - A fine tune that's a bit folky, a bit noisy, and most definitely memorable. The chorus is so catchy you'll take it to heart faster than your social security number. No, it's not about the legendary jazz label but instead about the "beautiful days."

Negative for Francis - Losing Control - Straight out of 1984 via 2006 comes this post punk gem. It jerks, rolls, dances,and contorts more than James Chance and Devo could ever hope. A floor filler if there ever was one. The song is self-explanatory, one listen and you'll find your feet having issues staying still.

New Rhodes: From The Beginning - Another excellent tune from one of the best new bands Britain has to offer. Their seven inches are legendary(and a wee bit collectible) and this new single is a floorfiller. Take the dramatics of say Gene and mix it with the occaisional discotastic riffage and you have a great song that's perfect for a dark, smoky, beer soaked dance floor.

Semifinalists: Show the Way - A tune that creeps its way into your soul with out you knowing it. "Show the Way," is so adorable you'll want to give it a hug. It's the kind of song that's perfect for spring. It's all sunshine and smiles and just about as twee as a song can get w/o actually being twee. It'll make you go, "Awwww."

We Start Fires: Hip Shake - A brilliant spiky noisy pop tune with tons of attitude. This takes the groundwork of bands like Elastica, Sleeper, and Kenickie, and ups the ante ten fold. These are three girls (and the obligatory guy drummer) that know how to write a punky dancefloor anthems and they aren't afraid to show it.

So there's some new stuff. Now...here's some classic stuff that I've recently been listening to. From the vault....

Delicious Monster: Snuggle - One heck of an overlooked band. Whether it was because of their name...it's not the best, or because they were a little ahead of their time, for some reason Delicious Monster never got the respect they deserved. At a time when Frente, Juliana Hatfield, and the Sundays were huge, Delicious Monster should have been as well. But they weren't. "Snuggle," is a spiky little tune that teeters back and forth between the quiet/loud dynamic.

Inspiral Carpets: This Is How It Feels(Extended) - Nowadays, this band is known more for the fact that Noel Gallagher used to be their roadie than their songs. That's ashame because the Inspirals were such a great band. At the height of baggy, the Inspirals were on top of their game. They were so big in fact, that their "Cool as Fuck," T-shirts caused legal problems for many a fan. "This Is How It Feels," is a moody moment from the band that wrote as many dancefloor anthems as the Happy Mondays.

My Life Story: King of Kissingdom - Oh this is such an over the top POP! song that it just bowls over everything in its path. It's huge and so incredibly friendly you can't help but welcome it into your home, fix it dinner, and offer it to live with you. My Life Story had more members in it than Parliament. But that's the only way a POP! song could sound this huge. It's so incredibly Britpop it never had a chance in the States!

The Sugargliders: Top 40 Sculpture - Classic Sarah Records stuff. So simple yet so addictively amazing. It's indie pop the way indie pop should be. It's shy, shuffles along, and hopes you kind of take notice of it. A lovely springy song that you can't help but love especially when the horns kick in.

The Supernaturals: Smile - An instant classic when it came out in 1997, it's a perfect example of where Britpop was then. God I miss those days. The Supernaturals were a slightly silly band that wrote fun songs with harmonies that were stickier than fly paper.

Enjoy guys! Let me know what you thought of the tunes. I think the next post I do will focus on allergies! Yes...it's true...a music blog about allergens! I know you're looking forward to that. It's Claritin D....THE MUSICAL!

Until then I'll be lost in the pollen...

Paul the Anglophile