I've been listening to....

Sleep The Clock Around - Belle and Sebastian

I'm sorry to bombard you with 2 consecutive Belle and Sebastian posts, but I just had to share this song with you. I especially love the bagpipes at the end.. showing their true Scottish roots!

I've Been Listening To...

The Blues are Still Blue - Belle and Sebastian

The Best Acoustics on Youtube

Burberry Acoustic
They have some of the most stunning acoustic videos I've ever seen. I think the filter on the camera makes a big difference to the actual video, and gives it a kinda cold, 'vintagey' feel. My favourite has to be 'Yes, Yes, We're Magicians' by the Crookes, but as I talked about it in a post recently, I decided to show some different songs instead.

Watch, Listen, Tell
I always seem to prefer acoustic versions of quite 'rockish' songs. I first heard about 'Watch, Listen, Tell' when Stornoway did an acoustic version of 'I Saw You Blink' (see below), and since then I've been hooked on all their videos. They release a new one each Monday, so keep checking back each week! And follow them on twitter to find out more.

Domino Records
Ok, so I know this isn't actually an acoustic channel on youtube, but I found some really really good acoustic versions of Villagers. I'm not sure if they do home sessions with any other artists though, as I haven't been able to find any. Please let me know if you find any though!

I've Been Listening To...

Mykonos (Alternate Version) - Fleet Foxes

Love love love this song so much! I was in love with the original at first, but on hearing this version I immediately prefered it. There's just something about the piano chords that seem so 'jazzy' and happy.

Welcome to the Future

Possibly the coolest thing I've seen in a long long time.Kaiser Chief fans, watch the video below.

Instead of the conventional album, the idea behind 'The Future is Medieval' is that for £7.50  you're able to create your own 10 track album from a choice of 20 songs, with your own artwork. And whenever someone buys your album, you receive a pound. So after 7 and a half people buy your album, it's been paid for itself! How wicked is that?! I'm off to create my album now. Have a go yourself here.

Villagers at the Sheperds Bush Empire

I had an amazing evening yesterday, seeing Villagers. Michelle Stodart (from the Magic Numbers) was supporting and I really liked her music. I used to listen to The Magic Numbers a few years ago, but I'd never heard her by herself before, and she was really really good. She's got an album coming out quite soon, so keep an eye open for it!
   Anyway, on to the Villagers! They were fantastic. We were right at the front, so had a great view, and it meant that the music was really loud. They made a lot of their quieter songs a lot more raucous - or as I liked to say, they electric guitarified them. Conor O'Brian, for a small man, has an immensely powerful and haunting voice, and his beautiful lyrics definitely deserve the Ivor Novello award that he recently won.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 7: A Song That Reminds You of a Certain Event

Rain City - Turin Brakes 

I was listening to this song when we were travelling in Japan on a little local train from Tokyo to Kamakura. I always have flashbacks to that day when I listen to Rain City. I remember that my friend was asleep, sitting on the floor of the carriage; my finger had swollen to twice the size due to an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite, and it was very very hot! Such a good day though... such a good week in fact!

The photos below were taken on that very day :)

Whenever I'm in foreign countries (even English speaking ones) I always find it fascinating to look at their adverts.

Kamakura is home to the 2nd largest Buddha in Japan.. he's pretty big!

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 6: A Song That Reminds You Of Somewhere

Life For Rent - Dido

When we were little, countless summers were spent driving through the lavender fields in the South of France listening to Dido. Listening to her songs bring back such good memories (even though I find them quite irritating now.)

I can still remember these photos being taken below. Not sure where the first one is taken, but I remember that after running through the fountains there was a little shop where we were allowed to spend our holiday money. The second was taken at our friends' house in the South of France - the countryside surrounding it was so amazing :) Sorry about the wonkyness of the photos.. I still haven't quite mastered the art of scanning in yet!

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 5: A Song That Reminds You Of Someone

Number One Enemy - Daisy Dares You

I'm not really a huge fan of this song, but I found it quite hard to think of one, and for some reason this was the only one that came into my head. In Japan last Summer, my friend Sydney sang this song on repeat so whenever I hear it I think of her :) 

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 4: A Song That Makes You Sad

The Funeral - Band of Horses

Sorry for the delay, the internet wasn't working yesterday, so I'll do two posts of the challenge on tonight. Anyhoo, on with the song. I love this song so much but listening to it really does make me quite sad, especially when you really think about the lyrics. I first heard it at the end of the final Flashforward episode which was quite sad, so I guess perhaps that's another reason why I find this song so depressing. The melody's so beautiful though, and I love the contrast between the first two verses - the simple electric guitar and then the full blown rage-out (could I possibly have just made up a new word?!).

Have a listen and see what you think... I think it's a quite an acquired taste, but I hope you like it :) 

Also don't you find the video quite depressing all in black and white?